The revisionism in this thread is quite something. Yes, he deserves credit for his current form, but he couldn't hit a barn door for about ten games, missing really presentable chances, and our results during that phase are a big reason we're so far off the pace.
Is Zlatan holding us back at the moment?
- Thread starter djdhrubs
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Doing well now. Pity he couldnt have scored in those draws, wed be near the top.
When he finally decides to go we need someone like him.
When he finally decides to go we need someone like him.
He's a goal scoring machine. I think he's class.
If there's truth to the Griezmann stuff though, I'd like to see Griezmann, Martial and Mikhitaryan in a fluid, free flowing front 3 next season.
If there's truth to the Griezmann stuff though, I'd like to see Griezmann, Martial and Mikhitaryan in a fluid, free flowing front 3 next season.
That stretch also had a lot to do with Martial and Rashford going completely missing. If they had carried their weight in any way, it would alleviated some of the pressure for Zlatan to carry all the water.
We are too dependednt on him. If he is off, no one is ready to step in.
Any quality striker will only come in the summer.
Any quality striker will only come in the summer.
I don't disagree with that, but Zlatan is the senior man and he comes with a big billing. He missed some massive chances during that run. I'm glad he's in such a good run of form now. If he can maintain the current ratio, we have a chance of top four and trophies.
Two goals for Zlatan at West Brom
One has to wonder if Zlatan is holding us back at the moment? 
Classic thread
The benefit of hindsight - both a blessing and a curse.
Imagine if we hadn't bought him. We'd be relying on Martial and Rashford (second season syndromes) and Rooney for goals.
Would be nice if a mod could close this thread I started in October. I literally just wanted to discuss his role in the team and form back in mid October, when I felt he was slowing our play up a little down the middle at times when we seemed to want to play on the break. And his form was pretty rubbish too.
Since then, there have been several changes in the make up of our team and the balance of the team has changed a lot, and so has his form. Long may that continue.
Since then, there have been several changes in the make up of our team and the balance of the team has changed a lot, and so has his form. Long may that continue.
This.
Mate, you are not going to be let off that easy.
This thread should be kept alive for at least a few more months
This thread is a classic!
But he's also still adjusting to a new league and new teammates in that period. Maybe he needs some time to reach his top form. Yet he's the only one after RVN to get this number of goals at this stage of season. There's no guarantee that other (new) striker will hit top form right from the start of the season either.
Zlatan is a absolute superstar and to still be performing at 35 tells us something about the man he is .
Simple things in life make me happy and seeing my 6 year old take his seat every home game and after last season's bore ( his 1st) and seeing his excitement tells me we are on to something good with Zlatan Jose and Co ....
Simple things in life make me happy and seeing my 6 year old take his seat every home game and after last season's bore ( his 1st) and seeing his excitement tells me we are on to something good with Zlatan Jose and Co ....
Was this thread designed by Volkswagen?
Aye it was all Zlatans fault and his shitty return of just 16 goals in 22 starts
Zlatan doesn't hold Manchester United back, Manchester United holds back Zlatan.
Agree with this, but would go beyond just Martial and Rashford too. There is a whole midfield behind that front line who need to chip in with the odd goal. Blaming Zlatan for not scoring every chance he gets seems very harsh.
Given the make up of the squad, I think a mobile CF would allow United to score more goals. With Zlatan up front, he gets a lot of good numbers for himself, but I do believe the way we play overall suffers as a result. Only 24 goals scored in the league tells the story. Someone like Saha would probably have got half the number of goals that Ibrahmiovic has bagged, but I reckon the team as a whole would have scored a greater total.
Can't complain as long as we're winning, though. There may be better ways to set ourselves up, but 3 points are 3 points.
Can't complain as long as we're winning, though. There may be better ways to set ourselves up, but 3 points are 3 points.
