It seems like players hit a ceiling here and eventually become unhappy even if they are on the biggest money of their career. I guess we need to provide a lot more genuine competition in the squad. To be fair can you imagine a club of this size having to play loan lucky dip every season? We are up against a perfect team in city and we are scrambling about making fools out of ourselves. You would lose motivation and faith very fast. You’d be embarrassed at how much everyone is being paid. It’s become the football equivalent of selling out. Look at all the happy Liverpool players on half as much
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Escobar
Shameless Musketeer
Amad or Mount to start, bench him until he can play football again
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Wich is bad enough as it is, and says a lot about how average our team really is.Say what you like but still our most consistent and influential player.
I love Bruno for his effort but he is not scoring at all and it's like playing a 2 man midfield when the opposition has the ball. Bruno reminds me about Di Maria. Attacking okay and the odd special pass but other than that shouldn't be in a high press team.
He also doesn''t seem to make any difference when the going gets tough. Isn't that what you expect a captain to do? Captain the team? We look like a rudderless ship with the captain off in the lifeboat.
kaku06
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What?Problem is he turns 30 in September and he has barely missed games. The last player to have a similar injury record as him was Lampard. Lamps was never the same when the 30s kicked in.
Lampard turned 30 in June 2008, just before the start of 2008/09 season. His record
2008/09 - 12 PL goals, 20 goal season overall
2009/10 - 22 PL goals, 27 goals overall
2010/11- 10 PL goals, 13 goals overall
2011/12 - 11 PL goals, 16 goals overall
2012/13 (Age 34) - 15 goals in 29 PL games, 17 goal season overall.
You sure Lampard was never the same when the 30s kicked in?
RedStarUnited
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What?
Lampard turned 30 in June 2008, just before the start of 2008/09 season. His record
2008/09 - 12 PL goals, 20 goal season overall
2009/10 - 22 PL goals, 27 goals overall
2010/11- 10 PL goals, 13 goals overall
2011/12 - 11 PL goals, 16 goals overall
2012/13 (Age 34) - 15 goals in 29 PL games, 17 goal season overall.
You sure Lampard was never the same when the 30s kicked in?
He was good but you can see a clear drop off after that 09/10 season. he wasnt the same in his 30s as he was in his late twenties. And Lampard was a much much better player than Bruno.
The point I was making is, Bruno is not likely to be here in 3/4 years time. We need to move on sooner rather than later
kaku06
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Disagree.He was good but you can see a clear drop off after that 09/10 season. he wasnt the same in his 30s as he was in his late twenties.
Agree.The point I was making is, Bruno is not likely to be here in 3/4 years time. We need to move on sooner rather than later
See this here, this is a bit of an issue. Because in many games he just lets people run off him or jogs back when a break is on or just doesn’t even try to get back in to a defensive shape. McT is the same and it’s a massive problem for us and for me one of the main reasons we are so bad as a team , he doesn’t work hard enough in the correct areas. He doesn’t use his energy to do the right thing.
Add in he is weak as hell, can’t hold the ball, gets pushed off it easily, can’t progress the ball on the dribble and generally is a terrible passer of a football. Is he capable of a lofty punt out to Rashford on the wing yes, but pass it ten yards to someone and have it not slow their run or need to check back as it’s behind them, then no, no he can’t.
Sell him or bring someone in so that he becomes a bench option next season and we’ll be better for it.
I agree with most of the posts here. Bruno has several weaknesses therefore he will never be world class. However, he is not that bad and he would still be 1st team starter for most teams except the top 5-6 PL clubs. And for this maybe Utd does not need him unfortunately.He’s Portugal’s best footballer though in their national team. You know the same team with Bernardo Silva in it?
It’s more the tactics at United and in my opinion you play Bruno as a forward not as a central midfielder. He shouldn’t have many defensive duties.
His strength is output. His peak at United for example he didn’t play deep and was ridiculous for us. Would Bernardo Silva have done what Bruno did in our limited side? No
Granted Bruno isn’t a City player either he doesn’t play their style. A lot of getting the best out of players is putting them in the right position and side. United haven’t had a good side for a decade so it’s hard to get the best out of footballers.
