[OverratedOpinion]

Good pass from Garnacho, Bruno doing his thing and Kobbie with the composure of a veteran.

I don't mean this as a criticism of you but Bruno has made a rod for his own back here. He has spent so much of his time at the club being by a mile our best player that him doing incredible things is just sort of "Bruno being Bruno".

One of a handful of players Sir Alex would have loved to have managed I think.

 

[Red in STL]

One of my favourite pictures from the FA Cup final. Pep's face says absolutely everything.

In a book of phrases you could put this photo next to the words: 'A picture is worth a 1000 words.'

Inside Pep's head the little cogs are turning and are saying, "how do we get United to swap him for DeBruyne"

 

[Fobal]

I'll start saying that I do not like him as a fella, yet I can see where he is good and what I do not like of him.

POSITIVES:
.Great pass.
.Great strike.
.Pride and confidence.
.No surrender attitude.
.Numbers, he is a player that it's hard to have a season without putting a good number of assists or goals.

NEGATIVES
.I don't like him as a leader, he isn't as talented as he thinks he is and he constantly blames others no matter if a certain bad play it's entirely his fault.
.He's composure as a whole: he lacks it regarding controlling the ball, holding it and distributing it and he also lacks it regarding the way he manages with Refs and his mates.
.He plays too many times in a rush not only because of being direct and goal focus (the good part), but also because he lacks the ability to dribble, to retained it, to find or make the time for another play or distribute better.

So all in all, FOR ME, to make him a leader of any team it's a mistake, yet he has traits that if someone has the personality (and talent) to deal with his Ego in the middle, while having him on check and not letting him "managing" everything, he can certainly work and be a great asset. Even as infuriating as he can become at times.

At the same time, United or any team with him will need to provide in a strict fotoball sense abilities he doesn't bring to the table, combining him with only extremely direct players only + mostly defensive minded ones, not a great mix.

This period in time in EPL, ain't old England style or Serie A in the 90's where we could see a match with Totti on one side launching long balls and Veron on the other doing the same constantly while both teams pressuring the whole game trying "to play on the rival's mistakes".
Constantly risking it in such scenarios wasn't that much of a big deal, since the ball instantly could return to either side. In these days you sometimes can't recover the ball for ages.

Do I think he is a player to built a huge team on him? nope. Do I think he can be a great asset in a strict fotball sense/abilities? Totally...DO I think his ego can deal with that and he'll calm down a notch and become more mature player from now on? I doubt it.

 

[JaffyJoe]

He is literally the best player at our club by a substantial distance.

Getting rid of by far your best player sounds like a bad idea at the best of times let alone when there are a load of issues in the squad.

Depends how you watch the game, I would say he generally causes as much issues as he solves. Hard to be a top side with him in it.

 

[-Supreme-]

One of my favourite pictures from the FA Cup final. Pep's face says absolutely everything.

In a book of phrases you could put this photo next to the words: 'A picture is worth a 1000 words.'

Pep also highly rated Maguire when we signed him

Asked if Maguire would turn United into title challengers, Guardiola said: "Yeah. Maguire is an excellent, top-class player.

"We were interested, but we could not afford it. United afford it. He's an excellent player, national team too, he had an incredible World Cup.

"He's strong in the air, good with the ball, the build-up, he drives with the ball, he's fast, so fast. He has all the qualities. Congratulations to United for this signature."

 

[Red in STL]

Depends how you watch the game, I would say he generally causes as much issues as he solves. Hard to be a top side with him in it.

Bruno isn't the issue, the team structure is, Bruno feels it's up to him to run around trying to sort everything out, chasing back, over the top passes because no one else can or will

Put him the right setup and you see how good he really is

 

[JaffyJoe]

Bruno isn't the issue, the team structure is, Bruno feels it's up to him to run around trying to sort everything out, chasing back, over the top passes because no one else can or will

Put him the right setup and you see how good he really is

I hope so

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Depends how you watch the game, I would say he generally causes as much issues as he solves. Hard to be a top side with him in it.

I watch most games with my eyes either at the stadium or on the TV, occasionally streams for 3 o clock kick offs.

I somewhat see why you have this opinion but I think it is because Bruno has unrealistic expectations where he will get blamed for us not having enough players in midfield when really that is down to poor tactics. He will also get blamed for losing the ball too much when he is playing in a team without many methods of creating chances other than fire it into Bruno and he will make magic.

He has to play high risk passes because otherwise we get forced back to the centre backs and probably end up giving away the ball.

