[statpadder]

Seems like every year we have a player who is elected as the problem who if we get rid of them will mean immediate improvements.

"Smalling lack of passing ability"
"Ronaldo can't press"
"Maguire is Maguiring"
"De Gea stops us from playing modern football"
"McTominay hides from the ball"

Don't doubt that Bruno is a frustrating player but it is never as simple as people make out, and Bruno is the highest performing player of all those who have become "The Problem"

The one constant in all of that is Bruno. Get rid of Bruno and you start playing football more instead of chaos ball that exasperates all of the problems that you mentioned.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

A really good performance eh?

I suppose you think his set pieces were good too?

He can't keep the ball. He doesn't convert chances. He is slow and weak. He gets crucified because he's a huge issue with how the team functions.

Yes. And no. As usual this season his delivery from freekicks was good but his corners were terrible.

Your second paragraph is a nonsense in the context of today’s performance when he was one of very few players who actually turned up.

 

[NZT-One]

I do think overall this season that he's better served playing as the more attacking 8 instead of further forward. Gives him more space to operate, and he can still create in the final third but isn't tasked with the tight space operation that the 10 has to be able to do. We lose physicality in the midfield with him there but it's not like any of the other options are nailed on successes either so might as well.

Not sure thats how it works. Its not a certain given that he gets more space in the middle of the park, since every manager and his dog how we reliant we are on him to pull something off. They can crowd him out there as well. Also, we don't control games nearly enough to afford ourselves with a midfielder that is so weak off the ball. Some of the scenes in the last weeks have been borderline funny, when opponents keep dribbling holding him off with one arm behind them. Its not his fault though, he is not a CM just as Dalot isn't a wingback. Theoretically maybe. I'd rather experiment with him in some sort of false nine position then see him moving further back, since it takes him away where he really can contribute and move him into an area, where his weakness are even more consequential. If we want to ramp up the attack, put Garnacho on the wingback position, leave Bruno where he is and ask Ugarte and Mainoo to step up. Either play Bruno as one of the 10s, maybe adjust the role for it, or don't play him at all. For fecks sack, at this point and for all the talk of control, lets just try to go for control for once. Lets try to keep the ball, lets try to work the opponent. Not like results could get so much worse than they are now.

"Who do we have to replace Bruno?" "Who can we buy to replace Bruno?" "We'd be worse off without Bruno" This is all I hear when I say we should sell him. We should sell him while we can still get good value for him. He's not taking us anywhere, he'd cook in a team that can cover his deficiencies, we can't do that. We need system players that fit this new style of play, he simply doesn't nor does he have the discipline to. Love Bruno and what he's done but we have to ruthless with thus squad, no compassion must be shown. The same way you guys ruthlessly want Rashy out is the same way we need to act towards players who simply won't take us forward. We've changed managers and it's still the same chap, common denominator is most of these players. Push Mainoo alongside Amad in the no 10 roles and let them work. In the summer get a Kvara, Cunha or Marmoush and we move.

Time to move him on is gone now. Gone since we gave him his big last contract.

As a captain we need him to be a calming influence on the pitch. He is anything but that

He never was and never will be. One of the main reasons, I was against him getting the armband. It simply doesn't seem to fit his character, he is too impulsive.

 

[NZT-One]

The one constant in all of that is Bruno. Get rid of Bruno and you start playing football more instead of chaos ball that exasperates all of the problems that you mentioned.

Thats BS. The post you answered to is probably also but that doesn't mean, that he is at fault for everything. Lets face it - Smalling, Maguire, De Gea, Ronaldo, McTominay - all those players had their issues. But that doesn't take away any of the criticism towards Bruno. But at the same time, just taking him out, isn't going to make the rest of our team good all of a sudden. Lets get rid if those BS claims, that will only be used for the next 6 weeks as strawmans as soon as Bruno scores a goal again.

