It was difficult to enjoy y'day match and not only because the United team was struggling and look bereft of ideas. It was also because, I found myself constantly looking for the number 18 and see what he's doing. By his standards, he had an okay game and his legs looks a bit frozen at times. That's obviously going to happen when you are playing for a new team in a matter of just 48 hours without really having gotten accustomed to fellow players and the surroundings.
Fernandes displayed good shooting skills and some good medium range passes which, I think, is why he was moved to CDM. When it is Matic and Fred in the midfield, both are capable of somewhat carrying the ball and mixing up passes. With Pereira and Mata giving company to Fred in the middle, it would have been all short, give and go passes which was going to expose our defence every time we got caught. Pereira, I feel, I'd very prone to giving the ball away and so was Fred some time back. Mata can be muscled out easily.
One thing, I did not like about his display was his positional awareness and commitment when we didn't have the ball. Many a times he was casually strolling, not really marking or being aware of anyone. There was a counter attack that wolves managed in second half where I saw his just strolling around in the penalty area, watching AWB and the ball. I was hesitant to point this out in his very first game because I know fellow posters will get worked up if I criticise any aspect of his game right in the first game and rightly so. Also, I do understand he has a long way to go in United shirt. If Fred could come in, look like a poor play for many months, look like a midfielder incapable of holding onto the ball or carrying it forward and then, suddenly after having enough game under his belts, begin to look very accomplished both offensively and defensively, I am sure Bruno will do that too. Fingers crossed.