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Joshua Zirkzee Netherlands flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

5.1 Season Average Rating
Appearances
49
Goals
7
Assists
2
Yellow cards
3
Annihilate Now! said:
Start where though? Because this cameo showed us that he's definitely not a striker
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Right side 10 where he played tonight and did much better than Mainoo, Hojlund in the middle. Amad RWB. Garnacho left 10 and Dorgu LWB.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Start where though? Because this cameo showed us that he's definitely not a striker
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redshaw said:
Right side 10 where he played tonight and did much better than Mainoo, Hojlund in the middle. Amad RWB. Garnacho left 10 and Dorgu LWB.
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Has he ever actually played well as a 10 other than tonight's cameo? Granted maybe it's not a large sample size. He did get jeered off in the first half the other week playing as a 10.
 
He really is a strange footballer. Half the time he lumbers about like a 40 year old in a 5-a-side, then seconds later he’ll pull off some Cruyff-like piece of footwork and creates ten yards of space for the team to attack.

Ultimately, I don’t think he’s very good, but he just does enough to keep you interested.
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:
Excellent performance. Lovely footwork at times. He also seems to have improved his work rate recently and has started chasing after the ball instead of jogging, which I didn't think he had in him.
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To be fair his work rate has always been quite good in the middle and defensive thirds, both in terms of winning the ball back and getting on the ball when in possession. His work rate is only poor in the attacking third, both in pressing and winning the ball up high or making runs to be found. People have kind of focused on that to come up with the narrative that he doesn't work hard at all, which really isn't the case.
 
He didn't just do well last night he changed the game. We were dead and buried.

I don't know where this newfound confidence has come from, but he was trying some tricks, winning the ball back consistently, making great decisions and took his goal well.

Really does look like a very good player sometimes. And to be honest has looked like someone with something to prove since Newcastle. Got to keep going though and play like he did last night consistently, and he
 
Kag said:
He really is a strange footballer. Half the time he lumbers about like a 40 year old in a 5-a-side, then seconds later he’ll pull off some Cruyff-like piece of footwork and creates ten yards of space for the team to attack.

Ultimately, I don’t think he’s very good, but he just does enough to keep you interested.
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That's probably a fair criticism at times this season but he definitely wasn't lumbering last night. Looked really fired up and at it.

I think there's a great player in there somewhere.
 
He scored a goal, finally, in a cup and against a shit team like Leicester but a goal is a goal.

Probably won't score again
 
He’s a conundrum of a footballer. Does something spellbinding followed by such a basic, simple mistake. I’d give him this season as a bit of a free hit in the hope he’s one of those players who just needs time to adjust. Make or break next season for him though.
 
I still think there's a good player in there. Some of his touches tonight were very impressive and really show the difference between him & Hojlund. When you watch Josh you feel like there's something there to work with, and if he can continue the intensity he showed tonight when he came on then he'll be a very useful player.
 
Enjoyed his performance last night - thought he was picking up some useful positions in the half spaces and keeping the play moving.

That is what he’s good at I guess - least he got himself a goal as well.

Hopefully gives him more confidence as we need as much as possible out of him / Hojlund
 
Has more chance of making it than Rasmus. Didn't think I'd be saying that this season.
 
And people say booing players is counter productive...

He had been absolutely shite up until he got booed off. Had a proper 'now or never' moment and came back a much better player since then. I'm not advocating for abusing players but feedback, even if it's negative, is necessary. You don't improve with fake praise and having smoke blown up your arse.
 
Ekeke said:


Started doing some of the basics last night. Actually find a teammate and dont lose the ball
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It’s hardly the first time he’s been excellent at holding the ball up and bringing teammates into play. I remember him having a really good cameo against Leicester earlier in the season as well.
 
Doracle said:
It’s hardly the first time he’s been excellent at holding the ball up and bringing teammates into play. I remember him having a really good cameo against Leicester earlier in the season as well.
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Yes he's had 1 or 2, but hes also had 1 or 2 where hes done the opposite. And his sub performance the last time out was one of those times he couldnt control the ball or find a teammate. So its hopefully progresss
 
He's been decent at coming off the bench against mediocre, tired opposition and nitting things together on occasion. I'll certainly give him that.
 
I think he is a perfect player for the system Ten hag was playing. Where the centre forward is a false 9 and a connector, while the wingers are supposed to be the main goal scorers. It's taken him a little while for him to settle down but he would have great in that Weghorst role.

In this system however, despite the great cameos, I'm still not sure how he fits in. He can't spearhead an attack. He's more a 10, certainly better than Kobbie though I doubt either has the work rate the role requires.
Personally I would have him as a left 10, Garnacho as the right. Dorgu left wingback, Amad right, Hojlund as the Center forward.
 
