I think he’s great and considering he’s done this in such a bad setup for years too…
Greenlizard0 PL & FA Cup SF Football Thread ** spoilers ** [20th - 25th April 2024]
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Soldato
Yeah I agree. Top player, whenever they comeback, rescue a draw or whatever its more often than not him in the centre of it all.
Soldato
Exactly my opinion if him too
Caporegime
It's not black and white with these types of players. There have been a lot of ********* over the years who are good players in terms of statistics, but they're not great for the dressing room and the image of the club.
It's not as simple as they'd be in a relegation battle without him either, as we have no idea who they'd have had in his place.
It's not as simple as they'd be in a relegation battle without him either, as we have no idea who they'd have had in his place.
Caporegime
Oh I don't think anyone has ever questioned Maguires attitude or commitment. Thank god he is so rarely injured as well. Perhaps because he accelerates like a tug boat
Hes one of those players that shouldn't be at United because of his ability as a footballer rather than for any other reason. Model professional but no top team that plays on the front foot has a defender like Maguire.
Yeah, he would be a good backup CB apart from the fact he is on "top 10 CBs in the world money".
We generally moan about him because you have so little chance of controlling games when he is playing. He can't help but play constantly risky passes. They create a lot of chances but the only way that works is when you are putting those chances away or not giving your opposition many chances. We aren't clinical and we are like a block of swiss cheese. Sometimes you just need to calm a game down and control it. The number of wild swings we have had this season is evidence that we can't do that.
Nah, the issue isn't his attitude even though that is very questionable at times. Its the effect he has on how we play. We would probably be OK with Mbappe in the team with Fernandes but with out current crop of players his positives are very much smoothed out by his negatives. He shouldn't be captain, he doesn't have the temperament but few of our players do.
Caporegime
It's funny how these 'can't control a game with him narratives' are never aimed at De Bruyne.
I think Bruno is actually underrated if anything, he's pretty consistent and very creative. KDB picked him out as the best midfielder in the league a while ago. He digs us out of holes regularly, although we shouldn't be in them to start with.
However... his attitude and manner is incredibly irritating, there's no way he's a suitable captain (although he does work hard, usually). I totally get why people dislike him.
In the right team I think he could have the numbers to rival KDB, but he does lack discipline so I'm not sure the likes of Pep would be keen on him.
However... his attitude and manner is incredibly irritating, there's no way he's a suitable captain (although he does work hard, usually). I totally get why people dislike him.
In the right team I think he could have the numbers to rival KDB, but he does lack discipline so I'm not sure the likes of Pep would be keen on him.
Soldato
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Under pep though he’d be surrounded by better players who actually care and have a plan. I don’t recall him moaning as much, if at all during his honey moon period where he was fantastic. He’s just frustrated this his team mates just don’t seem interested and over a few years it’s just dragged him down.
I suspect we will get more stories out in a few years about the players just delighted to be there on the money. Very similar to the QPR team that a few of the players have been speaking about recently.
A few of those players must be thinking how have I managed to pull this off.
Soldato
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This popped up on my feed…
Caporegime
I'm pretty sure that is nonsense unless you've got a source that ETH insisted Antony was worth 85m and forced the DoF above him to pay that. I'm pretty sure the article that the scouts part comes from (The Athletic I believe) states differently.
And complaining about a guy cupping an ear to a player that did the exact same thing to his teammate that missed a penalty is just silly. Both of them are childish yet weirdly the United player is the only one getting heat...
And complaining about a guy cupping an ear to a player that did the exact same thing to his teammate that missed a penalty is just silly. Both of them are childish yet weirdly the United player is the only one getting heat...
It's really not funny at all Shami. It's easy to see why nobody makes these shouts about KdB and City. What's funny is this comparison.
City are the best in the world at controlling possession. They average 66% of possession with half a dozen players with pass completion percentages of 90%+. They're coached and set up to not give the ball away. And for all the praise Pep gets for the way he sets his sides up with the ball, City are also probably the best around in preventing counter attacks too. So not that I accept the like for like comparison between Fernandes and KdB to begin with but it's easy to see how City are able to carry (for want of a better word) an additional attacking player in their side at the expense of another traditional midfielder.
