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2022-23 Performances


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31
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InfiniteBoredom

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Was he really that much worse than how he’s been playing all along?

I missed the game but from highlights it doesn’t seem like he was doing anything below his usual standards anyway, the problem is people have been finding excuses and invented all sort of babble to explain why his bang average performances were actually good. His lack of speed has always been a major hindrance. The comparison with Martial is laughable because the latter can take the ball on the turn and lose his marker, putting us in favourable attacking positions. Weghorst’s ‘link up play’ involves sideway and backward passes to the nearest player because he has the turn rate of Maguire. Add his rather average aerial ability on top of that and you have a focal point that is very static, which means while we can methodically progress up the pitch around him, we cant transition quickly with him involved.

The thing is, he shouldn’t be playing this much to begin with and he doesn’t deserve the abuse just because people are angry that their hope in him is misguided. Guy never belonged at this level and is nothing more than a body to add to the squad because our first choice striker is crocked and we were cash strapped.
 

11101

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Don't think we will sign him, he is just one extra body in the lineup. If Sancho is fit then Rashford will play as CF.

When he was subbed out we played very well. Same thing happened in cup game too. Not sure if it's because of him getting subbed out or Sancho coming on, but in both games our CF combined well with all the attacking players.
It's easy to see. His touches and layoffs are not precise enough or fast enough for the speed at which we play. Maybe he can do a job as a sub but he needs to come out of the starting lineup now.
 

Handré1990

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It's easy to see. His touches and layoffs are not precise enough or fast enough for the speed at which we play. Maybe he can do a job as a sub but he needs to come out of the starting lineup now.
Yesterday he even seemed weak for such a big lad, admittedly my stream did fall out once or twice. My buddy said, he’s almost your size! When I tried to give him cred for 4-5 nice lay-offs under pressure.
 

ti vu

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Was he really that much worse than how he’s been playing all along?

I missed the game but from highlights it doesn’t seem like he was doing anything below his usual standards anyway, the problem is people have been finding excuses and invented all sort of babble to explain why his bang average performances were actually good. His lack of speed has always been a major hindrance. The comparison with Martial is laughable because the latter can take the ball on the turn and lose his marker, putting us in favourable attacking positions. Weghorst’s ‘link up play’ involves sideway and backward passes to the nearest player because he has the turn rate of Maguire. Add his rather average aerial ability on top of that and you have a focal point that is very static, which means while we can methodically progress up the pitch around him, we cant transition quickly with him involved.

The thing is, he shouldn’t be playing this much to begin with and he doesn’t deserve the abuse just because people are angry that their hope in him is misguided. Guy never belonged at this level and is nothing more than a body to add to the squad because our first choice striker is crocked and we were cash strapped.
He's about the same as the previous games.

The main issue in this game is that ETH started him, and played Rashford on right wing, which negated much Rashford ability. It also severely hindered our overall play further on top of missing key players.

We improved drastically when he went off, and Rashford moved into CF position, and that's 2 goals down, where in normal circumstances you need your tall, box specialist forward.

This may open some people's eyes. I hope.
 

Mainoldo

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People are being far too kind. It’s clear to see he’s not of standard. He’s drowning in this team. Patrick Bamford could have done a better job.

It’s not hard to do what he’s doing. It’s the extras that we need that he doesn’t offer.

People are actually analysing the game saying they felt sorry for him because the crosses came in after he left. Well if his movement and speed of thought was better. You’d see us cross more.
 

Zippycup

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He reminds me of that kid who always gets into the team because the coach thinks he will be good in the air.

He must think he's won the lottery.
 

Handré1990

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People are being far too kind. It’s clear to see he’s not of standard. He’s drowning in this team. Patrick Bamford could have done a better job.

It’s not hard to do what he’s doing. It’s the extras that we need that he doesn’t offer.

People are actually analysing the game saying they felt sorry for him because the crosses came in after he left. Well if his movement and speed of thought was better. You’d see us cross more.
So true! I heard pundits saying the team let him down. If there’s one thing we’ve learned is that Ten Hag has managed to instill a degree of knowing when to do what. If Weghorst was attacking the box with purpose we’d see crosses, as soon as our players attacked the box the crosses came, and there were quite a few beauties.
 

