[Dominos]

I wanted him to start the season alongside Pogba, he's more energetic and mobile than Matic and better on the ball than Mctominay.

The midfield performance against Sevilla was promising in that we dominated a game I wasn't really expecting us to, so I thought it was worth sticking with that to build on.

Having said that, he was crap tonight, was giving the ball away for fun. Did himself no favours in trying to get him a starting place for the important games.

 

[Dominos]

We currently have three proper centre mids who dont play well together. McTominay made Fred look much worse than he actually was tonight.

Mctominay's fault that every time Fred passed forward it was to an opposition player.

The agenda posting on this place amazes me.

 

[11101]

Mctominay's fault that every time Fred passed forward it was to an opposition player.

The agenda posting on this place amazes me.

Yeah, it's agenda posting that Fred was alone in a one man midfield, just like Pogba had to be against Palace. Nobody looks good in that.

 

[Dominos]

Yeah, it's agenda posting that Fred was alone in a one man midfield, just like Pogba had to be against Palace. Nobody looks good in that.

And now Pogba is excused for his Palace performance, not like he was even worse alongside Matic at the weekend...

I think Covid might be Mctominay's fault too.

 

[wattsy7]

Energetic as always but quite poor tonight, sloppy passing and always goes to press but never actually wins the ball, opposition either skip passed him or pop it round him which takes him out the game, much prefer McTominay in there.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

He had a bad day with his forward passing, but also made some brilliant tackles and interceptions in defense. Ideally you play him with Pogba so he can provide the mobility and energy in defensive duties that Matic lacks when Pogba goes forward, while also not being forced to make all of the passes between the lines like he has to with Scott next to him.

McFredinay works in a game where we are going to sit back and need to combative midfielders throwing their body and pressing like mad men at the ball. But in a game where we are on the front foot it's clear there is an aspect of their games that doesn't fit as neither are creative passers who can dictate a game.

 

[wattsy7]

Ideally you play him with Pogba so he can provide the mobility and energy in defensive duties that Matic lacks when Pogba goes forward, while also not being forced to make all of the passes between the lines like he has to with Scott next to him.

The space in behind a Fred & Pogba midfield two is frightening.

 

[Alemar]

. Refused to play the forward pass on most occasions.

Yes, but he had James and Ighalo to pass to - not the best addressees on current form...

 

[AR87]

Yes, but he had James and Ighalo to pass to - not the best addressees on current form...

Both him and McTominay looked better when James went off. He destroyed so many potential attacks today because he refused to stretch the play high and wide by trying to run in behind his man and would either drift back toward the ball or run into the same area as VdB and/or Ighalo.

Once we had Pogba and Rashford on and our spacing with the attacking players wasn't crap Fred and McTominay looked far more threatening.

 

[Devil may care]

A bit of an erratic game from Frederick.

 

[MadDogg]

His passing was a bit off today, but probably just because of rustiness early in the season.

 

[Bwuk]

Don’t rate him whatsoever.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Close down the opposition, win the ball and play it simple should be the mantra reverberating in his head when he gets onto the field. That's when he's most effective for us.

 

[Kostov]

He will have some flashes of very good ball winning and commitment which I respect enormously but overall very average, positional awareness can be shocking at times, easy to bypass and his instincts are not there for a holding midfielder. Hit and miss midfielder is the best I can say about him. How can someone watch him play and then go and decide to pay 50 fecking million pounds is embarrassing lack of judgement.

 

[FrankDrebin]

He will have some flashes of very good ball winning and commitment which I respect enormously but overall very average, positional awareness can be shocking at times, easy to bypass and his instincts are not there for a holding midfielder. Hit and miss midfielder is the best I can say about him. How can someone watch him play and then go and decide to pay 50 fecking million pounds is embarrassing lack of judgement.

I like Fred but, yeah, absolutely insane fee.

