Has anybody else realised that whenever we play against a team that drops deep he leaves a huge gap between our midfield 2. In these sorts of games its like we're playing with a 4-2-4 formation instead of a 4-2-3-1. He might as well be a second striker and we just go 4-4-2 at least we'd have a bit more control of the game.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 46
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 13
- Yellow cards
- 10
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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This man is indirectly at fault for keeping Ole in the job.
He is part of the problem, any manager that wants to control the game will not like Fernandes in their team despite his so many other good qualities.
Easily the best player on the pitch despite missing the pen. Such a shame.
Our playmaker hasn't had an assist in the league since April which isn't totally his fault but it's another symptom of the huge problems we have in the team.
Don’t remember him being brilliant Today, it’s all a haze of rage ! But what I do remember was a player giving it his all with some moments of class….we can forgive a penalty miss he’s been terrific with them so far for us.
It points to the fact he plays as a forward.
It points to the fact that you were not watching the games.
No, they would coach him to do other things. He's an exceptional player, of course they'd like him in the team
It points to the fact you need to check your lenses.
Really didn't feel like this was the issue today. He played pretty deeply for most of it and Villa pressed really high the whole game and there was space in behind all day (hence all the long balls we played).
Has been this way since he joined. Someone screenshot the time we had like 5 players all on the last man a week ago or so and no one in midfield. It’s unacceptable at this level that these are our tactics.
Do you remember the Ronaldo's goals against Young Boy and West Ham lately?
He was but he tried to make up for it today.
Someone took a screenshot at certain point of the time to make it look that way. It does not mean that's his position on average you know in THE WHOLE GAME.
Was easily our best player today despite missing the pen. He should have had a bucket of assists, made so many defense splitting passes that our front line wasted.
Obviously, why would you feel the need to clarify that?
To say that people accusing him of playing so high based on either not watching the game fully or by looking at certain screenshot is wrong.
Today I saw him switch the play with a long ball from RCM to Pogba at LM/LCM.
It was quick and beautiful to watch and it cut through alot of Aston Villa players.
It made me sad that we don't really play these players together as our creative players in midfield instead of Mctominay and Fred.
It was quick and beautiful to watch and it cut through alot of Aston Villa players.
It made me sad that we don't really play these players together as our creative players in midfield instead of Mctominay and Fred.
He plays super high, so I referred to some evidence that really highlighted that (and others doing the same). Do you not think he plays high and seems something he like a second striker/AM?
Do you look at his heat maps at all for all games this season? If you are looking at them and say he plays very high still then I am not going to argue with you.
He is AMC and he will run into advanced positions. That's his job. He is everywhere on the pitch all game long as well. Just because you see him running ahead does not mean he would not be back deep down in next min.
Can you provide some heat maps? This was from last season (from 2019 to Feb ‘21) and seems to pretty emphatically prove how high he plays.
Also shows how terrible McFred are offensively.
So, these show he is receiving the balls at where he should so that he can do final 3rd pass being AMC and advanced playermaker and all? Good. Did you expect him to receive the ball inside our own half or something?Can you provide some heat maps? This was from last season (from 2019 to Feb ‘21) and seems to pretty emphatically prove how high he plays.I I assume you might not be filtering the heatmaps to when we’re in possession? If you are simply looking at his heatmap for an entire 90mins it will be all over the place as we recycle possession constantly. This one is specifically where he is receiving the ball.
Also shows how terrible McFred are offensively.
The whole argument of he stays up all the time and not helping out the team is false based on his overall heatmaps.
Where did that extra bit come from?
Think of where the oppo’s back 4 is and then think how high that is.
Again, can you provide the heat naps you mentioned?
Such a moody player sometimes, urgh. On another day buries that penalty and we get a late late winner.
Spent the entire game pissed off that Greenwood didn't pass him the ball in the 1st half.
Spent the entire game pissed off that Greenwood didn't pass him the ball in the 1st half.
Extra bit is for people who accuse him as playing further up all the time.
And, for a united advanced play maker, you think it is too high especially you have 2 specialist midfielders playing behind him?
I mean I know we have been not exactly top class for awhile but still.
For overall heat maps for this season. Go look them at whoscores or any other sites that provide. I have provided a few already in this same thread.
One of the few players that was trying to make things happen and providing a bit of leadership.
Had 4 very good assists where a few goals should have come from. Penalty misses are rare for him just a pity that miss today ended up costly United a point
He should play number 8, instead of Fred. He's not a 10
He's got a lot of ability but he's an incredibly brainless player who has no feel for the game at all. He is always going for the hollywood pass even when the obvious play is to get on the ball and have a bit of control of the game. Today's game was far too frantic, every time he had possession of the ball he wanted to go for the killer pass.
I'm not his biggest fan tbh, but I'd like to see if another manager could add a bit of control to his game because in Ole's system he's allowed to do whatever the feck he wants and while it does yield results at times it's not a good way to play football at our level IMO.
I'm not his biggest fan tbh, but I'd like to see if another manager could add a bit of control to his game because in Ole's system he's allowed to do whatever the feck he wants and while it does yield results at times it's not a good way to play football at our level IMO.
One the one hand, Bruno created 10 chances today and was just about our key driving force.
On the other hand, his bottling (and I do not use that word lightly) of that penalty in that fashion is not going to do anything to assuage the doubts of some of us, as to whether Bruno has the ability to consistently deliver in big matches or at big moments.
On the other hand, his bottling (and I do not use that word lightly) of that penalty in that fashion is not going to do anything to assuage the doubts of some of us, as to whether Bruno has the ability to consistently deliver in big matches or at big moments.
This exactly. The fact that we lost control of the midfield was not solely due to McFred. Bruno showed no composure in this game, calling for ball for no reason, rushing to take throw in etc. He registered 10 key passes because Greenwood managed to turn most of his passes into shots, but everyone knew none of those was clear cut opportunities.
He had 2 or 3 decent moments today, everything in general was so disjointed, I felt the shadow of Ronaldo hung over him on the pena.
Or Greenwood fecked up himself with most of them and didn't get an actual goal.
Skysports gave Bruno the lowest rating alongside Fred and Shaw, despite his 10 "key passes".
Ok because I never said that - I actually think he gets tasked with too much ground to cover which is then exacerbated by our route one football.
I personally think it is too high given our wide forwards + CF tend to be advanced (so that’s usually 3 players already on the defensive line) and where we need control is when that ball isn’t on, which it normally isn’t, to not go long and play him in. There’s always space in front of a retreating back four and he’s such a good player he could really damage teams on the turn.
insert cliche about having the balls to grab the game by it’s neck when things are tough.
Not his worst game. Was lively at times. One of those days for him. He’ll come back.
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