I would like to see him as a False Nine with two good goalscoring 10s like Cunha and/or Mbeumo behind him. His holdup and linkup play is excellent - I could imagine him racking up a lot of assists in that sort of setup.
11
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 49
- Goals
- 7
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
Is it excellent compared to the wider league or just compared to the rest of our squad? Wherevwould he rate against players from 2010 squad?
Not convinced but give him another season to show what he's got.
I don't remember which game, but he played like the reincarnation of Cruyff (the dad) minus the goal. I'm wondering if can get a proper striker, a 10, and WBs, he would get to that high level on more consistent. Most probably not and won't be sad if he's sold, but will be interesting to see how he grows if he stays.
Couldn’t agree more with this statement when I read this forum: and there’s not even an ounce of me that thinks I’ve misjudged this particular Zirkzee analysis.
Amad is younger than Zirkzee and had never played in a top division. Yet he has looked about ten times the player.
Amad has been playing in English football for 3/4 years. I don’t think Zirkzee is good enough and should be moved on but I do believe players coming from outside of the country can take some time to adjust to the English game
nah not really. In 23/24 he played nine times, most as a sub. His only season of regular football was the 22/23 season at Sunderland. A championship team:
Zirkzee was at one of the best teams in serie at the time.
Amad is simply a miles better player than Zirkzee that’s all. Don’t think it’s that deep or requires much explanation on why their United careers have been vastly different.
I think adjusting to the English game is a slightly overplayed hand. Maybe ten - fifteen years ago it took players a season or so to settle but nowadays they settle much quicker. If they’re not finding any form by the end of the first season chances are it’ll never happen.
We heard all this about second season settling for Nunez, Antony, Sancho, Werner etc. it never happened….
What do you mean not really? Is Sunderland not in England? Was Amad not training with United first team since he arrived?
Amad has had a lot of time to adapt to Emglish football.
In 22/23 which one of the best team in Seria A was Zirkzee at? He has never played for one of the best teams in Seria A in his life
I see many here are starting to like him. I do get it he has "flair" but too slow too passive and his goal contribution numbers are awful.
I'd sell him immediately hoping we can recoup most of his transfer fee back.
If he stays next season he'll become deadwood and we'll be moving him for less than 20M mark my words.
I'd sell him immediately hoping we can recoup most of his transfer fee back.
If he stays next season he'll become deadwood and we'll be moving him for less than 20M mark my words.
Again some wild footballing takes in here, hes one of the only players in the squad who can actually find his way out of tight spaces and has a good touch and close control. To add to that he is really strong and has size to him which helps him shield the ball, very important as a striker in the modern game.
Players like this are quite rare in the way that he has fantastic control and dribbling combined with size, ok he does not have pace thats fair but if he can hold the ball up and drag defenders into him which then allows the two 10s to run beyond him and has support from the attacking wing backs then he can definitely do a job for us. Especially in tight games against a low block, his skillset is really important to break the opponent down. I think he will play a big part next year as a deep 9 or a 10 in the home games against lesser teams (i know theres not many of them anymore)
Players like this are quite rare in the way that he has fantastic control and dribbling combined with size, ok he does not have pace thats fair but if he can hold the ball up and drag defenders into him which then allows the two 10s to run beyond him and has support from the attacking wing backs then he can definitely do a job for us. Especially in tight games against a low block, his skillset is really important to break the opponent down. I think he will play a big part next year as a deep 9 or a 10 in the home games against lesser teams (i know theres not many of them anymore)
Whats his value to break even? 25m? If there is any taker for that United need to sell. Just a bit slow, lethargic, simply not build up for Premierleague.
Not a bad player per se but will be much more usefull in Seria A or La Liga.
Not a bad player per se but will be much more usefull in Seria A or La Liga.
Not my point, more so that he was playing at a lower level in England.
You can’t tell me it’s more valuable for experience to be playing in the championship than serie a purely because the championship is in England.
And I didn’t mean it 22/23 for Zirkzee meant 23/24 obviously
Bologna came 5th out of 20th and qualified for CL. That would suggest he was playing at one of the best teams in the league at the time.
Imagine accusing people of having “wild footballing takes” ……. and then trying to propel the ability and impact of a forward player who’s just had a season of three league goals and two assists in 1,385 minutes of football.
A player who was playing so badly he was sarcastically applauded off by one of the most lenient match day fanbases in the league.
A player who’s spent most of the season completely out of sync to the speed and directness of the PL.
the bolded didn’t happen this season. This is all hypothetical. It is the equivalent of me saying “Rasmus Hojlund has great acceleration and is a good finisher and could score 25 goals “..
Not my point, more so that he was playing at a lower level in England.
You can’t tell me it’s more valuable for experience to be playing in the championship than serie a purely because the championship is in England.
And I didn’t mean it 22/23 for Zirkzee meant 23/24 obviously
Bologna came 5th out of 20th and qualified for CL. That would suggest he was playing at one of the best teams in the league at the the time
The point I was making about playing in England is getting used to the pace and physicality of the league which Amad has been doing by training with United and playing for both United and Sunderland. The championship is a physical league just as the PL is.
Bologna are not and were not one of the best teams in Seria A at any point during Zirkzees time there. They were a good side that season not one of the best
I wouldn't mind giving him another season, seems to have grown a bit in terms of getting used to the pace of the league in the latter half of the season. He's shown he's capable of good linkup play in holding the ball in tight spaces - very good at times - and releasing other players. Not much of a goal threat but if we can replace Hojlund with someone more dangerous up front it could bring out more of his qualities.
