Should Fred be offered a new contract?

[Djemba-Djemba]

Apparently they are given that he’s a professional footballer.

He's a professional footballer not good enough for Utd.

Been here 5 years, more than enough games to work that out.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Seems like a decent bloke and has actually played some good games here and there but he gives the ball away way too much for a CM.
I'd be surprised if Ten Hag kept him.

 

[Berbaclass]

He's a professional footballer not good enough for Utd.

Been here 5 years, more than enough games to work that out.

There are far more important problems in this team to deal with than Fred.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

There are far more important problems in this team to deal with than Fred.

I never said it was the most pressing issue.

But the question was should he be offered a new contract and I would argue it's pretty clear he shouldn't.

Let's get some midfielders in that can actually pass the ball and are consistent. Not 10/10 one week then a month of 1/10 performances etc

 

[maverickjesus]

Should give him at least a 4yr, critical part of the team.

 

[Berbaclass]

I never said it was the most pressing issue.

But the question was should he be offered a new contract and I would argue it's pretty clear he shouldn't.

Let's get some midfielders in that can actually pass the ball and are consistent. Not 10/10 one week then a month of 1/10 performances etc

Fred is a very useful player in a high intensity/high pressing team. For that reason he should be given an extension

 

[Offside]

Nowhere near good enough. Get rid.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Fred is a very useful player in a high intensity/high pressing team. For that reason he should be given an extension

His passing is absolutely atrocious which renders any pressing skill he has moot.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[stevoc]

Not a 3 year contract no, but a 1 year deal wouldn't mean the end of the world.

 

[Berbaclass]

His passing is absolutely atrocious which renders any pressing skill he has moot.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

Obviously

 

[OleGunnar20]

2+1 on squad player wages (real squad player wages, not Woody's idea of them) and I could see some sense in it.

But ideally no. He tries his best, seems a nice character, but just isn't good enough at his top end to justify how inconsistent everything about his game is.

 

[RonaldoVII]

He's a good squad player and 3 years isn't a lot. Retains value.

 

[Utuhu]

I trust Ten Hag opinion on this matter, Fred will certainly leave this summer.

 

[Malone_Post]

No, of course we shouldn’t. And that’s coming from someone who generally quite likes him.

But he’s a 30 year old who’s best attributes are his pressing, stamina & athleticism. He’s not a player that’s going to age well. Once his physical attributes go they’ll be nothing left.

 

[Messier1994]

No, of course we shouldn’t. And that’s coming from someone who generally quite likes him.

But he’s a 30 year old who’s best attributes are his pressing, stamina & athleticism. He’s not a player that’s going to age well. Once his physical attributes go they’ll be nothing left.

Yeah, no he shouldn't. And like with the wages we pay these guys, they are never sell-able either. Like sure, if he was on 60k a week like he would have been had he played for Liverpool, then we probably could have sold him to like Galatasary or Ruben Kazan or whatever for 15-20m, before he got too old. We resign these guys, and then can't get rid of them.

In addition, a squad position is an opportunity to create value. We must rid ourselves of at least one of McT and Fred anyway. Preferably both from my POV. Mejbri is going to be knocking on the door next season after a World Cup and a full season in the Championship.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Please no. We have to get rid of the mediocrity. Either he goes or Mcterminator (he's been the better of the two this season) does.

 

[edcunited1878]

Depends what the wages are because it'll have to be equal or less than he's making now. Sportrac says he's at 120K per week, which is team friendly compared to others ahead of him.

Not sure who is available around that wage happy to be part of the squad but also having Fred's strengths and less of his weaknesses.

 

[weizxx]

Surprised no one want him here anymore. I think he is doing ok. Yes we should looking for a better option if there are available but are there?

 

[cyril C]

About 2 things we know for certainty. VDB is not Bruno, Fred is not Eriksen. So it is a matter of whether we should retain him as squad player, and whether we should look for Eriksen's (& Casemero) backup. So the answer is obvious, get a new MF next summer, who is capable of backing up either of these 2. Would you let Fred go for free next next summer, or try to sell him now, is a separate discussion.

 

[DarkXaero]

Of course he should be offered a new contract, as long as its on reduced terms and low number of years (2+1). He's a useful squad player to have and has a good attitude. Letting him walk is also losing an asset for nothing.

 

[Desert Eagle]

Sell him while he still fetches a price and get/play someone with much more upside like Mainoo .

 

[nakpodiareuben]

Fred is perhaps the best player we have to counter press. You need a squad to win titles. Fred is a very good squad player as well as a great and funny guy in the dressing room. Gives his 100% whenever he plays. Yes, he should be given a contract

 

[RedDevil@84]

Doesn't he have a + 1 year clause?

Unless we were ready to buy several players in every window, this was bound to happen. How many players are on 2023 + 1 contract. I am guessing 3 or 4, right?

