[Marwood]

I thought he had a good game until the latter stages when we were getting a bit desperate for a goal.

Then he reverted to a few of those passes where nobody on the planet but him can work out what he's thinking.

That pass to Rashford was a beauty.

He'll be crucial next season if we can get the right manager and a functioning team.

 

[kouroux]

Ralf isn’t indulging him we just have bigger problems. Bruno with lack of off the ball movement in the forward areas is useless.

I think he clearly does indulge him otherwise how do you explain these consistent performances of him with high ball turnovers ?
Bruno has been comforted into playing thos crazy style of football. No one seem to even wanna calm him down with the stupid passing.
He can do whatever the feck he wants

 

[Adnan]

When do you see players with 4 years left on a deal get a one year extension and a pay rise? It was unnecessary and incompetent. There is literally no good reason to do it and plenty of bad reasons .

Agreed with the bolded. Same applies for De Gea and Maguire.

With Bruno the problem is his game is based on taking risks and he has shown that he does not have the quality to consistently make those difficult passes he attempts. In a smart possesion based system, I struggle to see how he will fit in but lets see if ETH can do it.

No competent club allows their players to get within two years of the end of their contract. Fergie used to operate like that and talks to extend contracts would start way earlier than from the two years before the expiry date. I don't see that as a issue and if the club wants to get rid of Bruno in the future and Bruno isn't feeling wanted, he'll leave on his own accord to play football regularly elsewhere imo. I don't see this as a issue like with what happened with Jones, Mata etc. And I have my opinions on that, but that's for a different thread.

Bruno plays a very direct vertical game in a team that isn't good at counter pressing and hence the risk reward/ratio isn't good right now. But I think if he's in a team that is adept at winning the ball back high up the pitch in a coordinated fashion then his high risk, vertical approach would be more effective imo.

And ten Hag is a coach that wants to dominate the ball via positional play when the opponent is sitting off in a compact low block but he also wants his team to go very direct when space opens up, especially, straight after the winning the ball back. So in both equations, Bruno does have his uses, because in the first equation he can be utilised as one of the multiple #10s, to overload the half spaces with emphasis on positional rotation which would potentially open up a space in the centre space or wide space to exploit.

But I'm personally hoping Hannibal is the player that will be the long term solution as the creative CM going forward. And him being understudy to Bruno for now is probably a sensible approach imo.

 

[DWelbz19]

I was cracking up when he made a shit pass but blamed Telles for not making a run. Why would you force the pass then ??

Bruno Fernandes, forcing the pass? Never!

 

[Bebestation]

I miss him when he was our main man. Now he is someone else's b*tch just like for his national team.

 

[DWelbz19]

The club only extended his contract by a year

The more pertinent point was that they doubled his wages. If these poor showings persist he becomes another Martial / Rashford type case where we’re forced to keep him, with struggle loan deals 2 years down the line. That’s what the concern is.

 

[Adnan]

The more pertinent point was that they doubled his wages. If these poor showings persist he becomes another Martial / Rashford type case where we’re forced to keep him, with struggle loan deals 2 years down the line. That’s what the concern is.

The reports are saying he's getting paid 240k a week now, which likely includes bonuses, but his base pay will be lower, possibly.

I do agree that wages need to be better controlled. And with Pogba, Cavani and Lingard, leaving at the end of the season, it will mean we've cleared a substantial chunk from our wages. But I think our biggest issue has been that we've handed out big contracts to players who would struggle to get into teams outside of the top 6. And that has to improve now because it's simply not good enough, and it means we struggle to move certain players on.

 

[Amar__]

How is a bad season tolerable for someone who was frequently compared to Cantona, is one of our highest paid players, and has been here for such a short time?

Well you tolerate Pogba for years and he's had probably one good season in 6, and even that season was hardly good as Bruno's best. And he also cost us almost double than what we paid for Bruno.

And he is all that you named, and worse, he's been named best midfielder in the world(no one ever said this about Bruno), best midfielder in the league on many occasions, compared to Scholes, our best ever long range shooter(that was ridiculous considering his shooting is absolutely inconsistent), our best passer ever, etc.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Ten Haag won’t be putting up with his sloppy shite that’s for sure. He’s gonna have to adapt or find himself on the bench.

