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2021-22 Performances


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5.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
46
Goals
10
Assists
13
Yellow cards
10
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Bruno at his best is a brilliant player and I think people have been a bit too harsh in judging his performances this season.

My main concern with him is that I generally think playing a pure number 10 is just asking for trouble these days. I honestly wonder how much of our trouble over the last few years has come from us spending hundreds of millions on Fernandes, Van De Beek, Pogba, Mata ect rather than just signing 3 good central midfielders.

I agree. I think you’re absolutely right with the point on the no 10.
 
Alright then, lets just say he's shit at this level.

Why follow one stupid criticism with another?

He’s shown himself plenty capable of being an important player at this level by, you know, being an important player at this level.

I see absolutely no reason why ETH can’t get him doing the same things for us that he he’s had Tadic doing for Ajax. In a deeply dysfunctional team it’s ridiculous to single out one of the only players to occasionally rise above all the dross as being “shit” or whose productivity doesn’t matter because it’s “stat padding” or some shit.
 
Said the same on the Maguire thread, the fact that Maguire and Fernandes have been practically undroppable for so long is a bit of a joke given their form of late.

It's a risk but neither should start the game against Arsenal in my view, and we definitely should not have given Bruno that wage hike.
 
Why follow one stupid criticism with another?

He’s shown himself plenty capable of being an important player at this level by, you know, being an important player at this level.

I see absolutely no reason why ETH can’t get him doing the same things for us that he he’s had Tadic doing for Ajax. In a deeply dysfunctional team it’s ridiculous to single out one of the only players to occasionally rise above all the dross as being “shit” or whose productivity doesn’t matter because it’s “stat padding” or some shit.
Agree to disagree
 
He’s playing shit but I’m sorry, there’s barely any hope to get any cohesive football right now and it’s almost pointless making judgments on him as an individual player.

There’s no consistency in players, formation, tactics. Football is all about familiarity. Obviously Thiago doesn’t just go out there and spray passes around, he knows who and when runs are being made. He can almost play them without looking.

Bruno has none of that right now. For all the talk of playing off the cuff and being individually brilliant under Ole, it doesn’t add up why there’s looks to be no cohesion right now.
 
No point saying ‘poor in a big game today’. I mean, I switched it off at half-time, but it’s almost impossible to somehow have an outstanding individual performance in the context of your team being totally battered. Football is a team sport.
 
Stat padder is a great term because once the stats are left out, there's nothing much left to see.

Has anyone ever cared what stats the likes of Silva and Iniesta had?
 
People have been telling me that about De Gea for close to a decade. Sancho has some hope of a top career and being in a very successful side. Bruno? I just don’t see it. He’s 27 now, in his peak years, yet Portugese cup football and the Europa League has been his level. Still never been in a title race, whether in Italy, Portugal or England, and disappears in virtually every match against a top side.

Building around him is a fallacy. You will get goals and assists, but your side won’t function reliably carrying someone with such poor positional sense, questionable mental maturity, and severe indiscipline in retaining position. It is De Gea all over again; he’s exceptional in one sense, yet dire and shows no signs of improvement in his areas of weakness.
De Gea actually won a title you know... Nobody is saying build around him. Building around a certain player is the wrong thing to do anyway. We need a system and get players to suit the system, or get the players you have to work towards your system. Also I wouldn't say because a player hasn't been part of a successful team that the player is the reason? You need the system and coach to line up with your time there. We'll see how it goes with Ten Hag. I for one think he'll get Bruno performing at his best and as part of a successful team, I don't see a reason why not. Im not sure why people would blame Bruno or whoever else for the squad struggling anyway. Our manager at the start of the season only had previous premier league experience of getting relegated and sacked by Cardiff, yet the key player in us finishing 3rd and then 2nd under this same amateur manager is the problem for us not being able to compete with Pep and Klopp teams? Its fecking madness.

Hire a good coach first. Then we'll see and make judgments. Players who have shown a high level in the past will get their chances and should get their chances. Up until now, we've had shit stain coaches who would never be picked by any big club (with their current level, not 15 year ago Mourinho or 30 year ago Van Gaal).

Its just crazy for me to see people single out the guy who has been overall our best player since joining, as the problem, yet seemingly ignoring we are up against the 2 best managers in the world who also have excellent squads? I like to focus on the weak links. Constantly. Hardly rocket science yet people here seem incapable of realizing thats how you actually build. Keep fixing and replacing your weakest links. When it's Bruno's turn to be the weak link in the squad, then we can talk. Until then? Its stupid and a waste of time.
 
He's a no.10 but in the 2005-2012 Era.

He's so weak and slow Mata would be just as good an option right now.
 
He is the least of our problem.. get a functional team and he will work.. today he was playing as a CM alongside Matic since Pogba went off early..
 
Especially in a team so bereft of any productivity in attack.

It’s also a team bereft of cohesiveness, and there is an argument that Bruno contributes to that. I think this is the point. Perhaps greater cohesiveness would increase productivity, and do so in the ‘right way’. We must build a cohesive team. Having chaos and sticking a shot of productivity in it isn’t a sustainable way to build a top team that can perform in all conditions.
 
