I think eventually he will become useful, I'm just interested to know who signed off on signing him. Was he a Ineos target or a Ten Hag one ?
11
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 48
- Goals
- 7
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 2
-
Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
Useful in what sense. Fellaini was quite useful at times under Mourinho and LVG. Doesn't necessarily make him a United player. If I was to take a gamble I'd say this signing has ETH's paws all over it. Considering he thought players like Weghorst and Antony would work out in this league.
Just goes to show how poor most people are at analysing footballers. Zirkzee’s off the ball work in Italy was second to none. I’m fairly sure he won the ball in the final third more than any other striker. This hasn’t been so obvious at United yet but his workrate is fine. Certainly nowhere near as crap as you describe.
I don't watch Serie A to be honest. Didn't know much about him and only judging him on the games he has played for us so far.
I have seen in alot of games he has this languid way of moving and it may be too soon to judge him but from initial views, I think he will be sold in 2 years time.
I still think the technical quality he has in that frame is a rare combo, but he’s worrying lacking in any sort of urgency or quick reactive instincts that you need to be a top forward. The non chalant style can be very silky and fun to watch but you still have to have the ability to pounce quickly when the chance is there.
Clear second choice at the moment until we see improvements in that.
Clear second choice at the moment until we see improvements in that.
Still think there is an interesting player there, but he needs to show a bit more sharpness.
Don't forget Mount is good at pressing though.
The highest attribute you want from an attacking mid
From what I've seen until now, I don't think he's very good. Too slow, lacks technical ability and his shooting/finishing does not seem anything special, not that he gets into shooting positions very often.
What he offers off the ball is just a bonus, but that shouldn't be too relevant regarding a striker.
Players like Martial/Rashford/Garnacho/Greenwood showed quality even from the first 2-3 games with us, just to give some examples.
What he offers off the ball is just a bonus, but that shouldn't be too relevant regarding a striker.
Players like Martial/Rashford/Garnacho/Greenwood showed quality even from the first 2-3 games with us, just to give some examples.
Most likely an INEOS signing.
He just lacks urgency and anticipation. Looks out of shape.
Yup. He has ability, so long as the game is played slowly. PL looks far too hectic for him.
Why can't our scouts identify what the average fan can in a couple of games. It's just baffling at this point.
He can’t even run. Worthless.
I really like his abilities and I think he's got quality. I just feel he's a bit too laid back. If he just shows a smidge more urgency, he'd be deadly
He's got talent but in the EPL you need to play with more intensity otherwise you'll go in the same direction as Sancho. Hopefully he'll bring it.
I just don't rate him. At all.
Exactly, he just seems like he cannot be bothered. There is no urgency to anything he does.
Alternatively, maybe it's just going to take a bit of time before he can adjust. Quite a few players have come to the PL and struggled in the early days before turning around and succeeding once they get used to the tempo. Hopefully Zirkzee will be one of them. He seems to have the rest of the tools to do so, he's just struggling a lot with the speed and intensity so far.
Personally, I think the criticism in the latest game is a bit over the top. His first few minutes were definitely poor, but after that he was decent. Not great, not even good, but not bad either. He's had truly bad games previously but I don't think this was one of them.
Rumours today out of Italy is that he’s already ‘regretting’ his decision to sign for United and Juve and Milan are interested in a loan come January if he wants out.
If there’s any truth in it then he should obviously be sent out on loan with an obligation.
Despite that, when we signed him I had zero expectations and I’m still disappointed in him.
If there’s any truth in it then he should obviously be sent out on loan with an obligation.
Despite that, when we signed him I had zero expectations and I’m still disappointed in him.
Are people writing him off? We have this strange fetish for ‘nothing’ players who play in dangerous positions but don’t offer goals or assists. It’s no wonder we’re struggling for goals. He’s not a 10 goal + a season player but I think some people on here saw young Italian player of the season and presumed potential is all but guaranteed, hence the reaction when they realise what kind of player he really is.
The bigger worry for me is where we thought we’d be playing him. It’s nice to have options but it seems like Ten Hag wants Hojlund as first choice and we already gave Bruno a big contract. He just doesn’t seem an obvious fit at all.
Let's look at the positives
He's not injured
He's not injured
yet
It’s never a bad thing to have alternatives that provides something different.
It is if it doesn’t fit any system that we try to play. All we’ve really seen from Ten Hag is fast counter attacking football or a more compact style against City with a false nine. He could fit that false nine role but Bruno plays every minute of every match.
It reminds me of when we bought Van De Beek to play back up for Bruno because they played in the same position, despite being completely different players. So every time Bruno was out we had no creativity because the team was so used to everything going through him.
We’d get far more use out of a decent out and out striker.
