He's a baller I'm not worried about him at all. He's just a little out of sync with the rest of the team because he was doing a one man press and no-one else was pressing with him. He won the ball twice for us and was close another third time all in dangerous areas well inside Bournemouth's half. It's going to take some time but he'd be better suited for Klopp and Liverpool. He wouldn't look out of place in an aggressive high intensity team that presses and plays attacking football.
Why did we buy Fred?
- Thread starter Josep Dowling
- Start date
Why did you buy Memphis Depay? Because he was about to sign a contract with PSG
Why did you buy Fred? Because PSG was interested
Ah yes, the reverse Lucas Moura theory.
I thought he played well with energy. Jose probably should drop Matic for Herrera.
Alexis, Herrera, Pereira and Fred are 100% capable of pressing up higher, but it won’t happen in Jose’s team, for sure.
I thought he was probably our best player in first half.
I think he is a talented baller but he is having it tough firstly with the league and our style. The pace, physicality and everything that comes with it. If everyone could press together to squeeze a team nobody would criticise him. One man can't do everything. Give em time lads.
I can see what Pep saw in him, a high press from everyone is ideal for his game.
I can see what Pep saw in him, a high press from everyone is ideal for his game.
Why did we buy him? Because he is Brazilian and a total footballer.
Him and Pogba can toy any midfield with their skills. Just a matter of time.
Him and Pogba can toy any midfield with their skills. Just a matter of time.
Agree with this 100%.
He is just used to a completely different way of defending and it’ll take some time to sort that out - if mourinho stays.....
Matic is a big lump who produces nothing attacking wise while Pogba is very attacking minded but produces next to nothing on the defensive side of things. Hence why we needed Fred who was a link between the two. Unfortunately by the time we bought Fred, Matic had declined which means we're back to square one.
Honestly I think we need to acknowledge our squad's strengths. For example what's the point of having a big man upfront if we don't have crossers? What's the point of having Matic in midfield to play as an advanced defender especially since our current defenders are more comfortable in a 3 men CB? What's the point of having an attacking fullback like Shaw if we can't unleash him on his full extent?
If you ask me this would be our best team
GK: DDG
DC: Smalling
DC: Bailly
DC: Lindelof
WBR: Dalot
WBL: Shaw
CM: Herrera
CM: Fred
AMLC: Pogba
AMRC: Rashford
STK: Martial
That would mean having an added man in defence, which would unleash Shaw and Dalot at the rear flanks. Meanwhile, we'll see plenty of movement in CM with Herrera, Fred and Pogba + Rashford and Martial. Rashford and Martial can switch roles, going in and out of the box causing havoc to the opponents defence
Honestly I think we need to acknowledge our squad's strengths. For example what's the point of having a big man upfront if we don't have crossers? What's the point of having Matic in midfield to play as an advanced defender especially since our current defenders are more comfortable in a 3 men CB? What's the point of having an attacking fullback like Shaw if we can't unleash him on his full extent?
If you ask me this would be our best team
GK: DDG
DC: Smalling
DC: Bailly
DC: Lindelof
WBR: Dalot
WBL: Shaw
CM: Herrera
CM: Fred
AMLC: Pogba
AMRC: Rashford
STK: Martial
That would mean having an added man in defence, which would unleash Shaw and Dalot at the rear flanks. Meanwhile, we'll see plenty of movement in CM with Herrera, Fred and Pogba + Rashford and Martial. Rashford and Martial can switch roles, going in and out of the box causing havoc to the opponents defence
Think he will become a good complimentary player given time.
If we sort out our backline and DM, his busy bee approach should become more productive
If we sort out our backline and DM, his busy bee approach should become more productive
Fred did ok yesterday. Worked really hard in that midfield
He gave us the energy in that first half when Pogba and Matic resembled more like walking wardrobes than footballers.
He'll get better over time
He gave us the energy in that first half when Pogba and Matic resembled more like walking wardrobes than footballers.
He'll get better over time
He was, interceptions, tackles and through balls with high energy.
Joke thread especially the shite since yesterday's game
Regarding depay
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32657823
A French link
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...a-failli-signer-au-psg-revele-van-gaal/556970
Regarding Fred, PSG had a limited budget (40 millions) because of the FFP so it was needed to sell in order to raise ore funds; while his former club asked for 70m
http://www.culturepsg.com/news/mercato/le-psg-avait-une-enveloppe-de-40m-pour-fred-ff/21634
He’s 25 already? He doesn’t look the finished article.
Thought he was decent, won the ball high up in Bournemouth’s half a couple of times. The through ball to Sanchez was scrumptious, but Herrera is also capable of those. He’s clearly used to pressing high and playing in a team dominating possession. He has the skills, looks equally good with both feet (except finishing), hope he’ll come good. I doubt we’ll see the best of him unde Mourinho.
Thought he was decent, won the ball high up in Bournemouth’s half a couple of times. The through ball to Sanchez was scrumptious, but Herrera is also capable of those. He’s clearly used to pressing high and playing in a team dominating possession. He has the skills, looks equally good with both feet (except finishing), hope he’ll come good. I doubt we’ll see the best of him unde Mourinho.
I like the look of him, our defensive low block makes him look so worse in defending and look like a headless chicken. if we play football with the high line and dominate the possession, he'd be looking 10x better, he's all-around midfielder as a box to box player, winning second balls, be playmakers, pressing and defending. You can see he has talents and skills.
We’re shopping around for a bargain thats why. For the most part under SAF we spent top dollar for the best players around.
You’re not going to get a ready-made world class midfielder for £50m these days. We’ll have to hope Fred can improve
You’re not going to get a ready-made world class midfielder for £50m these days. We’ll have to hope Fred can improve
He did well initially yesterday, he's not on the same wavelength as Pogba (we'll forget Matic).
