13 Jun 2021 22:36:32
I wonder what we are doing wrong with Fred? He is clearly talented unless we would have not paid £52 million for him, City were sniffing as well. He is currently playing for a talented Brazil team. It must be United and our coaches then?

1.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 07:40:42
Hes been playing well a lot of the time for United to tbf. To me he would be a good squad asset, used at certain times.

2.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 08:48:25
How are we doing something wrong with Fred?

Surely he has been selected for the talented Brazil team based on his performances for United?

We overpaid for him, like we overpay for pretty much every player we sign.

He has ability, the question is does he have enough ability to be first choice for a team challenging for titles?

You could argue that City decided not to pursue their initial interest because they decided he didn't.

Fred is a good player, but not a great one. Could be a solid squad player, but is a little too limited to be first choice if you are building a team to challenge for the league and UCL.

3.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 10:20:11
For me it is simply square peg round holes. Fred is a good player and can add so much to a team even with some obvious weeknesses but as you say if he can get into the Brazil team he can't be as bad as some make out.
Our central midfield is made up of Pogba/ Fernandes/ McTominy/ Fred/ Van de Beek. All of these have there positives and minuses but we have yet to find the right balance that allows for all to play to there strengths and offset the weaknesses.
Fred is not a holding midfielder but is often asked to play there, McTominy is the same. Both add power and pace to a midfield but are constrained by the holding that OGS is asking them to do. Pogba needs to be pushed forward alongside Fernandes to flourish however we ask him to sit next to Fred/ McTominy but as neither are true HM's it does not allow him to flourish as he appears to for France.
VanDeBeek I can only hope comes through this year as he is a real talent that we are with waisting (scadalous) or ruining (even worse) . Again though, for me he needs to play the box to box role that I think also suits Fred/ McTominy.
In essence I think we have a lot of bodies not being played in the correct way, if we can bring in a true HM this will hopefully change even if it does mean that one will likely leave to make way.

4.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 10:38:27
Fred was so poor when he joined that his improvements over the last two years seem huge. But he's still an average player.

His work ethic is fantastic and he's great at breaking up play, but that's all for nothing if you simply can not pass a ball. For a midfielder in the premier league he doesn't have the attributes I would like to see in a DM. He's clumsy on the ball, takes 3 or 4 touches before he gets it under control.

The fact that we need defensive midfielders says it all really. Though I do see McTominay playing slightly further forward in the future.

Fine to have in the squad and play some games when you need that work rate and extra protection. But we really need to move away from the McFred partnership if we want to challenge for the league.

5.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 11:11:40
We keep talking about him getting into the Brazil team. Personally, I look at that team, and think it's a very, very average side. Maybe just in comparison to previous Brazil teams.

6.) 14 Jun 2021
14 Jun 2021 18:12:27
For a Brazilian footballer Fred is shocking on the ball. However as said above he has a great engine and can be a very good squad player. Certainly shouldn't be a first team starter if we want to win leagues or CL's.