[Mike Smalling]

It was a great performance, but he was definitely a large part of the reason why we couldn't play our way out of Leipzig's pressure in parts of the first half.

Obviously a bit nitpicky, but hopefully it is an aspect of his game he can improve.

 

[kouroux]

What he does well far outweights his issues (shooting and passing) for me. He is a key player for the team

 

[Nick7]

What he does well far outweights his issues (shooting and passing) for me. He is a key player for the team

Agreed. But he has that bloody knack for always taking shots it the ball is bouncing out towards him outside the box Herrera did, even though both of them were crap at those shots 90% of the time. Always annoys me.

 

[kouroux]

Agreed. But he has that bloody knack for always taking shots it the ball is bouncing out towards him outside the box Herrera did, even though both of them were crap at those shots 90% of the time. Always annoys me.

Exactly, he tries the most difficult shots and volleys. I just love his energy off the ball

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

I’ve said it before but Fred is a player (like most players to be fair) that needs the intensity of playing regularly to get up to his good performance levels. He’s not a player that can be parachuted in here and there and be expected to perform like he’s never been away.

 

[Volumiza]

Total lack of composure on the ball. Not sure I'm buying his style of play. He whips the ball left right and centre and far too often his passing puts our other players under pressure. A perfect example last night where he's on the ball with time to pick his player. Instead he whips it to VDB who's surrounded by Leipzig players, which puts him under pressure. Leipzig win the ball in a dangerous position and attack our goal.

Astonishing that's what you saw. No pleasing some people.

 

[Untd55]

Agreed. But he has that bloody knack for always taking shots it the ball is bouncing out towards him outside the box Herrera did, even though both of them were crap at those shots 90% of the time. Always annoys me.

To be honest, shooting for a deep-lying player isn't much of an issue. Carrick only scored 30 goals throughout his entire career, whilst Busquests has scored 15. Those teams did pretty well with them in the first team.

His passing is usually fine; it was a bit off in the first half. Usually, he has the highest pass completion % of our midfielders, so I don't that is anything to worry about.

 

[Lassitude42]

Ander did much better in the big matches and contributed both to the attack and defence in more substantial ways. Created more goals, scored more goals, made more interventions when opponents would have been in a great position to score. Fred has a better passing technique (with both feet) despite losing the ball more often, getting on the ball less than Ander did and creating less. So no he's quite a way short of a copy. He has similar effort but a very different result

Ander "bang average" Herrera?

 

[Ekeke]

Fred is he. If you love the effort, then take him out for a spin why don't you, see how you like it. I always rated Herrera btw. But I still agreed with the perception above that Herrera's time at United was not great. He never really managed to cement his place until it was maybe too late, and he did develop into a leader as well. Most of the time I never blamed him and thought he was unfairly treated after putting in good performances, but he never truly got started until it was too late. Fred has a real chance this season to do what Herrera never managed to do, and I assume we both hope he'll manage. Needs to minimise his sloppy passing, that wont fly this season if he is going to make it but overall importance to the team isn't always measured in stats considering it's a new team all together, different playing styles and other circumstances. For instance, Fred can make a mistake in every big game and not score a single goal this whole season and still contribute to this team in a way that might not have happened for Herrera. Herrera could do bits of it all, Fred maybe has the privilege of not needing to.

I dont just like effort, isnt that the point? I give him praise for effort and work ethic all the time. But I'd start McTominay over him personally who has a little less of both. And makes less tackles and interceptions etc. but helps us deal with the ball in the air better which is something we're weak with and comes up with a goal now and again which Fred doesnt.

Ander provided more than effort and legs, both in attack and defence he contributed more

 

[Ekeke]

Astonishing that's what you saw. No pleasing some people.

So are you saying Fred didnt make any mistakes last night?

If so its astonishing thats what you saw.

 

[hungrywing]

Shades of Park Ji Sung about Fred

I think so too. Below is a post from @Ekeke in another Fred-thread showing that stats-wise at least, Fred isn't at Kante level - not even close, in fact.

But it seems almost certain that a deeper/broader analysis will show the individual numbers painting an incomplete number a la @Mozza (?)'s postings regarding our different midfield pairings.

You cannot question Fred's workrate and desire to try. He's always running and willing to battle. However he has quite a long way to go when it comes to end product to be mentioned in comparison with the other players. Ander was also making impeccable defensive contributions covering CBs in his final couple of seasons for us. Those contributions at key moments were important too as were his incredible performances in big matches where he played a lot better than the smaller matches.

