Manchester United have to repair their mentality by cutting out three small-time antics - chof 360 news

Another huddle before a muddle

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited

Someone at Manchester United should tell Rasmus Hojlund it is February.

His February last year consisted of a goal against Wolves, a goal against West Ham, a goal against Aston Villa and two goals at Luton Town. He received the Premier League Player of the Month award.

This February started with another demotion for Hojlund. His non-existent cameo against Crystal Palace has extended his lean spell to 13 games without a goal. That is half the number of matches Diego Forlan went without scoring at the beginning of his United career in 2002.

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Hojlund turns 22 on Wednesday. Journalists must think twice before dubbing him a "youngster". England is the fourth top-flight league he has played in.

The Denmark international has been at United for 18 months. Hojlund should know the terrain and start marking his territory at the apex of United's attack. Instead he is worse than he ever was during a tumultuous but creditable first season.

Hojlund has not scored in 25 out of 30 games this season. For Joshua Zirkzee, it is no goals in 32 out of 35 appearances. He has one goal in his past 16 games.

And still United did not recruit a goalscorer in the winter transfer window. It was bad enough three years ago when they passed on Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez and Dusan Vlahovic. Ralf Rangnick threw the amateurish recruitment department under the bus and United finished sixth that season. They are nearer 16th now.

United's attacking department has been halved with the departures of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Ethan Wheatley on loan. Rashford and Antony will not be missed and Wheatley needed playing time in the Football League.

United are going round in circles with Zirkzee and Hojlund

United are going round in circles with Zirkzee and Hojlund

The attack has been a one-man band for portions of the season with Amad. Alejandro Garnacho stayed, at least, much to the relief of people at the club. One United insider admitted there was no way Ineos could spin the possible sale of Garnacho as a positive.

And then there are the two strikers who have gone on strike when it comes to scoring. United committed to investing a staggering £108.5million in Hojlund and Zirkzee, two strikers from Italy with identical records who are identically profligate in England.

Regimes past and present are responsible. Senior figures at United had doubts about Zirkzee long before he was hauled off in the 33rd minute against Newcastle on January 30. Teammates have been so sceptical about Hojlund some hesitated over whether to pass the ball to him last season.

Hojlund is not good enough as a starting striker

Hojlund is not good enough as a starting striker

Hojlund was understandably unhappy with that story. On the evening it was published, Gary Neville practically corroborated it with his incisive analysis of Hojlund in the defeat to Arsenal on Monday Night Football. Then Erik ten Hag dropped Hojlund.

This Premier League season is a write-off for United. They will do well to finish in the top half, never mind the top four. United are on course to eclipse the 14 Premier League defeats they suffered last term, having been beaten for the 11th time by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The cups offer deliverance and teams have won knockout tournaments without a potent striker. But one, if not both, of Hojlund and Zirkzee have to go in the summer.

Zirkzee would be the more sellable as he was practically half the price of the £72m Hojlund. Yet Zirkzee is the better footballer and can keep the ball. Nothing seems to stick with Hojlund.

And then there were four

And then there were four

A season-ticket holder has dubbed him the 'Copenhagen cone'. That is harsh as Hojlund does put in a shift and his kit is always muddied. Until recently, he had unequivocal backing from matchgoers, pleased with his committed body language.

But there were exasperated sighs at his hold-up play in the Brighton defeat 16 days ago. United are afflicted with stage fright at Old Trafford and the team's mentality is shot to pieces.

The only performance some players put on is when they over-celebrate a save, a block, a tackle or a clearance. There are often high-fives and chest-bumps when someone has been bailed out. Invariably, they end up conceding a corner and then the opponent is soon celebrating, such is United's dire defending at dead-ball kicks.

If Peter Schmeichel ever had to make a save or his goal was threatened, he held a mini inquest. Good teams do. This United do not.

Schmeichel was prone to holding an inquest

Schmeichel was prone to holding an inquest -Credit:PA

Plenty of fans also despair at the pre-match huddle. The huddle is a tradition at Celtic and Ajax but never has been at United. Now it is a part of their pre-match ritual.

If someone needs to say something seconds before kick-off, then United have failed to prepare. So prepare to fail. And when they do, they embark on a lap of honour.

Kudos to the diplomats who remain in the stands to applaud this squad of misfits but the majority have usually long since dispersed. The players should get down the tunnel and get out of sight.

And we're only in February.

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