Must do. Completely changed the game with it today. The amount chances we created after he came on really showed that positioning is the issue here.
11
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 39
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 2
Another poster has mentioned somewhere that between Weghorst and Rasmus, they have failed to score in a combined 31 Premier League matches.
Beyond poor recruitment in my opinion.
Beyond poor recruitment in my opinion.
Unlike Rasmus though, Weghorst was getting chances he was just missing them all, prefer to judge Hojlund more when he’s missing chance after chance, that and the vast age and experience difference.
I mean the fact we arguably got worse when Hojlund went off and Rashford came on his place should speak volumes about how the problem being Hojlund is very much overblown.
I think we can all agree that we were seeing a different Hojlund at the start of the season and this one looks devoid of anything resembling that. He’s deserved criticism for his recent performances but this writing him off as absolute dogshit at 20 years old and a few months at a club that plays like a relegation form team is extremely OTT and the reason i’ve stopped posting in this thread till now because you can’t have a nuanced discussion around this guy. He’s been written off already, absolutely zero patience and understanding.
Are the Hojlund fans not concerned about his lack of ability to create a shot for himself?
I'm confused, I'm reading not a natural finisher but I'm also seeing with my eyes a guy who doesn't create himself space to make his own chances.
Honestly think we've signed a 20 million pound striker for more than triple his value.
I'm confused, I'm reading not a natural finisher but I'm also seeing with my eyes a guy who doesn't create himself space to make his own chances.
Honestly think we've signed a 20 million pound striker for more than triple his value.
Currently has too many flaws. It again stems from lack of planning or oversight from the top plus pure madness from ETH, that he signed a striker who has scored what 8 or 9 goals for Atlanta last season and was not a starter, In addition, who relies heavily on wingers to supply him chances, however we have wingers who are soo shit at creating any chance that it deems him useless.
We needed a striker who could create chances for himself and for others as well. But we signed a striker who is just very raw, easily bullied by strong CBs, aerially poor and very one footed all of that for 70 odd million.
Heads should roll on these decisions tbh, not because I don't think he would not come good, he may or may not, but the issue is, currently he is not ready to be Premier league striker for any top club (aspiring to be top 4 contenders). It's such a sad state of affairs that all of our top 4 rivals have better reserves than this guy let alone starting players (Alvarez, Richarlson, Ekitete, Jota/Nunez etc)
We needed a striker who could create chances for himself and for others as well. But we signed a striker who is just very raw, easily bullied by strong CBs, aerially poor and very one footed all of that for 70 odd million.
Heads should roll on these decisions tbh, not because I don't think he would not come good, he may or may not, but the issue is, currently he is not ready to be Premier league striker for any top club (aspiring to be top 4 contenders). It's such a sad state of affairs that all of our top 4 rivals have better reserves than this guy let alone starting players (Alvarez, Richarlson, Ekitete, Jota/Nunez etc)
I’ve said it before but we have made a mistake signing him at such a young age without a more experienced proven goal scorer to start ahead of him.
He started promising but his performances in the league are noticeably dipping the longer he goes without scoring a goal, I do think he’ll end up as another poor signing from Ten Hag and it’s not all Højlund fault but while being in the worst possible environment to develop he doesn’t look like a “great” player in the making.
He started promising but his performances in the league are noticeably dipping the longer he goes without scoring a goal, I do think he’ll end up as another poor signing from Ten Hag and it’s not all Højlund fault but while being in the worst possible environment to develop he doesn’t look like a “great” player in the making.
Rasmus' expected goals in Serie A last season was 10.29 and he scored 9 goals, he effectively converted 90% of his xG
His expected goals in the Premier League this season is 3.59 and he has scored 0 goals.
It's just not happening for him in this league.
https://understat.com/player/11055
Hojlund will be deadwood in a couple of seasons. Whilst the service to him has been non existent , there is nothing about his overall play that suggests there is an extra side to his game. A strong number 9 can also play himself into the game when service isn’t forthcoming. He seems to operate solely as a target striker which is futile when the ball isn’t coming to him.
Not yet, we should ditch the 4-3-3 with 2 wingers and instead play with two up front men with Bruno underneath them. Then the midfield 3 is Amrabat, Mainoo and another CM. Mount would actually be ideal for his creativity, Garnacho and Hojland and a more compact game since we have zero service from the right side
I’m not just looking at one game, he has been invisible in the box and is seldom in the right position.
