Fredge | Deal done

Status
Not open for further replies.
Doesn't seem like the type to control the tempo of a game, so I don't think he's exactly what we need, but we'll see.
 
Red4Life_#7 said:
How good is Keita??
Click to expand...

Better than what I've seen of Fred. I'd be very disappointed if he's our main/only midfield reinforcement as I dont think he'd make much difference either way. Not a DLP like Carrick, nor does he have the attacking flair to change games.
 
Johan07 said:
From someone that lives in the Ukraine and watches quite a bit of "our" premier league here (season ticket at Dynamo Kyiv):

@devilish described the attributes of Fred pretty well. He normally plays besides Taras Stepanenko in a double pivot at the base of Shaktar´s midfield. Of those two he is the slightly more offensive one, but it has probably more to do with their strengths than anything else. They are both defensive midfielders. To compare Fred with Willian is incorrect and a ltb lazy to be honest. They are completely different players. If there is a Willian in Shaktar its Taison. The comparison with Herrera that has been thrown around here is much more relevant.

Fred is a good player, one of the best players in the squad but by no means a standout. I would probably even go so far as to say that Stepanenko is the more important player for Shaktar.

What I dont get is that the quality of the Ukrainian league is questioned more than it is in this thread. It seems that people are taking for granted that a player from a league that is at best on the level of the Norwegian and or the Swedish league (and I am Swedish) is ready not just to come to United but also it seems to be expected to be a leading player. Especially since people are questioning transfers from leauges like the Dutch or even the French. That baffles me a bit.

The quality of the Ukrainian league has been deterioating for many years now. It has always been a two team league if there ever was one. Dynamo and Shaktar. Dynamo has pretty much changed their entire team in two years. Last time I watched them live I think there was one or two players with shirt numbers under 30. Got ousted from the CL qualification and then didnt really do anything in the EL either.

And Dynamo still trails Shaktar with just three points with a couple games left to play this season. Dynamo actually beat Shaktar away two weeks ago. Shaktar has even dropped quite a few points this year against teams that would struggle in any of the professional leagues in England.

Even if football math doesnt work, its an illustration of the fact that todays Ukrainian league is nothing like the one that "produced" Willian and Mkhi for example. The rest of the 10 teams would seriously even struggle in the Swedish league and that says something.

Another illustrative fact is that the last major transfer from the Ukraine to Europe is when Yarmolenko left Dynamo for Dortmund. Where he has done OK, nothing more. Yarmolenko was a different animal in this league though. Much more dominant than Fred is now (different positions of course).

Of course its both impressive - maybe more surprising - that Shaktar did so well in the CL this year. But I would submit that its quite different to perform every week against far, far inferior opposition, in a far, far, far less competetive league than the PL; compared to be supposed to start for United every week.

Its a big risk to pay that amount of money for a player from the Ukrainian league. Even if he is good. And Fred is, I just dont see why United would spend that amount of money on a player that hasnt performed more consistently in a bigger league; other than a couple of CL-games.
Click to expand...

So, as promised I will provide a short scouting report on Fred after todays Ukrainian cupfinal between Dynamo and Shaktar, in what was the teams fifth meeting this season. It will be six on May 19th when they face off in the last game of the league.

The game (played in Dnepr) finished Dynamo vs Shaktar: 0-2. Fred as usual played in a double pivot in midfield with Shaktar´s captain Stepanenko. The game was pretty close in the first half with Dynamos Ukrainian kids almost getting the better of a way more experienced Shaktar side. Shaktar - as they should - took over in the second half and scored the two goals of the game.

Fred was booked, provided the "second" assist for Shaktar´s first goal and won the freekick that finished off the game. He was (as usual) one of Shaktar´s better players. I´d give him a 7 out of 10. Also as usual he didnt stand out in particular.

For you that havent seen Fred play, he is a very allround defensive midfielder. Good energy level, decent passing and he can carry the ball forward when needed. Not the biggest player but has that low center of gravity that helps him out in many situations. He is not a flashy player, more of a grinder that is good on the ball. How he would look defensively in a high tempo PL-game I have no idea, and thats one of the obvious caveats with him going to the PL.

I am still very much on the fence how he would do in the PL. Especially in United or another top team. See what I wrote earlier about the quality of the Ukrainian league nowadays. I am still surprised about the figures that being quoted for a player that might turn out to be on an Everton or Southampton level when stepping up just not one level, but several.

Dynamo of today is a team of Ukrainian kids that would struggle to make top 5 in the Dutch league, and I would expect a prospective United midfielder to dominate way more in the few competative games Shaktar plays every season.

I will try to contribute a bit more after the next Dynamo vs Shaktar game here in Kyiv in 10 days.
 
Last edited by a moderator:


As soon as he got to the room, Fred called him to speak to his followers, and Srna couldn’t wait a second before dropping the bomb.

“Let’s go Brazil. Champions, champions. Fred now is going to Manchester. Doesn’t know if City or United. Let’s know.”

Fred only had a laugh, didn’t comment on it, and continued the celebrations as if nothing had happened.
Click to expand...
 
If it's us let's get this done ASAP. Short window this summer.
 
Usually people call United 'Manchester' and still do. And call Man City simply 'City'.

