Our four midfielders are making it difficult to pick the best two for each game. Except to give him a rest Bruno is a must, what a great buy he's been.
Discussions about Pogba have been done to death. My own view is I would play him in games we are likely to be on top, and not when we are likely to be under the cosh. Many games can be both so I would often end up only playing him for a half.
The othier two, well McT is really impressing me, not just yesterday, he's fit enough to to do box to box, can defend and score. I like him.
Fred his nothing like I imagined he would be, I stupidly had in my head, Brazilian, languid ball skills. What he actually is a presence that doesn't go away. Against teams who press, have a lot of energy, he will match them.
I know we want him to be a good passer too, well he isn't, but he's still very useful.
So an area that was very poor is now very good.
Hurrah.
Midfield
posted on 21/12/20
The roles if likes of fred and James are always going to be underrated as they simply won't get the stats that people look to when judging a player.
Yet they are vital to teams and allow the skillful players to do their bit.
James and Fred are simply energy. They get back and forward where likes of martial and pogba don't, especially back.
I look.at spurs and see the likes of Kane and son get the plaudits but Hojberg is the one who does a lot of work
Watching fred yesterday he was such a nuisance for leeds. He is like a terrier. He just presses and harrasses players.
As someone said VDB has only been a bit part player so far so hard to judge but he was anonymous when he came on. Needs a run
posted on 21/12/20
While I hear what you’re saying about the work rate of players like Fred or James, there’s no reason why a player can’t offer that plus a lot more. Look at Park for us, he had a ridiculous engine but on top of that contributed loads in terms of scoring and assisting.
posted on 21/12/20
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 30 minutes ago
Just because we bought him for a tidy sum doesn't mean he walks into the team.
He hasn't done enough to drop someone else for him.
There's always injuries, loss of form, his chance will come, he needs to grab it.
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This
posted on 21/12/20
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 14 minutes ago
While I hear what you’re saying about the work rate of players like Fred or James, there’s no reason why a player can’t offer that plus a lot more. Look at Park for us, he had a ridiculous engine but on top of that contributed loads in terms of scoring and assisting.
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Don't disagree with you. I was more speaking in context of what we had. Of course we should and need to improve. However you need those niggly players to allow the ones with skill to perform.
We always had that to some degree under SAF. I think the reasons for ando being used as a less attacking player and even Carrick (who at Spurs got more forward) was to allow others to do the damage
Didn't SAF tell carrick.not to get beyond the half way line?
posted on 21/12/20
52
Sadly John Fitzpatrick has died today. He was an Old Trafford favourite apparently. And notably, Man United's first ever substitute!
He was a Utility player by all accounts. What did you remember of him 52?
RIP Fitz.
posted on 21/12/20
Central midfield is still a big problem in the team. We shouldn’t need to keep changing it based upon the opponents.
posted on 21/12/20
I do remember him, mainly as a right fullback. He was skinny, had fashionable long hair, and was liked. His tackling was let's say, enthusiastic, but in reality he was dirty. Went in low and took man and ball' I liked him.
I know he didn't have a long career because of injuries
I didn't know he had died, he will be fondly remembered by the Stretford end, just the type that was liked, wholehearted. I'm sorry.
posted on 21/12/20
while Im at it 52, I know you are keen on Burnley too.
I was watching this rare colour film of United Babes at Turf Moor in 1957. See link below.
https://vimeo.com/254322775
posted on 21/12/20
RB&W, I can't thank you enough for that. I wasn't at that game as the man who took me only went to OT. I started going to away games when I was old enough, about 1962. I've heard of SamHannah, I remember the Burnley goal scorerJimmy McIlroy. When I lived near Burnley he did the football reports for the Burnley Express, a quiet intelligent man, often seen around town. He lived in Worsthorne where all the players did.
Of course I remember all our team, and have written about them. Billy Whelan, real name Liam, was a favourite of mine because he could dribble.
It was good to see that, but very sad, poor young lads. Of course they felt nearer to the fans because they earned what we earned, lived in houses like us, some travelled by bus.
It's so different now, half the team are from different countries, cultures, plus I cannot imagine their lives.
posted on 21/12/20
Sam Hanna, sorry Sam, was still alive in 2015. He was called the Lowry of photography