[Lay]

I've said it numerous times, but signing him for £65m or whatever it was, based on 6 months of starts at Atalanta and 9 goals was financially insane. If you look more in depth, I believe he only scored 1 of those goals against a top 10 team and they finished 9th.

My Serie A memory of him is him being subbed off at half time after Kim Min Jae completely dominated him.

 

[CannibalSpectre]

The money spent on him was for a finished polished striker. A ruud or Robin. Unfortunately he will be judged on his fee. He is potential. If we paid around 25 then it wouldn't be a discussion. Jmo

It would still be a discussion because he's our starter in that leading role and we demand and expect more from a starting number 9 even if we paid nothing

 

[Denis79]

Correct move for both parties.

 

[Kaizane]

Zirkzee came on and immediately laid the ball off perfectly with one touch out to the right wing to get us on the attack, and I thought, if that's Hojlund, he takes too many touches, falls over, and the ball's coming straight back at us.

He seems a good lad and the circumstances at the club haven't been fair to him, but if we go another year with him as our main 9 next season, we're more done than we are right now.

 

[statpadders]

Might be the club's worst signing honestly(I forgot about Antony for a second too).

I have no idea how anyone green lit this transfer for that amount of money(same as Antony).

Can we stop lumping Antony in with Rasmus? If you're comparing based on transfer fees and output, the only fair comparison is Sancho. With Antony, we’ve seen why we paid that much. His loan spell showed he can offer a lot when used well. First season wasn't bad either.

Sancho was smashing it in the Bundesliga before he came here. Rasmus, on the other hand, never looked like he’d be a top striker. He doesn’t have any standout qualities. Nothing that makes him different from a regular Championship striker. And the attitude is off too. He acts like he’s prime R9, always pointing and blaming others when he doesn’t get the ball.

Yes, he’s young, but 20/21 is not that young anymore in football. The qualities are obvious regardless of whether you are 15, 20 or 25. We can’t have him at the club next season. Honestly, we’d be lucky to get £10 million for him.

 

[lsd]

I was so sad for him when his header was cleared off the line yesterday though. If anyone needed to score a big goal in a cup final it is him, and he did everything right there.

Well he didn't or he would have scored. Was not the easiest chance to be fair but it was was a slow lazy header

 

[FerociousCorgis]

Well he didn't or he would have scored. Was not the easiest chance to be fair but it was was a slow lazy header

dude come on. Hardly a "slow lazy header". The defender had to go with an acrobatic kick that ended with his leg above his head to clear that shit barely. Hojlund had a split second to hit the header and did pretty damn well. Yes he sucked the rest of the match but that moment he did what needed to be done. Against our defenders it wouldve easily went in

 

[BorisManUtd]

First part of the season I thought Hojlund would be one to stay and Zirkzee to leave, looks different now and I'm fine with that. Hopefully a Serie A club will be ready to spend decent money on him because we need that.

Hojlund being a United fan does make it worse but 2 seasons where he actually got worse in 2nd season is probably enough time to make fair assessment.

 

[Gandalf]

Or maybe Rasmus kicks him back some of his wages. There aren't many "logical" explanations left

It is not this, it is the refusal to deviate from the "system". Ruben is utterly inflexible, his system requires a number 9 and so if he only has one number 9 available they will play regardless of form. I don't think any other manager would not have looked around his squad and thought, player x is an experienced pro with a good brain, he can play the position and give me something rather than trotting the same guy out week in and week out.

 

[kouroux]

It is not this, it is the refusal to deviate from the "system". Ruben is utterly inflexible, his system requires a number 9 and so if he only has one number 9 available they will play regardless of form. I don't think any other manager would not have looked around his squad and thought, player x is an experienced pro with a good brain, he can play the position and give me something rather than trotting the same guy out week in and week out.

I can only agree. Amorim is the most stubborn manager I have ever seen and the most shocking thing is that he's too young to be like that

 

[Globule]

Well he didn't or he would have scored. Was not the easiest chance to be fair but it was was a slow lazy header

It was a shot.
It was on target.
He even managed to stay on his feet.

Frankly it was a miraculous effort by his standards.

 

[Exiled_Red]

Im probably in the huge minority here, but I would keep him unless we can get 35-40 mil this summer (which we wont).

Was he good this year? God no, he was awful. But in his previous season, he showed a lot of promise. I dont think hes as bad as he showed this season and I actually think hes a decent finisher. We will still need forward depth next season and we're not buying two forwards, so I would keep him around. Give him less pressure as the backup, work with him on movement, positioning, and build his confidence back up in (hopefully) a more functional team.

If I thought he was a complete zero, I would say sell him for whatever you can get. But I think the potential is still there and last season showed that.

 

[Rozay]

Well he didn't or he would have scored. Was not the easiest chance to be fair but it was was a slow lazy header

Or he was unfortunate that he met an opponent who also did everything right, which cancelled it out.

 

[Rozay]

Im probably in the huge minority here, but I would keep him unless we can get 35-40 mil this summer (which we wont).