I think we should give a midfield of Fred-Herrera-Pogba a run. Two busy midfielders would give Pogba license to roam forward.
I think we should give a midfield of Fred-Herrera-Pogba a run. Two busy midfielders would give Pogba license to roam forward.
The Bigger question is "Why did we buy Sanchez". He has upset the whole system since he came here and is being paid far too much which has caused unrest with some players.
Martial was playing well before he came and was then dropped to the bench, even when Sanchez was playing bad. We should have more points on the board but for Mourinho sticking with him for far too long.
Martial was playing well before he came and was then dropped to the bench, even when Sanchez was playing bad. We should have more points on the board but for Mourinho sticking with him for far too long.
Good one.
We have to persist with him. Let him have a run of games.
He's been inconsistent over 90 minutes but you can see what he brings. Yesterday he was winning the ball for fun, he's got insane energy levels and he's capable of playing some defence splitting passes. He played about 3 yesterday alone.
He just needs time. Fans want instant gratification these days but under Fergie we always knew that a players first season was often a write off whilst they got to know the league and the team. This seems forgotten about these days but the same still applies in reality.
He just needs time. Fans want instant gratification these days but under Fergie we always knew that a players first season was often a write off whilst they got to know the league and the team. This seems forgotten about these days but the same still applies in reality.
He manages to pull off the neat dynamic clumsy & sloppy look really well
Fred will come good. He is full of energy and always looking for the ball. Sometimes it seems he is too fast for our midfielders and his passing is a bit too early, but this will come right. We need his energy in midfield but with another who can work with him. I don't think that Matic can, atm.
As a few above have been quoting, if only Jose would relent a little and play a midfield of pogba, Herrera and Fred which could defend and attack together and he could coach cohesion and coordination amongst them, it'll be the foundation of some amazing football
Yes, he should try this. Both Herrera and Fred could work together, or even Pereira.
He’s very good, you can see why Pep wanted him would have been perfect for his high press and possession based football.
Unfortunately, Jose doesn’t have a scooby-doo on how to set the team to attack as a unit.
Unfortunately, Jose doesn’t have a scooby-doo on how to set the team to attack as a unit.
Agree. Pressing is an all or nothing game, just one or two pressing doesn't work, the whole team or none.
I’m baffled how some people can’t see this when it’s right on the surface. Do people actually watch football sometimes I wonder?
Very true, while Jose wants us to be something in-between and it makes us look like amateurs when defending. It’s either all team is switching on for the press or scrape it altogether as it only leaves acres of space for opponents to exploit with minimal pressure.
You don't watch much football then, clearly.
Really don’t know what game we are all watching given what I’m reading so far. He was by far our best player before he was removed. He made like 4 interceptions and released Sanchez twice when we were struggling. He constantly pressed their midfield and it didn’t work sometimes because matic kept ball watching.
I’d say the only problem was he made some bad passes which had good intentions but just didn’t reach his man, other than that he is pretty solid. Also missed that chance from martial but whatever it happens.
When he came off I thought we would regret it but Herrera did well which is a big positive. He really is the type of player we have needed for a long time. Hope mourinho plays him against Juventus because we need his energy and finesse.
I’d say the only problem was he made some bad passes which had good intentions but just didn’t reach his man, other than that he is pretty solid. Also missed that chance from martial but whatever it happens.
When he came off I thought we would regret it but Herrera did well which is a big positive. He really is the type of player we have needed for a long time. Hope mourinho plays him against Juventus because we need his energy and finesse.
Agreed. I mean, a few misplaced passes granted, but he looked pretty decent and won the ball a lot of times and made interceptions inside the oppo half (something that rarely ever seems to happen with our players). He was getting absolutely slaughtered in the match day thread though.
I'm cautiously optimistic that he could turn out to be a very good buy for us, especially if we want to transition into a more aggressive, pressing team.
It's a bit difficult when you only play every few months. I guess we won't see him again until after Xmas now.
It's fecking annoying we don't see him in Europe, he has lots of experience in the CL, after all.
I still think Herrera can do the number 6 role and Fred and Pogba could be the two box to box players. For all our lethargy over the past few seasons (some of the lowest running stats in the league) it's easy to forget that we have a fair few players that have pace and energy- Fred, Herrera, Rashford, Pogba, Martial, Lingard etc.
68.8% pass completion, and it's not like he was particularly creative with it, either.
I like the guy and think he's got potential. But there's a lot he still has to work on.
I like the guy and think he's got potential. But there's a lot he still has to work on.
Why did Liverpool sign Keita for 75m or whatever?
I think he’s going to be a brilliant and important player for us by the end of the season. He’s just getting into it. He’s excellent technically but just needs to pull it all together. I think José is bedding him in perfectly.
I don't know what to make of him. At times he seems very skillfull showing interesting qualities. Other times you wonder how he's a 25 year old. Everything about him seems to be very raw and frantic.
I’ve not watched our game but have no idea what to think of Fred’s performance. Really has polarised opinions. You’re saying he was our best player, then I read from a journalist who gives him a 1/10 player rating.
Very confused! May have to just watch the match myself.
Basically, he won the ball quite a lot and played some good passes to create half-chances.
However, the reason he won the ball quite a lot is because he was pressing up quite high, leaving himself somewhat out of position defensively if they got past him. He also gave poor passes at other times which just turned over possession.
Anybody who is just focusing on either aspect (most of the media seem to be only talking about the latter) is missing half the story. Hence many comments are saying he is raw and inconsistent but is also providing some good stuff. If the team as a whole was set up to press like he does it should work well, but Matic doesn't really suit that. If we played both Fred and Herrera though (or even Pereira)...