[Rodgerzzz]

The desperation to write someone off is crazy. He's done okay for the most part in the job he's being asked to do and even shown glimpses of being a really promising player for us. The knee jerk on here for one lacklustre performance makes you want to stay away from the forum, even Reddit of all places is more supportive.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

He was rubbish on Saturday, he's also been good at times.

Who knows how he will work out. I think our fanbase is just traumatised by big money striker flops so nerves are high and patience is thin.

It is quite funny that if he scored a brace next week then the entire view on everything he's done so far would instantly change.

 

[L1nk]

The desperation to write someone off is crazy. He's done okay for the most part in the job he's being asked to do and even shown glimpses of being a really promising player for us. The knee jerk on here for one lacklustre performance makes you want to stay away from the forum, even Reddit of all places is more supportive.

Yup, people want players to fail just so they can say "yup I was right, I told you so" it's so obvious, some absolute jokers in this thread

 

[golden_blunder]

He' played a substantial part in the three wins we had, wasn't great at the weekend but not many were.

I thnk people's expectations are just completely out of whack.

Nail on the head

 

[Lennon7]

To be honest, unless we start treating him like our goal outlet, he won’t start banging them in. What Sesko has brought so far has been a lot more than that, and I think we should recognise the improvement

He’s not scored for Slovenia this year either, it’s just fallen by the wayside for him it seems.

It’s up to Amorim if he wants to start getting him further up the field, or is happy him dropping deep and being the link (done well). Albeit, top players like Kane can do both - but this guy is 22.

Absolutely needs more confidence and finesse, which needs to come from better coaching, but I’m more confident he’ll succeed than I have been for any young striker we’ve had for a while.

 

[golden_blunder]

The desperation to write someone off is crazy. He's done okay for the most part in the job he's being asked to do and even shown glimpses of being a really promising player for us. The knee jerk on here for one lacklustre performance makes you want to stay away from the forum, even Reddit of all places is more supportive.

Yep there’s a few absolute soul suckers around these threads, could suck the joy out of any positivity, you all know who you are

 

[L1nk]

 

[honirelandboy]

He seems timid or something like that. I’m not a fan of his playing style whatsoever. He can’t seem to dribble and his acceleration is atrocious and seems clumsy. Seems to be very limited with the ball at his feet. If people think your going to be challenging for premier league titles with him as your main striker you need your head examined.

 

[Cee90]

I don’t think he’s the striker we needed in the summer to be honest, however, I think he will come good for us at some point in his career.

Ideally we would have gone for a more experienced striker who was already at the top of his game, rather than a work in progress.

 

[Gordon S]

I think he has done largely what was reasonable to expect from him, no more no less. He is one for the future for sure and we need patience here.

But for our chances as a team, until Sesko maybe reaches the level we need to compete, we need more.
Like similar to when we had Cavani. An experienced option that knows how to get in goalscoring positions, knows how to get the best of the other attacking players around him.
Just not fair to put the pressure like this on Sesko, to be the one and only proper striker option in the team.

 

[noodlehair]

I do agree with the comments saying he gets bullied. He doesn't seem to have got to grips with the physicality and aggression of the PL yet. If you watch the Bundesliga for more than 3 minutes it becomes fairly obvious why. Central defenders don't try to physically force you off the ball there, they just mark you.

I think there's two ways to look at that though. Either you just criticise or write him off over it, which is quite silly. Or you see it as something he can work on and improve and accept that you need to allow time for that to happen.

I'd also be more worried if he just wasn't contributing, going into challenges or attempting to do the right things, but he is generally contributing in the way some of our other recent forwards either weren't or had given up doing.

To emphasise the point, I remember Ruud saying that it took him some time to adapt to the league and physicality of it...in his first season, he only managed 5 league goals before mid December (this was masked by him banging in goals in the CL), and he had a pre season, was in the starting line up from the off, and in a team that scored goals for fun. Sesko has had no pre season at all, didn't even get a start until the 4th league game, and then came into a team that had managed 1 goal from open play in the opening 3 league games.

Some strikers can adapt quickly because they are just built right for the demands of the league. A majority though take time to get to grips with it. It's nothing new

 

[Andycoleno9]

I have high standard for United players, especially strikers, but even i accept that prolific striker market is dry as ever.
Except Kane and Haaland there is no striker who will score regulary in this league. Isak, who i rate nearly as those two is prime example.

