[Piskin]

This Ten Hag experiment should be given another 2 seasons and I would like him to sell Bruno & Rashford in the summer for good money for to bring in better players.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Not too sure about them both but a good team can obviously afford to accommodate one of them as a key player.

And Rashford is likely the more pivotal player to keep.

He's got a fantastic record in big games for us. One of the Prem's best big game players.

Bruno is one of the worst big game players in the world considering his high profile.

 

[Amar__]

There was a moment around 60th-70th minute where we couldn't touch Bayern, they hid the ball so well we were chasing shadows. And in two situations we finally got the ball and progressed to half way line in what looked like decent attacks, first Bruno and in the next attack Casemiro both lost the simple ball and gave them straight counter attack while half of our players were in front of the ball.

Those are our senior leaders of this team, pretty much everything you need to know about us.

 

[mikeyt]

Been woeful this season. Still looks like he's on his holidays. Remains a luxury player that we don't have room for.

 

[Mcking]

His biggest problem is he is weak as shit. How is he ever going to control a big game for this team if he can't hold off a challenge to turn on the ball, and can't carry the ball more than a few yards? He is always in a hurry to get rid of the ball. My concern is I don't see the club moving on anytime soon.

 

[Rake]

His biggest problem is mental. He is easily tilted when things are not going our way and defaults to instinctive plays and rash decision making.

 

[DWelbz19]

first Bruno and in the next attack Casemiro both lost the simple ball and gave them straight counter attack while half of our players were in front of the ball.

That’s our central midfield in a nutshell. I hate it so much. There’s not a single player in there who values the concept of recycling possession, slowly building up play. They all want to lob it at Rashford in behind which works once every 15 passes

 

[Cassidy]

His biggest problem is mental. He is easily tilted when things are not going our way and defaults to instinctive plays and rash decision making.

Agree

 

[Kostov]

At least his mouthing off has toned down, he would be even more unbearable otherwise.

 

[Escobar]

His biggest problem is mental. He is easily tilted when things are not going our way and defaults to instinctive plays and rash decision making.

Hence you wonder why he is the captain. Too weak imho

 

[slored1]

Our version of James Harden

I'd say Westbrook is a more apt comparison.

 

[Scottynaldinho]

There was a moment around 60th-70th minute where we couldn't touch Bayern, they hid the ball so well we were chasing shadows. And in two situations we finally got the ball and progressed to half way line in what looked like decent attacks, first Bruno and in the next attack Casemiro both lost the simple ball and gave them straight counter attack while half of our players were in front of the ball.

Those are our senior leaders of this team, pretty much everything you need to know about us.

It happened against Brighton too. We had no clue, and they were comfortable. Men against boys stuff.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Our midfield is so fecking depressing and Bruno is one of the issues. I fecking hate the football we're currently playing.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Im starting to wonder if we'd be better off in the long term selling him.

I'm not basing this on the Bayern game as I think he played fine. I've just been thinking that his position is slowly going extinct in the modern game. Creative 10s like Ozil, Mata, David Silva, etc. Don't really have a place in today's top sides.

Sure you can point to an example here and there like Maddison at Spurs or even Musiala today for Bayern. Thing is those players are much more dynamic than Bruno and have more to their game than Hollywood style long balls, long shots, and flicks. If Bruno didn't always bust a gut charging around I doubt ETH would tolerate him in his squad.

There's no chance of this happening, he signed a new 4-year deal when the club basically had no manager (yet). Who said the United board don't have an idea in regard to what kind of football the team must play? Since then, of course, ETH has accepted the challenge (as part of the job), and now he's digging his own grave. Anyway, a club that sees players as assets and wants 45 million to sell McT can't sell Bruno even if they wanted to. I've argued elsewhere that our fanbase would be (unpleasantly) surprised if there was a chance to see how the rest of the football world values our players when real money have to be put on the table.

 

[Thom Merrilin]

That’s our central midfield in a nutshell. I hate it so much. There’s not a single player in there who values the concept of recycling possession, slowly building up play. They all want to lob it at Rashford in behind which works once every 15 passes

Eriksen is the only one who fits your description. That's the reason he plays despite running out of energy early into the second half.

 

[Romez]

Yeap. What's infuriating is, we had the chance to attack and go for an equaliser and he gave away the ball that led to bayern's winner. It's the most Bruno thing ever.

He's our Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard consistently showed up in big games for Liverpool.

 

[kaku06]

Start mount over him. I’m fed up with him. He’s a detriment. A net negative. I’d take a midfield three of Casemiro Amrabat and Mount. I’m sick of seeing us playing hoofball with this moron and getting bullied. He’s weak as piss physically as well as mentally.

