This will probably be the last priority, but we need to get rid of Bruno, not because he's a bad player, but playing a formation to accommodate a #10 takes more away from the the team than it adds to it.
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Why can’t he be a substitute at the least?
People talk about him as if he is a virus.
Ten Hag has made him captain - whilst he may be dropped, I doubt he is going to get sold anytime soon.
He'll be on really high wages to be a sub, also we could make some money by selling him.
I know my post might come across like I think he's a virus, but that's not what I think, it's more about the system we're forced to play, which leaves our wingers too isolated to have any significant effect on the game. the sooner we move to a 433 with two CMs, the better.
Agree with this completely and if we were to get Costa from Porto, De Jong and a striker that suits how ETH wants to play we’d be a much better proposition next season as we’re not far off. Integrating Laird and Mejbri into the squad full time also offers up a lot more variety as well.
Our biggest issue and the reason we arent winning games comfortably at the moment is lack of clinical finishing. A striker is VASTLY more important than a goalkeeper at the moment. We can wait till summer to replace De Gea. We cannot wait till summer for a new striker
Striker - Martial has been fantastic but if he doesn't get over his Injuries we need a 1st choice, if he does we still need competition as Ronaldo is likely away and also completely done at this level.
GK - i want Raya, admittedly i haven't seen much of Sanchez at Brighton or Costa at Porto, in any case we need a more Proactive, Modern GK.
CM - I feel like Eriksen has been fantastic, but i Still feel he'd be more beneficial at #10. a DLP next to Casemiro would be huge.
RB - Dalot has been much improved but we literally have zero other options, If he gets injured it's likely Lindelof to replace him, i also have Doubts over Dalot long term anyway.
GK - i want Raya, admittedly i haven't seen much of Sanchez at Brighton or Costa at Porto, in any case we need a more Proactive, Modern GK.
CM - I feel like Eriksen has been fantastic, but i Still feel he'd be more beneficial at #10. a DLP next to Casemiro would be huge.
RB - Dalot has been much improved but we literally have zero other options, If he gets injured it's likely Lindelof to replace him, i also have Doubts over Dalot long term anyway.
Disagree. GK is top priority alongside a striker by a distance.
We all agree on the 4 types of players we need.
CF - Vlahovic type, pure 9 that is used to play alone upfront.
Midfielder - FDJ, no need to explain (then Eriksen competes with Bruno)
GK - Maignan
RB - Think Dalot will be gone this summer with Spanish clubs, playing CL are chasing him.
CF - Vlahovic type, pure 9 that is used to play alone upfront.
Midfielder - FDJ, no need to explain (then Eriksen competes with Bruno)
GK - Maignan
RB - Think Dalot will be gone this summer with Spanish clubs, playing CL are chasing him.
I don't see us being able to control games with Bruno on the field. His form has been bad, but he's also not suited to that style, while being very useful if you want to counter attack.
He's one player we should be able to sell for a decent chunk, we've seen him look absolutely incredible.
Get control in midfield and everyone in attack becomes more dangerous. No point spending too much on a striker if we can't get him the ball.
He's one player we should be able to sell for a decent chunk, we've seen him look absolutely incredible.
Get control in midfield and everyone in attack becomes more dangerous. No point spending too much on a striker if we can't get him the ball.
Same reason you shouldn't keep De gea, Ronaldo, Maguire etc as a sub. Wages, discontent and dressing room drama. If your highest paid players are no longer in your starting plans then move them on instead of having them on the bench earning more than everyone else and creating problems.
Doesn’t really seem a problem at Man City.
Bruno doesn’t seem like a complainer anyway or a self indulgent type of footballer. I think he will be fine on the subs bench as long as he is happy to be here.
It’s why he is Captain.
He may get moved on if an offer comes - but if it doesn’t, I don’t think he will be chucked out of the club like Ten Hag does with Wan Bissaka.
Anyway, Sancho earns more than Bruno as far as I know - so we got a whole lot of players to chuck before Bruno Fernándes.
What do you mean spell?
Dalot wants to stay
Ethan Laird?
Are we talking about the same Bruno. He's literally the biggest complainer in our team. He won't be happy to be a sub just like Sancho won't and if it doesn't work for Sancho he will be sold rather than sit on the bench as well. Sell the player and reinvest the funds into a replacement.Also your city point is weird when it just happened to Jesus and Zinchenko who were moved on.
Also your city point is weird when it just happened to Jesus and Zinchenko who were moved on.
What does he complain about United?
Also City have Mahrez, Phillips, even sometimes Bernado Silva on the subs bench. They are loaded on the bench - and our fans want to use Amad and Pellestri?
Yeah not for me.
What does he complain about United?
Also City have Mahrez, Phillips, even sometimes Bernado Silva on the subs bench. They are loaded on the bench - and our fans want to use Amad and Pellestri?
Yeah not for me.
