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If we can make that happen against Villa, one of the hardest to breakdown teams in England, I am sure we can make it happen again.
Bollocks, one of our best players. Pressing was excellent and created a lot of the attacks. Should be kept in this position.
Watch us next week game when Nottingham sits deep. Villa played a extreme high line today.
So the poor performances where only at the start of the season then?
Yes he is still an issue but the critics are asking for him to be replaced rather than for him being dropped. And one game doesn't really change it. I mean, that is the tune of most of you guys when he had a bad game, so it has to apply here as well, does it?Just checking: Is Bruno still the cause of our problems and in desperate need of dropping..?
Villa operates with a high line. When you manage to play long balls AND beat their offside, you are are on two something. That Bruno would be a weapon in those conditions should have been obvious. Thinking that we beat Villa just because Eriksen was on the pitch and we finally played well wouldn't be the right conclusion. Although it obviously helped massively. But there is more to the story.
To be fair, as captain, he was well within his rights to shout at the ref on that occasion. Bruno tried to take a quick free kick, Villa player stands 2 yards in front of him to block it (textbook yellow card), ref gives nothing, Bruno complains that it was an obvious yellow, ref books Bruno
Yup. Those two have excellent understanding. Eriksen allows Bruno to do what he does best, because he knows there is a passing option for the defense behind him.
Yeah I hate Brunos petulence but that was a stonewall yellow to the Villa player and he was fully in his right to complain.To be fair, as captain, he was well within his rights to shout at the ref on that occasion. Bruno tried to take a quick free kick, Villa player stands 2 yards in front of him to block it (textbook yellow card), ref gives nothing, Bruno complains that it was an obvious yellow, ref books Bruno
Villa's highline and our defenders being quicker releasing the ball with our attacking players running very effectively particularly in the second half suited Bruno, particularly having Eriksen instead of McTominay and as a critic I must admit he played well, but a truly great player finds a way to play well in all situations not just when the wind is in your sails, everyone played very well tonight and credit due Bruno was good, particularly after Villa's second goal.
It's like collective amnesia has set in and people have forgotten the numerous times Bruno has opened up tight games for us. Literally, the main reason Ole's United went from stuck in sixth, counter attacking everyone, to climbing the table. Short memories I suppose.
The lesson is "play him against high lines as often as you can and don't task him with general midfield play".
I think you are mistaking spamming balls in behind for opening tight games. It is a numbers game at some point. And this is not me saying that he can only be effective in games like today. Of course he can effect other games as well. Just not as well as games like today. But credit where credit is due, I think, he was fine today. The overall outlook most likely will be very different next week when up against a deeper block and he isn't afforded space to play into.
74 touches
Nope. Genuinely not. Bruno has opened up teams that are massed on their 18 yard box literally dozens of times. He's not managed to run up a 3 figure total for goal contributions by spamming balls in behind. I can't be bothered to find a video with every chance he's made for United. But I can promise you he's made key passes and assists against every type of defensive structure for us.
Oh no, how on earth will he cope in our next game?! Do you not remember how he played against Forest's low block in April? You might want to check the post-match reactions on here to jog your memory.
But a video of his chances wouldn't help your argument here. I didn't deny him creating chances. What I am saying is that he is playing a numbers game. Spamming is probably a bit of a stretch and not the most neutral term but it isn't categorically wrong. He is our main facillitator, you can make a point for him being the only one. So of course he has amassed all types of situations. But still, just like more or less every good 10 in world football, he thrives when he has space to play into. So, obviously, a game with optimal conditions, like tonight, will suit him and he'll look good.
Lets try to keep it clean here - I didn't say we should be worried. All I said was, lets not overreact for one game against a team with suiting tactics. Nottingham will probably play with different tactics and we may not have the advantage* we had today.
A little reminder as to how the caf thought he fared vs Nottingham Forest's low block last time we played them away: https://www.redcafe.net/threads/bruno-fernandes-2022-23-performances.471416/page-153
He lost the ball 24 times, meaning that almost every third touch resulted in a possession for Villa. He also conceded a dumb foul for the first goal.
A video would illustrate the various circumstances in which Bruno has opened up tight defences. Without relying either on simply playing balls in behind or waiting until games becomes broken and capitalising on transitional moments.
Well yeah it is Nottingham after all, isn't it? And as a frequent visitor of Brunos threads in the last months and years, I know that good games draw as much attentions as bad games did. Lets hope he has a good game again, won't complain. Maybe he is upping his level now. But one game isn't enough to make a trend. It is something to be happy about, no complaining about it.
While it must be little bit irritating sometimes he was in his right in this game. Why didn't Pawson book Aston Villa player? Fernandes was in his right to tell referee that as a captain.
Ok, just to be clear: Are we really arguing about me saying that Bruno will produce more in conditions like today, against a high line, instead of against packed defenses? Because I am sure this statement can easily be made and backed up by stats for pretty much every attacking player on the planet. I didn't say he cannot do it in other circumstances and knowing that a) he is the one player who carries the chance creation since years and b) that he has a knack for playing early balls in behind, I am well aware of the fact that he did achieve it in other conditions. He still is more productive in conditions as today. It isn't a coincidence that most of our attacking players looked better today.
I agree, this time he was right. And I guess nobody would make remarks if he would just told that to the ref. But he is impulsive and has a tendency to throw a tantrum. This isn't covered by the captains armband. That being said, I was positively suprised that he managed to contain himself for most of the 2nd half.
So hang on - when he plays well vs 3rd place Villa, that's because "their high line played to his strengths". But when he also plays well vs a low block, it's "only Nottingham Forest after all"? The mental gymnastics some people go through to downplay Bruno's ability is mad.
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Either that or they seriously over-analyse to their own detriment.
