Is anyone else confused as to why we allow Fred to take long range pot shots, every single game, and on his weak foot?

criticalanalysis

Full Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Messages
6,034
On a serious note, from a tactical perspective it’s important that he takes the occasional shot from the edge of the box because it’s important the opposition continue opting to press him on the edge of the area because it creates space and angles for others to exploit. If he chooses to pass every time, the opposition will concentrate on his options rather than his line to goal.
Yes agreed. It shouldn't be Fred taking the shot after running from deep i.e when he's not in a set position but we do need to take advantage of the space we create just outside the penalty box. To be fair it's not the actual shot taking, it's making the opponent respect the position you hold there. Do a fake shot, drop the shoulder and try slip someone in or bring it closer and take a shot, place it wide on the overlap etc.

The number of times, where there's clear space or an opening for a good central shot outside the D, which is just overplayed or ignored is baffling.

Most of our attackers are guilty of this.

Rashford does so incredibly well to take on 1-3 players, make the space but then checks his run or try to dribble another. It's mind numblingly frustrating. The space is there! Do an Henry and place it into the far corner. Stop doing that over exaggerated knuckle ball technique i.e shoot as hard as you can with the instep.

Rant over.
 

Tarrou

Full Member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Messages
25,537
Location
Sydney
I've wondered this. It's such a basic error you'd think the coaching staff would cut it out.

I don't think he should take long range shots with his strong foot either, he's not good at it
 

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,025
Location
...
‘Allow’. Really? If he thinks he can score he will shoot. Simple. No player is not ‘allowed’ to shoot.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,515
Fred more often than not shoots when he gets into good positions. Any player would back themselves to score, so they shoot.

If he shoots randomly from 35-40 yards thinking he is Ronaldo then it's a problem.

Wish other players work better to get into those positions than Fred.
 

Bondi77

Full Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2019
Messages
7,203
He struggles to even make a decent pass with his right foot so shooting should be out of the question.
 

RashyForPM

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2020
Messages
3,183
The best one against Newcastle was when he reached the edge of the box, lost control, stretched and sent it out of the stadium. Without knowing how Lindelof shoots, Fred has the worst shot in the team. No wonder he’s the DM and Scott the advanced midfielder.
 

Dante

Average bang
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
25,280
Location
My wit's end

He's had the third most shots from outside of the box in the squad.

16 out of 18 shots from long range. Only 4 have been on target.
 

norm87cro

New Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
1,782
Location
Split, HR
In all fairness he actually should have scored a few weeks back but the GK did well to save his attempt
 

MadDogg

Full Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
15,810
Location
Manchester Utd never lose, just run out of time
This explains so much.
Depends on what you class as long range, as I noted in the next sentence that you cut off. The area that he normally shoots from would only be medium range in my books and they are positions that I would be expecting most players to take the shot from. Because he's so poor at them there have been a few that I wish he hadn't (he obviously had one against Newcastle), but there's a huge difference between what he's doing and taking shots from 30+ yards out which is what I would class as long range. If he were doing that it would be ridiculous.
 
Last edited:

Kostov

Full Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2017
Messages
9,399
Location
Skopje, Macedonia
Depends on what you class as long range, as I noted in the next sentence that you cut off. The area that he normally shoots from would only be medium range in my books and they are positions that I would be expecting most players to take the shot from. Because he's so poor at them there have been a few that I wish he hadn't (he obviously had one against Newcastle), but there's a huge difference between what he's doing and taking shots from 30+ yards out which is what I would class as long range. If he were doing that it would be ridiculous.
You would also expect a pro midfielder to know how to take a proper shot and at least test the GK. Fred's shots are very often spectacularly shit. He really needs to stop wasting opportunities.
 

lysglimt

Full Member
Scout
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
15,108
People complaining about Fred shooting - obviously never watched Jean Tigana playing football. He had almost everything - he just couldn't shoot the ball.
 

Glorio

Full Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2020
Messages
4,491
Ole said recently he keeps telling Fred one will eventually go in, so if anything its encouraged?

