October 6th 2024.
In the second half of Manchester United's recent draw with Aston Villa, Joshua Zirkzee was brought off the bench. The team's performance has been a hot topic of discussion, with former United player Paul Scholes expressing his concerns about the club's recruitment strategy under current manager Erik ten Hag. Specifically, he highlighted his worries about Zirkzee, who was signed over the summer.
United had a lot riding on their game against Villa, as they have been struggling in both domestic and European competitions. However, despite making some changes to their starting lineup, the team had a hard time creating clear scoring opportunities. Their best chance came from a free kick by Bruno Fernandes, which unfortunately hit the crossbar. In the end, the game ended in a goalless draw.
This result has left United in a disappointing 14th place in the Premier League table, a position that former player Dimitar Berbatov has described as "unbelievable" for a club of their caliber. Scholes, who was also a legendary United and England midfielder, shared his thoughts on the game in the SuperSport studio after the final whistle. He has been a vocal critic of United's recruitment tactics for some time now.
Scholes felt that United did not go into the game with the intention of winning, but rather to simply survive. He acknowledged that it was a tough match for the team, especially considering their midweek game against Porto in which they were held to a 3-3 draw. Meanwhile, Villa had just come off a big win against Bayern Munich, which gave them a boost of confidence and energy. Scholes believes this may have affected their performance in the game against United.
One of the talking points of the game was the fact that three of United's high-profile summer signings, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, and Joshua Zirkzee, were all left on the bench. This decision puzzled Scholes, who believes it reflects the club's haphazard approach to recruitment despite spending a significant amount of money in recent years.
Scholes was particularly critical of United's forward line, stating that he doesn't see the same quality and goal-scoring potential as the most successful teams in the past. He believes that the team has relied more on hope than proven quality, and questioned whether players like Rasmus Hojlund and Zirkzee are capable of scoring 20 goals a season. He also pointed out that United's failure to establish a clear playing style under Ten Hag has made it difficult for them to make smart choices in the transfer market.
In contrast, Scholes mentioned Liverpool as an example of a team with a well-defined playing style that makes it easier for them to recruit players who fit their system. He believes that United's lack of direction on the field has led to a scattergun approach in their recruitment strategy. Ultimately, Scholes believes that United's current position is a result of a "recruitment mess" and hopes to see improvements in the future.
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