Lash
Full Member
That goal couldn't have come at a better time, looked much more confident in everything tonight.
Practically got us 2 of the goals and helped us dominate the game and this is the response? This forum is unreal at times, can't even give praise when its deserved
Yeah that was a good performance against a usually excellent defence. He’s been abysmal at times this season but that was a good game he put in tonight. Held the ball up well, some good flicks, won the penalty. Solid.As is standard around here, people make out he’s much worse than he is.
I actually think he’d be a brilliant young forward to have alongside a more experienced head.
As is standard around here, people make out he’s much worse than he is.
I actually think he’d be a brilliant young forward to have alongside a more experienced head.
Brilliant? Come on. I'll give him credit for a good performance tonight but he still couldn't put the ball in the net. With an actual brilliant forward we'd have really put them to the sword and put this game out of sight
He’s a lot better against the less physical defenders he meets in the Europa League compared to the PL.
He contributed a lot to the game, which is good. Needs to do the same in the return game and final. And try to get on the end of chances of course.
That isn’t what I said though.
You’re right, it applies to many players. Perhaps I just notice it most with Højlund who is so often in physical battles in the PL that he just never wins. They also don’t mark him as tightly in the EL.Think that applies to lots of our players, away from the pace and physicality of the Premier League they look a lot better.
Thought Hojlund did well tonight and one of his better all round games of this season.
I read what you wrote, but even as an understudy I can't see him deserving of that description based on what he's exhibited thus far. A brilliant young supporting forward would still be an actual goal threat with consistent contributions in the time they're afforded, no? I can't see him as an impact sub. I will give him credit for doing a job tonight but the standard has to be consistently higher
There were people genuinely suggesting we play Maguire up front ahead of him.Scoring isn't there, but I think his holdup play has been quite good for some weeks now.
I can make sense of it. Maguire goes up top in the final minutes and puts the ball home like it was another day in training. We’re lucky if Hojlund gets a shot off.There were people genuinely suggesting we play Maguire up front ahead of him.
Like Harry fecking RedknappThere were people genuinely suggesting we play Maguire up front ahead of him.
His all round game has improved massively in the last month or so. Unfortunately his movement in and around the box remains awful. Not sure that can be taught. Maybe it can though? Stranger things have happened.
I mean what is more likely - a guy quite clearly suited to direct football and running off defenders (as evidenced by a decent first season, especially given his age) either suddenly just forgets how to play football or isn't that well suited to the new tactics?Many posters seem to forget his first season and most probably hadn’t seen him play before he got here. There’s simply no way that he has become as bad a footballer as his performances this season indicate. The most likely and sensible explanation for that is low confidence and team dynamics both of which can improve and hopefully will next season.
It’s counter factual, but if he’d stayed at Atalanta for another season and got sold to another team in the Prem with less pressure and chaos I’m sure he’d have continued his trajectory and still be considered one of the brightest striker talents in Europe.