[Fergus' son]

He plays it too safe for my liking. Carrick's not been in good form this season but even in less game time he's played more penetrative passes. Schweinsteiger controls the game brilliantly but I think we should be asking more of him.

This!

 

[jojojo]

I don't think he can be expected to start 2 games a week. I understand why LvG wants him to. But rather than looking stronger for having built up match fitness, it just looks like he's being run into the ground.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

10 games in and I cannot recall him ever taking a shot for us.

Have a go Bastian, seems like he's way too caught up on possession retention instructions.

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

He's not the only player we've criticised by and large for a lack of balls, so to speak offensively, its clearly a tactical instruction being given to the squad as a whole by the coaching staff.

Safe possession is the defining theme of this united team we are watching grow, for a better or for worse its here to stay until we improve our offensive options to add that fluidity that other top possession sides have in their arsenal.

I think a year down the line, with another top winger and striker in the squad, and another year of learning the tactical approach I think we will see a more offensive United.

 

[suheilsworld]

Some of the comments on the last couple of pages have been slightly harsh on him. I too agree to a certain extent that he does not shoot for us but that has been the case for most of our midfielders this season. No one is ready to take a shot from outside the box except Memphis. (And when Memphis does and misses, half the people here moan!!)
But I think he was bought for a purpose and that was to control the game and ensure possession remains with us. That is what LVG demands. So far he has excelled in that requirement. And it has only been 3 months, the whole season is left and I am sure he will grow in to the role. Keep in mind he has just come into full fitness in the last one month as far as I remember. I believe goals will come.

 

[Ekeke]

Ander takes shots, and personally I think some of our best stuff so far has been with the Ander and Schneiderlin partnership I wanted in the summer. A partnership that is far more direct. I appreciate why Schweinsteiger is in there, but I don't think he's been very successful at doing the things hes in there for. 86% pass completion so far this season sounds seriously short of what you'd expect from him when you see him looking for the sideways pass so very often. I'm not sure he's passed the ball any better than Carrick, who has been below par himself.

 

[Kag]

Schweinsteiger isn't in the side because he's a better passer than Carrick.

Plus there's a tendency on the Caf to assess quality of passing based on its length, height and prettiness. It's why people will double check when it's claimed Fellaini is a good passer even though his ability to pass the ball forward into feet with accuracy is just as good as any other player in the squad.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

He has been fine, came here to take the pressure of Carrick, now we have two players who can dictate play which is great.

He is on the decline though, we need to find a young player to take over the reigns.

 

[jderbyshire]

Can't be bothered looking through these threads - can someone quickly explain, why do posters call him BFS? What does it stand for?

 

[Sammyjunn]

Can't be bothered looking through these threads - can someone quickly explain, why do posters call him BFS? What does it stand for?

Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger!

 

[jderbyshire]

Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger!

Cheers pal!

 

[Aussie_Red_Devil]

Just picked a BFS jersey in Istanbul for 60 lira. If you look at it close u can clearly see its fake but i don't really give a feck haha. Dude tried to sell me a Rooney one also. No chance

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Wasn't pleased with his performance. Not influencing the game as much as I thought he would.

 

[Ballache]

I disagree, I always feel we lose control as soon as he is subbed.

 

[Devil may care]

Lots of bluster today but not enough impact on the ball.

 

[Devil81]

Looks like he's 40 games into a season not 10!!

 

[kundalini]

I've been underwhelmed so far. He's obviously a good player but 0-0 score-lines don't really help us and Schweinsteiger's control of the game could easily be described as letting it drift.

 

[dirkey]

Think he had a very poor first half. Misplaced a few passes, got on the ball quite a bit but just slows things down too much in my opinion.

 

[Kraftwerker]

Been poor recently but thought he did very well tonight.

Him and Carrick were both very good.

 

[Lawman]

[QUOTE="Kraftwerker, post: 18351059, member: 36088"]Been poor recently but thought he did very well tonight.

Him and Carrick were both very good.[/QUOTE]

I don't think so I think he's been one of our best players so far this season

 

[Adisa]

Ran himself into the ground. Immense work rate. Reminded me of his performance in the WC final.

 

[Devil may care]

I thought he was solid and provided good ground coverage alongside the less mobile Carrick.

 

[Kraftwerker]

I don't think so I think he's been one of our best players so far this season

I agree.

But last few games I've been looking for a bit more from him in terms of changing the tempo and getting the ball forward quicker.

It's Bastian Schweinsteiger, it's what he does.

A lot better tonight for me.

 

[golden_blunder]

thought his performance was a bit flat last night. However, it looks to me that his instruction is to hang back and control the midfield with Carrick being invited to do the playmaking.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Joachim Löw said he's going to rest him during the international friendlies due to not having a Winter break in the Premier League. He's also going to rest Ozil and Kroos.

Good man.

 

[kotha]

Joachim Löw said he's going to rest him during the international friendlies due to not having a Winter break in the Premier League. He's also going to rest Ozil and Kroos.

Good man.

Very sensible by Low!! Hopefully Basti will take a much needed break..

 

[kouroux]

Where is he these days ? A bit disappointing tbh. He just passes the ball safely.

 

[Randall Flagg]

He is turning into our new 6/10 player

Does little wrong but doesn't exactly help in attacking situations

 

[FC Ronaldo]

50 from 58 passes. 86.2% completion.

Almost every pass in and around the box failed. Whether delivered high and thus feeding the static WBA defence to head away or delivered low. Conclusion - there hasn't been enough movement so far from the players around him to criticise Schweini yet. Others need to step up and work harder for space to have a ball played into.

 

[Santiago_KinderBueno]

I still think we should line up with a CDM - CM-CAM rather than a CM-CM combination. It's kind of static.

 

[Dante]

His touch was quite heavy today.

 

[MDFC Manager]

He's a fecking tank - slow to move and get started, but an absolute beast in midfield duels

 

[Wade3]

I thought he did well today, was working all over the pitch and actually moved forward more often than in previous games.

 

[Trizy]

My MOTD today, so strong when fighting for the ball.

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

He is turning into our new 6/10 player

Does little wrong but doesn't exactly help in attacking situations

His role is primarily stability in midfield rather then attacking the lines. Yes that means playing that safe ball first before that risky pass and inviting the opponent to run through the middle.

 

[FortBoyard]

Keep waiting for him to play like the player I thought he would. Isn't happening for whatever reason. Needless to say that he has played a lot of minutes now.

Dissapointing really, reminds me a little of how Ballack flattered to decieve after the hype of signing for Chelsea.

Lets hope he picks up that old form sometime.

 

[Raw]

So much more improved in the second half, he's absolute class.

 

[Randall Flagg]

His role is primarily stability in midfield rather then attacking the lines. Yes that means playing that safe ball first before that risky pass and inviting the opponent to run through the middle.

I should have a go at players more often

He was immense in that 2nd half

 

[MDFC Manager]

I should have a go at players more often

He was immense in that 2nd half

He was indeed. Turned it around after a fairly average first half.

 

[Mockney]

Fantastic in the 2nd. Thankfully he's just as good at bossing midfield duels as he is getting into shooting positions and not shooting.