Agree with this, when Bruno got man-marked from minute 1, if we had another capable midfielder in the team it shouldn't have been a big problem. This game just highlight more and more of how dependent of Bruno the team currently are
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Agree with this, when Bruno got man-marked from minute 1, if we had another capable midfielder in the team it shouldn't have been a big problem. This game just highlight more and more of how dependent of Bruno the team currently are
I didn't watch the Leeds game but i read that he was particularly visibly annoyed with Daniel James yesterday? I don't really like to see that sort of stuff on the pitch. I didn't like it when Berbatov and Rooney did it to Nani back then
Yep, James looked like a kid receiving a talking down from his teacher.
87% pass completion, so did well.
I like that he gets pissed off with James. It makes me feel like I'm not dog anything wrong when I single out James as the weakest footballer in our squad.
I'm glad I weren't just seeing things.
I thought he did very well in a game where the other team were doing EVERYTHING to stop us play, including marking Bruno out of the game. He still came deep a couple of times to be the one to create half chances.
One of the commentators kept going on about how good he was off the ball too, which is the stuff we don't see.
I think he and Greenwood began to get pretty frustrated with the 'tactics' deployed by Leeds. James was fouled everytime he had the ball too.
Generally thought he had a decent game, we just seemed to lack any killer instinct, from anyone.
It was that incident when they both went for the same ball, right? To be honest, I am not sure if Dan was at fault in that situation.
Agree with this. Hated the acceptance of mediocrity at United. Valencia being appointed club captain doesn’t get talked about enough.
Dan James should be backing himself and taking that ball away from Bruno in that situation, he had the better opportunity of scoring.
He's carried us for long periods of time, but the season has caught up on him, he badly needs a rest.
Should never have played at Leeds, should have given DvB a full 90 minutes.
Should never have played at Leeds, should have given DvB a full 90 minutes.
James is obviously terrified of him.
Nahh, Bruno should have been taking that ball, he literally stepped over it. I think his tantrums are likely because he knows his forms been shite as well.
James was running through on goal, Bruno body shape and run path was going away from goal.
Bruno reminds me alot of Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal, mentality wise and in performances.
Yep, I think Dan saw Bruno and didn’t want to upset him, then fecked the whole thing up should have been more selfish.
Perhaps I need to watch it over again but from what I recall, the ball reached Bruno first, by a fraction of a second and instead of controlling the ball, steps over it and James overruns it. James should have been more alert but I still think Bruno is the main culprit here.
Could well be the case. Maybe @GifLord could help here.
Baffling isn't it? It's not like he's the best player in the squad by an absolute mile and has carried the team for 15 months, to the extent that whenever he doesn't play (or play well) the team is nowhere near as effective.
Exactly this. Bielsa knew that the majority of the team's creativity comes from Bruno so sat Phillips on him to shut him down. Ole needed to spread the creative burden but left it too late.
That's where we need a bigger personality than James, someone who's confident that although it's Bruno they're taking the ball away from, he knows if he's though on goal, he'll finish it. I'm also 100% certain Bruno would rather play with players with that mindset too, it's what's going to elevate us to the next level.
James takes a slight first touch first which directs it towards Bruno run path, then Bruno tries taking another touch but the ball us under his feet and can't get a good enough touch to take the ball, James hesitates and we lose possession.
See this is just poo poo talk. Best player in our squad by an absolute mile? No. Shaw is our best player and saying he's carried us for 15 months is insulting to the rest of our squad, who for the most part, have been great.Both Bruno and Rashford lack composure and decision making when we break, they try and take on far too much responsibility, which is understandable given the numbers they put up.
If you've seen 'The Last Dance', it describes how just before the chicago bulls became the legendary team they were, the coaches tactics were more or less give the ball to MJ and let him do his thing. Once they became more team oriented, that's when they started winning everything. This is a great team in the making but either Bruno and Rashford need to cop themselves on a little (as I'm sure they will) or the coaches should be giving them more clear instructions.
Have you got a clip? I'd like to rewatch it.
It’s honestly a very fair comparison. I see it.
