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They aren't even the same type of player and don't have the same game - so what you're really saying is that you'll swap Fred for a DMF.
Because he wins the ball in the opposition's half and denies their counter while leading ours in. It's his best quality.
Nail on the head and that is exactly our midfield problem. We have 2 players that complement each other but are quite limited as well. Essentially they're doing a one man's job. Fred brings the energy, McTominay the body, but both aren't good enough on the ball.
The problem with that is that Rice is one player, McFred is two. The fact that McTominay and Fred have to play together to be effective really holds us back. Fred in particular is really limited, and he would be the one I'd upgrade on if I could. But in an ideal world, we have a defensive midfielder beside Pogba, or behind two free 8's, with McTominay a squad player when we need more steel in midfield.
Sometimes he does, some times he is left for dead and our defense is exposed, that's the type of midifielder he is really, just not what we need imo.
He was awful yesterday and in a matter of months, would be slated on here if we were to sign him. We do need to improve our midfield but let's steer well clear of Declan Rice.Nowhere near his best game in a united shirt, not even top 10 to be honest. Leipzig and PSG this season and PSG away in 2019, Barca away same season and take your pick of the wins over City last season, was also very good in wins against chelsea last season. He was also excellent for us in the run up to Christmas just gone....check through this thread if you wish to see where his performances were praised. That and the pre covid run we had last season were his best spells for us. Amazing how people forget this.
You like many other on here were heaping praise on him in past games. I was one of the few people who were calling him out. The reason I believe he's a better player now is because I believe he's tidied his game up a lot and is far more direct with his passing (not just passing sideways). He's also more accurate with his passing. His retrieving is better also. Let's just say he is getting nearer to a Kante-type player imo whereas before it was an insult to Kante to make that comparison.
You're wrong. Fred has not improved all of a sudden. He has been playing at a very consistent level for 12-18 months now.
Yep, will be another massively overpriced player. I don't think he's a bad player but for the money WHU will want...steer clear.Are people still banging on about Rice
Aye, not a bad player but a ridiculously overrated one. You just know if we signed him, he would come in for criticism after people have had a chance to watch him every week. For the £60m to £80m he would cost, he wouldn't really be much of an upgrade and he's not what we should be looking for.
Absolutely spot on and just evidence how agendas can create amnesia influences people's view when making a point. Fred hasn't been great for the last 3-4 games at least but conversely neither has Utd. Many won't believe that there is a correlation between the two but I do. Generally if he plays well, we win football games cause of his influence at both ends. A lot of his work people ignore or minimise and will see what they want to.
True, he failed a couple of times in the 2nd half close to the halfway line. It's one of the reasons Ole prefers a double pivot, I think. He's our only player that can do it and actually tries, so I'm wouldn't judge him too harshly on it.
Because West Ham were sitting back. Fred's not press resistant. He's not someone that will show up for the ball with someone breathing in his neck (like vs Milan) and be able to turn away from his marker and progress the ball. Pogba's our only player that can do that. McTominay can hold the ball a bit better than Fred, but he only passes it back or sideways. Pogba's injury has highlighted our other midfielder's lack of ability on the ball.
Agree. It's funny how some fans dumb down our players cause they see them every week yet elevate others playing in teams where the only pressure is to not get drawn into a regulation battle. People underestimate that there is no other English team comes with the same pressure both inside and outside of the club than here. We are the only team that a player can make the front and back pages....
Some fair points but Pogs has also struggled for a long time here too.
Agreed. Would prefer more of a DLP type - but that's easier said than done as there are very few of them at the required standard around and available.
I think Ole prefers a double pivot because of lack of options to be fair. If Pogba was fit and ready he would be first choice, which then brings up the question of who should partner him. Fred is not the partner that would be suitable.
You know Fred has played pretty much every big game inc the last European semi finals we took part in, even if Pogs was available. You know he is currently the DM for us. You know he is currently playing for us and not West Ham. If we are star gazing, I'm saying he'll be the DM next season too. We aren't going to spend 60m on a player when it's pretty clear Ole is looking for a forward, CB and cover at RB....
Agreed. Plays a very important role for us. I dont know if the recent poor form is down to fatigue or what as his workrate hasn't been as high as usual I feel. People here seem to argue that his recent performances are his level...sure let's ignore the last 2 years and pretend he has only been as good as the last month. To make that argument really is agenda driven.
I'm quite aware of all of that, but I'm also quite aware of the fact that Fred is limited as a DM. He's neither a defensive rock nor a gifted passer of the ball. I'm glad he's a member of the squad, but as I wrote before I hope he's not our answer at DM if we ever find ourselves in a CL final again. But I full agree with your point that we shouldn't be spending silly money on a DM when we have a gaping hole at CF.
Yeah he's not and yet he's got the best defensive numbers in our team and in the league past few seasons. Such a nonsense thrown around that he's not good enough, he's got some insane numbers matching Kante easily, but perhaps for you it's about the lad has to be tall and strong and sitting to be a DM. Fred covers the most ground, is the first player to cover for any of the defenders and first player to win the ball in dangerous situation in both sides of the pitch. He again won a couple of goals and set up great counters but obviously people just remember highlights. The Rashford header and Greenwood chance he would have a preassist if the strikers didn't fail to finish.
Why do people keep using different versions of this inane insult?
Quite a long post to agree with what I’ve already written twice, which is that Fred is an asset to the squad. But posts like this, which way overstate his talents and might induce those who have never seen him play before that Fred is the next Carrick, or Makelele, should be taken with a grain of salt.
Super passionate post. It's like you have your cape on, patrolling this thread for naysayers
.?Kante is two leagues above not only Fred, but more than half of our squad.Did anyone watch Kante's man of the match performance against Athletico Madrid last night and think it was just like watching Fred
We must have an amazing manager if our rabble of league 1 players are six points clear of Kante's team, eh?
@GifLord
