The nature of life at Manchester United is that all it takes is the odd below-par display before you’re being written off as the latest in a long line of expensive flops.
A case in point; Jamie Carragher’s highly unfair assassination of Matthijs de Ligt following the Red Devils’ capitulation at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Completely missing the fact that this is a structural, tactical issue rather than one of individual mistakes and unforced blunders. Manuel Ugarte came in for plenty of stick too on his first Premier League start.
And while Joshua Zirkzee has certainly missed more chances than he realistically should have so far – an under-fire Erik ten Hag highlighted the shot the Dutchman fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario at 1-0 – to write off the £35 million signing so early on is modern analysis in a nutshell.
Yes, Zirkzee has scored only once in Manchester United colours.
But either you’re a fool or you’re watching with your eyes closed if you cannot see the value Zirkzee brings to this United side.
Joshua Zirkzee backed to succeed at Manchester United
Former Bologna team-mate Sam Beukema cannot speak highly enough of Zirkzee. Despite coming up against the likes of Victor Osimhem, Dusan Vlahovic and Olivier Giroud in Italy, Beukema insists that his most fearsome opponent was situated far closer to home.
On the training pitch, to be precise.
And while Zirkzee has missed his fair share of chances at Man United, he has created plenty too.
The former Bayern Munich starlet has been labelled the ‘best in the world’ at linking the play from the centre-forward role – the legendary Fabio Capello calls Zirkzee ‘exceptional’ – for good reason.
If only Ten Hag did not seem so insistent on positioning Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo right out onto the touchline, rendering Zirkzee’s phenomenal movement and his trademark one-touch through balls rather ineffective.
“People constantly asked me last season; ‘Who’s the best striker in Serie A?’ And I always said; ‘I play against him in training every day – it’s Joshua!’,” Beukema tells Goal, backing Zirkzee to silence his critics and show why Man United installed him as their first-choice striker target.
“We had so many great battles. I’d like to think I made life difficult for him because he definitely made life difficult for me.
“He’s so unpredictable because his technique is so good and he’s so strong. He’s a great finisher, too, and really fast over the first few metres. He really has everything you need to be a top striker, but it’s his technique and his strength that give him such an advantage.
“It’s so hard to get around him to get the ball off him. He’s just such a good player, and a really good friend, too.
“I’ve no doubt he’ll do well at United.”
Erik ten Hag backs Zirkzee to show why Man United signed him
Last week’s 1-1 draw with FC Twente was Zirkzee’s early days at Old Trafford in a nutshell.
Every time he received the ball in and around the penalty area, he looked streets ahead. There was one gorgeous backheel in particular with released Rashford in behind. Twente keeper Lars Unnerstall also brilliantly kept out a fierce strike of his own late on.
Another game of nearly moments.
And while concerns over his lack of goals make sense – especially when Man United’s other striker target Jonathan David is in such formidable form – the green shoots are clearly there for those willing to wade through the weeds.
It remains to be seen if Zirkzee needs a change of management for both he and Man United to really hit their stride. For now, he is stuck with Ten Hag, and only time will tell if better days are on the horizon.
“Yes, I do [think he can become a prolific goalscorer for United],” Ten Hag told reporters last week. “Sure, he is young [but] we see his great abilities. He is a very good link-up player, he is creative.
“He is creating chances but, to be fair, also he has his moments towards the goal from the opposition. I think it was a great action he had [against FC Twente] and a great finish he had. Top save from the keeper.
“But, in that area, he can definitely improve. We know he has some very good attributes, and he has to improve, and he needs our support on how to improve.”
Zirkzee will hope to end his goal-drought when Man United face Porto on Thursday.
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