 

[mintyred]

Bruno is so bad in midfield because he isn't a midfielder. Some number 10s are closer to being midfielder like KdB and some are closer to being strikers. Bruno is an attacker, all his best attributes are attacking and his mentality is attacking. I'm not saying play him up front but it's useless playing him deeper than a number 10.

 

[gajender]

Bruno is so bad in midfield because he isn't a midfielder. Some number 10s are closer to being midfielder like KdB and some are closer to being strikers. Bruno is an attacker, all his best attributes are attacking and his mentality is attacking. I'm not saying play him up front but it's useless playing him deeper than a number 10.

You can play him anywhere but his fundamental flaws are way too significant to ignore , if you intend to become a top team capable of competing for biggest trophies he simply can't be part of the equation and Sooner the Club realises that better it would be for all concerned .

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

 

[Idxomer]

Bruno in his full glory

This clip is a bit generous because there were at least 5 instances in the first 30 minutes where his poor physicality was exposed horribly.

 

[Greck]

And Rashford is likely the more pivotal player to keep.

He's got a fantastic record in big games for us. One of the Prem's best big game players.

Bruno is one of the worst big game players in the world considering his high profile.

I'd also keep Rashford at all costs. His scoring run last season is why we didn't have this crisis till later. The second it stopped we fell off a cliff. Also a big game player. Used to be his biggest hater too.

 

[Greck]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

A Pep team is like the worst example to make that point. He has isolated better players, actual good performers over less.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

A Pep team is like the worst example to make that point. He has isolated better players over less.

He's also changed how players like Grealish play to City-fy them

He'd love Bruno.

 

[Idxomer]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

Yes, and his adaptation period would be much longer than most players that went to City. He has so many fundamentals missing to play with them at their level. It would be simply not worth it for them to waste that much time on him when they already have so many better players to play in midfield and his position.

 

[JPRouve]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

I think that most top teams wouldn't bother unless the player was immovable. Because too many aspects of his game are lacking and it's not necessarily worth it to make deep changes for that type of player.

 

[zaafi]

He's also changed how players like Grealish play to City-fy them

He'd love Bruno.

Why would he love Bruno if he has minor issues with even De Bruyne? He benched him for periods of time several times.

Bruno lacks what the City players have in abundance.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Why would he love Bruno if he has minor issues with even De Bruyne? He benched him for periods of time several times.

Bruno lacks what the City players have in abundance.

Pep has minor issues with everybody - man's a raving lunatic. But we all know Bruno creates a crazy amount of chances even for a team like us, imagine how many he could make at a team like City - I reckon Pep would value that and would find ways to reign Bruno in a bit without altering that part of his game - he is the best manager in the world afterall.

 

[DWelbz19]

Bruno is so bad in midfield because he isn't a midfielder. Some number 10s are closer to being midfielder like KdB and some are closer to being strikers. Bruno is an attacker, all his best attributes are attacking and his mentality is attacking. I'm not saying play him up front but it's useless playing him deeper than a number 10.

It's one of the silliest decisions Hag has made -- Bruno Fernandes is at his best as close to the opposition goal as you can get him. Ole had the right idea when he channeled Fernandes' inner-Lampard and had him final-third assisting or riffing against a pacey front 3 in Rashford - Martial - Greenwood. Play Fernandes as a no.10, and put two proper defensive midfielders behind him.

Like, think about it. You have an attacking midfielder who cannot play under the press; is pretty weak at dribbling, cannot carry the ball, and is very weak defensively (in terms of actual defending; not running around like a loon because he has insane marathon runner stamina).

What shall we do with him? I don't know, gradually start playing him deeper and deeper.

Makes no fecking sense.

 

[DWelbz19]

On the whole 'Fernandes would be fine for other big teams' chat (which has been done to death for about 3 seasons running now) -- one thing to note is Fernandes is now 29 years old. Extremely hard to get a player that seasoned to revolutionise the way he plays to fit a completely different system.

 

[Rozay]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

Elaborate.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Elaborate.

Same like anyone at City has to - fit their system, work for the team in and out of possession etc... probably for Bruno keep it a bit simpler at times without limiting the stuff he's good at.

The idea that Bruno is some one-way, limited footballer that A) couldn't possibly adapt or B) doesn't have bags of quality to be able to do so is a bit weird to me... or the fact that a manager like Pep wouldn't value a player that literally created the most chances in the league last year.

But then the whole "We'll never win the league with player X" in the team is always a bit odd to me... teams can win leagues with terrible players in them, it's such a nothing statement.

 

[RedStarUnited]

There was a moment around 60th-70th minute where we couldn't touch Bayern, they hid the ball so well we were chasing shadows. And in two situations we finally got the ball and progressed to half way line in what looked like decent attacks, first Bruno and in the next attack Casemiro both lost the simple ball and gave them straight counter attack while half of our players were in front of the ball.

Those are our senior leaders of this team, pretty much everything you need to know about us.

I remember both momennts well. The Bruno one was worse, we were in behind with Rashford and the camera just gets back to Bruno and he has been pushed off the ball.

Why is he so weak?

 

[El Jefe]

I find the idea that a top team can't have Bruno Fernandes in it weird... Like Bruno would somehow look out of place at say, Manchester City... would he have to adapt his game a bit? Sure. Would he get an absolutely ridiculous number of assists and would they still win the league? Obviously.

It’s not weird, it’s actually pretty obvious why that idea exists.

Here are the players Pep uses as CMs or AMs. Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Grealish, KDB, Foden, Nunes. Notice that all of them are press resistant and would have no issue in keeping calm under pressure.

Bruno treats the ball like a hot potato because he can’t dribble and is weak as piss so can’t hold players off. Once you add in his love for the hero ball it’s quite easy to see why he’ll be the most anti-Pep player there is.

 

[Santana]

Bruno's been a liability and a passenger so often in these big games, his style of play is just not conducive to success imo.

What bugs me even more is how he's seemingly untouchable on the pitch. No matter how shit he is he'll never be benched. Meanwhile a young gun like hanibal scores on the weekend and can't even get a minute the next game. That whole thing sancho said about eth having favourites makes sense when it comes to guys like bruno.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

It’s not weird, it’s actually pretty obvious why that idea exists.

Here are the players Pep uses as CMs or AMs. Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Grealish, KDB, Foden, Nunes. Notice that all of them are press resistant and would have no issue in keeping calm under pressure.

Bruno treats the ball like a hot potato because he can’t dribble and is weak as piss so can’t hold players off. Once you add in his love for the hero ball it’s quite easy to see why he’ll be the most anti-Pep player there is.

You're only saying the bolded players are press reistant because they're now at City. Kovacic and the whole Chelsea midfield were so easy to get the ball of last season it was ridiculous.

Same for Grealish - you wouldn't really call him press resistant at Villa - there he just drew fouls, which I guess is a form of being press resitant, but not in the same way he is at City.

 

[gajender]

Elaborate.

Their is a deep delusion about Bruno on this forum about what kind of player he is and why his numbers are the way they are , a reigned in or measured Bruno wouldn't be a half as effective or productive as this chaotic version and if he can't produce the numbers what good is he anyway take away his numbers he is just an average player without any redeeming features .

Sooner the Club realises we aren't going anywhere with Bruno better it would be otherwise we should just make peace with being a top 4 team nothing more .

 

[El Jefe]

You're only saying the bolded players are press reistant because they're now at City. Kovacic and the whole Chelsea midfield were so easy to get the ball of last season it was ridiculous.

Same for Grealish - you wouldn't really call him press resistant at Villa - there he just drew fouls, which I guess is a form of being press resitant, but not in the same way he is at City.

I’m sorry but that is completely untrue. Both Kovacic and Grealish were extremely press resistant at Chelsea and Villa.

Both could carry the ball from deeper in their half and take it closer to the final third beating challenges.

I’m actually surprised you’d say that it’s what both were known for doing best prior to coming to City.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I’m sorry but that is completely untrue. Both Kovacic and Grealish were extremely press resistant at Chelsea and Villa.

Both could carry the ball from deeper in their half and take it closer to the final third beating challenges.

I’m actually surprised you’d say that it’s what both were known for doing best prior to coming to City.

Yeah you'd call Grealish a great dribbler at Villa - but so is Rashford, and I wouldn't call Rashford press resistant at all. Grealish at Villa when pressed basically just drew a foul - now at City he keeps the ball/moves it on. Literally gets fouled half as much now at City then he did at Villa.

I don't think anyone watched Kovacic, or anyone in Chelsea's midfield last season and thought "yep, those lot are really press resistant".

 

[Idxomer]

Yeah you'd call Grealish a great dribbler at Villa - but so is Rashford, and I wouldn't call Rashford press resistant at all. Grealish at Villa when pressed basically just drew a foul - now at City he keeps the ball/moves it on. Literally gets fouled half as much now at City then he did at Villa.

I don't think anyone watched Kovacic, or anyone in Chelsea's midfield last season and thought "yep, those lot are really press resistant".

Why not? It's a team that averaged 5% more possession than United. They naturally had midfielders who could keep the ball better like Enzo and Kovacic. He still had the World Cup where he arguably outperformed Modric and that Croatian midfield could keep the ball against anyone. Kovacic has always been press-resistant, it's his best quality.