[Zlatattack]

he and oscar interchanged alot they were fluid with hazard sticking mainly to the left. He played RW almost exclusively at Valencia . Obviously he inst an Antony/Mahrez style Winger hugging the touch line but he has always played on the right hand side drifting between lines most of his career. yes hes played 10 a lot too but to say him playing rw is out of position is a bizarre statement

To be fair he wasn't the sort of winger we had at our club. Just before him we had Nani and Valencia.

The contrast in style and general ineffectiveness (mainly due to the poor team) just made him look out of place.

He had some great patches, but during his time here the club struggled and it reflected on the players too.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

All the people that came out with the “he’s a 30 year old player with a pacemaker” stuff should hang their heads in shame. He was the one that took the deep run after 75 min. to put the game to bed.

Really clever business from us, and I thought it was obvious before the season even started

Spot on. He was the league best player in Brentford. Statistics driven club, intensive style, high fitness threshold. He is clocking 90 minutes every game.

 

[Atheist]

I’m pretty sad we didn’t sign him 10 years ago.

 

[CM]

He's a real player. Hope we don't mess around playing him in the Europa games, or at least not the early ones. Give him a rest so he's ready to go again next weekend.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

He's due a goal. Getting closer and closer.

 

[golden_blunder]

Told you all when we got him he’d play deep not a sub, not mata’s replacement not Bruno’s stand-in as many thought. This guy is the real deal

 

[Shane88]

Extremely composed. Makes it look like he has half an hour on the ball.

It's a long season with European football in there too. I really hope he doesn't drop off.

 

[4evareddevil]

Let’s hope he stays healthy. May be the best midfield signing we’ve made in the last 10 years

 

[AndyMUFC]

Such a classy player. Always has been and he's adapting really well to this deeper role. We've been crying out for a midfielder who can play those balls in between the lines.

De Jong can be his replacement in a couple of years

 

[Giant Midget]

Quite clear that the intention was for him to be the back-up to FDJ, but he’s become first choice since we weren’t able to get him.

It’s quite a crucial position on the pitch for how EtH wants to play, I wonder who will take on that role when he doesn’t play, as we don’t really have anyone else with the same skillset apart from Iqbal who is still very, very raw.

 

[Ted Lasso]

Sublime.

 

[NoPace]

Quite clear that the intention was for him to be the back-up to FDJ, but he’s become first choice since we weren’t able to get him.

It’s quite a crucial position on the pitch for how EtH wants to play, I wonder who will take on that role when he doesn’t play, as we don’t really have anyone else with the same skillset apart from Iqbal who is still very, very raw.

Good point. We'd be better balanced in midfield with one of Fred or Van De Beek going out in January and someone who can pass the ball from deep like Veerman or Mathias Normann or taking on some of Pjanic's wages, to back up Eriksen.

 

[Josh 76]

Let’s hope he stays healthy. May be the best midfield signing we’ve made in the last 10 years

True.
If he wasn’t playing today, there is no way we would have scored those goals. His quick first time forward passing is something we have not had for years. Makes all the difference.

It also seems Bruno has stepped up his game having a player on his wave length.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

MOTM for me. Fantastic today. Football IQ is so far above some of those who moved on this summer, it's hard to believe.

It's a shame we didn't get him when Spurs did, Moyes might have been successful!

 

[TheNewEra]

Quite clear that the intention was for him to be the back-up to FDJ, but he’s become first choice since we weren’t able to get him.

It’s quite a crucial position on the pitch for how EtH wants to play, I wonder who will take on that role when he doesn’t play, as we don’t really have anyone else with the same skillset apart from Iqbal who is still very, very raw.

FDJ is better in a deeper position, he breaks up play a bit more, but Eriksen is world class for me on his day.

Today he was world class.

 

[eire-red]

Nice little understanding between him and Bruno building. Another excellent game under his belt, and he brings a completely different dynamic to the midfield.

Pivotal in all three goals, and looks a massive upgrade on the midfielders we've let go in the off-season.

 

[lex talionis]

What a man!

 

[Devil_forever]

Dictates play, haven't had that since Scholes.

 

[Sylar]

Trust Eth will use him and know how to use him to get the best out of him and not have him spent before Christmas

Huge upgrade on our midfield for free.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Man it’s so good to have a player in our central midfielder who is confident and capable of receiving and passing the ball with some precision. Missed it so much over the years.

 

[r1z3mu]

One word - maestro.

 

[van Persie]

Stellar. So many passes and through balls that you've been longing to see for years. I'm thoroughly surprised everytime Eriksen plays them. Fantastic player.

 

[BorisManUtd]

I’m pretty sad we didn’t sign him 10 years ago.

I remember when Spurs got him from Ajax in 2013 for some 15M and even then it was such a bargain. I was really jealous of Spurs but at least now we got Eriksen, even though it's an older version of him.

 

[joso157]

First CM we've had since Carrick who actually plays the game with his head up and always looks to play forward. An absolute revelation!

 

[FrankWhite]

I remember during preseason when Erik was talking about us needing a player to progress the ball from defence to attack. He kept reiterating that it had to be the right player and that if he wouldn't get that player, he would rather develop someone in the squad to fill the role than get another player.

Obviously the player he wanted was De Jong. At the time everyone thought he was going to retrain Fred or Zidane Iqbal to do the job but it was actually Eriksen he had in mind.

I still think we are going after De Jong again as he's just better than Eriksen in that deeper role. He is a better ball carrier, is quicker, better defensively, better tempo setter and understands the role better.

That being said, Eriksen has done amazingly well in adapting his game to fit the requirements of the role so quickly, he's been fantastic. Also well done to Ten Hag for making that happen.

