Fred???

comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Fred has been good this season, and formed a very good partnership with McTominay, which was one of the positives we could cling to in the first half of the season before the arrival of Bruno.

His problem - and McT's - is that they work pretty well as two energetic box-to-box midfielders but don't have that specialist anchor role characteristics that make either of them the idea partner to Pogba in the favoured formation.

I wouldn't make any judgements based on the odd run out in a weakened team after four to five months. without football
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Problem, or benefit?

Matic will start the season as Pogba’s partner. We’ll need to replace him somehow, at some point.

But in the meantime, we have two players sat on the bench that offer different kinds of talents to both Pogba and Matic, which has value in itself.

It’s also worth noting that in Ole’s system, despite their different talents, *most of the time* Pogba and Matic are playing one and the same role.
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When pogba is our for a month, it’s a problem. When Matic inevitably reverts to type, it’s a problem.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 41 minutes ago
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Fred has been good this season, and formed a very good partnership with McTominay, which was one of the positives we could cling to in the first half of the season before the arrival of Bruno.

His problem - and McT's - is that they work pretty well as two energetic box-to-box midfielders but don't have that specialist anchor role characteristics that make either of them the idea partner to Pogba in the favoured formation.

I wouldn't make any judgements based on the odd run out in a weakened team after four to five months. without football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem, or benefit?

Matic will start the season as Pogba’s partner. We’ll need to replace him somehow, at some point.

But in the meantime, we have two players sat on the bench that offer different kinds of talents to both Pogba and Matic, which has value in itself.

It’s also worth noting that in Ole’s system, despite their different talents, *most of the time* Pogba and Matic are playing one and the same role.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When pogba is our for a month, it’s a problem. When Matic inevitably reverts to type, it’s a problem.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The pair are better backup than you’ll find at most top half PL sides.

Part of the issue is that the two six roles are absolutely key positions - I’d argue the two most important - in Ole’s system. Both players have to have exceptionally wide skill sets, even for central midfielders.

Fred and McT *do* both have wide skill sets. The questions are: are they proficient enough across the requisite set of aptitudes, and if not, which players might we look at to replace them.

tbh when I vreated this article it was not to push an agenda for him to be sold.My views and that of others on Fred are well documented.

what I really wanted to discuss is if anyone else thought scholes was on to something about fred being on his way out. Before scholes comment i would have said the likelihood of fred being sold was zero for a number of reasons but now i am not so certain

comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 4 hours, 50 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Fred has been good this season, and formed a very good partnership with McTominay, which was one of the positives we could cling to in the first half of the season before the arrival of Bruno.

His problem - and McT's - is that they work pretty well as two energetic box-to-box midfielders but don't have that specialist anchor role characteristics that make either of them the idea partner to Pogba in the favoured formation.

I wouldn't make any judgements based on the odd run out in a weakened team after four to five months. without football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem, or benefit?

Matic will start the season as Pogba’s partner. We’ll need to replace him somehow, at some point.

But in the meantime, we have two players sat on the bench that offer different kinds of talents to both Pogba and Matic, which has value in itself.

It’s also worth noting that in Ole’s system, despite their different talents, *most of the time* Pogba and Matic are playing one and the same role.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I see it as Fred's problem more than United's. But I do think McT and Fred complement each other more than they complement Pogba, so it's a bit of a conundrum as long as Pogba is first choice when fit.

Rosso, if you felt like writing an article to expand on this statement:

'Part of the issue is that the two six roles are absolutely key positions - I’d argue the two most important - in Ole’s system. Both players have to have exceptionally wide skill sets, even for central midfielders.'

...I'll fail to say anything intelligent in response, but I'd be fascinated to read it. Why is that the critical role? What is the skill set required? Which of those skills do our current midfielders possess and lack?

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 11 minutes ago
Rosso, if you felt like writing an article to expand on this statement:

'Part of the issue is that the two six roles are absolutely key positions - I’d argue the two most important - in Ole’s system. Both players have to have exceptionally wide skill sets, even for central midfielders.'

...I'll fail to say anything intelligent in response, but I'd be fascinated to read it. Why is that the critical role? What is the skill set required? Which of those skills do our current midfielders possess and lack?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will write an article on it at some point, RR

The conundrum I see with Fred is that his form seems to improve exponentially with a longer run in the side. He's less suited to a cameo appearance here and there. He should be starting all cup matches and some league as well to keep him sharp. Before we signed Bruno and Pogs returned - Fred was our in form player (IMO).

comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 5 hours, 2 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 11 minutes ago
Rosso, if you felt like writing an article to expand on this statement:

'Part of the issue is that the two six roles are absolutely key positions - I’d argue the two most important - in Ole’s system. Both players have to have exceptionally wide skill sets, even for central midfielders.'

...I'll fail to say anything intelligent in response, but I'd be fascinated to read it. Why is that the critical role? What is the skill set required? Which of those skills do our current midfielders possess and lack?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will write an article on it at some point, RR
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just saw this. Lookslike myself and rosso share the same opinion on the 2 central midfielders. Funny enough I created but deleted an article on this same issue before posting it

while I could write it again, Like RR i am looking forward to hearing someone else's pov rosso

Act OP I have always liked Rojo. Get a thug on the opposition, and point him out to Rojo, job done.

I really wouldn't listen to what Scholes has to say. He was an amazing player for us but he's a bang average pundit and actually seems like a bit of a douche. His son also looks and seems to act (on social media) like a right nob head.