Thought he was our best player. Not a tough contest for that tonight.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 46
- Goals
- 28
- Assists
- 9
- Yellow cards
- 8
- Status
People try too hard with controversial statements on here.
How can he congest the space in the final third when he's a striker, who is supposed to be in the final third? Whut.
No white text?
His link up play has been really good in the past couple of games??
I agree with this.
We're pretty much getting exactly what we could expect from a Zlatan who's slowly on the way down from his peak. Presence in the box, leadership, solid link-up play, and a very good goal ratio. There's not a single center forward in the world that we could realistically get who's better than Zlatan. Be grateful! Especially when he's delivering! This place would have been unbearable if Zlatan had a slow start.
If his play is poor then I worry what you think about the rest of our players. Apart from Rojo and Fellaini who really are just useless.
His passing is seldom talked about, it's sublime at times
8 starts, 6 goals.
He'll end the season on over 30 goals in all comps and some of you will still try telling me he's "past it". Been possibly our best link up player over the previous 2 games fwiw.
It's like watching Sweden - Greece back in EURO 2008 all over again. He scored eventually, thanks to the great Henrik Larsson, but he didn't really add much to the proceedings as a striker and became silent again.
Is it just me or is he dropping deeper and depper away from the goal each game?
Is it just me or is he dropping deeper and depper away from the goal each game?
Partially due to the fact that he's 35.... He has kept his productivity but isn't the same as he was say 5-6 years ago.
There are people who don't reckon he had a good match? What the actual feck?
His link-up play was pretty damn good, had a few really good attempts at threading players through, scored our goal, worked really hard to press from the front.
I really don't know what more people want from him.
His link-up play was pretty damn good, had a few really good attempts at threading players through, scored our goal, worked really hard to press from the front.
I really don't know what more people want from him.
By the way, he has a more productive year than Ronaldo so far! Of course it has a lot to do with Ronaldo's injury, but I still find it very impressive
*There is a mistake as Suarez's 43 goals and 21 assists make 64
**Ibra scored today, so it's 39 goals for him and 50 total
***Ronaldo scored on 27, so it's 35 goals and 45 total
*There is a mistake as Suarez's 43 goals and 21 assists make 64
**Ibra scored today, so it's 39 goals for him and 50 total
***Ronaldo scored on 27, so it's 35 goals and 45 total
I'm confused myself. These past couple games, Zlatan has been dropping deep and dictating our play, getting more involved. And as a result, his overall game looks a lot more improved compared to his previous performances, and his touch & passing game have improved too. I'm completely puzzled to read the few posts here saying that he didn't do anything today other than scoring a goal. He was easily our best player with Mata 2nd. Rashford didn't create anything, Lingard was useless, our midfield was poor, and our fullbacks didn't really give much going forward either.
We should have signed this guy years ago. Never wanted him in the past for a variety of reasons which now seem ridiculous. Unbelievable performance levels for a 34 year old. Hopefully another giggs.
He misplaced a lot of passes. Was very sloppy during the game. Good awareness for the goal but not his best game.
Wow. Thought this was one of his best performances so far to be honest. Those sloppy passes you're refering to was when he tried key passes or tried one-twos. Everything he does is with a purpose. I wish the others would play like him. We need a compilation of his involvement in this game, maybe i was dreaming but i felt he did most things right.
Hmm? Agree to disagree.
My favourite momemt was when he told Rooney to feck off from the free kick, again. For me it looks pretty clear that he doesn't rate Rooney as his some other teammates do, which is good to see that not everyone will lick his arse just because he is our captain.
This is how he has been performing most games but then he grabs a goal. His best performance has actually been against Leicester and funnily enough that tae he didn't score.
He drops so deep that the opposition centreback's aren't and everything is in front of them occupied, he's dropping so deep he's picking up the ball from the to pick the ball up off the centreback's. We don't have a real focal point in the final third or a player who can use movement to create space for midfielders. In the middle third he congests things and there isn't any real space for the attacking midfielders or anyone for them to aim for through the lines, at times you could have thrown a net over him Lingard and Mata. Jesse Lingard was more further forward than him on a few occasions him and with his lack of pace it doesn't make sense. His play is actually really stating to annoy me. He will grab hs goals because he is a goal scorer but his all round play is leaving a lot to be desired. There's are a few reasons our attack looks toothless, with our lack of pace the positional play needs to be on point and right now we aren't getting that, Zlatan is the chief culprit in that regard. His actual link up play, the ball is bobbling off him, he's misplacing passes, he's getting tackled way too often. His performances haven't impressed me at all.
I'm not a fan of a slow striker unless it's the ilk of someone like Van Persie was when we signed him, Zlatan isn't near that level.
Imagine how he really feels about Wayne stinking it up. I bet he had a word with Mourinho about dropping him.
Our de-facto captain. Only reason why he hasn't been given the armband is because of the mediastorm it would cause to strip their favourite Ingurlish lardass of the armband.
Our de-facto captain. Only reason why he hasn't been given the armband is because of the mediastorm it would cause to strip their favourite Ingurlish lardass of the armband.