Let's analyse our midfield in a wider context of how Bruno is playing with Mainoo and Casemiro.
It seems that Bruno and Mainoo do not have the same "wavelength". There would be a day of reckoning when ETH, or whoever new manager might be, to decide who should play in the first team.
Bruno tends to go for ambitous balls that give 50-50 chance between our striker and their defender to run and fight for it. It requires either very fast or incredibly strong strikers, aka young Ronaldo or Drogba/Lukaku. Bruno doesn't like to pass the ball to Mainoo, for posession football, but instead always go for these crazy balls. We often see Bruno spend a lot of time talking to Mainoo before the match starts, I think he wants to explain his style of football to young Mainoo.
Mainoo, first of all, is not a natural defensive midfielder. His protection of the back 4 is not strong enough and he will always need a Rice type sitting next to him for broken up opposite attack. He has good tackling, ball hustling ability, but that is not what he prefers to do on the pitch. He will be best in the 3 midfielders set up, where he is at the heart of the midfield to decide whether to progress the ball forward or pass around a bit looking for defensive holes. However, once he passes the ball to Bruno, it's done, Bruno will go for his usual crazy passes.
When Casemiro play along side Mainoo, Mainoo has a partner to showcase his skills and vision to run the game, but he can not do it alone if it is only Bruno and Tominay, and worst of all Rashford who don't mind at all giving the ball away for some ambitous runs. Casemiro had Modric in Madrid's possession football, Modric being very similar style of player, so he know how to combine with Mainoo.
We should ask ourselves, do we want to play defensive and counter attacking (where Bruno would be better and most often more fun to watch when we do it well) or do we want to play possession football (City, Barca, Munich, Madrid, pretty much most CL champions in the past 20-25 years except maybe Porto)
Son
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This. It’s a great comment because we aren’t slamming the player. It’s just maybe he’s not the right fit.I agree with most of the posts here. Bruno has several weaknesses therefore he will never be world class. However, he is not that bad and he would still be 1st team starter for most teams except the top 5-6 PL clubs. And for this maybe Utd does not need him unfortunately.
Let's analyse our midfield in a wider context of how Bruno is playing with Mainoo and Casemiro.
It seems that Bruno and Mainoo do not have the same "wavelength". There would be a day of reckoning when ETH, or whoever new manager might be, to decide who should play in the first team.
Bruno tends to go for ambitous balls that give 50-50 chance between our striker and their defender to run and fight for it. It requires either very fast or incredibly strong strikers, aka young Ronaldo or Drogba/Lukaku. Bruno doesn't like to pass the ball to Mainoo, for posession football, but instead always go for these crazy balls. We often see Bruno spend a lot of time talking to Mainoo before the match starts, I think he wants to explain his style of football to young Mainoo.
Mainoo, first of all, is not a natural defensive midfielder. His protection of the back 4 is not strong enough and he will always need a Rice type sitting next to him for broken up opposite attack. He has good tackling, ball hustling ability, but that is not what he prefers to do on the pitch. He will be best in the 3 midfielders set up, where he is at the heart of the midfield to decide whether to progress the ball forward or pass around a bit looking for defensive holes. However, once he passes the ball to Bruno, it's done, Bruno will go for his usual crazy passes.
When Casemiro play along side Mainoo, Mainoo has a partner to showcase his skills and vision to run the game, but he can not do it alone if it is only Bruno and Tominay, and worst of all Rashford who don't mind at all giving the ball away for some ambitous runs. Casemiro had Modric in Madrid's possession football, Modric being very similar style of player, so he know how to combine with Mainoo.
We should ask ourselves, do we want to play defensive and counter attacking (where Bruno would be better and most often more fun to watch when we do it well) or do we want to play possession football (City, Barca, Munich, Madrid, pretty much most CL champions in the past 20-25 years except maybe Porto)
We are in transition so hopefully the new setup brings in targets which make a more cohesive squad over the next few years.
Bruno won’t be around for it I assume but he’s been a great player for us and more than done what he could especially at his peak.