 

[lost7]

How many games has he captained where we got embarassed? I'm not saying he's at fault, but surely we gotta question his leadersip

 

[Kostov]

How many games has he captained where we got embarassed? I'm not saying he's at fault, but surely we gotta question his leadersip

What leadership? He is a walking moaning manikin.

 

[JimiboyX]

The thing that terrifies me is where any creativity whatsoever would be coming from if we decided to cash in. Basically everything we do create goes through him. It's a bit chicken-and-egg if the whole strategy is built around that, but I'm not convinced it is by design any more. Largely because there hasn't been much of a design in recent years, but I'm also not sure who on earth else in this squad is going to create anything consistently. We would be back to Garnacho and Rashford running into everyone.

I'd have to agree that it's worth listening if a big offer comes in, given Bruno's age, but we would seriously need some sort of replacement lined up simultaneously and who would that even be? Wirtz is the only obvious candidate but is probably out of reach.

 

[youngrell]

The thing that terrifies me is where any creativity whatsoever would be coming from if we decided to cash in. Basically everything we do create goes through him. It's a bit chicken-and-egg if the whole strategy is built around that, but I'm not convinced it is by design any more. Largely because there hasn't been much of a design in recent years, but I'm also not sure who on earth else in this squad is going to create anything consistently. We would be back to Garnacho and Rashford running into everyone.

I'd have to agree that it's worth listening if a big offer comes in, given Bruno's age, but we would seriously need some sort of replacement lined up simultaneously and who would that even be? Wirtz is the only obvious candidate but is probably out of reach.

In order to replace him, we need someone to step up big time and declare themselves ‘the man’ in this team, because even on Bruno’s bad days he’s still the one demanding the ball and dictating play. It took him a couple of games at most when he first arrived to show the team he’s the guy, as you say, we need someone else to do the same before he gets ditched.

 

[Eagle_eye]

Love him as a guy, and he clearly loves the club, but putting emotions aside, I do think it's time to phase him out of the 1st 11... Keep him around the squad by all means, but surely he can't start every game if we're looking to be a team that dominates possession. Need a new 8 to play next to Ugarte and a left 10 to partner Amad behind the striker.

 

[simplyared]

He's the one who makes things happen. The creator! The players lean on him and the new manager is trying to build a team around him. I rate Bruno highly however its a vulnerable situation we're in.

 

[Lyng]

Yes. And no. As usual this season his delivery from freekicks was good but his corners were terrible.

Your second paragraph is a nonsense in the context of today’s performance when he was one of very few players who actually turned up.

I dont think Bruno had a good game, but I agree he was involved in whatever good we did do. I also don't see him as any reason why we lost today.
I actually think subbing off Ugarte threw the game.

 

[NZT-One]

The thing that terrifies me is where any creativity whatsoever would be coming from if we decided to cash in. Basically everything we do create goes through him. It's a bit chicken-and-egg if the whole strategy is built around that, but I'm not convinced it is by design any more. Largely because there hasn't been much of a design in recent years, but I'm also not sure who on earth else in this squad is going to create anything consistently. We would be back to Garnacho and Rashford running into everyone.

Nobody advocates for getting rid of Bruno but otherwise keep playing as we do right now. Also the fact that Bruno is the only productive piece in our attacking unit is mostly down to failed attempts to add to that account - Sancho, Antony, Mount - all made sense to add to the team to also contribute attacking wise. It isn't a situation where one player is so superior to all his peers that there is simply no thinkable way to get around it - it rather is about finally making sure we also work on improving the conditions so other players can step up. Live goes on - Liverpool became better without Coutinho, Chelsea lost Hazard and dealt with it.

I think, this is one of the "narratives" (for a lack of a better word) that simply aren't true yet repeated on a constant basis - Bruno isn't in this special situation in our team because he is such a fantastically great player but because others don't step up or others don't flourish.

I'd have to agree that it's worth listening if a big offer comes in, given Bruno's age, but we would seriously need some sort of replacement lined up simultaneously and who would that even be? Wirtz is the only obvious candidate but is probably out of reach.