I think that we bought right striker and Šeško will be good for us. And i didn't rate him highly before. But, from what i can see so far, guy has good technique, he is good in air, has powerful shot, good hold up play and good positioning in the box.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

He's played a couple of months in the Premier League as part of a new look forward line and in a team still finding their rhythm. I think there's been far more positives than negatives. Happy with him.

 

[Matt851]

Key piece of context for this deal in my mind is that we know the primary alternative we had was Ollie Watkins.

Who has only scored one league goal this season despite starting three more games than Sesko and supposedly being the more PL ready, instant-impact player.

So while I have doubts about Sesko generally, I don't particularly doubt we made the right buy based on the options we had available.

It's not like we didn't try other players before Sesko either, but the likes of Gyokeres and Delap haven't been spectacular successes so far themselves. The only striker we were linked with who I think has looked better is Ekitike.

You could obviously question whether the people we prioritised were the right ones. Woltemade looks good but wasn't on the list.

Personally I preferred we just kept hojlund and got a midfielder but question the fact we only seemed to be looking at baleba

 

[RuudTom83]

United fans/media/pundits can't go 90 minutes without making new negative narratives...Sesko is getting the treatment for the last few weeks, and Cunha is getting it after 1 game also.

It feels like all the goodwill and positivity built up over the last month completely vanishes because United had a tough game away from home against Forest.

Shame really.

 

[horsechoker]

Højlund didn't reach 1 goal and 1assist until January in his first season. Šeško while not setting things on fire is doing better while adjusting to a new league and country. Woltemade has warped people's perceptions and people are making out like Gyokeres is the Swedish Heskey.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Some really bad touches and poor decision making Saturday. He is better than that though. Needs to improve.

 

[343]

United fans/media/pundits can't go 90 minutes without making new negative narratives...Sesko is getting the treatment for the last few weeks, and Cunha is getting it after 1 game also.

It feels like all the goodwill and positivity built up over the last month completely vanishes because United had a tough game away from home against Forest.

Shame really.

I blame Neville who was criticizing Sesko even against Brighton where he had a (great) assist and an overall good game. A lot of fans are happy to parrot that idiot's line.

Neville: “I’m no further forward with him in respect of the jury’s out. I think he’s well off it compared to the other signings that United have made up front, and he looks awkward."

As usual, his claims are not backed up with evidence. Compared to which other United signings? Only Mbeumo. Cause Sesko has 3 g/a compared to Cunha's 1 g/a. And did Neville consider that Sesko is in a new league while the other two are not?

Has Neville criticized Gyokeres in the same way? Isak? Wirtz? Has he feck.

 

[Tallis]

I blame Neville who was criticizing Sesko even against Brighton where he had a (great) assist and an overall good game. A lot of fans are happy to parrot that idiot's line.

Neville: “I’m no further forward with him in respect of the jury’s out. I think he’s well off it compared to the other signings that United have made up front, and he looks awkward."

As usual, his claims are not backed up with evidence. Compared to which other United signings? Only Mbeumo. Cause Sesko has 3 g/a compared to Cunha's 1 g/a. And did Neville consider that Sesko is in a new league while the other two are not?

Has Neville criticized Gyokeres in the same way? Isak? Wirtz? Has he feck.

Just look at this thread and see how many posters have mentioned some derivative of "awkward" with regard to his technique. Neville seems to be unleashing the hounds on our players and part of the reason he is so disliked by many.

 

[Davie Moyes]

I do agree with the comments saying he gets bullied. He doesn't seem to have got to grips with the physicality and aggression of the PL yet. If you watch the Bundesliga for more than 3 minutes it becomes fairly obvious why. Central defenders don't try to physically force you off the ball there, they just mark you.

I think there's two ways to look at that though. Either you just criticise or write him off over it, which is quite silly. Or you see it as something he can work on and improve and accept that you need to allow time for that to happen.

I'd also be more worried if he just wasn't contributing, going into challenges or attempting to do the right things, but he is generally contributing in the way some of our other recent forwards either weren't or had given up doing.

To emphasise the point, I remember Ruud saying that it took him some time to adapt to the league and physicality of it...in his first season, he only managed 5 league goals before mid December (this was masked by him banging in goals in the CL), and he had a pre season, was in the starting line up from the off, and in a team that scored goals for fun. Sesko has had no pre season at all, didn't even get a start until the 4th league game, and then came into a team that had managed 1 goal from open play in the opening 3 league games.

Some strikers can adapt quickly because they are just built right for the demands of the league. A majority though take time to get to grips with it. It's nothing new

Top post.

