Crazy idea. Bruno can’t keep the ball well enough, we will just lose any kind of control or tempo.
Stop playing Eriksen in a 2 man midfield!
- Thread starter Nikelesh Reddy
- Start date
Bruno is more suited to play 10. The guy that gives the final pass. His off the ball work rate and energy also gives him that advantage. I think our midfield is balanced with Casa and Eriksen with Bruno joining them.
(1)Casa+Fred+Bruno: This will only suit us if we want to play on the counter.
(2) Casamiro + Scott + Bruno: This is a weaker version of (1) above but more goal threat with Scotty running into the box.
(3) Casamiro + Eriksen+ Bruno: This is the best of we want to control games.
Bruno is not disciplined enough to play the N0 10 role. ETH said at the beginning of the season that Eriksen is his best midfielder. The reason we were so poor against Aston villa was because Donny lacked the energy and drive to link up with the midfield and attack.
I think he’s our best option to play with Cas. The thing is he needs to be fit and healthy and fresh, mentally as well as physically. That means resting him as often as possible. We really need to give the young lad Iqbal a try.
This is what you get for playing Fred or McT instead of Eriksen. Let that sink it in.
This is what you get for playing a McFred + Donny midfield. We have not yet seen a McFred + Eriksen midfield…
Ultimately you need Eriksen in there or there is 0 passing. And Eriksen in a deeper role.
Precisely the point. Can't believe people still don't get it.
Aye, people forget quickly. The drop off from Eriksen & Casemiro is a an absolute chasm.
I do agree he lacks some physicality to play in a midfield two, but my god, do we need him on the pitch. He sees things and makes passes that none of our other players do. The gulf between him and McFred is colossal as evidenced tonight.
I think most people know this, but in games where we're not dominant, Eriksen playing has some issues. Defensively, he's below average. If we're dominating the game, Eriksen is a great choice. He plays like he did tonight.
ETH will still start him as much as possible. We lose too much ball progression without him.
It's not about Eriksen....It's about how poor our options after him can be.
Sunday was about VDB playing at no.10
Our best performance of the season was vs Spurs with Casemiro, Fred, Bruno midfield 3.
It's a small sample size of 1 game but it's worth another try, particularly games where we will be tested.
The issue with Fred alongside Mctominay is the lack of passing ability between the pair of them. At the very least when Fred is partnered with Casemiro then we have 1 player who can pass a ball. They also have a partnership at international level.
Spurs sat back.never tried to control the game or put pressure on our midfield. Fred is best at counter pressing. If you can remember the match against Arsenal at OT, you will get the idea of what he brings to the team in big matches
The second halve just goes to show we need another player like eriksen… hopefully we can sign one. That’s probably the reason Ten Hag doesn’t like resting him to much because there’s no link up or quality passing from deep when he’s not playing. We need a lot of squad depth and players who can play the same role just as good to keep the quality of performances up. There’s a massive drop in standards when we rest players.
I agree.
Even on paper it seems the most balanced midfield.
Fred's got abysmal passing and decision making and when playing alongside MCT who is more or less at the same level, then our midfield creativity is gone.
I would like to see how Sancho (when he is fit and ready) plays in Eriksen's spot as a mezzala.
That be a terrible idea, Sancho cant play in a midfield 2 that would leave Casemiro totally isolated.
Sancho can play on the wings or in Bruno's position thats about it.
he can't hack it physically playing on the wing lord help us if he gets moved central
Why in hell would that work out? Eriksen is doing just fine but we need another midfielder badly
One of the strangest takes yet 
Sancho can't even play well on the wing for us. Never mind in midfield.
Once Dalot is back we can finally move AWB to where he belongs, in the double pivot with Case. One in the best midfielder in the league, the other is the best 1v1 defender in the league. Could this be the most frightening midfield 2 the PL has ever seen?
One of the strangest takes yet
The biggest weak-link in the current 11 is Eriksen followed closely by Bruno.
We are winning games because of great defensive structure & the performances of Casemiro & Rashford.
Huh ? The wing is more physical demanding than midfield.
What the hell. Eriksen is extremely important to our play. Bruno has been struggling in possession now but he is extremely important for his pressing and workrate (which is unmatched).