We can't afford a mindset of "lets bring in a player that is like for like as Bruno but maybe even better". We've seen Brunos individual numbers but they still didn't translate into the team being successful. The task at hand isn't about Bruno himself - it is about moving away from ways of playing that are so focussed on one player. Thats the way forward.

 

[statpadder]

Thats BS. The post you answered to is probably also but that doesn't mean, that he is at fault for everything. Lets face it - Smalling, Maguire, De Gea, Ronaldo, McTominay - all those players had their issues. But that doesn't take away any of the criticism towards Bruno. But at the same time, just taking him out, isn't going to make the rest of our team good all of a sudden. Lets get rid if those BS claims, that will only be used for the next 6 weeks as strawmans as soon as Bruno scores a goal again.

It really isn’t BS. Bruno was the main man of Utd for the past 5 years - the poster boy of Eth’s and Ole’s transition football.

Consider this. Bruno is a multiplier of the team. If the team is shit, Bruno makes it 2x. If De Gea was shit at playing modern football, because of Bruno’s chaos football, he was presented with the ball at his feet so much more.

The same goes for Ronaldo, Maguire etc. Bruno multiplied their weakness by making sure we as a team never had control of the game.

Amorim has come in and asked him to play a safer role in which he does not excel. It will never work out. We’ll either have Amorim or Bruno come the start of next season imo.

 

[NZT-One]

It really isn’t BS. Bruno was the main man of Utd for the past 5 years - the poster boy of Eth’s and Ole’s transition football.

Consider this. Bruno is a multiplier of the team. If the team is shit, Bruno makes it 2x. If De Gea was shit at playing modern football, because of Bruno’s chaos football, he was presented with the ball at his feet so much more.

The same goes for Ronaldo, Maguire etc. Bruno multiplied their weakness by making sure we as a team never had control of the game.

Amorim has come in and asked him to play a safer role in which he does not excel. It will never work out. We’ll either have Amorim or Bruno come the start of next season imo.

Come on mate. I am sure it made sense when you typed it but if you really think about it, are you really sure, it makes sense? Why would Brunos spamming longballs lead to DDG having more of the ball, that makes no sense. And I would agree, that many players maybe had more unfavorable conditions because it was a bit chaotic, there is also next to nothing to indicate they would have thrived differently. I think we should have moved away from that kind of football a long time ago but it isn't just Bruno who is responsable for it.

And under Amorim, Bruno hasn't been better or worse than before. If anything, he had a few games where it seemed like he was able to play a little more calm. We created those conditions because Ole saw Bruno and Rashford as his key players and wanted them to thrive. And even if it kind of capped where we were able to go, it worked to a degree. ETH unfortunately went the same route, putting his eggs in Rashfords and Brunos baskets. But still - it isn't one player who is responsable for the whole team to suck. And for what it's worth, the club tried and failed in adding players to take the load off him.

 

[Zlaatan]

Trying to blame that goal on a misplaced pass deep in the opposition half - when he wasn’t even the last United player to touch the ball before we conceded - is so fecking absurd, yet typical of this thread.

Just because he wasn't the last United player on the ball before the goal doesn't mean he didn't play a huge hand in creating the situation that led to the goal, and unlike Mainoo he actually had control of the ball and time to decide which option was best. He had the ball twice within 15sec and both times he chose the most difficult option and lost the ball.

He's just as guilty for their 3rd goal (along with a few other players) as Malacia was for their first.

 

[Oranges038]

Don't think he's suited to the inside 10 role on the left and he might not be suited it to it on the right. He might not even suit the central midfield role beside Ugarte either.

I think it will be a struggle to fit him into the formation in the long term.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Yes. And no. As usual this season his delivery from freekicks was good but his corners were terrible.

Your second paragraph is a nonsense in the context of today’s performance when he was one of very few players who actually turned up.

