He has been bad since his return from injury. Was good before injury though. He has some nice touches and the odd good play which gives you belief he has the potential, but it'll take time. The box movement definitely needs a lot of work.
11
5.5
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 38
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 2
All this talk of service - somehow McTominay continually manages to be found in the opponent’s box. Not only does he score goals, but he also nearly scores goals far more often. I remember a game not too long ago that I put Scott on my acca to get 2 shots on target and he had that by halftime, in a game he didn’t score in. 2 shots on target for Hojlund seems a rarity in any football match.
atkar83
Full Member
CBs aren't accounting for him I guess? Other midfielders are as lazy as ours maybeAll this talk of service - somehow McTominay continually manages to be found in the opponent’s box. Not only does he score goals, but he also nearly scores goals far more often. I remember a game not too long ago that I put Scott on my acca to get 2 shots on target and he had that by halftime, in a game he didn’t score in. 2 shots on target for Hojlund seems a rarity in any football match.
soapythecat
Full Member
Useless again. Doesn’t hold the ball up. Can’t pass and his positional sense is non existent. The scouts must have been pissed when they recommended him.
tomaldinho1
Full Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2015
- Messages
- 17,866
To be fair, much easier to find space as a midfielder than 9.All this talk of service - somehow McTominay continually manages to be found in the opponent’s box. Not only does he score goals, but he also nearly scores goals far more often. I remember a game not too long ago that I put Scott on my acca to get 2 shots on target and he had that by halftime, in a game he didn’t score in. 2 shots on target for Hojlund seems a rarity in any football match.
Hojlund is a kid, should he be leading the line for team who wants to win the PL/CL? No. Is he good enough for top 4 team? Probably not. Is he someone it’s worth gambling on being one of those things in a year or two? I’d say yes.
Lash
Full Member
Confidence through the floor, I genuinely had him down for missing the pen. Was a very good winning pen though, hopefully that gives him a boost, as he has to do so much better.
Roboc7
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2014
- Messages
- 6,677
He was really poor, did liven up a bit in extra time at least and took penalty well. Lack of service is a problem but he is clearly a work in progress we massively overpaid for and are too reliant on.
AndySmith1990
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2021
- Messages
- 6,256
Can't be arsed with anymore excuses. Call a spade a spade. The lad is rubbish and it's another waste of £70m
redshaw
Full Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2015
- Messages
- 9,713
While I rate him but he isn't really gelling well and has different movement. There was a game in the first half of the season nothing was happening, McTom came on as a late sub and was instantly found by a great Garnacho cross, this type of movement wasn't coming from Hojlund so the cross chance never opened up, he's more give and go at Atalanta while McTom can probably lead a line better at this stage.
Sad thing is he 's a 30-40 million project. Antony rated 25m by the club, we just can't do deals.
Sad thing is he 's a 30-40 million project. Antony rated 25m by the club, we just can't do deals.
Snow
Somewhere down the lane, a licky boom boom down
McTominay finding space in the box is mostly thanks to Højlund and him being a midfielder arriving into the box late. Højlund makes a run, defenders follow, McTominay runs into open space. If Dalot or Bruno have the ball that's a decent chance at scoring.All this talk of service - somehow McTominay continually manages to be found in the opponent’s box. Not only does he score goals, but he also nearly scores goals far more often. I remember a game not too long ago that I put Scott on my acca to get 2 shots on target and he had that by halftime, in a game he didn’t score in. 2 shots on target for Hojlund seems a rarity in any football match.
To be fair, much easier to find space as a midfielder than 9.
Hojlund is a kid, should he be leading the line for team who wants to win the PL/CL? No. Is he good enough for top 4 team? Probably not. Is he someone it’s worth gambling on being one of those things in a year or two? I’d say yes.
I appreciate that in principle, and did consider, but in real terms, a lot of the opportunities he does get in the box could and should be easily replicated by a centre forward. They are not all third man runs, Scott often positions himself as a striker in our games anyway, and is already in the box waiting when crosses come in. I don’t see why that can’t sometimes be Hojlund.McTominay finding space in the box is mostly thanks to Højlund and him being a midfielder arriving into the box late. Højlund makes a run, defenders follow, McTominay runs into open space. If Dalot or Bruno have the ball that's a decent chance at scoring.
Our players are passing to Scott because he is easier to find I think. Even Weghorst, rubbish as he was, was at least regularly missing chances in what is virtually the same team. He also has nowhere near the speed as RH but was still getting chances.
#07
makes new threads with tweets in the OP
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2010
- Messages
- 23,331
When Bruno gave him the ball in the box late in normal time he took four touches. Not good enough. One touch and shoot with whatever foot is free. That's the requirement. Hit the target even if you don't score. Too slow to react too often.