Blood Mage
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I hate to say it but it looks like his legs are going a bit? We definitely need to cash in before we end up stuck with him past his peak. His energy and athleticism were his key strengths, his technique was never all that great.
Valencia Shin Crosses
Full Member
Yeah previously at his best he was still a good enough runner but he now looks a step or two slower and my god does it expose his lack of on ball security even more. At this point if he isn't afforded space enough times to create around the box he just doesn't offer anything for that position, especially considering his finishing has gone down a good bit from when he first arrived.I hate to say it but it looks like his legs are going a bit? We definitely need to cash in before we end up stuck with him past his peak. His energy and athleticism were his key strengths, his technique was never all that great.
Excellent postI agree with most of the posts here. Bruno has several weaknesses therefore he will never be world class. However, he is not that bad and he would still be 1st team starter for most teams except the top 5-6 PL clubs. And for this maybe Utd does not need him unfortunately.
Let's analyse our midfield in a wider context of how Bruno is playing with Mainoo and Casemiro.
It seems that Bruno and Mainoo do not have the same "wavelength". There would be a day of reckoning when ETH, or whoever new manager might be, to decide who should play in the first team.
Bruno tends to go for ambitous balls that give 50-50 chance between our striker and their defender to run and fight for it. It requires either very fast or incredibly strong strikers, aka young Ronaldo or Drogba/Lukaku. Bruno doesn't like to pass the ball to Mainoo, for posession football, but instead always go for these crazy balls. We often see Bruno spend a lot of time talking to Mainoo before the match starts, I think he wants to explain his style of football to young Mainoo.
Mainoo, first of all, is not a natural defensive midfielder. His protection of the back 4 is not strong enough and he will always need a Rice type sitting next to him for broken up opposite attack. He has good tackling, ball hustling ability, but that is not what he prefers to do on the pitch. He will be best in the 3 midfielders set up, where he is at the heart of the midfield to decide whether to progress the ball forward or pass around a bit looking for defensive holes. However, once he passes the ball to Bruno, it's done, Bruno will go for his usual crazy passes.
When Casemiro play along side Mainoo, Mainoo has a partner to showcase his skills and vision to run the game, but he can not do it alone if it is only Bruno and Tominay, and worst of all Rashford who don't mind at all giving the ball away for some ambitous runs. Casemiro had Modric in Madrid's possession football, Modric being very similar style of player, so he know how to combine with Mainoo.
We should ask ourselves, do we want to play defensive and counter attacking (where Bruno would be better and most often more fun to watch when we do it well) or do we want to play possession football (City, Barca, Munich, Madrid, pretty much most CL champions in the past 20-25 years except maybe Porto)
amolbhatia50k
Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
I agree and I think most here would too on this tactical issue we face with our two biggest “stars” in Bruno and Rashford. They are simply unfit to play for a club that wants to dominate games and any manager who wants to bring that to OT needs to rethink their spots in the team.Bruno tends to go for ambitous balls that give 50-50 chance between our striker and their defender to run and fight for it. It requires either very fast or incredibly strong strikers, aka young Ronaldo or Drogba/Lukaku. Bruno doesn't like to pass the ball to Mainoo, for posession football, but instead always go for these crazy balls. We often see Bruno spend a lot of time talking to Mainoo before the match starts, I think he wants to explain his style of football to young Mainoo.
Mainoo, first of all, is not a natural defensive midfielder. His protection of the back 4 is not strong enough and he will always need a Rice type sitting next to him for broken up opposite attack. He has good tackling, ball hustling ability, but that is not what he prefers to do on the pitch. He will be best in the 3 midfielders set up, where he is at the heart of the midfield to decide whether to progress the ball forward or pass around a bit looking for defensive holes. However, once he passes the ball to Bruno, it's done, Bruno will go for his usual crazy passes.
When Casemiro play along side Mainoo, Mainoo has a partner to showcase his skills and vision to run the game, but he can not do it alone if it is only Bruno and Tominay, and worst of all Rashford who don't mind at all giving the ball away for some ambitous runs. Casemiro had Modric in Madrid's possession football, Modric being very similar style of player, so he know how to combine with Mainoo.