Have you used a similar term with respect to Lukaku?
Had issues with Pogbas stats. Obsessed with the amount of pens he took and went to ridiculous lengths to undermine the assists. In a season where he was so much better than Bruno has been this season. Hypocrite.
 
He is the least of our problem.. get a functional team and he will work.. today he was playing as a CM alongside Matic since Pogba went off early..

The fact he’s been a pivotal player in seasons where we finished in the top four, despite having the most ineffective defensive midfield of basically any team in the top half of the league (with a back four/keeper that also leave a lot to desire) shows how stupidly over the top all this criticism of his wastefulness is. Play him at the sharp end of a team who are actually capable of quickly winning the ball back when we lose possession in the final third and we’ll start to get the best out of him.
 
It’s also a team bereft of cohesiveness, and there is an argument that Bruno contributes to that. I think this is the point. Perhaps greater cohesiveness would increase productivity, and do so in the ‘right way’. We must build a cohesive team. Having chaos and sticking a shot of productivity in it isn’t a sustainable way to build a top team that can perform in all conditions.
He does contribute to it but he’s also a victim of our lack of cohesion. The whole attack looks like they go into every game without a plan but at least with Bruno he’s shown that he’s capable of operating to a high level (goals and assists wise at least). I just don’t think replacing him is a priority compared to other attacking positions. If he continues to be a hindrance once we have a functional CF and right winger I’ll hold my hands up.
 
Stat padder is a great term because once the stats are left out, there's nothing much left to see.

Has anyone ever cared what stats the likes of Silva and Iniesta had?

People weren't scrutinizing stats to the same extent when they were at their peak. It's really just in the last few years that everyone has been obsessed with players' individual stats.
 
“Stat padder” has to be the most ridiculous criticism in football.
This season’s really just been the same as previous seasons. Some good games, one great game and a load of average to shit games. With the good games almost always against piss poor opposition.

You couldnt even make a case for him being one of our better performers even though everyone else has been crap. And it keeps coming back to the fact that truly great players - the type of player Bruno is supposed to be - inspire and elevate the performance of everyone around them. Especially in the toughest fixtures. Which is laughably far removed from what’s been actually happening

(Copied and edited slightly from your post in another thread, because it’s fitting)
 
Yeah, take away Ronaldo’s goals and what’s left to see? :rolleyes: Which is exactly why stats padder is such a fecking idiotic criticism.

When Bruno has half the number of goals Ronaldo scored in big games, critical matches and finals throughout his career, we can stop calling him stat padder.

At the moment he's just a player who bullies awful teams but disappears completely when it matters.

He also fecks the whole team balance just for the sake of his goals and assists.

He'll keep on scoring ton of goals against shit teams but we'll never, ever win a major title with him as the key player in the team. He's a big reason of Man United being disorganized on the pitch.
 
He has the quality to change a game and a great work rate.....he had a fantastic spell for the frist six months here.....and has been living off it for the last twelve months.

He is a good player but people saying he is one of the best number 10s in the world and comparing him with DeBruyne and the likes of Cantona was so premature.

I read some article saying the scouts were not sure about him saying he gives the ball away too much......well that sums up the last 12months, he has been poor for some time now. I would like to see im get competition, think the new contrct at his age and after the season so far was really poor on the clubs part, not the first time
 
The fact he’s been a pivotal player in seasons where we finished in the top four, despite having the most ineffective defensive midfield of basically any team in the top half of the league (with a back four/keeper that also leave a lot to desire) shows how stupidly over the top all this criticism of his wastefulness is. Play him at the sharp end of a team who are actually capable of quickly winning the ball back when we lose possession in the final third and we’ll start to get the best out of him.
He wasn’t pivotal last season, which just leaves half a season and one top four finish. Also since when has top four been something for a club like United, he’s been pivotal to us winning nothing. He’s been given free reign at United. Had a team shaped around him and been allowed to do what he wants in terms of throwing shite at the wall. No wonder his personal stats have been relatively impressive while the team suffers.
 
He was as good as anyone in the league when he signed.

I think he's one of a number of players who could succeed at a top club. The whole ensemble is a shambles, it's bringing everyone down a few levels. We can just hope with the right plan and the right manager it can be fixed. Ralf seems a sensible dude and he reckons two or three windows.
 
I never normally do this but this time I just have to...:lol:
I still think he would. You have to take into account the absolute shitty tactics we employed in the first half, the team having confidence and just a horrible vibe around the football club especially attitude of his team mates.
 
He wasn’t pivotal last season, which just leaves half a season and one top four finish. Also since when has top four been something for a club like United, he’s been pivotal to us winning nothing. He’s been given free reign at United. Had a team shaped around him and been allowed to do what he wants in terms of throwing shite at the wall. No wonder his personal stats have been relatively impressive while the team suffers.

How was he not pivotal last season? PFA Team of the Year, 28 goals in all competitions and United Player of the Year!
 
