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2023-24 Performances


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kundalini

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You haven't ignored his injuries for a second. Why do you think he missed so many games? He doesn't have a second job renovating homes with Dion Dublin that's kept him away.

Like saying "ignoring the goals we've conceded for a moment, we can't afford to conceded as many goals as we have".
Yes I have. He is a sub more than twice as often as he starts PL games. That makes him a back-up player.
 

Ish

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Ignoring his injuries for a moment, Mount has 4 starts 9 sub appearances in the PL this season. We paid £55m and wages between £10m and £12m per season (will be lower end of scale since his appearance bonuses will be so low).

United simply cannot afford to pay that level of transfer fee and salary to a back-up player.

The people who made the decision regarding this transfer need to be held accountable, along with those responsible for the Antony and Casemiro deals.
Surely it's impossible to do the bolded bit as his injuries have directly impacted his appearances?

But overall, Arnold/Murtough was just as inept as we were under Woodward, if not more so. Here's hoping Ineos are infinitely better - and the signs are there that they are, simply based on who they've been head-hunting/appointing into those positions.
 

kundalini

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But he was bought as a first team player, the second attacking #8 ETH wanted to complete his puzzle.

Seriously though, we can't really say for sure what will happen to him under a new manager. He is good enough to start in this team in Bruno place, but the manager would need to make a decision to phase out Fernandes and ETH has made up his mind about that.

I also believe people focus too much on his transfer fee. He isn't a bad transfer yet, he can still turn out to be a very useful player to us.
We could've predicted Antony not being good enough for this league, or Casemiro decline (at least we should've prepared for it). I am not sure if we could predict Mount injuries this season.
United do not have the financial resources to carry a £10m+ per season back-up to Fernandes. And whoever thought Mount could play as a number 8 should be fired.

There is a world of difference between a low priced, low salary gamble, and a £55m transfer with wages above £10m per season to then use that player in a different position to that he played for Chelsea.

It is just simple incompetence - a clear theme in the Murtough/Ten Hag era.
 

kundalini

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Surely it's impossible to do the bolded bit as his injuries have directly impacted his appearances?

But overall, Arnold/Murtough was just as inept as we were under Woodward, if not more so. Here's hoping Ineos are infinitely better - and the signs are there that they are, simply based on who they've been head-hunting/appointing into those positions.
For most of the sub appearances, though probably not all, he has been fit enough to start. If he was an important player the ratio of starts to sub appearances might be 10 starts 3 sub, or 9 starts 4 sub. Instead it is 4 starts, 9 sub.
 

Ish

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For most of the sub appearances, though probably not all, he has been fit enough to start. If he was an important player the ratio of starts to sub appearances might be 10 starts 3 sub, or 9 starts 4 sub. Instead it is 4 starts, 9 sub.
Yeah, I personally thought he was bought to replace Eriksen in that 8/CM position, but seeing how open we've been all season & with Casemiros legs completely gone, not sure it would have made any difference. And it is kind of a void the emergence of Mainoo has now filled anyway.

As for his sub/starts appearances, i always felt like it was mostly at the start of the year as he was slowly introduced and then he suffered a big injury and ever since then, whenever he's tried to make a comeback and was gradually eased in with sub appearances....off he went injuried, again. But that's just how I've interpreted things.

Honestly, considering our form and the form of our attackers, I suspect Mount would have worked his way into the starting lineup earlier this season, whether it was in the position we supposedly signed him for, or even with him pushed up wide left or right.

But yeah, he's been a disaster of a signing thus far. Hopefully he can turn it around next season, especially the luck with the injuries bit.
 

Grande

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I would be willing to take that bet as long as ETH is not the coach next season.

Anyway, my "problem" with Bruno is he forces the team to play in certain way. We did this last season (with reasonable success, although you have to wonder about how much Rashford form impacted this) and almost every previous season (with less success). This season eth has been trying to change the setup, and Bruno's role - and failed miserably. I am not saying it's Bruno's fault, but I am yet to see any evidence that makes an argument that you can play anything else than 4231 (with two players screening Bruno and taking care of the buildup) with Fernandes starting.

And long story short, with Mainoo emergence, I don't think we should be going for this setup. And if we are going for something more sophisticated, Mount is a good alternative to what Bruno offers.

MM injuries are a different story and not something I am interested to discuss because who the feck knows.
Unfortunately for you I only bet with emotional stakes like Honour and Humiliation ;)

Your hypothesis is an interesting one, by all means, and I’m not claiming it couldn’t work, or that there aren’t costs as well as benefits to playing Bruno. However my point is that there is very little evidence of teams with Bruno in their squads chosing solutions without him and profitting on it. Even Stramacciforgothisname at Udinese, and Fernando Santos at Portugal, both whom struggled to release or accomodate Bruno The Chance Creator (Goals/assists/chances made/key passes), still found places in their set ups for him in the team, and came to find that better than the alternatives. Even if the no 10 role is clearly his best, coaches have used him as LW, RW, SS, B-2-B and even no 6 at a stretch, but importantly - hardly ever subbed him for a specialist in these positions to see the team improve. So I remain sceptical about the potential in releasing a team from this hypothesized ‘straight-jacket’, even if there isn’t much evidence against it neither.

