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That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? We all want players who make us a better team.
Yeah, he’s obviously the reason we didn’t win the league.
This forum never ceases to amaze meWho has written here that Hojlund is the one and only problem with United this season?Joint top scorer despite everything and people still think he's the problem?
Not only that, but discounting penalties he would be way out on his own as top scorer. I wonder what the narrative around him would be if he had taken penalties this season. Bruno has scored 6/7, so Højlund would likely have been on +20 goals if he had been taking them. People are creaming all over themselves over Cole Palmer for getting 22 league goals, but 9 of them have been penalties. It's often overlooked when talking about goal tallies.Joint top scorer despite everything and people still think he's the problem?
It's always overlooked and it drives me mad.
This would make sense if our attack was "cohesive" without him, but it's not.
Last season, the team scored 108 goals and had an overall positive goal difference of 45. This season, they only scored 86 goals with a plus-2 goal difference. Additionally, the team created more chances last season, ranking 3rd in the league, while this season they ranked 16th. It's important to have a striker who can get involved in the game to bring out the best in our forward play. I don't think Rasmus has the skill set to do that.
Neither did Andy Cole but he learned it. Rasmus will be just fine. He is 21 and seems to have the work ethic to learn.
So you’re faulting Højlund for Rashford not scoring a shitton of goals and half of our squad being injured leading to incoherent play/setup?
RedCafe in a nutshell:Joint top scorer despite everything and people still think he's the problem?
To blame that on the striker is incredible levels of madness.
Andy played alongside a strike partner and wide midfielders who delivered crosses. While Cole's overall game improved, let's not pretend he transformed into van Basten. His skill set was well-suited to the team, and he didn't have to completely change his game. Poachers don't become different players due to time and desire, as seen with Lukaku at Chelsea or Jović at Madrid. I'm concerned that Rasmus may not have the technical ability to be the lone striker for this team, and I don't think the team can play with two up top.
Nope, I am saying our attacking output appeared to be blunted because Højlund is not capable of providing the type of interplay that players like Cavani, Martial, and Weghorst provided, which allowed Rashford to score a shitload of goals.
He's also made us concede more
He's also made us concede more
The levels of criticism and scrutiny are massively exaggerated for Hojlund.
Starting to feel like it.
The presence of a number 9 who gets involved in build-up play is crucial for the team's performance. A striker like Martial enables Rashford to make runs and receive quick passes, while also creating opportunities for Bruno to play balls behind the defense when they focus on marking the striker closer to the center circle.
I think you’re overrating them to be honest. Only one of them played regularly, so it’s not like you can say there’s a constant in there. Also Rashford wasn’t great when Cavani was here.
In fact Scholes, Pep and Ten Hag has gotten more ever since he signed. Many clear patterns if you just look for them.He's also made us concede more
In the seasons Cavani played regularly, Rashford was involved in 20 league goals.
Here's his goals from last season. The striker getting involved in build up (which Hojlund is actually capable of when we pass to him) wasn't anywhere near as important as you're claiming.
it seems you fail to understand how to use Højlund. Much like Ten Hag until the last two games.
regularly is a bit of a stretch though, no? Was injured on and off and in and out of the starting 11 if my memory serves me correct. Hard to attribute any of Rashford’s succes to him imo.
I agree. He’s been a good impact sub recently but the game will likely be out of sight by the time it comes to that.
This is the worst take I’ve seen in here. Do you know the difference between correlation and causation?
The team was at its best when our wide player ran the channels and the center-forward held up play. Højlund seems to be a square peg in a round hole. In my opinion, his inability to play the required role is limiting the use and ability of our other attackers. Højlund is a better individual player than Weghorst, but Weghorst was better for the team.
During that season, the other forward in the rotation was Martial, who had the skillset required to play the role. The undeniable truth is that when we have a forward who can drop deep and play in the half-space the team performs better.
The forwards dropping into the half-spaces create space out wide, and the quick one-twos on the edge of the box have been crucial in scoring those goals, but they have been largely absent this season. All the data suggests that Højlund is not getting involved in the build-up to the required level; he is at his best when running the channels. His passing numbers from Atalanta are similar to what he has achieved this season.
Given that he has a much higher conversation rate than our wingers thats a weird statement.
You're talking about Rashford's goals but you don't seem to have looked at Rashford's goals.
Martial at his best was all that, but not WW. He had some good games but overall didn't offer much. Rashford form has nothing to do with WW or Hojlund.
Well, he’s on his way to becoming a world class square peg so a good manager would make the hole square
His conversation rate indicates he is a good striker, his other metrics indicate his an average ball player. He had Boga as a provisional strike partner and wing back providing diagonal balls he could run onto similarly, Lukaku at inter had a team set up to play to his strengths in 20-21 but struggled at Chelsea when he was required to play a different role.
I just watched his 30 goals from last season.
The team and by extension Rashford play better when we have a striker who drops deep and gets involved in build-up play. Rashford's uptake in form when Lukaku and Ronaldo respectively left is not an anomaly.
