Rasmus Højlund | Signed for United

[NotThatSoph]

Chelsea had a net spend of 550m! The aren’t in the CL next season, so that is at the very least 60m less in revenue. We are in the CL next year, our revenue will grow by 45m at least (60-15 for Europa revenues), yet we’re “so close” to breaching FFP? It’s horseshit. The reason we have a cap on spending this transfer window has nothing to do with FFP. It’s 100% the Glazers.

Do the calculations, then.

 

[Offside]

Going into next season with this kid as our sole #9 would be madness, regardless of how good he may become.

I would be shocked if we didn't bring in at least one additional goalscoring forward with more experience and proven record alongside this.

There’s no market for a striker. Even if we buy this guy I think ETH goes for a left sided attacker with Rashford acting as both a left sided and centre forward. Even then we’d be massively short upfront.

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

Does any of this really matter when we are desperate for a striker and the market is very limited.

Not really. I prefer Höjlund over Muani, but it is a huge gamble to enter next season with Martial and Höjlund as options up front. It just shows how mismanaged the club is but at least ETH is moving us in the right direction. But we won't challenge for the title next season without a reliable no 9.

 

[Cassidy]

Arsenal and Newcastle did better than expected.

Point being? Makes no difference, having the worst goalscoring record of the top 10 clubs and not winning away from home vs top half is not over-performing.
We came about where we were expected to given Liverpool and Chelseas poor season. UCL qualification was always the target after spending so much last summer

 

[Strelok]

Generally, the EtH approach is to assemble a squad where there is as much quality as possible and, specifically, true competition for first 11 places. So Hojlund will be expected to compete but not necessarily be selected in the majority of games in his first year.

Imo it's not the case here.

We didn't have a world class DM he bought Casemiro. We didn't have a good ball playing CB he bought Martinez. We didn't have a left footed RW he bought Antony. They always play when available. We don't have a ball playing sweeper he's about to buy Onana. It's more like he's trying his best to fix the first XI imo.

Spending a big part of our limited budget for someone who won't be able to start the majority of our games next year while we desperately need some who could is a bit daft imo. ETH is surely not daft. Kane is reportedly his first choice but we can't get him so we'd need to find someone else. It's as simple as that imo.

 

[holdsteady]

10 to 15 goals ftom Hojlund would transform our side immensely.

 

[Isotope]

I appreciate what you’re saying but I think you’re, maybe, applying a perspective that isn’t really followed by EtH. I don’t think we are making him our main striker. Quite possibly there is an expectation that he will perform well enough to be selected but that’s as far as it goes.

It’s not huge money for a player with uncommon talent and with the prospect of great improvement. He’s one for now and the future.

Generally, the EtH approach is to assemble a squad where there is as much quality as possible and, specifically, true competition for first 11 places. So Hojlund will be expected to compete but not necessarily be selected in the majority of games in his first year.

When we look at the rest of the squad, we arguably need two new strikers, regardless of how good the first new striker is.

That would make sense if he's for the future and one of the striker options. He seems like EtH's type of player. And I agreed that we do need to build a good quality squad.

Anyway. If he comes, he comes. I've said my concern, and all we can do is to wait and see how it goes.

 

[AneRu]

I appreciate what you’re saying but I think you’re, maybe, applying a perspective that isn’t really followed by EtH. I don’t think we are making him our main striker. Quite possibly there is an expectation that he will perform well enough to be selected but that’s as far as it goes.

It’s not huge money for a player with uncommon talent and with the prospect of great improvement. He’s one for now and the future.

Generally, the EtH approach is to assemble a squad where there is as much quality as possible and, specifically, true competition for first 11 places. So Hojlund will be expected to compete but not necessarily be selected in the majority of games in his first year.

When we look at the rest of the squad, we arguably need two new strikers, regardless of how good the first new striker is.

This, people forget that we have Rashford who is now a certified goalscorer and there is no reason why we shouldn't lean on him for goals when he can score them in bucket loads as his record in three of the last four season attests. Now if Hoijlund comes in and is not Werghost levels of uselessness then he will have the chance to grow for two or so seasons without us expecting much from him and his presence will ensure that Martial's availability or non availability to us won't be as crucial or terminal to our aspirations.

I expect Hoijlund to explode twelve to eighteen months down the line and its best that he does it with us rather than be beyond us if that happens. If it doesn't work we can always sell him to a bottom table club for half the money.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I wonder if we’ll hear of a bid/offer this week

If they can get him, Mount and Onana to play a part in the tour I think Ten Hag will be very happy. Any other business can then presumably be done with patience

 

[CallyRed]

Thought he could only do one at a time.

