Fred - £47m well spent

[Bobcat]

If we had a wonderfully balanced midfield, we would be capable of creating chances for our strikers.

We don't have that, so we don't create chances.
Fred being one of the worst culprits.

Agreed. 9/10 of our attacks goes through the flanks since our CM pairing are utterly unable to transport the ball forward in any decent manner.

Fred is great when the other team has the ball and his biggest asset is causing dangerous turnovers, but his passing is laughable for a supposed top team CM

 

[Gehrman]

Underrated at 50 mil. I don't think so. He's got a good engine but his passing is terrible and he can't shoot.

 

[Ish]

Maybe a bit harsh cause I need to wake up at 4am to watch this dire display, but I can’t think a midfielder more limited than him. Can’t shoot, can’t dribble, bad first touch, physically weak, the only thing he can do is run like a madman

Yeah, I am not disagreeing (maybe just on the extremity of your post but that's understandable if you need to wake up at 4am). What's more mindboggling is the ones trying to justify his price tag as a "good signing". Sometimes you're not even sure if you're watching the same team/player. He's improved, no doubt and has his good days. But I personally, expect so much more from a midfielder playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

He’s been one of our best players this season.

It’s annoying we don’t have a plan B for Pogba not playing. Matic and Fred in the same side is really problematic. I put some of the blame on the coaching side, but not having something even approaching a like for like swap for Pogba is ruinous.

McTominay could probably be trusted more, but he’s still a different player.

The moment you see Fred and Matic in the line up you know we’re restricted to that slow churn for 90 minutes. That’s not a knock on either of them. They generally perform. But our system is awful with 5 players in the side that don’t offer anything going forward.

 

[Sylar]

I agree that Ole takes too long for subs but all he had was Daniel James, telles and Mctomminay that have proved to be some sort of creative player in the first team.

Literally everyone is injured or coming back from injury that has some creative ability.

No mata, no Pogba, no VDB, no Martial.

I also think Fred is a more creative player than Mctomminay whilst Mctomminay is a better long shot taker (which Matic already is in that starting 11).

Our whole creative ability was out, our striker had just come back from injury.

But he has to try something
Maybe put Shaw Bailly and Maguire as CBS
James rwb and telles lwb
Then over load the centre for crosses?

Or sacrifice matic, bring back Bruno and throw on one of the kids? I mean you gotta try something

All this talk of Manchester United DNA, but where's the risk?
I'd rather us go for a win and fail then just be safe and hope for something that hasn't worked for a full 70 minutes and was getting worse and worse

You got to try at least to give the opposition something different to think about rather than standard like for like

 

[Bwuk]

But he has to try something
Maybe put Shaw Bailly and Maguire as CBS
James rwb and telles lwb
Then over load the centre for crosses?

Or sacrifice matic, bring back Bruno and throw on one of the kids? I mean you gotta try something

All this talk of Manchester United DNA, but where's the risk?
I'd rather us go for a win and fail then just be safe and hope for something that hasn't worked for a full 70 minutes and was getting worse and worse

You got to try at least to give the opposition something different to think about rather than standard like for like

Agreed we have to try something different. The 4-2-3-1 isn't working without someone like Pogba at CM.

Wouldn't be against the 3-4-3 but would be a bit worried about James at RWB.

 

[Sylar]

Agreed we have to try something different. The 4-2-3-1 isn't working without someone like Pogba at CM.

Wouldn't be against the 3-4-3 but would be a bit worried about James at RWB.

Certainly not for long term. But mid game theres no harm in trying if you want to change it and give the opposition something different to think about.

Back to Fred, having him and Fred together in a match against lower opposition doesnt work and wasnt needed. I think since we started with it, I was fine with it. But you gotta sacrifice one of them for an attacking player especially with Palace' main counter threat in Zaha not playing.

 

[Eugenius]

Underrated at 50 mil. I don't think so. He's got a good engine but his passing is terrible and he can't shoot.

Yeah exactly. Does a job, important squad member but cost more than Bruno and VdB.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Running a lot isn't enough. We already had that in Herrera, and he was a better footballer too, whilst still being fairly unremarkable himself. At least his first touch and passing were decent, and he didn't fall over all the time.

Fred may well be the worst shooter in the league. I can't remember seeing anyone else's attempts go so tragically high and wide so consistently. I'm not judging him on his goal output, but he should probably stop trying altogether.

 

[The Irish Connection]

I think we'll have to agree to disagree. The only thing is agree with is that last one about covering ground. Personally, I wonder how we'd look like having Herrera next to McTominay.

Yep. Maybe I’m underrating Herrera based on the terrible football we played with him in the team but I rate Fred higher. The best football we’ve played in the last couple years has been with him and Mctominay in midfield.

 

[hubbuh]

I'd be interested to know what it was the higher ups saw in Fred that convinced them he was the solution to our midfield woes. I like him and he's been a decent player for us but it's another peculiar signing from us. We need a CM that is much more creative and able to dictate play so it'll be interesting to see where that leaves Fred and McTominay (assuming we actually get that CM). They strike me as useful squad players but not much more.

 

[Lappen]

I'd be interested to know what it was the higher ups saw in Fred that convinced them he was the solution to our midfield woes. I like him and he's been a decent player for us but it's another peculiar signing from us. We need a CM that is much more creative and able to dictate play so it'll be interesting to see where that leaves Fred and McTominay (assuming we actually get that CM). They strike me as useful squad players but not much more.

When we bought him everybody was looking for another Kante. And for us it looks like a male, quite short and with a god engine was enough to pay whatever they wanted...

I do like him a bit and thinks he has done some good games for us, even some great. But if we want challenge for the biggest titles we need to improve. (Yesterday he was horrible).

