McFred as a midfield duo heading into 2022/23 season

RedDevil@84

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think ETH will have had a shock today and seen first hand what a McFred midfield looks like!
I would be shocked if he didn't know already. McFred have been bad for ages. And anyone who has done his homework and been with the team for few weeks would know that.
It is not like it has not been pointed out before. They have been focussed on multiple times in the media.
 

Mmm-Qatarian

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Neither should be starting at a club with Champions League ambitions.

I understand that it's risky but I'd genuinely rather take a punt on Garner or Iqbal than have both McTominay and Fred playing midfield again. If we somehow fail to sign a deep-lying midfielder for a third summer, which now looks highly feasible, I'd like to see us at least attempt something new rather than persist with players who are patently not up to it.
 

Silverman

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I rate Fred but absolutely not as a DM receiving the ball off the defenders.
McTominay just isn't good enough.
It was criminal that this combo was what was available to Ten Hag on the first day of the season.
 

McGrathsipan

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You for real?
Fred was awful, could have cost the team two goals.
McT was actually decent.
Let's just get one thing clear.
They were both shite.
They are both shite and if they are what we end up with for the season then we are doomed to another season of mostly frustrating performances and negative results

McT may have been the better of the two yesterday however that's nothing to get excited about as it's one level of shit against another

We desperately need midfielders
 

OmarUnited4ever

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Absolutely. I exercised caution throughout this summer as the caf descended into ‘well ETH won’t stand for this’ and ‘ETH won’t stand for that’. We have no idea what he will and won’t stand for, and he has to show me first before I blindly label him the messiah.

I have no time in this ‘so are you saying you know more than the manager’ shit anymore. YES. That is exactly what I am saying if his grand plan is to go through the season with this midfield. The PL is only getting better and better every year. More technical, more organised. Teams are passing triangles around us every week. I can see that this midfield will take us nowhere, and ANY manager who feels otherwise will no longer get any support from me. If Ten Hag thinks he can build a team with McFred as regular starters then feck him, he deserves the inevitable sack that will come and I will rejoice when it arrives so that, once again, I can hold some renewed hope that our manager does not feel that this midfield is in anyway acceptable.

As I have said, this is all an IF here, and we may yet change our midfield. But if we do not, then Ten Hag can feck off too as far as I am concerned. Any manager from now on that feels that Scott McTominay is hood enough to start weekly for us needs to go. Simple as that as far as I am concerned.
Can't disagree with you really on the bolded, even when I am someone who is very supportive of Ten Hag as the Head Coach, I can't really accept that he has to start McFred in PL games.

I hope he makes adjustments, and I'd rather see Eriksen play deeper, even though he isn't strong defensively and lacks the physicality to be a pure holding CM, the mere fact that Eriksen is a far far better ball player than McFred means that we would have a chance in a game where retaining possession, passing though lines and intelligent ball movement will give the team a chance to score goals and win games.
 

CallyRed

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You for real?
Fred was awful, could have cost the team two goals.
McT was actually decent.
Your Scottish, you want players who play for your country to do well, especially for the club you support, I get it. But come on now.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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You for real?
Fred was awful, could have cost the team two goals.
McT was actually decent.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Played the 2nd fewest passes in the team(only De Gea had less) and he did so at an incredible 69% pass accuracy. Deplorable.

He was decent though. Some people have their standards down into the Earth's core.
 

Judas

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How anyone can watch that shit show yesterday and praise either of them, I don't know. Scary how low the standards have got.

We're going nowhere with these two starting games for us, and it's been so obvious for years.
 

Rozay

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Can't disagree with you really on the bolded, even when I am someone who is very supportive of Ten Hag as the Head Coach, I can't really accept that he has to start McFred in PL games.

I hope he makes adjustments, and I'd rather see Eriksen play deeper, even though he isn't strong defensively and lacks the physicality to be a pure holding CM, the mere fact that Eriksen is a far far better ball player than McFred means that we would have a chance in a game where retaining possession, passing though lines and intelligent ball movement will give the team a chance to score goals and win games.
If Eriksen isn’t suited either, then he doesn’t have to do that either. We are literally in the middle of a window. Yes, we want De Jong. Fine, go and get him then. But if you cannot, there is no reason to settle on makeshift midfields when we are in the fecking summer window. He must have a plan a, then b, all the way down to fecking z that prevents him from going through the season with McTominay as his first choice option. And if he does not, and it is only viewed as a necessity to change on the basis that he can get Frenkie De Jong and Frenkie De Jong only - then he has no support from me. Simple as. His work in the window is highly questionable as it is.

Now he’s after Marko fecking Arnautovic because he’s worked with him before. He has 3 more weeks for me under observation and if I don’t see any changes, for the first time ever, you will see me be the very first to lead the ETH out campaign. I’m not even going to just ‘give him a chance’ to change something as fundamental and obvious as this that I have seen failing for too many years now. I won’t go through another season hoping that somehow McFred can be ‘coached’ into being of the requisite standard.

