His rate of turnovers is a massive issue and concern; being expansive and getting it right once in a while is not better than playing within your ability and keeping your side in possession; he cannot be a better passer than someone who does the latter.I think his play style is very similar to kante, but he doesn't have the same physicality and deicsion making as Kante. He's probably a better passer as well.
He's rightly got some stick for the howlers he can sometimes do, at vulnerable parts of the pitch. The man's got a superb mentality though, proper team player and determination in abundance.
Has to be. He was so shit his first 12 months that now being average people have been tricked into thinking that is amazing. Playing beside one of the most limited midfielders in the league in McTominay probably helps him look better too.It's because he was terrible in his first 12 months. That's why we had a "Why did we buy Fred?" thread.
I don’t think it’s really the rate of turnovers. He often times has a decent pass percentage. The issue is the specifics of the turnovers. He plays simple 10 yard passes directly to the opposition in our half 5 times a match. He also loves smashing a square ball into touch as well.His rate of turnovers is a massive issue and concern; being expansive and getting it right once in a while is not better than playing within your ability and keeping your side in possession; he cannot be a better passer than someone who does the latter.
He does some really good things, but his use of the ball - unforced errors in particular - need serious reining in.
He has a good engine and great workrate, but his technical abilties are bang average and like Anderson barely ever scores a goal. He is what he is.Has to be. He was so shit his first 12 months that now being average people have been tricked into thinking that is amazing. Playing beside one of the most limited midfielders in the league in McTominay probably helps him look better too.
Truth is he’s bang average and not even consistently average which is what you want from an average player.
It’s no surprise we are consistently overrun in midfield. It’s because you put a ball at Fred and McTominay’s feet (if you can actually manage to find McTominay) and they’re out of their depth. From City all the way down to Burnley, all of them have outplayed our midfield. They’ve survived on being bailed out by Rashford, Martial, and Bruno for long enough.
I think whichever way you interpret it - and I agree with what you've said - he absolutely cannot be doing that with the frequency he does. It's such a certainty, you can play tactics around it i.e. sit off him, and have him try and be expansive and just lap up his erroneous action and off you go on a counter, usually with a number of players now massively out of position and plenty of space to run into.I don’t think it’s really the rate of turnovers. He often times has a decent pass percentage. The issue is the specifics of the turnovers. He plays simple 10 yard passes directly to the opposition in our half 5 times a match. He also loves smashing a square ball into touch as well.
And awful, including the yellow cardHe was hooked because he was on a yellow card.
That goes to Matic for sureNot a good performance today but he was still our best midfielder out of a bad bunch today.
100% agree.I genuinely don't understand how anyone can look at Fred and think that he should be playing at the base of a midfield diamond? His best attribute by far is his ability to press, so putting him in a holding role just negates his strengths and forces him to be a reliable distributor of the ball, which he just isn't.
Yep, a midfielder who actually took care of the ball and drove forward with it.That goes to Matic for sure
The passing issue is consistent even when we win and he has a storming game; it is not being brought up just because we lost.Here we go, we have heard this again. One bad game and people forget the good things from multiple games already. I thought he was the better one than the other 3 of our midfielders today. He had yellow though so he was always gonna be off and was bit switched off in 2nd half.
Still just about better then his 3 pals in the diamond with him I’d say, but yes he wasn’t good today.And awful, including the yellow card
Fernandes was poor because the deeper players like Fred and the CBs couldnt find him in a good position. Fred was absolutely the worst in terms of losing the ball in dangerous areas, especially as he was playing the deepest role so once he's out of the play we're open. Pogba did lose the ball too but it tended to be in less dangerous areas up the pitch. He did give a penalty away though, we really dont want him defending in the box..Still just about better then his 3 pals in the diamond with him I’d say, but yes he wasn’t good today.
A sub who came on, and played a good amount of his minutes when we were down 1-0, and Arsenal weren't engaging in high press, is not in that contention.That goes to Matic for sure
Hes one of the reasons we actually had more of the ball. Fred continued to be poor until he came offA sub who came on, and played a good amount of his minutes when we were down 1-0, and Arsenal weren't engaging in high press, is not in that contention.
I think the main reason we had more of the ball was because Arsenal sat back and defended the 1-0 lead, and in the 2nd half, their pressing wasn't the same anyway.Hes one of the reasons we actually had more of the ball. Fred continued to be poor until he came off
The only person who thinks it apparently is ole.I genuinely don't understand how anyone can look at Fred and think that he should be playing at the base of a midfield diamond? His best attribute by far is his ability to press, so putting him in a holding role just negates his strengths and forces him to be a reliable distributor of the ball, which he just isn't.
This.I genuinely don't understand how anyone can look at Fred and think that he should be playing at the base of a midfield diamond? His best attribute by far is his ability to press, so putting him in a holding role just negates his strengths and forces him to be a reliable distributor of the ball, which he just isn't.
We are 15th in the league, with no clear formation or game plan. No-one is undroppable.Are people really back to slaughter him just after one poor match ?
Still undroppable for me at the moment.
He was terrible as a #6 today. Kept losing the ball, the side never looked comfortable with him. He wasn’t doing his job at all.His shortcomings are highlighted because the others aren’t doing their jobs going forward. He’s in the side to hassle and disrupt with the other three being the creative ones. Is he a top drawer player? No. However, he’s doing his job better than some others around him.
No one call him top midfielders. He does his job to defend, provide energy/engine in midfield and cover lot of ground. His inconsistent passing hasn’t stop and prevent us to perform and winning matches. His strength has helped us a lot.The passing issue is consistent even when we win and he has a storming game; it is not being brought up just because we lost.
Top midfielders, of any sort, do not give the ball away via unforced errors - it's a cardinal sin for a midfielder over any other type of player.
It’s a collective effort mate. You can’t say he’s been good and the others bad when most of his passes find the opposing playersNo one call him top midfielders. He does his job to defend, provide energy/engine in midfield and cover lot of ground. His inconsistent passing hasn’t stop and prevent us to perform and winning matches. His strength has helped us a lot.
The ones who have stop and prevent us to perform and winning matches are our creative players.