Andersons Dietician
Full Member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2016
- Messages
- 13,244
Generally starved of service but that one opportunity that he got he had to at least get the shot off. No idea why he wanted to drag it back on to his left. He’s looked comfortable enough before taking things on his right foot.
We do need to find a way of getting him into the game more.
We do need to find a way of getting him into the game more.
E-mal
Full Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2017
- Messages
- 3,731
He is a nothing player, we said that about Anthony last season and here we are again. Happy to give him next season but as a back up
I think he blossoms quite a lot if you replace Rashford with someone like Pedro Neto (not necessarily him).
it’s like having two negatives when Rashford is on. Rashford delivers nothing by the chances he dribbles in and tries to either dribble more or shoot through 3 defenders.
If Rashford goes all others will thrive if he’s replaced by a team player who crosses and passes more.
it’s like having two negatives when Rashford is on. Rashford delivers nothing by the chances he dribbles in and tries to either dribble more or shoot through 3 defenders.
If Rashford goes all others will thrive if he’s replaced by a team player who crosses and passes more.
Snow
Somewhere down the lane, a licky boom boom down
Don't disagree with that. Both can be correct. His movement benefits others but he's not able to do it for himself.I appreciate that in principle, and did consider, but in real terms, a lot of the opportunities he does get in the box could and should be easily replicated by a centre forward. They are not all third man runs, Scott often positions himself as a striker in our games anyway, and is already in the box waiting when crosses come in. I don’t see why that can’t sometimes be Hojlund.
Our players are passing to Scott because he is easier to find I think. Even Weghorst, rubbish as he was, was at least regularly missing chances in what is virtually the same team. He also has nowhere near the speed as RH but was still getting chances.
The Mitcher
connoisseur of pot noodles and sandwiches
I mean, it's common sense to create another option rather than just follow another player. Doesn't show much intelligence.I think his movement needs a lot of work. Several times today he made the same runs as Mctominay instead of going for the near post etc.
I think it’s safe to say we need a starting centre forward or at least one to really push him.
Cant keep going through barren runs of 7 or 8 games without a goal from the striker.
DWelbz19
Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2012
- Messages
- 34,059
Agree with a lot of this. The Zirkzee links are interesting in particular, just down to how interesting of a player profile he is. Rarely see a forward so tall be so good in the buildup and carrying the ball.I made the point when and since we signed him, but I really believe that the explosion of Haaland seduced us into buying him. Which is poor if true. Stick to the script. I say that because before one started scoring 50 goals, I would not have seen Haaland’s profile as the sort of player that a top team signs. We’re even seeing the pitfalls of this with Haaland himself IMO. Football was moving towards teams trying to build total football sides, but City and Pep almost ‘sold out’ because maths is maths and Haaland represented a cheat code. The thing is, if the guy doesn’t score 50 goals, or even loads of goals, then it doesn’t work. Hojlund has to score a high number of goals to justify, as he’s not a creator or top link player.
This talk of players like Zirkzee or Sesko spells real danger for him. At the current bar, another promising young striker hardly has to do too much next season to move ahead of him. He’s spent the vast majority of his games here not posing any real threat NOR offering any real creativity. Work rate and hard running gets you a gig far lower down the table than our aspirations.
As you alluded, way too early to cast the dice, but at the same time I’m also not in favour for just putting what we’re seeing down to perfectly normal and expected progression, and just taking for granted that if we just sprinkle some more time, we’ll have a top striker. What we are seeing is a huge let down.
Only thing I worry about is just pure numbers on the board. Especially if we lose Rashford. Wouldn't be opposed to being the big team who finally gives Toney his time in the limelight.
Sandikan
aka sex on the beach
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2011
- Messages
- 53,253
Glad he put that last pen away at least.
He's had such a lack of service and been out of form, you wondered if he'd forget how to onion bag it.
He's had such a lack of service and been out of form, you wondered if he'd forget how to onion bag it.
Bobski
Full Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2017
- Messages
- 9,966
I don't mind the barren runs, all strikers have them, but what separates the best strikers from the mediocre is that even when not scoring they are still a threat and missing chances. Ability to get on the end of things is more important than pure finishing ability. Hojlund goes weeks without getting a decent shot off, and while yes you can point at sub optimal service his movement and instincts for the ball are a problem.
IncyWincySpider
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2021
- Messages
- 545
it looked a bit odd, but I’m guessing they all felt like prats for being part of a shootout in the first place.Why did the team not celebrate with him? I only saw the YouTube highlights, but from that I only saw Eriksen there to congratulate him
Bobski
Full Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2017
- Messages
- 9,966
They couldn't spot him.Why did the team not celebrate with him? I only saw the YouTube highlights, but from that I only saw Eriksen there to congratulate him
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2007
- Messages
- 86,655
He’s been invisible recently. His all round game has dropped off massively.