 

[Desert Eagle]

No competent club allows their players to get within two years of the end of their contract. Fergie used to operate like that and talks to extend contracts would start way earlier than from the two years before the expiry date. I don't see that as a issue and if the club wants to get rid of Bruno in the future and Bruno isn't feeling wanted, he'll leave on his own accord to play football regularly elsewhere imo. I don't see this as a issue like with what happened with Jones, Mata etc. And I have my opinions on that, but that's for a different thread.

Bruno plays a very direct vertical game in a team that isn't good at counter pressing and hence the risk reward/ratio isn't good right now. But I think if he's in a team that is adept at winning the ball back high up the pitch in a coordinated fashion then his high risk, vertical approach would be more effective imo.

And ten Hag is a coach that wants to dominate the ball via positional play when the opponent is sitting off in a compact low block but he also wants his team to go very direct when space opens up, especially, straight after the winning the ball back. So in both equations, Bruno does have his uses, because in the first equation he can be utilised as one of the multiple #10s, to overload the half spaces with emphasis on positional rotation which would potentially open up a space in the centre space or wide space to exploit.

But I'm personally hoping Hannibal is the player that will be the long term solution as the creative CM going forward. And him being understudy to Bruno for now is probably a sensible approach imo.

Sure he will have his uses but will it be optimal? Bruno was already going to be a huge part of our future but now we've made it harder and more expensive to get rid of him should the need arise. This is without mentioning the stupid wage structure and his poor play this season.

 

[Forevergiggs1]

The more pertinent point was that they doubled his wages. If these poor showings persist he becomes another Martial / Rashford type case where we’re forced to keep him, with struggle loan deals 2 years down the line. That’s what the concern is.

The club slit their own throat when they gave Martial his 250k and Rashford his 200k years ago. It makes dealing with new extension talks next to impossible. Moreso with Sancho on 350k Is Bruno worth 240k a week? Of course he isn't but he's been more influential than the other 3 (and Pogba tbf) so it makes sense to have him on a wage he isn't worth. Sense as in it's United we're talking about and not one of those properly run clubs I keep hearing about.

We've fecked ourselves badly. Any half decent player we're interested in will use these wages as a ploy to ask for inflated wages and we'll be stupid enough to pay because we can do things in the transfer market other clubs can only dream of. Woodward has fecked us for the next decade.

 

[Cassidy]

His constant moaning is getting on my nerves

He should be happy instead that we are so shite

 

[Cassidy]

I think he clearly does indulge him otherwise how do you explain these consistent performances of him with high ball turnovers ?
Bruno has been comforted into playing thos crazy style of football. No one seem to even wanna calm him down with the stupid passing.
He can do whatever the feck he wants

How do you explain the crap other players do too?
Maybe maybe he is doing what he likes and there isn’t replacement for his since Pogba is worse than him in the position and we do not have competent backup
players

 

[Crick]

I can't think of a formation that can't accommodate Bruno and Sancho, our 2 best front 6 players by an absolutely massive distance, except a defensive 4-4-2, and Ten Han won't play that.

It's not about formation. We are getting Ten Hag because he has a specific way of playing that's about specific movements in zones of the pitch and isn't formation dependent. It requires footballing brains and hard work in training and off the pitch. This is exactly what RR hasn't been able to get out of this group. We have to get rid of the players who can't play his way. It will take time but no one should assume that any player is safe.

His hardest challenge will be getting rid of the players who are currently in the first 11 who the board or fans like and have spent a lot of money on in fees and wages, who can't or don't want to play his way. De Gea, Maguire, Ronaldo, AWB, Pogba this summer are the obvious ones and later Varane, McTominay, then probably Shaw and Rashford who will all leak things to the press and bitch and moan about Ten Hag, if he stops playing them. The club will have to expect this and be patient with Ten Hag. Bruno is less likely to be gotten rid of as he has a great football brain and should adapt if he wants to but he's lazy, likes to be free to roam and doesn't like a rigid team structure or to sacrifice himself for the team at moments when its necessary in matches which Ten Hag won't like.

Donny will also have a huge advantage in the short term in Bruno's position as he knows exactly what Ten Hag wants and how to do it. With Ten Hag it's teamwork and team tactics over the individual. Bruno will have to work hard to overcome this. The board and the fans should accept we are going to see something different and there will have to be massive changes if Ten Hag is to be successful. If this doesn't happen Ten Hag will be another failure, sacked in 3 years and player power and the commercial club will succeed. We will continue to be a joke of a club, living in the past. There's no point in getting Ten Hag if your not going to do it his way. We should have gone the easy route with Poch, kept all the players, extended their contracts, let them play how and when they want and accept the fourth place trophy every year.