His and Pogba's body language after each of Rooney's feck ups in the last few games couldn't be more telling. Having two super strong personalities with high standards has surely tempered Rooney's grip on the dressing room.
In that Samuel article that Rooney basically wrote himself it talked of Rooney's influence and guidance of the young lads like Rashford and Lingard yet any time the young lads have talked publicly it's always about what it's like learning alongside Zlatan at training.
In that Samuel article that Rooney basically wrote himself it talked of Rooney's influence and guidance of the young lads like Rashford and Lingard yet any time the young lads have talked publicly it's always about what it's like learning alongside Zlatan at training.
Needs to stop playing midfield.
He has far exceeded my expectations.. people said he couldn't perform in England and guess what he is performing and doing exceptionally well.
How many 34 yr olds, could perform to the level he is. The fans complaining about his performance levels are absolutely bonkers, he's playing brilliantly considering he is past his peak and still producing the goods and having a clear impact on our points tally across various competitions.. not to mention he also scored against City.
As long as he keeps scoring an we keep winning, I couldn't care less if his overall performances weren't up to scratch because he is playing up front, so shouldn't hamper the team as a whole and you also have to factor in his age and therefore manage expectations. All things considering, he is contributing to fluidity up front and also getting on the scoresheet.. win win.
Where the team is struggling is the number 10 position (I am still not convinced by Mata), the number 6 position (not convinced by Fellaini and yet to be seen how Herrera fares against better opposition) and the lack of a top right winger, and our depth in full backs is also poor. So Zlatan isn't the issue, he's doing very well in a formative and still very dysfunctional side.
How many 34 yr olds, could perform to the level he is. The fans complaining about his performance levels are absolutely bonkers, he's playing brilliantly considering he is past his peak and still producing the goods and having a clear impact on our points tally across various competitions.. not to mention he also scored against City.
As long as he keeps scoring an we keep winning, I couldn't care less if his overall performances weren't up to scratch because he is playing up front, so shouldn't hamper the team as a whole and you also have to factor in his age and therefore manage expectations. All things considering, he is contributing to fluidity up front and also getting on the scoresheet.. win win.
Where the team is struggling is the number 10 position (I am still not convinced by Mata), the number 6 position (not convinced by Fellaini and yet to be seen how Herrera fares against better opposition) and the lack of a top right winger, and our depth in full backs is also poor. So Zlatan isn't the issue, he's doing very well in a formative and still very dysfunctional side.
- Linked up well last night I thought. They had 2 organised banks of 4 defending. He's good in the air but there is no point lumping it towards him all game when it's like that, he won't get a clear header and we won't be first to any follow up. He dropped deep to draw players out and brought Rashford, Lingard and Martial into the fray.
Safe to say that lad who made a bet with other posters saying Zlatan wouldn't score 7 is going to lose.
Really could not ask more of him than he has been delivering. This is not peak Zlatan we have at our club but his all round play is improving game by game and he is our leading goal scorer.
Once our wide forwards find some consistent form he will look even better
Once our wide forwards find some consistent form he will look even better
That's OK if the other attacking players occupy Ibra's vacant space up front. that didn't happen last night, there was no focal point when he dropped deep. Ibra's not a good enough passer or dribbler to be given the freedom to come deep to get the ball.
That's how he plays and played most of his career. He drops back but when the ball is out wide or with midfielders who can pass the ball, most of the times he makes the run and will be in the box.
- Yup,
- agreed
You have to look at what kind of passes he tried to do. It's not like he mispassed many simple one like Lingard and you know who vs Watford.
Then we're not playing possession based football it's not all about moving the ball around and not to lose it.
I take this sloppiness of him today over you know who #9 performance these 2 seasons.
Not saying his play is so much like Cantona, but more his stately manner in interviews and way he is with the squad. He is no doubt the boss on the field. He even stole rooneys free kick and poor wayne didnt even try to argue haha
I predicted 17, he hasn't even hit form yet and neither have we. If that happens, he should score 25 plus.
With Ibrahimovic and in the future with Rashford, we don't need a #10, they both like to occupy that space and they both thrives when they can extend their link up opportunities. Playing with a midfield three is the way to go, in my opinion.
The car he is driving is deteriorating, but he has never steered better. I've been impressed and while he is doing well, I think he will improve. Such a good mentality, and Mourinho knows it pays dividends to cater to how he likes it a little bit. Give to Zlatan, and the Zlatan gives back.
He was absolutely atrocious last night. This place is bonkers.
This. Fine, he was aware enough to get the goal after Rooney tried a volley with his knee but Zlatan was constantly out of position, dropping deep to pick up the ball leaving no one up front to be the focal point for attacks.
It wasn't a glittering display but to call his performance "absolutely atrocious" is pure hyperbole.
He didn't have much to feed off around the area so dropped deep and linked up well with the midfield.
True but that's not his job. He failed in that regard last night. If he hadn't nicked a fortuitous goal would people have voted him MoTM?
- Status