 

[Stretender]

He will have some flashes of very good ball winning and commitment which I respect enormously but overall very average, positional awareness can be shocking at times, easy to bypass and his instincts are not there for a holding midfielder. Hit and miss midfielder is the best I can say about him. How can someone watch him play and then go and decide to pay 50 fecking million pounds is embarrassing lack of judgement.

You can say the same thing about Pogba.

He is a good footballer who helps alot in our transitional play.

 

[romufc]

Saw some very good signs on Fred recently, I think he can play with Pogba and Bruno in the midfield, his energy helps us out in the midfield because he can get about.

He also plays progressive passes, unfortunately he was playing with James and Ighalo infront of him who have no footballing brain. Every time the ball went to those players, it was like passing it back to Brighton.

 

[Himannv]

I thought he was excellent off the ball against Luton. I didn't think much of him when he had it though.

He struggles a bit when pressed as he's not a player who premeditates enough. I think he's better when he has time to look up, assess options, and then pass.

Different game, same problem. Excellent at pressing opponents without the ball but cannot play out of the press when he has it.

 

[Kostov]

You can say the same thing about Pogba.

He is a good footballer who helps alot in our transitional play.

Nah, Fred is a 15-20m midfielder at best and we paid 50m pounds for him. Last night I watch him play alongside McTominay against Pascal Gross and I was thinking in what are they standing out? Didn't think of much if any. Pogba a very unique midfielder albeit very inconsistent and by the looks of it we overpaid I agree, but we bought him from Juventus and they were always going to demand that fee, with Fred I don't get it.

 

[Litch]

Saw some very good signs on Fred recently, I think he can play with Pogba and Bruno in the midfield, his energy helps us out in the midfield because he can get about.

He also plays progressive passes, unfortunately he was playing with James and Ighalo infront of him who have no footballing brain. Every time the ball went to those players, it was like passing it back to Brighton.

Spot on. Vultures are always circling when it comes to certain players like Fred, just waiting for an indifferent game to talk about stuff from two seasons ago that aren't now as relevant.

 

[Litch]

Nah, Fred is a 15-20m midfielder at best and we paid 50m pounds for him. Last night I watch him play alongside McTominay against Pascal Gross and I was thinking in what are they standing out? Didn't think of much if any. Pogba a very unique midfielder albeit very inconsistent and by the looks of it we overpaid I agree, but we bought him from Juventus and they were always going to demand that fee, with Fred I don't get it.

Yep seen this in you many times when it comes to Fred. I'm sure you must understand that buying anything is always dependent on what the seller wants to sell for. Worth is subjective but if you think It's 15-20m, you very clearly have an agenda.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Fred is best off the ball - which sounds a bit strange in football but he is really good at winning the ball back quickly and generally just being "ratty"

his passing is often inconsistent, can vary from sublime to what the hell was that?.

I love the guy though, I think our 3 best midfield options are all 6'4 giants which doesn't really help. They end up being too slow to accelerate and are easy to press. Fred mixes that up and is great at keeping the ball moving at a faster tempo. His stamina is also much better than the others we have. The guy keeps running for 90 minutes and you rarely see him "puffed" and jogging.

He might not be our best player, but he could be our most effective?

 

[Stretender]

Nah, Fred is a 15-20m midfielder at best and we paid 50m pounds for him. Last night I watch him play alongside McTominay against Pascal Gross and I was thinking in what are they standing out? Didn't think of much if any. Pogba a very unique midfielder albeit very inconsistent and by the looks of it we overpaid I agree, but we bought him from Juventus and they were always going to demand that fee, with Fred I don't get it.

Thats why you are not a coach at an elite club because you see things differently to coaches.

Guardiola wanted to sign him,so its its not like he is some random footballer like Bebe.

There is something that top coaches see in him that most of us haven't got a clue about.

 

[romufc]

Fred is best off the ball - which sounds a bit strange in football but he is really good at winning the ball back quickly and generally just being "ratty"

his passing is often inconsistent, can vary from sublime to what the hell was that?.

