31 Dec 2025 15:26:44
So the last 2 games our xG has gone down, our shots on goal have gone down and almost all our statistics have gone down. What was the common factor? Bruno. I still can't believe people don't see the obvious and want to push him out.
Cunha yesterday found out the drawbacks of being a single creative force in the team. You are just marked out by the opposition and that's that. With Bruno missing in the midfield there is no one pulling the strings or picking out a pass to split the defence.
On to yesterday, i am very disappointed by the result. I see people questioning the formation etc. Who was on the bench to change that? A few kids? Not to mention this is almost the end of the festive fixture list and that's a hectic schedule and we have managed to stay in touch with CL spots. I think we are good to go in the second half. I would certainly welcome a couple of recruits though.
31 Dec 2025 16:14:37
Last night was what it was, difficult with so many players missing. 6 to 8 starters were missing, don't care what anybody says, any team struggles with that. In the end utd really should have lost and if banana brain was in goal utd would have lost. so a huge positive is lammens.
It's a lot better than last season that's not a question but we all know huge improvement is needed in the midfield and defence. But can't be fixed at once, needs another summer.
and on defence, anybody sick and tired of de licht being injured all the time. Cracking player but seems to be made of glass. needs to man up or find another club in summer. But i'd had taken 30 points on new year back in August, and a win at anfield. just frustrating that every time utd can really get into top 4 we play poorly and drop points. Think its going to be same til may. but chin up, happy new year and see if utd can win fa cup.
31 Dec 2025 16:34:17
At the moment we need Bruno's creativity but he's getting older so we also need to look beyond his time with the team. If he's irreplaceable then the club has no future. Plus we're also missing Mbuemo, Mount and Amad. You take all 4 of them out of the team at the same time and inevitably there's a big drop off.
31 Dec 2025 17:24:17
Thing is, New Name, Bruno probably has more assists than all those boys put together, apart from Mbuemo, more goals as well.
From centre midfield.
Nobody thinks he can go on forever, and he will need replaced eventually, but people are looking him out in January. When we still have a chance of getting into Europe. Where are we going to get someone then, who can do what he does?
And the same people hoping for that move will be the first to moan when we inevitably fall away and produce more performances like last night.
31 Dec 2025 20:30:04
Bruno is a big miss, as is Amad and Mbeumo. No team loses their three most creative players and doesn't see a drop in creativity.
31 Dec 2025 22:43:13
Agree but without a proper midfielder behind them doing the dirty work they have no platform to succeed.
01 Jan 2026 00:42:35
38% win rate for RA so far as United Manager. Thank god for all that creativity (sigh)
01 Jan 2026 01:47:04
Oh yip let's sell de ligt easily our best cb, cause he's missed 4 out of 17 epl games this season and 9 out of 38 last year. may as well sell Licha as well whilst we're at it cause he is actually allllwwwaaaayys injured.
01 Jan 2026 09:48:13
Noucamp. I don't see and wouldn't support Bruno leaving in January whether or not he's likely to be here next year - unless, in the unlikely event, we acquire at least two key personnel for the future to replace him. The stats don't lie, but they do perhaps mislead. Over a very lean period Bruno is and has been our most creative player but he doesn't provide much defensive quality and, IMO, he's not really the type of leader we need on the field.
It's quite likely we would have scored more if he hadn't gotten injured, but it's also quite possible we would have conceded more. If we're going to compete with Arsenal and City we're going to have to look beyond Bruno however long he remains with us.
01 Jan 2026 10:38:09
If Bruno was seen as so vital, why did the club buy two players to take his natural 10 position when we had Mount as well? He is neither a Central Midfielder or a Leader as Captain. Why buy Cunha when we could have spent that money on a CM and let Bruno create and score like so many on here tell us from a 10 position? Tells me the club think Cunha and MBueno are better in Bruno’s position.
Bruno is 31, 32 in September when the next season starts. He has a very good injury record but is now at an age where injuries are more likely to have an impact. In summer will his value fall again for a 32 year old? I suspect it will.
This hero worship is misguided. Yes he has been a good player but if we were not going to play him in his best position and are not doing even when MBueno went to the African cup, what is the clubs position on Bruno?
I firmly believe they should have taken the £100m in summer and bought a CM and another striker. We dithered as a club, yet again. Now, Bruno has value but we wail and sob because his stats were good, ignoring the great big open hole he causes in midfield or the lack of leadership as captain.
We have to face reality, time is moving on and the longer we keep Bruno the more chance of a defining injury and his value dropping. The club will do what it wants but to me they were not decisive last summer.
01 Jan 2026 19:01:09
Bruno out. Casemiro out.
Two proper midfielders that can run and pass and defend, IN.
Those stats are down because of all our creative players missing, not just Bruno. We have been run through in midfield this year in almost every game and we need better in there.
01 Jan 2026 22:23:41
Hes missed more than 4 this season never mind last season. i'd check your facts as its utter nonsense.
02 Jan 2026 06:46:47
Red man, I have no problem with him going in the summer as it should be planned properly that other midfielders come in. Other players were signed for his position, i'd hope, because they were planning for the future, for a life without him. But you were advocating for him to be sold in January, which is just plain bonkers.
Also, in your opinion, he is not a neutral leader/captain? What constitutes a proper captain in your eyes?
Because for me, I look at a guy leading from the front, the way he plays in games and in training. I also look at how he leads off the pitch, and I am yet to hear anything to the contrary about his behaviour off the pitch or how he conducts himself in and around the club. In fact, apparently he is a proper leader for everyone around there. I have heard nothing but great things. But for red man? Not a natural captain or leader. I look forward to hearing what is and how we should sell him in January and who will replace him ?.
02 Jan 2026 08:49:40
Angel
I have been lucky enough to have Leadership training, have passed relevant exams in it and held senior work positions, so like to think I understand it. Played multiple sports and seen leaders and non leaders in charge.
Waving arms around and moaning, sulking isn’t leadership. Maybe I am spoilt by Robson and Keane. Always said that in football the captain isn’t as important as in other sports, probably a marginal difference can be made but on the pitch I remember the strong captains. We have long debated on here about lack of leaders on the pitch and that has been all through Bruno’s period at the club as well. I don’t see his actions as being a strong leader.
Did we not already replace him as a 10 with Cunha and MBueno or was my explanation not clear?
Bruno is now a CM not a 10, so can we buy a better CM than Bruno? Yes or no?
He should have been sold last summer. The risk in a serious injury and loss of a £60M asset has to concern the club now. I don’t know what they will do in Jan but a strong board would have sold last summer.