29 Nov 2024 14:54:11
I can see what Amourin is trying to do with our team formation and when Yoro and Mainoo are fit, we can be more solid. I just don't know where Bruno fits in. I can see Urgarte and Mainoo being central, unless he sacrifices a wi ger and plus him on the right of the front 3?

1.) 29 Nov 2024
29 Nov 2024 16:48:46
Rashford/ Garnacho/ Bruno/ Mount have to compete for the two spots behind Hojlund imo.

2.) 29 Nov 2024
29 Nov 2024 16:55:24
Zirkzee not even worthy of a mention DSG! :p
Error purchase. Did they keep the receipt?

3.) 29 Nov 2024
29 Nov 2024 21:38:11
The weird think about Zirkzee is that he was, supposedly, a club transfer, rather than an ETH one. ETH apparently wanted to sign Welbeck on a free to add an experienced striker, but the club said no and pushed for Zirkzee. I honestly don’t see him as a striker, and there’s no way he can play between the lines like Ruben wants. Seems like a really silly signing.

4.) 30 Nov 2024
30 Nov 2024 10:45:00
Danny, I think Zirkzee made sense in the summer if we were sticking with EtH. I also think in a 4231/ 433 shape he is a better fit in our first team than Højlund to play with players like Rashford, Antony and Garnacho in the wide positions as his tendency to play as a false 9 and drop deep to link the play actually creates more space for the wide players to run into, while he has the ability to find them with through balls or little give and goes.

If the intention is to have a side similar to that Liverpool side that won the league with Salah and Mane both scoring ridiculous numbers then someone like Zirkzee who can play a similar role to what Firmino did makes a lot of sense.

The issue is that EtH has been sacked before Zirkzee had a chance to settle and the new manager has a very clear role for his striker and Zirkzee doesn't suit it.

In Amorim's 343 shape the wide forwards play much more narrow, it's more of a 3421 shape, which means there is no space for the CF to drop deep as he'll just be getting in the way of the attacking midfielders.

That negates the best part of Zirkzee's game, he's not a channel running striker, he isn't prolific or clinical in front of goal, he also isn't able to play as a target man as while he's tall he isn't particularly strong or good in the air.

He is more likely to play as one of the attacking midfielders in this set up, he's certainly more suited to that. But I'm not sure he's the kind of player who Amorim looks to play in those positions.

Fortunately the club managed to get him on a good deal, so we should be able to sell him in the summer and recoup our investment. Back to Italy seems the logical move for him, where he still has high stock from his time at Bologna. The sooner the better as his value will only likely decrease the longer he stays.

5.) 30 Nov 2024
30 Nov 2024 13:11:10
He's not even a jack of all trades, he's a jack of no trades lol.
Purchased purely because we needed a striker and they saw a youngster with a reasonable buy out clause. If he wasn't Dutch he wouldn't have even made the 100 man shortlist!