Quite frankly, if Ten Hag had anything about him, he should have sold McTominay immediately when he arrived. If he is too nice to even drop him, I’m done with him from the very start. His position on Maguire already concerned me anyway. But my patience doesn’t extend to this midfield.
 

Lentwood

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In Harry Maguire performance thread last year…



Interesting. If it’s beloved Maguire, it’s an agenda right? :annoyed:
Christ some people are obsessive - you probably know more about what I have written on here than I do!

I made it quite clear in the above post that its not a personal attack on McTominay or Fred. It's about us going into yet another season with them starting as the CM partnership. It's more of a show of dissent against the management/Board.

It is unacceptable that Manchester United haven't signed a CM player for what, 4/5 seasons? That's not McT or Fred's fault, it's all on the people who run the club

What people were doing to Pogba and Maguire was attacking them personally, scapegoating them as individuals.

And by the way...on the subject of Maguire...he was probably our best player yesterday
 

Champ

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Your Scottish, you want players who play for your country to do well, especially for the club you support, I get it. But come on now.
I'm not Scottish!?
 

Roboc7

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Can't disagree with you really on the bolded, even when I am someone who is very supportive of Ten Hag as the Head Coach, I can't really accept that he has to start McFred in PL games.

I hope he makes adjustments, and I'd rather see Eriksen play deeper, even though he isn't strong defensively and lacks the physicality to be a pure holding CM, the mere fact that Eriksen is a far far better ball player than McFred means that we would have a chance in a game where retaining possession, passing though lines and intelligent ball movement will give the team a chance to score goals and win games.
This is combination of issue of bringing in a manager with probably very little knowledge of our players and the existing structure being completely oblivious/incompetent or unwilling/unable to do what is required.

ETH is going to make mistakes and going into the season without signing at least two midfielders was a huge one. Everyone at the club needed to be on same page about what was required but from what we’ve seen so far this window that’s clearly not the case. Even in unlikely event we get De Jong it’s not enough.
 

mikeyt

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He wasn't decent, he was shite. But anyone saying that Fred was better, need their head checked, he was horrendous and even worse.
Both were crap and both offered nothing. Neither should be starting for us although Fred has proved at times he can do a job. So many options have come and gone and yet we're still sitting here waiting for Frenkie to officially tell us to feck off.

Even if by some miracle FDJ turns up, he needs a partner and not one of these two.
 

Litch

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I know the whole McFred thing, yes they were shite but if people think signing two midfielders solves the teams problems, they are dreaming. There are problems all over this team which have zero to do with the McFred including a certain Bruno. I’m not convinced with either full backs, seen nothing in Rashford and I think the pressure is getting to Sancho who looks nothing like the player on tour. I think this has become more mental than physical, and the shirt weighs too heavy for the majority of the current side….
 

Kostov

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Both were crap and both offered nothing. Neither should be starting for us although Fred has proved at times he can do a job. So many options have come and gone and yet we're still sitting here waiting for Frenkie to officially tell us to feck off.

Even if by some miracle FDJ turns up, he needs a partner and not one of these two.
Sorry mate but I don't agree about that part about Fred, McT also has had decent games, and IMO even with higher peak than Fred, yet it means feck all. The only thing they have proved is that they are not good enough. Sheer incompetence that we went into yesterdays game with these 2. And I think it's on ETH as much as the idiots running this club.
 

Litch

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Sorry mate but I don't agree about that part about Fred, McT also has had decent games, and IMO even with higher peak than Fred, yet it means feck all. The only thing they have proved is that they are not good enough. Sheer incompetence that we went into yesterdays game with these 2. And I think it's on ETH as much as the idiots running this club.
Wondered when you would arrive to the party.…..
 

Champ

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I have a lingering concern that you're McTom himself :lol:

You accused me of not supporting the player when I meerly predicted his performance based on 4 years of statistis, and today's game proved me right again and again. Am I delighted? Not a single bit, I was devastated, my weekend was ruined as our team was taken apart. I really wanted McTom to play well, I really do, but his horribly average abilities will inevitably reflect into his performance on the pitch.

What I found baffling is your full trust in him, there's no logic in that at all. When Ole's our manager, we were a countering team, then yes, he had a somewhat usefull role to play. But now we are transforming into a possesion based, front-foot team that require midfielders to have technical skills, football IQ, press resistance, passing ability. Things that McTom sadly doesn't possess.
Riddle me this, McT on a yellow card, Fred not. Fred gets hooked, McT stays on.

Another manager that sees value in McT above other players. It's not my trust in him, again, it's multiple managers that have shown faith and trust in him. I guess they don't have access to these magical stats of yours?
 

