[Jeppers7]

Most of them tbh. His workrate and movement has set the tone for the entire team. Him Casemiro and Varane are the beating heart of everything we do.

Right.

 

[Bebestation]

There's less hit and hope from him, but still a lot of sloppiness in his game. Little flicks in the middle of the pitch to nobody in particular, short passes often going astray etc. His work rate is terrific though and we are definitely a better side with him in the team.

We use him as our main creator,not some Dlp.

 

[UpWithRivers]

3 assists and 2 goals so far in the prem is a bit worrying for the type of player he is. Sure he has become more rounded and works hard etc but he cant loose all his attacking threat.

 

[Member 125398]

Right.

I know.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

3 assists and 2 goals so far in the prem is a bit worrying for the type of player he is. Sure he has become more rounded and works hard etc but he cant loose all his attacking threat.

Especially when Eriksen has the same goals and double the amount of assists in the league.

I hate to rely on stats but Bruno has always been a player that would have the numbers even when playing poorly, whereas this season he doesn’t seem to have much of anything going for him other than his insane work rate.

 

[roonster09]

I think 10s would spend as much time in the middle third as the do in the final third? Admittedly, it’s not my favoured leisurely reading so I don’t have figures of average positions - but I see 10s dropping into midfield to link. That said, there are different types of 10s in the game now, not just what I’d call a ‘classic’ 10. A classic 10 for me is not in the team to get 20+ goals a season, but they are certainly, more often than not, the best/most talented footballer in the team. I guess now there is more if a debate as to whether they belong more to the midfield than the attack. I see Rui Costa or Gascoigne as classic 10s, more than say, Roberto Baggio.

Bruno's average number of touches and passes is good enough compared to his peers and team. Him averaging less touches than Bruno in the past means we have more structure to the team and also we have capable players who do their job.

Bruno is in top 5% in passes attempted and 7% in touches among attacking mids and wingers. That's good enough number.

People talk about Odegaard a lot, he is in 84th percentile and 76th percentile in passes attempted and touches among attacking mids and wingers.
KdB is in 96th percentile and 70th percentile for passes attempted and touches among attacking mids and wingers.

Bruno is involved a lot, people can talk about his technique, awful game and whatever but anything on non-involvement is just wrong. He is always involved.

 

[Rozay]

Bruno's average number of touches and passes is good enough compared to his peers and team. Him averaging less touches than Bruno in the past means we have more structure to the team and also we have capable players who do their job.

Bruno is in top 5% in passes attempted and 7% in touches among attacking mids and wingers. That's good enough number.

People talk about Odegaard a lot, he is in 84th percentile and 76th percentile in passes attempted and touches among attacking mids and wingers.
KdB is in 96th percentile and 70th percentile for passes attempted and touches among attacking mids and wingers.

Bruno is involved a lot, people can talk about his technique, awful game and whatever but anything on non-involvement is just wrong. He is always involved.

Okay, then I am not satisfied with the quality of his involvement then if those numbers bear true. I also know what I see, I just don’t have the time to put forward a statistical argument for, what I am sure you surely agree, is an obvious difference between him and Odegaard. I wouldn’t be surprised if you presented some numbers to say that Bruno was basically David Silva too, and perhaps the numbers would say that - but when they do, that’s when I stop paying attention to them. Personally.

Perhaps Bruno is involved in our play a lot, I can’t dispute that if that’s what it says, but I don’t think we move the ball well enough in the middle and final third so perhaps the devil is in the detail here. But I can accept that he is at the centre of our play given what you have presented.

 

[Lyng]

Okay, then I am not satisfied with the quality of his involvement then if those numbers bear true. I also know what I see, I just don’t have the time to put forward a statistical argument for, what I am sure you surely agree, is an obvious difference between him and Odegaard. I wouldn’t be surprised if you presented some numbers to say that Bruno was basically David Silva too, and perhaps the numbers would say that - but when they do, that’s when I stop paying attention to them. Personally.

Perhaps Bruno is involved in our play a lot, I can’t dispute that if that’s what it says, but I don’t think we move the ball well enough in the middle and final third so perhaps the devil is in the detail here. But I can accept that he is at the centre of our play given what you have presented.