I take issue with some of the argumentation re his negative impact on team performance of the type that his characteristics are poorly understood and his limitations have tactical consequences that are underestimated as opposed to overestimation of ‘hollywood moments’ or ‘stat padding’ detrimental to team tactics. These are the type of things that fool laymen, not coaches above a fairly modest level I think, and are comparable to overruling medical teams decisions on what kind of a treatment a player needs. We just don’t know enough factors.

I see more technique, positional ability, short passing/retention qualities than you do in Bruno, undoubtedly, and I’m not saying I’m right about that. But I believe he would be capable of playing a no 10 role in a Pep team very well if that’s what he’s told to. I also find it interesting how Ten Hag, notwithstanding his inability to create a flowing play out of this season’s squad status, several times have pointed out our lack of positional discipline both in and out of possession, while sticking with Bruno as both captain and ever-present. I’m inclined to accept that Ten Hag can choose the wrong tactical medicine for this squad this season, but I’m not prepared to believe he can’t see very easily which players function or malfunction in regards to his central tactical concerns. Well, there is certainly a chance we’ll be able to learn more about this next season.

If you're here for good arguments then stop posting because you're bringing the level down. I am a medical doctor myself so your first sentence is meaningless. Like how you mention ten coaches with 10,000 games worth but then (rightly)dismiss the expertise of carragher who has more experience in professional elite football than this whole forum combined. Keep sticking to the expert opinion of Ole, ETH and whoever else is part of the 10 coaches you claim oh wait you didn't just say that, you said

[QUOTE I am willing to bet you (not really, I don’t bet online) that until he physically declines, Bruno will be in the starting eleven of every club or country in the world, under every coach in the world.
and that's why you don't do drugs kids.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t believe for a second you’re a medical doctor, and I’ve seen your level of argumentation on this forum for a while. There is seldom room for more than one argument at a time with you, and your medical expertise seems limited to throwing around psychiatric diagnoses off-hand.
 

Borys

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United do not have the financial resources to carry a £10m+ per season back-up to Fernandes. And whoever thought Mount could play as a number 8 should be fired.

There is a world of difference between a low priced, low salary gamble, and a £55m transfer with wages above £10m per season to then use that player in a different position to that he played for Chelsea.

It is just simple incompetence - a clear theme in the Murtough/Ten Hag era.
I agree with this post (not sure if you ment to argue with).

Mount wasn't bought to be a backup / competition to Bruno, this was very clear from the start. Eth mistake was that he actually believed / still believes he can play Bruno + 1 another attacking minded player in midfield.

I don't know if Ten Hag is a good coach, but his overarching idea how to play football is going to get him fired very soon.
 

Borys

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Unfortunately for you I only bet with emotional stakes like Honour and Humiliation ;)

Your hypothesis is an interesting one, by all means, and I’m not claiming it couldn’t work, or that there aren’t costs as well as benefits to playing Bruno. However my point is that there is very little evidence of teams with Bruno in their squads chosing solutions without him and profitting on it. Even Stramacciforgothisname at Udinese, and Fernando Santos at Portugal, both whom struggled to release or accomodate Bruno The Chance Creator (Goals/assists/chances made/key passes), still found places in their set ups for him in the team, and came to find that better than the alternatives. Even if the no 10 role is clearly his best, coaches have used him as LW, RW, SS, B-2-B and even no 6 at a stretch, but importantly - hardly ever subbed him for a specialist in these positions to see the team improve. So I remain sceptical about the potential in releasing a team from this hypothesized ‘straight-jacket’, even if there isn’t much evidence against it neither.

I take issue with some of the argumentation re his negative impact on team performance of the type that his characteristics are poorly understood and his limitations have tactical consequences that are underestimated as opposed to overestimation of ‘hollywood moments’ or ‘stat padding’ detrimental to team tactics. These are the type of things that fool laymen, not coaches above a fairly modest level I think, and are comparable to overruling medical teams decisions on what kind of a treatment a player needs. We just don’t know enough factors.

I see more technique, positional ability, short passing/retention qualities than you do in Bruno, undoubtedly, and I’m not saying I’m right about that. But I believe he would be capable of playing a no 10 role in a Pep team very well if that’s what he’s told to. I also find it interesting how Ten Hag, notwithstanding his inability to create a flowing play out of this season’s squad status, several times have pointed out our lack of positional discipline both in and out of possession, while sticking with Bruno as both captain and ever-present. I’m inclined to accept that Ten Hag can choose the wrong tactical medicine for this squad this season, but I’m not prepared to believe he can’t see very easily which players function or malfunction in regards to his central tactical concerns. Well, there is certainly a chance we’ll be able to learn more about this next season.
You make a lot of valid points, but there's one thing I mentioned earlier - Bruno was tailor-made for Oleball, with Rashford/Greenwood/Martial bombing in counter attacks and "McFred" screening back 4. I don't argue his qualities as an attacking midfielder/creative force, but I do point out we might want to move away from this setup - in which case I don't mind Mount as I do rate him as a player overall. At the same time, as you pointed out correctly, I do question "net" impact of Bruno in the team. This is mostly because I don't rate him off the ball, I also think he's not good at progressing the ball (btw for this reason alone I doubt Pep would go anywhere near Bruno).