I think he can play as the 9 if the 10s are players that drive past the striker, like Garnacho. He is not going to be the player that stretches the game by pushing past the defence. He should be the 9 with those type of players or the 10. Personally I would play him in the 9 with Garna and Bruno in the 10s (think he's been poor in the double pivot) with Amad at RWB and Dorgu at LWB, Ugarte plus 1 in midfield (Mainoo or Collyer)
 
It’s an unusual bunch vying for the second no.10 spot in this team.

Zirkzee might still have a chance of grabbing a starting place.

Garnacho - Zirkzee - Amad against Spurs please.
 
Dominos said:
Has he ever actually played well as a 10 other than tonight's cameo? Granted maybe it's not a large sample size. He did get jeered off in the first half the other week playing as a 10.
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Since that Newcastle game he's been putting in a lot of effort physically and showing confidence on the ball. He could be a good player there. He has the ability and skill, that's really his position in this team, a second striker/support striker or link man if you will in a 10 position.

If he's no good there, well he's not going into a centre midfield two, very much doubt a central striker long term.
 
He deserves a run of games over Hojlund for sure.

I know all the rage at the moment he should slot in as one of the 10s, but personally I would like to see him get a few games up top over Hojlund (who has done nothing all season). He is able to hold the ball up and bring others into play - I would like to see him effectively as a target man/false nine, with the likes of Garnacho and Bruno making those overlapping runs and being the main goal threats.
 
RuudTom83 said:
It’s an unusual bunch vying for the second no.10 spot in this team.

Zirkzee might still have a chance of grabbing a starting place.

Garnacho - Zirkzee - Amad against Spurs please.
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I could see that working because I think he works better if he has players running on ahead of him. Garnacho and Amad are very mobile and have pace, so the theory is sound.
 
I always wonder whether his season may have gone differently had he finished those 2 point blank headers against Liverpool. It would not have impacted the outcome of the game but the amount of confidence he would have got would have set him up nicely.

The other thing I have noticed is that his hold-up play is day and night in different games. He can look impeccable in one and look like Lukaku in another. Not sure what's going on.
 
Tallis said:
I always wonder whether his season may have gone differently had he finished those 2 point blank headers against Liverpool. It would not have impacted the outcome of the game but the amount of confidence he would have got would have set him up nicely.

The other thing I have noticed is that his hold-up play is day and night in different games. He can look impeccable in one and look like Lukaku in another. Not sure what's going on.
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Perhaps, but this confidence thing seems like a bigger fish, honestly, since it hit pretty hard since a pretty good first game(s?) and it seems to hit so many players at Utd that I'm not sure that personal moment would wash away something he'd have to deal with eventually... but perhaps the downfall would have started later on and give him more slack from the crowds.

In a sense this debacle of a season could be a make or break for him on the long term, though. If all clicks and his potential really is what it looked like at times (and before), there is a great player in there. Hope this opens the door to more.

Some duels it still didn't look like full confidence, but perhaps an increase is better than a continued night and day situation
 
Kag said:
He really is a strange footballer. Half the time he lumbers about like a 40 year old in a 5-a-side, then seconds later he’ll pull off some Cruyff-like piece of footwork and creates ten yards of space for the team to attack.

Ultimately, I don’t think he’s very good, but he just does enough to keep you interested.
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This is a very good description.
 
Kag said:
He really is a strange footballer. Half the time he lumbers about like a 40 year old in a 5-a-side, then seconds later he’ll pull off some Cruyff-like piece of footwork and creates ten yards of space for the team to attack.

Ultimately, I don’t think he’s very good, but he just does enough to keep you interested.
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Agree 100%

You have to think clearly on this one.

Nice guy, buy cant have it on the team.

But its hard to tell him to go.
 
I am not his greatest fan but we are where we are with him.I select him and tell him to bust a gut and get himself in the box when we are attacking, if he did that he would be a real goal scoring threat.Time to set him off the leash.
 
The midfield general said:
I am not his greatest fan but we are where we are with him.I select him and tell him to bust a gut and get himself in the box when we are attacking, if he did that he would be a real goal scoring threat.Time to set him off the leash.
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The United classic, square peg round hole. See Mata, Sancho, Zirkzee, AWB, Mikhitaryan, Sanchez & so many more!
 
Letting him go is probably the right decision as he doesn't fit Amorim's profile for a number 9. However, I can guarantee he'll end up in 4231 system, with goal scoring inside forwards and look like an absolute world beater in no time.
 
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