When Bruno has half the number of goals Ronaldo scored in big games, critical matches and finals throughout his career, we can stop calling him stat padder.

At the moment he's just a player who bullies awful teams but disappears completely when it matters.

He also fecks the whole team balance just for the sake of his goals and assists.

He'll keep on scoring ton of goals against shit teams but we'll never, ever win a major title with him as the key player in the team. He's a big reason of Man United being disorganized on the pitch.
He is not messing up the balance .. who is good enough to play in his place ? Lingard ? Hannibal? Unless we buy a player better than him he will Stay..
 
Hearing his aftermath interview is clear as water that there's absolutely no autocritic within the squad.

The same old bullshit "we need to do better, we weren't good enough" "the effort was there" "we look into the next one"

Just a bunch of wash up phrases that mean nothing, he wasn't even angry.

Feck this whole team, I hope Ten Hag has full authority to sell all this bunch of feckers. Including Bruno.
 
Why follow one stupid criticism with another?

He’s shown himself plenty capable of being an important player at this level by, you know, being an important player at this level.

I see absolutely no reason why ETH can’t get him doing the same things for us that he he’s had Tadic doing for Ajax. In a deeply dysfunctional team it’s ridiculous to single out one of the only players to occasionally rise above all the dross as being “shit” or whose productivity doesn’t matter because it’s “stat padding” or some shit.
There's a big difference between Bruno and Tadic, and that's Tadic's general play has always been good. He's very good at keeping the ball under pressure so, even if he's not scoring or assisting, he's still impacting the game in a positive way.
 
He was as good as anyone in the league when he signed.

I think he's one of a number of players who could succeed at a top club. The whole ensemble is a shambles, it's bringing everyone down a few levels. We can just hope with the right plan and the right manager it can be fixed. Ralf seems a sensible dude and he reckons two or three windows.

I think most of the true top clubs would stay away from him (as they did before we bought him). He's creative but it comes at a cost of needing to give him as much freedom as possible and I don't see any top club giving him that freedom. Added to that when he's asked to play a disciplined role e.g. in a mid 2 he loses the ball, vacates his space and his passing isn't as consistent.

It will be interesting how ETH fits him in and whether he can make him more disciplined in his play.
 
How was he not pivotal last season? PFA Team of the Year, 28 goals in all competitions and United Player of the Year!

He was poor from January and we are talking about premier league as the poster said pivotal to two top four finishes. First part of last season as a team we were poor. From January (23 league games) Bruno’s form was terrible. His performances were dire. He only scored four non penalty goals, 2 in draws and had only two assists from January. He wasn’t pivotal to that at all. He did better in the Europa league but was absolutely terrible in the final and it wasn’t the point anyway.
 
He is not messing up the balance .. who is good enough to play in his place ? Lingard ? Hannibal? Unless we buy a player better than him he will Stay..

He's missing up our balance as a team. His lack of positional disciplinary makes us disorganized up front. He just wants to go as far top as possible to pad on his stats with goals and pens. He'll always have individual success thanks to that no doubt but the actual team will never be organized enough to actually win the important games or critical matches.

No one said he's not better than the current available options but ultimately I find it hard for a team with a key player like Bruno Fernandes having enough organization and discipline to win something major.

The game is more than just one player having individual success with ton of goals and assists. This is a team sport. Teams achieve success by having a balanced lineup in which every player does his role that helps other players also do their roles, even if the net result isn't any player scoring +30 goals a season.
 
Henderson boyed him up. Couldn’t do that to King Eric. The spine needs to break.
 
He was poor from January and we are talking about premier league as the poster said pivotal to two top four finishes. First part of last season as a team we were poor. From January (23 league games) Bruno’s form was terrible. His performances were dire. He only scored four non penalty goals, 2 in draws and had only two assists from January. He wasn’t pivotal to that at all. He did better in the Europa league but was absolutely terrible in the final and it wasn’t the point anyway.

He wasn't that bad, he was below his usual standard, but you're just picking a point in the season conveniently that doesn't take in being Premier League player of the month in both November and December 2020, overall he was still one of our best players in that season, if not the best, so of course he was pivotal.
 
He was poor from January and we are talking about premier league as the poster said pivotal to two top four finishes. First part of last season as a team we were poor. From January (23 league games) Bruno’s form was terrible. His performances were dire. He only scored four non penalty goals, 2 in draws and had only two assists from January. He wasn’t pivotal to that at all. He did better in the Europa league but was absolutely terrible in the final and it wasn’t the point anyway.
Yep, it's a classic example of how the majority of our fanbase overlook general play in favour of stats. Bruno's performances this season are no different to the majority of his time here.
 
He wasn't that bad, he was below his usual standard, but you're just picking a point in the season conveniently that doesn't take in being Premier League player of the month in both November and December 2020, overall he was still one of our best players in that season, if not the best, so of course he was pivotal.
His form wasn’t good in December either….but 23 games is almost two thirds of a season. He wasn’t pivotal doesn’t mean he didn’t play a role in it. He just wasn’t pivotal.
 
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