 

[#07]

Pep also highly rated Maguire when we signed him

Not really interested in Pep's opinion. Just the pain on his face seeing Bruno in full flow.

 

[ForeverRed1]

Finally getting the plaudits he deserves. Unreal player and we’re lucky to have him.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Depends how you watch the game, I would say he generally causes as much issues as he solves. Hard to be a top side with him in it.

That’s such weird logic. We’ve been close to being a top side with him in the team already (top four finishes, winning multiple cup competitions) and that’s as part of a squad with some of the most obvious deficiencies you will ever see, in other positions. Don’t you think that fixing those deficiencies could make us into a top side, while keeping Bruno as part of our team?

 

[#07]

 

[afrocentricity]

My choice too

 

[Pickle85]

I'll start saying that I do not like him as a fella, yet I can see where he is good and what I do not like of him.

POSITIVES:
.Great pass.
.Great strike.
.Pride and confidence.
.No surrender attitude.
.Numbers, he is a player that it's hard to have a season without putting a good number of assists or goals.

NEGATIVES
.I don't like him as a leader, he isn't as talented as he thinks he is and he constantly blames others no matter if a certain bad play it's entirely his fault.
.He's composure as a whole: he lacks it regarding controlling the ball, holding it and distributing it and he also lacks it regarding the way he manages with Refs and his mates.
.He plays too many times in a rush not only because of being direct and goal focus (the good part), but also because he lacks the ability to dribble, to retained it, to find or make the time for another play or distribute better.

So all in all, FOR ME, to make him a leader of any team it's a mistake, yet he has traits that if someone has the personality (and talent) to deal with his Ego in the middle, while having him on check and not letting him "managing" everything, he can certainly work and be a great asset. Even as infuriating as he can become at times.

At the same time, United or any team with him will need to provide in a strict fotoball sense abilities he doesn't bring to the table, combining him with only extremely direct players only + mostly defensive minded ones, not a great mix.

This period in time in EPL, ain't old England style or Serie A in the 90's where we could see a match with Totti on one side launching long balls and Veron on the other doing the same constantly while both teams pressuring the whole game trying "to play on the rival's mistakes".
Constantly risking it in such scenarios wasn't that much of a big deal, since the ball instantly could return to either side. In these days you sometimes can't recover the ball for ages.

Do I think he is a player to built a huge team on him? nope. Do I think he can be a great asset in a strict fotball sense/abilities? Totally...DO I think his ego can deal with that and he'll calm down a notch and become more mature player from now on? I doubt it.

Where do you get this idea what he has a big ego from? He always comes across as extremely humble and works enormously hard. It's hardly like he wanders around acting like he's above putting in hard graft. As for the maturity issue, he's clearly loved by his teammates; if his perceived moaning doesn't bother them then why is it an issue beyond making him unlikable for oppo fans?

 

[Fobal]

Where do you get this idea what he has a big ego from? He always comes across as extremely humble and works enormously hard. It's hardly like he wanders around acting like he's above putting in hard graft. As for the maturity issue, he's clearly loved by his teammates; if his perceived moaning doesn't bother them then why is it an issue beyond making him unlikable for oppo fans?

When I've talked about EGO in the context of my post, it was in correlation of how him (or any PLAYER for that matter) will deal with the arrival of another player that takes the reins of the team, or to the very least share those. I don't think Bruno it's that easy to handle in such aspect and he is accostume to be the man to go. Yet his style it's suitable to more specific types of stategies: fast breaks, counters, being direct most of times, etc... than a game plan that fluctuates within controlling the tempo, the ball and in other moments switch to a more trepid style Bruno is more adecuate.
And yeap, I doubt that a player that has some clear traits and assets, while a tendency to be quite annoying and demanding (for the good and for the bad) as Bruno can be, to deal with such scenario.
So yeap I have some doubts regarding that. This doesn't have a thing to do with him loving or not his mates, or of him giving his best effort or anything like that.
I can give you many examples of players that sometimes "hurt" their own team or his best pals, while playing with great personality and effort but not in the best suitable style for the team itsefl or some of his mates in the pitch.

