Why did we buy Fred?

He has improved, but he still makes me nervous. We were punished against Wolves when he lost possession and almost again yesterday when the West Ham defender hit the post after dispossessing him.

There are promising signs, but he needs to get better at retaining the ball under pressure, which McTominay is so good at doing.
 
We replace McTomminay with Mata.

But its Fred's fault our midfield looks more open. :rolleyes:
 
RedRoach said:
He has improved, but he still makes me nervous. We were punished against Wolves when he lost possession and almost again yesterday when the West Ham defender hit the post after dispossessing him.

There are promising signs, but he needs to get better at retaining the ball under pressure, which McTominay is so good at doing.
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It was a rubbish throw that put him under pressure. We know he’s not physically big or strong so we shouldn’t put him into those duels.
 
RedRoach said:
He has improved, but he still makes me nervous. We were punished against Wolves when he lost possession and almost again yesterday when the West Ham defender hit the post after dispossessing him.

There are promising signs, but he needs to get better at retaining the ball under pressure, which McTominay is so good at doing.
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He'll get used to the intensity of the PL as he gets more minutes. I mean, he was playing against a Portuguese midfeld, so it's not like the English game is an alien concept to the rest of the world. It just takes a bit of getting used to.
 
Fred has been one of our better performers in literally the last 5 games he has played. Think it was always evident that he wasn't going to prove anything until he got a steady run in the team, which he is now showing.
 
Thiagoal said:
I'm really not seeing what others are on here regarding Fred! Yes he has looked better but our midfield was so open today and lacked any semblance of control I don't see how anyone can think he played well! I can see him playing well with two cm's behind him but he'll never be our number 6 in my opinion
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He's not capable of doing the defensive work by himself in a midfield two if Pogba goes for a walk
 
Thiagoal said:
I'm really not seeing what others are on here regarding Fred! Yes he has looked better but our midfield was so open today and lacked any semblance of control I don't see how anyone can think he played well! I can see him playing well with two cm's behind him but he'll never be our number 6 in my opinion
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I just think you have to expect this sort of midfield performance when Pogba is part of a two man midfield. He's constantly out of position and further up the field and he does not bust a gut to get back either. The only one who would do well in this sort of situation is Roy Keane, and that's because he'd threaten Pogba with physical violence if he's not doing his job.
 
Still not sure he can really excel in the PL. Seems to lack a yard of pace and not quite strong enough. Technically he's good enough though but maybe best as a squad player. Hope he proves me wrong. Played better than Matic, Herrera, Lingard and Mata anyway.
 
Thiagoal said:
I'm really not seeing what others are on here regarding Fred! Yes he has looked better but our midfield was so open today and lacked any semblance of control I don't see how anyone can think he played well! I can see him playing well with two cm's behind him but he'll never be our number 6 in my opinion
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You have to look at the situation he's put in. Last game he essentially played alone in midfield. This is not an attack on pogba because he's supposed to move further up and be the creative offensive player but because we played a 2 man midfield Fred was essentially left alone to do all the work and managed to get my MOTM. Think he did excellent vs West Ham considering the circumstances.
 
He can be a decent player, I feel after a bad start and some very nervous performances he’s starting to get the confidence needed to put a run of games together.

It’s an old clique but I really do feel if Fred could get a solid pre season with plenty of play time he will be an important player next season.
 
He's got an eye for a pass similar to Carrick when he threads one in to feet straight to the forwards, it's nice to see.

He was rightfully criticised early on in the season but he played well against PSG and Barça and now yesterday he was our best player IMO so there's something there to work with.
 
Thiagoal said:
I'm really not seeing what others are on here regarding Fred! Yes he has looked better but our midfield was so open today and lacked any semblance of control I don't see how anyone can think he played well! I can see him playing well with two cm's behind him but he'll never be our number 6 in my opinion
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I agree mate, I thought he was the worst midfielder on the pitch yesterday.
 
matherto said:
He's got an eye for a pass similar to Carrick when he threads one in to feet straight to the forwards, it's nice to see.

He was rightfully criticised early on in the season but he played well against PSG and Barça and now yesterday he was our best player IMO so there's something there to work with.
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Those positive threaded passes from midfield under pressure have been a welcome addition. Some of the other midfielders would send it back when there's a hint of pressure around
 
RedRoach said:
He has improved, but he still makes me nervous. We were punished against Wolves when he lost possession and almost again yesterday when the West Ham defender hit the post after dispossessing him.

There are promising signs, but he needs to get better at retaining the ball under pressure, which McTominay is so good at doing.
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Fair enough v Wolves but that was a terrible throw yesterday. He was barely an option in the first place and then the throw bounced in front of him.
 
Adam-Utd said:
It was a rubbish throw that put him under pressure. We know he’s not physically big or strong so we shouldn’t put him into those duels.
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It has nothing to do with strength or how physically big he is. It’s because of his poor control. His first touch for a central midfielder is really poor.
 
Just needs to play more. Sprays the ball better than everyone we got left and right apart from Pogba. He’s quicker than Herrera and Matic.
He’s not in the holding role to be a defensive midfielder but more to start our attacks and keep the ball ticking over left to right.

He’s a bit lightweight which is a bit of a problem but more games and he’ll improve a lot more
 
Better option than Herrera or Matic. Moves a ball quicker and he is quicker than those two. I like what i see now
 
We weren't open against West Ham because of Fred, or even Pogba, both players did a good defensive job in the middle of the pitch.