 

[roseguy64]

Feck depth. We have a couple of talented young midfielders.

They need first-team experience though to make the jump.

We should have loaned out Iqbal and Savage for at least the first half of the season. Said it in the summer. They're wasted in the U23s right now.

 

[roseguy64]

I can leave with McTominay staying, being Casimero’s sub but to have a strong midfield, we need someone to play DLP, as Eriksen and someone who can give some competition to Bruno.

So we have to get ride and replace Fred and VdB.

Heard good things about Hannibal at Birmingham but not sure where he's playing positionwise. Potentially a VDB replacement there as Bruno backup and just Fred needs replacing. We need starter quality there to bench Eriksen.

 

[led_scholes]

He's been here for several years. If anything we're too slow to write off players

And compared to Pogba, McT, VDB, Matic he has been the most consistent and for a year him and Bruno were carrying the team.

I wouldnt party if he d renewed his contract, but I would be a sit sad if he would leave.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Problem is that we have only 3 midfielders who are good enough. We can't get rid of all others at the same time.
Between Mctalentless, Fred and Donny, i would keep Fred.

 

[izec]

If his wages reflect his status as a squad player, yes. He is useful for the energy

 

[Judas]

Every "squad player" should be able to come into the first team and be consistently close to the level we need. That isn't Fred. He's clearly a nice bloke, but I don't find it funny how poor he is.

 

[Lentwood]

No. I am sick of us clinging onto players who are nowhere near the standard required.

ETH should be pushing the likes of Fred out the door, not hanging onto him as some sort of comfort blanket like previous managers have done with some of the squad members.

By doing so, it forces the Board's hand and it also means we've no choice but to blood youngsters when we get injuries, which I'd currently take over having to watch Fred ever again

 

[izak]

He offers nothing but Energy, we need to move him on
If we can move on Fred, Donny, Lindelöf, Maguire and Ronaldo I'll throw in Mctomiany there, in the next couple of windows with Technically gifted and aggressive players, it would be a good way to clean up the mess left by Ole and Jose.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

I love him but no. He should be sold and replaced

 

[Samid]

Surprised no one want him here anymore. I think he is doing ok. Yes we should looking for a better option if there are available but are there?

Are you asking if a club like Manchester United is capable of attracting better players than… Fred?

 

[Ibi Dreams]

We've got so many positions that need reinforcement that I would probably give him another two years. Obviously I'd like us to sign better midfielders than Fred, but the reality is that we have a budget and he's by no means the first player that needs replacing/upgrading.

 

[redsunited]

It will be one of the worst decision if Fred's contract is renewed even with low wages as squad player.

Need a Eriksen replacement for long term who can be a deep lying playmaker with good defensive attributes which we miss this season (ideally FDJ). Instead if Fred is renewed and along with McT, Casemiro and Eriksen, it is 4 players for 2 positions which blocks a DLP joining the squad.

 

[Ekeke]

No.

If we have any intention of ever promoting and developing our own cms, players like Fred cant be getting gametime instead of them

 

[DWelbz19]

No. Let him leave on a free and replace him. But that costs more money than just an extension…

If we continue with a 2 man midfield — Casemiro is the guaranteed starter in midfield. Eriksen should be a key (but third choice) midfielder. Pecking order should be:
Casemiro + New no.8 > Eriksen > Fred replacement/McTominay > Iqbal/other youth kid doing well

 

[Kingofwinners]

No way, on his bad day he is probably the worst player I have ever seen in a United jersey, some of his attempts at passing are just train crashes.

He does have good games, often after a bit of a run in the team. For a 30 year old squad player I think you want someone who can do one of:

1. Give you a reliable 6/10 performance when first team players are injured or need a rest,
2. Bring a sense of calm and solidity where needed or
3. still have the ability to get a goal through talent.

Fred can’t do any of these. Also he looks worse against weaker teams where we want to play possession football. If we need him to play and press against top teams next year we are going nowhere. McT has been better this year because he is more disciplined in a system. Still limited but you know what you’re going to get and can work around it.

Fred has a good attitude and could be a great addition to a club that plays a different style to what we are aiming for. We should let him go with thsnks.

 

[Fabio Rochemback]

I'm not bothered either way. Depends on his wages, really. He's OK, as OP said, very limited. McTominay's recent improvement makes me lean more towards "no".

 

[Jippy]

Are you asking if a club like Manchester United is capable of attracting better players than… Fred?

Surely more a question of funds, given a striker won't be cheap and ETH might well want a CB, keeper and fullback as well.

Surely either sell him or extend his contract a year- his sale value won't be high, so just extend a year then jettison. If you offer him a two or three year extension it won't preserve his value, in the sense that he'll end up here for the duration of it undoubtedly and won't be sold anyway.