If you compare to Ødegaard again you will find that he has 7 goals and 5 assists. So yes Bruno is involved but not as effective offensively.
On the other hand his defensive contribution is much higher than Ødegaard and KDB.
I have a feeling that's why Ten Hag plays him, and also why Ten Hag relies on Eriksen next to Casemiro.
Without Eriksen our midfield would not be able to do much progress given the way Bruno plays.
Unless we buy De Jong of course.

 

[roonster09]

Okay, then I am not satisfied with the quality of his involvement then if those numbers bear true. I also know what I see, I just don’t have the time to put forward a statistical argument for, what I am sure you surely agree, is an obvious difference between him and Odegaard. I wouldn’t be surprised if you presented some numbers to say that Bruno was basically David Silva too, and perhaps the numbers would say that - but when they do, that’s when I stop paying attention to them. Personally.

Perhaps Bruno is involved in our play a lot, I can’t dispute that if that’s what it says, but I don’t think we move the ball well enough in the middle and final third so perhaps the devil is in the detail here. But I can accept that he is at the centre of our play given what you have presented.

At this point there is nothing Bruno can do to win you and few others. Also it's not me who chose passes attempted and touches stats. It was in reply to your post which said he isn't passing enough or getting enough touches.

Also if Bruno is not involved in our game then we are just shit. It's not surprising that he plays every single game and the game he doesn't start, he comes on as half time sub as we are just too poor without him.

Re bold part, I won't be surprised if you come up with "Bruno is the worst player in PL" based on your eye test but then lets leave all that. If you come up with "David Silva is involved more than Bruno" then obviously I would check their stats and post if the point is wrong. Nothing to do with who is the better player.

 

[Rozay]

At this point there is nothing Bruno can do to win you and few others. Also it's not me who chose passes attempted and touches stats. It was in reply to your post which said he isn't passing enough or getting enough touches.

Also if Bruno is not involved in our game then we are just shit. It's not surprising that he plays every single game and the game he doesn't start, he comes on as half time sub as we are just too poor without him.

Re bold part, I won't be surprised if you come up with "Bruno is the worst player in PL" based on your eye test but then lets leave all that. If you come up with "David Silva is involved more than Bruno" then obviously I would check their stats and post if the point is wrong. Nothing to do with who is the better player.

Well the first part is true. I mean, he’s been here what, 3 or 4 years now. Think that’s more than enough time to form an opinion.

Also, nobody was pointing fingers, chill out, I am aware of the reason you presented the stats you presented. My point is that these stats make little sense to me and contradict the impression I have when I watch football. For example, I would assume David Silva was more involved than Bruno. I’m sure a random survey of 100 football fans would assume the same. It absolutely would not occur to me to go to Opta to form such an opinion, I am simply saying that I am now no longer surprised if Opta somehow said the opposite. I would say that Casemiro makes more tackles than Carrick, having watched both footballers, but I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised if some sort of evidence to the contrary was presented to me at this point, having engaged in my fair share of football debates. Simple as that really. Personally, I have no desire to read football matches, but this is the way the game is now. Sometimes now, when I watch games in real time I am becoming more conscious of ‘wow, even that would count as a successful pass’, or ‘that wouldn’t count as a tackle/winning of possession’ (happened with Martinez against Everton where he got his body in front of his opponent and shepherded the ball out but didn’t touch the ball and therefore would get no credit). People can watch football and see one thing, and then read it back and be told something else happened. I personally have no time for it. We watch the PL every week and see what we see, yet every week numbers are presented in this thread to draw comparisons between Bruno and De Bruyne for instance. Nobody actually thinks they are close in real life, they only become close when you start watching football on paper.

The point about Bruno’s involvement wasn’t even raised by myself. I responded to a poster who said that Bruno has ‘less touches and less passes this season’ by asking if that is what he would want/expect from a 10. He rightfully plays every game for us? But so what? We aren’t as good as we want to be, he’s not playing every game for a successful team. I think if we had better, we would be better. My argument isn’t that we have better than him. It is that we need better than him.