Big_Bro

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He will get better. Still getting use to his teammates and surrounding. He is a less aggressive version of Kevin kuranyi
 

championo

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Just bumbling his at around, disrupting the flow of our passing. He does not belong and when he plays ewe just look awful.
 

Son

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i called it the first time he played for us. He’s blatantly far out of his depth. Too slow, not precise, no guile and trickery. He’s a unit but that’s it.

Will never make the grade here and he’s not really useful unless bringing on late to get a header. I’d still probably rather Maguire for that job.
 

Josep Dowling

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Let’s be honest he’s out of his depth. We all knew he would be before he joined, he probably knows it himself. The club had a lack of options and he was one of them. Just have to hope Martial can stop being made of glass.
 

Oranges038

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i called it the first time he played for us. He’s blatantly far out of his depth. Too slow, not precise, no guile and trickery. He’s a unit but that’s it.

Will never make the grade here and he’s not really useful unless bringing on late to get a header. I’d still probably rather Maguire for that job.
Called it before he signed. But you can't be using his time at Burnley as a stick to beat him with we were told.

I've not been too critical of him, thought he did what he did ok sometimes. But he's so far off the pace, you'd almost feel sorry for him.
 

Josh 76

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True, but I still don't see the point of bringing in someone who is clearly below Premier League standard.
I’m just shocked Utd haven’t got a player in the under 21s who can do a better job than him.
He is very poor. As someone mentioned it in here before, Chris Wood would have been a better shout!
 

TheRedDevil'sAdvocate

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Was he really that much worse than how he’s been playing all along?

I missed the game but from highlights it doesn’t seem like he was doing anything below his usual standards anyway, the problem is people have been finding excuses and invented all sort of babble to explain why his bang average performances were actually good. His lack of speed has always been a major hindrance. The comparison with Martial is laughable because the latter can take the ball on the turn and lose his marker, putting us in favourable attacking positions. Weghorst’s ‘link up play’ involves sideway and backward passes to the nearest player because he has the turn rate of Maguire. Add his rather average aerial ability on top of that and you have a focal point that is very static, which means while we can methodically progress up the pitch around him, we cant transition quickly with him involved.

The thing is, he shouldn’t be playing this much to begin with and he doesn’t deserve the abuse just because people are angry that their hope in him is misguided. Guy never belonged at this level and is nothing more than a body to add to the squad because our first choice striker is crocked and we were cash strapped.
Very true. He's what, the third stop-gap forward United have signed while waiting for Martial to step up and prove that he can deliver consistently in the forward position? We're talking about a Burnley reject who was on loan in one of the slowest leagues in the world, playing for a team that has the 5th best attack there. What he's suffering from is overexposure to first team football in England. He should be getting 15 to 30 minutes now and then in our attempt to wrap Martial in cotton wool, but the latter can't even give us that nowadays.

It's true that, unlike a fit Martial, the ball doesn't stick to him and he can't turn his man. On top of that, he's as allergic as Martial to making runs in-behind. And it's not a matter of speed, as it is a matter of anticipation and good timing. But, you still must have the tools to make something of them. Yesterday, for example, there were three or four occasions on which he attempted such runs. Not bad runs, but he couldn't even control the ball and bring it down. All in all, you can see why people are frustrated. It would have been nice to have someone able to add a couple of qualities of his own to our frontline, coming from the bench. What we got, instead, was the nothing version of an always absent footballer.

On another note (since you missed the game), the team's set-up didn't do him any favours last night. A non-existent midfield, Garnacho/Rashford out-wide always trying to be direct and make things happen on their own instead of cutting inside to link-up with anyone, that's not exactly the environment in which WW has something to offer. It's a surprise he stayed on the pitch as long as he did. Still, if Garnacho hadn't been selfish, he could still have a goal that would probably have turned the whole game around.
 

Biggins

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He can be useful for the bench but I am really surprised that he is starting so many games.

We all know that striker position is our main problem this season and while there are no great options it seems that having Rashford as striker is the best solution in the circumstances.

If the club decides to bring Mason back, then we have a player who could potentially claim the no 9 position but this is unlikely to happen this season (if any).
 

Donut

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He is a body, he occupies space, that’s it. There would probably be no difference if Lindelof started in his place.
 

