[Highfather_24]

Blame the DM, and not the 10s and striker for being generally useless.

Our strikers are useless, everybody knows that already.

We have one good #10(Bruno), and we are moving him away from where he's best(closer to goal), because we need a playmaker deep because Ugarte is dogshit on the ball.

Its not about him being a bad player. Its about the net negative impact on the team.

 

[ROFLUTION]

He's been a great buy overall for me. Least of our problems. We've needed that consistent and safe physical player that had a lot of presence in midfield for a long time.

You need these players even more, when the attacking players are throwing the ball away easily.

 

[MaxZorin]

Good player, not great and booked far too much.

 

[Kostov]

Our strikers are useless, everybody knows that already.

We have one good #10(Bruno), and we are moving him away from where he's best(closer to goal), because we need a playmaker deep because Ugarte is dogshit on the ball.

Its not about him being a bad player. Its about the net negative impact on the team.

Ugarte is dogshit on the ball? Have you watched him play for us actually? He is better on the ball than most of our squad, can sustain pressure in possession and just scored a great goal the other week.

We are moving Bruno away from the 10 position because we don't actually have a 10 position and Bruno has been crap in his own regard, nothing to do with Ugarte.

 

[DWelbz19]

We routinely start matches with 5 defenders and at least one DM. The DM is usually Ugarte who is somewhat comfortably our least creative midfielder and the one who wants the ball the least. Then the three attackers (or sometimes even two when Fernandes or Eriksen play there) we do have are normally two strikers.

The squad set up is atrociously imbalanced. Part of that is the horrible squad the predecessor created, part of it is on the new manager’s tactical setup.

 

[Solius]

Yeah maybe it's the lack of a real physical DM for the past 20 years but I think he's been quite good.

 

[Dannn411]

I like him and think he's an important piece in our squad but I see the point his detractors are making on his negativity. Its like he's petrified to pass forward sometimes. He'll be in acres of space and still go sideways or backwards. That has to be coached out of him.

 

[sullydnl]

He is one of the rare players we signed recently that is performing exactly the same as he did with his previous teams, which is a sign that we did our due diligence on scouting for this one, for change.

Again we all knew that he was not a creator or had any attacking output, but his defensive stats are second to none in the league in his position, which is EXCATLY why we signed him.

Pair him with a solid passer on a double pivot and we would have a solid midfield two for years to come. And no, I don't think Mainoo in his current stance would be that.

100%.

He obviously has his limitations on the ball. But that's why he cost us €50m+ and not the €100m+ players like Rice, Caicedo, Enzo, etc went for, or even the €70m+ other players like Rodri and Casemiro were deemed to be worth. And even those players are/were not without their own weaknesses.

We bought a young B-tier DM with elite defensive ouput for a B-tier price. And he's immediately translated what he was doing in other leagues to the PL, giving us exactly what we paid for. That's a good buy.

There may well come a point where we've improved the rest of the starting eleven to a level where his limitations make him a relative weakness. But based on the current state of the team, we're literally years away from that point. In the meantime, the team is obviously better with him in it.

 

[Olecurls99]

Been fantastic in and out of possession. Not everyone on the team has to be Pirlo. Fabinho wasn't a progressive passer nor was Fernandinho. Ugarte's job is to find the 5 creative players ahead of him.

If they're not creating, it's not his fault.

 

[Crimson King]

This is absolute bollocks. He scored the equaliser against Everton

 

[JohnnyLaw]

I like him and think he's an important piece in our squad but I see the point his detractors are making on his negativity. Its like he's petrified to pass forward sometimes. He'll be in acres of space and still go sideways or backwards. That has to be coached out of him.

He’s still only just turning 24, his passing technique looks really good actually and I don’t think it’s uncommon for midfielder to develop their vision and creativity with age.

Either way I think it’s clear as has been for some time that we need a playmaking 8/6 next to him who can progress the ball either through passing or ball carrying. Someone like Wharton or Hackney for example would be an interesting partner for both Ugarte and Mainoo.
I’m sure there’s more and better options out there though.

 

[Big Andy]

This is absolute bollocks. He scored the equaliser against Everton

He's generally taken off as he's consistently on a yellow card.

 

[Crimson King]

He's generally taken off as he's consistently on a yellow card.

He's taken off because he's the only midfielder we don't have a ready replacement for, especially with Collyer out, and so he's trying to avoid completely burning him out and losing him to injury

 

[FrankDrebin]

He starts the games relatively brightly but then he gets booked, plays within himself there on and is then eventually hooked off.

