Bruno Fernandes | United not interested due to doubts over passing ability

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SportingCP96

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Not gonna lie, a summer of Bruno and Maguire plus AWB and James isn’t amazing.
That would be a brilliant summer. You would have just signed the core of your team (The most part)for the next near decade.
 

Rozay

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I do hope this is more than just Portuguese whispers. We certainly need a midfielder to play his role. This plus Longstaff in midfield (in addition to Maguire of course) would do a lot for us.
 

pocco

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I do hope this is more than just Portuguese whispers. We certainly need a midfielder to play his role. This plus Longstaff in midfield (in addition to Maguire of course) would do a lot for us.
I think there's a few things that make me believe there is something in it, other than the stories from Portugal etc. Firstly, though slightly flimsy logic, if we're not going for him then why haven't we moved for somebody else or even been linked with another? Longstaff is a completely different profile and I think we'll go in for him regardless. We definitely need more experience in the middle though.

Secondly, why hasn't anybody else gone in for him? he smashed goalscoring records last year. If we weren't interested then I'm absolutely certain that another club would buy him.

Not foolproof logic, but until we get linked with somebody of a similar profile, or another big club is linked with Bruno, then I remain quietly confident that there's something happening and this is the move he wants.

Another thing is that papers have been saying that Ole is insisting on Bruno. At first I didn't think he'd be insistent on signing a player until I saw his Q&A, where he said he insisted on AWB and James. Makes it a fairly easy leap to believe those reports.
 

rotherham_red

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We should seriously only concern ourselves with rivals for top 4. It sucks. But with those signings we will likely finish above Arsenal and Chelsea. Although... Chelsea scares me for some reason this year... Bloody Lampard.
Why? He's not done anything that makes me think that way. This is the sum total of his managerial career thus far: he's taken Derby, who finished 6th in the Championship the season before he joined, to... 6th in the Championship.
 

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The midfield would be a major major major issue. We must reinforce it, or we'll pay the price once again.
Who else do you think we would need? I would like to see Longstaff added to the list if it was possible, but I'm not so sure who else we would realistically be looking at?
 

Ronaldo's Love Child

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Seems a pretty decent line-up if they click and play to their potential
So did "Rashford, Martial, Sanchez with Pogba and Matic in midfield".

I'm guilty of doing this as much as anybody else believing that once summer comes around I think that most of our problems can be solved with new personnel and fool myself into thinking that we under performed so badly last season solely down to the players not being good enough.

We're forgetting that we got beat last season by teams with players who were several levels below the players we put out on the pitch.

We don't necessarily need "quality" players. We need the exact type of player for the system we want to play and unless OGS can identify a system he's going to stick with then I don't really think it matters who we sign or don't sign.

I mean, s**t, there were times last season when I genuinely believed that if we had Messi in our team we would still play crap.

Once you have got a functioning team then the signings become easier to find and it becomes easier for new signing to fit into a well oiled machine. Without a clear style of play then any new signing is likely to struggle and everyone is left scratching their heads when performances tank.
 
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mu4c_20le

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Why? He's not done anything that makes me think that way. This is the sum total of his managerial career thus far: he's taken Derby, who finished 6th in the Championship the season before he joined, to... 6th in the Championship.
New manager bounce. You just know that they'll play like they'll die for him, at least for the first fe wmonths
 

JJ12

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Who else do you think we would need? I would like to see Longstaff added to the list if it was possible, but I'm not so sure who else we would realistically be looking at?
Our players natural improvement and a (hopeful) change in system will also make our midfield better.

I expect McTominay to improve greatly. I expect Fred to improve massively - he's a better player than he showed last season. Gomes will add something extra also.

Bruno and Longstaff would be huge additions also.
 

Shakesy

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Why? He's not done anything that makes me think that way. This is the sum total of his managerial career thus far: he's taken Derby, who finished 6th in the Championship the season before he joined, to... 6th in the Championship.
I just have a bad feeling about him... For some reason I think he's going to be a hit. Hope I'm wrong!
 

rotherham_red

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New manager bounce. You just know that they'll play like they'll die for him, at least for the first fe wmonths
Maybe, but they've lost the one player who made them respectable and whose contributions were the difference between Top 4 and 7th. There's almost nothing to them. They could bring through their kids who might just have a big enough impact to cover Hazard's loss, but that would be a massive risk considering the vast majority of them have been playing in the Dutch league and the Championship and not really getting noticed.

Bearing in mind how poor Arsenal and Chelsea are, we really should have just about enough to get Top 4. If they weren't in the circumstances they're in however, then it would be a massive problem.
 

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Our players natural improvement and a (hopeful) change in system will also make our midfield better.

I expect McTominay to improve greatly. I expect Fred to improve massively - he's a better player than he showed last season. Gomes will add something extra also.

Bruno and Longstaff would be huge additions also.
Yea I'm expecting there to be improvement from a few players and for more players to contribute than last season too. I think if we get the both of them we will have done well.
 

Cassidy

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Our players natural improvement and a (hopeful) change in system will also make our midfield better.

