[Leftback99]

The art of playing Fred is to keep him as far away from your own box as possible. Do that, and he’s pretty great. Give him the ball where we gave him it during the 46th minute and you’re asking for bother.

Some fella.

He's twice the player as soon as he crosses the half way line and peaks midway between there and opposition box.

 

[El Jefe]

He stinks. I don't know how some fans think it's acceptable for a CM to have swings between dreadful and effective. You can accept this in forward positions but in the most important area of the pitch is unforgivable.

He has to be sold this summer. Its really not difficult to get a player that can press but is also good in possession.

 

[-Supreme-]

We were very fortunate not to have conceded from his sloppiness today and was subbed off immediately conceding possession. I don’t think he will be involved for little while now with Casemiro and McT returning.

 

[Nero]

Good at breaking up play, for both teams.

 

[Ali Dia]

Very good in the opposition half. Nice assist. Higher pass competition than Sabitzer (who was the better of the two today) no doubt it will be the same few heads coming on complaining about him after another game won. Yawn

 

[CloneMC16]

We were very fortunate not to have conceded from his sloppiness today and was subbed off immediately conceding possession. I don’t think he will be involved for little while now with Casemiro and McT returning.

He will start against Barca with Casemiro.

 

[Dominos]

5/6 really bad moments but plenty of excellent stuff as well which gets ignored in the hysteria around mistakes.

I think people underestimate how the frequency of basic/unforced errors in possession effects our level as a team, and the results we get over the course of the season.

If the team for example makes 20 unforced errors per game that's 20 opportunities for the opposition to hit you in transition. That's 20 potential attacks for us wasted. Over the course of the season that's going to have a massive effect on your results. Fred is one of, if not our worst culprit for sloppy errors in possession, and if we want to up our level as a team we need more players with good ball retention.

Every team makes errors in possession but the elite teams make less.

 

[Redlyn]

We were very fortunate not to have conceded from his sloppiness today and was subbed off immediately conceding possession. I don’t think he will be involved for little while now with Casemiro and McT returning.

He was decent today and was being rested for Barca.

 

[Mike Smalling]

At least his fitness level and availability are both amazing.

 

[Desert Eagle]

He's twice the player as soon as he crosses the half way line and peaks midway between there and opposition box.

Yeah peak Fred operates in that Bruno space.

 

[shamans]

The amount of disdain and agenda that so many United fans have against him is so sad, and it genuinely confuses me. It would be one thing if he was a unlikeable character off the pitch, but he's the opposite. A likeable dude with a good mentality, who works his socks off for the team and will do whatever role the manager asks him to do (even if that role isn't suited to his skillset). Sure, he can have shocking performances and mistakes, but there have been a lot of great performances by him, especially in big games to prove that he belongs here, at least as a squad player. Fred would have gotten murdered here for the poor giveaway Casemiro had for Barca's 2nd goal. Now Casemiro is a world class player, but sloppy passing and mistakes aren't that uncommon for him either. But there's just such a disproportionate amount of vitriol directed towards Fred, and there's some bizarre strong criticism even when Fred plays well. Unfortunately, Antony seems to be headed towards the same perception/reputation with this fanbase.

the real unfortunate posts are folks who haven’t seen Kante play since Leicester days and call him poundland kante or whatever.

Fred has now foe years matched or exceeded Kantes contributions statistically. He also adds more to attack and I wouldn’t have swapped Chelsea’s Kante with him but a perception gets formed

 

[Litch]

Said before, he can’t be the person who dictates games, that’s not him. Play him on the left of the 3 or in front of a proper CDM, and he is fine. I don’t think he’s shite, I just think he’s shite in that CDM role. Two crucial assist in two games….

 

[El Jefe]

the real unfortunate posts are folks who haven’t seen Kante play since Leicester days and call him poundland kante or whatever.

Fred has now foe years matched or exceeded Kantes contributions statistically. He also adds more to attack and I wouldn’t have swapped Chelsea’s Kante with him but a perception gets formed

You need to give up watching the sport.

Kante's problem is that injuries have fecked him but he's still quality whenever he plays, especially if he has a run of games. It should be a criminal offence to even mention Fred in the same sentence as Kante unless you're talking about availability.

 

[-Supreme-]

He will start against Barca with Casemiro.

He was decent today and was being rested for Barca.

Sabitzer will start ahead of Fred vs Barca IMO

 

[Dve]

We were very fortunate not to have conceded from his sloppiness today and was subbed off immediately conceding possession. I don’t think he will be involved for little while now with Casemiro and McT returning.

And I can tell you for certain that you are wrong. Fred has in general been good lately. I think you don't understand what his role is. And he is not only a press machine, he's also provided 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 games. And btw, his pass accuracy is better than Casemiro's.

