Take your post of the day award.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Goals
- 15
- Assists
- 12
- Yellow cards
- 12
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
I don’t like him out wide that much, but I think it’s better than him being deeper in midfield. He scored a great goal today and the higher we put him up the pitch the more dangerous he can be for us, especially when he has players like Hannibal and Hojlund to press with him.
Homerun hitters don't usually have a high batting average.
He was playing out wide to be honest and recycling is not his MO.
Some posters really have it for Bruno, don't they?
Amazing technique for his goal.
He should learn to enjoy that position quick because it the position that suits what he brings to this team. With another set of players he can do his thing elsewhere but this team can’t afford to have him in areas of detriment.Its bizarre. Especially as he was playing as an inside right. How many inside forwards have really, really high pass success rates?
He wasn't getting on the ball regularly and, when he was, he was trying to make things happen (as he should).
We won the game thanks to Bruno scoring a goal that few players in our squad could, from a position that he obviously doesn't love and tends to be marginalised in.
Still some are unhappy.
I always enjoy his performances out wide unfortunately for me he doesn’t.
I think there could be something in this RW experiment. He of course won’t go past any left backs, although neither will Antony. In that position, I have a lot more time for any arguments centred solely around goals/assists. And I’d back Bruno to post higher numbers than Antony if they both spent a season on the right.
With Rashford and Hojlund reliant upon speed, and Rashford in particular being slow to deliver the ball or make right decisions - I think having a player who will likely whip the ball in first time more often than not on the right and would be happy squaring it to a player in a better position could be beneficial. Of course, it’s not the most ideal solution, and there will be many attacks ruined where we would be saying ‘if only we had someone with more lace, he’d be in’ - but as a band aid it could work. Happy to try Pellistri there too as he’s similarly a crosser but with more dynamism.
It also allows us to get greater control in the middle by bringing in an additional midfielder, with Bruno also coming inside to help.
With Rashford and Hojlund reliant upon speed, and Rashford in particular being slow to deliver the ball or make right decisions - I think having a player who will likely whip the ball in first time more often than not on the right and would be happy squaring it to a player in a better position could be beneficial. Of course, it’s not the most ideal solution, and there will be many attacks ruined where we would be saying ‘if only we had someone with more lace, he’d be in’ - but as a band aid it could work. Happy to try Pellistri there too as he’s similarly a crosser but with more dynamism.
It also allows us to get greater control in the middle by bringing in an additional midfielder, with Bruno also coming inside to help.
Forget the goal because everyone knows it was a pitch.
Thought his game contribution was understated but massive both defensively and as an outlet. Hope the exemplary level of discipline and nous shown in the higher spaces appreciated more.
Thought his game contribution was understated but massive both defensively and as an outlet. Hope the exemplary level of discipline and nous shown in the higher spaces appreciated more.
I seem to remember Eriksen being really effective in that role for Spurs when they had Dele Ali at 10 and Son on the left. I think we can do something similar with Mount at 10. They can easily switch too.
You would ideally have some pace but the more I watch Rashford and Hojlund, the more I feel that some of these qualities are what our attack needs most now. Just consistent ‘service’. Rashford’s decision making is awful, and Antony is not much better. Neither provide any service, but Rashford can at least get on the end of service.
If Bruno plays right and gets a high volume of dangerous balls into the box or in behind, it would help no end. I also think we have midfield options that offer better qualities in that area than Bruno, and it is less harmful to have a winger just constantly looking to put the ball in behind than a midfielder.
I think Mount would be in the team anyway, so it would allow a third midfielder in Amrabat or Hannibal, which would theoretically give us a good base in terms of possession and physicality in the centre.
I agree. Think he or Mount should be played on the right because it a) puts them in the forward group and b) could have us move back to a more familiar formation. Don't really like this diamond thing, we absolutely don't have the players for as we can not make use of its strength but suffer heavily from the disadvantages.
I think, this game shows, how different people look back on games. We won through a great goal by our captain, happy life, who cares about the rest. We got a hard fought scrappy win against a not so great Burnley team that mostly matched us in a game, most will have forgotten by tomorrow morning. Bruno scored a brilliant goal but it didn't really change much on the grand scheme of things and none of the criticism is rendered invalid by it. It is not negativity or an agenda to point that out. Otherwise it would be an agenda when he gets defended after a bad performance as well.