Reminds me a bit of Chicharito at times. Just without any service. And instead of Rooney to play off, he's got McTominay
I bet that Kane would be on 6 or 7 at least. With that many assists too.
Blimey, we are running in circles here.
If you told me he was either a youth product through our academy finding his feet in the 1st team in the odd league cup game OR he’d been signed on the last day of the window to fill an emergency gap, I’d perfectly accept the current lack of return. But to think that this is our main central striker who we out laid massive money on in the summer is yet another ludicrous piece of recruitment the club should be lambasted over.
Who the feck is he assisting?
Lets look only at this game; service is bad as you people say. What is stopping him to be more involved in play? Answer is quality.
Did you noticed how many times in last few games he dropped deeper to get the ball. And what happened? Defenders would just bullied him away or he would fail to control the ball.
Also in penalty box; this today (Antony's pass) was situation which we have seen many times this season. Hojlund was late on the ball. One time, two times, 3 times....you can blame the pass or whatever but every time?
I don't think anyone is.
It's fine to look at areas of his game he can improve on, but people constantly act on here like that would fix everything.
The other week he's standing in the position for a tap in when Mctomminay takes a shot from a much worse position, and we have players who take that option quite a lot. That's a bigger issue because we can take Hojlund out but we're still not creating.
No but really, who is Kane assisting in your scenario?
He is not as imposing physically as you would like for a striker of his profile as he easily gets knocked down by any average PL Cb. Sure he is young but, if he wants to lead the line for us, on the system we are playing, he needs to gets tougher very quickly.
He drops too deep and in the counters he is far in-field, with his back from goal, so he ends up rarely participating on the final third. Also not sure if this is tactical, but he doesnt get into the chanels enough for my liking. His pace could really be useful on the wings, and the likes of Antony would be very happy to get him into play from the left.
His movement is very sporadic, as you can see that his teamates often bump, shoot into him or make the same runs as him.Last few games Garnacho looked for him on the near post often, which is supposedly his area, only for Hojlund to stay on the far post, doubling up on McT.
Will turn good eventually, but he needs competition and possibly a tactical change for that. Not sure he will score much, the way we play currently, even if we as a team find our scoring form.
He drops too deep and in the counters he is far in-field, with his back from goal, so he ends up rarely participating on the final third. Also not sure if this is tactical, but he doesnt get into the chanels enough for my liking. His pace could really be useful on the wings, and the likes of Antony would be very happy to get him into play from the left.
His movement is very sporadic, as you can see that his teamates often bump, shoot into him or make the same runs as him.Last few games Garnacho looked for him on the near post often, which is supposedly his area, only for Hojlund to stay on the far post, doubling up on McT.
Will turn good eventually, but he needs competition and possibly a tactical change for that. Not sure he will score much, the way we play currently, even if we as a team find our scoring form.
Other players? It doesn't need to be assist (by the FPL law
) At least create a chance for someone.Then he wouldn't be getting 6 or 7 assists would he?Other players? It doesn't need to be assist (by the FPL law
The fact we're talking about a few potential runs Hojlund could've made that might've resulted in a few goals should really indicate how few chances we actually do create for him. If he was getting decent service they wouldn't be mentioned by those who do or don't rate him because it's the type of thing that happens with every striker.
There was this moment when Antony fired in a wonderful cross with his right (I could not believe my eyes). I noticed that both Hojlund and Garnacho were caught on their heels and were not expecting that from Antony.
You can understand it from Garnacho when he is not a striker but Hojlund making the same mistake is worrying. Just don’t see the striker instinct in him. Also his touch is erratic and he gets bullied far too easily. Hope it all comes good but the signs are not that great so far.
You can understand it from Garnacho when he is not a striker but Hojlund making the same mistake is worrying. Just don’t see the striker instinct in him. Also his touch is erratic and he gets bullied far too easily. Hope it all comes good but the signs are not that great so far.
The lack of passes he receives is also down to him. He doesn’t have the instincts that a top striker has. When you’re limited with the ball, you have to make up for it with movement but he doesn’t have it.