Ultimately, my assessment isn’t particularly complicated. He is technically average in my view, and physically worse. He struggles when engaged by an opponent. I don’t need to read a book to form the view that say, Messi, Iniesta or Pedri have far better ability on the ball, but again, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if someone presented a bunch of numbers which ‘proved’ there was little or nothing between them. So I don’t even know. I’ll judge players myself. I don’t see it as the science many do. I think if you put Bruno, Luke Shaw and Joao Cancelo in centre midfield, Bruno would be the worst player of them all because that’s my impression based on the range of touches they have of a football, and their physical capabilities.

 

[Rozay]

Out of curiosity, what is your own take on Bruno’s ability as a player? @roonster09 Often I end up going back and forth about my view of a player, but at least I’m giving one. I’d be more interested to know what parts you disagree with and what you’re own take is. One that you have gathered from watching him 300 times preferably, rather than what you have read.

 

[SATA]

Still think he’s a pivotal player in the way the team plays. The way he releases Rashford and Martial with those first time passes leading up to counter attacks is a very good weapon to have. It’s also amazing that we had a free run in signing him when no other teams were really interested, and he’s now one of the most prominent and dangerous players in the world

 

[roonster09]

Out of curiosity, what is your own take on Bruno’s ability as a player? @roonster09 Often I end up going back and forth about my view of a player, but at least I’m giving one. I’d be more interested to know what parts you disagree with and what you’re own take is. One that you have gathered from watching him 300 times preferably, rather than what you have read.

It's very simple, he is a good player and easily our best attacking player since he signed for us. He is not as good as his fans likes to think (like world class or something close), likewise he isn't anywhere close to bad like you and others like to portray him.

Can we do better than Bruno? Yes. There are very few players but I would love to move away from #10 system. So when it comes to that point, I would rather stay away from signing pure 10s.
Do we do better without him? Absolutely no. At least not with this team. People like to build fantasies like how Donny VandeBeek would make us play better but the reality couldn't be far from that.

For me it's simple. If he plays well, he played well. If he plays poor then he played poor. I don't need to have a fixed opinion and then fit the match performance rating based on that. This is what I see in few threads all the time.

 

[roonster09]

Well the first part is true. I mean, he’s been here what, 3 or 4 years now. Think that’s more than enough time to form an opinion.

Also, nobody was pointing fingers, chill out, I am aware of the reason you presented the stats you presented. My point is that these stats make little sense to me and contradict the impression I have when I watch football. For example, I would assume David Silva was more involved than Bruno. I’m sure a random survey of 100 football fans would assume the same. It absolutely would not occur to me to go to Opta to form such an opinion, I am simply saying that I am now no longer surprised if Opta somehow said the opposite. I would say that Casemiro makes more tackles than Carrick, having watched both footballers, but I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised if some sort of evidence to the contrary was presented to me at this point, having engaged in my fair share of football debates. Simple as that really. Personally, I have no desire to read football matches, but this is the way the game is now. Sometimes now, when I watch games in real time I am becoming more conscious of ‘wow, even that would count as a successful pass’, or ‘that wouldn’t count as a tackle/winning of possession’ (happened with Martinez against Everton where he got his body in front of his opponent and shepherded the ball out but didn’t touch the ball and therefore would get no credit). People can watch football and see one thing, and then read it back and be told something else happened. I personally have no time for it. We watch the PL every week and see what we see, yet every week numbers are presented in this thread to draw comparisons between Bruno and De Bruyne for instance. Nobody actually thinks they are close in real life, they only become close when you start watching football on paper.

The point about Bruno’s involvement wasn’t even raised by myself. I responded to a poster who said that Bruno has ‘less touches and less passes this season’ by asking if that is what he would want/expect from a 10. He rightfully plays every game for us? But so what? We aren’t as good as we want to be, he’s not playing every game for a successful team. I think if we had better, we would be better. My argument isn’t that we have better than him. It is that we need better than him.

Ultimately, my assessment isn’t particularly complicated. He is technically average in my view, and physically worse. He struggles when engaged by an opponent. I don’t need to read a book to form the view that say, Messi, Iniesta or Pedri have far better ability on the ball, but again, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if someone presented a bunch of numbers which ‘proved’ there was little or nothing between them. So I don’t even know. I’ll judge players myself. I don’t see it as the science many do. I think if you put Bruno, Luke Shaw and Joao Cancelo in centre midfield, Bruno would be the worst player of them all because that’s my impression based on the range of touches they have of a football, and their physical capabilities.