We currently handle transfers using waterfall project methods. Our aim is to become agile.

 

[flameinthesun]

Agree that's low I said that as well. But thing is he's only 19 yo and he did scored some in the Serie A. Lukaku scored loads there too.

I'm not saying it's impossible for him to hit the ground running here or he won't be able to make it here. That's too daft. It's simply impossible to be sure what would happen. But we should trust ETH I think. However as none could be half sure about anything imo the deal should be structured with a decent fee and lot of add ons. And the wages should be also decent only so if things go tits up we won't be stuck with another Sancho.

Not specifically at you but I've seen some other posters also say "Lukaku also scored goals in Serie A" as if to put down scoring in serie A, forgetting Lukaku had no problem scoring goals in the prem.

The kid looks decent, in regards to WW he looks stronger and quicker than him as well as looks a better finisher and link up play. For a 19yo he's a pretty good prospect who hopefully can grow into a top striker. Certainly looks like he has the tools to become one.

 

[OrcaFat]

Imo it's not the case here.

We didn't have a world class DM he bought Casemiro. We didn't have a good ball playing CB he bought Martinez. We didn't have a left footed RW he bought Antony. They always play when available. We don't have a ball playing sweeper he's about to buy Onana. It's more like he's trying his best to fix the first XI imo.

Spending a big part of our limited budget for someone who won't be able to start the majority of our games next year while we desperately need some who could is a bit daft imo. ETH is surely not daft. Kane is reportedly his first choice but we can't get him so we'd need to find someone else. It's as simple as that imo.

He might or might not start the majority of games but I don’t think the top managers think like a lot of posters on here do - Player A is first choice and Player B is back up (especially this pervading idea that some players are signed to be back up and are told that they need to accept that, which is ludicrous).

We had gaps in the squad and we signed genuine quality (or players with specific qualities) and yes, they always start if fit but that’s because they are better than the players competing with them. If you sign top players (or players who deliver what the manager wants) then it will usually pan out that they get selected if the squad is generally weak. This looks like fixing the first XI but it is really fixing the squad with players that are levels better than what’s already at the club.

Regarding the CF, the question is probably “who’s the best player we can get with our budget” but it’s not a simple question to answer because if we can’t get players like Kane or Osimhen then we have to start factoring in potential.

Is Hojlund good enough to compete for starts? I think he is. But we are very thin at CF which is why I say we need two new forwards. If Hojlund is one, it wouldn’t shock me if we’re after a loan or free transfer of a guy in his 30s, as the other.

 

[Sandikan]

Going into next season with this kid as our sole #9 would be madness, regardless of how good he may become.

I would be shocked if we didn't bring in at least one additional goalscoring forward with more experience and proven record alongside this.

We're currently going in with just Martial, so him coming on will be a big positive.
Then Martial can contribute 30mins every 6 games and Rashy can fill in on occasions.

Maybe we'll try Garnacho on occasions as well.

 

[Sandikan]

We currently handle transfers using waterfall project methods. Our aim is to become agile.

We have been "agile" over the Woodward period though.

Just not in a clever way.

Like when we had Martial and Rashy competing for left wing, we realised we could get Sanchez and brought him in.

We hadn't targeted him in the slightest, and really needed a right winger.

 

[Strelok]

Lukaku had no problem scoring goals in the prem.

I don't have the stats but imo this doesn't seem true with us. Or with Chelsea lately.

And not only the goals. Tbh I didn't watch him playing for Chelsea lately but he got bullied all the time by the PL defenders when he was with us. I was tearing my hair out watching him losing ball after ball back then. But he could quite easily outmuscle the defenders in the Serie A, according to my mate who happen to be an Inter fan. The PL is simply much more physical and difficult than the Serie A imo.

Then surely Hojlund is faster than WW but I'm not sure if he's already stronger than WW. Eye test is not very good in measuring strength imo. Especially when using in different leagues and from highlight clips which usually only show the good stuffs.

I'm not against buying Hojlund. I only don't want us to pay too much cash for him or give him a big salary. That's too risky and won't do the kid any good imo. And I don't want us to put too much pressure and hope on him as well if we buy him. That rarely will do him any good either.

He might or might not start the majority of games but I don’t think the top managers think like a lot of posters on here do - Player A is first choice and Player B is back up (especially this pervading idea that some players are signed to be back up and are told that they need to accept that, which is ludicrous).