 

[Pickle85]

When I've talked about EGO in the context of my post, it was in correlation of how him (or any PLAYER for that matter) will deal with the arrival of another player that takes the reins of the team, or to the very least share those. I don't think Bruno it's that easy to handle in such aspect and he is accostume to be the man to go. Yet his style it's suitable to more specific types of stategies: fast breaks, counters, being direct most of times, etc... than a game plan that fluctuates within controlling the tempo, the ball and in other moments switch to a more trepid style Bruno is more adecuate.
And yeap, I doubt that a player that has some clear traits and assets, while a tendency to be quite annoying and demanding (for the good and for the bad) as Bruno can be, to deal with such scenario.
So yeap I have some doubts regarding that. This doesn't have a thing to do with him loving or not his mates, or of him giving his best effort or anything like that.
I can give you many examples of players that sometimes "hurt" their own team or his best pals, while playing with great personality and effort but not in the best suitable style for the team itsefl or some of his mates in the pitch.

But this is all pure speculation. There's absolutely nothing to base it on, unless I'm missing something? Bruno has always appeared the consummate professional and rarely (if ever) had issues with teammates. So what are you basing the bolded on? It just seems like you don't like him so are projecting.

 

[The United]

But this is all pure speculation. There's absolutely nothing to base it on, unless I'm missing something? Bruno has always appeared the consummate professional and rarely (if ever) had issues with teammates. So what are you basing the bolded on? It just seems like you don't like him so are projecting.

Of course pool's fans would know him better.

 

[Fobal]

But this is all pure speculation. There's absolutely nothing to base it on, unless I'm missing something? Bruno has always appeared the consummate professional and rarely (if ever) had issues with teammates. So what are you basing the bolded on? It just seems like you don't like him so are projecting.

Of course it's pure speculation, the whole post was an analysis of his atributes and the stuff that can play "for and agaisnt" him as the only leader and "manager" of this team.
All taking in account the experience watching him being such, not only in terms of Captaincy, personality but the one that mostly dictates the type of game United will play.
Multiple times Bruno, even with other creative players around (mostly lesser players than him in terms of quality or less gallons within the team) he constantly decided plays no matter what, without reading correctly the momentum/timing of the game, etc. He had games (or moments) were he constantly plays risky balls, or not even that but he accelerates himself with no need, loosing the ball ina cheap way and ignoring a simple ball that could be useful to retain possession in a particular instance. All within his atributes, I do not complain to him for not putting the ball under his foot a la Zidane, that's not him.

So if he actually has to share that mid with someone of his calibre and similar age, with someone that the coach gives the reins and he has to be second fiddle, or share equal responsabilities but with atributes that Bruno does not have or are too disimilar regarding his tendencies, he might struggle with such scenario.

 

[Fobal]

Of course pool's fans would know him better.

I'm not a Pool fan and I do not know how to correct it in my profile.
Yet, indeed I'm giving my honest opinion as an outsider of what for me Bruno brings to the table as a player, no matter if on a personal level I found him a likeable lad or not. I dislike Müller as a fella, I found him extremely intelligent and a really really good player.

 

[Pickle85]

Of course it's pure speculation, the whole post was an analysis of his atributes and the stuff that can play "for and agaisnt" him as the only leader and "manager" of this team.
All taking in account the experience watching him being such, not only in terms of Captaincy, personality but the one that mostly dictates the type of game United will play.
Multiple times Bruno, even with other creative players around (mostly lesser players than him in terms of quality or less gallons within the team) he constantly decided plays no matter what, without reading correctly the momentum/timing of the game, etc. He had games (or moments) were he constantly plays risky balls, or not even that but he accelerates himself with no need, loosing the ball ina cheap way and ignoring a simple ball that could be useful to retain possession in a particular instance. All within his atributes, I do not complain to him for not putting the ball under his foot a la Zidane, that's not him.

So if he actually has to share that mid with someone of his calibre and similar age, with someone that the coach gives the reins and he has to be second fiddle, or share equal responsabilities but with atributes that Bruno does not have or are too disimilar regarding his tendencies, he might struggle with such scenario.

But surely this applies to literally any player? I actually think that a player as selfless and humble as Bruno would likely react better to this than the vast majority of other linchpin players.

Your issue seems to be around how poorly Bruno keeps the ball, which is something you definitely exaggerate. It's clear that you privilege a particular kind of possession football (low risk, tiki taka) which means that you won't like the kind of football Bruno plays. I think it's a case of personal preference tbh. Are you a Barca fan? Or maybe a Pep fan? No judgment/accusation there, it just seems that your football preferences align more closely with theirs.

 

[Fobal]

But surely this applies to literally any player? I actually think that a player as selfless and humble as Bruno would likely react better to this than the vast majority of other linchpin players.