 

[Gordon'sHill]

I blame Neville who was criticizing Sesko even against Brighton where he had a (great) assist and an overall good game. A lot of fans are happy to parrot that idiot's line.

Neville: “I’m no further forward with him in respect of the jury’s out. I think he’s well off it compared to the other signings that United have made up front, and he looks awkward."

As usual, his claims are not backed up with evidence. Compared to which other United signings? Only Mbeumo. Cause Sesko has 3 g/a compared to Cunha's 1 g/a. And did Neville consider that Sesko is in a new league while the other two are not?

Has Neville criticized Gyokeres in the same way? Isak? Wirtz? Has he feck.

i don't understand the constant hate of Neville on here. He's not that bothered about Arsenal or Newcastle, so of course he spends most of his time talking about United and he's paid to have views. As for Sesko, I don't think anyone is writing him off, but Saturday was really a step backwards and at this point I really don't see what his main strength is. The fact that he is so anonymous is my real concern, he doesn't win many headers and the ball doesn't stick. He's doesn't look quick enough to really run the channels. We don't have wingers and our wing backs either lack delivery or in the case of Amad like to cut in, so not sure where the quality crosses come from. It's a lot of money for potential and someone who doesn't obviously fit the system, so let's see.

Someone earlier mentioned that RVN took time to settle. That's true, but he scored 2 goals on his PL debut in August. It was his sub appearance against Villa in Jan 2002 when people really took notice, he scored two cracking goals. Sadly not many like him around these days.

 

[iamdpef]

To emphasise the point, I remember Ruud saying that it took him some time to adapt to the league and physicality of it...in his first season, he only managed 5 league goals before mid December (this was masked by him banging in goals in the CL),

I thought nah surely Ruud didn't score just 5 before mid December, I had to check and you're right. Guy went on a crazy scoring run from then and onwards haha

I've always believed young strikers like Sesko deserve time as long as they improve season after season. Hojland scored 16 goals in his first season for us and looked like he'd become a decent striker but then he just regressed in his second season. You can clearly see what Sesko brings to the table but I think it's gonna be a year or two before he scores consistently

 

[343]

I do agree with the comments saying he gets bullied. He doesn't seem to have got to grips with the physicality and aggression of the PL yet. If you watch the Bundesliga for more than 3 minutes it becomes fairly obvious why. Central defenders don't try to physically force you off the ball there, they just mark you.

I think there's two ways to look at that though. Either you just criticise or write him off over it, which is quite silly. Or you see it as something he can work on and improve and accept that you need to allow time for that to happen.

I'd also be more worried if he just wasn't contributing, going into challenges or attempting to do the right things, but he is generally contributing in the way some of our other recent forwards either weren't or had given up doing.

To emphasise the point, I remember Ruud saying that it took him some time to adapt to the league and physicality of it...in his first season, he only managed 5 league goals before mid December (this was masked by him banging in goals in the CL), and he had a pre season, was in the starting line up from the off, and in a team that scored goals for fun. Sesko has had no pre season at all, didn't even get a start until the 4th league game, and then came into a team that had managed 1 goal from open play in the opening 3 league games.

Some strikers can adapt quickly because they are just built right for the demands of the league. A majority though take time to get to grips with it. It's nothing new

Great post.

You would expect pundits and ex-players (including those who played with Ruud himself to remember/understand this). Nah, they have their pet narratives instead.

i don't understand the constant hate of Neville on here. He's not that bothered about Arsenal or Newcastle, so of course he spends most of his time talking about United and he's paid to have views. As for Sesko, I don't think anyone is writing him off, but Saturday was really a step backwards and at this point I really don't see what his main strength is. The fact that he is so anonymous is my real concern, he doesn't win many headers and the ball doesn't stick. He's doesn't look quick enough to really run the channels. We don't have wingers and our wing backs either lack delivery or in the case of Amad like to cut in, so not sure where the quality crosses come from. It's a lot of money for potential and someone who doesn't obviously fit the system, so let's see.

Someone earlier mentioned that RVN took time to settle. That's true, but he scored 2 goals on his PL debut in August. It was his sub appearance against Villa in Jan 2002 when people really took notice, he scored two cracking goals. Sadly not many like him around these days.

This line of argument makes no sense. Neville is paid to talk about all teams and when he criticizes players, a disproportionate (and selective) amount of time he is having a go at United players because he has an agenda against them. The one against Sesko couldn't be more obvious.