LawCharltonBest

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If ETH sees through a failed pursuit of De Jong, has no alternative he’ll sign off and relies on McFred this season, it’ll be his undoing. Absolutely guarantee it

Can’t help but feel he’s underrated the strength on the PL a little with his trust in McFred and targeting Arnoutovic
 

Rozay

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Riddle me this, McT on a yellow card, Fred not. Fred gets hooked, McT stays on.

Another manager that sees value in McT above other players. It's not my trust in him, again, it's multiple managers that have shown faith and trust in him. I guess they don't have access to these magical stats of yours?
Clearly not, and any manager who thinks he is a good enough midfielder for Manchester United is wrong, including Erik Ten Hag, and deserves to be sacked - just as any manager who believed him to be good enough has been.
 

Josh 76

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I know the whole McFred thing, yes they were shite but if people think signing two midfielders solves the teams problems, they are dreaming. There are problems all over this team which have zero to do with the McFred including a certain Bruno. I’m not convinced with either full backs, seen nothing in Rashford and I think the pressure is getting to Sancho who looks nothing like the player on tour. I think this has become more mental than physical, and the shirt weighs too heavy for the majority of the current side….
Good points. A lot of the players are just not mentally strong enough and their confidence has been shattered. I include Maguire and Shaw in this too.

It’s going to take Ten Haag 2 or 3 seasons to out get this right, not just getting a new CM player.
 

SilentWitness

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I don't get it. Yes you needed other players in but CM was the No. 1 priority. It's negligent that you haven't signed anyone yet.
 

Mmm-Qatarian

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I don't get it. Yes you needed other players in but CM was the No. 1 priority. It's negligent that you haven't signed anyone yet.
This has been the case for at least three seasons now. Our answer to the problems caused by having a lacklustre midfield always seems to be buying another centre back.

I don't want any more centre backs brought in now until the midfield and De Gea have been replaced. They have been the two constants throughout our defensive play looking shaky.
 

Josh 76

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If ETH sees through a failed pursuit of De Jong, has no alternative he’ll sign off and relies on McFred this season, it’ll be his undoing. Absolutely guarantee it

Can’t help but feel he’s underrated the strength on the PL a little with his trust in McFred and targeting Arnoutovic
Surely the reason he brought McLaren in was to tell him how tough the PL was and Mcfred are not good enough!
 

Litch

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Good points. A lot of the players are just not mentally strong enough and their confidence has been shattered. I include Maguire and Shaw in this too.

It’s going to take Ten Haag 2 or 3 seasons to out get this right, not just getting a new CM player.
To be honest, Im not sure ETH will last long enough……
 

Marcus

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McTominay should be sold so that there is no more temptation to play him. His hard work ethic in training must be so impressive that managers are charmed into thinking he has the skills to also play well in a competitive match.
 

Oranges038

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I don't understand the divide.

Some people say McT is the problem and Fred is the good one. Others say Fred is the problem and McT is the good one.

There's just no universe where either of them should be kept above the other.
 

Litch

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:lol:

Refresh my memory, you are pro Fred, anti Fred or anti McT?
Tbh Im beyond focusing on individual players, I think there is a graveyard of players that aren’t good enough.
 

flappyjay

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I don't understand the divide.

Some people say McT is the problem and Fred is the good one. Others say Fred is the problem and McT is the good one.

There's just no universe where either of them should be kept above the other.
They should have been turned into depth this season and then one of them sold next. From how this window has gone they will be both still part of the squad next season.
 

2 man midfield

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I don’t understand it. I’m assuming Ten Hag knows a shite midfield when he sees one, and that he watched at least a few of our games from last season. The only thing I can think is that being short up front forced his hand as he needed to play Eriksen higher up.

We’re spread so thin though, both in midfield and attack that waiting for deadline day to risk it all for De Jong is basically suicide.
 

In Rainbows

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I don’t understand it. I’m assuming Ten Hag knows a shite midfield when he sees one, and that he watched at least a few of our games from last season. The only thing I can think is that being short up front forced his hand as he needed to play Eriksen higher up.

We’re spread so thin though, both in midfield and attack that waiting for deadline day to risk it all for De Jong is basically suicide.
It's clear that ETH thought the midfield was decent enough from preseason. Not good, but not awful under his instructions. Now this is visible evidence of how crap they really are. Now that he's seen it, I would like to see his response to their performances. Does he phase them out? Does he keep them? Now whatever crap reputation they had, he got to witness in person.
 

Black Cell

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I'll admit I was hoping EtH would get more out of them until we get a suitable replacement, but that was diabolical. I hope they're benched for Brentford and for the rest of the season really, even if no one else comes in, because otherwise that would be the end of EtH.
 

::sonny::

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They don’t offer nothing even defensively

They are weak physically with a low football iq

They used to play with them thinking about giving a balance to the team

Nothing of more wrong, even Eriksen can defend better

No reason to not play another combination with zidane/savage/garner/vdb