 

[kouroux]

How do you explain the crap other players do too?
Maybe maybe he is doing what he likes and there isn’t replacement for his since Pogba is worse than him in the position and we do not have competent backup
players

Pogba gets subbed more often than Bruno and he can even be benched. As bad as he is, Pogba doesn't lose the ball more than 20 times in a game I think

 

[Cassidy]

Pogba gets subbed more often than Bruno and he can even be benched. As bad as he is, Pogba doesn't lose the ball more than 20 times in a game I think

Yet Pogba is still worse

 

[kouroux]

Yet Pogba is still worse

When 2 players are that bad, it's irrelevant who is worse than who to me. Both of them are unreliable.

 

[Cassidy]

When 2 players are that bad, it's irrelevant who is worse than who to me. Both of them are unreliable.

And there are no alternatives, so I am not understanding your point.

Pogba got in the team when he was fit again, then went away on national duty and complained about being played out of position. He was rightly benched after, no issue with that from me

 

[kouroux]

And there are no alternatives, so I am not understanding your point.

I have driftef away from the initial point which was that Bruno has been enabled by both Ole and Ralf to play a brand of football that can work for him at times from a stat POV but will never impact our team positively on a consistent basis.
Football is more than just goals and assists and with those dry out, you still need to contribute differently

 

[Cassidy]

I have driftef away from the initial point which was that Bruno has been enabled by both Ole and Ralf to play a brand of football that can work for him at times from a stat POV but will never impact our team positively on a consistent basis.
Football is more than just goals and assists and with those dry out, you still need to contribute differently

Agree on Ole.
Im not really sure what Ralf was supposed to do with no January backing, Greenwood situation and the shower of shit of a squad who clearly do not follow his instructions

 

[kouroux]

Agree on Ole.
Im not really sure what Ralf was supposed to do with no January backing, Greenwood situation and the shower of shit of a squad who clearly do not follow his instructions

I don't know, maybe instruct him to be more cautious ? It'd be part of his role as a manager right ? He could tell him to stop being a prima donna, moaning at refs or his teammates. Ralf has had no impact on him whatsoever, nor on any player for that matter

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

hope ETH can come up with some way of bodging him into a wide position or something, i just want to watch central midfielders capable of controlling a football match.

 

[Cassidy]

I don't know, maybe instruct him to be more cautious ? It'd be part of his role as a manager right ? He could tell him to stop being a prima donna, moaning at refs or his teammates. Ralf has had no impact on him whatsoever, nor on any player for that matter

Maybe he does? Maybe the player doesn't listen
An interim manager has no impact on a squad of players who have a reputation for not following managers instructions….

 

[Red00012]

He should be happy instead that we are so shite

He gives the ball away as much as any other player

 

[Cassidy]

He gives the ball away as much as any other player

Point still stands. I wish more of our players moaned about our situation

 

[Desert Eagle]

Point still stands. I wish more of our players moaned about our situation

He's not moaning about our situation though is he? He's happy enough to have a laugh with oppo players when we're losing. He moans at others for his own feck ups which is one of the most dislikable traits a person can exhibit.

 

[Brwned]

Well you tolerate Pogba for years and he's had probably one good season in 6, and even that season was hardly good as Bruno's best. And he also cost us almost double than what we paid for Bruno.

And he is all that you named, and worse, he's been named best midfielder in the world(no one ever said this about Bruno), best midfielder in the league on many occasions, compared to Scholes, our best ever long range shooter(that was ridiculous considering his shooting is absolutely inconsistent), our best passer ever, etc.

Sure, the difference being I think it’s totally legitimate for people to consider Pogba a problem. I don’t think that’s laughable at all. Bruno was put on a pedestal Pogba never was. I understand why he was more highly rated but I don’t understand why criticism of him is considered laughable, as if he’s beyond reproach, when it’s obvious he (like Pogba) has loads of issues that warrant serious criticism. That’s the Cantona / saviour status. Surely you can see how ridiculous that seems at this point?

 

[kouroux]

Maybe he does? Maybe the player doesn't listen
An interim manager has no impact on a squad of players who have a reputation for not following managers instructions….

