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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Overall, I still stand by the idea that Hojlund can become an elite CF at his peak. His physical & technical profile enables him to be a good mover & efficient shooter. If he can scale up his shot numbers as United improve under Amorim, he can enjoy a great peak. That's the hope

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

3) Coaching: Hojlund's ability to generate shots can improve. Some potentia areas: - Right foot usage - Shots from non comfort zone positions (RHS, distance) - Use of (his good) carrying to create separation for shot - Aerial threat (Hojlund's run-and-jump timing can be better)

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

2) Tactical: Team not being able to generate space & enter final 3rd with patience has been a long-standing issue. Service & more importantly right type of service impacts CF the most. As we progress as a team & work more on final 3rd, that should improve bsky.app/profile/thed...

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

With Rashford's (& maybe Zirkzee's) future in doubt, it would be wise to recruit an off-ball threat SS type profile who can play both AM & CF. Would help Hojlund when both are on pitch & rotate at CF to reduce goal burden. Would compliment Bruno, Amad, Mount & Garnacho too.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Hojlund had this with Lookman, who profiles close to Rashford. Even as AM Lookman would make opposing channel & box runs to Hojlund so that one of them could be the foil to the other at a given time. Rashford was being played RAM before the exile & I think LF-RF split was idea.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

So, what are the solutions? 1) Team building: Amorim's ideal 3-4-3 has 1 AM who joins CF like a SS often forming a front 2 & splitting striker runs (like far post & near post). My hope was Rashford could split run-and-finish work with Hojlund, but his exile has hurt this plan.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

In a sense, he's gone further into his comfort zones instead of breaking out of them. The ideal development was for him to add variety in shooting & find more ways to generate shots. We rarely see awkward or odd-position or dirty shots from Hojlund - a trait good scorers have.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Left-side bias in shooting that @jakeent.bsky.social mentions was something I noticed at Atalanta too. And with shot opportunities reducing due to poor creation at Man Utd, both volume & bias issues have become worse - he takes much lesser shots & much more from preferred left-side.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

In fact, it can be argued that shooting a lot with avg or slightly above avg conversion rates is probably better than shooting less with high conversion rate. You'd rather be an elite shot-generator than have elite efficiency. In the long run, CFs who shoot a lot score a lot.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Firstly, point on shooting less is valid. I hyped his shooting efficiency & goals/shot from Atalanta time. He was scoring a goal every 6 shots & only an in-form Osimhen fared better. But that came while shooting less. Trend of high conversion but low volume continues at Man Utd.

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Hojlund's next steps to evolve - THREAD Great piece below on Hojlund. Nuanced & insightful. Matches my thoughts from the article I did on him + threads on him since move to Man Utd. Have comments on issues raised & solutions to help him evolve & reach his potential. Short 🧵

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

No, we were just losing more when palying with FBs and taking aggressive shots against teams sitting back with a lead. Our shot quality was worse.

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Not that I've seen. We pass and shoot more but thats mainly because we've been trailing more so have more of the ball and take more desperate shots. There is no negative impact on open play defence.

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Amad main reason but his vertical threat also creates space for opposite WB/AM to execute more carries into final 3rd. Notice we take shots closer to goal in winger scenario. My suggestions: - Always start Amad/Antony at RWB - Try Garnacho at LWB (my Amorim article hot take)

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

[Impact of winger at wingback, Amorim's first 7 Manchester United games, EPL 24/25] When a winger plays WB, team has ~2x carries & 30% more progressive carries & carries into final 3rd. This leads to better shots within box, resulting in 9 goals compared to 0 when FBs play WBs.

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Was looking at Man Utd data of when a winger plays WB vs when both fullbacks play at wingback. The headline stat is - all 9 goals in PL under Amorim have come when a winger played WB. We are yet to score with FBs at WB. More insight into why that happens in a viz later today.

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Reposted by The Devil's DNA

Al Raven @alraven.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Varun's work is outstanding if you're interested in a) Manchester Utd, and/or b) tactical and data analysis (football/soccer) in general. Highly recommend following him and his work^^

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

It's out here! bsky.app/profile/thed...

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

My guess is: as we evolve as a team & become confident & clear - 1) Amorim will push for more central progression patterns 2) Playmaker CMs, build up CBs & vertically progressive WBs might be targeted in future. That's all I had. This took some time, so RTs appreciated. (End)

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

- Another reason for Amorim - safety against turnovers, which was a big defensive issue under ETH. Under Amorim, we dont go long from deep & when we progress via wide areas, we don't concede easy central turnovers. - Other issues - Dalot at LWB, Rashford exile, Case/Eriksen age

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

- This has been a consistent gap. ETH bypassed midfield by going long & over the opponent into final 3rd. Amorim is bypassing midfield by circulating the ball safely within back 5 before progressing via wide combinations of LCB-LWB-LAM. - 1 reason is limitation of pivot players

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Summary - Putting it all together, the intent & limitations of progression so far become clear - Most of the wide positions in the system show good progression. But all 4 central spots look lacking - Team-wide intent seems to be to go out when deep & then enter box from wide

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

CCB - 0 prog carries so far! Only short safe carries - Majority passing progression comes via Maguire - Comparitively cautious role but this looks bad CF - Understandably tough to progress when advanced - Majority actions are via Zirkzee dropping deep & carrying or passing

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The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Attacking Midfield - Bruno & Amad playmaking power is clear - Bruno on either side roams a lot & plays many balls into box - Garnacho has many wide-to-in diagonal carries but not as threatening. Amad more vertical again - Rashford pass-first mentality at RAM helped progression

The Devil's DNA @thedevilsdna.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Center Midfield - Among the worst carrying power in the squad is in midfield - Even for passing, not very promising. Most attribution comes from some Casemiro long balls. - Ugarte clearly better carrier than passer, but not too progressive overall - Big progression gap in pivot