I wouldn't say it was a tactical masterclass as such, I think leipzig just imploded after the 2nd goal. I couldn't believe they were still pushing and leaving huge gaps for the likes of bruno, martial and Rashford to exploit. Tactical naivety from Mr shite suit jacket

But that seems to be the tactic.

1. keep the game close with Fred-McT
2. win/consolidate the win in the last 30 minutes.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

He must be a good distant shooter if Ole still gives him so much freedom to take those shots. His highlights of Shaktar had him scoring some goals from outside the box and he's always one of the guys lined up to take a free kick too

 

[Volumiza]

So are you saying Fred didnt make any mistakes last night?

If so its astonishing thats what you saw.

Where did I say that? But I will counter that he didn't make many and his contribution to that performance last night was second only to Rashford.

 

[Nick7]

To be honest, shooting for a deep-lying player isn't much of an issue. Carrick only scored 30 goals throughout his entire career, whilst Busquests has scored 15. Those teams did pretty well with them in the first team.

His passing is usually fine; it was a bit off in the first half. Usually, he has the highest pass completion % of our midfielders, so I don't that is anything to worry about.

I don't mind him taking a pot shot when he has time and no open options, but what I mean is he always takes the worst option shots. A ball bouncing unnaturally to him or him covered by a few defenders when it would be better if he held on and passed it. He does it when we're putting pressure on teams and nearly always lets the opponents off the hook by giving them a kick out.

He must be a good distant shooter if Ole still gives him so much freedom to take those shots. His highlights of Shaktar had him scoring some goals from outside the box and he's always one of the guys lined up to take a free kick too

He's a decently good free kick taker.

 

[Ekeke]

Where did I say that? But I will counter that he didn't make many and his contribution to that performance last night was second only to Rashford.

And I will stop that counter with a quick interception. He was caught on the ball several times, the main victim of RB's pressing trap. One time he had the ball taken off him with a tackle, another he had poor control and lost it. He had 78% pass accuracy despite the majority of his passing being very simple, with a few nice passes down the middle too. Only Shaw from our starters had less passing accuracy. Not what you expect from Fred.

He obviously had his good points. His pressing was good and he made some interceptions. He had a really mixed night. At times he did well and at other times he looked a weak point

 

[Poborsky's hair]

Came to see how he expectedly well he did, yet I can find some people who moan about his performance. Unfortunately I haven´t seen the whole game but looked like we win 5:0 and he won ball at 1st and 3rd goal for a crucial preassist. Had another one for second goal too before basically assisting Martial for his penalty for the 4th goal. That means he was involved in 4 goals + clean sheet against tactically well organized team. If he can do that every game we will walk the league. Yet some people are gonna say he lost the ball there or didnt make a better pass. Noone cares about Bruno when he´s so wasteful if he keeps scoring. Double standards eh?

I guess you guys would moan about Kante if he played here too. Can´t understand why CDMs are not more appreciated. Fred was running for a POTY last season and rightly so. He´s absolutely key player for us now again and very underrated, same as Herrera and some defensive minded CMs/ CDMs were before him

 

[Solius]

And I will stop that counter with a quick interception. He was caught on the ball several times, the main victim of RB's pressing trap. One time he had the ball taken off him with a tackle, another he had poor control and lost it. He had 78% pass accuracy despite the majority of his passing being very simple, with a few nice passes down the middle too. Only Shaw from our starters had less passing accuracy. Not what you expect from Fred.

He obviously had his good points. His pressing was good and he made some interceptions and dribbles. He had a really mixed night. At times he did well and at other times he looked a weak point

The whole team fell victim to the press in the first half really. We couldn’t get out. Personally had no issues with him losing the ball a few times. Yes he could be tidier but he was vital in so many other areas. Very close to being MoTM for me.

 

[Ekeke]

The whole team fell victim to the press in the first half really. We couldn’t get out. Personally had no issues with him losing the ball a few times. Yes he could be tidier but he was vital in so many other areas. Very close to being MoTM for me.

He was important in how we pressed and we did it much better this game than previous ones, as a team and with effectiveness. But other than that he's had much better games than this one with the ball

 

[Adam-Utd]

Fred obviously wasn't faultless (nobody ever is) and yes in the first half he got a few passes wrong, but what he brings us FAR outweights a few sloppy passes in 90 minutes.

He is the reason we scored 4 of those goals last night, his counter pressing is at insane levels.

Guadiola and Klopp would absolutely love him.