We should ask ourselves, do we want to play defensive and counter attacking (where Bruno would be better and most often more fun to watch when we do it well) or do we want to play possession football (City, Barca, Munich, Madrid, pretty much most CL champions in the past 20-25 years except maybe Porto)
Mainoo is built for front foot domination and careful use of the ball. He ideally needs i) A ball winner next to him who can also perform box to box duties - in the Keane (doesn’t have to be that level as they are all time greats) / Rodri / Rice mould and B) an attacking midfielder who shares some synergy with him in terms of quality on the ball and retaining possession. Odegaard / Ozil / both Silvia’s at City / even Fabregas or Scholes at points in their career, are a much better fit of players that can help control games and also play off Mainoo as the base playmaker to link between him and the attack. I use these players as reference points as to the sort of player needed rather than the quality thereof.
Bruno instead on the other hand is just a counter attacking machine. His play style is chaos and hence suits the kind of football Jose and Ole brought to OT which is not how we should play. As much as people want it to happen, he will not and cannot change in any meaningful way.
Isotope
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It's just weird, isn't it? His midfield partners:What are people’s expectations for this guy? I’m not suggesting by any means that he played well, he was abject like the rest of the team, but he didn’t seem to play his usual game and kept his passes far simpler than usual, which is what I thought most of his doubters wanted? He also managed to pretty much double the passes of most of the team, including his fellow midfielders so he certainly wasn’t hiding.
Again, not claiming he was good, but the posts in here seem like they are pre-conceived or just repeating a general opinion regardless of how he performs in a specific match.
Why is he held to a higher standard if his doubters do not believe he has a higher standard? Help me understand.
Mainoo. 42 passes, 88% accuracy, no key pass.
McTom. 33 passes, 70% accuracy, no key pass.
subs: (79') Mount, 4 passes, 75% accuracy, no key pass
(79') Casemiro, 15 passes, 73% accuracy, 1 key pass.
with Bruno had 70 passes, 81% accuracy, 4 key passes.
With midfield partners like those, how do people expect us to dominate and win the game?
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Bruno is the deepest of the 3 midfielders, he is the closest to Hojlund so of course he would have more key passes. His 19% remaining of inaccuracy are often low success rate long balls that cost us ball possession entirely retained by their centre back, the ball is not lost during midfield fighting when it can be taken back quickly. Same as Rashford, he does have a few good run so surely his stats would show some pass through defenders but we then lost the ball many times with him.It's just weird, isn't it? His midfield partners:
Mainoo. 42 passes, 88% accuracy, no key pass.
McTom. 33 passes, 70% accuracy, no key pass.
subs: (79') Mount, 4 passes, 75% accuracy, no key pass
(79') Casemiro, 15 passes, 73% accuracy, 1 key pass.
with Bruno had 70 passes, 81% accuracy, 4 key passes.
With midfield partners like those, how do people expect us to dominate and win the game?
Both guys are built for counter-attacking style, not ball domination which is what many CL champions had played in the past including SAF's team. The 02 times SAF's lost in CL finals was against tiki taka. Team don't win trophies that often with counter-attacking only style, the best of them is Aletico Madrid.
Statistically aside, in reality we do create some chance with his play, but the con is we give away possession too cheaply with a lot of his passes.
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This. You’d think he would learn from training alongside Eriksen improving decision making and match temperature. For all his physical limitations I’d like to see Eriksen at no. 10 for a couple of matches vs smaller sides.Bruno is the deepest of the 3 midfielders, he is the closest to Hojlund so of course he would have more key passes. His 19% remaining of inaccuracy are often low success rate long balls that cost us ball possession entirely retained by their centre back, the ball is not lost during midfield fighting when it can be taken back quickly. Same as Rashford, he does have a few good run so surely his stats would show some pass through defenders but we then lost the ball many times with him.
Both guys are built for counter-attacking style, not ball domination which is what many CL champions had played in the past including SAF's team. The 02 times SAF's lost in CL finals was against tiki taka. Team don't win trophies that often with counter-attacking only style, the best of them is Aletico Madrid.