Fluctuation0161

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Tbf he's probably the best option we could have. Chelsea didn't manage to find a single striker in that window loan or not.

Imo it's still a good loan but he should only play a bench role. Like when we really need a goal and could use some number up front or when the match is somewhat decided and we need to rest our main forwards.
If we really need a goal he shouldn't come on tbh.

He is good as a defensive forward for me and that's all. High pressing etc.
 

Smores

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So true! I heard pundits saying the team let him down. If there’s one thing we’ve learned is that Ten Hag has managed to instill a degree of knowing when to do what. If Weghorst was attacking the box with purpose we’d see crosses, as soon as our players attacked the box the crosses came, and there were quite a few beauties.
He was wide open when Garnacho decided to shoot in the first half to be fair. If he'd have just squared it across Werghorst would have had a goal.

The issue is and it's irrespective of Werghorsts quality that we usually play with forwards out wide who have the instinct to shoot before assisting. Sancho is the exception and Ten Hag mentioned it yesterday.

If you put him in Ten Hags Ajax team he'd score plenty but we're not close to that yet. We need to solve that general issue of not feeding our striker or accept they have to be the one to create their own opportunities so have a fast mobile attacker who will run at teams. Werghorst isn't good enough to do that even if he does make some good runs.
 

gza the genius

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It's just so strange, we've got this big target man and don't bother even attempting to send any crosses in to him 90% of the time, then we take him off and move Rashford to the middle and suddenly start whipping them in. He hasn't exactly impressed but it also doesn't really appear like we're trying to play to his strengths either.

It was probably tough yesterday with Antony out but I don't think he should be starting. If Martial is injured then Rashford should start through the middle for now. Sancho/Garnacho and Antony/Bruno/Pellistri wide.
 

Fabio Rochemback

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He is not good enough to be a second or even third choice striker here, not even close. Wouldn't get near the starting XI for any of the teams currently in the relegation zone. I know a back up striker isn't gonna be Romario, but when they aren't even Che Adams or Dominic Calvert-Lewin then they're not good enough.
 

RuudTom83

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Sancho is back to cover RW with Garnacho.

So I’d like Weghorst to have a few sub appearances after Rashford has run the CB’s ragged.
 

Judge Red

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Garnacho had two opportunities to square the ball to him for what should have been easy goals but apart from that I’d rather we spent the rest of the season trying to get something out of Elanga.
 

Mmm-Qatarian

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He's playing pretty much as you'd expect someone who was brought in as a stop-gap loan option to play. He was pretty crap yesterday but I wouldn't have expected him to be really good in every match; we signed him for a 2.5 million pound loan fee from Burnley.

I do think people are being very reductive when saying "he offers nothing to the team". He's quite good at drawing defenders and then laying the ball off to a teammate but, although I imagine people won't like me "making excuses" here, it was quite difficult to do that yesterday because Leeds congested the centre of the pitch and we didn't have anyone on the right to stretch them and create space for central runners.
 

Josh 76

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He's playing pretty much as you'd expect someone who was brought in as a stop-gap loan option to play. He was pretty crap yesterday but I wouldn't have expected him to be really good in every match; we signed him for a 2.5 million pound loan fee from Burnley.

I do think people are being very reductive when saying "he offers nothing to the team". He’s quite good at drawing defenders and then laying the ball off to a teammate but, although I imagine people won't like me "making excuses" here, it was quite difficult to do that yesterday because Leeds congested the centre of the pitch and we didn't have anyone on the right to stretch them and create space for central runners.
So is every fecking player in the league.
 

Mmm-Qatarian

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So is every fecking player in the league.
Someone didn't watch Ronaldo last season...

Snide comment aside though, this just isn't true. Not all strikers are capable of holding the ball up as effectively as Weghorst.
 

Mainoldo

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Someone didn't watch Ronaldo last season...

Snide comment aside though, this just isn't true. Not all strikers are capable of holding the ball up as effectively as Weghorst.
The problem isn’t his skillset. It’s how effective he is at his skillset. Which my friend is not Premier League level.

There’s probably a guy on a Sunday who has better hold up play than CR7.
 

zurnalist

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Nothing against the guy but I really feel we are better with three dynamic strikers/wingers than him on top. Yesterday showed that as well. I get he is needed for depth but to play him every game doesn't feel like a right thing to do...
 