I expect McTominay to improve greatly. I expect Fred to improve massively - he's a better player than he showed last season. Gomes will add something extra also.

Bruno and Longstaff would be huge additions also.
I think its improving. Im still a little worried from the defensive standpoint. Whether thats the midfield not doing enough or the defence or both is another question. Leeds created far too much first half
 

bosnian_red

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Honestly, don't want for multiple reasons:
  • Pogba needs to play at top of midfield 3
  • If Pogba not fit, we have Mata, Pereira, Lingard who can all play there and with Angel Gomes having massive potential
  • If Pogba plays deeper in a midfield 2, bigger need is someone who can actually be disciplined enough to hole that position, and then the front 4 can be a mix of martial/rashford/greenwood/gomes/sanchez/mata/chong/lingard
More than anything though I think if we get him, then any route Gomes would have to break through would be blocked, while at the same time limiting Pogba to a more restricted midfield role. It only makes sense if Pogba is leaving.
 

CM10

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I don't know why this is the link everyone on social media seems to be getting behind. We need midfielders but not really ones of his profile. His numbers are impressive, granted, but even that won't necessarily translate in the Premier League.
 

Massive Spanner

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Honestly, don't want for multiple reasons:
  • Pogba needs to play at top of midfield 3
  • If Pogba not fit, we have Mata, Pereira, Lingard who can all play there and with Angel Gomes having massive potential
  • If Pogba plays deeper in a midfield 2, bigger need is someone who can actually be disciplined enough to hole that position, and then the front 4 can be a mix of martial/rashford/greenwood/gomes/sanchez/mata/chong/lingard
More than anything though I think if we get him, then any route Gomes would have to break through would be blocked, while at the same time limiting Pogba to a more restricted midfield role. It only makes sense if Pogba is leaving.
Yeah I'd go along with this. I do think he's probably a Pogba replacement more than anything.
 

Lennon7

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If we signed those 4, plus say Ben Yedder to replace Lukaku, I think that would be a brilliant summer. Don't know who else you would like us to realistically go for?
Well yeah but you’ve added a singing to what I said. Plus, we desperately need a defensive mid.
 

Lennon7

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I only added that signing after saying IF we sold lukaku. A DM perhaps I agree but I don’t know who we would look at.
Sticking to our current transfer strategy which is either buying young promising talent or buying a player that’s at least an improvement on what we’ve got, then there’s surely lots of options. We just can not rely on Matic next season, and we haven’t replaced Herrera. We’re desperately light across the whole of midfield.
 

Red Rash

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Honestly, don't want for multiple reasons:
  • Pogba needs to play at top of midfield 3
  • If Pogba not fit, we have Mata, Pereira, Lingard who can all play there and with Angel Gomes having massive potential
  • If Pogba plays deeper in a midfield 2, bigger need is someone who can actually be disciplined enough to hole that position, and then the front 4 can be a mix of martial/rashford/greenwood/gomes/sanchez/mata/chong/lingard
More than anything though I think if we get him, then any route Gomes would have to break through would be blocked, while at the same time limiting Pogba to a more restricted midfield role. It only makes sense if Pogba is leaving.
I think we should sign him because he can provide 20 or so goals for us in the season. In my opinion Pogba and Fernandes can play together as long as we have a good and mobile DM (maybe McTominay).

I think we have to plan for the fact that Pogba will probably leave next season if not this so it's better we have an option already integrated into the team.

I'm also a fan of Gomes but I think this season he will be mostly backup and maybe next season have a more starring role
 

KW2006

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I have decided I don't want him. 1) He is quite good, but doesn't seems to be at top level. 2) Doubt he suits the Premier League. 3) Should give more minutes to Garner and Gomes.

On the other side, I don't mind if we buy Longstaff (for the DMC position) or a Kante-type player or Saul (really top class).
 

Cassidy

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Honestly, don't want for multiple reasons:
  • Pogba needs to play at top of midfield 3
  • If Pogba not fit, we have Mata, Pereira, Lingard who can all play there and with Angel Gomes having massive potential
  • If Pogba plays deeper in a midfield 2, bigger need is someone who can actually be disciplined enough to hole that position, and then the front 4 can be a mix of martial/rashford/greenwood/gomes/sanchez/mata/chong/lingard
More than anything though I think if we get him, then any route Gomes would have to break through would be blocked, while at the same time limiting Pogba to a more restricted midfield role. It only makes sense if Pogba is leaving.
Myth
Also Bruno is an incredibly hard working midfielder. I actually think he would compliment Pogba better than people seem to think
 

Art Vandelay

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Pogba has played the last two matches with Mata in the Fernandes role and looked good. I don't think it will be a problem and we can't be setting our transfer policy around someone that we can't trust.
 

bosnian_red

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Also Bruno is an incredibly hard working midfielder. I actually think he would compliment Pogba better than people seem to think
Not really... he can play as the #8 of course, but in bigger games definitely needs to be the most advanced mid. At that point, just make it a set and forget case and have him there full time. He's at his best as the most advanced of a midfield 3 like he was in the first few months under Ole. That was peak Pogba basically.
 

