Our attack isn't dysfunctional because of Bruno. Our attack is on life support and Bruno is the one of the few keeping the machine on. He's possibly the best chance creator in the game, only matched by De Bruyne. And he's never injured and he presses well. Imagine what he could do in a functional side...
He might be even better. He might stick out because he doesn't fit another system than ours. Who knows. He creates a lot of chances, his vision and quick execution is really fantastic but he has quite a few downsides to his game (see below). His injury record and fitness level is seriously good, no question about it, but it also has to be seen in an overall context with other up- and downsides. I don't know if he really presses well. He for sure knows how to look busy most of the time. Same hint to you as to many others on here - a player who is closing down another player isn't instantly a presser, nevermind a good presser. As so often, Bruno is the only one furthest up to do it - that isn't good at all - he is wasting energy and he leaves room in behind that others have to cover.
If the Bruno debate is supposed to be productive, extreme bashing like "he is the root of all our issues" is just as nonsensical as some of the "Bruno can't be touched because look how good his numbers were". Nobody denies that he has been largely productive for us. But in a team that hasn't been all too successful - not in terms of results, not in terms of evolving a playstyle. He surely isn't the only factor in that equasion but he for sure is one of them.
City's entire formation and excellence would crumble because Bruno gets dispossessed 70 yards from his own goal once or twice per game or play a couple of unsuccessful through balls that get picked up by the opponent's goalkeeper? Sure..
Now we are getting somewhere... A well drilled team like City can balance out a player who is a high volume risktaker. A barely working team like ours has more trouble with it. He would for sure create goals and assists for City too, his personal record would probably look the same or better, but maybe not the total output of the team. Thats the thing, Bruno has played well - but we can't just walk around calling players good and bad in 2023. We have to be more specific what they do well and what they don't do well. A manager like Pep values possession very highly, I think he would take a pass on Bruno even though he knows he would bring scoring points - it wouldn't be worth it for him. We currently don't know what we are valueing. What we are seeing is a team who is supposed to be transition based team, which more often then not looks unable to get a grip on a football match. And this frantic look has to do with how we play, and if our main objective in attack is spamming balls in behind, then we will continue to have issues.
You mentioned chance creation, fitness and workrate - 2 out of these 3 should be prerequisites. But granted, we are certainly lucky that he is as fit as he is. Good for him. But also lets talk about his downsides:
He is pretty weak defensively. While he certainly looks busy, it doesn't take much to get by him.
He is also not a great dribbler, an ability that comes handy when operating in tight spaces.
Bruno is also a very emotional player - people will call it passionate, alright, each to their own. For sure he can't be put in the calm-cool-headed category. Which then means, that he is whinging and if stuff doesn't go his way, he will throw arms and head will go down. He is also very susceptible of rushing stuff, trying to force things, being overeager. Which potentially results in him spamming ball after ball in behind and therefor ball after ball that has to be won back from oppostions 10 seconds later.
Nothing malicious but I think, for his role, as now captain for the team, there are a few clear downsides to him. Doesn't mean we have to switch him or that he hasn't been good, maybe even one of the best for us. But still shouldn't make him untouchable. Question shouldn't be "has Bruno been good or bad for us?" because he has been one of the better players for us for sure. The question is, seeing that we do need to evolve as a team, will he be able to make the next step.
