I know Jim sacked half the canteen staff but this is a dire situation
30
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 19
- Goals
- 5
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 1
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood), Imran (@Annihilate Now!) & Jamie (@Vault Dweller) celebrate a fantastic victory as Manchester United won 2-0 in the Derby. They celebrate the changes Carrick has made, discuss our new coaching team and find time to play a Stupid Game. Enjoy!
Really happy for him, I've been quite shocked at some people's opinions that he's just another Hojlund as for me he's looked a lot more competent in the role he's been asked to play. Key difference for me is that Sekso finds himself in positions to be found whereas we all used to moan that Hojlund was never anywhere to be seen. I think tonight just showed he's got the tools to develop into a really high level striker and there was a noticeable difference in the way we went about trying to find him, hope he continues it.
Encouraging last night. Not so much the goals themselves, but he didn't start great but managed to grow into the game and make chances for himself too. Hope he can build on it in the coming weeks.
I thought he looked pretty decent last night... was getting on the end of more chances than usual. Its only so long before a fair few of them chances start flying in. He's great at getting on the end of some of those headers, just needs to get a bit more clinical/ accurate.
Sherwood was talking through his hoop last night in my opinion
Sherwood was talking through his hoop last night in my opinion
The biggest thing about Sesko for me is he needs to be more aggressive and imposing. I've no complaints about his general play because he's still not the finished article, he needs a little more polishing but the signs are all there. However, considering his size, speed, and strength I wanna see him get at the game, he looks a little timid at times, I think this would honestly be the biggest upgrade to his current ability. Maybe this will grow with time and confidence.
Also that one passage of play where he bombed up from defense was a thing of beauty, he's way more rapid than I thought he was
Also that one passage of play where he bombed up from defense was a thing of beauty, he's way more rapid than I thought he was
This is the impression I get too, he seems extremely passive
What was best about the second goal was his run.
Made to go far post and when defender turned his back changed and ran across him.
That sort of movement will get you goals. Hopefully he continues it.
Made to go far post and when defender turned his back changed and ran across him.
That sort of movement will get you goals. Hopefully he continues it.
i loved that after the first goal he went and got the ball. Most players would be celebrating as they finally scored after a bit, but his mentality was all about lets get this fecking win and get more goals.
Good game overall.
First half he wasn’t good enough at winning his duels and making the ball stick but equally he wasn’t getting the correct service.
Second half tweak with Bruno helped and he seemed to settle in to the game. Could easily have had 3 goals and produced that cracking header in the first half which is now forgotten.
I think if Bruno stayed on yesterday he gets a third.
First half he wasn’t good enough at winning his duels and making the ball stick but equally he wasn’t getting the correct service.
Second half tweak with Bruno helped and he seemed to settle in to the game. Could easily have had 3 goals and produced that cracking header in the first half which is now forgotten.
I think if Bruno stayed on yesterday he gets a third.
We knew from his numbers in the Bundesliga that he was far from the finished article and was still learning the intricacies of playing as a striker. Yesterday, we saw that there's clearly so much more to come.
Even against Premier League competition, he's already a way bigger physical presence than Hojlund. He needs to learn how to use his strength to his advantage and fend off defenders more effectively. Those little runs for first-time finishes should become his bread and butter, assuming he gets the service, of course. Just get some easy goals in the penalty area and worry about adding those golazos from 30 meters later.
Even against Premier League competition, he's already a way bigger physical presence than Hojlund. He needs to learn how to use his strength to his advantage and fend off defenders more effectively. Those little runs for first-time finishes should become his bread and butter, assuming he gets the service, of course. Just get some easy goals in the penalty area and worry about adding those golazos from 30 meters later.
He had a stinker first half and got a lot of criticism, credit to him for making a proper go of the second half, hopefully does wonders for his confidence.
