People say he plays even more a CM role for Portugal doesn't he? Long ball to Rafael Leao could replicate a pattern he sure knows from United.
I barely watch Portugal, tbh. Only in the majors themselves, so couldn't tell you what he's looked like for them in qualifiers and friendlies. I didn't realise how stacked the Portuguese team was until seeing their squad for the Euros. They really should be looking to go all the way, so there'll be ample time to see how Bruno plays.
Agree completely. He racked up numbers the past couple of months but even without them he was twice the player than he was for the first half of the season. The decision making and overall footballing IQ and willingness to "play" as opposed to just bomb everything into the box made such a difference. The level he played at in the run IS a world class player. I just want to see that player constantly because it completely changes the dynamic of how we can play going forward, instead of him being the reckless gunslinger that occassionally pops up.
I also think the forced rest from injury did him a world of good. I REALLY hope we rotate him going forward now that he'll be in his 30's. It's great that he's always fit, but it's also fecking stupid to just assume a player will always be at his best if you play him every game for 90+ minutes no matter what. Being able to sub him off/on/rest him occassionally would do a world of good for his sharpness when we really need him.
This has been the crux of all the back and forths between the factions regarding Bruno, but when he plays like he has been, there's not really much to say or argue about because it's what is the universal standard of top notch in the position, which, in turn, leads to universal praise. I suppose those satisified by numbers get their fix as equally as those looking for the standard of the football itself, so all camps can be happy.
But the Bruno who plays like he has been doing, is the player people want to exchange "Gunslinger" or "bomb boy" Bruno with, so it is a turn up for the books. Moving and harmonising with the team makes such a difference, but picking
the moment to be the blade is a real skill and when a player is elevated to a different kind of regard and it's a display of real footballing IQ to have it in the locker and use it at the perfect time.
I don't know if it's the injury, or his age (he's hitting that age where he should be mastering the art of letting his smarts do more work for him than his body - you name the great creators, and it's around this age that they start to look sage like in their control of games), or maybe a time out aiding him to re-evaluate, but has been a very enjoyable watch, and definitely so since we've stopped with the basketball nonsense.
I think he's always been capable of this and showed it from the first moment he got here but over time, the tactics from Ole/ETH has basically given him carte blanche to do whatever he wants. Maybe it has to do with some self indulgence because he really cares about goals/assists (he literally says this in interviews) and it's also an issue of taking on too much responsibility, which in turns lead to over delivering as he knows that our game plan requires big hitting moments.
In open play, he has this really wonderful clutch awareness and audacity to take soft touches to change momentum and the time from which he can then make a pass.
His chop at 0:07 to play it back to Mainoo instead of the 'obvious' pass wide to Rashford is just one example of the things he's done so many times in small pockets of spaces that help massively with our buildup play, which we've really should have been seeing more of his time here. I'm not sure if it's in his game to be completely measured but I think our managers have to take a lot of responsibility for not reigning in his scattergun approach.
I've always thought his 'hold up' play and ability to keep the ball moving out of a press/tight situation was quite underrated but we just don't see it enough because of above reasons.
I really need to go to bed. Will give a reply later.
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