Was he good this year? God no, he was awful. But in his previous season, he showed a lot of promise. I dont think hes as bad as he showed this season and I actually think hes a decent finisher. We will still need forward depth next season and we're not buying two forwards, so I would keep him around. Give him less pressure as the backup, work with him on movement, positioning, and build his confidence back up in (hopefully) a more functional team.

If I thought he was a complete zero, I would say sell him for whatever you can get. But I think the potential is still there and last season showed that.

One month in two years is what you seem to be clinging to. He’s been terrible in 75% of the games he’s ever played for us.

 

[Stacker]

Needs to score four goals against Villa to match his last year record. The game really should suit him with Villa desperately going for the win so acres of space for Hojlund to run into, working the channels, getting behind high line and scoring goals.

If he gets four goals then he must stay.
If he gets only a hattrick instead of four goals, there is a case for Rasmus to get one more season.
If he gets a brace then its up to Berrada and Blaisford whether to keep him or not.
If he scores less than two goals then Im afraid he will be transfer listed.

This has got to be posted with tongue in cheek, surely?

He could score ten goals against Villa and I think 98% of the Cafe would still want him out the door, including me.

 

[Yoro]

He simply has to go at this point, having him in the squad next season would be criminal.

Take whatever fee we can get or loan him, he's been an absolute disaster this season.

 

[Marwood]

He needs to self examine this summer for sure. Take a look at some footage.

The disallowed Maguire goal vs Chelsea. Yoro's chance from the freekick last night.

In both circumstances Rasmus was just so far off what a 9 should be doing it's hard to understand.

Given what he was attempting to do last night I didn't think he was too bad. He didn't give it away much, battled, took some hits.

The problem is why has he made that his entire game. It's what you'd expect if you stuck a CB up top. That's how they'd go about the role.

 

[brozonis]

Im probably in the huge minority here, but I would keep him unless we can get 35-40 mil this summer (which we wont).

Was he good this year? God no, he was awful. But in his previous season, he showed a lot of promise. I dont think hes as bad as he showed this season and I actually think hes a decent finisher. We will still need forward depth next season and we're not buying two forwards, so I would keep him around. Give him less pressure as the backup, work with him on movement, positioning, and build his confidence back up in (hopefully) a more functional team.

If I thought he was a complete zero, I would say sell him for whatever you can get. But I think the potential is still there and last season showed that.

I agree that he is not as bad as he's shown this season. But I think he is a very bad fit for Amorim's system, which is more about width, because he can't consistently hold the ball up, play it out wide and then get on the end of crosses. If we had a system more focused on playing slide rule balls through the middle, then I think he would look a lot better (like under Solskjaer more on the counter), but with the current set up he is absolutely lost.

 

[That_Bloke]

Urgh!

What to do with another very expensive underperforming player? Italy will offer peanuts so I'd try to find him a loan to a Premier League club.

But no matter what happens come matchday 1 next season he can't be starting up front for United.

There's not a single club in the PL that will take him. Not even the newly promoted ones.

He's finished in England.

 

[hellhunter]

There's not a single club in the PL that will take him. Not one, not even the newly promoted ones.

He's finished in England.

At the same age, Isak played five matches for Dortmund and scored zilch. He has more than enough time to rebuild his career, even if it's not here

 

[That_Bloke]

At the same age, Isak played five matches for Dortmund and scored zilch. He has more than enough time to rebuild his career, even if it's not here

That's why I said "finished in England".

He can have an okay career elsewhere, I don't see any problem with that.

 

[hellhunter]

That's why I said "finished in England".

He can have an okay career elsewhere, I don't see any problem with that.

Yeah, and then be can come back to England. Or do you think Bayern wouldn't sign Isak because he once sucked for Dortmund?

 

[Doracle]

At the same age, Isak played five matches for Dortmund and scored zilch. He has more than enough time to rebuild his career, even if it's not here

Say what now? Hojlund is 22 not 18.

 

[hellhunter]

Say what now? Hojlund is 22 not 18.

Whoops, had him down as 20, same age when Isak played for Dortmund.

Point still vaguely stands. A good spell in Italy or Spain and English clubs will look at him again. Big if of course

 

[That_Bloke]

Yeah, and then be can come back to England. Or do you think Bayern wouldn't sign Isak because he once sucked for Dortmund?

You're vastly overestimating Hojlund's abilities.

He's a dud and he's 22 by the way. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, in his game that remotely suggests that he'll be PL worthy one day, or at any top European club for that matter.

 

[Doracle]

Whoops, had him down as 20, same age when Isak played for Dortmund.

Point still vaguely stands. A good spell in Italy or Spain and English clubs will look at him again. Big if of course

Isak was 17 at the start of that season at Dortmund - the same sort of age as Chido Obi is now.

 

[hellhunter]

Isak was 17 at the start of that season at Dortmund - the same sort of age as Chido Obi is now.

He left Dortmund a few weeks before turning 20. But it's beside the point anyway. Salah or De Bruyne had no issues securing big deals in England after successful stints abroad while initially failing.

I'm not saying Rasmus will have any such success abroad, can't see it. But if he does, no one will remember this current disaster

 

[Gandalf]

Isak was 17 at the start of that season at Dortmund - the same sort of age as Chido Obi is now.

