I don't think it's about confidence.
I haven't driven a car in 5 years now for medical reasons & when I have to reverse the car temporarily to let my brother take his car out - I've completely forgotten how to control the breaks or accelerator. It's kind of hard to start doing something you haven't done in a long time.
Zirkzee has had no game time, for him to come off the bench after only playing 5 mins a game once every month and make misplaced passes is completely normal for me.
I remember when he scored 2 goals in a row as a starting striker. In the 3rd game he had a shot that was cleared off the line and was instantly dropped because he didn't score which I thought was harsh.
I think Carrick knows what his strengths are & as such brings him on when we need more control of the ball. Hopefully he can get some game time under him next season because Carrick seems to have an eye to knowing both his own players & his oppositions weaknesses.
It's not necessarily about Zirkzee's technical ability but more about his ability to make our football more fluid, yet it kind of lack end product. Thats why he still has fans here because the attack gets a bit unpredictable for the defence when he starts interlinking with the rest of his forwards.
I think a manager like Nagelsmann can really improve Zirkzee simply because well he is a more fluid football tactical type of manager than what we have had recently in Amorim, Ten Hag & Carrick (but maybe he needs a pre-season).
@Dans
Yeah he did. That tackle he made in his own half where he got a yellow for kicking the ball out twice. He also pressed better than Sesko who runs much more when there's a chance to score.