Statistically aside, in reality we do create some chance with his play, but the con is we give away possession too cheaply with a lot of his passes.
Isotope
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Weird. You talked like he did a bunch of long balls. He only registered 7 long balls, with 3 reaching out intended players.Bruno is the deepest of the 3 midfielders, he is the closest to Hojlund so of course he would have more key passes. His 19% remaining of inaccuracy are often low success rate long balls that cost us ball possession entirely retained by their centre back, the ball is not lost during midfield fighting when it can be taken back quickly. Same as Rashford, he does have a few good run so surely his stats would show some pass through defenders but we then lost the ball many times with him.
Both guys are built for counter-attacking style, not ball domination which is what many CL champions had played in the past including SAF's team. The 02 times SAF's lost in CL finals was against tiki taka. Team don't win trophies that often with counter-attacking only style, the best of them is Aletico Madrid.
Statistically aside, in reality we do create some chance with his play, but the con is we give away possession too cheaply with a lot of his passes.
Speaking of long balls, Onana launched 27 long balls, with only 7 successful. Now that's what you'd call low success rate long balls. That's 20 times giving away possession cheaply, with no creativity involved.
Put Bruno and Rashford in the same bracket of "built for counter-attacking style, not ball domination" is just lazy thinking or just being ignorance. For years, Bruno has proven that he can play in ball domination group of players.
How can I be ignorant when all I did was watching our matches? If you read my previous posts, which I assume you might not, I did say Bruno would be 1st team starter for most clubs in PL perhaps outside of top 5.Weird. You talked like he did a bunch of long balls. He only registered 7 long balls, with 3 reaching out intended players.
Speaking of long balls, Onana launched 27 long balls, with only 7 successful. Now that's what you'd call low success rate long balls. That's 20 times giving away possession cheaply, with no creativity involved.
Put Bruno and Rashford in the same bracket of "built for counter-attacking style, not ball domination" is just lazy thinking or just being ignorance. For years, Bruno has proven that he can play in ball domination group of players.
Bruno would be a great player for many clubs who have weaker midfield that may likely not be able to dominate possession in match. In fact, his football would be quite successful for even a stronger team like Atletico Madrid with their style of counter-attacking football, same would go for Rashford.
Bruno would be an incredible impact sub as well if he is ok to stay but not always start, but I assume with his fierce personality, he would never be happy to do so. However, like most people in this thread, I strongly believe he is not the type of player who can play football domination in systems of the like of Madrid, PSG, City and other quality teams.
We have a great future talent in Mainoo who may very well become a worldclass player one day in the style of Modric, Seedorf and Pirlo. Ball possession and ball domination are key to success and winning many matches. This is the type of player that we need to build our team around in the future. Losing possession too often by playing too many risky balls (Bruno) and risky runs (Rashford) will not give United a long-term solution for winning. This is not an outragious or lazy or ignorant statement, this has been proven in past few seasons and painful to watch for a lot of United supporters already.
Isotope
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For years, Bruno has been playing for a football team that play possession style. And he's one of their best players also. I do assume that you watch football outside United games.How can I be ignorant when all I did was watching our matches? If you read my previous posts, which I assume you might not, I did say Bruno would be 1st team starter for most clubs in PL perhaps outside of top 5.
Bruno would be a great player for many clubs who have weaker midfield that may likely not be able to dominate possession in match. In fact, his football would be quite successful for even a stronger team like Atletico Madrid with their style of counter-attacking football, same would go for Rashford.
Bruno would be an incredible impact sub as well if he is ok to stay but not always start, but I assume with his fierce personality, he would never be happy to do so. However, like most people in this thread, I strongly believe he is not the type of player who can play football domination in systems of the like of Madrid, PSG, City and other quality teams.
We have a great future talent in Mainoo who may very well become a worldclass player one day in the style of Modric, Seedorf and Pirlo. Ball possession and ball domination are key to success and winning many matches. This is the type of player that we need to build our team around in the future. Losing possession too often by playing too many risky balls (Bruno) and risky runs (Rashford) will not give United a long-term solution for winning. This is not an outragious or lazy or ignorant statement, this has been proven in past few seasons and painful to watch for a lot of United supporters already.