He's a OK player. Certainly limited in possession but hopefully, over time, he comes alot more influential.

 

[Lay]

He starts the games relatively brightly but then he gets booked, plays within himself there on and is then eventually hooked off.

He's a OK player. Certainly limited in possession but hopefully, over time, he comes alot more influential.

Yeah, basically the same opinion as yours. I can see why PSG didn't want to keep him. Doesn't fit possession based sides but he has his qualities which are useful against the bigger sides

 

[Highfather_24]

Ugarte is dogshit on the ball? Have you watched him play for us actually? He is better on the ball than most of our squad, can sustain pressure in possession and just scored a great goal the other week.

We are moving Bruno away from the 10 position because we don't actually have a 10 position and Bruno has been crap in his own regard, nothing to do with Ugarte.

Yeah, in terms of progressing the ball, or in terms of keeping the attack alive, he is. His one goal the other day doesnt negate any of that.

We have 2 10s/inside forwards now, not just one. Bruno has been "crap" because he's being asked to play 20 yards deeper because we have no one in midfield that can take the ball from the defense and progress it

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

Ugarte seems older than he is.

Has a lot of years to improve his game especially if he spends it in one team and one league.

 

[Kostov]

Yeah, in terms of progressing the ball, or in terms of keeping the attack alive, he is. His one goal the other day doesnt negate any of that.

We have 2 10s/inside forwards now, not just one. Bruno has been "crap" because he's being asked to play 20 yards deeper because we have no one in midfield that can take the ball from the defense and progress it

In order to progress the ball you need to have capable wingers/fullbacks, and much better attackers than we have in general. Ugarte is pretty good at what he is supposed to do, good under press, can switch play with very good long range passes and has a good shot on him.

Bruno has been crap long before he was asked to play deeper, and one of the reasons we are so crap in progressing the ball is his inconsistent bottom level. He losses so much balls on wasteful passes, couple of goals here and there obviously cloud the judgement on here. What we lack in midfield is a partner for Ugarte, and long term better playmaker than Bruno.

 

[united for life]

Very good today. Not sure why he was taken off early. But he was quality today. Great aggression and positioning. He’s shown good performances throughout the season.

 

[Bobski]

I am not sure with him. Does some things very well but have the feeling we will end up making the same decision as PSG that it is not quite enough. Him struggling to finish games is a bit of problem as well.

 

[redNATION]

PSG have Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz in midfield, all 3 are better than Ugarte. I don’t think he can be a starter for a team that is chasing truly elite status, but is good enough for now whilst we work our way back.

 

[100]

Very good today. Not sure why he was taken off early. But he was quality today. Great aggression and positioning. He’s shown good performances throughout the season.

2-0 up and just back from injury. No point risking him further when Casemiro has been playing well recently.

 

[Aint gota Kalou]

His fitness is slightly concerning. He's meant to be our energy and he rarely finishes games or plays twice a week

Maybe today it was because it's his first game back but more of a general point

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Yeah he was alright

 

[Still ill]

PSG have Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz in midfield, all 3 are better than Ugarte. I don’t think he can be a starter for a team that is chasing truly elite status, but is good enough for now whilst we work our way back.

Well I mean sure, but each of them has the other 2 beside them. You don't think that might make a difference?

 

[DJ_21]

PSG have Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz in midfield, all 3 are better than Ugarte. I don’t think he can be a starter for a team that is chasing truly elite status, but is good enough for now whilst we work our way back.

True. All 3 are better but you could play a monkey in midfield for psg and they'd be good in that league

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

People think he is older than he actually is

 

[Bobski]

His fitness is slightly concerning. He's meant to be our energy and he rarely finishes games or plays twice a week

Maybe today it was because it's his first game back but more of a general point

Been subbed in a lot of games around 60-65 mins. Some of that is him on a yellow, others have been due to Utd needing to chase a game and wanting more progressive options but he does appear to fall off physically.

 

[DJ_21]

I am not sure with him. Does some things very well but have the feeling we will end up making the same decision as PSG that it is not quite enough. Him struggling to finish games is a bit of problem as well.

Couldn’t finish this game as he’s probably not fit enough

 

[redNATION]

True. All 3 are better but you could play a monkey in midfield for psg and they'd be good in that league

But they’d outclass any midfield in Europe, as shown by their performance against Englands best team. French league has nothing to do with it.

 

[Escobar]

PSG have Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz in midfield, all 3 are better than Ugarte. I don’t think he can be a starter for a team that is chasing truly elite status, but is good enough for now whilst we work our way back.