How is it nonsense? He literally missed big chances and lost the ball all game. Who cares if he was one of our better players. He is a big part of United getting smashed by teams.

I know it's hard to admit your favorite player needs to be moved on for the better of the team.

Or perhaps you think Amorim should build around a weak and slow 30 plus year old that has only won an FA Cup.

 

[Scandi Red]

Why do people keep pretending that the only two options are to build the team around him or bench/sell? Not only is it a silly argument, but it completely kills all discussion.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Just because he wasn't the last United player on the ball before the goal doesn't mean he didn't play a huge hand in creating the situation that led to the goal, and unlike Mainoo he actually had control of the ball and time to decide which option was best. He had the ball twice within 15sec and both times he chose the most difficult option and lost the ball.

He's just as guilty for their 3rd goal (along with a few other players) as Malacia was for their first.

His initial pass was intercepted 10 yards outside their box. Another Manchester United player (Mainoo) subsequently got on the ball and attempted another pass. Trying to blame Bruno’s pass for the goal we subsequently conceded is one of the worst takes in a thread that is bursting with terrible takes. Although not unexpected seeing as he has become the main scapegoat in Rashford’s absence.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

How is it nonsense? He literally missed big chances and lost the ball all game. Who cares if he was one of our better players. He is a big part of United getting smashed by teams.

I know it's hard to admit your favorite player needs to be moved on for the better of the team.

Or perhaps you think Amorim should build around a weak and slow 30 plus year old that has only won an FA Cup.

I obviously don’t think Amorin needs to build a team around him. Another terrible take. I think he’s a useful player who is one of the better performers under Amorim so far. Which the managers obviously thinks too, hence he keeps picking him while rotating other, lesser players. And I can’t shake this crazy notion that improving this team involves holding on to the better players in our squad and upgrading the lesser (and/or older) players than Bruno first. Even though this seems to boggle the minds of many of ye.

 

[Escobar]

He is a big problem for me, as 1) very inconsistent, 2) weak leadership which is a big concern, 3) so erratic on the ball, 4) when things dont work for him he's really poor.
We clearly need to replace him in summer

 

[Borys]

It's really strange that every bit of play has to go through him. Regardless of the players performances last night, we have Bruno on the left, Amad on the right and we always go through Bruno. Same happens if Mount plays. I don't get it. He is clearly struggling, but why always push play through him?

 

[Superden]

I've finally turned on him. He is no doubt a very talented player, but his presence as our focal point is just too much of a drag now. Stick him in a team with a better mentality around him and better players and he could've been a great. But not for this squad and this time.

 

[Toshey]

Arsenal let go of Aubameyang and it was the correct decision.
We should move on from Bruno.

 

[Godfather]

He is a big problem for me, as 1) very inconsistent, 2) weak leadership which is a big concern, 3) so erratic on the ball, 4) when things dont work for him he's really poor.
We clearly need to replace him in summer

I have to agree. He can still be very good on his day and God knows he is not our biggest problem but he can be so incredibly frustrating

 

[Kingofwinners]

Haven’t been a fan for a long time. Better teams generate chances through good pressing possession as well as sparks of brilliance. It also reduces the number of counter attacks you have to defend. We will never do this with Bruno in the team. He is just so careless with possession.

As others said all the whinging and diving and terrible set pieces are also frustrating. I can see why people like him, I used to. But once you start noticing his faults it gets hard to look past them.

 

[redIndianDevil]

Every time he tries to do something quick, we end up losing possession. Makes me want to pull my hair out watching him, does something world class and Sunday league level in a matter of minutes. The problem is a similar creative midfielder is going to cost a tonne of money which we don't have.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

He is a big problem for me, as 1) very inconsistent, 2) weak leadership which is a big concern, 3) so erratic on the ball, 4) when things dont work for him he's really poor.
We clearly need to replace him in summer

As it has ever been.

For 3 years we've been singing this song.

Amorim is here now. If he makes Bruno his main man, he won't survive till Dec 2025. I tell you that.

