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That's a stupid thing to say.
What the hell is this?
No. Definitely shouldn’t blame him. Problem is our game relies on him. It’s a lot to ask of him, too much probably. We need cover for him so he can be rested in games such as yesterday when we have a humdinger against Arsenal coming up. But also, we need cover off the bench so he can give it everything for an hour then sub off.
What a load of nonsense
Nonsense. He dictates games for us and progress the ball constantly and is so reliable with his passing.
I actually don't think we rely on him at all, but he does a very good job. We play well with Fred in for Eriksen too, he's more inconsistent and we lose some bits but gain in some bits. I think that's a pretty normal starter and a very good replacement level midfielder we have. The issue is other positions (like getting a 0 from our CF position on the season, barely anything going on at RW). But we've played well both with and without Eriksen, against small teams and against big teams (Spurs and City notably).
We’ll have to disagree there. You can make any logical argument you like but from what I’ve seen this season, Eriksen is the single biggest influence on the way we play and we just aren’t the same team without him. Casemiro is probably the guy who does most to stop us losing but Eriksen is the guy who does most to develop our play and create attacking openings.
I mean, he's been on the pitch most of the time so it's hard to say exactly how we'd play without him... But we battered Spurs and created plenty, and in the closing 20 minutes vs City we turned the game around and did really well once we subbed him off. Fred as a direct replacement for Eriksen really hasn't cause us any problems this season. It's different if it's McTominay partnering Fred of course, but leave all things the same and swap Fred for Eriksen and it's not a big deal for us (which would point to the issue being McTominay in for Casemiro, naturally).
I personally think it is a big deal to swap Fred for Eriksen and I’m pretty sure Ten Hag does as well.
Obviously you prefer to start your starter... but as Fred has shown in 2 big games.. He is more than capable. What do you expect from a squad player? The limited evidence of our play without Eriksen on the pitch has been pretty much fine. So until actual evidence of Fred struggling as Casemiro's partner starts showing it is a big issue, than I don't think it's fair to say we rely on Eriksen. Because saying that, would be a noticeable huge drop off whenever he wasn't on the pitch, instantly evident (as is the case with Varane, Casemiro, Rashford, Bruno). Eriksen not being on the pitch has a small impact but it's nowhere near as big as others, because Fred is a good player himself.
You’re making some great arguments, and it’s not that any of it is factually inaccurate, but I just don’t agree with essence of your point. Eriksen and Fred are completely different types. Fred is a useful squad player and I expect no more of him than he gives (he is what he is and can be proud) but we need someone who plays like Eriksen to play some of the minutes that Eriksen is currently having to play in a state of exhaustion.
Tbh I don't really get the impression that Eriksen is exhausted, he was class for the first hour yesterday but isn't necessarily a footballer these days who can play at the same level for the full game, every game. His fitness is good though, and generally a Fred for Eriksen sub on the hour is a very good sub whether we want Fred to see out a game as he can press and help our counters, or help claw a game back as again, he can press and provide a lot more energy for us. He had a good 2-3 week break during the world cup as Denmark dropped out at the group stage, so he seems fine to me.
Yeah, to most of that.
I think he’s absolutely brilliant. He seems to make the others play better as well.
That poster would have said the same about Xavi and Iniesta at Barcelona. He’s had to tone his attacking outlet down which was needed in that deeper role.