We had gaps in the squad and we signed genuine quality (or players with specific qualities) and yes, they always start if fit but that’s because they are better than the players competing with them. If you sign top players (or players who deliver what the manager wants) then it will usually pan out that they get selected if the squad is generally weak. This looks like fixing the first XI but it is really fixing the squad with players that are levels better than what’s already at the club.

Regarding the CF, the question is probably “who’s the best player we can get with our budget” but it’s not a simple question to answer because if we can’t get players like Kane or Osimhen then we have to start factoring in potential.

Is Hojlund good enough to compete for starts? I think he is. But we are very thin at CF which is why I say we need two new forwards. If Hojlund is one, it wouldn’t shock me if we’re after a loan or free transfer of a guy in his 30s, as the other.

Who do you think ETH would prefer Kane or Hojlund?

No coach would think about backup when they don't even have any starter. We can't get Kane so as you said get the best one possible with our limited budget. That has nothing to do with squad competition mate.

 

[Vabelico]

I saw on yt 2 compilations Hojlund vs Upamecano and vs Kim and Rasmus was terrible. I am not sure about him.

 

[sixdwarf]

This, pretty much. Weghorst looked like an amateur player that had won a competition to play up front for Manchester United at times, and we still managed to finish third with him, which was frankly astonishing given quite how bad he really was. It's a low, low bar and I'm not sure what our expectations of Hojlund would be but >2 goals isn't hard to beat.

I can understand this as a signing looking toward the future. But not for now. His goalscoring record in Serie A is hardly pulling up trees. It shows how far we are from being the biggest club in the world when we are scrambling for bargain basement and even then it isn't certain.

 

[OrcaFat]

I don't have the stats but imo this doesn't seem true with us. Or with Chelsea lately.

And not only the goals. Tbh I didn't watch him playing for Chelsea lately but he got bullied all the time by the PL defenders when he was with us. I was tearing my hair out watching him losing ball after ball back then. But he could quite easily outmuscle the defenders in the Serie A, according to my mate who happen to be an Inter fan. The PL is simply much more physical and difficult than the Serie A imo.

Then surely Hojlund is faster than WW but I'm not sure if he's already stronger than WW. Eye test is not very good in measuring strength imo. Especially when using in different leagues and from highlight clips which usually only show the good stuffs.

I'm not against buying Hojlund. I only don't want us to pay too much cash for him or give him a big salary. That's too risky and won't do the kid any good imo. And I don't want us to put too much pressure and hope on him as well if we buy him. That rarely will do him any good either.


Who do you think ETH would prefer Kane or Hojlund?

No coach would think about backup when they don't even have any starter. We can't get Kane so as you said get the best one possible with our limited budget. That has nothing to do with squad competition mate.

No coach who has enough money thinks about “back up” at all; he only thinks about improving the squad by adding genuine competition for starting places. If you have two good CBs you don’t try to get someone who is worse than them and sit him on the bench, you get a player who is equal or better (or with clear potential to be better) and let them all compete. If you can afford it.

Getting better players is 100% about squad competition. By definition. The better the incoming players, the more competition there is for places. If you have the same starting XI every week, that alone tells you there isn’t enough competition in the squad. Solving that is not an overnight job, of course, but EtH is going about it the right way - getting better players than what we had.

The squad (and therefore starting XI) is weak at CF. For sure, if we can get someone of Kane’s quality, we should, and EtH would prefer that to any compromise options, surely. But if we just can’t get someone that good, we should get the best value for our cash. It has to be someone good enough to compete for starts but, in addition to that, “future potential” has value and may be the factor that puts Hojlund ahead of other options. Like I said, we’re so thin in that position that we need two new strikers, not one.

 

[laughtersassassin]

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[TrueRed79]

It’s been quite heavily reported that even if Qatar were to buy us this summer we would have had the same issues with our budget. It is FFP.

Think that's been debunked. We'd be better off financially if takeover was completed. Not by a whole lot, but able to spend more for sure.
It's Kane or bust for us this season for me in terms of winning trophies. Taking a punt on, Højlund doesn't fill me with any confidence. Don't particularly want to wait a few seasons or more for him to find his feet either. Think we need a proven goalscorer now.

 

[gerdm07]

I'm not sure he is quick enough for the PL. Most very good strikers in the PL have an explosive first and second step and the highlights I've seen don't really show it IMO. He would be a little better than Martial. Breenwood is much better at this point.

 

[Wezzaldo]

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Think one of commentary snippets from that is interesting. ‘Looking better and better every time he plays’ (or something like that). Now is the time to get him.

 

[DSG]

Do the calculations, then.

