Bruno Fernandes

Rozay said:

What I saw from Mainoo today are the things I’ve been saying for years that I expect from a top level 10. Put your foot on the ball, even under pressure, turn away and play. Those are the fundamentals of the role. From a David Silva to an Adam Lallana. A number 10 is supposed to be comfortable on the ball under pressure and make good decisions.

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Exactly, whereas Bruno is terrified of getting tackled. So much so that on the two occasions he was played clean through today he ran away from goal and pulled out of competing for it before the defender even caught up.

Very common trait in our forward line with Antony and Rashford.

Seems to be less involved in the last 4 or 5 games, maybe it's due to having Casemiro, Mainoo and Shaw behind him but he's certainly having less of the ball than the first half of the season, we look better for it.

He must be one of the least efficient creative outlet in the league. People go on about his goals/assist stats but I watch him week in and out and his decision making is baffling at times.

At the moment, he’s a 5-6/10 most weeks. Whilst not terrible, from your captain and supposed talisman you obviously need more. He’s gone from being our most important player over the last four seasons to maybe currently being our 6th most important.
If the ghost of Mason Mount re-appeared I wonder if that would spark something in him again.

When we got that corner towards the end of the game and Amrabat approached Bruno for a short pass, i instantly felt a bit of calmness as i figured we'd hold on to the ball around their corner flag. What came next was that absolutely mental attempt from Bruno on the edge of their box, followed by yet another counter attack where Luton came close to scoring.

I just can't understand how he thought it was a good idea to go for a long range shot which obviously has a very low chance of going in, when we were struggling to hold on to our lead. I can understand desperate attempts when chasing the game, but there's absolutely no reason to go for a low % chance of scoring a third goal when the most likely outcome is always going to be Luton gaining possession and getting another chance to attack.

The best way to summarise Bruno as a player is to say that today, due to getting home late, I missed the first 16 minutes of the game and hadn’t seen the goals, although I was aware Hojlund scored them. By half time I was totally appalled by Bruno’s performance, but as I hadn’t seen whether he had contributed to any of our goals, I wasn’t sure if this was one of his ‘good’ games or a bad one.

That’s typical of him, for me. You watch the actual match, you’re not generally impressed by a world class 10. You read the match, you might read ‘1 assist’ and file it under a good performance, even if not immediately, but certainly by the time a few weeks/months go by.

Robbie Boy said:

Only overrated on here. Outside of this place, I don't know a single person who thinks much of him.

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And punditry, and twitter nerds.

For me, lately, Bruno has been abysmal. A lot of posters seemed to like this new, more reserved Bruno that seemed more concerned with playing like a crab than playing forward. For me it was worrying and I am not surprised that his effectiveness, or lack thereof, has caught up with his declining level of performance.

He looks like an attack dog that's just had its bits snipped: He's lost all his bite and effectiveness. I see a player that's playing within himself, questioning/doubting himself, suppressing his instincts instead of embracing them and looking like a shell of the player he used to be. I can't remember any times he tried a through ball for Hojlund. Sideways is now his favourite option.

When he's no longer contributing massively to our attack, you have to question his overall contribution. Besides running around a lot, what are we getting from him? I am one of Bruno's biggest fans but if this is it from now until June, then why not put another box-to-box midfielder in there alongside Casemiro and Mainoo? The upside of Bruno no longer outweighs the cons, if he's going to trade playing off the cuff for trying to be the Poundland Ivan Rakitic.

He was horrendous today. So many overhit passes for no reason. Probably one of the worst games I've seen from him.

Pissed that our captain gave the ball straight to their keeper at the end of the game giving them another go to grab an late equaliser.

It’s all set up for Mount to come in and smash it or else do a Sancho. I think Mount is a really good player and I hope he can show it here.

Bruno could do with some time out and take stock of what his game is becoming and what the side needs from him going forward. He should be a second striker but he has no link up with Rasmus at all. I don’t get it. Bruno is just off it in general all this season.

Nickelodeon said:

He needs a Keane behind him. Someone with enough authority to tell him to use his head. The fact that he’s captain makes it incredibly difficult for him to be called out by his much younger team mates.

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Well, he did get called out twice last year by Casemiro, when he tried to nutmeg a player in the dying seconds of the game, and he lost possession and we nearly conceded a goal that would've draw the game. Cant remember if this was against Everton.