I’ve maintained he will come good based on very little to be honest. He just isn’t a killer striker and for £72m, we needed one. His first touch is woefully bad as Lukaku’s
I’ve maintained he will come good based on very little to be honest. He just isn’t a killer striker and for £72m, we needed one. His first touch is woefully bad as Lukaku’s
Not sure he's got that much talent to be honest.
He's just a passenger in most games now.
He's just a passenger in most games now.
Let’s just be honest, even if we bought Kane he would struggle to score here with this team.
We were worse when he went off but he was poor. He’s in legitimately bad form now, it’s gone beyond a blip and become a point of mainstream debate. Which is fair enough.
I think Rasmus will come good!
The team needs more creativity not more Scott McT. We need more players who take responsibility on the ball and keep standards high as feck. I really think Mount coming back is going to help Rasmus get going. Right now we only seem to have Bruno who can play a final ball.
This club is currently broken and we are relying on an 18 and 20 year old to be our best players and savours. It’s good experience for them but we need some players who are slightly older/well established/freakishly good in the role we actually want them to play! It shouldn’t be rocket science to develop a good team with the money we generate.
I think Rasmus will come good!
The team needs more creativity not more Scott McT. We need more players who take responsibility on the ball and keep standards high as feck. I really think Mount coming back is going to help Rasmus get going. Right now we only seem to have Bruno who can play a final ball.
This club is currently broken and we are relying on an 18 and 20 year old to be our best players and savours. It’s good experience for them but we need some players who are slightly older/well established/freakishly good in the role we actually want them to play! It shouldn’t be rocket science to develop a good team with the money we generate.
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Weghorst at 20, would people defend him as much?
He's absolutely rubbish, at 20 you should be making far bigger impact. 75 million wasted.
He's absolutely rubbish, at 20 you should be making far bigger impact. 75 million wasted.
That's an insane take. Martial is a watered-down version of Kane. And a fit and motivated Martial did make a lot difference to our attack.
It’s not insane when it becomes obvious our whole team/structure/attack play is the problem, rather than just 1 forward player.
I'm surprised that this isn't a bigger talking point on here. He has no ability to create space for himself and fire off a shot, unlike most other semi-decent strikers out there. I seriously can't remember him doing it in over 20 games for United, it's absolutely ridiculous.
The attacking play is a problem because of the players we have in attack. Players that are befitting a 6th place team.
The incredible thing about Kane, you got the whole package of good finisher and excellent playmaker. He's like the upgraded version of Martial in that lockdown period but doing it for years instead of just months.
So you are expecting Kane to assist himself to goals?
No goals or assist in the PL. Disgraceful for a United striker.
Teams might double up on him and creating more space for others, we may create more chances, we may retain more balls with him, he may score goals with half chances, he may assist the likes of Bruno, McTom, etc.
The thinking that a world class player wouldn't make much more difference than a 20 y.o. inexperience and limited striker is mind boggling, imho.
EDIT: although it seems like you just said about Kane in jest and out of frustration of our attacking play.
Kane would most likely make a big difference, but who knows. Casemiro and Varane were a sure thing also, and now half the Caf want them gone.
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Wout Weghorst was in the second tier of Dutch football at the same age, and Harry Kane was sat on the bench at loan in the Championship at 20. You’re complaining that an inexperienced raw footballer is not carrying our garbage ass Manchester United team on his own in the best league in the world, when nobody else is scoring but McTominay, and yet still he’s the joint second highest scorer at the club this season. His performances - particularly in the league - are due criticism for sure but people like you in this thread are a joke. Not everyone develops at the same rate what are you talking about - Mbappe and Haaland types have fried peoples heads I swear.
Most people on this forum don’t deserve the young talented players you all seem to suggest we sign because after a few months you’ll all be dogpiling on them and calling them shit.
Don’t think so. I think you still have unrealistic expectations on these clowns.
The ire people who are annoyed with Hojlund have should be reserved for those responsible for bringing him here and then plonking him into the first team without a mentor. He's learning on the job. He wasn't close to the finished article in a weaker league, so how is it people think he could just take a leap to a better scorer in a worse team who are so much more incoherent than what he came from that the kid must have doubts and regrets about coming here.
