[marcus agrippa]

Perhaps the PL should credit him with two shots on target too to cheer him up and boost his confidence. It's come to the point where we blame the stats now for nor registering shots that never happened.

I genuinely love this thread because of that: the number of creative excuses made for a mediocre player. Just a few pages back folks were going on about maybe he's homesick. Imagine that!

 

[marcus agrippa]

Hundreds? He's had 17. And re chance creation, Delap playing for Ipswich, who have about a third less xG than us this season has had over 3 times that many shots. End of the day if you rank 148th in the league for shots taken as the starting striker for a non-relegation team then you're probably the main problem.

Watched them both on the same pitch, and it's clear Delap's the superior player. But why go there? Just compare Hojlund to Obi vs. Fulham. Same team.

These were the stats vs. Fulham

Rasmus Hojlund Chido Obi
68 Minutes played 52
9 Touches 17
1 Shots taken 3
50% (2/4) Passes completed 80% (4/5)
0% (0/2) Dribbles completed 100% (2/2)
20% (1/5) Duels won 66% (4/6)
5 Possessions lost 6

Will never forget how Bassey bodied Hojlund (which I accepted fair enough since he's a unit), but then got ragdolled by Obi (which made me mad again). Some of those chances Obi had were not just because of his movement. I swear certain United fans are perma-stuck in the Liverpool-fan-circa-Dirk-Kuyt-best-defensive-winger phase.

Hojlund's just mediocre. Loan for amortization, and then sell at first opportunity.

 

[Rozay]

Haven’t been in this thread for a few games. I think he was unfortunate against Arsenal personally. His first chance came unexpectedly, and I don’t think he exactly lingers on the ball for ages. He’s taken an instinctive touch (yes, some say it could have been more to his left, but it would have needed to be weighted perfectly- too strong to the left and Saliba was close enough that he’s getting there before the shot) and you have to give credit to Rice. He’s spotted the danger instantly and he’s got there. Hojlund’s foot is cocked back to shoot and the ball isn’t there anymore by the time he swings. I think aside from shooting with his first touch, I don’t think he could have been much quicker. He’s taken was about to shoot with his second. It’s not like he was trying to take too many touches, was just the first and then the shot.

As for the second chance, Gabriel has done well, Hojlund’s got there first and the defender has blocked the shot.

Needless to say, he’s not got the talent for what we want and should be sold once the window opens, but he was unfortunate on Sunday I think.

 

[Rozay]

The purple patch and his run in europe last season, proves he can do it at United though.

And the 50 odd other games prove that he can’t do it with any consistency at this level.

 

[G97]

We've also seen strikers enter their prime much later.. At the age Rasmus is now, Jamie Vardy was playing non-league football, and not even in the Conference, he was playing 6th tier football. Now, not saying Rasmus is definitely going to make it, but he's still a young developing player who scored 16 goals in his first season here. There's something to work with for a good manager.

Vardy is an extreme rarity. His physical capabilities and mentality are also on another planet to Hojlund’s. Vardy was a lightning quick pest who made the absolute most out of his ability, and credit to him.

Rasmus is 6”3 and doesn’t even attempt to challenge for headers, you'd think his feet are nailed to the ground. Let’s add to the fact that he’s hideously lazy with a woeful first touch and no instincts inside the box.

This isn’t a personal attack on you or your opinion, but I find it absolutely wild that after seeing him put on arguably the worst performances from a striker in Premier history that there can be any hope/belief he’ll be successful.

 

[Xeque_279]

I dont think its a whopper of a chance. He either lets it roll across him and takes a first time shot from the edge of the box or he has to take it closer to goal. His position after his touch allows Rice to make a good cover tackle.

I’d say if you put Harry Kane in that position he probably takes a touch but gets his body between the ball and Rice and puts it away. But we dont have a world class striker. Thats why they cost the big bucks - they turn these situations into goals

His touch was rubbish and lack of awareness was even worse. It was a 1v1 with the keeper, it was a whopper of a chance.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Obviously he's one of the utterly crap and overpaid players Ratcliffe is talking about. There's nothing left to be said about Hojlund, he's simply one of the worst signings we've ever made. Sell at the soonest possibility

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

I genuinely love this thread because of that: the number of creative excuses made for a mediocre player. Just a few pages back folks were going on about maybe he's homesick. Imagine that!

The vast majority come here to slack him off. Even if he was a mediocre player the need to gloat over a young player having the toughest time in his career is truly beyond me. Toxic thread.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

Vardy is an extreme rarity. His physical capabilities and mentality are also on another planet to Hojlund’s. Vardy was a lightning quick pest who made the absolute most out of his ability, and credit to him.

Rasmus is 6”3 and doesn’t even attempt to challenge for headers, you'd think his feet are nailed to the ground. Let’s add to the fact that he’s hideously lazy with a woeful first touch and no instincts inside the box.

This isn’t a personal attack on you or your opinion, but I find it absolutely wild that after seeing him put on arguably the worst performances from a striker in Premier history that there can be any hope/belief he’ll be successful.

That’s because some of us remember more than his last game or even this season.

 

[Olecurls99]

The vast majority come here to slack him off. Even if he was a mediocre player the need to gloat over a young player having the toughest time in his career is truly beyond me. Toxic thread.

Agreed. There's nothing new being said. It's just repetitive bile

 

[Lyng]

The vast majority come here to slack him off. Even if he was a mediocre player the need to gloat over a young player having the toughest time in his career is truly beyond me. Toxic thread.

Yeah he has become the new Maguire. I dont think he is good enough, but the amount of vitriol he is getting hurled at him and how he gets blamed for everything is over the top.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The vast majority come here to slack him off. Even if he was a mediocre player the need to gloat over a young player having the toughest time in his career is truly beyond me. Toxic thread.