Think there’s a player in there, but not for us if we’re persisting with Amorim.
He’s neither one of these wide 10s nor a number 9 and needs to play for a side who can have him linking player between a midfield and a proper striker.
He’s neither one of these wide 10s nor a number 9 and needs to play for a side who can have him linking player between a midfield and a proper striker.
Does anyone think if we sign Mbuemo as well as Cunha, he could thrive as the 9 with them running beyond him? He would still need to add goals but in terms of general play it could work
I've seen quite a few posts saying this. I kind of agree but mostly just based on vibes and wishful thinking rather than any actual analysis
I think it's fair to say lots of strikers would play well with those two, they're very good players
If you mean Cunha and Mbuemo would be doing all the hard work (running and scoring goals) then yes.
I think his game would suit players running beyond him, with those 2 plus Amad, It suits him. But like I said, he needs to add Goals for it to work.
I don't think he doesn't Run? He worked his socks off this year. But yeah I did say he needs to add goals for it to work. In terms of General play and link up it looks good on paper
It is clearly visible he is a talented kid, I think he can offer more with this ball control skills in a functional team.
Imagine trying to take ball away from Zirkzee,Cunha,Mbeuno,Amad...It will be fun.
Imagine trying to take ball away from Zirkzee,Cunha,Mbeuno,Amad...It will be fun.
I'd prefer to just sign a new striker (honestly we need one more anyways if we were to offload Hojlund), but if we get the Mbuemo deal done, I think he's just skillful enough to find some joy as sort of a false 9 feeding Cunha/Mbuemo down the channels.
He's most likely going to stay another season anyways with the 2 season rule.
He's most likely going to stay another season anyways with the 2 season rule.
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Honestly think Zirkzee deserves another season with us. Has a wonderful attitude as seen in his mid-season improvement to his physicality + speed of play. He provides adequate cover for the forward positions. Hojlund has to go for a new 1st choice striker.
I'm inclined to be more patient with him than Rasmus. The latter has already had two full seasons, where he's seemingly gotten worse instead of better, and Zirkzee has at least had moments where he's looked absolute mint. He's at least entitled to another season.
Though I'd be wary of making him the focal point of attack and would insist on us signing an experienced CF.
Though I'd be wary of making him the focal point of attack and would insist on us signing an experienced CF.
I think Zirkzee will love playing alongside Cunha and potentially Mbuemo, could really get the best out of him. I really think there’s a player there, just need a bit of patience with him. I think we’ll see a much better version of him now after having a season adjusting to the PL.
The thing is, Amorim likes playing with a forward like Gyokeres, which Zirkzee is absolutely nothing like. He should stay and see how he fits, but I just cannot see it long term personally, maybe he proves me wrong.
Before he had Gyökeres he played with a 9 not unlike Zirkzee, more of a false 9 type. So it isn't outside the realms of posibility.
I think he will improve by having more runners around him but ultimately he isn't good enough to start for us. He can play some nice passes but isn't mobile enough to catch up woth play
Zirkzee has a lot of similarities to Toney outside the box and he had a great combination with Mbeumo.
I still have some faith that there's another gear or two to unlock with him.
I still have some faith that there's another gear or two to unlock with him.
Same, it looks like the more players are linked with a move away from us Zirkzee’s ‘potential’ is being talked up.
Personally I think he was as bad as anyone bar the old good 10mins in a couple of games. Anyone who thinks he contributed more than that has some serious Zorkzee tinted glasses on.
Top player in the making. Just has to refine his game within the penalty area. Everything he generally does up until the six yard box is good. I think with a run of games and a pre season it will do him well for the team.
If we can get our money back I’d sell him, but I’d keep him over Hojlund.
He has had his first season in the Premier League and he steadily improved and I think he was starting to get used to the pace until he picked up his injury.
I am looking forward to seeing him improve further next season.
I am looking forward to seeing him improve further next season.
I'd definitely keep him around.
Sell Rasmus instead.
Sell Rasmus instead.
He offers far more than Rasmus and allows us to get the no.10s into goalscoring positions.
This seems like the kind of overhyping players often get after a stint out. He has some nice touches but is so slow and scored two goals last season
Sell both. We have 38 games and a few cup games this season, he doesn't make the 1st team as a 10 and we have better options on the bench.
Would rather give the minutes to Obi as a back up 9 too. Any sellable asset that's surplus should be sold.
To be fair he scored 7 goals last season (3 in the league). I don’t think he is being overhyped but there a useful player there potentially, even if he had only scored two goals.
Where do you think he plays next season? We're going to have 5+ options for 2 10 spots. Unless he's going to be the back up 9 i don't see him getting much game time.
I think he'll play a big role next season. He probably knows he's either first choice 9, or he'll play second fiddle to whatever striker we hopefully get. Either way, I think his profile is very useful. His link up play with Amad and Bruno was developing nicely and I think he'll work just as well with (hopefully) Mbeumo too.
Just wish he would be a little bit more greedy at times and just take a touch to tee himself up to shoot rather than just trying to tee up other players to shoot.
Just wish he would be a little bit more greedy at times and just take a touch to tee himself up to shoot rather than just trying to tee up other players to shoot.
If we start next season with him as the first choice 9, we are quite screwed. He's not terrible and not even close to our worst buys in recent history, but he's not a striker you need to succeed in the league, he's not even a full striker at all. Cool lad, silky technique, but there's something very off about him and I don't think he's a player to play on the highest level. If we can sell and replace - I'd sell.
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