I guess that's up for speculation. Either way, there is always the possibility to bench him which happens rarely so in a way, Ralf must not be that disappointed

 

[Cassidy]

I guess that's up for speculation. Either way, there is always the possibility to bench him which happens rarely so in a way, Ralf must not be that disappointed

Or doesn't trust the other options

 

[Devil’s Trident]

Lukaku of midfielders. Both of them have more similarities than differences. Both are stats padders. Both are shit in big games. Both give the ball away all the time. Both have no calmness, no composure, no accountability. Just like lukaku scores goals people say Bruno creates and assists, lukaku points and gives thumbs up, Bruno moans and argues. One is lazy other is pretending to work hard. One is clumsy other have no discipline.

As long as he is in our midfield playing like this we can never control a game. Never. Doesn’t it disgust him to give the ball away so much ? As a midfielder too ? How can he review his performances and think it’s okay to lose the ball so many times ? As a midfielder ? Really ? Somebody riddle me this please.

 

[copen1945]

Ball-watching and shouting are what he does now. He is so far from the days just after his transfer to us.

 

[Amar__]

Sure, the difference being I think it’s totally legitimate for people to consider Pogba a problem. I don’t think that’s laughable at all. Bruno was put on a pedestal Pogba never was. I understand why he was more highly rated but I don’t understand why criticism of him is considered laughable, as if he’s beyond reproach, when it’s obvious he (like Pogba) has loads of issues that warrant serious criticism. That’s the Cantona / saviour status. Surely you can see how ridiculous that seems at this point?

If Bruno continues with his form next season with new manager, I am sure you'll see more people hating him than they did with Pogba.

As you can still ocasionally read, there are still people who think that our club doesn't deserve Paul Pogba.

 

[Garethw]

When he plays deep he’s a liability.
When he plays further forward he’s ineffectual.

 

[Bobade]

Poor today, in line with the rest. He needs to change up the attitude, keep his head down, and work on the basics. I'm sure we will see the best of him again under quality coaching and with others making runs off the ball, but he does need bringing down a peg or two first before that happens.

I'd love his moaning and prickish attitude if it was accompanied by him delivering the goods, but when it isn't, it just looks pathetic.

 

[kouroux]

Or doesn't trust the other options

Maybe you're right. Either way, we are fecked

 

[Rozay]

If Bruno continues with his form next season with new manager, I am sure you'll see more people hating him than they did with Pogba.

As you can still ocasionally read, there are still people who think that our club doesn't deserve Paul Pogba.

Your entire view of Bruno seems to be formed out of some sort of comparison to Paul Pogba. For the last few posts, your only response to his criticism has been ‘something something Paul Pogba’. Okay, so what if we turn around and say ‘Pogba has been poor too’. Are you then able to assess Bruno’s performances?

 

[Amar__]

Your entire view of Bruno seems to be formed out of some sort of comparison to Paul Pogba. For the last few posts, your only response to his criticism has been ‘something something Paul Pogba’. Okay, so what if we turn around and say ‘Pogba has been poor too’. Are you then able to assess Bruno’s performances?

I think it's fair to say that I don't really like Paul Pogba.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

He treats the ball like a hot fireball.

He's so wasteful with the ball. Very frustrating player to watch.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Crap again despite the massive bloody pay rise. Why did give him one when has been bad for a very long time and his contract was not ending anyway.

 

[Greck]

I think he clearly does indulge him otherwise how do you explain these consistent performances of him with high ball turnovers ?
Bruno has been comforted into playing thos crazy style of football. No one seem to even wanna calm him down with the stupid passing.
He can do whatever the feck he wants

I think it's a bit of both where he doesn't like it but has no choice but to use them in ways they are familiar. We just saw him bench Bruno 70 minutes into the Athletico 2nd leg. No coach is doing that to a player they adore, not in the biggest game of their tenure. He even had him out wide when he first got here. He also subs Pogba every chance he gets and doesn't start Rashford when he can. I don't believe this would be his ideal squad if he had a choice. He has already been forced to ditch the early high press. It's hard to say what Ralf is willingly indulging and what he's forced to indulge. I'd say Ronaldo but we saw what happened when he subbed him, so even that too might be something he has to go with.

Back to Bruno maybe he'll be more measured in a high press when he finds out how draining it is to win the ball back all of the 20 plus times he gives it away. I'm not holding my breath as he looks like he does it on reflex. His entire playstyle is playing it behind the last defender. I almost fear for Ten Hag's safety the first time he tells them to cut out diagonal spamming. Great highlights but we can't dedicate 90 minutes to producing one highlight that may or may not even be enough to win.