The issue with him is that he publicly said that the way he plays is his style, and that he won't change it, which is an issue, as he always puts the team under pressure in the worst possible moments of the game, and I dont see this addressed by the coach. He still does the same stupid things i.e passing it to the Luton goalkeeper after which we nearly conceded, or he is insisting of speeding up the tempo when we are under pressure and need a calm 5-10 minutes to kill the momentum of the game.

What I'm particularly worried is horrendous finishing as of late, where he has been so, so poor, and he cant seem to create a connection with Hojlund, who has been in a red hot form. The fact that he is our C, and that he always play will become an issue, if he needs to be benched, to get some rest or for tactical reasons.

#07 said:

For me, lately, Bruno has been abysmal. A lot of posters seemed to like this new, more reserved Bruno that seemed more concerned with playing like a crab than playing forward. For me it was worrying and I am not surprised that his effectiveness, or lack thereof, has caught up with his declining level of performance.

He looks like an attack dog that's just had its bits snipped: He's lost all his bite and effectiveness. I see a player that's playing within himself, questioning/doubting himself, suppressing his instincts instead of embracing them and looking like a shell of the player he used to be. I can't remember any times he tried a through ball for Hojlund. Sideways is now his favourite option.

When he's no longer contributing massively to our attack, you have to question his overall contribution. Besides running around a lot, what are we getting from him? I am one of Bruno's biggest fans but if this is it from now until June, then why not put another box-to-box midfielder in there alongside Casemiro and Mainoo? The upside of Bruno no longer outweighs the cons, if he's going to trade playing off the cuff for trying to be the Poundland Ivan Rakitic.

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He’s just not that talented, and I don’t think it’s particularly hard to see either. If you listed all the attributes a top player could need from the halfway line going forward, Bruno scores poorly to average in almost every single one of them, except a freakishly high score at playing a killer pass. If I’m wrong, tell me the others. His next highest scoring attributes are things you would more need from the halfway line backwards for a top player.

This skillset dictates the way he plays football, and it means that with actual top players around him, he is actually more likely to struggle to be on the same wavelength as players who score highly in other areas. He doesn’t have a foundation of high footballing attributes for a middle to forward player to build a game from, so he is a player trying to build a game from the outlier attribute of killer passes, which is basically leading with the icing without having the actual cake first to put it on.

Adnan said:

I think he was too focused on getting a goal or assist and hence managing the game didn't seem like a priority for him. And I think that's another issue with both Bruno and Rashford is that they seem more concerned with decision making that benefits them as individuals rather than the team. We're in a era where stats are widely thrown about when it comes to scoring goals or creating goals, that I strongly suspect there's players who do make a effort to top up their stats column. And that unfortunately doesn't always work for the team and in the long-term such a mindset will create a dysfunctional aspect in the team.

I said at the start of the season that Bruno playing on the flank with Mason Mount in a attacking midfield position, with Mainoo deeper is what ten Hag is looking to do. I got a bit of flack from certain posters regarding Mainoo who people thought was just brought to preseason to make up the numbers. And the reason Mount was wanted by United along with both Arsenal and Liverpool, was because he's good at receiving the ball with his back to goal, can connect and combine with team mates and is someone whose game is based on connecting with team mates in possession and having the intelligence to apply a strong out of possession in coordination with the rest of the team.

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Except playing Bruno on the flank is idiotic, as you lose any sort of running/dribbling threat and he'll be far more constricted in the types of passes he can make.

Rozay said:

He’s just not that talented, and I don’t think it’s particularly hard to see either. If you listed all the attributes a top player could need from the halfway line going forward, Bruno scores poorly to average in almost every single one of them, except a freakishly high score at playing a killer pass. If I’m wrong, tell me the others. His next highest scoring attributes are things you would more need from the halfway line backwards for a top player.

This skillset dictates the way he plays football, and it means that with actual top players around him, he is actually more likely to struggle to be on the same wavelength as players who score highly in other areas. He doesn’t have a foundation of high footballing attributes for a middle to forward player to build a game from, so he is a player trying to build a game from the outlier attribute of killer passes, which is basically leading with the icing without having the actual cake first to put it on.