Utd on the other hand average less than 50% possession, comfortably the worst of any 'big' club. They also don't appear to be particularly well coached whatsoever, highlighted by the fact that Utd are conceding 17.9 shots per game. For context that is the worst in the league! Yes, worse than Sheffield Utd and Luton! Utd quite clearly aren't able to carry an extra attacking creative player. Utd quite clearly the easiest side in the League to attack against.
Now unless you're suggesting all Utd need to do is buy the other 10 City players and hire Pep as coach then these "what about KdB" comments are pretty ridiculous.
Caporegime
So you admit it's nothing to do with Fernandes but the players around him that we can't control possession? Very long way of saying you agree with me.
Soldato
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weirdly it’s the player who cost £85m, plays for the biggest club in the country, playing in a semi final that they blew a 3-0 lead in against a side whose in mid table from the league below whose done next to nothing in 2 seasons is getting heat! It really is weird that.
Caporegime
What the hell has is price got to do with that
They're all humans, if they're giving out crap someone is going to snap and give it in return when they win. This is nothing to do with his actions, you just dislike Antony and are lashing out, do what he should have done and grow up.Ah Shami. You're so disingenuous with your posts it's getting silly lately.
Caporegime
Not at all. The classic line spouted on here is that Bruno cannot be in a side that controls possession (I'm aware Fez said less likely). You agreed he can but the rest of the team can't do it. What is unclear about that? Take Bruno out and replace him with De Bruyne and we're no more likely to control games so it's nothing to do with Bruno. If you're struggling with something you don't get rid of your best player, you get rid of the other elements that can't do it.
It's quite clear that Fez was referring to Utd and no, I didn't agree that Fernandes could be in a side that could control possession. I made no comment either way but did say I didn't accept the like for like comparison and have previously made it clear that I don't think Pep or Klopp would go near Fernandes.
Replying to a post about how Utd struggle to control games with Fernandes in the side with "what about KdB" is a nonsense. Utd are not City and Fernandes is not KdB. It is clear for everybody to see that Utd are the worst side in the League when it comes to preventing attacks on goal and it's clear that playing Fernandes as part of a midfield 3 (or ahead of a midfield 2) contributes to how open Utd are. So again, unless you're suggesting Utd should replace their other 10 players with 10 from City and employ Pep, what on earth was the purpose of your post beyond trying to deflect criticism of a Utd player?
Caporegime
So do you think if we dropped Fernandes and started say Casemiro, McT and Mainoo we'd start controlling games? You ask what on earth is the point in my posts but then you seem to be saying absolutely nothing Baz. There is nothing to suggest Bruno can't play in a side that controls the ball. We're just not doing that right now because we have very few players that can do it. Two of them have been out the entire season. Sorry I'm not joining the 'every player is **** and they should feel bad brigade' Not sure why you're annoyed at me taking the other side in a discussion.
Sorry, I thought what I was saying was clear but to clarify, I'm exposing what I believe to be disingenuous posts from yourself designed to distract from a valid point of criticism rather than engage in a proper debate.
But to answer your question, what controlling a game looks like is subjective but I'd say Utd would have more control and be less exposed to attacks with 3 proper midfielders in the side, yes. Pointing to being without 2 defenders as a cause for your midfield being more open than a hookers legs is a bit misleading.
And you don't have to say every player is **** and while you may criticise fans that say this, it could be argued that you make out things are far rosier than they actually are too. And this exchange highlights that.
Caporegime
That's not what happened and of course the United player will get the heat. He's got a much bigger profile and expectation on him. Wright only cupped his ear to the United fans, not the players, after they booed him before he took his pen.
You'd think a United player would rise above it, given what had just happened and the level of competition. The likes of Maguire etc could have easily reacted the same way, but they chose to show some class.