October 6th 2024.
Joshua Zirkzee was subbed in during the second half of Manchester United's game against Aston Villa. The team's former player, Paul Scholes, expressed his disappointment with the club's recruitment and specifically mentioned his concerns about Zirkzee, who was signed over the summer under Erik ten Hag's management. This came after a recent draw with Aston Villa, where United struggled to create scoring opportunities.
The Red Devils had a tough start to the season, both in domestic and European competitions, and were looking for a strong performance at Villa Park after a disappointing draw with Porto. However, despite their efforts, the team failed to break the deadlock and missed a crucial opportunity in stoppage time. This result leaves them in a disappointing 14th place in the Premier League table, a position that Dimitar Berbatov finds unacceptable for a club of United's caliber.
Scholes, who has been vocal about United's recruitment for some time, expressed his doubts about the team's intentions going into the Villa game. He believed they were more focused on surviving rather than winning, and that the midweek fixtures may have taken a toll on their performance. He also mentioned the absence of three high-profile summer signings, including Zirkzee, as a sign of the club's lack of direction in their recruitment strategy.
According to Scholes, United's struggles in the forward line are a result of their failure to invest in quality players who can score goals consistently. He compared this to successful teams of the past, who had multiple forwards capable of scoring 20 goals a season. He also questioned the role of Zirkzee, who he believes is not a proven goal scorer, and expressed disappointment in the amount of money spent by the club on players who are not getting playing time.
Scholes believes that United's issues with recruitment stem from their lack of a clear playing style under Ten Hag. He stated that this makes it difficult for the club to identify and recruit the right players, unlike teams like Liverpool who have a defined system and can easily bring in players who fit their style. Scholes believes that United's recruitment mess is a result of constantly changing tactics and a lack of direction.
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