Fred has shown he can at least strike a ball decently well and test the keeper. I'm only concerned about the quality of the attempts he's taken recently. He needs to be more composed when doing it and get them on target
Ole also did say he's told Fred that if one does go in, it's not going to be with his right foot. I.e. stop shooting with your right foot.
Shooting's not his strongest area, so at the very least, he should do it when he has the chance to do so with his stronger foot
 

UpWithRivers

Full Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Messages
3,620
The question should be is why is he so sht at shooting. A frigging brazilian midfielder. Did he never practice shooting? I mean he's absolutely garbage. Terrible. Shite. Embarrassing. I cant even express how bad he is. Im pretty sure every single other player bar the keepers could do better. If you were guaranteed 10 shooting opportunities outside the box in a game I would even consider letting Wan B take them instead of Fred.
 

Borys

Statistics Wizard
Joined
May 10, 2013
Messages
9,023
Location
Bielsko Biala, Poland
He needs a long range goal to unlock an achievement. This will add a star to his tricks ability.

If he scores with weaker foot he gets double kudos.
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,336
Location
india

"Don't shoot with your right foot any more, please"

Bruno knows where it's at.
:lol:I like it

Seriously though, he needs to stop shooting, period. It's just horrible and brings back nightmares of Anderson shooting. He just looks so darn clumsy at it. Stop it, Fred. Just stop.
 

wolvored

Full Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
9,871
The question should be is why is he so sht at shooting. A frigging brazilian midfielder. Did he never practice shooting? I mean he's absolutely garbage. Terrible. Shite. Embarrassing. I cant even express how bad he is. Im pretty sure every single other player bar the keepers could do better. If you were guaranteed 10 shooting opportunities outside the box in a game I would even consider letting Wan B take them instead of Fred.
Exactly. Why isn't 20 25 yard shooting part of the training as it appears it isn't. Surely practicing this regular would at least improve him and all others
 

Foxbatt

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2013
Messages
14,297
One of these days the opposition will let him shoot and he will score a very important goal. All players should shoot unless a team mate is in a better position. The problem with Fred is not his shooting but the direction of his shooting. A bit like Maguire's heading.
 

The Corinthian

I will not take Mad Winger's name in vain
Joined
Dec 10, 2020
Messages
11,465
He'll score two in a game, both will be worldies, then he'll not score for 1-2 years and this thread will get bumped again.
 

TMDaines

Fun sponge.
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
13,906
Fred has consistently shown to be a terrible striker of the football. And to compound the issue, he's not shy about taking shots with his right foot which is even worse. And yet every single game we have attacks break down because he wants his glory moment, to the detriment of our chances of actually creating a chance and scoring a goal.
The data makes this even worse. Over the last three PL seasons, Fred has had 75 shots for a total of 3.48 xG. That means every shot Fred has taken has had an average of 0.0464 xG. His decision making is utterly atrocious around the penalty box. xG refers to an average finisher too. Fred has one actual goal from that 3.48 xG.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. When you are chasing a goal, literally any other footballer at the club would be a better option to have on the pitch then Fred. At least Phil Jones knows what his job is in that scenario.

Fred would be a better play if he literally never shot. I'd even accept him looking for the pass when he has an open goal from six yards away, if that means he no longer shoots from outside the box.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2021
Messages
872

He's had the third most shots from outside of the box in the squad.

16 out of 18 shots from long range. Only 4 have been on target.
This is outrageous, to be honest :lol:

I didn't want to comment without seeing how many shots he's actually taken, in case it was one of those where it isn't actually a lot but they all stand out for being horrific efforts. But there's something seriously wrong if Fred is attempting more than twice as many shots outside the box as Pogba in only a couple more matches.
 

DWelbz19

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
33,745
Pogba’s capable of the curled scorchers, Matic the rare thundercnut, and McTominay those Toni Kroos-like precise missile ones. Fred is known for err...
 

romufc

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
12,555
Is this something else to beat up the coaching staff for?

Obviously the coaching staff will give players confidence, Ole has a style where he is not restrictive of what a player can do, which is why we see some awful moments and some brilliance.

No coach will tell an individual not to shoot, it effects confidence, they will probably have a word about his decision making.

The player himself will know this after the rest of his team mates mock him.
 

Dominos

Full Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
6,959
Location
Manchester
‘Allow’. Really? If he thinks he can score he will shoot. Simple. No player is not ‘allowed’ to shoot.
Of course allowed. He needs to be told to stop his long range pot shots every single game and look for a pass instead. If he can't follow basic instructions then Ole has a problem with lack of authority clearly.

