Rasmus Hojlund | Match Discussion Thread 2024/25

Tbf we have a few times. Just its been result oriented thinking that the entire performance is crap if we our strikers miss 15 chances or Zirkzee stops a goal on the line. For example we were good vs Palace and created numerous chances but as it finished 0-0 the perception is we must have been crap.

Our XG compared to our actual goals is the highest negative difference in the league. We have the 6th highest xg per game and the 17th most goals. The build up play hasn't been as poor as some believe the finishing has been. But we've been missing our striker so hopefully with him back to full fitness that changes.
 
I agree there have been moments this season where united have been enjoyable to watch.

But things like dropping deep on Saturday annoy me a bit. I get he needs the points so wants to protect the lead, but for me, we could have scored more on Saturday. Instead I spent the last 10 mins hoping they don't find a goal.

Anyway, dont want to be too negative, it was a win, and some decent signs within that win. lets try and play like that spell more often.
 
Think the key difference was in the spell where we got in top we rattled in a few goals.

In other games we created the chances then missed them.

A team like us can’t afford not to cash in during the spells of dominance we have.

Even the best sides rarely create chances through the entire 90 minutes. They cash in when on top then have a system that allows them to control a game and stop the opponent building momentum on them.
 
Not sure what to make of Hojlund’s performance. Frustrating, I guess. He did well to win the penalty, hold up play was indifferent and dwelled on to the ball when he could have released the ball to players in good attacking positions.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Not sure what to make of Hojlund’s performance. Frustrating, I guess. He did well to win the penalty, hold up play was indifferent and dwelled on to the ball when he could have released the ball to players in good attacking positions.
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You cannot have hold up play when he is surrounded by two CBs and have none close by. Our three forwards do not play together. We need to change their mentality.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Not sure what to make of Hojlund’s performance. Frustrating, I guess. He did well to win the penalty, hold up play was indifferent and dwelled on to the ball when he could have released the ball to players in good attacking positions.
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A good striker nails that first touch and lashes the ball into the net. Lucky the keeper caught him as the ball was going out of play.
 
He won a few flick ins but neither winger anticipated it.

His best moment was first half when he forced a good save from Sanchez but the ref didn’t play advantage so it wouldn’t have counted.

Just looks isolated.

There is something there with this kid i just don’t think it’s world class. Looked like he moved to the prem to early needed more time to mature in a weaker league.
 
Will be interesting to see him in a side that has a clear identity. Most of the time our players just ride on their seat of their pants and not really have a clear plan.

There is clearly something there with the kid. His hold up play was pretty good today and I love his physicality and work ethic.

It’s a shame he went off when he did as we could really have done with him on that through ball that Zirkzee messed up.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
How does Amorim like to use centre forwards?
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Gyokeres is a similar style number 9 but he’s a few years older. Probably more of a physical handful than Hojlund but I think as he fills out Hojlund can be like that.

On paper he should fit the system. The difference is the two alongside him in an Amorim side are creative players that supply the striker.

Utd need this boy to come good.

What we’ve seen so far is he needs people to create his chances but he is a very good finisher. Create more chances for him and we should see a lot more goals.
 
The 15th minute mark is when I think we had our first counter attack and Rashord got the ball in our area and sprinted forward. Rasmus was screaming in the middle to play it very early and Rashford went all the way to the penalty box and got a corner. This has been a huge problem form the time Ole came. It could be understandable as Ole was never played or hardly played as a CF and was normally played as a wide player so he may have subconsciously be favouring wide players as strikers?
 
Watching him he is full of energy and running so that’s good. From what I’ve seen of the Amorim system I think he’ll fit that quite nicely? And that system seems to be about creating for the striker so that should help him. But he’s still very raw and needs to be a bit smarter at times. But definitely shows real promise and ability at times.
 
he's not good enough, I can't believe the club have neglected what is probably the most important position, so badly for so long.

Zirkzee needs shipping out, and a proper striker needs buying.
 
Mr C said:
he's not good enough, I can't believe the club have neglected what is probably the most important position, so badly for so long.

Zirkzee needs shipping out, and a proper striker needs buying.
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He is young man of 21 who still has not even completed playing a full seasons game in the PL and you say he is not good enough? He is feeding on scraps. Let's see if the wingers and the midfield provide him with enough chances and if he starts missing them regularly then you can say so. He has making the runs and then the pass would not come. I have highlighted in the first quarter in our first attack Rashford had an opportunity to pass or cross to him early on but decided to run with the ball and it came only a corner. If he had passed Rasmus was level with the last defender and he is no slouch in his speed.
 
Apologies, should have been clearer

He is not good enough now, to lead the line at united. We need a striker now. He may turn into a top striker.

Although when you think of the top strikers in the past, they are banging in goals at this age.
 
At what level? how many top strikers are banging them in at 21 in the premier league?

I do think he made the move to the premier league to young needed more time in weaker leagues to hone the skills and develop his game.
 
Very rough diamond at the moment that is best used running onto through balls to get the best from his pace.
 
Mr C said:
Apologies, should have been clearer

He is not good enough now, to lead the line at united. We need a striker now. He may turn into a top striker.

Although when you think of the top strikers in the past, they are banging in goals at this age.
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Not entirely true, some of the very best strikers in the league took time to adjust and find their feet at a young age. Henry, Van Persie, Kane to name a few.
 
Henry and Van Persie were converted to strikers, they werent playing that position.

Lets say, he doesn't look a natural

by the way, I did say there is nothing to say he can't be a decent prem striker.

I said he's not ready now, and we need someone now
 
Mr C said:
Henry and Van Persie were converted to strikers, they werent playing that position.