Cassidy

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Not really... he can play as the #8 of course, but in bigger games definitely needs to be the most advanced mid. At that point, just make it a set and forget case and have him there full time. He's at his best as the most advanced of a midfield 3 like he was in the first few months under Ole. That was peak Pogba basically.
Or at the world cup where he didnt play that role at all. I think he can play different positions personally. Hes just been inconsistent and it doesnt matter where he is playing when it comes to that

As for Bruno super hard working midfielder I dont see the issue
 

bosnian_red

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Or at the world cup where he didnt play that role at all. I think he can play different positions personally. Hes just been inconsistent and it doesnt matter where he is playing when it comes to that

As for Bruno super hard working midfielder I dont see the issue
At the world cup France played a defensive system with the world's best defensive midfielder next to Pogba and on the "left" they played Matuidi, who is also a very energetic player and covered ground. We dont have Ngolo Kante and Matuidi to both make up for Pogba playing in a midfield 2?

Bruno Fernandes I don't see partnering Pogba because I just think he's basically a pure #10, more of a second striker rather than a central midfielder. 2 pogbas could play next to each other in front of a holding mid, but not more attacking players (also depending on system, but any system I can see Ole playing would be a mess defensive with Bruno next to Pogba IMO. Would basically be like Mata next to Pogba.
 

Cassidy

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At the world cup France played a defensive system with the world's best defensive midfielder next to Pogba and on the "left" they played Matuidi, who is also a very energetic player and covered ground. We dont have Ngolo Kante and Matuidi to both make up for Pogba playing in a midfield 2?

Bruno Fernandes I don't see partnering Pogba because I just think he's basically a pure #10, more of a second striker rather than a central midfielder. 2 pogbas could play next to each other in front of a holding mid, but not more attacking players (also depending on system, but any system I can see Ole playing would be a mess defensive with Bruno next to Pogba IMO. Would basically be like Mata next to Pogba.
Well he isnt a pure 10 is he
Mata and Bruno are nothing alike
 

bosnian_red

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Well he isnt a pure 10 is he
Mata and Bruno are nothing alike
Bruno Fernandes? He played as a second striker for Sporting where he actually excelled this past season, so in terms of positions on the pitch/team balance, it's very similar to Mata.
 

Le Red

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Myth
Also Bruno is an incredibly hard working midfielder. I actually think he would compliment Pogba better than people seem to think
Personally I don't see where this myth that Pogba + Fernandes is unplayable came from but everyone seems to take it as gospel.
 

Nou_Camp99

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I think they would work very well together .
----- DM ----
Bruno------Pogba
Nope we'd get terribly over ran.

Fernandes plays best further forward than this and we all know Pogba can't be relied on defensively. We'd need best DM there's ever been to get away with this three.
 

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Sticking to our current transfer strategy which is either buying young promising talent or buying a player that’s at least an improvement on what we’ve got, then there’s surely lots of options. We just can not rely on Matic next season, and we haven’t replaced Herrera. We’re desperately light across the whole of midfield.
I’d actually look to bin Matic too as I think he’s finished. So yea a couple of options for deeper midfield maybe, but I think McTominay might play a lot of the season there and if we get Longstaff that might be a couple of viable options.
 

kirk buttercup

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I thought from when I have watched him For sporting that defensively he works pretty hard maybe you're right.
So how about
Mctominay POGBA
BRUNO GOMES Martial
Rashford
 

Lennon7

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I’d actually look to bin Matic too as I think he’s finished. So yea a couple of options for deeper midfield maybe, but I think McTominay might play a lot of the season there and if we get Longstaff that might be a couple of viable options.
We need to sign some true quality. Yes I’m happy we’re addressing holes in our team but we also lack creative quality. Need to start addressing that issue too or we’ll just remain mediocre.
 

Eric's Seagull

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I’d actually look to bin Matic too as I think he’s finished. So yea a couple of options for deeper midfield maybe, but I think McTominay might play a lot of the season there and if we get Longstaff that might be a couple of viable options.
Totally agree bit in bold as I've been saying for a while that Matic' legs are gone and should just be kept for big games and get rid of next summer. Although I think we should have let him go this year mate :)
 

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If we buy Bruno, Pogba is off. If not in the summer, certainly in the winter transfer window where he won’t be cup tied in the CL.

I know the Caf is split on Pogba, but if we want to challenge for the title, we need players that will run their guts out away to Sheffield in February.

I expect us to buy another DM that is quick and can cover loads of space on the pitch.
 

macheda14

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If we buy Bruno, Pogba is off. If not in the summer, certainly in the winter transfer window where he won’t be cup tied in the CL.

I know the Caf is split on Pogba, but if we want to challenge for the title, we need players that will run their guts out away to Sheffield in February.

I expect us to buy another DM that is quick and can cover loads of space on the pitch.
I will bet you a stupid amount of money that if we ever sell Pogba it won't be in the January transfer window.
 
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