I don't want to be too critical of him after yesterday's game simply because Bruno has generally not been good against the best oppositions and is generally one of the worst player on the field when things go wrong. At some point people probably need to understand and accept that he isn't a technical leader and that he isn't an emotional leader either, these games tend to show that we put too much on his plate.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 59
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 14
- Yellow cards
- 12
- Status
I think Pogue's right. Bruno runs more than anyone and he has shown himself to be a great leader this year. One bad performance doesn't negate all the good. Mass over reaction here but I'm not surprised since he is pretty much disliked but quite a few here.
I love Bruno but last night was embarrassing from him.
That being said, I do believe in second chances. And yes I view last night as his first offence. I don't mind that he's vocal towards the referee and his team mates. That just proves that he's highly competitive. I don't like his diving, but he belongs to a long line of players from the last 25 years who resort to that bullshit, so I've just come to accept it.
What I don't accept, and thus consider last night his first offence, is visibly giving up. It looks especially egregious when it's Bruno for two reasons:
1. He's usually the hardest worker. When he stops giving a shit it's the first thing you see.
2. He's our captain.
Sort that shit out ASAP or give the armband to someone else.
That being said, I do believe in second chances. And yes I view last night as his first offence. I don't mind that he's vocal towards the referee and his team mates. That just proves that he's highly competitive. I don't like his diving, but he belongs to a long line of players from the last 25 years who resort to that bullshit, so I've just come to accept it.
What I don't accept, and thus consider last night his first offence, is visibly giving up. It looks especially egregious when it's Bruno for two reasons:
1. He's usually the hardest worker. When he stops giving a shit it's the first thing you see.
2. He's our captain.
Sort that shit out ASAP or give the armband to someone else.
He committed the cardinal sin of giving up, and that is something you can never forgive. For any player to give up is the end, for a captain to do it is 10x worse.
What the punishment for this? We've seen at Ajax under Eric that a player refused to run and was subsequently sold in the next window, that could happen here, at the very least I would expect him to lose his captaincy.
What the punishment for this? We've seen at Ajax under Eric that a player refused to run and was subsequently sold in the next window, that could happen here, at the very least I would expect him to lose his captaincy.
No he didn’t. Have you seen the “evidence”?!
He clearly gave up. And that is clear on the evidence. A petulent kick and then just walks off and leaves his team to deal with the attack. Even if he didnt ask to be subbed that first part is the worst part.
I think Laura describes his performance and actions perfectly here.
Needs to sit out a few games and stew on the bench, but there is no replacement for him so it probably won't happen.
Yesterday's result has stained this season and a lot of reputations.
Yesterday's result has stained this season and a lot of reputations.
Excellent against Barca. Scored against City. So that’s not really true. But I do agree that he’s too emotional to be a leader on the pitch. I never know how much the arm band matters but he shouldn’t be wearing it on the basis of his leadership skills. He seems to have earned it mainly through his importance to the team and effort he puts in.
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I have no idea who “Laura” is and even less interest in her opinion.
Bruno’s one and only ‘crime’ was when he gave up on chasing Bajcetic on one occasion. In a match where the result was already a foregone conclusion. During a frankly insane fixture schedule, where he has started every single game (I think?)
Considering how rarely he gives up on anything and how much running he does in every single match I don’t think that’s a massive deal. Other than to weirdos who spend their life arguing about football on Twitter and are getting owned by rival fans using that footage.
Given how poor Varane was yesterday and his need for rest I would expect Maguire to start against Betis and wear the armband. Perhaps Bruno gets a couple of games on the bench with Sancho at 10. A front four of Sancho, Anthony, Garnacho and Rashford? If Maguire and Bruno are not starting does Rashford get the armband?
Jesus wept, the poor sod is absolutely exhausted and burnt out, and still trying. Cut him some slack!
I hope people realise he's the reason Ten Hag plays Weghorst as number 10 in these games, terrible excuse for a “playmaker”
Sabitzer. A little bit different so we'd have to adjust but considering ETH reputation as an excellent coach and tactician, I don't see why he can't come out with something.
https://www.football365.com/news/su...ve-shameful-moments-ten-hag-deal-like-ronaldo
Absolutely embarrassment yesterday...beyond the pale. As if ‘running’ mitigates regular abysmal performances, low goals and assist numbers and terrible attitude.
Robbie fecking Savage made a career out of running.
Absolutely embarrassment yesterday...beyond the pale. As if ‘running’ mitigates regular abysmal performances, low goals and assist numbers and terrible attitude.
Robbie fecking Savage made a career out of running.
I dunno who gets the armband if Bruno is out. My main worry is how we’re consistently fecking useless without him but he surely can’t keep on starting games as frequently as he has done over the last couple of months.
He has also been terrible against Liverpool several times, against City several times and during pretty much any games that we lost badly against good teams. Also I said generally not exclusively, not 100% of the time.
At this point I’m embarrassed for you
Thats a massive fecking crime when you are wearing the armband. I dont give to fecks about twitter or opposition fans. They dont rile me up. What pisses me of is a man united captain acting like a petulent child against our biggest rivals.
I have been singing his praises lately and excusing his performance the last few matches with the fact that he hasnt been given enough rest. His performance yesterday I can excuse for the same reason, but that attitude and behaviour is simply not something any actual United fan should excuse.
I honestly dont think he has the mentality to be the captain. I still see him as a vital part of our team, but for his own sake and the teams he should not be the captain, not after this.