Great shout. Play De Gea and Casemiro in midfield with him and its the perfect balance
Eriksen's physicality - well the lack thereof is an issue, but Sancho isn't the answer, as while he's a lot quicker than Eriksen, he doesn't seem a lot stronger.
Most importantly though, playing in midfield requires a lot of positional awareness and discipline that Sancho is unlikely to have (even if I'm not sure how Joelington took to it like a fish to water!)
Most importantly though, playing in midfield requires a lot of positional awareness and discipline that Sancho is unlikely to have (even if I'm not sure how Joelington took to it like a fish to water!)
Erm... since when did physicality become a necessity to play as a CM..?
Scholes was not strong was he? I'll tell you someone who was strong, Marouane Fellaini
Scholes was not strong was he? I'll tell you someone who was strong, Marouane Fellaini
Agreed. Its already obvious that his lack of legs hurts us greatly when we don't have the ball and sometimes even when we have the ball. He's a tidy passer and all but he is not young enough or fit enough (understandably) to play in a 2-man midfield at this level anymore. He was the biggest point of vulnerability in our hammering at City because he simply could not keep up and will likely be a target again when we play them next week.
He should be competing with Bruno for the 10 role which is his natural role and will be easier on his body than this deeper midfield role. And Bruno certainly needs the competition.
He should be competing with Bruno for the 10 role which is his natural role and will be easier on his body than this deeper midfield role. And Bruno certainly needs the competition.
Eriksen just doesn't have the legs anymore. His passing is good but only when he has time + space. If you close him down he usually turns it over. I think we've all been seduced by a couple nice passes and crosses but his overall game is lacking.
Completely agree with you on Bruno's workrate - it's elite. But let's be honest he is not a very smart player. He doesn't know when to go fast or slow it down. If you watch him closely you'll see that he is technically lacking. He's ability to turn in those half spaces is not where it needs to be for some that lives in the half space.
An upgrade on those two and a fit & reliable striker and I think we can challenge for EVERYTHING.
physicality includes stamina which is obviously a weak point for Sancho and something hugely important in CM
I doubt he could finish a game in CM in the PL
CM's usually cover more ground and usually compete against stronger opponents than wingers
Sancho would melt in CM
I agree with this. Eriksen would me ok as a squad player, but not good enough to be starting.
Bruno has improved on last season, and is a bit less gung ho in some of his pressing which leaves him out of position, but there is still work to do.
It will be interesting to see what ETH does against City. Any changes to the preferred formation, or bringing in someone like Fred, looks like weakness. But at the same time, can we go toe to toe with City yet.
I don't think we can do that yet, for me it looks like a game for Fred, however, if we did that and got the 2/10 version of Fred, we're in all sorts of trouble
How can you watch United every week and not realise why Eriksen plays where he does? Come on.
Just look at the positions he takes up when collecting the ball deep between Martinez and Shaw, or when he moves to the touchline so that Shaw can tuck inside. Ten Hag plays Eriksen in that role because he is (by far) the most suitable to do those things in midfield for him.
Ten Hag is not going to play Eriksen at #10, at least not until he has somebody else to do the exact thing he is asking of Eriksen in the longer term.
Just look at the positions he takes up when collecting the ball deep between Martinez and Shaw, or when he moves to the touchline so that Shaw can tuck inside. Ten Hag plays Eriksen in that role because he is (by far) the most suitable to do those things in midfield for him.
Ten Hag is not going to play Eriksen at #10, at least not until he has somebody else to do the exact thing he is asking of Eriksen in the longer term.
It depends exactly what you're meaning by demanding.
Centre mids cover more ground, and get involved in more physical challenges, ball in the air, hard tackles etc.
Wingers tend to do more runs at top speeds
We are joint third in the league with a game in hand. After a shocking start to the season we are only 4 points behind an outstanding city team who are second. We have beaten liverpool and arsenal. I think ETH knows what he is doing with the players he has available.
Fred looked sharp when he came on v Bournemouth but so often he is crap and a liability.
Fred looked sharp when he came on v Bournemouth but so often he is crap and a liability.
I would like to see EtH try VDB at LCB alongside Varane. I really think that's the position that will unlock the version we saw at Ajax.
Oh yeah, the spider and daddy long legs in a double pivot