Go to ETH thread, I said in Feb 2024, by January 2025 Bruno or ETH won't be at United. It's so obvious to see but people are still clouded.

Its either Bruno goes or ETH goes, ETH went.
It's either Bruno goes or Amorim goes. Give it 12 months.

Do you know why Pep is struggling now, its because City midfield is in shambles state, no KDB no Rodri. You can't outperform a bad midfield as a coach. Results unravel in astonishing manner.

This has been our problem for 4 years now.


We will sign 10 new players, but if our midfield has no physicality, no tenacity, no football recycling abilities, no possession abilities

Its just zero work.

Let's wait and see, but expect winning 1 game in 3 games, that's our standard now. Winning 15-18 games in the league is our standard now.

Its game week 17, 2 games to season mid point yet we've won 6 games only. Extrapolate that in 38 games. You get around 16 wins at best.
Bruno has been the main man in the worst period of United’s PL history.

This current season will be worse than last season.

We ended last season with 18 wins.

We need to win 12 games in the last 21 games. In short we need to double up our win rate in the remaining games to just equal last season wins.

Mainoo and Ugarte are new midfield pairs. Bruno is the main stay. ETH left, Amorim is here, Sancho was binned off, Rashford is being binned off, yet our results are carbon copy, expect a 55 - 60 point a season campaign.

 

[a_devil_inside]

Poor shooting and crosses from corners, his corners usually are though.

 

[Albo]

Can’t wait for the day he does , will get Amorim sacked if he doesn’t sort him out . Will go down as one of worst captain in history of Man United together with Harry Maguire .

 

[Zlaatan]

His initial pass was intercepted 10 yards outside their box. Another Manchester United player (Mainoo) subsequently got on the ball and attempted another pass. Trying to blame Bruno’s pass for the goal we subsequently conceded is one of the worst takes in a thread that is bursting with terrible takes. Although not unexpected seeing as he has become the main scapegoat in Rashford’s absence.

I'm not solely blaming Bruno's pass for the goal which I thought I made pretty clear, I'm putting some of the blame for the goal on him because he chose the lowest % play twice and failed both times which immediately led to Mainoo losing the ball again. If Bruno doesn't do the thing he's repeatedly and rightfully criticized for match after match, especially after having just done it 15sec prior then that goal doesn't happen, simple as that.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Arsenal let go of Aubameyang and it was the correct decision.
We should move on from Bruno.

Sanchez is probably a better comp. Aubameyang was terrible by the time they got rid.

In general there are plenty of examples of selling the “best player” in a team and the team improving through the squad being reinforced from the players sale.Too many people think that those that wish for Bruno to be sold just want him gone for the sake of it I think. My stance is that this is probably the last chance we might have to get a significant fee for him, and everyone here would agree that the squad needs huge reshaping. That won’t be possible without us being willing to stomach selling some players that are actually still decent/good and not just deadwood. In an ideal world we have 300m in cash to blow and can do so without getting rid of anyone apart from the deadwood, but it’s not feasible

 

[LeonDion]

I'm not solely blaming Bruno's pass for the goal which I thought I made pretty clear, I'm putting some of the blame for the goal on him because he chose the lowest % play twice and failed both times which immediately led to Mainoo losing the ball again. If Bruno doesn't do the thing he's repeatedly and rightfully criticized for match after match, especially after having just done it 15sec prior then that goal doesn't happen, simple as that.

100% if he learn from mistakes it would be different but we still here 5 years on Bruno making same brain dead error over and over…leading to opponent chances and goals. How many times does it take for learning. Low iq player. Once cost us goal at least bury chances but if not penalty then not happening either.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Can someone teach him how to hit a target or is it too late for that?

 

[Bebe]

In this system I think mainoo is his long term successor.

He's remains our best player despite the recent finishing.

 

[Marwood]

The one constant in all of that is Bruno. Get rid of Bruno and you start playing football more instead of chaos ball that exasperates all of the problems that you mentioned.