And again, like mentioned before, Mainoo complicates things even more I am afraid. Are we going to play him as a conservative #8 so that Bruno can excel in his best position as out and out attacker? Are we going to play Bruno deeper (something I personally think is a "sackable" offense and I made this clear very early in the season)? We certainly are not going to play Mainoo, Mount and Bruno.

I think ETH completely, I mean COMPLETELY misjudged midfield situation last summer and we will be in troubles for a long time because of that. At the moment though, he doesn't have much of a choice though so it's not like even if he wanted to make changes he could actually have options to do it so like I said 2 months ago, I would be surprised to see Mount starting again this season.
 

jesperjaap

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Jun 23, 2014
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Think its a little unfair to label him a back up player or judge him when he has missed mostof the season.

However, my initial thought when we signed him was good player, but big summer signing that doesnt solve oneof a few (whih is now more than a few) holes in our first eleven, odd signing and actually the summer signing considering signings that followed, that raised doubts for me about Ten Hag
 

lex talionis

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Jul 25, 2017
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Mount's ideal role is the one that Bruno serves in. Whether next season or the next, we'll have to choose between the two.
 

Cathy Ferguson

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Oct 31, 2010
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You make a lot of valid points, but there's one thing I mentioned earlier - Bruno was tailor-made for Oleball, with Rashford/Greenwood/Martial bombing in counter attacks and "McFred" screening back 4. I don't argue his qualities as an attacking midfielder/creative force, but I do point out we might want to move away from this setup - in which case I don't mind Mount as I do rate him as a player overall. At the same time, as you pointed out correctly, I do question "net" impact of Bruno in the team. This is mostly because I don't rate him off the ball, I also think he's not good at progressing the ball (btw for this reason alone I doubt Pep would go anywhere near Bruno).

And again, like mentioned before, Mainoo complicates things even more I am afraid. Are we going to play him as a conservative #8 so that Bruno can excel in his best position as out and out attacker? Are we going to play Bruno deeper (something I personally think is a "sackable" offense and I made this clear very early in the season)? We certainly are not going to play Mainoo, Mount and Bruno.

I think ETH completely, I mean COMPLETELY misjudged midfield situation last summer and we will be in troubles for a long time because of that. At the moment though, he doesn't have much of a choice though so it's not like even if he wanted to make changes he could actually have options to do it so like I said 2 months ago, I would be surprised to see Mount starting again this season.
Yup. If you know anything about football it was obvious that Mount was not the player our midfield needed last summer. We needed and still need a pacy CDM who can cover a lot of ground. Mount and Antony are two terrible signings, Casemiro was great for 7 months and Höjlund is not very good, yet. ETH is terrible at transfers.
 

Borys

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Yup. If you know anything about football it was obvious that Mount was not the player our midfield needed last summer. We needed and still need a pacy CDM who can cover a lot of ground. Mount and Antony are two terrible signings, Casemiro was great for 7 months and Höjlund is not very good, yet. ETH is terrible at transfers.
There's one weird thing though, it's "bad at transfers" but on a different level. Take Amrabat for example. How on earth is that possible that we chased him all summer? I mean, how could anyone think he fills any gap in that squad? Casemiro was showing serious signs of decline last season, we needed a more mobile backup, and eth came up with this guy?

Hojlund is another one I don't really get, fairly limited player who is effective at poaching - and we pay big bucks just to play him in a team that doesn't create any chances for strikers and actually requires someone that can bring wide forwards into the game, as they are our main threat. So what do we do? We turn Hojlund into a target man and make Onana, one of the best gks in terms of passing, lump it forward to Hojlund.

It's not like ETH looks like a bad coach at the moment, it seems like has has lost his mind.

Now, the reason I came up with this rant is because I think Mount is another player that doesn't fit the squad needs (in terms of another attacking minded player). However, I do believe he's the least of our problems as he is good at things that we lack (mobile, good technique, good at winning the second ball, effective at set pieces) and he is definitely versatile. So, whatever comes after Ten Hag I am fairly optimistic about Mount being useful. That will, however, impact Bruno who at the very least has a strong position in the squad.
 

edgecutter

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Feb 11, 2014
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One of the strangest and pointless signings made by the club. It's worse when nearly the whole fanbase knew we didn't even need him.
 

Blood Mage

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The worst signing in our history, a marquee fee for a player we didn't need and the manager doesn't even fancy. I'll be scratching my head about this transfer until I'm dead.
 

FerociousCorgis

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One of the strangest and pointless signings made by the club. It's worse when nearly the whole fanbase knew we didn't even need him.
idk it is between him and sanchez. I remember when sanchez came in i thought no way would we play him on LW when we had rashford/martial battling each other and actually playing super well during that period. Figured he had to be playing RW and thought it was perhaps a good idea.

Then we played him at LW.

So yeah tough between mount and sanchez.