So now you're shifting the goalposts. From doesn't seem like a complainer to what does he complain about United.
We have Sancho, Martial/ronaldo and Fred on the bench most games so again what is your point?
Bruno could be a sub? Sure he could but that's not the best option for him or the club.
We aren't signing a striker in January though. So when it comes to the summer, a goalkeeper is more important given the only goalkeeper that will be contracted to the club by that point is a goalkeeper that nobody seems to want back at the club; whereas we will have striker contracted to the club - though I agree we need better.
Absolutely rubbish.
Just because he complains to the referee aka why he is our captain doesn’t make him a complainer of United
Your just one of those fans that need to complain about players every opportunity they get.
Bruno Is a complainer to the positive/benefit of United than a complainer to the negative of United
There is a significant difference between both.
Shifting the goalpost
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I do agree that we will probably not sign in January, unless Ronaldo leaves. But yes its a issue with De Gea's contract, which is also why I dont understand Dubravka not getting some minutes in the Europa League.
Absolutely rubbish.
Just because he complains to the referee aka why he is our captain doesn’t make him a complainer of United
Your just one of those fans that need to complain about players every opportunity they get.
Bruno Is a complainer to the positive/benefit of United than a complainer to the negative of United
There is a significant difference between both.
Shifting the goalpost
Now you're moved on from shifting the goal posts to ad hominem attacks. I'll complain about and praise who I like. Bruno will be moved on because he's just not that good at football. Try not to cry when it happens and the team improves.
Looking at the squad, we need 4 players.
1) CF to replace Ronaldo/Martial
2) CDM to spell Eriksen
3)RB to spell/challenge Dalot
4)GK to replace De gea.
Looking at CDM, Bringing in FDJ or a player like him, would be great because rotating him with Eriksen, and Eriksen with Bruno gives us genuine quality and depth in those two areas. I believe FDJ will be an improvement on Eriksen in that role due to the ball carrying dimension he brings. Also, Eriksen will be an improvement on Bruno in the AM role because he can do everything Bruno does but with better refinement and decision making.
Issue is, it is hard to argue that is higher priority than the other three positions.
We literally haven't got anybody to replace Dalot with. If he gets injured, we're fecked.
De Gea, has improved a bit but he still hampers our play from the back, especially against strong pressing oppositions, forcing us to automatically concede possession.
Then you have the CF problem. Martial is the only player that truly fits the mould and he can't stay fit enough to play a full game. And Ronaldo is gone next summer.
Thoughts? Be good if we can get a poll going pleae Mods.
Funny how we've had such a great window with so many players coming straight into the starting lineup yet still so many needs
Just my opinion, but I do think getting another player with the capabilities of Eriksen should be priority No 1.
I just think that with the other positions, a player can get by without killing our play. But like a Fred or McT trying to play in the center of the midfield — we can’t play Ten Hag’s style.
Further, I think getting a Martinez option is a close No 2 from my POV. Since we are lacking in other areas, I think that his poise with the ball is so important. One CB keeping possession by playing his way out of trouble vs just clearing the ball away can have a really big impact on the bottom line for what type of possession we end up having after 90 minutes.
Again, do we have a problem being effective against a low defense? Definitely. But a team with that as it’s biggest issue — is still a good team (Ok, except for Wolves). It won’t concede much, having the ball is the best defense etc.
But an ETH team that cannot keep possession of the ball — in those games, the results will be terrible. Like I am not saying that ETH cannot adopt and on occasion play a different style. But it’s one thing to do it against Liverpool away and another to do it against like an in form solid PL team. And if we put a team on the field without Martinez (ie with any two of Harry, Vic or Varane) against like Brighton away — should ETH toss the playbook out of the window and park the buss? Like he probably should, right?
Look at ETHs Ajax side. Blind played a lot of CB under ETH. Timber. Martinez. His style needs a real ball playing CB.
As for No 3, I would put striker just because Ronaldo — with this schedule, his age, the WC — cannot be trusted to be there like 75% of the time. Martial? I don’t think you can trust him to be there at all to be honest.
But then what about RB? Honestly, I think Malacia is a perfectly OK option there. Malacia, Darlot and Shaw are perfectly OK options as wing backs under ETH. Are we thin there? You bet. But we at least have options that wouldn’t kill the structure of how we play. We don’t have that vis-á-vis Eriksen and Martinez.
Lastly, and this is an area where perhaps deviate a bit more than the ‘public opinion’ — I think the players we should be looking for in the first hand to fill these three roles should be the cheapest possible options. Listen, we all agree that we have so many holes. Right? It’s not 1-2, it’s 4-5. But why are we then only talking about 50m-150m players? These holes must be filled.
4 players at 50-150m a pop totals 200-600m. Do the math. We don’t have that money. We can’t fill one of these holes yearly for 4 years. They must be filled yesterday. We have so few ETH players. Look at guys in the 5-15m range. Loans. Vets.