I don't disagree that a different kind of centre forward, perhaps more mobile one, may have been able to put more goals on for other players. However a general profligacy in front of goal, for which Zlatan was also a culprit during our poor run of results, has taken hold that we need to shake off. Plus attacking players have been unlucky with injuries (Mkhi), have been short of form for long periods (Rashford, Martial, Rooney) and/or have been in and out of the side (Mata, Lingard + the other four I mentioned). These factors for me are much more to blame than anything Zlatan does or has failed to do for us.
In short, though I see the point you're making I would blame the other players and their circumstances for their lack of goals ahead of Zlatan.
Pogba comes to mind.
So it's Zlatans fault we aren't scoring more goals yet he has the majority of them.
He keeps increasing our goals for column. I dont know why he isnt dropped for that. He will have us beating last years goals for!
Not really. When it was created he was playing like shite.Mate, you are not going to be let off that easy.
This thread should be kept alive for at least a few more months
This thread is a classic!
Now hes much improved, as are we.
We were banging the goals in last year without him weren't we.
We have a different manager now. There was a whole thread about it on the Caf.
I rated him before, I still rate him but I would like a different type of striker.
His personality is what we need. Hard to find a quality player with a quality mindset. He is infectious to the rest of the squad.
I don't have a problem with him being in the team right now, I will just prefer a different player in the future. His personality is the only reason why I wasn't totally against his signing, he is a winner and he will set a good example for the young players.
Griezmann?
With the system we're playing, his traits suit us perfectly.
No, I prefer strikers like Aubameyang, Lewandowski or Suarez. They are all different but I like their mobility and the verticality that provide while being good at holding the ball, basically I would like a striker that gives us some verticality.
He's scored more goals than Mane, but if you swapped the two players, Liverpool as a team would have fewer goals.
Different managers and different squads, obviously, but I reckon United's wingers and midfielders have goal-scoring potential that Zlatan is unsuited to unlocking.
Different managers and different squads, obviously, but I reckon United's wingers and midfielders have goal-scoring potential that Zlatan is unsuited to unlocking.
Not many of them available Benzema isn't doing overly well at Madrid and Aubameyang has said he would like to play for Madrid one day so out of said options he is probably the only one likely to move in the summer and i suspect it will be to Madrid.
Doesn't leave us with many options for that type of forward but I'm almost positive Griezmann will end up here whether he's played as a striker remauns to be seen he can play RW and CAM too.
The names are only examples of profiles, nothing else.
I know but we should be looking at the best, those few players that you mentioned are in that bracket we should be looking at.
Martial up top.
I've said this before, but if United had Pedro and Walcott in the squad, there isn't a striker on the planet who I'd want more than Zlatan. But we don't have wide forwards like that, so a different approach is preferable, imo.
Why?
I don't really understand how you've come to this conclusion. Zlatan's been very good at bringing others in and his dropping deep creates space up top for wide players to move in to. The stats suggest that all of the wide players across the last two seasons are totalling more shots per game, more chances created, and more assists per game this year than last (its even true for Rashford who played more centrally last year too). There's obvious differences in circumstance, and the players are obviously no longer discouraged from taking speculative long shots, but its undeniable we look more threatening going forward.
Moreover, Zlatan has comparable stats to other 9's in terms of chances created and key passed.
I guess my overall point is for the first time since Ferguson retired really we have a cohesive, dangerous, attacking unit that look threatening and like they'll score goals and Zlatan is absolutely at the heart of that. I for one am perfectly happy to appreciate what we've got.
It is great that he's in flying form at the moment. At this rate he's going to be our signing of the season and perhaps our POTY as well.
But the fact we over rely on him to get the goals concern me a little bit. We've got another two strikers who's have been shoved as winger as Jose persistence to play Zlatan 90 minutes every single match.
But the fact we over rely on him to get the goals concern me a little bit. We've got another two strikers who's have been shoved as winger as Jose persistence to play Zlatan 90 minutes every single match.