Not even close. Our best football of the season came right after lock down with a midfield consisting of Bruno, Pogba and Matic when we were absolutely tearing apart teams left, right and center until we got leggy in our last few games.
Speaking of Fred, unlike most on the Caf, I see Ole starting the season with him alongside Pogba and Bruno. His performance against Sevilla was very good and had it not been for pathetic defending and bad finishing we would have walked away from that game winners. Our midfield was head and shoulder above the rest of the field. If there is anything good to take away from the Sevilla game is the midfield performance. I think a midfield of Fred, Pogba and Bruno should be the way to go and even if we don't start the season that way, we'll eventually get to that stage.
For me that Fred game is overrated. He had a good game but am I surprised we didnt succeed as a team? Not really.
We cant be playing a 4231 with an attacking player so high up in the formation position with Pogba and Fred being the defensive minded players.
If we play like that we end up getting the good performances but unbalanced results that happen during periods of Ole's tenure.
If we want to play such a way we need to switch to a 433 and get every single one of our midfielders to be able to help defensively aswell as allow them to contribute in attack depending on where the positions open up on the pitch.
That stops the opposition being able to target players like Fred or Pogba on the attack or a counter and instead have to target our whole midfield as a whole unit. I prefer that because Bruno has a great defensive ability and has attacking ability, Pogba then also has the ability to become a more attacking minded player than just focusing on being a deep lying player all the time, The same with players like Fred & Van de Beek - we turn into a midfiel unit.
Why I think the 433 is even better for us is because of Martial. Martial in a 4231 has to play too much of a poacher in front of Rashford and Greenwood (who are playing balls in to martial) when in a 433 it can be he who drops off to play balls in to Rashford & Greenwood.
In your mind what is the benefit of playing
Martial
Rashford- bruno - Greenwood
Fred pogba
Vs
Rashford - Martial- Greenwood
Fred - Bruno - Pogba
Does it really take anything away from our creativity when more creative players are allowed to come forward?
If we play the latter I can see how Van de Beek fits in to any of the midfield 3 without losing too much balance - maybe even cover for Martial at times.