Hands up if you owe Fred an apology

[Fosu-Mens]

Surprised I'm not tagged in this thread.

Still, no chance I will say that Fred has been "fixed" or "proved" anyone wrong. The problem was never his work rate or running.
He is still trying to win the ball when he should contain, he is still making the same dangerous mistakes in his passing (when he hit Matic against Wolves last game) and he is still not consistent in his touch or passing.

But he has gone from being one of the biggest liabilities to not being a liability(Asset when the team is not in possession, somewhat a liability when the team is in possession due to his inconsistency and lack of awareness when receiving the ball). If this is down to him making improving or the others being either injured or playing like headless chickens... I think it is a bit of both.

 

[arthurka]

I owed Lingard an apology 2 years ago and look how that has turned out.

I owe you guys an apology as I tried to tell you guys he would come good. But back on track Fred has really turned into a good little player, never in a million years did I think I would write that.

 

[Raw]

Right here. Thought he was one of the most pointless footballers we ever had, and we paid almost £50m for the pleasure. Turns out he's pretty fecking good so jokes on me.

 

[Im red2]

Me too I thought he was crap, but he is currently playing very well in a bad team.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Yep, me.

I used to think he was one of the worst footballers I've ever seen, now I just think he's incredibly average and off the standard required.

Well done him I guess.

 

[Godfather]

It always looked like it was a matter of getting used to the league to be honest. He turned out to be really proper player.

 

[Born2Lose]

Another example of why patience being a virtue.

Amazing how the "special one" couldn't get anything out of the guy, but novice Ole has got him playing so well.

 

[RedNed77]

Liked his all action game from the first time he played but gradually grew suspicious and sceptical of him with his wayward passing and control, right up until PSG away last year which was a turning point. I thought him and McTom looked great together. I’m really looking forward to seeing the two plus Grealish or Maddison as our midfield next year.

 

[momo83]

Check my posts. He’s always been in my “our strongest 11 list” not just me but several others also. Not only has he adapted to a league that usually takes Brazilians a while to get used too, he’s also adapted his role to suit us. I think we ain’t even seen his full attacking best yet

 

[Offside]

Unreal today - was a one man mission at times during that second half.

 

[momo83]

Another example of why patience being a virtue.

Amazing how the "special one" couldn't get anything out of the guy, but novice Ole has got him playing so well.

On the flip side the “special one “ did win the Europa Cup and finished second with a squad that after getting rid of deadwood and spending £150m Ole still can’t get a decent tune out of.

 

[Neo_Mufc]

Me, me me

 

[Adam-Utd]

He was never that bad last year in the first place, he just made sloppy mistakes which clouded everybodies judgement.

I remember he was MOTM in the game away to Arsenal, then proceeded to give the ball away in front of goal and they scored / had a close chance.

He was just nervous and getting used to the pace of the league. You could see the basis of his game was there, but he's definitely stepped up a level since Pogba has gone.

 

[Sanchez7]

My hands up. I blame Mourinho though. His coaching set Fred back a year and now Ole has him back on track.

It’s what he does. Ndombele is the latest example.

Awful manager who loves to bully players. He deemed KDB not being good enough at Chelsea and criticised his training performances while playing a much inferior player in Oscar over him.

 

[RedRonaldo]

He has proven me wrong. He plays very well in recent month. My motm for several games, was everywhere on the pitch, doing something right.
I think 50m for him is actually a good signing (can’t believe I will actually say this!)

 

[Eyepopper]

 

[criticalanalysis]

Surprised I'm not tagged in this thread.

Still, no chance I will say that Fred has been "fixed" or "proved" anyone wrong. The problem was never his work rate or running.
He is still trying to win the ball when he should contain, he is still making the same dangerous mistakes in his passing (when he hit Matic against Wolves last game) and he is still not consistent in his touch or passing.

But he has gone from being one of the biggest liabilities to not being a liability(Asset when the team is not in possession, somewhat a liability when the team is in possession due to his inconsistency and lack of awareness when receiving the ball). If this is down to him making improving or the others being either injured or playing like headless chickens... I think it is a bit of both.

This is such an incredibly harsh assessment, that I need to ask what exactly is your expectation of his own personal performance and then his role in the wider team context?

How can you expect a flawless defensive and ball playing midfielder, when he plays in such a disjointed team?

Yes he can be sloppy at times but when Fred and Matic need to be almost baby sitting the team by being the first pass option and defensive cover, their participation to game influence (+) to mistake levels (-) is very good.

You can put Kroos in this team (in his place) and I have no doubt he would have elite passing perecentages and outshine everyone in possession but I can also guaranteed we'd get overrun very easily in open play and our midfield would get bypassed a lot.

Fred like Matic could very easily hide behind 'defensive cover' and 'not rushing in' by 'staying in position' and not be visible in mistakes but then you would get three Lindelofs in the team and we wouldn't be making any tackles, showing for any passes or doing anything proactive to actually affect the game.

Fred like Kroos is just one component of 12 (11 players and 1 coach). He is doing his fair share and then some.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

If we owe Fred an apology then we also owe Mourinho one too. But we dont owe either.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Unreal today - was a one man mission at times during that second half.

Unreal ? Surely people are going overboard with Fred the other way round now? As was done with Dan James, or even Mctominay.

