Fred, Matic, Sanchez

TheReligion

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If these three perform better this season how do we see things panning out for the club?

I'm not saying they will, I'm simply saying if we can get more from each of the above where does that leave us.
 

3KDré

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Don't think there is any point discussing Matic. Sanchez might be able to chip in a few goals if he could pick up form but out of those we need Fred the most to perform well.
 

OverratedOpinion

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If Sanchez performed the way he did at Arsenal then we would be in a much better position. Sadly that is a very, very unlikely scenario.

The other two playing at their absolute best would be helpful considering how light we are in midfield. We would still be someway behind the best midfields.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Fred is the only one who can.

Matic and Sanchez are both finished. The sooner it's accepted, the better.
 

Yagami

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I think regardless of who performs the most we can hope for is a 4th/maybe 3rd place finish and a cup. Depending on who drops out of the CL, I think we have a decent chance of winning the Europa depending on how seriously we take it.
 

AltiUn

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And Sanchez only as a striker, otherwise agree.
I'd be tempted to try Sanchez as a shadow striker or even a false nine, he always looked good central at Arsenal.
 

WR10

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Matic perform better? Like with a walker? Wheelchair?
 

Yagami

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I'd be tempted to try Sanchez as a shadow striker or even a false nine, he always looked good central at Arsenal.
Yeah, in this 4-2-3-1 we're playing I'm curious how Alexis would do in the 10 position. He works very hard defensively so you'd hope - alongside Pogba and McTominay(?) - we wouldn't get too overrun in midfield, and he can still create plenty of chances.

I wouldn't get my hopes up or anything but I would be interested in seeing him there if we're stuck with him.
 

Samid

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Matic and Alexis are both totally washed up. They have nothing to offer.

Based on what we’ve seen of Fred I'd say it would take a miracle for him to make it here, especially in the league. He could be key in the EL though against weaker opponents.
 

Lennon7

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Where’s Matic going to get any sort of form from? He can barely keep up.

Sanchez is just a bang average player now and I don’t have a clue why.

Fred has a low ceiling to be honest but he certainly hasn’t reaching it yet. Could be a big season for him considering we probably won’t be buying a centre mid.
 

Kag

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There’s a morbid hope in which I look at Sanchez and see a player that might burst back into life.

I’m being optimistic almost to the point of needing a lobotomy, but I might as well give it a go.
 

Bwuk

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Matic will still have good games, and could benefit from rotation.

Sanchez is done. He’s miles behind in the pecking order.

Fred can’t be any worse than he was last season. Don’t see it at all with him. Would have several players from the bottom 10 midfields before him.
 

Stobzilla

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I believe if he knuckles down, Sanchez can be good for 10 goals this season, hopefully an additional 5 assists or so on top of that and we can say we've had a result.

Fred has had a full year to acclimatise so it is really up to him now, he is playing for his United life this year.

Matic is just … I mean, he can probably play against lower league teams in cup games and maybe the odd Europa game as an experienced head but he is going to need runners next to him. But he is done, we are taking a risk every time he steps foot on a pitch to start.
 

Bwuk

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There’s a morbid hope in which I look at Sanchez and see a player that might burst back into life.

I’m being optimistic almost to the point of needing a lobotomy, but I might as well give it a go.
Beyoncé might want to sleep with me. As likely as Sanchez being of use.

Keep the dream alive!
 

Infra-red

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Matic and Sanchez look finished at the top level and are unlikely to make any positive contribution. Fred has a chance, but all of our midfielders might struggle this season.
 

TheReligion

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No one is answering the question though. If these three pick up form how do we do this season?

If Alexis bags 15 goals, Fred settles in the Herrera role and Matic offers what he has when he first moved to the club what does our season go to?
 

Random Task

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I thought Sanchez would enjoy playing in Ole's attacking, pressing system, but he performed at the same low standard he did under Jose. If he did manage to find his Arsenal form or somewhere approaching that level, then he would be like a new signing. Unlikely to happen though.

