Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed
Perhaps to be expected of this modern-day Manchester United team, the recent five-game unbeaten run was merely a false dawn, as Ruben Amorim’s tenure reached another low on Monday evening.
That wet and miserable night at Grimsby is arguably the nadir of the Portuguese’s year in charge, although the latest loss to Everton could well run it close, following what was simply a lifeless performance from the hosts at Old Trafford.
Handed a bizarre advantage following Idrissa Gueye’s slap on ex-United man, Michael Keane, the Red Devils contrived to slip up against their ten-man opponents, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall firing in a deserved lead on the hour mark.
Despite having ample time and opportunity to get back into the game, the Red Devils barely threatened Jordan Pickford’s goal from then on, albeit with the Englishman making one notable save to deny Joshua Zirkzee’s goalbound header.
The Dutchman, to his credit, came as close as anyone to getting the home side level on the night, but that should not overshadow what was another desperate display from United’s number 11.
The 24-year-old wasn’t the only INEOS signing under the microscope against the Toffees – far from it – but his performance certainly warrants further scrutiny.
Joshua Zirkzee's dismal Everton display in numbers
On a different day, the £36.5m man might have been the hero had his well-taken header evaded the sprawling Pickford, with the striker’s last Premier League goals having actually come against the Merseysiders almost a year earlier.
As it is, Amorim is left to reflect upon a largely limp showing from Zirkzee in attack, with the ex-Bologna man’s woes only heightening the frustration regarding Benjamin Sesko’s absence.
Sesko – with just two goals for United to date – hasn’t been perfect, but even amid his struggles at Spurs, he was still a handful, a physical outlet whom Amorim’s side can look to.
Zirkzee might be a self-described ‘nine and a half’, but at 6 foot 4, he should be doing far better, notably losing the ball on 12 occasions from just 35 touches.
Far too frequently, the struggling forward dallied in possession or produced an errant touch or flick, looking distinctly uncomfortable with his back to goal.
The caveat to that, of course, is that he had featured for just 90 minutes in total this season prior to that, with there likely to be an element of ring rust for a player handed just his first league start of 2025/26.
That being said, on a wider focus, this remains a striker who has scored just three top-flight goals since signing back in the summer of 2024, with United again left looking desperately short at the top end of the pitch.
Problems at the other end also persist, however, with the backline looking particularly erratic.
Amorim must bench Man Utd's "best in the world" star
Much of the blame for Monday’s defeat lies at Amorim’s door, with the 40-year-old’s failure to release the handbrake and shuffle his system having been desperately evident, as his side toiled for an equaliser amid their second-half dominance.
In the ex-Sporting CP man’s defence, however, he must have been scratching his head at the laboured showing of those on the pitch, with Leny Yoro notably putting in a tame effort to try and prevent Dewsbury-Hall from converting.
That weak act – which was followed by another weak stop from the previously impressive Senne Lammens – came amid a largely frustrating display from the young Frenchman, with Harry Maguire’s absence felt again in the back three.
Yoro’s pace and recovery speed is a useful tool, although he has the tendency to be bullied up against a physical forward line, winning just two of his five ground duels, as per Sofascore.
Perhaps more frustrating were his woes in possession, losing the ball on ten occasions, while failing to really drive forward from his right-sided role, even with ample time and space afforded to him.
Games (starts)
12 (8)
Goals
0
Assists
0
Key passes*
0.3
Pass accuracy*
88%
Successful dribbles*
0
Tackles*
1.0
Interceptions*
1.0
Total duels won*
58%
Aerial duels won*
72%
Dribbled past*
0.4
Unlike last term, when the 20-year-old was a central figure in United’s Europa League charge, he appeared hesitant to get forward, rarely attempting to burst into space to support the likes of Amad ahead of him.
There is an argument to suggest he may need to shift to a left centre-back role, having thrived there in the second half of last season, although with Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven already in contention there, Amorim surely can’t make that switch.
Currently ranking in the bottom 2% of European centre-backs for blocks, the bottom 9% for clearances and the bottom 27% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, the ex-Lille starlet certainly isn’t thriving as expected, having previously been described as the “best in the world” for his age by Rio Ferdinand.
Options at right centre-back really are quite limited – particularly in the absence of Maguire – although Amorim may have to consider relocating Noussair Mazraoui, and shifting Yoro back to the bench.
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As Ferdinand suggested, the France U21 international is a massive talent, but United and Old Trafford are yet to see the best of him.
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