Don't think he had. His finishing was poor, but he was involved, got on the end of some crosses and generally looked like a CF, not a vacated spot
He had quite a few instances of heavy touches, and trying to flick the ball away like it was a hot potato. But the second half was a lot better, and in general the most endearing thing is the way he wont stop making the runs and he is smart with his positioning in the 12 yard area.
He'll get better, one thing I'd like him to do more of is to work the channels a bit, he felt a bit narrow, but those finishes were both good and he's an arial threat too.
You could tell how that header before halftime, that brought out a string save, gave him confidence. Everything he did afterwards just had that little bit more conviction behind it
He’s matched Hojlund’s league goal tally from last season.
Ole will get him firing on all cylinders. 
I think his finishing was too “safe”, more concerned with getting the ball on target. Just a classic lack of confidence when a striker is doing that.
Any striker who is fed good balls in dangerous areas will eventually score, that's what happened last night and didn't happen before.
Confidence will also play a key factor, I hope the next games he will get chances aswell.
Confidence will also play a key factor, I hope the next games he will get chances aswell.
The flogging Sesko here before he scored the two goals was excessive. He did miss some chances most of us agree he should have scored, but what was really lacking was quality service...which he got last night.
I think that's a fake quote.
It's on the internet, must be true.
Probably best to delete that before someone brings it up as a reason to criticise him when he misses a chance next.
Sesko was even if not scoring always doing the exactly right things except that very final touch, he will be great for us. Højlund was always late or mistimed, he never threatened like Sesko does. Hopefully whatever mental block he had is now gone?
Agree. I may add, it’s also due to the way we played. We used the middle of the park far more, tried to go through- not around- Burnley, which allow our midfield balls to be there for any striker to make in behind runs. As a result, Sesko’s presence was far more prevalent in dangerous areas than before.
Not enough sample size but I’m pleased with how he played- just a pinch more mint in the build up phase with the ball at his feet and he’ll be truly off.
Overall, pleased with how the team played going forward, period. It made sense, it looked fluid, and only a ball playing midfielder away.
Have to say, his close control for a big lad is really good. Probably need to reduce that one touch pass, or be more accurate. It looks good when it works, but infuriating when it fails, as it just look too casual and fecking lazy, and a waste of ball possession.
Sitting watching him first half wondering why he seemed so scared when the ball came to him. Always trying to pop it off quickly when he could have taken a bit more time on it.
Then that goal, all of a sudden he is pointing telling Bruno where to put it and is off, Bruno obliges and good finish. That telling someone where he wants the ball is something that none of the other have really ever done. Rasmus seemed a bit too scared to ever do that but hopefully Sesko keeps that up.
Like the finish on the 2nd goal, would have been easy just to think I’m whacking this first time but guiding it like that, lad might actually be a finisher.
Hopefully continues.
Then that goal, all of a sudden he is pointing telling Bruno where to put it and is off, Bruno obliges and good finish. That telling someone where he wants the ball is something that none of the other have really ever done. Rasmus seemed a bit too scared to ever do that but hopefully Sesko keeps that up.
Like the finish on the 2nd goal, would have been easy just to think I’m whacking this first time but guiding it like that, lad might actually be a finisher.
Hopefully continues.
The funny thing with Sesko is that ideally, I would have kept Hojlund with him. I think both are good strikers and with a new manager, could support the number 9 position in rotation. The most overrated thing in football at the minute is the need for a set starting 9. Not enough of them are exceptional enough to place hard expectations on them every game. Having two good strikers who can also play in multiple positions is a better solution in my opinion. This is the strategy teams in the 2000's used to use. We had Cole/Ole, Chelsea had Drogba/Gudjohnsen, 90's Arsenal had Anelka/Wright. In today's game, despite Gyorkores not lighting the league alight, with Gabriel coming back in, you can see the benefit of the tandem. This should be done when there isn't a great striker around. Liverpool's situation is a bit weird because Ekitike looks like a star, but having Isak there and trying to use him almost stops his momentum. I think that's a case of the two players being too talented and infllexible to work together, but I genuinely believe relieving Sesko of having so much responsibility and sharing it with a decent striker at a similar level will do wonders for us as a team. Zirkzee obviously is not good enough.