I'm unsure about Fred. He's shown glimpses of his ability, on occasion, but I cannot recall a single performance of his where he was solid throughout the game. He gets caught in possession a helluva lot for a player who was supposed to be composed and technically gifted.

Matic looks finished in all honesty.

Gabriel Heinze aside, we've had some piss-poor luck with South American players, it'd be nice if one were to turn out a success.
 

Red00012

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Fred’s our only hope, Matic cannot improve at this stage and possibly could get even more frustrating this season.


I’m still waiting for Sanchez to start playing, I remember this time last season been excited about Sanchez ,he had a decent pre season as he has no Copa and it was his 1st break in years.
I’m expecting nothing special from him this year, i just can’t see how his form is going to dramatically improve.
 

sdb4884

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Fred deserves another chance the others are done. It's amazing the amount of dead wood we still have at the club; Matic, Sanchez, Jones, Darmian, Rojo, Bailly, Young. Yikes.
 

AltiUn

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No one is answering the question though. If these three pick up form how do we do this season?

If Alexis bags 15 goals, Fred settles in the Herrera role and Matic offers what he has when he first moved to the club what does our season go to?
Competing for 3rd. Those 3 at top form, particularly Sanchez, would be invaluable.
 

MrPooni

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Matic is done at this level. Sanchez has been so poor even a 25% jump in performance would make a difference but that's not saying much. Fred is the probably the only one of the three who could possibly redeem himself this season but the way he's performed in pre-season, I'm not holding my breath.
 

Annihilate Now!

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I really don't like how our season is basically relying on a bunch of ifs and maybes... We're basically hoping for really unlikely things to happen (Matic/Sanchez to not be past it) / things that havent happened before to happen (Rashford/Martial to be consistent goalscorers, Fred to vastly improve etc) / Youngsters to definitely come good and be ready despite having very little first team exposure... And that's without hoping for Pogs to be more consistent.

And we kinda need most of these things to happen now... and simultaneously
 

YouOnlyLiveTwice

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Imo, Sanchez is done. I haven't seen anything from him that makes me optimistic of him turning it around this season.

Matic is decent for easier games / cups, but i wouldn't trust him in big matches, no way.

Fred still has the 1 year acclimatize excuse to him, i got faith in him.

If they somehow all performed this season, our team would look much better on paper, but it's only hope.
 

TheReligion

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I really don't like how our season is basically relying on a bunch of ifs and maybes... We're basically hoping for really unlikely things to happen (Matic/Sanchez to not be past it) / things that havent happened before to happen (Rashford/Martial to be consistent goalscorers, Fred to vastly improve etc) / Youngsters to definitely come good and be ready despite having very little first team exposure... And that's without hoping for Pogs to be more consistent.

And we kinda need most of these things to happen now... and simultaneously
Yeah I agree we are really.

Chelsea are in a similar position this season. At the moment the top four should be the rest unless United or Chelsea deliver with youth/change in form of existing players.
 

VP89

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I'd actually like to see Sanchez get a run of games as a centre forward under Ole and surrounded by his philosophy. I feel part of Sanchez disappointment has to be also due to Jose being a shit fit too.

If Sanchez is fit he should get a chance. Whether he takes it is another issue but I want to see him given a chance to perform in that role.
 

Enigma_87

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Matic is done. Sanchez is done.

Fred might step in but he seems like he lacks the basics. Positional sense, vision, leadership...
 

el3mel

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Sanchez and Matic are done for and Fred's top level isn't even that good to start with so we'll still be the same.
 
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If these three perform better this season how do we see things panning out for the club?

I'm not saying they will, I'm simply saying if we can get more from each of the above where does that leave us.
Or flip it... if these three didn’t play a single game, would we even notice?

Matic is still capable of some good games - although he’s slow. Fred has never been capable, and Sanchez has had less than 3 good games in 18 months. Maybe they will turn it around, but can’t see it happening for any of the aforementioned three.
 

AltiUn

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Sanchez and Matic and Fred's top level isn't even that good to start with so we'll still be the same.
Sanchez at his best got 25-30 goals which would be huge for us.