And Sesko hasn't been anonymous. Neither the eye test / stats / cumulative game ratings will back that up. You are confusing it with not standing out. When the team is playing well, he is playing well. When the team struggles, he struggles too. Essentially people are expecting him to be a star striker right now, which is a crazy expectation of this player at this stage of his career.

 

[Red the Bear]

What's that supposed to mean.

 

[davisjw]

He's:

• still a young striker
• brand new to the most physical top league in the world
• coming into a system that's still coming together especially as it relates to feeding a striker
• coming into a role that has been our biggest bane for what 4+ years - maybe since Rooney left if we're honest, as all we've had are either failures or one or two year veteran fillers?
• without a mentor for his position or role in the system
• without pre-season in an utterly strange system

Give him time to make the mistakes all new players do. He shouldn't be in this position but here we are (again). As long as we see progress (earlier in the game he took too long to get a shot off and it was blocked, next time he hit a one time decent shot...he's learning) we should be good with his performances.

 

[Gordon'sHill]

Great post.

You would expect pundits and ex-players (including those who played with Ruud himself to remember/understand this). Nah, they have their pet narratives instead.


This line of argument makes no sense. Neville is paid to talk about all teams and when he criticizes players, a disproportionate (and selective) amount of time he is having a go at United players because he has an agenda against them. The one against Sesko couldn't be more obvious.

And Sesko hasn't been anonymous. Neither the eye test / stats / cumulative game ratings will back that up. You are confusing it with not standing out. When the team is playing well, he is playing well. When the team struggles, he struggles too. Essentially people are expecting him to be a star striker right now, which is a crazy expectation of this player at this stage of his career.

I just find the moaning about pundits a bit meaningless. I generally like Neville, feel free to ignore his comments if you want. Of course he is going to have more to say about United. And to be clear I think he is being harsh but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

As for anonymous, in too many games that has been the case. I think vs Chelsea it was 6 touches in first half, versus Forest it was 21 touches and 7 time he lost the ball, and for attempted passes only 9 out of 13 were successful. I'm not writing him off but we paid a huge amount for him and apart from a few nice touches and ball control, I am struggling to see his main strength. I do think as well its in part a feature of the system and the lack of decent crosses we put in. In theory a target man should suit Amorim's system, but he hasn't looked that comfortable yet in that role. Of course there is plenty of time for him to improve.

 

[Teja]

I'm more confident about him than I ever was about Hojlund. Link up play is generally good, we use his height really nicely, the way he gets off his shot so quickly and generates so much. power is excellent. I'm happy with him, I don't plan to revise this opinion until he has at least a full season under his belt.

 

[Mr.Omniscient]

Currently he is like the better version of Weghorst. Not clinical in front of goal or a poacher but decent link up amongst the wide forwards and midfielders.

 

[noodlehair]

I thought nah surely Ruud didn't score just 5 before mid December, I had to check and you're right. Guy went on a crazy scoring run from then and onwards haha

I've always believed young strikers like Sesko deserve time as long as they improve season after season. Hojland scored 16 goals in his first season for us and looked like he'd become a decent striker but then he just regressed in his second season. You can clearly see what Sesko brings to the table but I think it's gonna be a year or two before he scores consistently

Yep I did have to double check myself but I remember it took him time to start looking like he was comfortable in premier league games...and we're talking about one of the best strikers to ever play in it, joining a team that had just won the league 3 years in a row.

Someone made the counter point that he scored twice on his debut...that was on the opening day, at home to a promoted side, playing for the defending champions. Sesko made his first league start 4 games in, away to Man City, playing for a team that finished 17th.

It's just a random comparison to show why it's dumb to write a player off before they've even had a chance to bed in. Especially when they are coming from a league where the demands are completely different.

Hojland is another. 16 goals yes, but it took him until boxing day to score ANY League goals at all. Isak at Newcastle - only 3 league goals until the middle of March in his first season. Tevez at West Ham I think had 1 goal until the last stretch of his first season.

Basically if he's trying to do the right things I'm prepared to give him time. I was the same with Hojlund but eventually after that good spell in his first season, he went from trying and struggling to just not impacting games at all.

 

[Bobski]

What's that supposed to mean.

That Hojlund was pretty much useless and appallingly easy to play against.

Sesko has a ton of flaws and areas he has to improve but he is actually a factor in games while Hojlund was a ghost unless he got tap ins. A huge upgrade, flaws and all.