As things stand, he looks like the kind of player you buy and leave exactly where he was to develop and round out his game and understanding of his role, instead, we took it upon ourselves to uproot him, offer no support and make him the main man for no good reason. It was stated by those that knew far more of the player than the rest of us that he shouldn't be leading the line and that he needs to be part of the attacking rotation as he wasn't ready for this gig. This was stated by so many people in his transfer thread that it blurred into one, and if so many could be so certain of their position regarding Hojlund, how the hell could the club (whoever allowed this to happen) be so negligent and off the mark in how he was to be utilised this season?
To compound matters, he is on the job with another couple of players on the job... that should never happen unless you have a bunch of prodigies coming through together, and even then, a wiser head would be expected to guide them mentally, even if they have all the talent and attributes. A player who is much higher rated than Hojlund who many here want at the club is the Brighton lad, Evan Ferguson. Despite being considerably higher touted, look at how Brighton are handling his development. Look at the players nurturing and guiding him. Look at how his minutes are distributed and how he is taken off at the optimal times. This is for a player who is expected to have a stellar career some years into the future. His development is being handled in a light and day manner to an inferior and less battle-hardened player in Hojlund. You should be asking what we are doing before pulling your hair out that a youngster who was expected to have a tough season is in fact, having a tough season. His confidence is in the bin and he is physically reduced. There's so much going against him at the minute, pointing fingers at him directly serves little purpose.
Would love to know what our scouts reported before we put down all that money. Heads should roll at whichever points OK's were given to allow this to happen.
As things stand, he looks like the kind of player you buy and leave exactly where he was to develop and round out his game and understanding of his role, instead, we took it upon ourselves to uproot him, offer no support and make him the main man for no good reason. It was stated by those that knew far more of the player than the rest of us that he shouldn't be leading the line and that he needs to be part of the attacking rotation as he wasn't ready for this gig. This was stated by so many people in his transfer thread that it blurred into one, and if so many could be so certain of their position regarding Hojlund, how the hell could the club (whoever allowed this to happen) be so negligent and off the mark in how he was to be utilised this season?
To compound matters, he is on the job with another couple of players on the job... that should never happen unless you have a bunch of prodigies coming through together, and even then, a wiser head would be expected to guide them mentally, even if they have all the talent and attributes. A player who is much higher rated than Hojlund who many here want at the club is the Brighton lad, Evan Ferguson. Despite being considerably higher touted, look at how Brighton are handling his development. Look at the players nurturing and guiding him. Look at how his minutes are distributed and how he is taken off at the optimal times. This is for a player who is expected to have a stellar career some years into the future. His development is being handled in a light and day manner to an inferior and less battle-hardened player in Hojlund. You should be asking what we are doing before pulling your hair out that a youngster who was expected to have a tough season is in fact, having a tough season. His confidence is in the bin and he is physically reduced. There's so much going against him at the minute, pointing fingers at him directly serves little purpose.
Would love to know what our scouts reported before we put down all that money. Heads should roll at whichever points OK's were given to allow this to happen.
I originally thought the same, but to be fair Antony playing that early cross with his right foot is very unlike what he normally does. Normally you'd expect him to cut back and play a left footed pass in, so maybe Hojlund thought the same and was waiting for that.
It really was the kind of ball that Antony should make more often, and if he does then maybe Hojlund would make the run more often. Maybe.
Recently yes. Earlier in the season he was making much better runs and it was more the lack of service that stopped him getting more chances. Unfortunately the chances that he did get at the time he wasn't able to finish (except in the CL where he's still the equal top scorer), and as time has gone on his general play has gotten worse and worse.
The question is whether his performances have deteriorated because of losing confidence and with time he'll come good and improve further, or whether this is more what is to be expected going forward. I do think it's more likely to be the former, but it's hard to know whether even with improvement he'll ultimately be good enough.
Great post. Exactly my thought.
A signing that is supposed for the future, but being thrown into deep end because the incompetence of both recruitment policy and first team management. Now instead of being developed to bring out his potential, he is being used as workhorse, since ETH is dead set on seeing McTominay as one of the main goal threat, and changed the teams to accompany McTominay game.
Ever since McTominay became a mainstay in the team, Hojlund positioning, movement likely seems to be restricted by ETH's instruction.
We only really get crosses from Shaw. Did Wan B. have any crosses today? Anthony on his left? Garnacho tried...but to no avail. No service, equals no goals for a striker like him.