I was definitely crticial of Fred as he deserved it for really poor peformances. That's how it should be at a big club. I did see the talent the he was putting it together as a teenage prodigy would which was far from ideal. He's been much better of late and has impressed regularly, no doubt. But again, we have to be wary of jumping the gun. He's impressing as the best CM of an absolutely awful midfield. Hopefully his level goes up as does our midfields.

 

[SteveW]

I slated him.

 

[Tel074]

Hands up I owe Fred a apology but alot owe Ole an apology because he has brought the best out in Fred .

Honestly it was a depressing day at Anfield but in the hotel after the game a pool fan said to me Fred was brilliant today . If a scouser can admit it I can

 

[VanHaal'sRedArmy]

Not me; made the prediction he'd be better back in August.

I'm quietly optimistic about Fred this season. Will be our most improved player if given the chance.

 

[MackRobinson]

If we owe Fred an apology then we also owe Mourinho one too. But we dont owe either.

This doesn't make any sense.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

I didn't have much faith that he'd work out. Thankfully I don't think I ever seriously disparaged him. Glad he's turned it around.

 

[BaneIsPain]

Yes. I entertained the idea of selling him next summer at the beginning. He keeps on going and improving.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

The bashing of Fred by the media, pundits and many on this forum after his early stint is just typical of the football world and journalism these days. Same thing will happen when we get others and they start slow. Again and again.

I am so happy for him and United by his recent play. Early days I had no idea what he would become but there was a reason others wanted him too and he played a lot for Brazil.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Surprised I'm not tagged in this thread.

Still, no chance I will say that Fred has been "fixed" or "proved" anyone wrong. The problem was never his work rate or running.
He is still trying to win the ball when he should contain, he is still making the same dangerous mistakes in his passing (when he hit Matic against Wolves last game) and he is still not consistent in his touch or passing.

But he has gone from being one of the biggest liabilities to not being a liability(Asset when the team is not in possession, somewhat a liability when the team is in possession due to his inconsistency and lack of awareness when receiving the ball). If this is down to him making improving or the others being either injured or playing like headless chickens... I think it is a bit of both.

whatever.

 

[Bebestation]

I feel people are actually underrating him by calling him average and stuff.

The guy is running out midfield by himself consistently and looking like a 50 mil player.

We have had so many worse players during the SAF era that couldn't even play a full 90 mins like this lad by himself and could only do it because of the team mates around them.

Good on you Fred.

 

[Ali Dia]

I liked him from the start

I think he has the potential to be a really good player for us. CM and striker are the hardest positions to just come in and do well in. You need to develop chemistry with your team mates. I think he’ll hopefully step up, I’m not really sure what he’s at getting married again in the middle of our pre season though. It doesn’t look good.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

He's a workhorse, that much is obvious, and he already showed his capabilities last season.
The only problem is he's inconsistent, hit and miss performances.
And the fact that he got dropped a lot hurts his confidence and skewed people's judgment that he's bad.

Tbh, I still think his play is hit-and-miss, but a lot more stable now.
Plus he's performing while majority of his teammates are struggling so easier to see him in a better light.
Given a lot of games, and he's showing those daring confident plays again.

 

[Mindhunter]

I admit my mistake. I had totally given up on him as another exotic buy from a foreign land who could never master the English game. And now I am absolutely thrilled that he has proven everybody wrong.

 

[Tony247]

I had given up on him. Nice to see he is coming around proving his critics wrong.

 

[Foxbatt]

It's not a bit and miss anymore. You put him in a 3 man midfield with a good DM and a good AM you are going to see a much better Fred.
He is a one man midfield.

 

[WR10]

Brilliant player. You can tell he’s used to playing football where he’s designed to control the ball quickly in midfield and fire it off to a forward that is making a run through channels. The sad thing is that is not existent in this united team. He still controls it and at best just gets a shout from Matic to pass it back to him or Pogba sideways.

A free flowing attacking team would be devastating with Fred

That was back under a depressing Mourinho team (Oct, 2018). Now we just have to wait for Rashford,Martial,Greenwood/james, Pogba to be all fit and firing in front of him.

 

[MadDogg]

I had a decent amount of confidence he would come good in his second season. For a while there at the start of the season I thought it still might not work out after all (although I tended to think it was as much an issue with the team not being suited to him as him not being good enough), but I'm glad he's come good.

 

[TrustInOle]

Was it psg away that he played? Thought that was the first time he looked like he had something to make it at United

Completely agree. There was a moment one of the PSG players came over to carry on distracting Marcus and kicking the Penalty spot, and Fred stomped over, gripped him and gave him a push back in the opposite direction. That moment I thought there is a real United quality to this lad. Glad he has come on leaps and bounds since.

 

[Tarrou]

His work rate is phenomenal

 

[RedBanker]

Berated him to the maximum. Happy to have got it all wrong. He would be a monster if he had a proper midfield around him. And forwards who actually know how to make runs and score.

 

[tenpoless]

Have liked him ever since He was wearing our mascot costume to be honest.

 

[Feed Me]

Apologise for what?

He cost £50m, was wretched, got stick, is now playing pretty well for an average team.

He also gets paid handsomely for the privilege.

I mean, why don’t the rest of the United squad apologise for being a set of consistently useless cnuts?