I just did mate. If you still think we’re risking FFP breaches after all of this, that’s on you. I don’t believe a single fecking thing the Glazers say.

 

[Devil You Know]

10 to 15 goals ftom Hojlund would transform our side immensely.

His passing (74%) and his ability to hold off defenders (he seems to get triple marked in EVERY single video I've seen of him) will also be hugely positive for our team play.

I've always wanted a CF who can bring our wide forwards and attacking midfielders into play. I'm less concerned about their personal goal output as long as they can facilitate the goal output of their teammates.

10-15 for Hojlund would be fine as long as he helps Rashford, Bruno, Antony, Mount et al also get an extra 5 goals each. It all adds up.

 

[NotThatSoph]

I just did mate. If you still think we’re risking FFP breaches after all of this, that’s on you. I don’t believe a single fecking thing the Glazers say.

You did not. How do the transfers in the last 4 seasons look on the books? This window it's currently +100m Euros.

 

[golden_blunder]

I don’t get people saying he’s slow

 

[El Jefe]

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Good video but I've heard from Serie A watchers he was a bit of a flat track bully and was pretty invisible against the better teams in the league.

That's not me calling him a bust but it should put things in perspective a bit as the lower half teams in the PL will be of a higher quality but more importantly much stronger and faster than what he faced in Italy.

He might well come good but I really think he will need about a season or two before he becomes reliable for us.

 

[L1nk]

I'm not sure he is quick enough for the PL. Most very good strikers in the PL have an explosive first and second step and the highlights I've seen don't really show it IMO. He would be a little better than Martial. Breenwood is much better at this point.

He’d be one of the fastest players in the team? Greenwood wouldnmt be better because he han’t played football for nearly 2 years so he’s a complete unknown quantity currently.

 

[pocco]

Given that ETH sometimes played Haller at LW and Wout ahead of Bruno in that no.10 type role, this guy might not even play no.9 He's similar stature to those two.

 

[cpresc]

I appreciate what you’re saying but I think you’re, maybe, applying a perspective that isn’t really followed by EtH. I don’t think we are making him our main striker. Quite possibly there is an expectation that he will perform well enough to be selected but that’s as far as it goes.

Generally, the EtH approach is to assemble a squad where there is as much quality as possible and, specifically, true competition for first 11 places. So Hojlund will be expected to compete but not necessarily be selected in the majority of games in his first year.

When we look at the rest of the squad, we arguably need two new strikers, regardless of how good the first new striker is.

thanks for the insight, are there managers not taking this approach?

 

[sglowrider]

I don’t get people saying he’s slow

You clearly aren't aware that we have quite a few of us here who can run the 100 below 10.

 

[sglowrider]

Given that ETH sometimes played Haller at LW and Wout ahead of Bruno in that no.10 type role, this guy might not even play no.9 He's similar stature to those two.

He's not to make things complicated for a 20y.o kid by moving him around from his natural position especially in his 1st season.

 

[DSG]

I don't have the stats but imo this doesn't seem true with us. Or with Chelsea lately.

And not only the goals. Tbh I didn't watch him playing for Chelsea lately but he got bullied all the time by the PL defenders when he was with us. I was tearing my hair out watching him losing ball after ball back then. But he could quite easily outmuscle the defenders in the Serie A, according to my mate who happen to be an Inter fan. The PL is simply much more physical and difficult than the Serie A imo.

Then surely Hojlund is faster than WW but I'm not sure if he's already stronger than WW. Eye test is not very good in measuring strength imo. Especially when using in different leagues and from highlight clips which usually only show the good stuffs.

I'm not against buying Hojlund. I only don't want us to pay too much cash for him or give him a big salary. That's too risky and won't do the kid any good imo. And I don't want us to put too much pressure and hope on him as well if we buy him. That rarely will do him any good either.


Who do you think ETH would prefer Kane or Hojlund?

No coach would think about backup when they don't even have any starter. We can't get Kane so as you said get the best one possible with our limited budget. That has nothing to do with squad competition mate.

Regarding Lukaku, he had 42 goals in 96 appearances, which isn’t too bad. Of course, it always seemed like he couldn’t score when we needed him to score.

I think we should be a bit nervous paying 100m for anyone, even Kane. Those big money transfers frequently don’t work out. There was an article / study about this somewhere. A lot of 100m deals have gone tits up. Hazard, Lukaku to Chelsea, Felix, Griezmann, Coutinho, Dembele, Pogba, etc.

 

[Adamsk7]

You clearly aren't aware that we have quite a few of us here who can run the 100 below 10.