I did not watch the Portugese league before Bruno joined if that is what you meant.For years, Bruno has been playing for a football team that play possession style. And he's one of their best players also. I do assume that you watch football outside United games.
PL is the toughest league by a long stretch, and playing domination football in PL is unlike anywhere else. Even playing a mid-table or lower team in PL, top team will not always go in and dominate easily, but they will always have to try.
I am not saying this to criticise Bruno's quality, but his style does not provide enough possession for top tier team in PL to win trophy and that is a fact. We need a better midfield to compete for trophy, the manager can only do as much with the player that he has.
I agree that he's being extremely chaotic with the high risk punts looking for the killer ball. I also agree that it's coming at the cost of any control in our midfield, and that if those risks don't work (like right now), it's hard to argue what else he brings to the team.
What I don't agree with is that argument that he is playing this way because it's the only way he can. His best games under Ole and often involved him linking up effectively for a string of clever passes before the killer ball - Shaw on the overlap, Greenwood in half spaces, Martial with one touch pass and move, or even Fred in a triangle - before he went for that through ball for Rashford or Cavani or Ronaldo. There is less directness when he plays with Portugal, as well - Bruno clearly has the vision for building up towards a play.
He's also spatially aware, and is infamous for always trying to tell folks around him - both at United and for Portugal - to look for a better pass or through ball that can take play forward.
Someone this smart is not unaware of how he's constantly giving the ball away. What concerns me is that he's instructed to play this way, to keep looking for a killer ball, by a manager who is unable to extract creativity from any other player in this team. None of the forwards can find a pass to save their lives, and the only other option signed was injured for the whole season.
EtH wants Bruno to keep playing this way in the hope that it works out. It's the same reason why he keeps starting McT and gives him license to bomb forward leaving Mainoo isolated, as well. Or keeps starting Rashford and encourages him to keep trying to take his man on instead of building up to it.
Bruno deserves a chance to show what he's got in a better tactical setup - I personally think that he's still a great player, and is suffering because in our current setup the full backs underlap, neither Rashford nor Garnacho can link well with him, Hojlund is always cut off / isolated, and he's instructed to keep finding the assist ball.
What I don't agree with is that argument that he is playing this way because it's the only way he can. His best games under Ole and often involved him linking up effectively for a string of clever passes before the killer ball - Shaw on the overlap, Greenwood in half spaces, Martial with one touch pass and move, or even Fred in a triangle - before he went for that through ball for Rashford or Cavani or Ronaldo. There is less directness when he plays with Portugal, as well - Bruno clearly has the vision for building up towards a play.
He's also spatially aware, and is infamous for always trying to tell folks around him - both at United and for Portugal - to look for a better pass or through ball that can take play forward.
Someone this smart is not unaware of how he's constantly giving the ball away. What concerns me is that he's instructed to play this way, to keep looking for a killer ball, by a manager who is unable to extract creativity from any other player in this team. None of the forwards can find a pass to save their lives, and the only other option signed was injured for the whole season.
EtH wants Bruno to keep playing this way in the hope that it works out. It's the same reason why he keeps starting McT and gives him license to bomb forward leaving Mainoo isolated, as well. Or keeps starting Rashford and encourages him to keep trying to take his man on instead of building up to it.
Bruno deserves a chance to show what he's got in a better tactical setup - I personally think that he's still a great player, and is suffering because in our current setup the full backs underlap, neither Rashford nor Garnacho can link well with him, Hojlund is always cut off / isolated, and he's instructed to keep finding the assist ball.
Jeppers7
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He was piss poor in Ole’s last season and people blamed Ronaldo…He was piss poor under Ragnick…people blamed Ragnick. He was average last season…people saw that as proof he could play under a better manager.I agree that he's being extremely chaotic with the high risk punts looking for the killer ball. I also agree that it's coming at the cost of any control in our midfield, and that if those risks don't work (like right now), it's hard to argue what else he brings to the team.
