[Member 109952]

He needs a rest, I've said it too many times already, that's all it is.

Since lockdown ended in June 2020, he's played pretty much 90 minutes of every game, something like 70 matches in 52 weeks, with no breaks. His game is high energy and take that away you get half the player. He's never been a David Silva to finesse players, his game is getting into good positions with his running and playing balls.

 

[Mcking]

Such a bizarre take. We all know how much easier it is to carry a bunch of underdogs, right?

He seems to be at his best when most of the team's play is invested on him, giving the illusion that he is carrying a bunch of underdogs. To be fair to him, he makes the most from it, admittedly racking up fantastic numbers with his limitations completely ignored as a result. He stays in the team, and keeps getting the ball regardless of how many times he gives it away.

Question is, if we are going to invest on him as much as we have, how far can he carry the team? He has pretty much fallen short at key moments so far.

 

[sullydnl]

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He needs a rest, I've said it too many times already, that's all it is.

Since lockdown ended in June 2020, he's played pretty much 90 minutes of every game, something like 70 matches in 52 weeks, with no breaks. His game is high energy and take that away you get half the player. He's never been a David Silva to finesse players, his game is getting into good positions with his running and playing balls.

This is so obvious it’s incredible it needs to be repeatedly pointed out.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

So you want to take the part of your argument that proves your point right and ignore the other one which is wrong ?

And even with that, he only started 22 games for Portugal in his career so far, with 9 others coming from the bench.

How is the other one wrong? Bruno scored 9 league goals from non penalty last season. That’s already more than what he did in Portugal. You are trying so hard to suit this into your narrative but my point still stands.

 

[Handré1990]

Pfff, he’s a professional footballer don’t you know? Shouldn’t have any impact.

 

[Brwned]

Big fish in a small pond is a well worn phrase which doesn’t apply here. Le Tiss at Southampton, Grealish at Villa, sure. Not Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.

Whether he fits in better with managers/teams that rely on individual brilliance vs those that rely on “patterns of play” is a different discussion.

A small pond isn’t a precisely defined thing, it’s a relative measurement so it depends on what you’re comparing it to. If you compare this United team to our historical peaks or to the best of the best right now, I think you could argue it’s a relatively small pond. No other superstars, no real chances to win trophies, lots of water carriers. You’re applying an arbitrary cut-off point that is entirely reasonable but it doesn’t speak for itself. It’s mostly about the ingredients and they are arguably there, IMO.

This isn’t a unique criticism applied to Bruno. Some players have been great individually at a team just on the periphery of trophies, but struggled when moving onto a bigger team. And that team has been able to better balance themselves without said star player and move onto trophies. There’s more nuance to the idea than your caricature of his view. Discussions about Bruno seem to remove any opportunity for that nuance.

 

[Mainoldo]

Is it a perfect time to sell him now then as his stock is still high. Just seen as he’s burnt out according to the PR team.

 

[el3mel]

How is the other one wrong? Bruno scored 9 league goals from non penalty last season. That’s already more than what he did in Portugal.

Scored 9 goals from non penalties in 58 match vs scored 4 goals for Portugal in 31 matches, started 22 of them.

I mean it's not rocket science. Of course if you play 30 more games for a team you'll have better stats with them.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Scored 9 goals from non penalties in 58 match vs scored 4 goals for Portugal in 31 matches, started 22 of them.

I mean it's not rocket science. Of course if you play 30 more games for a team you'll have better stats with them.

9 goals from non-penalty in 35 starts vs 4 goals in 22 starts of Portugal. That is on average 0.26 goal per start vs 0.18 goal per start. My point still stands.

 

[el3mel]

9 goals from non-penalty in 35 starts vs 4 goals in 22 starts of Portugal. That is 0.26 per start vs 0.18 per start. My point still stands.

And my point is that if you play 13 more games you'll score more goals.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

And my point is that if you play 13 more games you'll score more goals.

0.26 goal per start vs 0.18 goal per start. That’s pretty much counter your point which is why my point still stands.

 

[Mcking]

This is so obvious it’s incredible it needs to be repeatedly pointed out.

He probably does need some rest, but in this case it is an easy out more than anything. He has never been the "Bruno Fernandes" we know when with Portugal.

He has returned 40 goals and 20 odd assists in 80 appearances for us, compared to about 10 goals and assists in 31 caps for Portugal, and his numbers is about half the midfielder he is.