There are subjective opinions like whether player played well or poor, whether the player should have made decision x or y and there are are objective things like how much a player is involved, how many goals a player scored.

I don't disagree with all your points, all I have done is to present the stats which says which player is involved more2.

 

[Rozay]

It's very simple, he is a good player and easily our best attacking player since he signed for us. He is not as good as his fans likes to think (like world class or something close), likewise he isn't anywhere close to bad like you and others like to portray him.

Can we do better than Bruno? Yes. There are very few players but I would love to move away from #10 system. So when it comes to that point, I would rather stay away from signing pure 10s.
Do we do better without him? Absolutely no. At least not with this team. People like to build fantasies like how Donny VandeBeek would make us play better but the reality couldn't be far from that.

For me it's simple. If he plays well, he played well. If he plays poor then he played poor. I don't need to have a fixed opinion and then fit the match performance rating based on that. This is what I see in few threads all the time.

I don’t say he’s ‘bad’ - I say he is not good enough.

I’m not sure about him being easily our best attacking player either, but it’s a fair view. Everyone has had up and down spells I guess, including him. That said, I do think that to their best of their abilities - Rashford and Greenwood at least are better. Martial has been too cold since Bruno arrived, and only in the first half season was he really good.

Your point about moving away from pure 10s is where I think our views actually intersect in all likelihood. My fundamental issue with Bruno is the basic midfield abilities that I feel he lacks, at least to a high level. I think that indirectly, your preference for another CM is probably also a testament to wanting these abilities in the team - i.e, better tight space operation, more consistent shorter pass and move game, and ultimately - more control. So long as Bruno displays the erratic and unrefined skillset he does, I will never be a fan, personally. I too would prefer another CM, but I would also settle for a different type of 10 who gives us more in the centre of the midfield. I’d gladly trade obscene goal/assist stats for that.

So ultimately, the things Bruno lacks are non-negotiables for me. And while you are correct in ‘if he plays well, he plays well, and if he doesn’t he doesn’t’ - let’s not pretend that at this stage, opinions on a player are still being formed from game to game. Also, ‘playing well’ for Bruno is an interesting concept, in that his performance often conflicts with his output, so there will always be disagreement there. His ‘fans’ will always take the opportunity to defend him if he recorded an assist or goal, while those who take issue with his general level of play will always seem to be hating regardless. It’s not as if he plays like David Silva some games, and others he doesn’t. I’d say I’m more often than not unimpressed with his performance, except for defensive masterclasses like against Liverpool. He’s had a handful of amazing games, my personal favourite being Sociedad away back in 2021, but as something of a ‘purist’ perhaps - he rarely impresses me, goal contribution or not, because I think most if what he does is at an average to poor level, and then some amazing things. I think his performance against Bournemouth last week was shambolic, but a late assist turned it into a two-sided debate on here, but it changed nothing for me. His base level as a player is not that of a top player. I don’t think a player should have to record a goal contribution to play well.

 

[roonster09]

I don’t say he’s ‘bad’ - I say he is not good enough.

I’m not sure about him being easily our best attacking player either, but it’s a fair view. Everyone has had up and down spells I guess, including him. That said, I do think that to their best of their abilities - Rashford and Greenwood at least are better. Martial has been too cold since Bruno arrived, and only in the first half season was he really good.

Your point about moving away from pure 10s is where I think our views actually intersect in all likelihood. My fundamental issue with Bruno is the basic midfield abilities that I feel he lacks, at least to a high level. I think that indirectly, your preference for another CM is probably also a testament to wanting these abilities in the team - i.e, better tight space operation, more consistent shorter pass and move game, and ultimately - more control. So long as Bruno displays the erratic and unrefined skillset he does, I will never be a fan, personally. I too would prefer another CM, but I would also settle for a different type of 10 who gives us more in the centre of the midfield. I’d gladly trade obscene goal/assist stats for that.