 

[Gandalf]

I'd be interested to know what it was the higher ups saw in Fred that convinced them he was the solution to our midfield woes. I like him and he's been a decent player for us but it's another peculiar signing from us. We need a CM that is much more creative and able to dictate play so it'll be interesting to see where that leaves Fred and McTominay (assuming we actually get that CM). They strike me as useful squad players but not much more.

I would also love to know what City saw in him. Jose was obviously not a fan and the whole deal seemed to be about trying to beat City to the punch because Pep wanted him, similar to the Sanchez deal but with slightly less ruinous results.

 

[MrBest]

Players will always be limited in areas but they can also improve ability over time. The real problem is our coaching is so terrible, they clearly are not working on areas Fred can get better in and if they are, i see no evidence of this and therefore, coaching must be even more terrible than I thought. Fred is a gritty player, good energy and stamina but I am oustanded that he can put two passes together most of the time. At the moment it looks like he belongs in the championship. Under better coaches, I think he would be a better player.

 

[RedIan]

I love Freds industry on the pitch but his technical ability is piss poor, division 3 standard. If you need coaching at this level on how to pass a ball and shoot with a modicum of accuracy then you are simply not good enough. How we spent all that money on such a player is beyond me and absolute craziness.

we are in a serious need of an upgrade in the DM area.

 

[Samid]

My eyes bleed watching him play. Please for god's sake buy an actual midfielder in the summer.

 

[Adamsk7]

My eyes bleed watching him play. Please for god's sake buy an actual midfielder in the summer.

Yeah Kessie

 

[MUFC OK]

Morts player starting week in week out. His performance so far tonight is new levels of bad, marking himself out of the game, giving it away. Shambolic performance, one of the worst I’ve seen in a Utd shirt.

 

[Champagne Football]

My eyes bleed watching him play. Please for god's sake buy an actual midfielder in the summer.

There's one on the bench that will hopefully be in the first XI next season.

 

[#07]

We spent £50m on a midfielder whose second touch is a tackle. I am speechless.

 

[acnumber9]

There's one on the bench that will hopefully be in the first XI next season.

Pogba?

 

[thesheriffjw]

Yep first touch, miscontrol, 2nd touch, tackle

And what about his passing? Abysmal

 

[redNATION]

Can’t win major trophies with guys like Fred, mctomminay and martial in your team. Don’t have the quality to compete with the best.

 

[Bobcat]

Good engine on him and hes a good tackler, but he has zero ability on the ball and zero composure.

And what the feck is it about those ridiculous shots he takes? He cant even score from 18 yards out, so why does he think he can score from 25 yards out when the keeper has full view of the shot?

 

[ReallyUSA]

Can’t win major trophies with guys like Fred, mctomminay and martial in your team. Don’t have the quality to compete with the best.

Let's not add Martial in that group because this thread will fly off the rails.

However, I don't think Fred is a first eleven guy. He had his purple patch during that incredible run last year, and we all thought he figured it out. Sucks and it looks like he's destined to be a bench player for the foreseeable future for the team.

 

[Martialfc]

What are people smoking in this chat? I’ve seen that some people rate this fraud. He is so so so bad at 80% of the things that you need to be a footballer. He’s an athlete but that’s about it. He’s short can’t head, pass or shoot and isn’t even physical. Why do be always buy sub par players for ridiculous money. 50 million is a joke and we are a joke. God I hate Fred.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Daniel James CDM version, lots of stamina and good attitude, and thats about it. Lack so many fundamentals that is hard to justify the fee paid for him.

 

[TMDaines]

Said it repeatedly, when you need a goal Fred is a liability. Anyone, just anyone, is a bigger asset. At least Phil Jones would recognise his role.

 

[Leg-End]

He’s a great squad rotational player and specialist in certain games but the fact he’s been a mainstay in the team all season just highlights the level we have allowed ourselves to drop to.

 

[El Zoido]

Can’t win major trophies with guys like Fred, mctomminay and martial in your team. Don’t have the quality to compete with the best.

McT is fine, Fred just doesn’t have enough to his game though. His passing range is shocking for a midfielder.

 

[Borys]

He's good enough for 80% of games we play. Tonight isn't one of them.

Out of his depth.

 

[Shane88]

A joke of a player.

Ask yourself; when the ball is played into him in a busy midfield, how confident are you that he will control it comfortably and move it on? Or are you terrified of him bumbling on the ball and setting up the counter?

It's a rhetorical question, I know it's the latter.

 

[Jackal981]

47m down the drain. If his name is Freddy and he is English he will play at Championship level at the best. An old soon to retire Mark Noble is 10x better than him

 

[Shark]

McT is fine, Fred just doesn’t have enough to his game though. His passing range is shocking for a midfielder.

Which is why he's nowhere near good enough. As a squad player for certain games or tactics he's decent but we need an upgrade on him badly.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Absolutely laughably bad tonight.

His passing is horrifying.

 

[PoTMS]

Remember when people said he's worth more than £50m to us?



Not a single club would offer even half that for him.

 

[slored1]

This thread jinxed him. He's got to be one of the weirdest players to ever play for United. He can deliver perfect 50 yard passes and fecks up three two-yard passes in a row, most often in the same game.

 

[FcUnitedRed]

Why on earth do we keep persevering with him and make playing in the middle of the park so much harder for ourselves.

Someone on here said it before, probably the worse brazillian footballer.....ever!!

I bet shakhtar Donetsk were licking their lips at the thought of practically stealing nearly £50 mil from us.

 

[Based Adnan]

He's an absolute mess

 

[M Bison]

Not playing well but not as bad as is being made out, the caf, reactionary as always.