Now I think of it, Fred reminds me a little of Ji Sung Park in the sense that he doesn't stop running. Like a Jack Russel at your feet all game.
Park was a proper work horse, he also had a few goals/assists in him which is an area I'd love to see Fred improve on.
Similar in work rate playing different positions. Fred has played a CM/CDM in his career and for that reason he's developed different skills. Fred is a much better passer, and better in any defensive aspect of his game.
Park was more of an attacking midfielder and as he was closer to opposition goal, he's a much better finisher and perhaps better creater in the final third.
Park's discipline, insane workrate gave another dimension to his game and helped him to feature in way more many games than he would because his attacking skills were a bit underwhelming compared to what we had at disposal.
Fred's output will improve I am sure of that but let's not compare apples and pears because they can have a similar colour. If you look at the stats. Fred's last season which was his first full season was no worse than average season of Wijnuldum, Kante or Fernandinho which are considered the best players in their positions and are part of some amazing title winning teams.
Whenever I read threads like this it's still full of people who are generally unable to understand that football is a team game and every player has a different role with a different skillset. Fred is one of the best players in the world in what he does and if he takes a shot under pressure here and there and he misses the target it doesn't mean that much when he can provide some insane defensive stats, winning the ball early set us up early on the counter, he's got so many pre assists and crucial inclusion in the build up.
It's pretty sad he won't get mentioned because bigger names are around him and obviously media will cream about Fernandes and Pogba more but he certainly deserves more recognition.
BTW no one is perfect and can't always have a 100% passing completion rate but his passing deseves mention as well, he moves the ball very quickly and is able to find some neat passes in between the lines, and that's also his very underrated asset. We are playing much faster with him in the side..
47 mil looked steep at that time but in the end he came good and is one of our most important players and again like last year in the mix for our best player far. You can spend a little less for players like Van de Beek or more for Keita, name your player... who are nothing players. Rather send 47 mil on him and Maguire to finally solve our problems at their positions than endlessly try for "almost" players which are not guaranteed quality.