Some posters in here felt the need to complain about the moaners (when the moaning was about that tweet from that Stats twat) even when the players critics where among the first to single him out for his great goal today. There was even talk of hate towards critics... Only shows that some on here are mostly around this thread for the conflict because the only thing that this will make sure is, that we will have doom and gloom after the next bad performance where the other side will want to feel vindicated...
I blame Statman Dave with his BS tweets
Well taken goal and to be fair, majority of the time he didnt shirk the defensive responsibilities for the wing . I don't know if he can be coached into having positional discipline and sense required for the 10 position, if not I would keep playing him on the wing and only move him central against cannon fodder.
I'm partial to the idea but i think the full back behind could be important and im not sure it'll suit wan bisakka (or maybe it'll be ideal for him giving a bit of pace on the overlap?). I'm not sure throwing every midfielder we have on the pitch for 90 minutes every week is a great plan either. Though maybe Hannibal and Mainoo will surprise me in terms of providing cover. I think it'll be one option among many. I can see Bruno changing position a couple of times a match to be honest.
I often wonder how Bruno would fit in to our 99 side. In many ways, it's unfortunate he isn't surrounded by the quality we used to have.
He’d probably have to play as a striker or RW. Obviously it would be a downgrade but there’s no shame in that. The past team I can see him fit in most is the 4411 instead of Rooney.
I'd say yorke is the most natural trade from 99. He reminds me of Cantona
Definitely more hope in it having an actual target to play with in there like Hojlund, without that I don't think it could work (and why it didn't before). But yeah keeping him in the front 3 suppresses the ball losses (he has 55% pass accuracy, but pretty much every pass was trying to be a killer ball so whatever) and lets him just interact with the front 2.
Also in big games, keeps him away from being pressed out of the game in the middle.
Why would anyone say Cantona was bad? Or are you making a comparison with Bruno?
What a player! Captain.
He’d struggle as where is he playing in a 442? He isn’t getting in the 4 and we then had 4 great strikers. He’d be back up to Scholes at best and that would be a complete change of what each player brought to the team. He could be Yorke’s replacement but Sheringham was better at that role.
one of my fave posts ever, love it.
Absolute Legend
Which I find very weird considering his contributions to the club since he joined and the fact he's never injured and plays just about every game.
The more I think about it, I can definitely see some upside to him on the right. Could actually be a more suited role than the centre. For me, it’s always about the unit and how the pieces best connect with each other. His limitations could even be a positive in some ways. He can’t hold the ball for very long without losing it, certainly unless there is no pressure. This has detrimental effects in the middle, but out wide - it would likely lead to him just constantly looking to deliver dangerous balls. Similarly to Beckham, his inability to go past anyone meant he was trying to get a cross off as soon as he could, and more often than not. In the final third, from the wing - that is a very different proposition than the centre of the field. Let those in the centre have the job of constantly working the ball out to Bruno in those areas
With Hojlund and Rashford, that’s the type of service they need. And that’s what it’s about, constructing a team whose parts compliment each other most. Just buying a player because he plays in a position is basic, you need to look at qualities and how they compliment what you have. I have no idea how Antony fits into any wider team strategy. He is not a transition forward like Rashford. He’s not direct, he’s not a player Bruno releases from the centre. Not a player for the ‘transition football’ Ten Hag apparently wants to play. Nor is he a crosser to provide for Hojlund or others. He’s just a ‘right winger’, bought because we need one of those, and doesn’t fit into a wider unit and enhance those around him. This is part of why I am critical of Ten Hag. I can’t see how he’s trying to build a high level unit that becomes better when the parts are put together.
With Hojlund and Rashford, that’s the type of service they need. And that’s what it’s about, constructing a team whose parts compliment each other most. Just buying a player because he plays in a position is basic, you need to look at qualities and how they compliment what you have. I have no idea how Antony fits into any wider team strategy. He is not a transition forward like Rashford. He’s not direct, he’s not a player Bruno releases from the centre. Not a player for the ‘transition football’ Ten Hag apparently wants to play. Nor is he a crosser to provide for Hojlund or others. He’s just a ‘right winger’, bought because we need one of those, and doesn’t fit into a wider unit and enhance those around him. This is part of why I am critical of Ten Hag. I can’t see how he’s trying to build a high level unit that becomes better when the parts are put together.
