02 Jun 2025 15:16:44
Manchester United have expressed interest in Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz, who has scored15 goals this season.
United’s interest in Burkardt is partly due to his proficiency in a 3-4-3. Scouts have reportedly provided glowing assessments of Burkardt’s adaptability and potential fit within United’s strategic framework.
However he is in demand with a number of EPL clubs showing interest as well as Frankfurt and Bayern in Germany.
02 Jun 2025 16:52:58
Whilst I am not sure about these rumours and could just be open season for linking us to anyone I would be happy that we are exploring all options when it comes to a rebuild.
I don't know anything about him so can't comment but it is possible that we need a second striker or at least an alternative shopuld we not be able to get our main ones this year.
02 Jun 2025 17:07:35
Burkardt 24/ 25
28 games @ 2.5 shots per game = 70 shots
Those 70 shots = 18 goals which is a goal every 3.88 shots
Hojlund 24/ 25 played 23 games @ 1 shots per game = 23
23 shots = 4 goals which is a goal every 5.75 shots
Hojlund 23/ 24
Hojlund played 25 games@ 1.3 shost per game = 32.5
32.5 shots = 10 goals which is a goal every 3.25 shots
Burkardt @ the 24/ 25 shot rate Man Utd (28 Games for ease)
played 28 games@ 1 shots per game = 28
Strike rate of 1 goal in 3.88 shots, Burkardt would get an estimated 7 goals
Viktor Gyökeres 24/ 25
played 31 games @ 4.2 shots per game = 130.2 shots
130.2 shots = 39 goals which is a goal every 3.34 shots
@ the Man Utd creation rate 24/ 25
played 28 games@ 1 shots per game = 28
Strike rate of 1 goal in 3.34 shots, Gyökeres would get an estimated 8.4 goals
OUR MAJOR ISSSUE IS THAT WE DON'T CREATE SHOTS FOR THE STRIKER.
02 Jun 2025 17:30:02
Prime Ronaldo R9 in 97/ 98
Played 47 games Scored 34 goals and had 196 shots. That's 196/ 34 = a goal every 5.76 shots.
In a 28 game season at the Man Utd 24/ 25 shot creation rate
played 28 games@ 1 shots per game = 28
Strike rate of 1 goal in 5.76 shots, Ronaldo would get an estimated 4.86 goals.
Now obviously Ronaldo had the ability to create from nothing and its a completely nonsensical comparison but hopefully it highlights just how poor the service to our attackers has been.
02 Jun 2025 18:42:58
Good strikers create chances for themselves. You’re also ignoring all of the times when Hojlund was in the wrong position to receive the ball, or his teammates opted not to pass to him because they had no confidence that he’d convert. Then there are the countless situations when other teams double up on our creative players because they knew they could leave Hojlund free without having to worry too much about him scoring.
We would have created a lot more shots if we’d had a competent striker leading the line.
02 Jun 2025 19:34:58
Ok let’s look at martial.
22/ 23 - 1.3 shots per game
21/ 22 - 0.6 shots per game (injured most of the season)
20/ 21 - 2 shots per game
19/ 20 - 2.5 shots per game (17 goals his best season)
18/ 19 - 1.4 shots per game
It’s terrible creation for a top level team and it’s been happening for years.
02 Jun 2025 20:12:02
fully agree redseven.
02 Jun 2025 20:23:54
I do get where you are coming from Rewz, ut I also think Hojlund causes his own narrative as per Redseven.
So for context, in the last 8 premier league games, united were seen as creating 5 chances for Hojlund. Which looks bad, u til you see that in his single outing at the end of the season, we created 3 chances in 52 minutes for Chido Obi. So this kind of supports the fact that his positioning, hos reading of the play and yes quite probably the lack of faith in him from his fellow players does play a major part in his stats.
One thing that summed him up for me, he was played in, 3 yards out, ball in front of him, and as I've seen so many times. Has the touch of a polio sufferer, ball bounces off him whilst he falls over himself. It's like watching slapstick football to see how many different ways he can find a way to fluff his lines. He's only a young lad and I hope he recovers from his OT nightmare but he's out of his depth and honestly doesn't have the skills or the mind required to be Man Utd no 9. Just think, McClair, Cole, Berbatov, Ibrahimovic, Lukaku, blimey even Saha and dare I mention Martial who was dross and lazy, but just look at the level the lad is performing at, its a kindness to let him start again elsewhere. I thought about how he'd perform with cunha and perhaps mbuemo feeding him but I just don't see a player there. The instincts just aren't there despite his clear effort and desire.