His fitness levels are improving. Great run that.
Two great goals from him. Dare I say the first one was very Haaland esque. The way he accelerated past the defender and scored. Loved it.
Hoping this will bring him some confidence and he finds some form.
Hoping this will bring him some confidence and he finds some form.
He looked like a striker second half. He didn't first half. Made two excellent runs to get his goals, and note that both came from players playing on their strong foot side. Fernandes with a ball down the channel, Dorgu with a cross from wide swinging out. Before this, he's usually had 2 WBs and 2 #10s playing on the inverted side that would cut inside for themselves instead of putting a ball over for him.
Perhaps Saint Darren has unlocked that. Two goals and eight shots can't just be coincidence, can it?
Perhaps Saint Darren has unlocked that. Two goals and eight shots can't just be coincidence, can it?
Well taken goals after a tough first half.
Hopefully now he's getting a run of games and with Bruno back, he'll be in the goals. He needs to put himself about more and use his strength/size to dominate CB's but he's clever enough not to try get into duels with them for no reason like Hojlund constantly tried to do. His intelligence is underrated too, he sees the game well and does the basics really well in terms of pass selection.
Obviously it's one of the most difficult things in football holding the ball up with two CB's on your back but he's shown he can do it, and it's unrealistic to expect any striker to do this successfully 90+ % of the time but if he can get Bruno, Amad, Mbuemo and Cunha around him, then we can be a dangerous threat going forward as we've shown at times.
Hopefully now he's getting a run of games and with Bruno back, he'll be in the goals. He needs to put himself about more and use his strength/size to dominate CB's but he's clever enough not to try get into duels with them for no reason like Hojlund constantly tried to do. His intelligence is underrated too, he sees the game well and does the basics really well in terms of pass selection.
Obviously it's one of the most difficult things in football holding the ball up with two CB's on your back but he's shown he can do it, and it's unrealistic to expect any striker to do this successfully 90+ % of the time but if he can get Bruno, Amad, Mbuemo and Cunha around him, then we can be a dangerous threat going forward as we've shown at times.
A combination of factors I think, including him already being in good form in terms of getting chances. Until the last several games where people are complaining that he was missing, he wasnt getting much of a sniff in front of goal. So that form of getting into good positions to score continued and the balls to him were good enough that he could do the rest. I do think in general having wingers who want to go on the outisde and cross will be the best way to get goals from him though. At the moment Sesko's strength is his leap rather than super powerful headers, when players come back inside and put in swinging crosses in the contact is usually further out and harder to score with and we've seen him unable to put those in at the moment
Credit to Sesko. He got two goals, could have had more, and grew into the role. But he's gotta perform on Sunday to show consistency.
I think the biggest shift was a little less than him scoring but actually getting the balls to him. The amount of quality opportunities he (and others) got that led to shots was far higher than before. If we can continue to create those opportunities we'll continue to score in droves as more players grow in confidence, get back into form after injury, or return from international duty.
I think the biggest shift was a little less than him scoring but actually getting the balls to him. The amount of quality opportunities he (and others) got that led to shots was far higher than before. If we can continue to create those opportunities we'll continue to score in droves as more players grow in confidence, get back into form after injury, or return from international duty.
He’s 6ft 5 with an incredible jump. His heading ability might need improving but he is by nature of his physical gifts, incredible in the air
It could be the half time team talk that did it. Maybe he came out feeling the shackles were off now.
Is good close control just normally a small lad thing then?
In a way, I think it's quite telling that he got both his goals on first time finishes. Both because they are instinctive, and he didn't have time to overthink it, but also because when he has gotten chances where he needed to take a touch, he has tended to be too slow in decision making or not getting the first touch right.
Hopefully we can provide him more chances like that. Both finishes were very good.
Hopefully we can provide him more chances like that. Both finishes were very good.