tjb
Full Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,770
The problem is Fred isn't a DM. His positional play and lack of strength make it impossible for that trio to work in midfield. Fred didn't start after project restart for a reason, when Matic is deemed fit, he was relegated to the bench...ironically this period was by far the best we played under Ole. Why? We were able to control games due to having midfielders that had the on ball ability to passive and recieve the ball with good first touches who didn't get flustered at the slightest pressure and had the the positional intelligence on the ball to recieve passes from the defence and off the ball to prevent counter attacking opportunities. Unfortunately, pogbas poor injury record and Matic getting older and losing his legs meant that the ideal partnership we had in midfield fell apart at the start of the season and we have not been able to replicate that since despite being second.Half the posters in here are totally dismissive acting like Fred is the first on the chopping block if we sign a new midfielder but in all likelihood it’s Pogba who’s going to move on (Matic next) and Fred is almost certainly safe for next season. If Pogba stays I don’t think we sign any midfielder. Fred Pogba Bruno will be our preferred lineup but Pogba and Bruno really need to sort out their interplay and dynamic. It’s like 2 separate attacking midfielders playing in each other’s way a lot of the time. If Pogba goes it’ll be rice or someone, Fred, Bruno and I think that’ll be a better and more balanced midfield.
Playing in a two man midfield means the midfielder has to have a lot about his game and can't afford to be too limited, especially at united who play with wide forwards rather than wingers. Fred isn't a bad player, but he can't be permanently tasked with thag responsibility. If we stick with a 4231, he needs to be replaced with someone more rounded ( maybe even two players).However if we move to a 433 and push Bruno deeper, Fred can function as a ballwinner( rotating with mctominay and vdb), whilst we sign a DM that can help build up and stop counters.