He’s had very few top performances in big games.
Can you name any Manchester United player who hasn’t ‘generally’ been terrible in defeats against big teams over the past few years? Rashford’s got a good goal scoring record but he tends to score in the games when we win, which also tends to involve good performances from Bruno (and most other players)
Rest him - hardest working player in the squad, needs a break. Week off at least I think. Rest him against Betis and get him back for the return Betis leg. No shame in being phyiscally and mentally exhausted.
And people are buying it. Incredible.This is what got Neville’s panties in a twist?!
Why would I do that in a thread about Bruno? Do I have to mention other players when I say that I won't be too critical of Bruno because what happened yesterday is to be expected?
It was a rhetorical question. I assumed you would understand the point I was making. We've been dominated a lot in big games in recent years. Hence it's been very hard for any players to look anything other than "generally terrible" in those fixtures. However, there's been some green shoots recently. With better results this season (at home, anyway) And Bruno has been an important player in this improved trend. Obviously., yesterday was reversion to the horror shows of last season. With all of our players more or less equally culpable. If we really wanted to single out the one player most responsible it wouldn't be Bruno, that's for sure.
A blind spot for any grafter tbh.
Which is why I said that I won't be too critical after yesterday game. I have no reason to single him out when he has never shown the ability to shine in spite of a game scenario. He shares that with a player that you have been happy to single out though.
It's a Portuguese specialty.
I think @JPRouve makes a valid point though. We're not at the level of a top side yet (but we're getting there). In games against the best teams, you need to have composure, and have care with the ball. Bruno is chaotic - and that's fine for us in games we dominate the ball, but for games where we need a bit more sustained composure it ends up putting us on the backfoot time and time again.
I would like to see a bit more pragmatism from EtH in terms of who starts against whom. A midfield 3 of Casemiro, Fred and Sabitzer was the way to go yesterday (but easier to say in hindsight).
I can maybe understand constantly playing him if he's in the 10 spot because we haven't really got a replacement.
But if you're shifting him out wide anyway, why not just give him a game off? We've got alternatives in those spots.
But if you're shifting him out wide anyway, why not just give him a game off? We've got alternatives in those spots.
I'm a big fan of Bruno but yesterday was an absolute shambles, not even a debate imo. Hopefully he gets a bollocking and learns from it.
In terms of captaincy I think he should cut out the Ronaldo-esque histrionics and just lead by example in terms of workrate and courage/talent on the ball. The whining is detrimental to the team as it only encourages others to do the same (Antony is particularly bad for it) with no upside.
In terms of captaincy I think he should cut out the Ronaldo-esque histrionics and just lead by example in terms of workrate and courage/talent on the ball. The whining is detrimental to the team as it only encourages others to do the same (Antony is particularly bad for it) with no upside.
Theres 11 players on the pitch, but still i will blame this 90% on Bruno. What type of attitude is this from the player supposed to lead our team? The real captain would have kicked Bruno's arse and told him to get his shit together or get out.
But our captain is the one that needs to get his shit together and totally buckles under pressure. I demand another captain, and this is not a one-off, personality wise Bruno is NOT captain material.
But our captain is the one that needs to get his shit together and totally buckles under pressure. I demand another captain, and this is not a one-off, personality wise Bruno is NOT captain material.
And my point was that there is no point criticising Bruno harshly for something that we know isn't part of his toolbox. We have seen him play for United since 2019 and there is a trend during big games.
His chaotic nature is what it is. Very effective when we’ve a solid base behind him. Hence the addition of Casemiro and Martinez has improved us so much. But if the base of midfield/defence is as porous as it was yesterday then it’s a problem. Although Casemiro playing as badly as he did yesterday is a huge problem, with or without Bruno.
I agree broadly - he's a useful tool to have but trying to play on the front foot against a top team isn't the best use of him.
I don't think every single player needs to be a possession type. The problem is when you only have three or four who are. Or conversely you have four or five who are erratic and at times sloppy. Which has been our problem for a long time.
If you dropped Bruno into a team who really looked after the ball there wouldn't be a problem. In fact he'd probably be just what that team needs, a bit of cutting edge.
The problem is having Bruno alongside Fred, Casemiro, Rashford, Dalot and Antony. Guys who can all be really loose with the ball.
The mix isn't right basically. Especially with no Eriksen.
I think it was a bad mistake playing Bruno on the left, Trent is the weakness defensively so Rashford should of been playing there to exploit it. But that doesn't excuse the way Bruno played and his attitude as the captain was embarrassing
Which is why I said I am not angry at him for his performance yesterday. Its simply who he is and especially when we didnt really have any midfielder with even a bit of composure its going to be like this. My issue is with his behaviour and attitude. That simply isnt okay for a United captain.
The chaotic nature is great against teams where we dominate the ball in all areas of the pitch. Liverpool and Man City (especially away) are never those games for us. A bit more care and composure on the ball means we aren't retreating with as much regularity as we seem to.
He's not the only reason to blame for yesterday's game, (although his general attitude was rotten), but he is left found to be wanting in these big away games.
Agree - with Fred and Bruno especially that's 2/3rds or our midfield that are really all over the place with their passing and general possession. It's why I think playing a flatter middle 3 of Case, Fred and Sabitzer would be better with Bruno either coming off the bench or as a false 9 for yesterday's game.
Agreed. Which means we could have moved Rashford left. I am sure Ten Hag will study this game to be honest.
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