01 Mar 2021 23:44:06
On thing that really stick out for me against chelsea is the amount of times Fred is in the ball using our current tactics.

Now this is a good and bad thing - clearly his work rate and positioning gets him in the right place at the right time more often than not. Sadly his distribution and passing is a disgrace for a professional footballer so launching any meaningful attack is challenging. Now if we had a Carrick type passer with the engine of Fred we'd be onto a winner!

1.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 07:07:47
Agree Eric, his ability on the ball is quite poor from a player of United's standard.

He is also not a goal threat. There are times he gets the ball near the edge of the penalty box, but his shooting let's it down.
Imagine Ruben Neves receiving the ball in such areas, he would smash it into one of the top corners.

2.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 07:18:30
Sorry Eric but I'm going to disagree with you here.

On this site we talk about changing our minds and Fred has changed mine. I was dead set against him in a Utd shirt but he has improved immensely and is now playing some excellent forward passes in every game. Of course there is the odd loose one but Pogba is probably more guilty and he gets lorded for his passing.

Against Chelsea Fred was fairly anonymous but so was the whole team. For the few matches before that I thought he really stood out.

He has obviously been working hard in training which is no surprise given his commitment on the pitch.

I still think Utd need a quality addition in the centre of midfield but I'm OK with Fred being one of the pool of rotating players.

Good on him. I hope he continues to improve.

3.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 08:15:12
I like how this site can evolve around an episode of MOTD and pundit opinion. Shearer lavishes praise on Fred, Carragher says we need a CF more than anything. The next day Fred is the best thing since Toblerone and we need a CF more than anything.

4.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 09:52:10
Not really spenno. I didn't know Shearer had praised Fred but I am able to form my own opinion based on what I see.

5.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 11:00:49
If we had a Grealish or a Maddison in the team I fdont think Fred would make the team unless there was someone injured . We need someone to carry the ball to the forward wares and he is not the one.

6.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 12:05:07
So you would play grealish or Maddison as holding midfielder?

Jeez.

7.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 13:02:27
Fred is a player who divides opinion, I even have a divided opinion of him. He took a while to adjust when he joined the club, which often makes a player less "liked" or valued by the majority of fans who want everything immediately.

In some aspects he is excellent, his harrying, work rate and ability to win back possession in midfield is excellent. The issue is what he does with it when he wins it back. As likely to give the ball straight back as he is to play a good pass.

I think he is much improved, and an excellent squad player. But the reality is we will never compete at the highest level with a player in midfield who gives the ball away as much as he does.

8.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 14:06:40
That’s exactly the point I’m making Shappy et al. When he plays he’s quite a central figure in how we go about a match. Sadly that’s a good and bad thing. He’s great at breaking up play, getting on the ball, and brings such energy to the team. Sadly once he gets the ball he does nothing with it.

9.) 02 Mar 2021
02 Mar 2021 15:23:28
But Eric, that's something he has massively improved. I think you can see he has been working with Carrick because recently he has been making some excellent defence splitting passes.

Maybe he can keep improving?

On the point of giving the ball away; I don't have the stats but I bet Pogba and Bruno give the ball away more.

Shappy, I agree Utd won't win much with him as first choice but I think he has a lot to offer as a squad player and I don't mean just getting 5 or 6 games a season.

Grealish and Maddison as holding midfielders is an interesting concept. It would certainly make for an attacking line up. Kev Keegan would love it!