Agree mostly only want to add that for all we know, ETH plays a pretty traditional dutch style in terms of roles and his wingers are supposed to keep the width. Which doesn't undermine most of your points but gives a glimpse into what Antony offers which I agree isn't much at the moment (independent of the recent events), he is young though and his technical level isn't bad at all and he has a positive amount of tenacity about him. He is here for now, lets see how to get the best out of him.
For Bruno to work on the flank, I think it could work if he plays a little like Mata, I agree, it definitely is worth a shot. It would work even better if we had a RB who either steps up or gets brought in. A very active fullback could make that flank even more dangerous as it could balance out Brunos deficits in terms of pace tendency to come inside.
I think with players that are as productive as Bruno it’ll definitely be more prudent to play them closer to goal. This will allow him to wonder without compromising the solidity of the team centrally. So wide right may be the fix.
As was mentioned, I like the idea of a player that can whip the ball in behind the defence for a more physical player like Rasmus or Marcus at the back post.
I don’t mind rotating of players and positions whenever we get over the injuries in the team. However for now playing him on the right may help provide the stability we need.
As was mentioned, I like the idea of a player that can whip the ball in behind the defence for a more physical player like Rasmus or Marcus at the back post.
I don’t mind rotating of players and positions whenever we get over the injuries in the team. However for now playing him on the right may help provide the stability we need.
Anyone that thinks we’re better off without Bruno is quite frankly a fecking moron. Best signing post Fergie and it’s not even close. I dread to think where we’d be without him.
Fergie would have found a role for him I am sure. Of course now, knowing how the season went and how we were a chance creating and goal scoring machine back then, it’s easy to say player x would have been a downgrade. But this applies to more or less everyone. Even Shearer would have been a downgrade as York-Cole link up that season was priceless. And now, looking back, I wouldn’t have even taken Zidane in 99 as the question would be instead of who. And don’t forget even a genius and brilliant player like Zidane actually needed to move to Real Madrid to win the CL, couldn’t do it with Juventus despite their amazing team.
So while Bruno may have been a downgrade, the same would apply to more or less any player.
You would probably take Zidane over Butt (47 games) and Bruno over Blomqvist (38 games). Not saying the two weren't solid players however.
Unideal with Bruno on the left, but Becks was one of the best players in the world at that time so he's not playing on the right.
Really shocking why this thread is always so loaded with controversy...
Apparently scoring the winning goal, great goal by the way, in a non-discript performance in a dire game vs Burnley in your fourth season draws parallels to Cantona, Giggs, the 99 team and Zidane.
Someone said something to the tone of “anyone who doesnt see the Bruno problems brings, deserves the shit football we play and the constant shit big game performances from him” and they were right.
Son, on a hat trick and as club captain got subbed off today so that Spurs could have a chance to win the derby. There would be an uproar in here if that was Bruno being taken off after such a good game seeing as he never gets subbed even in the shit games he plays.
Awesome movement and finish. He also did really well just to get a shot off with that other chance from the cross.
If Bruno can get his shooting boots back this season it'll be a major asset.
If Bruno can get his shooting boots back this season it'll be a major asset.
It was a great volley to secure us the points. We need to get him on the ball more but I think that's probably down to all the injuries. Full XI and we see the best of Bruno: a world class player and turning into a great captain.
Our fan base are so entitled it beggars believe
feck my life it’s not that bad it’s just a football team that finished 3rd
Last edited:
Of course he isn’t starting ahead of anyone in the 99 team - it was one of greatest ever. He’d be backup and that’s perfectly respectable.
Top of this thread tells me, 7 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists. Average rating from Red Cafe members 5.1. It's better than Rashford's average rating of 4.7 I guess, but even so.....
Agreed. He’d be better quality backup than the likes of Butt and Blomqvist who played important parts.