Lee565
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2019
- Messages
- 5,079
How can people make the excuse that it's down to lack of chances in a game like today when we put plenty of balls in the box that others scored from but not him, his runs, positional sense and timing are bang average, we see other players in our team able to break the line but he struggles to do so, God helps if he is going to be our main striker for the next few years, martial can be frustrating but even when he doesn't score his link up play and general hold up play is far better and we do genuinely look better in attack with him over hojlund
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe
Full Member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2018
- Messages
- 2,419
I don't think it was anything personal against Hojlund. His teammates were embarrassed about being taking to penalties. They would have had the same reaction had it been any other player.Why did the team not celebrate with him? I only saw the YouTube highlights, but from that I only saw Eriksen there to congratulate him
I remember the same thing happened when Dan James scored the winning penalty in a League Cup shootout vs a lower league team. I think it was Rochdale.
C'est Moi Cantona
Full Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2014
- Messages
- 8,798
Lets be fair here, he has got way more potential than Antony, and isn't a 'nothing' playerHe is a nothing player, we said that about Anthony last season and here we are again. Happy to give him next season but as a back up
He's been injured too much, has had no support to take the pressure off, had very average service from his team mates, etc.
But he's still managed bursts of goals when things have gone right, and overall 13 goals given the circumstances isn't that bad.
If he doesn't progress next season then I might agree, but he looks darn sight better than some of the crap we've bought down the years so far.
tomaldinho1
Full Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2015
- Messages
- 17,866
From memory most of McT goals this season have been either like today - where the defensive issue becomes handing him over from midfield to defence (not really something Rasmus would ever encounter) or him doing the Fellaini special of coming in on an FB. I’d class these all as arriving ‘late’ in the boxI appreciate that in principle, and did consider, but in real terms, a lot of the opportunities he does get in the box could and should be easily replicated by a centre forward. They are not all third man runs, Scott often positions himself as a striker in our games anyway, and is already in the box waiting when crosses come in. I don’t see why that can’t sometimes be Hojlund.
Our players are passing to Scott because he is easier to find I think. Even Weghorst, rubbish as he was, was at least regularly missing chances in what is virtually the same team. He also has nowhere near the speed as RH but was still getting chances.
Then there’s also been some plain weird goals you can’t really plan for where it’s been deflected to him or that one where someone (Bruno I think) played the worst pass ever to him at 100mph from about 2m away, it ballooned up in the air then he volleyed it. Think a few flick on headers/pin ball in the box goals as well.
One thing I would say about Hojlund is he is quite traditional in his movement, he usually commits to the near or far post without much in the way of decoy movement or staggering/pausing his run etc. That is bread and butter for any decent CB, it’s a dream to defend against because despite his size he’s not that aggressive in the air.
Andycoleno9
matchday malcontent
Excuse about "service" against Championship side is a new low in excuses.
RedRocket9908
Full Member
We got the same excuse after the game against Wigan who are midtable in League One and after the game against Newport who are 17th in League 2.Excuse about "service" against Championship side is a new low in excuses.
lsd
The Oracle
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2016
- Messages
- 10,871
He just never looks like scoring. He's like an opposite Haaland in he seems to get on the ball quite a bit yet you never expect anything to happen
He was poor today. He’s 21, it’ll happen
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2024
- Messages
- 27
Not worth the money we paid. Please god we get another striker in the summer
lsd
The Oracle
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2016
- Messages
- 10,871
He was poor today. He’s 21, it’ll happen
It's weird how he has looked so poor since he came back from injury when before it he was looking like the player we want him to be.
I wonder if he has to feel 100% mentally to deliver and if so he could be at the wrong club
Given the comments in here you would think he didnt score at all this season. He was poor today, or at least until Rashford was subbed off. Not surprisingly he looked much better with Amad.
Either we change to a more possesion based system that tries to utilize a proper striker or we might as well sell Højlund and get a different profile player in.
Either we change to a more possesion based system that tries to utilize a proper striker or we might as well sell Højlund and get a different profile player in.
Yes I think we have seen enough to say that Rashford isn’t the ideal partner for him
Andycoleno9
matchday malcontent
I think that some clubs are literally taking the piss with transfer fees.
"What price should we set for XY player? Well, lets see who is interested. If Lazio comes then price is 15 mil but if Man Utd or PSG come then lets start with 100 mil".
Absolutely no bloody way that player with this many flaws should be payed more than 20-30 million. Murtough was absolute clown as a DoF.
"What price should we set for XY player? Well, lets see who is interested. If Lazio comes then price is 15 mil but if Man Utd or PSG come then lets start with 100 mil".
Absolutely no bloody way that player with this many flaws should be payed more than 20-30 million. Murtough was absolute clown as a DoF.