Our defensive weakness was out wide, particularly our full backs. We let West Ham get into great crossing positions time and time again. Their goal came from a cross, their disallowed goal came from a cross, the chance that forced De Gea's wonder save came from a cross. Don't see how anyone can have watched that game and think it was our central midfielders that were the problem.
 
settembrini said:
We weren't open against West Ham because of Fred, or even Pogba, both players did a good defensive job in the middle of the pitch.

Our defensive weakness was out wide, particularly our full backs. We let West Ham get into great crossing positions time and time again. Their goal came from a cross, their disallowed goal came from a cross, the chance that forced De Gea's wonder save came from a cross. Don't see how anyone can have watched that game and think it was our central midfielders that were the problem.
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I don't know if it was "because of them", but a 3rd CM like Scott would have given us more defensive cover even on the flanks because he's disciplined about getting back and giving FBs cover rather than allowing them to get covered up. That said, I'm assuming Ole took the gamble that we could dominate possession at home against West Ham and that wouldn't be such an issue, but our sloppiness yesterday nearly proved very costly.
 
Ole was a bit careless with his changes. Seriously why rest Scott (especially with Herrera and Matic missing , a young player against a very physical west ham because of Barcelona, a game we’re very unlikely to win anyway.

Our priority should be top 4 and losing against west ham would have been a disaster especially with city and Chelsea coming up.
 
Has been a lot better recently. Signing seems similar to Mkhitaryan. Seems to be the mental part and consistency, but he can still turn it around. You can do it Fred!
 
AR87 said:
I don't know if it was "because of them", but a 3rd CM like Scott would have given us more defensive cover even on the flanks because he's disciplined about getting back and giving FBs cover rather than allowing them to get covered up. That said, I'm assuming Ole took the gamble that we could dominate possession at home against West Ham and that wouldn't be such an issue, but our sloppiness yesterday nearly proved very costly.
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Fair points. I would prefer United play with 3 CMs anyway as long as 2 of them are given freedom to attack like how we played against Barcelona.
 
McTominay and Fred compliment each other pretty well. Although I think McTominay could play with anyone whereas Fred needs someone specific. He has improve a bit in his last couple of appearances but not as much as some are making out. He still isn’t good enough to be a starter for a epl/cal winning team.
 
OGS got it wrong yesterday. McT was needed as a 3rd true midfielder. Fred and Pogba were the best United outfield players on the pitch.
 
abdo99 said:


Some encouraging words from the manager.
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Ole always says the right things about the players. You can see why they love him.

We as football fans need to be more patient with players. Not everyone hits the ground running. I think midfielders find it especially hard to come to terms with the PL. I like Fred. His skillset is quite unique when it comes to our other midfield options and I hope he can kick on next season
 
SNes said:
Who was he better than? West Ham's three midfielders dominated our midfield.
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Well Pogba was crap aside from the goals and Mata was even worse (his legs completely gone). West Ham's center midfield were better but the only one better than Fred individually was Declan Rice
 
Red_Beans said:
Ole always says the right things about the players. You can see why they love him.

We as football fans need to be more patient with players. Not everyone hits the ground running. I think midfielders find it especially hard to come to terms with the PL. I like Fred. His skillset is quite unique when it comes to our other midfield options and I hope he can kick on next season
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Says good things about Young as well.......Fred is handing out a gift a game it seems.....he'd have to be playing world class to justify that if he doesn't sort that out. I'm not convinced at all.
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
”Dominated with 42% possession, now there’s some hyperbole.

Personally thought Fred & Pogba we two of very fee United players to do well yesterday. I don’t personally see that any of our major problems lie in midfield.
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Really, our midfield has zero control of games. Nothing new there. We have major holes to fix first but our midfield is as average as our attack.
 
Still not sold on him. I want to love him but he terrifies me every time he receives the ball in our own half. You can’t play in his position and be so loose in possession, it’s cost us goals on more than one occasion this season and will continue to do so.
 
El Zoido said:
Still not sold on him. I want to love him but he terrifies me every time he receives the ball in our own half. You can’t play in his position and be so loose in possession, it’s cost us goals on more than one occasion this season and will continue to do so.
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I agree to an extent I think the core qualities of him he has shhowed last few games proves there’s a good player there, he needs to sharpen up a fair bit relieving the ball and moving it on, I think that will come with more match sharpness playing more games. I’d like him to play every week now in Matic place
 
Him and pogba know each other very well. In attack and possession they seem to know where each other is around ever corner.

Play them two with mata you’re going to have a west ham team run right through you.

Play them two with mctominay and you nullify a Barcelona midfield.

It’s absurd to blame any individual for overall tactics
 
LJJT said:
I agree to an extent I think the core qualities of him he has shhowed last few games proves there’s a good player there, he needs to sharpen up a fair bit relieving the ball and moving it on, I think that will come with more match sharpness playing more games. I’d like him to play every week now in Matic place
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It is worth persisting through these errors because he adds so much more dynamism and speed to our build up. Obviously he needs to iron out his errors, but we also need to just give him a run in the team to allow him to do so. There's no upside to playing Matic over him short-term or for the future.
 
I can't believe we've bought a midfielder in Fred that can't consistently string a pass together, that was our biggest problem last year and we've just added to it in buying him. I remember watching highlights of him playing for Shakhtar and thinking his overall gameplay consistency wasn't anywhere near up to standard. Our scouts are absolutely clueless.
 
He’s crap but at least he’s trying, which is more than you could say for other players.
 
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