Jesus, he's literally played less than 10 matches for us and probably started about 5.
I agree about striker.
In my opinion, Sir Alex Ferguson built his entire empire on having a section of players that guaranteed you goals and he stopped at nothing to make sure he always had that.
That’s something we have neglected since he retired. We should have broken the bank for Kane years ago, Ferguson definitely would have. He’d have signed the likes of Watkins too although he’d have used his as an option rather than his star striker.
Having players that bang in goals takes all the focus and pressure off your midfield and defence.
Quite.......he's hardly not giving fans reason to question him is he?
This is well said.
It's always struck me that throughout so many failed managers that this hasn't been the first priority. Especially when you consider the money we have had available.
It's amazing how many flaws in a side can be masked and even counteracted by having a couple of genuine reliable goalscorers.
Whatever issues we have as a side this season we better bloody hope that Rashford can find one of his scoring stretches. A lot of our issues would suddenly not feel as perilous.
I see there are already press reports that he is unhappy in England and Utd are considering loaning him in January , with Juventus possible interested.
Of course the press reports could be a ball of smoke but he has not had a great start and will need to show mental toughness and confidence in himself to make it here.
Currently on his performances he seems to be struggling to keep up with the intensity of the premier league. An interview he done at the start of the season worried me a little when he said he likes his back flicks and tricks and entertaining the crowd , that is all very well and a bonus if you are consistently delivering real output as well such as assists and goals. That is criteria that any serious forward will be judged on.
Of course the press reports could be a ball of smoke but he has not had a great start and will need to show mental toughness and confidence in himself to make it here.
Currently on his performances he seems to be struggling to keep up with the intensity of the premier league. An interview he done at the start of the season worried me a little when he said he likes his back flicks and tricks and entertaining the crowd , that is all very well and a bonus if you are consistently delivering real output as well such as assists and goals. That is criteria that any serious forward will be judged on.
Wouldn't surprise me.
If he truly doesn't want to be here then why keep him?
He's probably a bit shell-shocked. One look at him in Italy though, and you could see his game is slow. That doesn't mean he can't succeed in this league necessarily. Take somebody like Berbatov for instance, he needs to have a lot more in his locker to succeed playing at his own pace and find a way to use his strengths to the absolute maximum. Nothing else will be enough.
A loan swap with our misfit Douglas Luiz and we have a deal 
I mean, Luiz here cannot get minutes because Serie A has too many CMs with his skills and almost all smarter than him. And he was the best CM in PL last year, really??
I mean, Luiz here cannot get minutes because Serie A has too many CMs with his skills and almost all smarter than him. And he was the best CM in PL last year, really??
He definitely wasn't.
When was he ever considered the best cm in the pl last year ?A loan swap with our misfit Douglas Luiz and we have a deal
I mean, Luiz here cannot get minutes because Serie A has too many CMs with his skills and almost all smarter than him. And he was the best CM in PL last year, really??
A loan swap with our misfit Douglas Luiz and we have a deal
I mean, Luiz here cannot get minutes because Serie A has too many CMs with his skills and almost all smarter than him. And he was the best CM in PL last year, really??
maybe if the category was “Brazilian CM’s playing in Birmingham”Folks, he was sold as such: the outstanding, brainy midfielder from the most surprising side of the year.
Late October and he is Arthur 2.0, the by-product of another financial / accounting cosmetic trick.
I really hope our recruitment improves from next summer, once INEOS have had a year to reshape our recruitment.
When he signed, it just stunk of another poor signing who wouldn't have a natural fit in the team. Like Mount. And as always with United, that's what it's looking like.
There's no excuse for it. Any regular watcher would have said we need a goalscorer. It's bizarre.
When he signed, it just stunk of another poor signing who wouldn't have a natural fit in the team. Like Mount. And as always with United, that's what it's looking like.
There's no excuse for it. Any regular watcher would have said we need a goalscorer. It's bizarre.
Not sure who told you that. Most people view him as a solid box to box. If there’s anyone in their midfield for you to have gone after it’s Kamara.
Serie A has 20 clubs, every club plays 38 games and with striker up front. meaning, the likes of Como, Genoa, Spezia, Torino, Sassuolo, Salernitana and Empoli all had their Zirkzee scoring 10+ goals during the season. it's the whole point of the sport, every French and German club have their main guy in attack as well, just like Bologna did.
doesn't mean every one of them should play for United otherwise every transfer would be a successful one.
there has to be something more beside scoring 10 goals per season, something in his playing style that made him interesting to our scouts. so far he looks tidy and that's about it.
doesn't mean every one of them should play for United otherwise every transfer would be a successful one.
there has to be something more beside scoring 10 goals per season, something in his playing style that made him interesting to our scouts. so far he looks tidy and that's about it.