A better comparison would have been Isak's last season for Sociedad when he was a year older than Hojlund is now and he scored 10 goals in all competitions which is the same that Rasmus has this season. Hojlund has time to turn it around and as he is a die hard United fan and seems a likeable lad I am going to root for him but it is not going to be here and I doubt he will return to England even if he does click somewhere else. If he does head to Italy as looks most likely and he smashes it in Serie A then why would he want to leave?

 

[Fobal]

A younger Lukaku would transform this team. His failure was not being quite enough for big games and moments, but he's forever been a reliable goalscorer and that's all you need to stay in competitive league positions.

Ditto, Lukaku never was as bad as it's said, not my favorite, yet he always made goals and assists and create havoc with his power.

 

[Swordsman]

Can we think of a worse united striker than him in united history ?

 

[thisisnottaken1]

Can we think of a worse united striker than him in united history ?

Not even Gary Birtles was as bad as this.

 

[Cassidy]

Can we think of a worse united striker than him in united history ?

No

 

[Cassidy]

A better comparison would have been Isak's last season for Sociedad when he was a year older than Hojlund is now and he scored 10 goals in all competitions which is the same that Rasmus has this season. Hojlund has time to turn it around and as he is a die hard United fan and seems a likeable lad I am going to root for him but it is not going to be here and I doubt he will return to England even if he does click somewhere else. If he does head to Italy as looks most likely and he smashes it in Serie A then why would he want to leave?

Isaks issues that season were injury related as well as not being allowed to leave the previous summer. Not really similar to Hojlund at all

 

[Gandalf]

Isaks issues that season were injury related as well as not being allowed to leave the previous summer. Not really similar to Hojlund at all

Well that is really not the point I was making but ok.

 

[Infantah]

Im probably in the huge minority here, but I would keep him unless we can get 35-40 mil this summer (which we wont).

Was he good this year? God no, he was awful. But in his previous season, he showed a lot of promise. I dont think hes as bad as he showed this season and I actually think hes a decent finisher. We will still need forward depth next season and we're not buying two forwards, so I would keep him around. Give him less pressure as the backup, work with him on movement, positioning, and build his confidence back up in (hopefully) a more functional team.

If I thought he was a complete zero, I would say sell him for whatever you can get. But I think the potential is still there and last season showed that.

Giving players like Hojlund more time is one of the many things that have led to our squad being as awful as it is. He shouldn't have been made our main number 9 but he's shown he can't do the very basics that a youth player younger than he should be capable of doing.

Get rid, take the financial hit from overspending so much on him and start anew with our attack.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Can we think of a worse united striker than him in united history ?

I thought Weghorst would be the worst striker I ever watched play for us consistently. I was wrong. This version of Hojlund is far worse

 

[Exiled_Red]

Giving players like Hojlund more time is one of the many things that have led to our squad being as awful as it is. He shouldn't have been made our main number 9 but he's shown he can't do the very basics that a youth player younger than he should be capable of doing.

Get rid, take the financial hit from overspending so much on him and start anew with our attack.

Normally I’m in agreement that we stick with players too long after it’s clear they haven’t worked out. I can’t explain why, I just have a feeling that Hojlund could come good. He showed so much promise last year which is why his form this season is so baffling. It makes me question what our coaching staff is telling him. Why does he insist on trying to play like a hold up striker when running the channels is what made him successful? It’s just very weird for him to have taken such a huge step back.

 

[Dolf]

Ditto, Lukaku never was as bad as it's said, not my favorite, yet he always made goals and assists and create havoc with his power.

Agree, also worth noting: Lukaku is currently #1 in assists in the serie A (10 asssists) and has scored 13 goals (15 goals makes you the #3 goalscorer in the Serie A). And he’s 32, about to win the league with Napoli.
He might not be elite but people really acted like he was a nobody when he played for us.
Look where we are now….

 

[ScholesBrain]

Agree, also worth noting: Lukaku is currently #1 in assists in the serie A (10 asssists) and has scored 13 goals (15 goals makes you the #3 goalscorer in the Serie A). And he’s 32, about to win the league with Napoli.
He might not be elite but people really acted like he was a nobody when he played for us.
Look where we are now….

he scored 16 and 12 league goals in his 2 seasons for us
Hojlund has 10 and 4.

 

[MadDogg]

Agree, also worth noting: Lukaku is currently #1 in assists in the serie A (10 asssists) and has scored 13 goals (15 goals makes you the #3 goalscorer in the Serie A). And he’s 32, about to win the league with Napoli.
He might not be elite but people really acted like he was a nobody when he played for us.
Look where we are now….

Lukaku has had a couple of periods in his career where he was absolutely terrible. Namely the first half of his second season here (where he was almost as bad as Hojlund has been this season) and from what people say (I never watched them) also when he went back to Chelsea the second time. During these periods not only was he terrible on the field, but he was causing problems off the field as well.

The rest of his career has been fairly good, albeit somewhat limited. Indeed he was arguably our best player in the first half of his first season.