NLunited

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WW does what is asked of him and does it well. Where was the service yesterday? Why did we start crossing more after he came off?
 

Bogga

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Lacks pace and technique. Despite being tall and big it doesn't seem that he wins enough headers and can play as some sort of target player. So I'm finding it really hard to see what he offers on the pitch?
Now that Sancho is back it would be fun to see Antony, Sancho on the wings with Rashford taking his spot
 

Handré1990

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He was wide open when Garnacho decided to shoot in the first half to be fair. If he'd have just squared it across Werghorst would have had a goal.

The issue is and it's irrespective of Werghorsts quality that we usually play with forwards out wide who have the instinct to shoot before assisting. Sancho is the exception and Ten Hag mentioned it yesterday.

If you put him in Ten Hags Ajax team he'd score plenty but we're not close to that yet. We need to solve that general issue of not feeding our striker or accept they have to be the one to create their own opportunities so have a fast mobile attacker who will run at teams. Werghorst isn't good enough to do that even if he does make some good runs.
No, I’m talking spesifically about feeding crosses into the box for attackers to get on the end of. Yesterday both, Dalot and Shaw, in addition to Sancho put in lots of beautiful crosses. Problem is it was after Weghorst was subbed, so, did we find more crossing opportunities because he went out? Feck if I know, I just saw Fernandes, Sabitser and Rashford coming close to scoring headers from crosses. Cavani in his prime would’ve had a hattrick, never mind Falcao. Unfortunately most went to the wrong players..
 

hobbers

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He's supposed to be the guy we put on in the 70th minute in games like yesterday when the crossing siege really ramps up. Not the one we take off.

But thank sicknote Martial for that.
 

poleglass red

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that ball yesterday that was floated into him in the 1st half in the leeds box, and he couldn't control it, that was poor, thab all wasn't fizzing in at him or anything. I understand we needed to bring in somebody due to Martial being perma injured, but we might have to rethink this one. Maybe as a late sub, fresh energy, but even then he's not that great in the air. Be interesting what ETH does for Sunday with him.
 

Mmm-Qatarian

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The problem isn’t his skillset. It’s how effective he is at his skillset. Which my friend is not Premier League level.

There’s probably a guy on a Sunday who has better hold up play than CR7.
I'm not for a moment going to try to argue that Weghorst is good enough to be our starting striker, and we shouldn't be in a position where he is starting for us. That we are is overwhelmingly the fault of the Glazers, Ed Woodward, Matt Judge and any other bonehead that had a hand in our awful transfer strategy post-Ferguson.

I simply think it's incorrect to say that Weghorst offers nothing to the team. I'd honestly go so far as to say that he's shown enough to suggest he'd be a decent squad option, although I probably wouldn't look to make his loan deal permanent in the summer.
 

ti vu

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He's playing pretty much as you'd expect someone who was brought in as a stop-gap loan option to play. He was pretty crap yesterday but I wouldn't have expected him to be really good in every match; we signed him for a 2.5 million pound loan fee from Burnley.

I do think people are being very reductive when saying "he offers nothing to the team". He's quite good at drawing defenders and then laying the ball off to a teammate but, although I imagine people won't like me "making excuses" here, it was quite difficult to do that yesterday because Leeds congested the centre of the pitch and we didn't have anyone on the right to stretch them and create space for central runners.
So you need both wings to perform well before the CF would attempt to play correctly by making run behind the high defense line? If that's not making excuses, I don't what's not...

By any chance, do you mean WW's sacrifice was the reason, Garnacho having a good time on the left wing too?

WW's not quite good at drawing defenders to him. He's just not able to shake them off and lost in the mix of players. Leeds congested the playing pitch, because he failed to lead the line by posing a threat of running behind. He knows himself he's slow, so he didn't attempt to position for any type of foot race to attack the space in behind. He failed the task to draw the defender and stretch play. This game particularly, Leeds defenders mostly just left him be because he failed to get himself into the game doing the right thing.

After taking WW off and put Rashford up top, and Leeds' tactic quickly waned. Easy. The effect is drastic.
 
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Escobar

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So where are now all those who said he‘s so good for our overall play and a good striker? He‘s awful and should never start a game for us.
 
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