So ultimately, the things Bruno lacks are non-negotiables for me. And while you are correct in ‘if he plays well, he plays well, and if he doesn’t he doesn’t’ - let’s not pretend that at this stage, opinions on a player are still being formed from game to game. Also, ‘playing well’ for Bruno is an interesting concept, in that his performance often conflicts with his output, so there will always be disagreement there. His ‘fans’ will always take the opportunity to defend him if he recorded an assist or goal, while those who take issue with his general level of play will always seem to be hating regardless. It’s not as if he plays like David Silva some games, and others he doesn’t. I’d say I’m more often than not unimpressed with his performance, except for defensive masterclasses like against Liverpool. He’s had a handful of amazing games, my personal favourite being Sociedad away back in 2021, but as something of a ‘purist’ perhaps - he rarely impresses me, goal contribution or not, because I think most if what he does is at an average to poor level, and then some amazing things. I think his performance against Bournemouth last week was shambolic, but a late assist turned it into a two-sided debate on here, but it changed nothing for me. His base level as a player is not that of a top player. I don’t think a player should have to record a goal contribution to play well.

All this is fair enough, also we had these discussions many times. At this point of time, Bruno is key player for us. Without him we are almost nothing offensively. Other players do not see the pass like he does, can't back themselves to play the passes like he does. Without him, our attacking game is non-existent. Bruno not being strong enough or not having technically refined game is all fair opinions, because that's true. There is no point arguing against that but then when you see posts about how much he is involved, then you have to argue with factual information rather than what we feel. There is no way anyone can argue that Bruno isn't involved in the game when he is among top 5% for passes attempted and touches. People can argue whether his involvement had right impact on the team or positive outcome, again that's a fair discussion points.

Also your last paragraph is interesting. I don't think opinions are formed game to game, for me that's not the problem. Bigger issue is, posters trying to fit the performance rating into the opinion they already formed. For example, games he had 80+ pass completion, I see here people moaning about him losing possession all the time, just because they have couple of moments from the game and use that to confirm their opinion on Bruno which was formed long back.

Anyways too much about this, my final point is, yes we can build a team that is beyond Bruno's level but at the moment we are not there. What's interesting is, EtH doesn't rest him even a single min, maybe he sees him as the most important player in the attack.

Let's not pretend it doesn't happen both ways.

 

[Rozay]

All this is fair enough, also we had these discussions many times. At this point of time, Bruno is key player for us. Without him we are almost nothing offensively. Other players do not see the pass like he does, can't back themselves to play the passes like he does. Without him, our attacking game is non-existent. Bruno not being strong enough or not having technically refined game is all fair opinions, because that's true. There is no point arguing against that but then when you see posts about how much he is involved, then you have to argue with factual information rather than what we feel. There is no way anyone can argue that Bruno isn't involved in the game when he is among top 5% for passes attempted and touches. People can argue whether his involvement had right impact on the team or positive outcome, again that's a fair discussion points.

Also your last paragraph is interesting. I don't think opinions are formed game to game, for me that's not the problem. Bigger issue is, posters trying to fit the performance rating into the opinion they already formed. For example, games he had 80+ pass completion, I see here people moaning about him losing possession all the time, just because they have couple of moments from the game and use that to confirm their opinion on Bruno which was formed long back.

Anyways too much about this, my final point is, yes we can build a team that is beyond Bruno's level but at the moment we are not there. What's interesting is, EtH doesn't rest him even a single min, maybe he sees him as the most important player in the attack.

Let's not pretend it doesn't happen both ways.

Can’t argue that Bruno deserves to be in THIS team. That has been the case pretty much since he arrived. The point being that THIS team isn’t/hasn’t been good enough to win anything anyway. In my own assessment of what the team needs to go up a level, one of the most glaring things is an upgrade for Bruno. Remember, I have always said that I felt he was the perfect player for the team we were, but absolutely not for the team we want to be.

In this sense, I liken him to Lukaku. Belgium’s record scorer, more than 100 PL goals etc. He will score goals, and a team could finish 4th/trophyless with him as their main man. But there is a level of football above that where I think we all agree that even despite his goals, he is fundamentally opposed to that level of football for a team trying to win the big prizes. I see Bruno as similar. I mean, I’d say the key difference between us and City, even when both playing well, is their superior passing and ball retention. I can’t see us reaching that level with a player like Bruno at the heart.