 

[Ekeke]

Fred obviously wasn't faultless (nobody ever is) and yes in the first half he got a few passes wrong, but what he brings us FAR outweights a few sloppy passes in 90 minutes.

He is the reason we scored 4 of those goals last night, his counter pressing is at insane levels.

Guadiola and Klopp would absolutely love him.

Not with giving the ball away like he did. He'd be tearing him a new one

 

[Solius]

Fred obviously wasn't faultless (nobody ever is) and yes in the first half he got a few passes wrong, but what he brings us FAR outweights a few sloppy passes in 90 minutes.

He is the reason we scored 4 of those goals last night, his counter pressing is at insane levels.

Guadiola and Klopp would absolutely love him.

He's fantastic. I love watching him play and I'd rather just enjoy that and bask in our win instead of logging on here to complain his pass rate was below the average. It's so joyless.

 

[Borys]

1-0 - He makes the tackle that Pogba collects and feeds Greenwood.

2-0 - He makes the pass to Bruno who slides Rashford in

3-0 - He press presses the RB guy who loses the ball and Rashford does the rest.

4-0 - He puts Martial in, penalty.

High involvement in 4 goals!

Meh. Doesn't matter, still no assist!

Agreed. But he has that bloody knack for always taking shots it the ball is bouncing out towards him outside the box Herrera did, even though both of them were crap at those shots 90% of the time. Always annoys me.

You have to do that though, taking one extra touch is very risky. Only very good technical players do that.

 

[Volumiza]

And I will stop that counter with a quick interception. He was caught on the ball several times, the main victim of RB's pressing trap. One time he had the ball taken off him with a tackle, another he had poor control and lost it. He had 78% pass accuracy despite the majority of his passing being very simple, with a few nice passes down the middle too. Only Shaw from our starters had less passing accuracy. Not what you expect from Fred.

He obviously had his good points. His pressing was good and he made some interceptions. He had a really mixed night. At times he did well and at other times he looked a weak point

To expect any player at the heart of that midfield to not fall victim to the press once or twice in the game is unrealistic. He did very well and that was one of his best games for us in my opinion. MOTM if not for Rashfords superhuman substitution. For me, Fred's brand of football lights up our game. Love it.

 

[Ekeke]

He's fantastic. I love watching him play and I'd rather just enjoy that and bask in our win instead of logging on here to complain his pass rate was below the average. It's so joyless.

So do it.

But Fred himself should be looking to see the mistakes he made and where he can improve to go to the next level. It doesnt matter to me if you are celebrating our win, it matters to me that Fred works on the things that went wrong last night so he continues to improve

 

[meamth]

Opposition players must fecking hate playing against him. If they even get past Fred, here comes AWB.

 

[Solius]

So do it.

But Fred himself should be looking to see the mistakes he made and where he can improve to go to the next level. It doesnt matter to me if you are celebrating our win, it matters to me that Fred works on the things that went wrong last night so he continues to improve

I'm sure Solskjaer lets him know.

 

[Untd55]

I don't mind him taking a pot shot when he has time and no open options, but what I mean is he always takes the worst option shots. A ball bouncing unnaturally to him or him covered by a few defenders when it would be better if he held on and passed it. He does it when we're putting pressure on teams and nearly always lets the opponents off the hook by giving them a kick out.

It's probably just too tempting; I mean he is rarely actually in a position to shoot. Yes, he could cut back on some of them, but it doesn't happen much to be fair; most of the time does pick the option to pass. The one against Leipzig at the start of the game was fine; the goalkeeper actually had to save it!

 

[Ekeke]

I'm sure Solskjaer lets him know.

I hope so, theres obviously nothing I'd like more than players I don't rate that highly improving and becoming great players. That makes our team better. Doesnt matter who it is, Fellaini, Lindelof, Fred etc but if I see players making mistakes or doing well off the ball but not doing very well with it I'm not going to gloss over it.

 

[MadDogg]

I don't mind him taking a pot shot when he has time and no open options, but what I mean is he always takes the worst option shots. A ball bouncing unnaturally to him or him covered by a few defenders when it would be better if he held on and passed it. He does it when we're putting pressure on teams and nearly always lets the opponents off the hook by giving them a kick out.

I know Herrera said at some stage that the manager (I think it was LVG but it may have been Mourinho) told him to go for all-or-nothing shots sometimes when he was in those positions because if the opposition won the ball back they'd be able to counter-attack while our midfield and perhaps fullbacks are out of position. Rather than be put in that dangerous situation, just take a shot that will probably go out so we can get back in our positions. Occasionally you'll even get lucky and it'll fly in.