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Agree with this, especially since his finishing ability has seemingly fallen off a cliff compared to his Sporting and early United years. So he's stuck with one world class skill but mediocre to poor almost everywhere else aside from his energy and availability. It's bizarre so few people can actually understand this too. Just watch him attempt to play on the half turn, he literally can't.

Valencia Shin Crosses said:

Except playing Bruno on the flank is idiotic, as you lose any sort of running/dribbling threat and he'll be far more constricted in the types of passes he can make.

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It's not idiotic at all because starting on the flank and coming in-field would still allow him to be a threat with his passing and shooting and it wouldn't compromise the central areas of the pitch and hence compromise the half spaces. And if you can create control and cohesion in midfield areas, then space will open up outwide which should allow the team as a collective to play higher up the pitch.

#07 said:

For me, lately, Bruno has been abysmal. A lot of posters seemed to like this new, more reserved Bruno that seemed more concerned with playing like a crab than playing forward. For me it was worrying and I am not surprised that his effectiveness, or lack thereof, has caught up with his declining level of performance.

He looks like an attack dog that's just had its bits snipped: He's lost all his bite and effectiveness. I see a player that's playing within himself, questioning/doubting himself, suppressing his instincts instead of embracing them and looking like a shell of the player he used to be. I can't remember any times he tried a through ball for Hojlund. Sideways is now his favourite option.

When he's no longer contributing massively to our attack, you have to question his overall contribution. Besides running around a lot, what are we getting from him? I am one of Bruno's biggest fans but if this is it from now until June, then why not put another box-to-box midfielder in there alongside Casemiro and Mainoo? The upside of Bruno no longer outweighs the cons, if he's going to trade playing off the cuff for trying to be the Poundland Ivan Rakitic.

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Yeah I mean that's what I was saying after the match: the narrative that "he's so vital for our creation so you can't take him out of the team" shouldn't even exist right now considering how few of our goals are coming from a killer Bruno ball. He's not even assisted our striker this year I'm pretty sure. So why the feck is he playing? Apart from having the armband and name value.

Adnan said:

It's not idiotic at all because starting on the flank and coming in-field would still allow him to be a threat with his passing and shooting and it wouldn't compromise the central areas of the pitch and compromise the half spaces. And if you can create control and cohesion in midfield areas, then space will open up outwide which should allow the team as a collective to play higher up the pitch.

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Except you're describing an approach that's much more based on actually controlling half spaces and controlling the midfield, something Ten Hag clearly doesn't value. So instead you'd just get a shitter version of our chaotic transition ball we currently play with now an uber slow RW that fullbacks will press relentlessly without threat of driving past them.

Also Bruno coming infield from the right to create space wide for... Dalot? I like Dalot but I"m not going to pretend like he's Trent or Frimpong in the final third contributing to attacks.

Valencia Shin Crosses said:

Except you're describing an approach that's much more based on actually controlling half spaces and controlling the midfield, something Ten Hag clearly doesn't value. So instead you'd just get a shitter version of our chaotic transition ball we currently play with now an uber slow RW that fullbacks will press relentlessly without threat of driving past them.

Also Bruno coming infield from the right to create space wide for... Dalot? I like Dalot but I"m not going to pretend like he's Trent or Frimpong in the final third contributing to attacks.

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I'm describing a approach ten Hag has previously implemented and even spoke about implementing. Below he's talking about the team he's inherited and how playing in transition suits the team and how he's working towards playing out from the back once he has a clean bill of health. Unfortunately Martinez has since got injured again.

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The block on his shot was ridiculous tbf, absolutely full stretch. When he pulled his foot back Lokonga was barely level with him. Yes, overall, his performance was erratic, but this should have been a goal but for an oustanding piece of defending.

Adnan said:

I'm describing a approach ten Hag has previously implemented and even spoke about implementing. Below he's talking about the team he's inherited and how playing in transition suits the team and how he's working towards playing out from the back once he has a clean bill of health. Unfortunately Martinez has since got injured again.

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What he might speak about and what we actually do are two different things. Even before Martinez got reinjured we played the same style. It’s been the better part of 2 years now, that isn’t about to suddenly change and have us controlling games in a completely different manner.

Rozay said:

I am truly speechless!

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Why?