Your issue seems to be around how poorly Bruno keeps the ball, which is something you definitely exaggerate. It's clear that you privilege a particular kind of possession football (low risk, tiki taka) which means that you won't like the kind of football Bruno plays. I think it's a case of personal preference tbh. Are you a Barca fan? Or maybe a Pep fan? No judgment/accusation there, it just seems that your football preferences align more closely with theirs.

It's not an issue of liking or not a possession game or not, I actually do not like it for the sake of it and I like more a team shifting styles within games and I frankly do not exaggerate at all regarding Bruno and his tendencies.

So if the idea it's to keep what already was done with him as commander and with a fast tempo/counter style, United must enhace this team to do such thing and help him on another level that actually brings better perfomances.

On the other hand if United wants something of a mix bag regarding style, or even shift to a more controlling type of game, he has to temper his tendencies. Independently if he is playing alone or has to learn to share the reins with another player with other atributes.

And just let's beg to differ that you find him an easy going fella in the pitch and I find quite negative for the team when he gets mad or mostly displays his urge to do HIS thing no matter context.
Am I saying that he CAN'T? nope, but for me he clearly must adecuate his chip. On the other it seems that you see him as a more compose, less chaotic, better mannered player than I do, so we clearly won't agree about that.

 

[Vidooq]

The one thing I've noticed with him in the last 3-4 matches is that he stopped those long Holywood-type passes, and our attacks became somewhat more structured, and he started looking like a different player, much improved.

 

[JaffyJoe]

That’s such weird logic. We’ve been close to being a top side with him in the team already (top four finishes, winning multiple cup competitions) and that’s as part of a squad with some of the most obvious deficiencies you will ever see, in other positions. Don’t you think that fixing those deficiencies could make us into a top side, while keeping Bruno as part of our team?

I'll focus on just the Bruno years here - our best season was the lockdown season, form we haven't been able to recreate while also losing a lot of talent in attack. The way he plays as a 10 is part of the reason we aren't as good as we could be. He is creative and has a lovely strike but his actions with the ball lack consistency, he can't dribble, can't play well in tight spaces/under pressure. He lacks the qualities I would associate with a top creative midfielder. There's a school of thought that he is less sloppy, less ill-disciplined and uses the ball better in a better side. Until I see it I can't subscribe to it. He would definitely be one of the players I look to improve on but he wouldn't be the first.

 

[JaffyJoe]

I watch most games with my eyes either at the stadium or on the TV, occasionally streams for 3 o clock kick offs.

I somewhat see why you have this opinion but I think it is because Bruno has unrealistic expectations where he will get blamed for us not having enough players in midfield when really that is down to poor tactics. He will also get blamed for losing the ball too much when he is playing in a team without many methods of creating chances other than fire it into Bruno and he will make magic.

He has to play high risk passes because otherwise we get forced back to the centre backs and probably end up giving away the ball.

My point was we all value different qualities in players, so to some he is a top player and to other's he isn't. I don't try and change minds I think the difference in opinions makes it all interesting to discuss.

He causes some of the issues in midfield too - So I watched him vs City and Newcastle in the last few weeks and he was able to creative and decisive and not constantly give the ball away to do it. That is the standard. If that can be his normal level that is good enough, I would say I am more annoyed that he can supposedly do it but chooses not to. We cannot constantly give the ball away, he cannot constantly mishit, mis-control, lose it in tight areas, press by himself and leave gaps behind etc etc.

He doesn't make the best decisions with his passing, his risk passes are key to open teams up, when you chose to do them and how successful you are in your execution matters. It speaks to your quality as a player. It is why he has always struggled in big games, we typically get dominated so we have less of the ball, so he doesn't have countless opportunities to eventually get it right. In some games you will only get 2/3 opportunities.

I'd be happy for him to prove me wrong, just haven't seen enough to have that confidence.

 

[jem]

My captain!

https://youtube.com/shorts/nIoL_5vOYhc?si=ziGSVjJkhroBbyc0

He does seem like a genuinely likable guy, which makes his on-pitch shenanigans all the more amusing.

 

[#07]

Inside Pep's head the little cogs are turning and are saying, "how do we get United to swap him for DeBruyne"

I actually wouldn't be surprised to hear that talk start soon. We know from the Tevez stuff, and then the attempt at Rooney back in 2010/11, City love a crack at our best players. Bruno has two years left on his deal soon. Expect Pep to be laying it on thick in the pre-Community Shield press conference.

Although my biggest fear with Bruno isn't City, it's Florentine Perez seeing Kroos and Modric retiring and thinking: 'Hmmm?' Kinda hoping Bruno has a crap Euros. Everyone who stars at the Euros gets that Madrid bandwagon going...