I love the guy though, I think our 3 best midfield options are all 6'4 giants which doesn't really help. They end up being too slow to accelerate and are easy to press. Fred mixes that up and is great at keeping the ball moving at a faster tempo. His stamina is also much better than the others we have. The guy keeps running for 90 minutes and you rarely see him "puffed" and jogging.

He might not be our best player, but he could be our most effective?

This is a very good analysis. A successful team always has one of these effective players which allows the talented players to play. This is what Fred does, he is very good at keeping the ball moving compared to Matic, McT, Pogba.

Yesterday, he was there to clean up too, looks like he is moulding himself to a DM, he is everywhere and he is the one who broke the line by passing into VDB. When he passes the ball into those areas, its hit really firm which is why you need the VBD, Bruno, Martial at the end of it because they have the touch to go with it.

 

[Stretender]

Fred is best off the ball - which sounds a bit strange in football but he is really good at winning the ball back quickly and generally just being "ratty"

his passing is often inconsistent, can vary from sublime to what the hell was that?.

I love the guy though, I think our 3 best midfield options are all 6'4 giants which doesn't really help. They end up being too slow to accelerate and are easy to press. Fred mixes that up and is great at keeping the ball moving at a faster tempo. His stamina is also much better than the others we have. The guy keeps running for 90 minutes and you rarely see him "puffed" and jogging.

He might not be our best player, but he could be our most effective?

Top post. Most people who don't see the job that Fred do make me wonder if they actually watch United play.

Your analysis of him is good and spot on.

 

[Kostov]

Yep seen this in you many times when it comes to Fred. I'm sure you must understand that buying anything is always dependent on what the seller wants to sell for. Worth is subjective but if you think It's 15-20m, you very clearly have an agenda.

Exactly this is my point, when Shakhtar asked 50m someone should have told them to feck off, since he isn't worth that. Yeah some agenda I have, can you tell me which club do you feel would pay more than 20m for Fred? And why in the name of God would they do that?

 

[Kostov]

Thats why you are not a coach at an elite club because you see things differently to coaches.

Guardiola wanted to sign him,so its its not like he is some random footballer like Bebe.

There is something that top coaches see in him that most of us haven't got a clue about.

I am not saying he didn't want him, but that's part of the point they obviously didn't want him for the sum we paid for.

And can you tell me who these top coaches are exactly? And what they see in him according to you?

 

[Stretender]

I am not saying he didn't want him, but that's part of the point they obviously didn't want him for the sum we paid for.

And can you tell me who these top coaches are exactly? And what they see in him according to you?

Who is not over priced at United though?

Phil Jones, Lingard, Henderson etc they would not earn what they earn at United elsewhere.

That has been discussed extensively here and its a problem for Ed Woodward.
Is Sancho worth 108 million? No.

Will United pay 108 million. Probably yes.

Is he a good player? Yes.

Player valuation is subjective.

 

[Kostov]

Who is not over priced at United though?

Phil Jones, Lingard, Henderson etc they would not earn what they earn at United elsewhere.

That has been discussed extensively here and its a problem for Ed Woodward.
Is Sancho worth 108 million? No.

Will United pay 108 million. Probably yes.

Is he a good player? Yes.

Player valuation is subjective.

Well we absolutely agree that the ones that paid 50m for Fred and offer contract extensions to Jones and will do the same with Lingard are morons and incompetent?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Thats why you are not a coach at an elite club because you see things differently to coaches.

Guardiola wanted to sign him,so its its not like he is some random footballer like Bebe.

There is something that top coaches see in him that most of us haven't got a clue about.

In defence of @Kostov I suspect that’s not the only reason! Or it could have been why his exciting career prospects as a coach were cruelly curtailed. A loss to the game.

There’s not a single person who thinks Fred is a £50m footballer, and City are thanking their lucky start that they dodged a bullet.