He 100% was because he didn't take control of the situation.
the ball was rolling perfectly for Fernandes who was ahead of James. James then takes a touch to stop the momentum of the ball, then when he realises Fernandes is next to him he just leaves it expecting him to take it, and then Fernandes leaves it once he sees James has taken it off him.
While it was just a mix up as they both ran onto the same pass, he had it so he should gone ahead and got a shot away. You know Fernandes wouldn't have hesitated.
Mix up happens, for me James taking extra touch and completely losing the ball in the box when he had very good chance to go for first time shot was his poorest moment in the game. One touch and he lost the ball.
James probably appreciates it. He’s always happy to defer and plays with no self-confidence in the final third. If ever Bruno is anywhere near he can’t offload the ball quickly enough. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s the wrong choice - bit what is clear is that he has no authority at all in his play. Twice yesterday he saw Bruno coming in his periphery and near enough ran away from the ball. He did the same against Sociedad and claimed an assist to be fair - but the problem is he is always hesitant and is an attacker that doesn’t back himself. When he gets the ball in a dangerous situation his first instinct is to look for a way out rather than taking responsibility.
If you’re going to play like that, then you will get told off by the seniors in the team as you don’t even look at yourself as an equal in the team. You are there to be instructed.
That's a pretty tame reaction tbh.
Cheers.
I didn't notice that James got a touch first yesterday, which certainly means he's more culpable than I thought. Is it just me or does Bruno shape his body as if he was going to take the ball though?
Bruno should just shut up and carry on with the game. Does no good to the confidence of a player who is already so mentally fragile at the moment. Who was that ball intended for anyway? It just looks like Bruno got in James's way who was already taking it in his stride but then saw the Portugese charging in
James definitely made the wrong choice, and then managed to lose the ball, but not sure Bruno's reaction helps, I'm sure he realized he messed up.
That mental fragility doesn’t belong here sadly. This is elite sport, and then the top end of elite sport at that.
If that were Rashford it would all be academic, because as a forward if he receives the ball through on goal he will know exactly what he needs to do - which is not look for a way out.
The problem there was that James either needed to take it on, or just get the feck out of the way and leave it. Bruno is rightly annoyed because by James touching it, he has then put Bruno offside. If he was going to touch it, he needs to take it on himself. Touching it and then leaving it was the worst thing to do, as Bruno could not be active from James’ pass, only Greenwood’s.
This has all come about because, while James was put through on goal, as soon as he saw a teammate over his shoulder, his cowardice kicked in due to his relief at potentially not having to take the shot on himself.
The thing with people defending his stroppiness on the field as him demanding excellence, is I don't see it like that most of the time. Yesterday, for example, he just came across as a scolded child. It's got nothing to do with him demanding anything because half the time he's just muttering to himself while looking like he's on the verge of tears. I don't understand the clamour for that sort of behaviour, personally. I have absolutely no problem with a player ripping into a teammate when needed and wising them up. I do think we've lacked that a lot at times over the past few years, but I don't necessarily see that from him too much. It's not commanding then, I guess is the point I'm making. It's more whiny, as opposed to assertive.
He's also been really bad for weeks now. I can' remember the last game he actually played well in, and I'm not just talking about getting a goal (although I don't think he's got a goal in something like 6/7 weeks or something), but really controlling a game and standing out.
I should say what I do like about him, is that he clearly demands more from himself. He knows when he's not doing good enough and is not afraid to say it.
He's also been really bad for weeks now. I can' remember the last game he actually played well in, and I'm not just talking about getting a goal (although I don't think he's got a goal in something like 6/7 weeks or something), but really controlling a game and standing out.
I should say what I do like about him, is that he clearly demands more from himself. He knows when he's not doing good enough and is not afraid to say it.
The only way that giflord clip could be any better is if Donny popped up between the two of them and let the ball run between his legs after James gets the first touch.
The similarities are uncanny. Wasn't as fashionable when I said it 5 months ago though
James took a poor touch, end of story
I mean he clearly didn't. He took the touch and then very clearly stop because Bruno got in his way.
I'd give this a like if I could.
James took the touch and Bruno ran across him. It's Bruno's fault.
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