United it is then.
 
dont rate him, i mean hes 25 and at shakhtar... not like hes 19 and already at his current level.
 
Has anyone who holds their opinions of him actually seen him play regularly?
 
syrian_scholes said:
Douglas Costa left Shakhtar at a similar age, or is this sarcasm?
Click to expand...

No that's just the caf's obsession with young talents and developing them into a world class player that stays for their whole career. It's a class of 92 fetish on this forum.
 
syrian_scholes said:
Douglas Costa left Shakhtar at a similar age, or is this sarcasm?
Click to expand...
Fernandinho was 28 when he signed for City from Shakhtar. I know, Fernandinho is 33 years old now! Blew my mind too.

Also, Willian was 24 when he left.

EDIT: Well, it seems I'm late to the party. But still, Fernandinho is fecking 33!
 
He's already 25. We can get good 2,3 years out of him and then he'll be near his retirement and his legs will probably go..
Would avoid.
 
SpyLuke10 said:
dont rate him, i mean hes 25 and at shakhtar... not like hes 19 and already at his current level.
Click to expand...
He's a workhorse.
Think he covered the most distance in CL or something. He runs around a lot, presses, is a good dribbler, a good passer and more importantly trues to pass forward most of the time.Also he is very mobile and agile, something our midfield really lacks.
Every Mourinho team needs a workhorse, a guy to do all the dirty work.
He can free Pogba by taking up defensive duties and also Pogba won't have to fall back to collect the ball.

Is he prefect/WC? Far from it, but he fits the bill of the CM that we need and is probably the best one we can get as Weigl seems to be having a horrible season and Jorginho looks set to move to Pool/City.Infact because of his mobility, I would say he fits us better than Jorginho.

I would take him actually, as he won't cost much money maybe 30-35 million at most. His highlights reel looked good and above all that he was wanted by Pep, who is really good at spotting quality CMs.
 
VP89 said:
Has anyone who holds their opinions of him actually seen him play regularly?
Click to expand...

I'd be shocked if anyone who's not Ukranian has seen him regularly.

Besides I think this one is a done deal for us. Sam Lee who's tier one for City said that City weren't interested in him.
 
Saw the youtube clip.. always looks like he is gonna fall down while being on the ball. (welbeck as a midfileder :nervous:)

If jose wants him then lets get him.
 
Red4Life_#7 said:
How good is Keita??
Click to expand...
According to everyone is one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga and means so much for Leipzig and might be a Kante-esque signing in his impact (but being an attacking box to box). Only reason I wouldnt be more worried is that they were fine in that position, and their defences is still shut, so they just get stronger offensively while staying shut at the back. Will probably have the best transitions/counter attacks though.

Honestly, I'm a bit shocked Mourinho didnt go for either Keita or Kante 2 years. Both wouldve been almost perfect, apart from being on the shorter side. Fred from the little I've seen is like Keita in terms of style, but is tiny at 5'6", and not as dominating of a box to box.
 
Sam Lee from 13th March.

Goal understands that City have cooled their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, news which will come as a major surprise not just to many of the Blues' followers, but perhaps to key figures inside the club.

As recently as early February certain senior members of staff had been talking as if a deal for the Brazilian had been all but wrapped up, with the Blues keen to sign him in the summer having failed to persuade Shakhtar to sell in January.

However, City's most influential decision makers are now stressing that Fred is far from their only option.

Guardiola is a big fan of the midfielder and believes he would be able to replace Fernandinho at the base of City's midfield within the next two years, but it is understood that one of the key factors behind the Blues' concerted efforts to sign him in January was that he was the only one of their targets who was seen as a viable winter purchase.

However, City are now assessing other options ahead of the summer window, as they believe a better deal may present itself. Their interest in Fred is not dead, but they are nowhere near as certain to sign him as previously thought.
Click to expand...
 
I’m not the biggest fan of his, not going to lie....

Would rather go for someone like Seri or even Will Hughes from Watford to add quality on the ball in the midfield.
 
Last edited:
Am all for getting a workhorse who can carry the ball in central midfield as we clearly lack one. This guy ticks all the boxes.

But it seems this guy is suited for the double pivot so i guess it's back to 4-2-3-1 next season. Which sucks.
 
Ban said:
He's already 25. We can get good 2,3 years out of him and then he'll be near his retirement and his legs will probably go..
Would avoid.
Click to expand...
Hahaha i see what you did here. Yeah, i remember people saying those things when United were linked with Perisic..or any other over-22:lol:
 
It's Matic all over again with this age nonsense.
 
He's 5 years younger than Matic so he's easily 42?

Know nothing about this lad and never heard of him til we were linked with him this season. Can't be that good if he's not setting the world alight. Just saying..

EDIT: Just watched the above Youtube clip. The guy can pass I'll give him that.
 
Can't be that good if I haven't seen him play.
 
Trizy said:
He's 5 years younger than Matic so he's easily 42?

Know nothing about this lad and never heard of him til we were linked with him this season. Can't be that good if he's not setting the world alight. Just saying..
Click to expand...

We have to buy hidden gems like Pulisic and Dembele, we can get them for cheap and theyll turn into world class players.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.