02 Jun 2025 19:56:47
This player comparison shows Burkardt is a very good option. It does highlight how bad Rasmus is. He needs a loan I think, either with an option to buy, or we see if he can turn things around.
02 Jun 2025 22:23:49
Cavani 20/ 21 - 1.3 shots per game
Cavani 21/ 22 - 1.2 shots per game
Now here’s the difference
Zlatan 16/ 17 - 4.1 shots per game (the year we won the europa and EFL cup) .
Van Persie 12/ 13 - 3.7 shots per game (prem league winners, RvP top league scorer)
You create chances for your attacker they get you goals.
All the top strikers have avg approx 3 shots per game or over, it’s a statistical fact.
Given tonight’s news on Mbeumo, coupled with Cunha. Our striker will probably get a few more chances next season ? . Of the top 4 assist creators in the prem league only Salah (2.3) has better key pass stats (The final pass leading to a shot at goal from a teammate) than Cunha (1.7) and Mbeumo (1.8). Makes attracting a top striker a bit easier knowing they’ll get some service from those two.
03 Jun 2025 02:14:21
Rewz.
As you pointed out earlier, Martial averaged 1.3 shots per game in 22/ 23 and 0.6 shots per game in 21/ 22. What you failed to mention was that Ronaldo averaged 6.25 and 4.03 shots per game in those same two seasons.
03 Jun 2025 07:23:44
Stats can be made to look like whatever you want
Different leagues Different times Different teams all a bit pointless.
03 Jun 2025 08:57:42
@Redseven - Ronaldo demanded everything went through him, his shots per game stats nearly halved when he came to Utd. Juve 20/ 21 - 5.1 shots per game. 19/ 20 - 6.3 shots per game. 18/ 19 - 5.7 shots per game. Real 17/ 18 - 6.6 shots per game.
Ronaldo in the league (All stats above are league stats)
21/ 22 - 27 games 18 goals - 3.7 shots per game - A goal every 5.55 shots
He made 4 starts in 22/ 23 scoring 1 goal so the data set is poor but he averaged 2.5 shots per game.
His last season at Juve - 31 games, 29 goals @ 5.1 shots per game - 158 shots - a goal every 5.45 shots which is consistent with his output at Man Utd 21/ 22 (5.55). Now, if he had the amount of chances created at Man Utd as he did at Juve the season before over the 27 games @ 5.1 shots per game he would of had 137.7 shots this would of given an expected goal return of 25 goals in the 28 games an increase of 38.8% over the 18 goals achieved.
Ronaldo's stats didn't drop - the only stat that dropped when he came to Man Utd was the number of shots per game.
03 Jun 2025 12:07:49
Not sure where you’re getting your stats from, but according to ESPN, Ronaldo averaged 6.25 and 4.03 shots in the league in the season and a half that he spent with us, which is very much in line with his figures at Juventus and Real Madrid, despite the EPL being a tougher league and Ronaldo being well passed his peak by the time he came back to us.
The reason “everything went through” Ronaldo is because he was the focal point of our attack, which is what Højlund is supposed to be. Unfortunately, the team has lost confidence in Hojlund and so decide not to pass to him, and even if they hadn’t, he’s never in the right place.
You can reel off as many meaningless stats as you like, but it’s not going to change the fact that Hojlund isn’t good enough to lead the line for a Premier League club at this stage of his career. In all likelihood, he never will be.
{Ed025's Note - im with you Red7..
03 Jun 2025 15:10:22
I never said he was good enough, I was pointing out using stats (From Whoscored) that as a club our strikers do not get many chances, displayed by data over a number of years.
There's two reasons I bring up this stat, firstly, without service strikers generally struggle. Secondly after the winning the league in 20/ 21 Sporting lost out in 21/ 22 and 22/ 23 causing Amorim to change his tactics, specifically to create more chances (He's on record stating this) resulting in the league win in 23/ 24 scoring 96 goals an increase of 35% from the 22/ 23 season.