Well said.

Not that it matters - because it won’t stop people shitting on him - but I think his all round game has looked a little better in the last two matches.

 

[Schmeichels pinky]

Well said.

Not that it matters - because it won’t stop people shitting on him - but I think his all round game has looked a little better in the last two matches.

Yes, it’s funny actually. Last season he was crap because he didn’t make the right runs and find the right positions - but his finishing and conversion rate was excellent. Now he’s crap when he does find good positions, but doesn’t score because he’s low on confidence. So he’s shown he can finish and improve his runs, now he just needs confidence.
But people can’t have that, so they need him to suck at everything.

 

[TwoSheds]

Yes, it’s funny actually. Last season he was crap because he didn’t make the right runs and find the right positions - but his finishing and conversion rate was excellent. Now he’s crap when he does find good positions, but doesn’t score because he’s low on confidence. So he’s shown he can finish and improve his runs, now he just needs confidence.
But people can’t have that, so they need him to suck at everything.

Sorry I'm not supportive of any kind of pile on on Hojlund, he's young and can still turn it round, and in any case bullying a young lad is pathetic, but this is bollocks. Getting one or two decent chances off the bench isn't evidence that he's improved his movement at all, it's a one off game. Even in that game if you watch him off the ball he's constantly wrestling with Gabriel rather than trying to find space for himself.

There are many aspects of his game he needs to improve if he wants to make it in the Prem, not least his first touch and passing which have been very poor this season, but the one consistent thing throughout his time here is that he doesn't get in enough good positions or utilise his pace to find space. If anything he did better at it last year which is why I say he can turn this round, but even last year his movement was nowhere near the level and was only saved by his tidy finishing on the rare occasions he did get chances.

 

[G97]

That’s because some of us remember more than his last game or even this season.

Oh yes, You remember his 9 game purple patch 12 months ago. But purposely forget his other 70 appearances in a red shirt.

What do you realistically, see him becoming?

 

[McLvnsMuse]

I can excuse the poor form if I thought he was working hard. He always looks exhausted but never really seems to do much. These days it’s 80% walking pace.

 

[tomaldinho1]

You seem to be hypersensitive to what is an obvious piece of uplifting nicety from Rooney taking it as a perceived slight from me? In more than one post I stated where “high analysis” could’ve taken said point and turned it into a horrible negative from Rooney pointing out the countless things Højlund does/did wrong per game rather than the few times he does what is expected as a bare minimum of a PL striker. There’s not much more to it than that. No snipe, no denigrating, which is why this is a mountain out of a molehill that you’re taking well off into a tangent from my POV.

I specifically mentioned the ex-players I did because they are some of the few who have or do extensive, more highly analytical pieces that cover the whole, to the positive and negative.

Rooney does right by the player and you seem to be miffed about it?

And with regard to me acknowledging when Højlund does anything I deem fantastic, have a look at my posts regarding a few of the goals that were actually spectacular.

I don’t have any hesitation in praising the player for doing things I feel are impressive. I am not at all a fan of cherry picking fleeting good, however, or at least highlighting that it is cherrypicking.

As said, I just think it's sad you went out of your way to discredit him for something he did well. Go back to the original post you made, the tone is so dismissive to the poster and it's laughable your reason for Rooney simply highlighting a good aspect of his game was 'positive reinforcement'. All analysis is cherry picked, we've been over this, and the ironic thing is Hojlund has actually been much better than usual these last few games but your clear dislike/bias overrides simply having a semblance of objectivity.

 

[Fortitude]

As said, I just think it's sad you went out of your way to discredit him for something he did well. Go back to the original post you made, the tone is so dismissive to the poster and it's laughable your reason for Rooney simply highlighting a good aspect of his game was 'positive reinforcement'. All analysis is cherry picked, we've been over this, and the ironic thing is Hojlund has actually been much better than usual these last few games but your clear dislike/bias overrides simply having a semblance of objectivity.

I’m going to leave you to your narrative now because repeating myself, again, just encourages more of this.

 

[Hip Hop]

You’re saying a PL club would spend €50m on a player who doesn’t look like a PL player? Why would they even look in his direction? It’s just not realistic, is it?

He won’t have suitors in this league unless we’re offering bargain basement punt prices.

Well that’s just my take at the end of the day, count for nothing in the football world. I just hope other clubs will disagree an see his ‘’potential’’ and come for him with an interesting price. Again in an ideal world if not he can go on loan but we need something else at the moment.

 

[Gandalf]

I can excuse the poor form if I thought he was working hard. He always looks exhausted but never really seems to do much. These days it’s 80% walking pace.

Yet Ruben specifically states he is working hard and has put a lot of the blame onto the way the team is playing. To back that up, Zirkzee is not scoring either and I expect that if Chido Obi starts the next 10 games for us he would be doing well to get on the score sheet.

Rasmus needs to improve in many areas, of that there is no doubt, but this team is spectacularly bad at creating chances for forward players. So many people seem to want to lay all of the blame at the players door but both things can be true and both need to get a lot better than they are right now. Ruben has shown Marcus the door and been quick to point the finger at others so I have no reason to think he would pull his punches if he was unhappy with Rasmus or thought he was not trying.

I am mostly staying out of this thread because of the toxicity as mentioned by others. I get that some people want to vent their frustrations on someone and Rasmus is the new poster child for all that is wrong with the club but the relentless bile is tough to wade through. When the toxicity has spread through the fanbase to the point where the lad is getting constant death threats on social media and the club has had to take steps to improve security then I think all sane fans can agree it has gone way too far.