I hope you're right. McT was the weakest link last season. Think he can be better as an 8 than a 6.
McFred as a midfield duo heading into 2022/23 season
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I hope you're right. McT was the weakest link last season. Think he can be better as an 8 than a 6.
I love how our fans love to pretend their a lower table material. Utterly ignoring their contributions to all our league seasons above 4 the place
They've already been consistent starters for years. At very least they will feature massively this season. Without signings, no midfield trio you name is remotely good enough for a club of this size and yes it's absolutely scandalous how far the clubs and some fans standards have fallen
I'm fairly confident that the plan is/was to play a De Jong, Eriksen, Fernandes midfield with Fred being firmly in the mix too. You're right on both counts regarding McTominay.
Fred is a very good player. No need to tar him with the same brush as McTominay. Fred will feature massively. We have made a signing, Christian Eriksen. This signing pushes McTominay down the pecking order. We need one more and we have been endeavouring to accomplish this for months on end. De Jong, Eriksen and Fernandes is a pretty good midfield, with Fred being a heavy part of the rotation. Let's hope it happens.
Unlike Fred (who is often a starter and always squad member for Brazil), McTominay doesn’t suit ETH football one bit. There are no reasons to believe he will feature a lot
I wish I shared the same optimism some of our fans have that Ten Hag is going to transform McFred into a brilliant pairing. They were awful together last season. Teams were literally walking past them, the gaps left between attack and defence were insane. Playing Eriksen with Fred or McT in CM I fear is going to be just as bad.
There's a pretty big reason to believe he will start a lot... lack of depth in midfield
Not even sure this is true since Eriksen will be playing in the 2
We could bring De Jong, Rice and another in and we'd still available Mcfred 90% of games.
Probably because we have 2 outright centre mids in the whole squad, let 2 others go and Eriksen is still to be seen where he fits in.
People who think McTominay will be dropped are setting themselves for a big disappointment.
Fred will be a regular starter, as he should be, and unless we play some absolute bollards, so will McTominay. I actually expect Scott to have more minutes than last season (assuming we don't add a midfielder, what seems the most likely scenario right now).
There is no way Eriksen will be a regular starter in midfield two, he never played that role, and that's not why we got him. Not without a proper DM behind, which we don't have.
Eriksen is not Pogba replacement. He's here to give the team another option in no10 position, as he's a very different player to Bruno.
The only chance to drop McTominay is if van de Beek improves and takes this second midfield place. That is quite possible. He for sure will have plenty chances this season.
Fred will be a regular starter, as he should be, and unless we play some absolute bollards, so will McTominay. I actually expect Scott to have more minutes than last season (assuming we don't add a midfielder, what seems the most likely scenario right now).
There is no way Eriksen will be a regular starter in midfield two, he never played that role, and that's not why we got him. Not without a proper DM behind, which we don't have.
Eriksen is not Pogba replacement. He's here to give the team another option in no10 position, as he's a very different player to Bruno.
The only chance to drop McTominay is if van de Beek improves and takes this second midfield place. That is quite possible. He for sure will have plenty chances this season.
Some people here like to pretend that footballers have 0 flexibility and adaptability, and that our system is 100% rigid with no fluidity at all. It's infuriating.
On the other hand, we should learn from Paul Pogba situation and accept we can't expect players to bend to the system which clearly isn't what they are suited for.
I wouldn't compare the Pogba situation with anyone else, because he actively contributed to the mess with his unprofessionalism and shitty behaviour. He is quite flexible as a footballer, but he put 0 effort in it with us.
It’s a simple question of talent. Both players have a ceiling, which is unfortunately below the level we require. It’s nothing personal, in fact it’s slightly infuriating as they actually have the best mindset and mentality amongst the whole squad. Unfortunately that isn’t matched with world class ability.
Fred is a very good player and gets unfairly lumped in with McTominay.
To be honest, I think there is quite a few players in our team with zero flexibility and limited in their abilities. We are missing a few all rounders who can do a bit of everything.
Agreed.
Fred sure, but McT is far from it. His game is utterly lazy and timid. He hides behind the opponents most of the time.
Can't wait for the dynamic duo to start again.
No, from his record at Ajax. It suggests that EtH is a dedicated student of the game that works on improving players. As opposed to going into last season under Ole. We also appear to have a more harmonious squad with the more poisonous figures shipped out.
I don't mind it because I really want to see Iqbal and Savage play a lot. And I really like Eriksen.
They haven't been our best midfielders during the pre-season, so doesn't make sense to start them.
I hope and think that's how ETH thinks aswell. I'd genuinely be happy if one of the youngsters who did do well in the pre-season matches starts.
I hope and think that's how ETH thinks aswell. I'd genuinely be happy if one of the youngsters who did do well in the pre-season matches starts.
He did say in a recent interview that if we cannot find the players we want, we will develop them. So that's hopeful.
Like Noble said, we targeted Fred and that's how we won.
As a new manager he should judge the players by how they play under him, not by who the previous managers played.
I know it's not popular around here, but personally i prefer McT as a player over Fred, but i hope none of them start.
Mark Noble?
Love you both. Not your fault that we have not bought better players.
Try your best whenever you are picked.
Try your best whenever you are picked.
Pretty clear that Eriksen will be used as a number 8, similar to Bruno. Fred and McTominay are best suited to that role too. So what we actually have are four senior number 8's and zero senior number 6's. Fred will play that role if need be. McTominay will be his deputy and cover for Eriksen and Bruno.
Not in the deep lying role that he looks like he's going to be deployed in.
Which is how ETH mainly played with Ajax. Alvarez was the exception partially due to a lack of better option.
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We got Erikson.
It will be Eriksen +1. We’re not good enough to be a shoo-in for top 4 I’m afraid.
Actually I believe the only "zero flexibility" players are Bruno and AWB. Maybe ETH can work on Bruno but IMO this is what he is.
The rest is quite flexible, but the problem is we want to push it too hard. Fred is not a DM/single pivot although he can "do the job there" , Eriksen is not a CM in 2 man midfield although he can "do the job there", Rashford is not a natural winger although he can "do the job there", so on and so on. I do not think the way forward is to push players out of position because we need to squeeze all attacking players on the pitch. It is quite a popular idea on the Caf though.
Yeah, people are being very short sighted here and choosing to feel angry and worried about something that doesn't exist.
Can’t argue that’s the case a lot of the time with Scott. But he’s also had games driving us forward and clearly loves the club. Not sure it’s particularly an attitude problem, he’s just not good enough and knows it. Hence, he lacks confidence and hides.
Lucky us 
I remember reading countless times about how Fred couldn't make a 5 yard pass in our matchday threads for last 3 years. Maybe if he's surrounded by high quality midfielders, he can get away with his flaws. Not right now.
Eriksen doesn’t play that role, though?
You obviously never watched Fletcher play. Only similarities they have are they're Scottish midfielders which I assume is where the lazy comparison comes from. Absolutely clueless take from you.