30 Aug 2021 23:51:02
Yesterday was a poor performance from our midfield. It is the weakest part of our team. Bissouma in there would be some addition. Fred runs and presses but cannot play football

1.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 04:01:26
Fred is one of the most frustrating players we’ve had in my lifetime. He has an incredible engine in him, he’s committed and his positioning is usually solid. This should make him a top player, but his inability to make a basic pass effectively makes him useless as all the hard work he puts in is far too often undone by turning over possession and putting our defense at risk. At times he is a liability.

2.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 06:35:09
I don't think his positioning is solid.
It's average.

3.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 07:09:44
WHAT! Fred's positioning is terrible, it's one of his biggest flaws. He plays football like a mad dog chasing a carrier bag in the wind.

If any opposition player comes within 20 feet of him with the ball he runs at them and tries to win it, leaving a huge gap of space behind him.

Against Wolves this proved especially disastrous as he was playing along side Pogba who from a defensive point of view is always MIA in midfield. So Fred kept vacating the space in front of our defence, while Pogba was hardly ever there. Meaning every time Fred chased the ball we literally played with no one in midfield covering the defence.

His passing isn't quite as bad as everyone makes out, he just frequently attempts passes that aren't on or are overly ambitious.

While his poor touch often means he is chasing down his first touch and is then hurried into making a pass.

I actually think we play him in the wrong position. I think he is similar in some ways to Fellaini. Where he looks like home should be a deeper defensive midfielder, yet often played best in the No.10 role as a pressing player higher up the pitch. Where poor touches aren't as heavily punished as the ball isn't lost in front of the defence.

Fred doesn't have the passing range to hit accurate 40-50 yard passes, he attempts progressive passes a lot, and he likes to shoot (not that he's very good at it😔) .

As a destructive, hard working No.10 who can rob the opposition No.6 of the ball and start quick counters in the attacking third of the pitch.

Ultimately I think his technical abilities probably don't make him good enough for a top side in that role, much like Fellaini, but I do think that is his best role. In a double pivot he is just a liability.

4.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 07:52:46
His positioning is so bad i'm surprised he finds the pitch after leaving the dressing room.

5.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 08:03:23
He's right up there with Eric for me.

Eric Djemba Djemba.

6.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 08:05:16
A destructive No10? Now that’s a new position on me. I’d prefer a creative goals scoring No10 in my side!

Fred is not of the quality required I think we can all
Agree though.

7.) 31 Aug 2021
31 Aug 2021 08:32:48
Eric, it's not really a role you'd expect to see from a top side expecting to have the majority of possession and be able to dictate play.

But it is a good tactic that can be used by a team that is expected to be on the back foot for most of the game. Let the opposition have the ball, then use Fred to try and win the ball back off their No.6 and quickly counter.

Sir Alex used a similar tactic with Park or Welbeck playing that role against teams like Real Madrid on occasions.

Personally I'm not a fan of it, but can understand why some teams would use it.