Hojlund's per 90 numbers last season in terms of game involvement are just staggeringly horrific, he wasn't shooting, creating, passing or doing anything off the ball as a defensive force, literally made 1 successful tackle in the league last season.

 

[iamdpef]

Yep I did have to double check myself but I remember it took him time to start looking like he was comfortable in premier league games...and we're talking about one of the best strikers to ever play in it, joining a team that had just won the league 3 years in a row.

Someone made the counter point that he scored twice on his debut...that was on the opening day, at home to a promoted side, playing for the defending champions. Sesko made his first league start 4 games in, away to Man City, playing for a team that finished 17th.

It's just a random comparison to show why it's dumb to write a player off before they've even had a chance to bed in. Especially when they are coming from a league where the demands are completely different.

Hojland is another. 16 goals yes, but it took him until boxing day to score ANY League goals at all. Isak at Newcastle - only 3 league goals until the middle of March in his first season. Tevez at West Ham I think had 1 goal until the last stretch of his first season.

Basically if he's trying to do the right things I'm prepared to give him time. I was the same with Hojlund but eventually after that good spell in his first season, he went from trying and struggling to just not impacting games at all.

Definitely agree, most young strikers do need time. Have to keep in mind Ruud was 25 when he joined us too, so although he adapted by mid December, that's still pretty quick and impressive at any age. I expect Sesko to take longer due to inexperience

 

[gaffs]

Key piece of context for this deal in my mind is that we know the primary alternative we had was Ollie Watkins.

Who has only scored one league goal this season despite starting three more games than Sesko and supposedly being the more PL ready, instant-impact player.

So while I have doubts about Sesko generally, I don't particularly doubt we made the right buy based on the options we had available.

It's not like we didn't try other players before Sesko either, but the likes of Gyokeres and Delap haven't been spectacular successes so far themselves. The only striker we were linked with who I think has looked better is Ekitike.

Mateta was another option.

 

[gaffs]

Definitely agree, most young strikers do need time. Have to keep in mind Ruud was 25 when he joined us too, so although he adapted by mid December, that's still pretty quick and impressive at any age. I expect Sesko to take longer due to inexperience

Yes, Sesko is younger than Ruud was when he joined United, but Sesko has played a similar number of pro games prior to joining United than Ruud had. (167 v 164).

And Ruud joined United after missing a season due to a knee injury.

 

[gaffs]

As someone posted - 3 goal involvements already - decent with holdup play and takes some nice touches. Why exactly is the jury out already?

Because he isnt much of a goal threat, touch isnt always good, isnt all that physical, hasnt done much his his chances and is out of the game for long periods. Not to say that cant change in time, but as of now, that is my opinion on him.

Agree though, has had some decent moment and it is very early, but I think it is very fair to say the jury is still out. If the jury was in, then you would already have decided he is a success, which he clearly isnt yet.

 

[Tallis]

Yes, Sesko is younger than Ruud was when he joined United, but Sesko has played a similar number of pro games prior to joining United than Ruud had. (167 v 164).

And Ruud joined United after missing a season due to a knee injury.

Not to mention that Ruud was coming into a title winning side with all time legends playing with him.

Sesko gets to play with Dalot.

 

[gaffs]

Not to mention that Ruud was coming into a title winning side with all time legends playing with him.

Sesko gets to play with Dalot.

That is very true.

But when Mbeumo puts across a pin point ball and Sesko's first touch is a pass back to the keeper, then it doesnt really matter who his other teammates are.

 

[golden_blunder]

Just look at this thread and see how many posters have mentioned some derivative of "awkward" with regard to his technique. Neville seems to be unleashing the hounds on our players and part of the reason he is so disliked by many.

It’s not just Neville. It seems to be the personality of several positivity devoid posters. If I had my way they wouldn’t post here anymore because it’s tiring.

 

[Bondi77]

Apart from a early quick turn and snapshot outside the area I thought he looked worryingly disinterested against Forest.

I don't agree
Disinterested for me is walking around and falling over and throwing arms in the air when not getting the ball and he is doing none of that.

 

[Bondi77]

It’s not just Neville. It seems to be the personality of several positivity devoid posters. If I had my way they wouldn’t post here anymore because it’s tiring.

They are all at it.
They cannot make it as managers so it is the only way they can still have relevance in football.

 

[DJ_21]

I think he’ll be fine. Got a lot more positive attributes than Hojlund. Once he starts linking well with Mbeumo and Cunha, the league needs to be scared