27 Jul 2025 12:18:20
Shappy has written an article entitled, Højlund Can Be A Success At Manchester United
27 Jul 2025 14:17:10
I am not really sure how you see good runs last season, for someone supposedly quick he looks slow because he is always late of the blocks, much like Martial was, always on his heels, but Martial was a much better finisher.
I really don’t think he is a good finisher either, I don’t think he possesses a strikers brain, he never gambles and always reacts after the event, which in turn always makes him a split second too late
He is also weak and very poor in the Air, plus if you watch him closely he is always barracking his team mates, which maybe ok if your Ronaldo!
You say if all comes together this season he could get 10-15 goals, that’s hardly enough to warrant being United number 9
No one hardly knocking the door down to sign him either.
27 Jul 2025 14:57:36
Key line there, “his teammates don't trust him”, widely reported in the media that the dressing room were severely underwhelmed by his link up play and general ability as a footballer when he first joined that they were reluctant to pass the ball to him.
Amorim came in last season and he wants his striker to at least be able to hold the ball up which hojlund can't do.
Still raw and was unfairly picked to be the number 1 striker by the club which isn't his fault but think a move would be best for both parties. We can't afford to persist with Hojlund in the hope that something will magically click for him.
Same goes for Mason Mount btw, “nothing players” will kill the club.
27 Jul 2025 15:33:13
The main issue with Hojlund is that his confidence is shot to bits. He’s dropping deep to try to force things, not committing to runs in behind, and second guessing when to shoot.
The problem is that he’s at a stage in his career where he isn’t equipped to lead the line for an EPL team. He has some of the raw talent, but none of refined skills and mentality required to put it all together.
He would be a second or third option during the 90s and 00s. That would have taken the pressure off and given him the time to develop his game. Unfortunately, the club’s awful transfer strategy brought him to the club for a huge fee way before he was ready to make the step up. At this point, I don’t see any way he will succeed here. Like Antony, he needs a fresh start to rebuild confidence and get his career back on track.
27 Jul 2025 17:16:46
We need a starting striker and a goal keeper.
Rasmus can be a success, yes. But only by being taken out if number 1 choice and fighting his way back. I do believe there is a player there. But he will have to battle with Obi for minutes behind a number 1 striker.
It is not uo to player to choose whether they pass to the striker or not. They have to find him. Fergy used to tell his players that if they couldn't find their striker he would find other players that could.
The issue is now that we can't risk running it back with him and obi (and zirkzee) we need a clear number 1.
27 Jul 2025 17:16:56
The way I see it with Hojlund is that he seems to lack the brain of an elite-level striker.
He does possess all the physical attributes to thrive in the EPL, if only he had the instincts and IQ to complement his power and pace.
You can list it:
Gets stuck playing pat-a-cake with defenders who pin him into areas where, irrespective of what's going on around him, he is pretty toothless, when he could just move away and make his markers do what they don't want to - that's just thick.
Finds himself in channels, but is so easily read that he can be closed out with little fuss before a pass into the box is delivered - that's Werner-level poor.
His first touch is usually jabby and unsure, which impacts the very next action he performs and usually gives his opponents extra seconds to gain on him - not quite Lukaku-poor, but not too far off.
His 1v1 ability is okay so long as he's less than 8 yards away from goal, any further away and he's easy to shepherd away - he sometimes reminds me of Danny Dyer's character on Mean Machine, and that's pathetic for a player who cost so much.
His reading is as sharp as a pea and his vision is about as lethal as a custard cream.
I do hope I'm just a chopper who's wrong, but I just see a physically gifted striker who is in dire need of focused coaching with concentration on reading and movement if he's ever to fulfil his potential.
27 Jul 2025 19:03:29
Hojlund is just another James Wilson. Championship player at best.
27 Jul 2025 19:27:07
Just hasn't got the nous of a top level striker. can't anticipate where the ball will fall. top strikers have it he doesn't.