There are definitely times Fred makes the wrong decision to take a shot, but there are some times that look like they may fall in the above situation.

 

[flappyjay]

Erratic in possession as already mentioned but damn his energy and mobility in the midfield is amazing. Gives us the platform to go and win matches.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Not with giving the ball away like he did. He'd be tearing him a new one

Tbh I think Guardiola would have his passing sharper anyway.

 

[Zoo]

People criticising his passing should remember that he was playing on the right side of the diamond despite being predominantly left-footed.

 

[Freak]

He is such an important part of our midfield. No other midfielder brings what he brings to the team. Yes his passing and control can sometimes be erratic but he compensates with things that we need in that midfield - energy, pressing, work rate.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Pretty much a nailed on first XI starter now... and his engine is such that you feel he doesn't need to be rested half as much as anyone else.

What he does well far outweights his issues (shooting and passing) for me. He is a key player for the team

Gotta admire him getting in amongst Bruno, Pogba and Rashford for that Free Kick though!

I swear in his head he think's he has a Scholes-esq shot on him.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Total lack of composure on the ball. Not sure I'm buying his style of play. He whips the ball left right and centre and far too often his passing puts our other players under pressure. A perfect example last night where he's on the ball with time to pick his player. Instead he whips it to VDB who's surrounded by Leipzig players, which puts him under pressure. Leipzig win the ball in a dangerous position and attack our goal.

Everyone have weakness and his weakness doesn’t hinder our team to perform. In fact his strength is the key for our performance in the last 4 games and that’s what the manager does, utilising player’s strength.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Pretty much a nailed on first XI starter now... and his engine is such that you feel he doesn't need to be rested half as much as anyone else.



Gotta admire him getting in amongst Bruno, Pogba and Rashford for that Free Kick though!

I swear in his head he think's he has a Scholes-esq shot on him.

Wasn't he the free kick take at Shaktar? He must be pretty good in training

 

[Volumiza]

I swear in his head he think's he has a Scholes-esq shot on him.

I actually cant wait until one of his fred rockets go in, it'll be something awesome to leap off the sofa to celebrate.

 

[thepolice123]

This guy is the solution to the energy crisis around the world. His engine is unreal.

 

[Vaibhav Raj]

Came to see how he expectedly well he did, yet I can find some people who moan about his performance. Unfortunately I haven´t seen the whole game but looked like we win 5:0 and he won ball at 1st and 3rd goal for a crucial preassist. Had another one for second goal too before basically assisting Martial for his penalty for the 4th goal. That means he was involved in 4 goals + clean sheet against tactically well organized team. If he can do that every game we will walk the league. Yet some people are gonna say he lost the ball there or didnt make a better pass. Noone cares about Bruno when he´s so wasteful if he keeps scoring. Double standards eh?

I guess you guys would moan about Kante if he played here too. Can´t understand why CDMs are not more appreciated. Fred was running for a POTY last season and rightly so. He´s absolutely key player for us now again and very underrated, same as Herrera and some defensive minded CMs/ CDMs were before him

It is obvious that the posters moaning on here, nitpicking and dissecting one-two-three misplaced passes mostly exclusively watch only Manchester United games and rarely have any exposure to football outside of that. It is same in Bruno Fernandes thread at times. They have this uninformed opinion/perception that the players from other teams, the ones who are highly regarded, do not put a foot wrong in a match. Like I said it is largely because they never actually watch any other player actually play and merely rely highlight reels, general public opinion and articles to form their opinions. So, to them, a performance spanning over 90 minutes still leaves a lot to desire even if there are only a couple of moments of vulnerability shown in an otherwise impressive display. They do not understand that it literally happens to every player if they play a full 90 min game and are on the ball as much as a midfielder is.

You hear complains about Fred misplacing the pass when Manchester United players were being pressed by a team as good as Leipzig while trying to play out from the back. One of his misplaced passes happened because AWB passed the ball to him inside when he never should have. And these things happen with every player in every top team during every game if the team is being pressed well.

It is pointless arguing with them because they seem to have this feeling that they're striving for perfection in United players whereas rest of us settling for mediocrity.

 

[Solius]

Pretty much a nailed on first XI starter now... and his engine is such that you feel he doesn't need to be rested half as much as anyone else.



Gotta admire him getting in amongst Bruno, Pogba and Rashford for that Free Kick though!

I swear in his head he think's he has a Scholes-esq shot on him.

I don't even get excited when it falls to him on the edge of the area because his shots are weak as piss