Lets say, he doesn't look a natural

by the way, I did say there is nothing to say he can't be a decent prem striker.

I said he's not ready now, and we need someone now
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You did say strikers his age are banging in goals though and I would hasten a guess that the percentage is actually quite small.

Even someone like Suarez who was a little older but also didn’t pull up trees in his early days at Liverpool.

That’s a fair point about him not being ready right now but I do think we’ll invest that time into him. Something could suddenly just click with him as the signs with him have always been promising.
 
SuperRash said:
You did say strikers his age are banging in goals though and I would hasten a guess that the percentage is actually quite small.
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I didn't, I said top strikers, talking Rooney, Owen, Shearer, RVN, Cole, Aguero, Fowler, Vardy etc

Suarez is a goal every 2 games apart from his early days where it's still under 1 in 3 and he was under 20

I was trying to say, he's not showing signs of a 25 goal a season striker, more 15, in the long term. So he will be a good prem striker I think, will he be the elite striker man utd need, that player who needs just one chance, not so sure.

But don't get wrong, I'm not having a pop, I like him, just not sure he will cut the mustsrd to be no. 1. But a club like us needs at least 2 anyway. He could easily be one of two who alternate

So I think they need to get rid of Zirkzee and bring in a real striker.
 
I think his link-up play and decision making are very poor. He's also terrible at holding up the ball and making it work out for us in any way, and that is going to be the reason he fails. If you're up top on your own you must be able to hold the ball up to some degree, whether it's with strength backing into players like Shearer did, or good ball control and a pass. He has neither right now.

I will still continue to support him though as he's still quite young, but he made the decision to come here and if he doesn't start producing some signs of becoming that player we need we will replace him.

If I'm honest I don't think he'll be in Amorim's plans long term.
 
Mr C said:
I didn't, I said top strikers, talking Rooney, Owen, Shearer, RVN, Cole, Aguero, Fowler, Vardy etc

Suarez is a goal every 2 games apart from his early days where it's still under 1 in 3 and he was under 20

I was trying to say, he's not showing signs of a 25 goal a season striker, more 15, in the long term. So he will be a good prem striker I think, will he be the elite striker man utd need, that player who needs just one chance, not so sure.

But don't get wrong, I'm not having a pop, I like him, just not sure he will cut the mustsrd to be no. 1. But a club like us needs at least 2 anyway. He could easily be one of two who alternate

So I think they need to get rid of Zirkzee and bring in a real striker.
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Well if I want to be pedantic (: - Hojlund’s goal to game ratio is only bettered by a handful of strikers by the age of 21 - including Fowler and Owen.
 
are you including international?

in 01/02 when I think Owen was 21, he scored 19 goals in 29 games in the league, the year before he scored 16 in 28, averaging 60 mins a game.

Hojlund has 29 goals in 105 games.

although I think you know the point I'm trying to make
 
His record last season given that he doesn't take penalties was actually ok.

In a team that certainly wasn't setup to create chances for him he really struggled for chances in games but he was ruthless when they came.

Hopefully he can kick on this season we've took a big gamble with him so we need him to come good. There's enough about him for me to think it's worth persisting with this season but next summer we need to look for a more senior centre forward.
 
Mr C said:
are you including international?

in 01/02 when I think Owen was 21, he scored 19 goals in 29 games in the league, the year before he scored 16 in 28, averaging 60 mins a game.

Hojlund has 29 goals in 105 games.

although I think you know the point I'm trying to make
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From what I remember Owen was right near the top of the list so yeah those stats check out.

Totally get the point though and I agree that he needs some help up there. It was pretty unfair to lumber all the responsibility on him when he was so inexperienced.
 
I feel when Amorim joins and sets the team up with his own player instructions the strikers will benefit. Players that don't supply his striker will be dropped. So we should see just how good Hojlund really is quite soon, or at least glimpses whilst the tactics are being fine tuned. Gone will be the days of Rashford and Garnacho not passing.
 
Struggled tonight.

Just couldn’t get into the game.

Great chance first half which I felt he allowed the defender to bully him out of. That sort of header needs to be buried
 
jsp said:
Struggled tonight.

Just couldn’t get into the game.

Great chance first half which I felt he allowed the defender to bully him out of. That sort of header needs to be buried
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yes he should have but I also feel that we do not pass to him early on. The second half offside was looks like the only one we passed to hi. early. We never play as if we had a CF.
 
justintime said:
yes he should have but I also feel that we do not pass to him early on. The second half offside was looks like the only one we passed to hi. early. We never play as if we had a CF.
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All those things are true but there are other things he has to do himself to make things happen.

It is a very difficult position to play as you can go long spells without seeing the ball.
 
Watched a few times when players decided not to pass to Hojlund when he was open and ready to receive the ball - I'm starting to think they don't trust him to control it and pass anywhere of use. It's passing the point of coincedence in my opinion. Add to that bad movement and he's looking like a player who is very lost right now.

Zirkzee was only on the pitch 5 minutes yesterday and he opened up their defence at least once with a great cross field pass. Hojlund can't do that either. Don't think I've ever seen him display a good long pass.

I'm starting to think he's not good enough.
 
Works his tripe off doing the unselfish stuff which at least the crowd appreciated when he came off, could be wrong though, the applause might have been for new crowd favourite Zirkzee though ....
 
Zirkzee is a player who plays off the striker. As Jayc said he makes movements and the players do not pass the ball to him. They should pass to him and not delay it. It is not their problem if he can't control. It is his and the manager's problem.
 
Another quiet performance. I can’t recall a goal scoring opportunity.

A top striker would make a huge difference to this team. Hopefully United sign the right one in the summer which would allow Hojlund the opportunity to develop without the pressure of being the main man.
 

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