Would a bunch of players in the same who aren't good enough also be a constant?

 

[Marwood]

As it has ever been.

For 3 years we've been singing this song.

Amorim is here now. If he makes Bruno his main man, he won't survive till Dec 2025. I tell you that.

Go to ETH thread, I said in Feb 2024, by January 2025 Bruno or ETH won't be at United. It's so obvious to see but people are still clouded.

Its either Bruno goes or ETH goes, ETH went.
It's either Bruno goes or Amorim goes. Give it 12 months.

Do you know why Pep is struggling now, its because City midfield is in shambles state, no KDB no Rodri. You can't outperform a bad midfield as a coach. Results unravel in astonishing manner.

This has been our problem for 4 years now.


We will sign 10 new players, but if our midfield has no physicality, no tenacity, no football recycling abilities, no possession abilities

Its just zero work.

Let's wait and see, but expect winning 1 game in 3 games, that's our standard now. Winning 15-18 games in the league is our standard now.

Its game week 17, 2 games to season mid point yet we've won 6 games only. Extrapolate that in 38 games. You get around 16 wins at best.
Bruno has been the main man in the worst period of United’s PL history.

This current season will be worse than last season.

We ended last season with 18 wins.

We need to win 12 games in the last 21 games. In short we need to double up our win rate in the remaining games to just equal last season wins.

Mainoo and Ugarte are new midfield pairs. Bruno is the main stay. ETH left, Amorim is here, Sancho was binned off, Rashford is being binned off, yet our results are carbon copy, expect a 55 - 60 point a season campaign.

You really think if Bruno had gone ETH would still be here?

All the other problems with the squad and his own management still present. But one player no longer being at the club keeps him in a job.

Crazy stuff.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Our only creator bar amad who has done it for five games in his whole career now and also our best presser

 

[Craig Ward]

Bruno is 30. He hasn't shown good, reliable consistent form in the last 2 seasons.

His leadership skills are non-existent. He's a maverick who doesn't maverick anymore.

He's on borrowed time. If we want to change our playing style, culture, mentality, work ethic and adapt to Amorin's ways - then Bruno cannot be a regular starter or the captain of the team.

He's had his time. He's been the "leader" and "inspiration" of this team during the worst moments in the last 20 years. He's cooked here.

I hate to bring up the Fergie days because football has moved on and all that and it's an easy label to throw, but if anyone thinks Bruno would be the captain in a Fergie time is mentally deluded. Bruno just does not captain a team challenging for major honours. He's done his time here, but he is done.

There isn't an elite team in Europe where he gets a start. He doesn't start for half the teams in the premier league. But we hail him as a hero and is our captain? That's the problem with us - our standards have dropped so much

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Bruno is 30. He hasn't shown good, reliable consistent form in the last 2 seasons.

His leadership skills are non-existent. He's a maverick who doesn't maverick anymore.

He's on borrowed time. If we want to change our playing style, culture, mentality, work ethic and adapt to Amorin's ways - then Bruno cannot be a regular starter or the captain of the team.

He's had his time. He's been the "leader" and "inspiration" of this team during the worst moments in the last 20 years. He's cooked here.

I hate to bring up the Fergie days because football has moved on and all that and it's an easy label to throw, but if anyone thinks Bruno would be the captain in a Fergie time is mentally deluded. Bruno just does not captain a team challenging for major honours. He's done his time here, but he is done.

There isn't an elite team in Europe where he gets a start. He doesn't start for half the teams in the premier league. But we hail him as a hero and is our captain? That's the problem with us - our standards have dropped so much

The absolute nonsense posted in this thread, time and time again. Portugal is an elite team. One of the best national teams around. Stacked with young talent, playing at the best clubs in Europe. And Bruno is a nailed on starter. Of course he is. Because, as usual, football managers have a far better grasp of what he brings to the team than most of the posters in this thread. He wouldn’t start for half the teams in the PL. Jesus wept.