Manchester United’s season has not gotten off to one of the best of begins, regardless of a robust summer season switch window. They’ve gained simply two out of the seven Premier League video games performed up to now, and extra astonishingly, scoring solely 5 objectives within the seven video games performed.
An enchancment was anticipated of Erik ten Hag and the Pink Devils after an abysmal 23/24 season noticed them end eighth, their worst end in PL historical past. The brand new regiment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. has proven their ambition by backing the supervisor closely within the switch window, bringing in younger abilities in addition to some established gamers into the fold, enhancing the squad high quality and depth within the course of.
Nevertheless, the enhancements off the pitch haven’t had the identical outcome, as Manchester United discover themselves mendacity in 14th place within the league desk. Their issues have ranged from an absence of goalscoring risk to conceding too many objectives, however presently, it’s the former that’s dominating headlines.
Man United striker Dilemma
Initially of the season, there was an pressing want for Manchester United to get a striker into the group to primarily present competitors and backup to 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who confronted a plethora of damage points final season.
The younger Dane confirmed plenty of promise and potential within the 23/24 marketing campaign, netting 16 objectives, which was seen by many as a good output for a ahead of his age who was enjoying his very first season within the demanding English soccer. Nevertheless, United had been typically troubled as a result of lack of availability of a backup striker to Hojlund, with Anthony Martial additionally on the therapy desk for almost all of final season.
His woes culminated with the membership selecting to not renew his contract, and the Frenchman, who as soon as arrived on the hallowed grounds of Outdated Trafford and promised the world to the Stretford Finish trustworthy, finally left Manchester with out reaching a lot success in his eight-year keep.
Joshua Zirkzee arrival at United
The Pink Devils, looking out for a younger and hungry goal-scorer, settled on a reputation that was making the waves throughout Europe for a stellar 23/24 season that noticed him lead the goalscoring charts for Bologna FC within the Serie A and take his group to the Champions League, 22-year-old striker Joshua Zirkzee, who additionally had a profitable four-year spell at Bayern Munich, enjoying at numerous youth ranges earlier than making his senior debut within the 19/20 season and that includes briefly within the treble profitable season.
Arriving at Outdated Trafford in the summertime, expectations weren’t sky-high for the younger striker, however he was anticipated to make an influence on the membership, elevating the standard of play within the last third.
Whereas his link-up play has been good and he has proven glimpses of the expertise he displayed in earlier years, Zirkzee has not managed to set the Premier League world alight simply but.
He got here off the bench to attain the winner on his debut towards Fulham within the first sport of the season and has since began 4 league video games in a row. Nevertheless, no objectives have adopted since, and he has been responsible of lacking a number of straightforward probabilities at essential moments in entrance of the objective.
The Dutchman has tried to affect proceedings as a lot as he can, attempting to play one-touch passes and making an attempt to tug methods to place his teammates by means of, but it surely has not had the specified impact but. The United males don’t appear to be on the identical wavelength whereas making an attempt to maneuver into the ultimate third, which has been their downfall most of the time.
Life in Manchester has gotten just a bit bit tougher for the Dutch striker with the return of Rasmus Hojlund, who, very similar to final season, was pressured to overlook the beginning by means of an damage.
Hojlund was launched to the fold step by step however began the Europa League sport towards Porto and was on the scoresheet inside 20 minutes, scoring from a transfer he began after profitable an aerial duel on the midway line. His tempo and robust hanging of the ball had been what drew Manchester United to signal him final season, and he prompted the Porto defence some issues inside the first half, however he too pale away as the sport went on.
Goalscoring has been Manchester United’s greatest downside up to now this season, however their failure to create clear lower probabilities has additionally been highlighted. United’s creator-in-chief Bruno Fernandes has not been on the races in any respect this season, which has declined the group’s general creativity and starved the attackers of service.
Christian Eriksen has considerably stepped up, and in 5 Premier League appearances, solely Amad Diallo has extra key passes than the Danish midfielder. Whereas the Pink Devils do must prioritise engaged on their ending, the underlying numbers paint an image of not sufficient probabilities created, with the membership in ninth out of 20 for each complete probabilities and massive probabilities created.
Time for a brand new tactical strategy?
When Zirkzee’s arrival was imminent, the Dutchman defined in an interview that he was ‘totally different’ to different strikers and described himself as 9.5 relatively than a quantity 9 or a quantity 10. This gave rise to the dialogue of whether or not Hojlund and Zirkzee might each begin up entrance for the Pink Devils, with the Dutch striker appearing at occasions as a makeshift creator.
Quick ahead a pair months, and that might be an actual chance. With United’s midfield not creating sufficient probabilities for the forwards and Bruno Fernandes not firing on all cylinders, it would nicely be time for Erik ten Hag to strive a brand new strategy in a determined bid to save lots of the season in addition to his job.
Hojlund has confirmed his ending skills within the final season passed by and has solely proven indicators of enhancing. Harm points have bogged him down, however with the Dane now match, it might be time for the United teaching employees to strive a brand new tactic and deploy each their forwards collectively.
Zirkzee has earlier spoken about his penchant for often dropping in to the midfield and enjoying in what he calls a ‘false striker’ place, serving to his group get ahead, which appears one thing that United might use extra of proper now.
It appears virtually an everyday prevalence of Erik ten Hag’s reign that his job is underneath scrutiny, and it’s no totally different this season. With a disastrous begin up to now, the Dutch coach has extra issues and must discover modern options for them. Whereas it might have been Hojlund vs. Zirkzee initially of the season, it might very nicely should be Hojlund and Zirkzee within the beginning 11 if United are to save lots of their season from falling additional away.
The submit What subsequent for Joshua Zirkzee? first appeared on Premier League Information Now.