The interesting part for me would be who sits if we get De Jong? I think there's a strong chance it's Bruno. As another poster stated earlier, Eriksen can make all the passes Bruno makes but is also a far better decision maker in knowing when to not force things.

 

[RedDribble]

His intelligence reminds me of the time when Giggs played midfield.

 

[Pronewbie]

I remember during preseason when Erik was talking about us needing a player to progress the ball from defence to attack. He kept reiterating that it had to be the right player and that if he wouldn't get that player, he would rather develop someone in the squad to fill the role than get another player.

Obviously the player he wanted was De Jong. At the time everyone thought he was going to retrain Fred or Zidane Iqbal to do the job but it was actually Eriksen he had in mind.

I still think we are going after De Jong again as he's just better than Eriksen in that deeper role. He is a better ball carrier, is quicker, better defensively, better tempo setter and understands the role better.

That being said, Eriksen has done amazingly well in adapting his game to fit the requirements of the role so quickly, he's been fantastic. Also well done to Ten Hag for making that happen.

The interesting part for me would be who sits if we get De Jong? I think there's a strong chance it's Bruno. As another poster stated earlier, Eriksen can make all the passes Bruno makes but is also a far better decision maker in knowing when to not force things.

Ayy a couple of us were shot down repeatedly for saying that Eriksen will do well in the double pivot given time. He still needs to improve defensively like what ten hag said but otherwise without a preseason he's doing well in his new role for us.

 

[izak]

Fantastic signing, absolute class, Please wrap him in cotton wool, unleash him on Palace.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

MOTM performance against Les Arse. So clever with the ball. His style reminds me a bit of Carrick, not too flashy or aggressive, but mostly in the right place at the right time, with excellent reading of the game and anticipating next moves. We have been missing a calm head in the center of the pitch for years. And yes, that was a fecking foul for the Arsenal goal. Kicked him twice and then two-handed shove to "win" the ball, feck off Arsenal.

 

[sglowrider]

Eriksen is what Pogba was supposed to be for Bruno. It allows Bruno to be calmer up front instead of trying to create match winning pass every time. I suspect he trusts and understands Eriksen much more than he ever did with Pogba even in this short space of time together.

 

[sglowrider]

And yes, that was a fecking foul for the Arsenal goal. Kicked him twice and then two-handed shove to "win" the ball, feck off Arsenal.

I really don't know why even the pundits are saying its a 'soft' foul. It was an elbow to the back of Eriksen followed by a kick to his knee before falling down. But at least it gave gooners a redirection on why they lost.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Eriksen is what Pogba was supposed to be for Bruno. It allows Bruno to be calmer up front instead of trying to create match winning pass every time. I suspect he trusts and understands Eriksen much more than he ever did with Pogba even in this short space of time together.

A gold star, sir, for your post. I totally agree. Bruno not feeling like he has to be superman every game lets him calm down and play better.

 

[Longlivekeano]

classy performance today. Was getting out-sprinted by Odegaard but Eriksen is an experienced head and can unlock entire defensive system with a flick of his boot. First midfielder (in ages) we had with a running picture of the entire pitch in his head since Scholes, Carrick. While Pogs had the vision, maybe his temperament is not ice-cool like Eriksen

 

[Pronewbie]

I really don't know why even the pundits are saying its a 'soft' foul. It was an elbow to the back of Eriksen followed by a kick to his knee before falling down. But at least it gave gooners a redirection on why they lost.

Soft by Roy Keane era's standards I agree. Otherwise in today's game that's definitely a foul. That's the point Keano made. I'm just glad that there's now a stench of jealousy and worry from opposition fans when it comes to us.

 

[Tarrou]

I’m pretty sad we didn’t sign him 10 years ago.

we'd have ruined him though, this way was better

 

[Remember the geese]

I knew that he would be a big signing for us and found it bizarre that a lot of fans/pundits saw him as a squad player who wouldn't really improve us. Shame that we are stuck with him though. If only he was more press resistant

 

[roonster09]

"backup attacking mid" was so commonly used and he is our first choice CM now.

His ability to pass between lines with perfect weight gives us so many chances to create and score goals. I hope he scores soon, can see him scoring few once he scores that opening goal.

 

[mav_9me]

The pass in the build up to the first goal was something we’ve been so lacking in forever. He was brilliant

Since the days of Carrick really.

 

[Borys]

I'm watching the highlights on Match of the Day and they've done a good analysis on Eriksen. He's some player. I absolutely love him. Wasn't sure at all about the signing at the time, but he really suits us and massively improves us. Got to say that I'm enjoying the McTominay + Eriksen combination more than I thought I would.

Indeed, they shown some clips where after turnover our players seem to be looking exclusively for him as the first pass. He's been key player in improving our transition from defense to attack. Makes everyone look better.

I admit I never thought he will be so effective starting from deep midfield (cough Pogba hangover cough), and I guess we are yet to experience this team getting more coherent and learning some "patterns of play".

 

[Highfather_24]

Still unconvinced he will not get found out in a deeper role, particularly physically/defensively. But I really hope he doesnt, because we need a ball player in midfield alongside Casemiro/McT.

I think ETH realised maybe he cant play two ball playing midfielders like Eriksen and FdJ together in PL. You need one ballwinner, and thats why I think Casemiro might just be a better purchase in terms of midfield balance for now.

Still think next summer we should be moving Fred and VdB on and getting another ball playing CM in, preferably FdJ. And bring back Mjebri from loan. Then our midfield would be quite balanced.

---Casemiro/McT--Eriksen/CM
-----------------Bruno/Mjebri