 

[el3mel]

0.26 goal per start vs 0.18 goal per start. That’s pretty much counter your point which is why my point still stands.

You realize that a player can score 2-3 goals in one game then not score in several games next right ? He started 13 more games for us and scored 5 more goals in them. On what basis are you assuming he couldn't score these 5 goals in his next 13 starts for Portugal.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

You realize that a player can score 2-3 goals in one game then not score in several games next right ? He started 13 more games for us and scored 5 more goals in them. On what basis are you assuming he couldn't score these 5 goals in his next 13 starts for Portugal.

You realise that a player can score nothing in one game then still not scoring in several games next right?

That’s why I show you 0.26 vs 0.18.

 

[el3mel]

You realise that a player can score nothing in one game then not score in several games next right?

That’s why I show you 0.26 vs 0.18.

I asked a question, on what basis are you assuming he can't score 5 goals in his next 13 starts for Portugal ?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He probably does need some rest, but in this case it is an easy out more than anything. He has never been the "Bruno Fernandes" we know when with Portugal.

He has returned 40 goals and 20 odd assists in 80 appearances for us, compared to about 10 goals and assists in 31 caps for Portugal, and his numbers is about half the midfielder he is.

That would make him one of many world class players who haven’t replicated their club productivity while playing international football. Including the best player of them all, Messi. You’re reading a lot into very little.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I asked a question, on what basis are you assuming he can't score 5 goals in his next 13 starts for Portugal ?

There is no basis that he can or he can’t score 5 goals in his next 13 starts. You and me have no basis to see the future. Thus why we use what we have now which are 0.26 vs 0.18.

 

[VorZakone]

I take my words back about Sanches, he's been great. Portugal not quite missing Bruno so far.

 

[el3mel]

There is no basis that he can or he can’t score 5 goals in his next 13 starts. You and me have no basis to see the future. Thus why we use what we have now which are 0.26 vs 0.18.

Then till he starts the same number of games he's starting for us we can't simply go on and claim he's playing better for one team than the other. When he reaches 35 starts for Portugal and his stats are worse than with United then we argue about this. Meanwhile 5 less goals in 13 less games is nothing.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Then till he starts the same number of games he's starting for us we can't simply go on and claim he's playing better for one team than the other. When he reaches 35 starts for Portugal and his stats are worse than with United then we argue about this. Meanwhile 5 less goals in 13 less games is nothing.

He’s not playing 5 games here mate, he has played enough games already and the average shows 0.26 vs 0.18. Playing more games doesn’t guarantee 0.18 to increase but can also get worse.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Looked good since he came on. Hopefully getting dropped gives him a kick up the ass.

 

[Xeno]

Deffo a pen that.

 

[The Substitute]

Crazy he got away with that

 

[Godfather]

He better gets a good rest after the Euros. If he takes the form of his last two months for us and for Portugal into next season God help us

 

[FootyGirl88]

Is he ok?

 

[Godfather]

Looked good since he came on. Hopefully getting dropped gives him a kick up the ass.

He what?

 

[arnie_ni]

Deffo a pen that.

Outside the box?

 

[Godfather]

Outside the box?

Stepped on his calf well inside the box

 

[Pow]

Lucky

 

[Idxomer]

Looked tragic and his touch is gone.

He needs a long rest and going back to basics.

 

[arnie_ni]

Stepped on his calf well inside the box

I only seen the replay once but he looked like he stepped on it outside

Edit rewinded it. Def outside. Duno how to upload pic

 

[Godfather]

Looked tragic and his touch is gone.

He needs a long rest and going back to basics.

Portugal did the right thing and dropped him as he looks shit atm. Hope Ole has the guts to do the same next season if he continues like that

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

He what?

Sent that before the wheels came off

 

[gorky_utd]

Immediately on pogduty after the match. He clearly needs rest, looks physically knackered.

 

[bosnian_red]

He works hard but that was an awful sub from him

 

[Eternitiy]

We're in big trouble if we continue to give him a free role in our side.

 

[united_99]

Lucky

Extremely! If the pen had been given France would have been 1st, Germany 2nd and Portugal through as 3rd!

 

[charlenefan]

Had two decent attacks down the left
Lost the ball twice in 30 seconds on the touch line
Could have given away a pen

CAF: he's tragic, trash, needs selling

 

[Idxomer]

Portugal did the right thing and dropped him as he looks shit atm. Hope Ole has the guts to do the same next season if he continues like that

Spoiler alert: he won't.