Valencia Shin Crosses said:

What he might speak about and what we actually do are two different things. Even before Martinez got reinjured we played the same style. It’s been the better part of 2 years now, that isn’t about to suddenly change and have us controlling games in a completely different manner.

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Controlling games and playing through the thirds requires the correct profile of players. And have we bought and looked to develop players under him to add more positional control? The answer is yes.

Onana, Martinez, Mainoo, Mount and even the loan signing Amrabat, are all players who you sign or develop with a view to evolving a play style towards dominating the game positionally. But when you inherit a team that has been coached to play in transition for over a decade, and on top of that you have lengthy injuries to players like Martinez Mainoo and Shaw who make up a big part of the build up phase, then you will have issues in the build up.

And whether we like it or not, Bruno Fernandes is a player that is a first team player and will be played. So with the options we have at our disposal for the remaining games, it's important to get the best out of those available options to try and amass as much points as possible. I didn't agree with us signing Bruno Fernandes, because it took us into a direction as far as playing style is concerned which I wasn't happy with. But we signed him and eventhough I'm not a big fan I do appreciate that he has certain qualities that we could benefit from in the final third. He's risk taker with his passing, hence playing him slightly to the right or left will provide the collective unit more control centrally and Bruno a bit more freedom to take risks without compromising our defensive stability.

The Bruno from those first one and a half seasons is long gone. Those numbers were incredible, right now he looks a shadow of himself. He's been specially bad this season.

Should sell in the summer 1000%.

I personally think he's been abysmal in most games this season.

You know what I'm starting to think him and other players we have are the reasons why Ole and Ten Hag decided to play this kind of football...

LDUred said:

The block on his shot was ridiculous tbf, absolutely full stretch. When he pulled his foot back Lokonga was barely level with him. Yes, overall, his performance was erratic, but this should have been a goal but for an oustanding piece of defending.

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I would agree with this, Bruno did everything he could. Just gotta give credit to the Luton player

Worst captain I’ve ever seen at this club. Sums us up.

Our scouts did warn us.

He seems tired

This is what happens when a player is undroppable. He should've been dropped based on his last few games or a least subbed off yesterday. He knows no matter how bad he is, he will always play 90 minutes if he's fit.

roonster09 said:

Why?

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Really?

He works hard but in my view is not commanding enough. He seems to flit into and out of the game.
And against top sides, he often goes missing.

The decline might just be because he's worn out mentally as much as physically after so many games year after year. I'm a believer in giving players a proper break when necessary, not just sitting on the bench but a break away from football for two or three weeks. Nobody seems to do this I know but it makes sense to me.

711 said:

The decline might just be because he's worn out mentally as much as physically after so many games year after year. I'm a believer in giving players a proper break when necessary, not just sitting on the bench but a break away from football for two or three weeks. Nobody seems to do this I know but it makes sense to me.

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Seems plausible to me. These days he's only playing one game per week, whereas he often would play double that, so it's either something mentally like you say or something physical that has accrued over a longer period. He should be fine game by game now that we are only the league and FA Cup.

Rozay said:

Really?

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Ofcourse, I'm curious to know.

I can't believe people are calling on United to sell him. He's on a bad patch of form but he's one of the rare players that's always fit and gives it his all. His form will pick up and he's still one of the most creative players in the league by a mile.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:

He seems tired

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this isn't specifically about you, but this is the bruno cycle:

-> gets praised for playing a lot -> plays shite -> doesn't get criticised on the quality of his performance because he's tired because he plays a lot

that and 3 or 4 bad games followed by a game with a goal and two assists, which is then followed by another 3 or 4 bad games

SSSSnake said:

His form will pick up and he's still one of the most creative players in the league by a mile.

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Big chances created:

Salah 18
TAA 13
Trippier 13
Odegaard 12
Saka 12
Son 12
Bruno 12
Groß 11
Elanga 10
Gordon 10
Porro 10
Kulusevski 9
McNeil 9
Bernardo 9
Nunez 9
Watkins 9
Diaby 8
McGinn 8
Palmer 8
Douglas Luiz 8


"By a mile"

roonster09 said:

Ofcourse, I'm curious to know.

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Okay roonster, my speechlessness is, surprise - at the fact that your current position towards Bruno is the opposite of what you have argued for years.