Minutes

 

[mu4c_20le]

Good video but I've heard from Serie A watchers he was a bit of a flat track bully and was pretty invisible against the better teams in the league.

That's not me calling him a bust but it should put things in perspective a bit as the lower half teams in the PL will be of a higher quality but more importantly much stronger and faster than what he faced in Italy.

He might well come good but I really think he will need about a season or two before he becomes reliable for us.

It's true. Which makes me wonder if ETH really wants him, or just paper talk. This particular paragraph from an Athletic article makes him sounds more like an Ole type of signing.

While the typical modern-day forward has experienced a bit of a makeover in recent years towards a more cunning, fluid false-nine profile, Hojlund is more of a throwback — his hurried, tenacious style of play often looks like he’s playing on fast-forward.

The blistering speed he possesses is a huge advantage within Atalanta’s counter-attacking style. Only Fiorentina (70), Sassuolo (72) and AC Milan (84) have accrued more direct attacks — defined as the number of open-play sequences that starts just inside the team’s own half and has at least 50 per cent of movement towards the opposition’s goal and ends in a shot or a touch in the opposition box — than Atalanta’s 68 this season.

 

[TheNewEra]

Good video but I've heard from Serie A watchers he was a bit of a flat track bully and was pretty invisible against the better teams in the league.

That's not me calling him a bust but it should put things in perspective a bit as the lower half teams in the PL will be of a higher quality but more importantly much stronger and faster than what he faced in Italy.

He might well come good but I really think he will need about a season or two before he becomes reliable for us.

I dont think this is true, we created a lot of big chances but we didn't convert them with weghorst and martial.

With Hojlund, Rashford, Antony, Bruno, Casemiro and Mount we are going to have a team of engines that press all over the pitch for 90 minutes. With turn overs high up the field and with technical quality.

Then with Onana we will do a high line and play in their half, Shaw, Licha, Varane and AWB/Dalot at the back.

Onana can take the ball high up the pitch and play the way ETH wants we're not going with a deep line next year.

This is a totally different XI and play style it's automatically 10-15 points more next season IMO with Onana, Hojlund and Mount.

I'd prefer Osimhen but obviously we still have the Glazers hanging around.

We'll surprise people next year

 

[golden_blunder]

You clearly aren't aware that we have quite a few of us here who can run the 100 below 10.

Fair play but it seems that the brains are playing catch-up

 

[flameinthesun]

I don’t get people saying he’s slow

Same here, in every video of him I've seen he looks anything but slow. Reckon he's faster than Martial for example.

 

[El Jefe]

I dont think this is true, we created a lot of big chances but we didn't convert them with weghorst and martial.

With Hojlund, Rashford, Antony, Bruno, Casemiro and Mount we are going to have a team of engines that press all over the pitch for 90 minutes. With turn overs high up the field and with technical quality.

Then with Onana we will do a high line and play in their half, Shaw, Licha, Varane and AWB/Dalot at the back.

Onana can take the ball high up the pitch and play the way ETH wants we're not going with a deep line next year.

This is a totally different XI and play style it's automatically 10-15 points more next season IMO with Onana, Hojlund and Mount.

I'd prefer Osimhen but obviously we still have the Glazers hanging around.

We'll surprise people next year

I don't think any of this has much to do with the comment I made about Hojlund settling in to the PL.

In any case I think its extremely optimistic that signing only Onana, Mount and Hojlund will get us 85-90 points next season.

 

[Powderfinger]

I dont think this is true, we created a lot of big chances but we didn't convert them with weghorst and martial.

With Hojlund, Rashford, Antony, Bruno, Casemiro and Mount we are going to have a team of engines that press all over the pitch for 90 minutes. With turn overs high up the field and with technical quality.

Then with Onana we will do a high line and play in their half, Shaw, Licha, Varane and AWB/Dalot at the back.

Onana can take the ball high up the pitch and play the way ETH wants we're not going with a deep line next year.

This is a totally different XI and play style it's automatically 10-15 points more next season IMO with Onana, Hojlund and Mount.

I'd prefer Osimhen but obviously we still have the Glazers hanging around.

We'll surprise people next year

The transition to high line, possession-based football is a fairly difficult one that is likely to produce some spectacular stuff at times while also generating a fair number of big mistakes and surprisingly bad results.

I think inevitably United will also discover that some players that looked really good in a different system with a deeper defensive line and more space to run into are now are out of their element and struggle quite a bit. And I'm not just talking about Harry Maguire.

Overall, United will do well to change systems and settle into a new style of play while achieving a similar position in the table (ie, 3rd, 75ish points). Expecting 85-90 points is madness.