What I don't agree with is that argument that he is playing this way because it's the only way he can. His best games under Ole and often involved him linking up effectively for a string of clever passes before the killer ball - Shaw on the overlap, Greenwood in half spaces, Martial with one touch pass and move, or even Fred in a triangle - before he went for that through ball for Rashford or Cavani or Ronaldo. There is less directness when he plays with Portugal, as well - Bruno clearly has the vision for building up towards a play.
He's also spatially aware, and is infamous for always trying to tell folks around him - both at United and for Portugal - to look for a better pass or through ball that can take play forward.
Someone this smart is not unaware of how he's constantly giving the ball away. What concerns me is that he's instructed to play this way, to keep looking for a killer ball, by a manager who is unable to extract creativity from any other player in this team. None of the forwards can find a pass to save their lives, and the only other option signed was injured for the whole season.
EtH wants Bruno to keep playing this way in the hope that it works out. It's the same reason why he keeps starting McT and gives him license to bomb forward leaving Mainoo isolated, as well. Or keeps starting Rashford and encourages him to keep trying to take his man on instead of building up to it.
Bruno deserves a chance to show what he's got in a better tactical setup - I personally think that he's still a great player, and is suffering because in our current setup the full backs underlap, neither Rashford nor Garnacho can link well with him, Hojlund is always cut off / isolated, and he's instructed to keep finding the assist ball.
Now all of that is forgotten and it’s all ETH’s fault.
When it’s three seasons, it’s the player.
Glorio
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Can be a useful player, but should not be our key player. Especially when you add Rashford and McTominay in the mix. As they are just as poor with retaining the ball.
If we had a team of high quality players with high ball retention and dribbling and add Bruno on top of that, he'd be great I feel.
But his dribbling is poor, his decision making veers from supreme to complete bonkers (I actually believe this is related to his lack of dribbling ability - it forces him to try to release the ball as quick as possible), and he's surrounded by high risk mavericks like Rashford, Scott, and even Casemiro now, none of which are created for retaining possession, and they each exacerbate the issue for each other and we just can't control games.
Our most controlled game this season against Palace in the cup had only one of them playing. One of them is manageable, anything else and you're looking for ping pong
If we had a team of high quality players with high ball retention and dribbling and add Bruno on top of that, he'd be great I feel.
But his dribbling is poor, his decision making veers from supreme to complete bonkers (I actually believe this is related to his lack of dribbling ability - it forces him to try to release the ball as quick as possible), and he's surrounded by high risk mavericks like Rashford, Scott, and even Casemiro now, none of which are created for retaining possession, and they each exacerbate the issue for each other and we just can't control games.
Our most controlled game this season against Palace in the cup had only one of them playing. One of them is manageable, anything else and you're looking for ping pong
Donut
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He could be a very good squad player/first sub for us, but if we want to move forward as a team he shouldn’t be a starter. If we got a crazy offer from Saudis I’d sell him, but let’s be real we won’t be pushing him out and he won’t want to go, he’ll be our starter next season. But I would at least like to see a few games where Mount or Amad start as a 10. It might not work and we’d lose attacking potency, but I think we’d have a much better control of the game.
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He'd be a game-changing sub coming on in the last 30 minutes when opponents don't press so hard and his lack of physicality isn't as much of an issue.He could be a very good squad player/first sub for us, but if we want to move forward as a team he shouldn’t be a starter. If we got a crazy offer from Saudis I’d sell him, but let’s be real we won’t be pushing him out and he won’t want to go, he’ll be our starter next season. But I would at least like to see a few games where Mount or Amad start as a 10. It might not work and we’d lose attacking potency, but I think we’d have a much better control of the game.
VivaObertan
Transfer Voyeur
This is basically it, and applies to a lot of our players this seasonI agree that he's being extremely chaotic with the high risk punts looking for the killer ball. I also agree that it's coming at the cost of any control in our midfield, and that if those risks don't work (like right now), it's hard to argue what else he brings to the team.
What I don't agree with is that argument that he is playing this way because it's the only way he can. His best games under Ole and often involved him linking up effectively for a string of clever passes before the killer ball - Shaw on the overlap, Greenwood in half spaces, Martial with one touch pass and move, or even Fred in a triangle - before he went for that through ball for Rashford or Cavani or Ronaldo. There is less directness when he plays with Portugal, as well - Bruno clearly has the vision for building up towards a play.