If a basketball player is trying to hit 3 pointers on every attack and he never finds the basket, the coach isn't going to indulge him and tell him to carry on.

Is this something else to beat up the coaching staff for?

Obviously the coaching staff will give players confidence, Ole has a style where he is not restrictive of what a player can do, which is why we see some awful moments and some brilliance.

No coach will tell an individual not to shoot, it effects confidence, they will probably have a word about his decision making.

The player himself will know this after the rest of his team mates mock him.
Surely having a word about decision making is the equivalent to telling him to look to pass instead of shooting. If player is making the same consistent mistake then they need to be told to stop, you can't let them continue indefinitely because you're worried about hurting their feelings and affecting their confidence.
 

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,025
Location
...
Of course allowed. He needs to be told to stop his long range pot shots every single game and look for a pass instead. If he can't follow basic instructions then Ole has a problem with lack of authority clearly.


Surely having a word about decision making is the equivalent to telling him to look to pass instead of shooting. If player is making the same consistent mistake then they need to be told to stop, you can't let them continue indefinitely because you're worried about hurting their feelings and affecting their confidence.
He doesn’t, which is why he likely hasn’t.
 

Dominos

Full Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
6,959
Location
Manchester
He doesn’t, which is why he likely hasn’t.
Well it's an opinion forum.

Would the team be better off if Fred started passing the ball instead of taking potshots? Cearly I'm not the only one who thinks yes. If you think we're a better team for Fred taking hopeful hits with his weaker foot, then fair enough.
 

keithsingleton

Full Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
1,363
Location
Salford
Ole said recently he keeps telling Fred one will eventually go in, so if anything its encouraged?

Fred has shown he can at least strike a ball decently well and test the keeper. I'm only concerned about the quality of the attempts he's taken recently. He needs to be more composed when doing it and get them on target
:lol: You serious? When has he ever tested a keeper ? Do you ever think he can score in or outside the area? Fred is good at 3 things. (1) He has a good engine but put breaks on whenever he gets within 20 yards of goal. (2) Passes the ball side ways. (3) Passes the ball backwards.
 

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,025
Location
...
Well it's an opinion forum.

Would the team be better off if Fred started passing the ball instead of taking potshots? Cearly I'm not the only one who thinks yes. If you think we're a better team for Fred taking hopeful hits with his weaker foot, then fair enough.
The team would not be better off if players start being told when to shoot. And Fred passes plenty - obviously.

If only Kompany had been told that he is ‘not allowed’ to shoot from 30 yards.
 

Dominos

Full Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
6,959
Location
Manchester
The team would not be better off if players start being told when to shoot. And Fred passes plenty - obviously.

If only Kompany had been told that he is ‘not allowed’ to shoot from 30 yards.
If that player is consistently wasting attacks by taking potshots even though they cannot shoot, then yes, we would be better off.

Football at the highest level is not a school playground where you do whatever you feel like. If you're consistently passing when you should be taking a shot, you'll be given instructions to start testing the keeper more often. If you're consistently shooting when you should be passing, you'll be told to pass more often. If you're consistently trying to dribble when you should be passing, you'll be told to pass the ball. If you're consistently playing safe passes when you should be running at the opposition full back, you'll be told to use your dribbling more often.
 

Lentwood

Full Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
6,783
Location
West Didsbury, Manchester
I have to say this is a massive bug bear of mine as well. I am not a fan of any player shooting from distance really, albeit with players like Rashford, Bruno or Pogba you don't want to completely eradicate it.

However, I think Fred seems to take about 3/4 shots from long range every single game and it's usually rare that they are even close to hitting the target, let alone actually going in! I would be having a word with him for sure, because literally ANYTHING would be a better option than a Fred shot from distance.
 

MissKatie

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 23, 2020
Messages
86
Supports
Northampton Town
Is it really a case of allow though?
You can tell a player a million times to do or not do something and they can do it regardless
 

Redlyn

Full Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
3,681
He takes about 1 shot a game. It's not going to make us or break us. Not being allowed to even try a single shot is stiffling and demoralising for the player involved. That's said he could try to take the shot closer to goal but I wouldn't like out right ban him from shooting with the goal in his sight.
 
Last edited: