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Bruno Fernandes Portugal flag

2024-25 Performances


View full 2024-25 profile

5.6 Season Average Rating
Appearances
41
Goals
9
Assists
14
Yellow cards
8
Red cards
3
He's a fecking robot! How the feck does he keep on playing, game after game, without getting injured??



I've just jinxed him now havent I?!
 
He's a fecking robot! How the feck does he keep on playing, game after game, without getting injured??



I've just jinxed him now havent I?!
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He's a fecking robot! How the feck does he keep on playing, game after game, without getting injured??



I've just jinxed him now havent I?!

Personally, i have no idea how he is not a legend. Would walk in to some of our best ever teams and unlucky to be surrounded by average players for nearly a decade.

Our best player post SAF, our best captain post SAF and for me, easily a legend of United because i never got to see the likes of Law, Best, Charlton etc.
 
I have been extremely critical of Bruno before the run of matches before Liverpool. But in 2025 he has been sensational. He has been a 7-9/10 every match so far this year.
Bollocks. He was god awful vs brighton.
 
Thats my take as well. Obviously a late winner will influence perception of the overall performance but I thought, given the rest was a rather stale (yet professional) performance, Brunos performance was the best today. I even gave him MOTM.


People will always see what they want to see. People who think he is fantastic will watch him play and feel confirmed, people who criticize him will find evidence for that as well. It isn't as easy as pick one.


He might be our best CM against opposition that sits back. And as long as he played AM in AM areas, his defensive contributions compared to other AMs would be great - but he is playing deeper. I hope that Fbref will finally notice that and enable to compare him midfielders not only to AMs and wingers.


Genuine question, after all the posts in this thread and its predecessors, is this really what you understood of the criticism?


I also think, thats Amorims plan. But going forward, we need a more rounded partner for Ugarte. One with the same range of passing and comparable incisiveness as Bruno but stronger and more press-resistant. This new guy, Ugarte and Bruno, I think, this could be a very functional midfield with both grit, fight and quality on the ball. With Bruno able to tuck in when needed and move forwards when suitable. As part of a midfield two, I think it is only a plaster and nothing we should waste too much time on as I think, the potential isn't there to be a viable plan A.
I think there’s always going to be games where playing Bruno at CM is going to cause us issues, but he has shown it’s not only against inferior opposition that he can put in a performance there. He had good spells there in both the Liverpool and Arsenal games recently. I do think though, that he needs runners or players with intelligent movement ahead of him as he’s not the type to turn and hold the ball until something opens up, he prefers to be quick and incisive so he needs those options ahead.

What’s been quite interesting is looking at his average position stats, it doesn’t move a great deal whether he’s in CM or AM, because he puts the defensive work in at AM and he’s miles above our other CM options when it comes to supporting the attack from there. We probably just don’t want him in the deeper role against fast runners in midfield.
 
Bollocks. He was god awful vs brighton.
He has been god awful a few more games then just Brighton. Then again, those games didn't really matter....right? As long as we are not relegated, everything is good.
 
He probably epitomises, more than any other player, the post-Fergie era. Capable of individual brilliance that makes you think this team will go somewhere. Capable of such piss poor performances it gives you anxiety on how we will ever get out of this rut. Twas ever thus.
 
His performances are hit and miss. But what I appreciate about him is we never hear shit about him lacking confidence, or being lazy, and he's never injured. That alone makes me happy to see him in the team
 
He probably epitomises, more than any other player, the post-Fergie era. Capable of individual brilliance that makes you think this team will go somewhere. Capable of such piss poor performances it gives you anxiety on how we will ever get out of this rut. Twas ever thus.

If we had more players with his quality and mentality in the last 10 years we would have been a hell of a lot better of.
 
He may have good games and bad games but his work ethic can never be questioned, he will give his all for the team.

He will keep going till the 90th minute.
 
He may have good games and bad games but his work ethic can never be questioned, he will give his all for the team.

He will keep going till the 90th minute.

I think his bad games tend to be blown out of proportion. He's practically never worse than the team average. He gets flack partly because the difference between his top level and bottom level is more jarring (because he's actually a good player) but also because he's so involved in the game, which makes his mistakes more noticeable.
 
He probably epitomises, more than any other player, the post-Fergie era. Capable of individual brilliance that makes you think this team will go somewhere. Capable of such piss poor performances it gives you anxiety on how we will ever get out of this rut. Twas ever thus.

Don't think this is true at all.

A player like Sancho epitomises post Fergie. A lazy colossal waste of money.

Bruno has bad games and he can be sloppy on the ball but fecking hell he's easily the least of our problems. He's been a shining light for us since we bought him, almost all our best moments in the last 5 years involve him. He also never gives less than 100%.

If we'd had 3 or 4 more signings as successful as Bruno in the last 12 years things wouldn't be so bad now.
 
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I think his bad games tend to be blown out of proportion. He's practically never worse than the team average. He gets flack partly because the difference between his top level and bottom level is more jarring (because he's actually a good player) but also because he's so involved in the game, which makes his mistakes more noticeable.

I agree. The thing I like about him is that regardless of how things are going, he will always put his hand forward. That trait in footballers is rare... when things dont go well, he wants the ball.

Sometimes when we have no attack, he tries his best to change things and sometimes that causes his game to slip and everyone to moan.
 
Still think the best fit for him in this team is as the striker. Would not be able to hold the ball up but feel like our play in the final third would be better.
 
The thing I like about him is that regardless of how things are going, he will always put his hand forward. That trait in footballers is rare... when things dont go well, he wants the ball.

Very true. He never hides no matter how bad things get. The only time he noticeably cracked and gave up a run was when we were 5 goals behind with less than 30 minutes left or something. I can forgive that even if it was against a rival.

His mental resilience, fitness and off-pitch leadership qualities makes me feel sad that we never got to see him play for Fergie.
 
Wondering if this could work given both our strikers are not firing at the moment

--------------------------Bruno-----------------------------------

----Eriksen---------------------------Mainoo------------------

----Dalot------Toby-------Ugarte----------Amad------------

------------Martinez----Maguire------Yoro--------------------

Toby and Ugarte could be too defensive but they can free up front 3+Amad
 
Very true. He never hides no matter how bad things get. The only time he noticeably cracked and gave up a run was when we were 5 goals behind with less than 30 minutes left or something. I can forgive that even if it was against a rival.

His mental resilience, fitness and off-pitch leadership qualities makes me feel sad that we never got to see him play for Fergie.

Yet, majority of fans would drop him in an instance.
 
He probably epitomises, more than any other player, the post-Fergie era. Capable of individual brilliance that makes you think this team will go somewhere. Capable of such piss poor performances it gives you anxiety on how we will ever get out of this rut. Twas ever thus.

True to an extent but how often has the “individual brilliance” from the team come from Bruno himself? He’s been the one player that produces those moments season in season out. Look across the vast majority of the other players in the last 5 or 6 years and it’s largely poor performances without the individual brilliance.
 
I think there’s always going to be games where playing Bruno at CM is going to cause us issues, but he has shown it’s not only against inferior opposition that he can put in a performance there. He had good spells there in both the Liverpool and Arsenal games recently. I do think though, that he needs runners or players with intelligent movement ahead of him as he’s not the type to turn and hold the ball until something opens up, he prefers to be quick and incisive so he needs those options ahead.
In the Liverpool game he played in front of Kobbie and Ugarte I think for majority of the match but still played it more midfielder-like than AM like. A way many of his critics wished for quite some time. Arsenal game we defended compact for majority of the game, which makes positioning less of a factor.
Heatmaps are a useful tool but I think, to come to conclusion you have to take other factors as well. Like who is he playing against or who is playing with him and where.
What’s been quite interesting is looking at his average position stats, it doesn’t move a great deal whether he’s in CM or AM, because he puts the defensive work in at AM and he’s miles above our other CM options when it comes to supporting the attack from there. We probably just don’t want him in the deeper role against fast runners in midfield.
Which is why I think we need to add a player that is a better fit for the CM role yet has some of Brunos strength. Against teams that sit back, I think Bruno is just fine. But at this point, we can't expect the majority of teams to play like that against us. It also needs to be said that even yesterday we scored from a keeper blunder and a sleepy defence (and a great finish by Bruno himself). So our attack is still underperforming.
I think his bad games tend to be blown out of proportion. He's practically never worse than the team average. He gets flack partly because the difference between his top level and bottom level is more jarring (because he's actually a good player) but also because he's so involved in the game, which makes his mistakes more noticeable.
But as you and others remind us all on a constant basis, he is our best and most important player, which obviously effects the expectations towards him. And he doesn't just gets flack for it, he is also praised for stuff like that - just experienced yesterday, where a clutch late winner turned a decent-to-good performance into something else for so many on here.
Yet, majority of fans would drop him in an instance.
What makes you think that? :)

If thats some attempt sign of a potential victim complex, it is a bit odd. As with any players, there is a loud group on each side of the spectrum, his fanboys and his critics. Do you really think, the majority is against him?! And if not, why are you saying those things?

edit: changed the wording because it sounded like an accusation which it isn't intended as
 
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What makes you think that? :lol:

If thats some attempt at victim complex, it is a bit odd. As with any players, there is a loud group on each side of the spectrum, his fanboys and his critics. Do you really think, the majority is against him?! And if not, why are you saying those things?

Just scroll through the pages.
 
Just scroll through the pages.
Believe me, I do. I hate myself for it a lot, but I do. And I still don't think the majority wants him out. Another case of confirmation bias maybe? Question is why would I want to see the majority behind him?
 


I understand that he frustrates certain MU fans, because he can be wasteful. But his importance to the team and his consistency can never ever be underestimated. The man is a chance creating machine and a goal machine as well. Very rare these days, specially in our team.
 


I understand that he frustrates certain MU fans, because he can be wasteful. But his importance to the team and his consistency can never ever be underestimated. The man is a chance creating machine and a goal machine as well. Very rare these days, specially in our team.


If we go by calendar years (which makes sense since he joined us mid season almost exactly 5 years ago), then that's 33 goal involvements per season on average. And even if you remove penalties I believe the average is 26 or 27. Even without context these are great numbers. But with context? Pure excellence.

I believe he's topped the chance creation stats for most of those 5 calendar years too. In the top European leagues that is.
 
Personally, i have no idea how he is not a legend. Would walk in to some of our best ever teams and unlucky to be surrounded by average players for nearly a decade.

Our best player post SAF, our best captain post SAF and for me, easily a legend of United because i never got to see the likes of Law, Best, Charlton etc.

5 years is not nearly a decade ffs

At big club you become legend by big number of apps, or big records/titles, something that he still hasn't achieved. Do you think the likes of Son are Spurs legend? Or is Odegaard Arsenal legend? When fldid we become fecking Arsenal and Spurs.
 
5 years is not nearly a decade ffs

At big club you become legend by big number of apps, or big records/titles, something that he still hasn't achieved. Do you think the likes of Son are Spurs legend? Or is Odegaard Arsenal legend? When fldid we become fecking Arsenal and Spurs.
I'd say Son isn't too far off being a spurs legend. And odegaard has been at goons for about two seconds so the comparison is unfair
 
Wondering if this could work given both our strikers are not firing at the moment

--------------------------Bruno-----------------------------------

----Eriksen---------------------------Mainoo------------------

----Dalot------Toby-------Ugarte----------Amad------------

------------Martinez----Maguire------Yoro--------------------

Toby and Ugarte could be too defensive but they can free up front 3+Amad

No pace, defenders could sit a back line 10 yards into our half and feel comfortable.
 
I don't want to derail the thread, but of course Son is a Spurs legend.

And Bryan Robson would still have been a United legend if he retired 2 years earlier and didn't win the PL.
 
Bryan Robson would still have been a United legend if he retired 2 years earlier and didn't win the PL.
But Bryan Robson captained a United team that finished in the bottom half, therefore he couldn't possibly be considered a United legend when you remove all context, right?
 
Good performance and avoided another broken TV
 
Amad has been our POTY so far but Bruno isn’t far behind, yet again. Will pretty comfortably hit double figures for goals and assists once again.
 
Amad has been our POTY so far but Bruno isn’t far behind, yet again. Will pretty comfortably hit double figures for goals and assists once again.

I predict that the 2 different POTY will go to those two.
 
20 goals + assists every season since he joined, if I read that correctly
I think he ‘only’ got 9 assists in his first half season but I believe he’s hit double figures for goals and assists in every year since. I mean, I’ve criticised him at times and questioned if he could thrive in anything other than a counter attacking set up but his stats are ridiculous, especially considering how shite we’ve been.
 
If he moves to Serie A or La Liga, he'd be comfortably playing as good until his mid-30s, especially if he plays in deeper role.

And he'd probably appreciated more.
 


Clearly Amorim needs to spend more time on the CAF. Clearly doesn't know ball if he rates Bruno.

Am I doing it right?
 


Clearly Amorim needs to spend more time on the CAF. Clearly doesn't know ball if he rates Bruno.

Am I doing it right?

Hilarious. You sure earned your internet points today.

And Ruben might indeed read this thread...

...he acknowledges his gesticulations - this thread does, too
...he acknowledges his availability and workrate - this thread does, too
...he acknowledges his importance to this team - large majority of this thread does, too, but questions what "the next team" will look like
...same coach also acknowledged a few weeks ago, that he (among others) tends to rush his play and is too vertical - same thing as in this thread

I am wondering whether that victim mentality thing is contagious, the other poster earlier today was under the impression that the majority of the users here want to drop him, now this. I hope there isn't another Bruno thread around here, that fits those descriptions... I guess most of us are looking for meaning in life, but fighting a makebelief fight for reason and justice for a fan favorite against the sheer supremacy of hordes of haters? Thank god for Sir Dave The Stats guy then