Bruno actually is a huge problem, Keane is right. ETH's formation and role for Bruno, a shitty combination. He is also spot on about his mentality. There is no way Bruno should be captain
Roy Keane
- Thread starter MyOnlySolskjaer
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My issue with the article today from the gang is why has it taken them so many years to say it about Bruno. Look at the endless Bruno debate on here, the issue around his positioning is so bloody evident it’s fuelled an insane amount of discussion but they’ve just noticed it? It’s THE single key theme from how United choose to play (to accommodate Bruno) and his stats aren’t good enough to even consider doing what we do. Every few pages you see someone saying hopefully a manager can control him or give him more of a set role and bollock him for the multiple times he breaks the pressing structure down with his silly runs or gives the ball away (I have said this many times foolishly) but it ain’t happening. This is who he is and this is who we are when he plays, whether coaches by Allardyce or Sacchi.
bingo, 100%, exactly the point Keane was making.
Bruno's defensive work is excellent for an attacking midfielder though. So is his pressing. I'm sure that he occasionally misses a run into the box, but so does everyone else in our squad, include our defenders (who should be specialists on dealing with that).
I have a list of things that I would criticise Bruno for. Lack of discipline or stupid movement is definitely not on that list.
Keane spot on as usual
I am aware of his good stats, but I think he sometimes gets them by running into areas he shouldn't (have to) cover, and sometimes what he does just doesn't seem to matter.
I didn't check if it's still the case but earlier this season United had the most high turnovers in the PL (I think that was the stat) and Bruno's defending/pressing was quite crucial to get those. And still United failed to score goals from these. For me this can be explained to a certain degree by Bruno's pretty wild positioning, his movement just isn't connected to that of most of the team.
Or in other words, if he wins a ball high up, has to try a Hollywood pass to another player who is just to far away from him to play it simple, and misplaces that, than it was a lot of effort and a good defensive action.
Yet the benefit for the team is the same as when he had just stayed in formation and didn't run to win the ball.
This is why he should be part of the CMs, his shooting conversion rates are really bad when you look at him compared to other AMs, get him playing to his strengths - work rate, tackling, graft, pressing, interceptions, passing (when he's not searching for the highlight reel ball every time) etc.
The high turnovers are purely because we pump the ball long so much. It sounds like a good stat until you look into it.
Bruno is part of this but all our players do it.
We’ve see Case become a first time lump it passer in this system.
The problem with this anecdote is that this pressing of his also leads to plenty of chances and even some goals. This is very valuable for the team. The average good team play 500-600 passes per game but they typically only get 5-6 good solid chances after all. So there are what, 50-100 successful passes for every one chance? And more than twice that for every goal?
Look no further than Van Gaal's United. We were generally in perfect control of the game and dominated possession too. And it was all pointless.
Thinking the same. He is probably the greatest captain in premier league history and was box office on Sky to begin with but he does talk like United are still the club of his era. I love his honesty also but tbh , He was overboard when dug Hojlund out few weeks back.
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In terms of positioning Bruno is essentially playing like Rooney played at times, but without the end product and tackling ability. It's a huge problem that you'd probably let Rooney off for as he offered so much else, but Bruno's positioning coupled with his constant attempts at playing the killer ball whenever he receives it are so obviously detrimental to the team and he doesn't make up for it with enough goals and assists either.
He also needs taking off set piece duty entirely. His free kicks and corners are consistently awful and our goal shy strikers could do with being put on penalty duty if only to boost their confidence. It's not as though we really have much to play for in the league this season anymore and we barely win any penalties anyway.
He also needs taking off set piece duty entirely. His free kicks and corners are consistently awful and our goal shy strikers could do with being put on penalty duty if only to boost their confidence. It's not as though we really have much to play for in the league this season anymore and we barely win any penalties anyway.
I wonder if he would say the same towards Rashy and his 90 min light jogging on the pitch
Hasn’t he called out Rashford saying he’s not good or consistent enough?
Did he?
I'd love for him to have some role at the club - could see him being excellent in a pastoral / junior to first team player liaison role.
yes he has multiple times
Those roles require sensitive people skills, the sort of skills he massively struggled with as a manager and coach. I could barely think of someone less cut out for that sort of role.
Is he wrong?
Keane is a genuine headcase. Its charming on the telly, but he got Readings assistant manager by the neck after a match. He falls out with everyone. He's to full on for the modern player. Especially ones whose playing time isnt a reflection of the money he makes.
You are confusing him with Shearer
Keane in a pastoral role? Not quite sure that would be a good idea.
Well if we had a team dog there'd be a role there for him
Listening to Keane's tactical views on the recent Overlap episode, if he had any position at United, he'd walk over hot coals to get Diego Simone here I feel.
thing is, I can’t prove it, but I bet he wasn’t saying the same thing a few years ago.Oh probably. I bet he hated Jose Ball.
Can you give plenty of examples of his pressing leading to solid chances and goals?
Both Keane and Carragher absolutely spot on here. There’s a reason, or more than one why Bruno’s teams aren’t successful. Sporting won the league after he left. We won more in the timespan before he joined than we have since he’s been here. He creates huge problems but because he runs some people are blinded to anything else.
He also gave one of the greatest performances ever by a united player in the 99 champions league semi final
True … it’s unfortunate but true. Ferguson suited himself over that horse, his son, the Glazers. He was a brilliant manager, and I still have huge regard for him. But he was far, far from perfect.
Cool. Make him head of MI5 while we're at it, too.
Something I have been talking about. Fernandes is a good player but the problem is that he is everywhere. You can't be everywhere. If you are central midfielder you need to stay there. You need to trust your teammates to do their job. Even if they don't you can't be running and chasing their position. That leaves whole midfield open.
He's not a central midfielder so this crtiticism doesn't even make sense.
If he is not central midfielder what is he?
#10
Agree but even more concerning is that there are no other options (Martinez is a shout but he's been out so long). Ole's interview, while shy of details, did indicate that there were no real leaders in the group.
He’s always calling out “Rashy” what are you talking about ?
So. central midfielder, attacking position.
He's an attacking midfielder, or number ten. Everybody knows this.
That's not a central midfielder mate, do you even know the basics of football positions?