I accept that he’s a good player. I do think a player with the qualities he lacks may well help us to play better football. Which is why he frustrates me the most. Mason Mount is not ‘better’ than Bruno, and probably not good enough to be our 10 either - but he is definitely better at certain fundamentals than Bruno which I think would make us a better team. Given I know that he can also score and create a bit too when on form, I’d take him instead even, in the hope we could eventually get a better version of him. I just can’t see how you or anyone would be cool with having a player at the very heart of our play who lacks ability under pressure and can keep us moving. He creates chances, but to me, you can’t be at the centre of the team to provide ‘impact’. Not primarily anyway. You should be the engine and conductor, catalyst to our play not just to our chances.

You’re right though, we’ve done this a few times, but usually respectfully and I do enjoy them every so often!

 

[DJ_21]

Bruno Fernandes is arguably one of the best number 10s in the league so why are we seeing him out on the right a lot this season? Is it a tactical switch from ETH?

 

[bosnian_red]

Bruno Fernandes is arguably one of the best number 10s in the league so why are we seeing him out on the right a lot this season? Is it a tactical switch from ETH?

Because we haven't had a RW available or in form.

If Sancho and Antony are fit and firing, then Bruno won't ever be moved to the right side. But as it is, Sancho isn't available and Antony is getting subbed out so Bruno has to go to the right to get us more solidity elsewhere.

 

[DJ_21]

Because we haven't had a RW available or in form.

If Sancho and Antony are fit and firing, then Bruno won't ever be moved to the right side. But as it is, Sancho isn't available and Antony is getting subbed out so Bruno has to go to the right to get us more solidity elsewhere.

Good explanation mate. Makes sense.

 

[edcunited1878]

3 assists and 2 goals so far in the prem is a bit worrying for the type of player he is. Sure he has become more rounded and works hard etc but he cant loose all his attacking threat.

Those are just pure counting stats and don't show the entire picture. He doesn't take all the free kicks anymore and whatever you believe in expected goals and assists, his expected assists are significantly higher than his acutals because United have been rather average at best when it comes to finishing/scoring goals in the league this season.

He's also been the key figure in the final pass that leads to a direct assist or shot on goal. Luke Shaw's goal against Bournemouth is the perfect example of Bruno making the extra pass for a better chance, instead of him typically trying to make the final pass himself. He's been a key figure again, even if his counting stats aren't showing for it. He'll happily point to the fact that he's been captaining the side many times during this current season where United have won many matches so far after the flat start against Brighton and Brentford.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Those are just pure counting stats and don't show the entire picture. He doesn't take all the free kicks anymore and whatever you believe in expected goals and assists, his expected assists are significantly higher than his acutals because United have been rather average at best when it comes to finishing/scoring goals in the league this season.

He's also been the key figure in the final pass that leads to a direct assist or shot on goal. Luke Shaw's goal against Bournemouth is the perfect example of Bruno making the extra pass for a better chance, instead of him typically trying to make the final pass himself. He's been a key figure again, even if his counting stats aren't showing for it. He'll happily point to the fact that he's been captaining the side many times during this current season where United have won many matches so far after the flat start against Brighton and Brentford.

Agreed but hard facts are that 2 goals and 3 assists is really sht no matter how you dress it up.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Agreed but hard facts are that 2 goals and 3 assists is really sht no matter how you dress it up.

None of our attacking players were productive in the first half of this season. There’s an obvious reason for that. Who has since left the club. Bruno’s stats are sure to improve between now and the end of the season. Especially if we fecking finally add a half decent #9 to our squad.

 

[edcunited1878]

Agreed but hard facts are that 2 goals and 3 assists is really sht no matter how you dress it up.

The entire team has only 27 goals for, that's the lowest total goals for amongst the Top 9 teams...so United have struggled as a whole to score goals in the top half of the table, yet sit where they do. So the output has been shit from the entire team. People complain about Bruno are barking up the wrong tree.

 

[croadyman]

Could really do with someone who could rotate with him and Eriksen too

 

[Jeppers7]

None of our attacking players were productive in the first half of this season. There’s an obvious reason for that. Who has since left the club. Bruno’s stats are sure to improve between now and the end of the season. Especially if we fecking finally add a half decent #9 to our squad.

Blaming a player who started only four games this season and played only 500 minutes mainly as a sub for the last 20 mins, for Bruno’s output all season is desperate.