 

[Red in STL]

I actually wouldn't be surprised to hear that talk start soon. We know from the Tevez stuff, and then the attempt at Rooney back in 2010/11, City love a crack at our best players. Bruno has two years left on his deal soon. Expect Pep to be laying it on thick in the pre-Community Shield press conference.

Although my biggest fear with Bruno isn't City, it's Florentine Perez seeing Kroos and Modric retiring and thinking: 'Hmmm?' Kinda hoping Bruno has a crap Euros. Everyone who stars at the Euros gets that Madrid bandwagon going...

Whilst I certainly don't want him to leave, I have to admit if someone offered us silly money, like 100m for him, we'd be silly not to consider it

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Whilst I certainly don't want him to leave, I have to admit if someone offered us silly money, like 100m for him, we'd be silly not to consider it

I think that is fair purely based on his age. In the same way Salah is a brilliant player but when they were talking about crazy money from Saudi I thought it would make sense for Liverpool to sell him.

I still have no trust in our ability to sign players though. Hopefully this improves but let's say we got 100m for him a couple of years ago and used it to sign Casemiro and Mount.

I think both are good players but I'd much rather have 3 more years of a player who's proven to be world class here. If we start signing well maybe a different conversation!

 

[Red in STL]

I think that is fair purely based on his age. In the same way Salah is a brilliant player but when they were talking about crazy money from Saudi I thought it would make sense for Liverpool to sell him.

I still have no trust in our ability to sign players though. Hopefully this improves but let's say we got 100m for him a couple of years ago and used it to sign Casemiro and Mount.

I think both are good players but I'd much rather have 3 more years of a player who's proven to be world class here. If we start signing well maybe a different conversation!

We have an entirely different set of people responsible for this now, I can't beleive that they could do worse than their predecessors!

 

[Nicoseth]

The exit rumors are worrying. Seems like there is definitely something going on. Would be gutted if he goes - he'd be almost impossible to replace.

 

[Red in STL]

The exit rumors are worrying. Seems like there is definitely something going on. Would be gutted if he goes - he'd be almost impossible to replace.

What exit rumours?

 

[ForeverRed1]

What exit rumours?

Go and find Fabrizios newest video. Bruno’s agent has been around Europe talking to big clubs about his clients including Bruno. Bruno wants to be at United and wants to win but is waiting on ineos to hear what their ambition is for him and the club and also regarding the manager situation. He is keeping his options open basically

 

[ArmaDino]

What exit rumours?

Per Fabrizio Romano, his agent is checking to see if there is any interest in him from the top clubs in europe.

 

[OldTrevil]

This guy must love the gullibility of United fans and the media promotion. He knows he can put up stinkers for months on end and only turn up for the last few matchdays in April and May and will get the player of the year award

 

[Abhinav]

This guy must love the gullibility of United fans and the media promotion. He knows he can put up stinkers for months on end and only turn up for the last few matchdays in April and May and will get the player of the year award

He has definitely not been putting in stinkers for months. He has had his ups and downs like the rest of the team, but this season has been one of his better ones.

Though I do agree he did not deserve to be the player of the year. That one should have gone to Dalot.

 

[OldTrevil]

He has definitely not been putting in stinkers for months. He has had his ups and downs like the rest of the team, but this season has been one of his better ones.

Though I do agree he did not deserve to be the player of the year. That one should have gone to Dalot.

He definitely put up stinker for months, it got to a point one could have been forgiven for thinking the guy was playing to spite his teammates. However, the narrative has been changed at the end of the season to fit a grossly undeserved award.

Anyway, the fans player of the year so often turns into a laughably politicized popularity contest, I've never taken it worthy of more than a joke or two.

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[Red in STL]

Per Fabrizio Romano, his agent is checking to see if there is any interest in him from the top clubs in europe.

Go and find Fabrizios newest video. Bruno’s agent has been around Europe talking to big clubs about his clients including Bruno. Bruno wants to be at United and wants to win but is waiting on ineos to hear what their ambition is for him and the club and also regarding the manager situation. He is keeping his options open basically

You mean the agent that represents 49 players, so there's a 1 in 49 chance they're talking about Bruno!

 

[RedRocket9908]

If he is going to go to Bayern do you think they would be interested in a swap with Harry Kane

 

[FootballAI]

Bruno is for sale only if somebody is willing to pay at least 150m Euro in my view. He is the most important player atm, wait 2 more years until Mainoo is mature enough.