 

[-Supreme-]

And I can tell you for certain that you are wrong. Fred has in general been good lately. I think you don't understand what his role is. And he is not only a press machine, he's also provided 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 games. And btw, his pass accuracy is better than Casemiro's.

I am talking about his performance today which I thought we were fortunate that we didn’t concede from his loss of possession on numerous occasions. I do generally rate Fred and can certainly see the benefit of having a player like him in the squad but I thought he let us down today. I don’t think he was rested for Barca but let’s who is right and if he is dropped for the next game.

 

[Litch]

And I can tell you for certain that you are wrong. Fred has in general been good lately. I think you don't understand what his role is. And he is not only a press machine, he's also provided 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 games. And btw, his pass accuracy is better than Casemiro's.

Yep, there is something about looking for the Fred’s mistakes, then after the game you see the Stats and they are better than most. It’s a bit weird at times. The assists are game changing too and many of his performances, I 100% believe we wouldn’t of won some games without his (second half) performances.

 

[Litch]

I am talking about his performance today which I thought we were fortunate that we didn’t concede from his loss of possession on numerous occasions. I do generally rate Fred and can certainly see the benefit of having a player like him in the squad but I thought he let us down today. I don’t think he was rested for Barca but let’s who is right and if he is dropped for the next game.

Brave person to drop a player that’s created two of the biggest goals in the last two games.

 

[Cutch]

Sabitzer will start ahead of Fred vs Barca IMO

I don't think he does. Having Casemiro there makes all the difference. Fred winnin the ball high up and unleashing the speed up top

 

[-Supreme-]

I don't think he does. Having Casemiro there makes all the difference. Fred winnin the ball high up and unleashing the speed up top

Keeping hold of possession is more important particularly when we expect to have more of the ball at home vs Barca, we have Sabitzer who is also very competent at winning the ball back.

 

[Red in STL]

Keeping hold of possession is more important particularly when we expect to have more of the ball at home vs Barca, we have Sabitzer who is also very competent at winning the ball back.

I suspect all 3 may start with Bruno, Rashford and Weghorst as tye front 3

 

[Litch]

Keeping hold of possession is more important particularly when we expect to have more of the ball at home vs Barca, we have Sabitzer who is also very competent at winning the ball back.

yep, that’s why Cas comes back in….

 

[Dve]

Yep, there is something about looking for the Fred’s mistakes, then after the game you see the Stats and they are better than most. It’s a bit weird at times. The assists are game changing too and many of his performances, I 100% believe we wouldn’t of won some games without his (second half) performances.

It's part of human nature, I'm afraid. When we have an opinion on something, we tend to look for evidences that support our opinion - or prejudice. We all do that to some extent, but some more than others. That's why stats in the long run, paints a more accurate picture.

 

[Litch]

It's part of human nature, I'm afraid. When we have an opinion on something, we tend to look for evidences that support our opinion - or prejudice. We all do that to some extent, but some more than others. That's why stats in the long run, paints a more accurate picture.

yep, def something about opinions and how we apply a forensic view on some players. It’s funny that since we have been managed by a world class manager, how so many of the labels on some players are no long true.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

And I can tell you for certain that you are wrong. Fred has in general been good lately. I think you don't understand what his role is. And he is not only a press machine, he's also provided 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 7 games. And btw, his pass accuracy is better than Casemiro's.

This goes under the radar. Which is purely down to bias.

 

[shamans]

You need to give up watching the sport.

Kante's problem is that injuries have fecked him but he's still quality whenever he plays, especially if he has a run of games. It should be a criminal offence to even mention Fred in the same sentence as Kante unless you're talking about availability.

2020/21 season both played the same amount of minutes.

https://fbref.com/en/stathead/playe...0-2021&player_id2=b853e0ad&p2yrfrom=2020-2021

Tell me which category is it a criminal offense to compare Fred to Kante. He has him beat on shots tackles passing XG.

 

[kouroux]

Keeping hold of possession is more important particularly when we expect to have more of the ball at home vs Barca, we have Sabitzer who is also very competent at winning the ball back.

Is it a given we'll have more possession even if we're at home ? I doubt it tbh.

 

[-Supreme-]

Is it a given we'll have more possession even if we're at home ? I doubt it tbh.

Not given no but I expect we will have more of the ball compared to the first leg.

 

[Isotope]

Lord Fred.

 

[acnumber9]

This goes under the radar. Which is purely down to bias.

It’s down to the fact that Casemiro moves it on quicker and better.

 

[lex talionis]

Not free of mistakes, but Fred put in a very solid shift today.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It’s down to the fact that Casemiro moves it on quicker and better.

