Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

Napoli currently 4th in the Italian league tight between 1st and 7th maybe we are just a conte 2nd season blow up from having hojund back

I've really like Cunha as a signing but this week was his worst game for us, he looked lost in the CF position. And there were loads of times when we had no one in the box.

Also, Mbeumo was less effective from the left also.

If I had to play one of them through the middle it would be Mbeumo, he's that bit nippier and has more of a look of a striker than Cunha.

He’s been really poor. Even Amorim acknowledged it in response to Neville’s criticism.
‘yes, he has struggled. We must embrace it’

Amorim definitely did not envisage having to start Cunha as false 9 in November. It’s early days but has not been a good start for Sesko.

On Wirtz. Neville did an entire piece yesterday on how Wirtz is a ‘huge problem’ for Liverpool and he looks like a ‘little boy out there’

It worked for Juan Mata.

He might be a good player. But it’s clear Amorim doesn’t see him as a 9 for his system. That’s very clear, he’s not going to get minutes there.

Over any manager I’ve seen Amorim seems extremely attached to his style and profile. If you look at profile of 9 he had at Sporting (Gyok). The 9 he stuck with last year despite being the most out of form player in world football (Hojlund) and the strikers we were linked to this summer: Sesko, Delap, Osmihen.
It’s clear he wants an athletic ST who can occupy the CBs and run in behind. Zirzkee will never be his guy long term so no point talking about him as a solution at 9. He’s competing with Cunha, Mount, Amad & Mbuemo for a 10 slot (i.e. surplus to requirement).

Apologies meant the other way around. Not so good for us.

I’m pretty sure Amorim has directly said ‘Zirzkee is not a 9 in this system. He’s a 10’. Quite unusual for a coach to do that. It’s definitely been briefed in multiple media outlets anyway.

I think the fact he’s played 80 mins total all season says it all, despite us playing Cunha & Mount out of position as 9s

Cunha whilst not as physical is very quick and capable of stretching defences. But despite what Amorim might say, the only reasons Cunha is playing there is because Sesko is struggling (which he has admitted too). If Sesko had hit the ground running he would be starting every game by now.

disagree.

he was playing well in the games before liverpool and was not selected, imo, for tactical and not performance reasons. I do think he was poor vs Forest though, and that may have impacted the decision to bench him for Spurs - but I also think the same tactics as vs Liverpool were likely, or close to them - and my predicted team last week had him out and Cunha at 10 for the same reason as vs liverpool. Sesko's pace vs VDV or aerial vs Romero wasn't going to be an outsize threat, so try drag them out instead.

He doesn't see him as a classical number 9 like Sesko. But I think he sees him as a false 9 or number 10. And Amorim does like to play with a false 9 at times, I don't think he's wedded to always playing with a Sesko type.

He's happy to play Zirkzee at either false 9 or at 10. But Cunha is ahead of him as a false 9 and Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad and Mount are ahead of him for the 10 positions. So if they're all fit, he's going to really struggle to get minutes - especially with only one game a week. Furthermore, Amorim sees Cunha and Mbeumo as 'too good to sub' a lot of the time, he's very reluctant to take them off (although he does occasionally). He wants them on the pitch almost all the time. Imo it's an unfortunate perfect storm at the moment for Zirkzee and not getting minutes but I do think he gets plenty of game time with European football + cup involvement, especially as the players ahead of him get fatigued and pick up injuries with the extra games.

He'll be off to Italy on loan with an option to buy before the World Cup

what are peoples thoughts on joao Gomes at Wolves? few links to him today for January. I honestly haven't seen seen him play

I wouldn't call him a flop, I just don't think he is doing well at all. And certainly not showing €80m+ value.

But is it the player or the position? After Hojlund and now Sesko we still don't know the answer to that question. Who has actually done well up front?

One thing I don't agree with is the idea that other players underperforming somehow absolves our players. Wirtz can be as shite as he likes, doesn't mean Sesko should get a pass.

With Hojlund he didnt have that much firts team game experience compared to Hojlund.

There's been a lot of Sesko when he should off took a shot instead of the extra touch. That'll improve.

We are 11 games in the lad needs to be given a chance. Hes done far more good than bad.

The aame stick could be poked at Cuhna, has played well but hasn't delivered as of yet but his off the ball work and other play is a upgrade.

Sesko is the same imo with less time on the pitch.

Agree a expiernced striker should be looked at but not to replace but to have a option which we don't have.

Yes Sesko needs and should be given (some) time but on the other hand Man Utd need a striker to score goals. Not writing him off after 11 games at all, I'm saying it's not wise to have the only striker at the club be a striker who is young, inexperienced at this level and needing time/help to adjust without having someone else to take that weight off him every now and again.

Our other options are moving players out of position.

Get the experienced striker in, Whoever is playing better gets the starting spot.