‘Pointless footballer’ – Man United fans rip into ‘diabolical’ star despite what he did vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United came from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta netted a 36th-minute penalty to put Oliver Glasner’s side ahead, before the visitors roared back after the break through goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount.
Ex-Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that he feels Ruben Amorim is still showing “frailty” at Manchester United after their defeat to the Toffees last time out, and issues were prevalent once again in the first half at Selhurst Park.
However, the Red Devils battled back in impressive fashion after the interval, as they brought their three-game winless run in the Premier League to a close.
Man United fans rip into Joshua Zirkzee’s first-half display
Zirkzee is edging towards an exit from Manchester United in the January transfer window, but he played a pivotal role for his team this weekend.
The Dutchman scored his first league goal of the season to get his team back on level terms, as he made a crucial contribution despite what had been an abject individual display in the first half.
The frontman is not a popular figure among the United fanbase, and they were quick to criticise his display on X, despite his goal helping to turn the game.
One supporter praised Zirkzee’s finish while acknowledging his “diabolical” display, while another branded him a “pointless footballer.”
Another fan even suggested that the striker’s performance had been so poor prior to his goal that he had “given up” on him.
However, there was also an acceptance from some supporters that it was fair for them to eat their words.
Joshua Zirkzee avoids embarrassing milestone by one day
Zirkzee was also criticised by Manchester United fans after the recent defeat to Everton, as many people at Old Trafford feel that the much-maligned star offers little at the top of the pitch.
However, the 24-year-old will surely be able to take confidence from his goal at Selhurst Park on Sunday, and there will also be an element of relief that he has avoided a rather embarrassing milestone.
The former Bologna man struck his first league goal since December 2024 in South London, with Opta Joe outlining that it had been 364 days since his last league strike on their X account.
Zirkzee finally found the back of the net just one day shy of him going an entire year without a league goal, and that record simply isn’t good enough for a striker.
He may have played a valuable role in their win on this occasion, but it would still be a huge surprise if he isn’t shown the door in January.