Let me guess because Bruno is not scoring and assisting every week, he is suddenly bang average....
Maybe his form dipped that coincided with the arrival of Ronaldo who is constantly dropping deep into the same pocket of space that Bruno occupies? Or maybe it is there is no focal point unless Martial plays which is once a month.
The same Bruno who ranked 5th last season for big chances created with 15, only behind, KDB, TAA, Salah & Kane.
Let's drop him though as he offers nothing.
ETH in both his successful Ajax teams used a 10, DVB & Tadic, but because Pep & Klopp don't use a 10 let's scrap it.
We need a Top CF. Our GD last season and again this season, proves this should have been a priority in the summer. We can't rely on Martial as a target man. We won't win anything or get into top 4 unless this is addressed in January.
Your guess is wrong. Eriksen is not scoring and assisting every week yet is universally praised.
You say his form dipped because of Ronaldo then quote stats from last season where he was playing with Ronaldo to show how good he is.
I never said he offers nothing and this discussion is more suited to either of the two Bruno threads we have anyway.
You literally stated he is no good at football....
Eriksen plays a completely different role, his role is to play passes through the lines to the attackers as a DLP.
Bruno is playing at a 10 which is congested with Ronaldo as he drops deep every game.
Apart from Rashford not many players actually run beyond the defence creating space for him and stretching the defence.
A ST is the main priority to stretch a defence as Rashford provided in the last 20 on Sunday, creating space for Bruno allowing him to play the role that got the best out of him.
1. CF
2. CM
3. GK
4. RB
2. CM
3. GK
4. RB
I said not that good which is different from no good. Learn to respond to what was written not what you imagine was said or thought. Yes having a past it Ronaldo as a striker is not helping Bruno or our team however Bruno's flaws as a player are evident on his own.
Weirdly the best Bruno we’ve seen was the one when Martial kept dropping in to his space and Bruno went beyond him. Pretty similar to what he tries to do now just that it doesn’t seem to work for him.
Personally I do think if we replaced Bruno with someone decent we would be a better team. For me with him in the squad and just the manner in which he plays we will never be able to control games and no striker will magically allow us to do that. Bruno needs to either improve in ball retention and decision making or we find some one who can give us that and carry a threat.
Anyway on to the subject at hand. Watching us against Newcastle it amazes me how many good oppertunities Fred gets and the spaces he finds himself in. Probably more so than any other midfielder we have but then he just doesn’t have the quality to utilise this skill of his to find the space.
So anyway I generally don’t mind Fred, I think his workrate and effort raises the intensity of those around him but it just doesn’t quite click with Bruno to have control over the midfield. Then neither Bruno or Eriksen can really travel with the ball although Eriksen can help aid retention and picking a pass.
So I feel like we need someone mobile, athletic with more technical ability than Fred and the one name that jumps out at me is Bellingham. He’s a can’t miss. Feel like he would transform our midfield. You could probably play him with any of the three mentioned above with Casemiro and get a tune out of the midfield.
Not an issue when you are putting it on a plate for a striker like we see city doing with so man tap ins they score, our lot are feeding of poor supply
In this context, to provide cover for the position.
Interesting opinions so far. Based on the consensus, it's either GK or CF for most.
Really surprised about the lack of advocates for RB, giving the absolute lack of cover there.
Sounds like it's more like 1a,b,c and d. We need all 4 really.
Really surprised about the lack of advocates for RB, giving the absolute lack of cover there.
Sounds like it's more like 1a,b,c and d. We need all 4 really.
We need to buy Toney. He’s a top forward and will suit how ETH sets up.
Bruno is going nowhere, nor should he. He’ll come good again and will be important once more. Specially if we sign a forward that can dominate/occupy opposing centre halves.
Bruno is going nowhere, nor should he. He’ll come good again and will be important once more. Specially if we sign a forward that can dominate/occupy opposing centre halves.
Price would rocket if he actually manages to have an impact as Kane's backup at World Cup
I like him, love his self assuredness. However, the striker we sign should be one that will be in our league challenging starting eleven and I'm just not sure he's quite that. Especially for the kind of money he'll cost.
I could see him having the same impact as Jesus.
CF
CM playmaker
RB
Gk
In that order.
CM playmaker
RB
Gk
In that order.
A CF is by far our biggest need. Followed by CM and a DDG replacement.
I can read, as i am able to respond.
These flaws you keep mentioning, let me guess his ball retention does not match the levels of Eriksen? so a creative midfielder who gives the ball away while trying to thread a teammate through on goal or trying to break down a low block.
What other flaws are so obvious to your trained eye?
Who would you replace him with oh wise one?
Yes his form was during Martials best season, his link up play think helped Bruno play off him and utilise the space in behind.
I believe having a player of a Bellingham, FDJ or Bennacer who can play line breaking passes and drive through midfield creating an overload on the transition and the ability to play small 1 2s, will help Bruno and Uniteds attack.