What a midfield trio that is btw.
On Ugarte, lets see but feels like he is a player that is only needed against top teams.

 

[DJ_21]

But they’d outclass any midfield in Europe, as shown by their performance against Englands best team. French league has nothing to do with it.

We’ll see if they win the champions league this year.

 

[Ezkay]

There was a moment where the commentator highlighted his "great defending" as he sprinted back from the halfway line to do a backpost clearance, but they don't show him diving in and mistiming it is part of the reason he was was so far forward and they had a reason to break. Common occurrence with him. Severely lacks any progressive ability too

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

There was a moment where the commentator highlighted his "great defending" as he sprinted back from the halfway line to do a backpost clearance, but they don't show him diving in and mistiming it is part of the reason he was was so far forward and they had a reason to break. Common occurrence with him. Severely lacks any progressive ability too

This isnt particularly Ugartes fault.

Ugarte is a front foot defender. He is more a box to box type of player than a deep positional CDM like Casemiro.

When Ugarte plays with Bruno in midfield, neither Ugarte or Bruno sits deep and both go gung-ho forward. Bruno goes forward to be creative whilst Ugarte goes forward to grab the ball quickly.

This leaves a lot of space in midfield.

We need a deep lying playmaker to sit behind Ugarte so we have creativity without our main passer going forward with Ugarte aswell.

 

[bond19821982]

This isnt particularly Ugartes fault.

Ugarte is a front foot defender. He is more a box to box type of player than a deep positional CDM like Casemiro.

When Ugarte plays with Bruno in midfield, neither Ugarte or Bruno sits deep and both go gung-ho forward. Bruno goes forward to be creative whilst Ugarte goes forward to grab the ball quickly.

This leaves a lot of space in midfield.

We need a deep lying playmaker to sit behind Ugarte so we have creativity without our main passer going forward with Ugarte aswell.

Yep. That's why I always said Bruno isn't his perfect partner. Need someone who will sit deep and controls the game, as his partner .

 

[DWelbz19]

I think long term, when we become "good" again, Ugarte is more of a squad player/option in bigger away matches. His ability off the ball cannot be understated, but you can see how ineffective he is in possession. Casemiro has been half good again for the past 3-4 games and you see just how much more progressive he is on the football.

I also very much subscribe to the view that you can't just "let him do the dirty work and his partner can do the progressive stuff" -- I don't think that flies anymore in the current game.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Off the ball - Very good
On the ball - Adequate.

 

[Shaw's Shank Redemption]

Yep. That's why I always said Bruno isn't his perfect partner. Need someone who will sit deep and controls the game, as his partner .

Ugarte kind of reminds me of Gattuso.

Gattuso didn't sit behind Pirlo but it was Pirlo sitting deepest in a midfield 3 with Gattuso ahead of him to hunt the ball down and then rotate possession to Pirlo to dictate play.

 

[Teja]

PSG have Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz in midfield, all 3 are better than Ugarte. I don’t think he can be a starter for a team that is chasing truly elite status, but is good enough for now whilst we work our way back.

More than one way to skin a cat. The Spanish football version of three technicians in the middle isn' the only pathway to trophies.

I think long term, when we become "good" again, Ugarte is more of a squad player/option in bigger away matches. His ability off the ball cannot be understated, but you can see how ineffective he is in possession. Casemiro has been half good again for the past 3-4 games and you see just how much more progressive he is on the football.

I also very much subscribe to the view that you can't just "let him do the dirty work and his partner can do the progressive stuff" -- I don't think that flies anymore in the current game.

Why not? This type of pairing has been quite successful for a very long time. Jorginho x Kante / Kovacic in recent memory. A runner / destroyer + playmaker in the middle is a pretty successful combination. My problem with this is that Bruno isn't really a playmaker that dictates tempo. He's been shoehorned in there and is doing quite well but I'd rather have a specialist here and move him further forward.

 

[DWelbz19]

More than one way to skin a cat. The Spanish football version of three technicians in the middle isn' the only pathway to trophies.



Why not? This type of pairing has been quite successful for a very long time. Jorginho x Kante / Kovacic in recent memory. A runner / destroyer + playmaker in the middle is a pretty successful combination. My problem with this is that Bruno isn't really a playmaker that dictates tempo. He's been shoehorned in there and is doing quite well but I'd rather have a specialist here and move him further forward.

Kante was a lot better on the football than Ugarte. He was also a really really good dribbler and ball carrier. He was also just a lot better at basically everything.