He's also spatially aware, and is infamous for always trying to tell folks around him - both at United and for Portugal - to look for a better pass or through ball that can take play forward.
Someone this smart is not unaware of how he's constantly giving the ball away. What concerns me is that he's instructed to play this way, to keep looking for a killer ball, by a manager who is unable to extract creativity from any other player in this team. None of the forwards can find a pass to save their lives, and the only other option signed was injured for the whole season.
EtH wants Bruno to keep playing this way in the hope that it works out. It's the same reason why he keeps starting McT and gives him license to bomb forward leaving Mainoo isolated, as well. Or keeps starting Rashford and encourages him to keep trying to take his man on instead of building up to it.
Bruno deserves a chance to show what he's got in a better tactical setup - I personally think that he's still a great player, and is suffering because in our current setup the full backs underlap, neither Rashford nor Garnacho can link well with him, Hojlund is always cut off / isolated, and he's instructed to keep finding the assist ball.
This is absolute garbage, as expectedHe was piss poor in Ole’s last season and people blamed Ronaldo…He was piss poor under Ragnick…people blamed Ragnick. He was average last season…people saw that as proof he could play under a better manager.
Now all of that is forgotten and it’s all ETH’s fault.
When it’s three seasons, it’s the player.
Jeppers7
Pogfamily Mafia
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Sorry I missed. ‘Mentally fatigued and knackered’ my bad.This is basically it, and applies to a lot of our players this season
This is absolute garbage, as expected
Chelsea 4:3 Man Utd
New
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Not to blame for those last two goals, but watching this guys defensive presence and turnovers in those last 10 mins was pathetic
The big differene between this guy and KDB is very evidence in counters. KDB charges that ball up the pitch waiting for a pass to open up as defenders drift in toward him. With bruno he does a hesitant jog looking to release the ball asap
The big differene between this guy and KDB is very evidence in counters. KDB charges that ball up the pitch waiting for a pass to open up as defenders drift in toward him. With bruno he does a hesitant jog looking to release the ball asap
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Scandi Red
Hates Music.
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Good goal, decent tackles/interceptions, very poor passing.
The whole league has figured out that he is weak and is now fancying themselves dribbling against him or let him bounce off of them. I thought, he was alright today, had a few great quick balls but man, against the ball, he is a non-factor, even when he is one with a great engine.
Desert Eagle
Punjabi Dude
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In no universe should this guy be captain. He couldn't lead ducks to water. Refs don't even give him clear fouls because he cries wolf so much. Can't wait to see him feck off out of this club.
Hammondo
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He struggles against any press, just doesn't have the touch and close control, missed some good chances to put better passes through.
SB16
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Good goal today, but awful performance overall. No composure & constantly tries the killer pass when holding it for one second longer would be the better option.
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I think he's run his race with us. we are not going places with Bruno in the team the way he has played this season. his risky ways used to be worth it but this is no longer the case. I'd be happy if we moved on without him and leave this era behind
Isotope
Ten Years a Cafite
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Still the best midfielder United. He should be the last one if we want to overhaul the midfield.
Hammondo
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He is never in midfield.Still the best midfielder United. He should be the last one if we want to overhaul the midfield.
MDFC Manager
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Neither is he the best of anything (good) at the clubHe is never in midfield.
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His usual inconsistent self rubbing of on the entire squad.He's the captain for fecks sake.Get rid along with "Rashy"
Desert Eagle
Punjabi Dude
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He got overtaken by a teenager in his debut season. He's as replacable as it gets.Still the best midfielder United. He should be the last one if we want to overhaul the midfield.
Based Adnan
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Has been a net negative on the team for a good while
Ekeke
Full Member
I feel like after 20-30 mins he always looks physically shattered and does things in a manner that looks like a tired player, but then he plays the entire match and is always picked for the next one. He's the most tired looking always playing always available player I've seen. Took his goal with the header well but multiple times when he needed to compete in midfield outside our box he looked poor physically.