Casemiro is better than Fred at first time passes, definitely. But the bias is obvious when you see people talking about Fred being one of our worst player ever, who couldn’t pass his way out of a paper bag. Two very good assists in the last two games (3 in his last 7). And is less likely than Casemiro, on average, to miss his target with any given pass. That definitely doesn’t compute with the redcafe perception of the two players.

The more important difference is in their defensive positioning. Casemiro is one of the very best ever at being in the right place at the right time to snuff out an opposition counter. Fred is average to very poor at doing the same thing. They work well in tandem but Fred is a poor replacement for Cas in terms of protecting our back four. It’s not his fault but it contributes to the dogs abuse he gets in every game where Cas hasn’t played.

 

[zaafi]

He stinks. I don't know how some fans think it's acceptable for a CM to have swings between dreadful and effective. You can accept this in forward positions but in the most important area of the pitch is unforgivable.

He has to be sold this summer. Its really not difficult to get a player that can press but is also good in possession.

So who?

 

[acnumber9]

Casemiro is better than Fred at first time passes, definitely. But the bias is obvious when you see people talking about Fred being one of our worst player ever, who couldn’t pass his way out of a paper bag. Two very good assists in the last two games (3 in his last 7). And is less likely than Casemiro, on average, to miss his target with any given pass. That definitely doesn’t compute with the redcafe perception of the two players.

The more important difference is in their defensive positioning. Casemiro is one of the very best ever at being in the right place at the right time to snuff out an opposition counter. Fred is average to very poor at doing the same thing. They work well in tandem but Fred is a poor replacement for Cas in terms of protecting our back four. It’s not his fault but it contributes to the dogs abuse he gets in every game where Cas hasn’t played.

There’s a lot more to passing than just finding your target. Weight of ball, playing into a players run, how quickly you make the pass all factor in to a players passing ability. Casemiro is better at that. Not to take away from Fred’s recent assists which have been great.

Fred’s problem in the first half wasn’t his passing or even not being as good as Casemiro in defensive positions, he worse than a child would be in the same situation. He was on the left of our midfield two and did nothing to help out as that flank was getting pummelled. That’s just not acceptable.

 

[Remember the geese]

the real unfortunate posts are folks who haven’t seen Kante play since Leicester days and call him poundland kante or whatever.

Fred has now foe years matched or exceeded Kantes contributions statistically. He also adds more to attack and I wouldn’t have swapped Chelsea’s Kante with him but a perception gets formed

It's an unpopular opinion, but I agree with you. Kante is hideously overrated.

 

[Godfather]

One blunder in the first half but apart from that very good again!

 

[Rossa]

Casemiro is better than Fred at first time passes, definitely. But the bias is obvious when you see people talking about Fred being one of our worst player ever, who couldn’t pass his way out of a paper bag. Two very good assists in the last two games (3 in his last 7). And is less likely than Casemiro, on average, to miss his target with any given pass. That definitely doesn’t compute with the redcafe perception of the two players.

The more important difference is in their defensive positioning. Casemiro is one of the very best ever at being in the right place at the right time to snuff out an opposition counter. Fred is average to very poor at doing the same thing. They work well in tandem but Fred is a poor replacement for Cas in terms of protecting our back four. It’s not his fault but it contributes to the dogs abuse he gets in every game where Cas hasn’t played.

Spot on. Fred is judged on the typle ofnokayer want him to be or expect him to be instead of rating him for what he is. Unfortunately, if you are looking foe him to be Casemiro reborn you will be disappointed. Take him for what he is and he’s very capable if highly erratic.

 

[11101]

Played well again. A team that wants to press high and recycle the ball quickly has to have a player like Fred, and there are few better at the job he does. Mistakes and all.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

There’s a lot more to passing than just finding your target. Weight of ball, playing into a players run, how quickly you make the pass all factor in to a players passing ability. Casemiro is better at that. Not to take away from Fred’s recent assists which have been great.

Fred’s problem in the first half wasn’t his passing or even not being as good as Casemiro in defensive positions, he worse than a child would be in the same situation. He was on the left of our midfield two and did nothing to help out as that flank was getting pummelled. That’s just not acceptable.

Yet all the problems on our left flank went away when ETH subbed off Garnacho. They created literally nothing down that flank in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Makes you think that maybe Fred wasn’t the main problem?

 

[acnumber9]

Yet all the problems on our left flank went away when ETH subbed off Garnacho. They created literally nothing down that flank in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Makes you think that maybe Fred wasn’t the main problem?

Well obviously Garnacho not tracking back was a problem. But when when an 18 year old attacker is clearly struggling with that side of the game then I would expect an experienced midfielder to be helping out. It wasn’t an issue in the second half because Rashford kept them pinned back.