He is however here now, and we need to make best use of him. But he’s one that everyone can agree we grossly overpaid on, the only question is by how much?

 

[Stretender]

In defence of @Kostov I suspect that’s not the only reason! Or it could have been why his exciting career prospects as a coach were cruelly curtailed. A loss to the game.

There’s not a single person who thinks Fred is a £50m footballer, and City are thanking their lucky start that they dodged a bullet.

He is however here now, and we need to make best use of him. But he’s one that everyone can agree we grossly overpaid on, the only question is by how much?

Exactly his price is irrelevant but rather what he does for the team. No single person on earth thinks Pogba is a 90 million pounds player or that Sancho is worth 108 million.

The fact that United are prepared to pay that do not justify those prices.

The problem is United incompetence. Thats it.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Has anyone else noticed how he seems to break, mentally, during games? He can start off playing really well then makes a single bad error and completely falls apart from then on. When he was having that run of good form he seemed to avoid the mid-game collapse and finishes as strongly as he starts. I hope he’s getting some input from sports psychologists. There’s a good player in there somewhere.

 

[Kostov]

In defence of @Kostov I suspect that’s not the only reason! Or it could have been why his exciting career prospects as a coach were cruelly curtailed. A loss to the game.

There’s not a single person who thinks Fred is a £50m footballer, and City are thanking their lucky start that they dodged a bullet.

He is however here now, and we need to make best use of him. But he’s one that everyone can agree we grossly overpaid on, the only question is by how much?

Sincerely I would have offered him to Athletico as part of a Partey transfer but they just bought Torreira by the looks of it. I feel if we keep hold of him longer his value will only deteriorate and I really don't rate him as good enough.

 

[CiroDiMarzio]

Fred is a lovely footballer. Unfortunately, like many players, he seems to benefit from the rhythm of regular games, which is problematic because Utd are just a better team when Matic is on the pitch and the other midfield slots are occupied by legitimately world class players. There was a stretch last year when he got a regular run of games as was arguably the best player during that period. If he manages to adapt a bit more to coming in and out of the side he could be a really important player over the course of a long season.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Exactly his price is irrelevant but rather what he does for the team. No single person on earth thinks Pogba is a 90 million pounds player or that Sancho is worth 108 million.

The fact that United are prepared to pay that do not justify those prices.

The problem is United incompetence. Thats it.

That’s not what I said. I’d be happy to sell Fred tomorrow. Sancho (if we buy him), and Pogba are first team players, comparing their prices to Fred doesn’t make sense - you pay more for scarce resources.

You can buy 100 players who do the same job as Fred. He’s here now, and we need to try and make the best of it, knowing full well he was a poor buy.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

I still think he should play over Pogba, the team has more balance when Fred is in. It’s pretty clear that Pogba isn’t adjusting as we hoped into a deeper role behind Bruno. Something needs to give.

 

[AltiUn]

His passing was erratic but his constant energy never eases the pressure on the opposition, considering how important pressing is in the modern game I still think he's a valuable asset. He's probably our best player outside of the starting XI.

 

[Still ill]

I still find it strange that so many of the people that are desperate for a pressing game from us are so keen to get rid of Fred. I mean a midfield with Matic and Pogba in it is never going to operate an effective press, is it? Fred's our most high energy player. A little more composure on the ball would be lovely but I still think he is a key member of the squad.

 

[Stretender]

That’s not what I said. I’d be happy to sell Fred tomorrow. Sancho (if we buy him), and Pogba are first team players, comparing their prices to Fred doesn’t make sense - you pay more for scarce resources.

You can buy 100 players who do the same job as Fred. He’s here now, and we need to try and make the best of it, knowing full well he was a poor buy.

Funny isn't it how we view football?

The player who actually doesn't fit what United are trying to do is Pogba.

He is more likely to leave the club before Fred. I wouldn't call him a guaranteed starter at the moment.

 

[Moiraine]

If only he could pass... forward, not sideways... and shoot