Bruno’s role in the team is to create, that’s his purpose and he’s doing a pretty limited job of it. At some point people will have to accept the fact that his initial 6 months were actually the outlier. It’s been 2 years since Bruno’s output was actually good for a player in his position.

Since January 21 (Pre Ronaldo) Bruno has amassed a massive 11 goals 17 assist in 73 league games. That’s about 6 goals and 8 assists a season. We’ve had deeper lying midfielders criticised for these types of numbers, in fact double the stats, yet the player who’s job is to create chances and muck in with goals is still being excused because of six months of good form two years ago.

Now we’re getting into the realms of ‘it’s somebody else’s fault’ and Bruno needs ‘this type of player or that type of player to play well’

 

[roonster09]

Bruno’s role in the team is to create, that’s his purpose and he’s doing a pretty limited job of it

Time to check the chance creation stats. He can't create and then finish the same chances.

 

[Jeppers7]

Time to check the chance creation stats. He can't create and then finish the same chances.

Goals and assists have always been a perfectly acceptable measure of output for players like Bruno.

 

[roonster09]

Goals and assists have always been a perfectly acceptable measure of output for players like Bruno.

Saying he has less goals and assists is correct but saying " Bruno’s role in the team is to create, that’s his purpose and he’s doing a pretty limited job of it" is just wrong. He is in top 3 in PL for chances created and top3-5 in expected assists.

 

[Raven]

Saying he has less goals and assists is correct but saying " Bruno’s role in the team is to create, that’s his purpose and he’s doing a pretty limited job of it" is just wrong. He is in top 3 in PL for chances created and top3-5 in expected assists.

There's no arguing with some people. G/A is the be all and end all of their footballing views.

 

[roonster09]

There's no arguing with some people. G/A is the be all and end all of their footballing views.

Intellectual dishonesty, as simple as that.

 

[Witchking]

Anyone arguing about us being better without him or we won't win with him in the team etc etc, are just looking for an argument. He is the heartbeat of the team. Creates so many chances. He does have phases where he gives the ball away, but i am ok with his approach and it looks like Ten Hag is also happy, or we would have seen him dropped or change his game.

 

[Jeppers7]

Intellectual dishonesty, as simple as that.

Perhaps some of us take what we see with our eyes, as a previous poster said to you a couple of posts back, and don’t base our opinion on XG or XA etc.

If I watch Bruno with my eyes and he hasn’t been brilliant in the past two years and I look at his goals and assists over a two year period and they have also been mediocre for a player of his profile in his position then how far do I need to look at stats which suggest he’s been almost as good as KDB to form my opinion. Do I need to suggest that its due to a player who has barely played this season and wasn’t at the club in January of 21?

My opinion on Bruno this season is that I prefer slightly the way he’s playing. He seems to be forcing it less and playing more of a team role. There’s less of the careless passes in his own half although there’s still some stupid flicks on the edge of his box etc.

Do I think he’s been great. Not close. I think he’s been somewhere between very average and good most games.

His output is not great for his position, over 70 odd games. I don’t need to look further. I’ll go with my eye test and output rather than stats which suggest he’s been one of the leagues best performers.

 

[roonster09]

Perhaps some of us take what we see with our eyes

ok.

 

[ForeverRed1]

Could really do with someone who could rotate with him and Eriksen too

Maddison

 

[croadyman]

Maddison

Think he's Newcastle bound when leaving

 

[ForeverRed1]

Think he's Newcastle bound when leaving

Not if we wanted him he ain’t. He’s a United fan, think he’d be class for us.

 

[croadyman]

Not if we wanted him he ain’t. He’s a United fan, think he’d be class for us.

Never got the impression we have been interested but yeah would definitely like him

 

[ForeverRed1]

Never got the impression we have been interested but yeah would definitely like him

There’s been a few links over the years but never anything concrete. Some people think he’s too good to be a rotation player but it’s the type of signing that city would make. We’re an injury of Bruno or Eriksen away from being totally screwed and we need competition and rotation that’s on par with each other to really compete.

 

[croadyman]

There’s been a few links over the years but never anything concrete. Some people think he’s too good to be a rotation player but it’s the type of signing that city would make. We’re an injury of Bruno or Eriksen away from being totally screwed and we need competition and rotation that’s on par with each other to really compete.

Yeah totally agree they would make it