Love Bruno with all my heart but he's still a prince at this juncture. A king lead teams to trophies. Trying his best though and fingers crossed he gets it done this season...
🗣 Bruno has revealed a desire to move into coaching after his playing days come to an end...#MUFC— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 27, 2021
The legend Bruno would love to have a chinwag with... Bruno Fernandes reveals Sir Alex Ferguson regret | Manchester United (manutd.com)
He's out of this world 🪐💫🥁 Introducing our 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿, presented by @adidasfootball, @B_Fernandes8 🏆#MUFC #MUFCPOTY— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 18, 2021
Still cleaning up. It simply had to be him 🤩🇵🇹@B_Fernandes8's stunning strike v Everton is our 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 ☄️#MUFC #MUFCPOTY— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 18, 2021
It's one game (vs lowly Israel) but Bruno was superb today, getting a brace and an assist also. Looked like he played in his United role (as the 10 supporting CRon), yet his performance today looked very clean/tidy and more efficient than what we saw from him at United (especially towards the end of the season). Again, just one game and we'll see if he can keeps this up in the tournament but it's interesting to note how Pogs first in France's last 2 gms and today Bruno, have looked great with their respective national teams. So ready for the tournament to start tbh: should be fun...
When Bruno doesn't feel the weight of being the main scoring/creating option for his team, his play gets tidier. He colours inside the lines a lot more. When he has to create everything you see him try a great deal more. He does something that is incredibly hard to do which is lower his standards for what he's willing to try when circumstances dictate but not live down there when it isn't needed.
He was just a lot more disciplined, which is something you don't see from him when playing for United. And I believe that comes from Santos, who is clear in what he demands of his players and they follow his instructions to the letter. Bruno does try to do way too much with United, running almost aimlessly all over the place (sometimes at the detriment of the team). And the reason he does it is clearly because Ole allows it, doesn't do enough to reign him in and remain focused on his primary task on the pitch. Was starting to get quite frustrating watching him, particularly towards the end of the season: the EL final vs Villareal, where he was super poor (and grew very frustrated), was a perfect representation of that fact.
I think we saw Bruno's pass completion percentage spike when Pogba was in the team because there was another creator and he was more assured the ball would get to him a bunch so he didn't have to make every touch be dangerous. I think several people noted it. I don't think this is down to instruction.
I didn't mention his passing percentage, specifically spoke about his lack of positional discipline, him wanting to be everywhere, running all over the pitch like a chicken with its head cut off, and therefore the issues that caused, particularly in terms of our offensive buildup and creativity. That created gaps in certain parts of the pitch, in support of Cav for instance, that others had to cover for (and wasn't always the case). Watching him today for Portugal, the difference was clear to see. And as far as I was concerned, it was the most efficient I had seen him play in quite some time.
There's also a big difference when you have outlets like Cancelo and Nuno Mendes at full backs compared to Wan Bissaka. Or DMs who can actually pass and get involved in plays
Same as with Pogba - these international teams typically don't have our issues. For example, Bruno with Portugal had options all around him vs with us; - lack of attacking balance from RWF / RB (compare B Silva & Cancelo) - functional central midfield eg a specialist DM alongside someone who can move & pass quickly (compare W Carvalho & Neves) He gets the ball quicker and more accurately without having to constantly come deep, then has options either side.
Depuis la reprise du football après le confinement le 19 juin de l'année dernière, Bruno Fernandes a joué 84 matchs en club et en sélection. Sur les 84, il en a débuté 72 et a été sur le terrain pendant 6 641 minutes. [@TimSpiers] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/vgWOM2g2XI— Manchester United (@MUnitedFR) June 26, 2021 "Since football restarted last year after lockdown on Jun 19th, Bruno has played 84 games between club and country. He started in 72 of them and has been on the field for 6641mins." That almost averages out to a game every 4.5 days. Is it any surprised that he looks cooked for all intents and purposes and his performance levels have been uneven at best as the season wore on? If there is one who could use some serious time off after the Euros, it's certainly him.
I've been saying since mid season that he's gassed and that Ole needs to start rotating him more. Instead, he barely played VdB and rode Bruno into the ground along with his form.
VDB is not a replacement for Bruno. The team would have to play a very different style of football to accomodate VDB as the 10. VDB is a good player, but not a great fit. I agree we should have rested Bruno but we don't have a replacement for him. At the very least we should have been using him as a sub more often or giving him 30 minutes off.
I don't think he is either. But it's clear Ole sees him as a 10 as evidence by his failure to ever play him as on 8. I still think VdB can do a job as a 10, especially if Pogba is in the side taking some of the creative load. VdB doesn't create a lot of chances on the ball like Bruno. He creates chances through off the ball movement.
VDB is currently incompatible with United. Maybe if/when we get Sancho. Because we play(ed) with shooters everywhere across the attack, a player who creates from the 10 HAS to do it on the ball. Rashford, Mase and Cavani are all shooters. Tony is the most pass-friendly attacker we have and he's an interplay, 1-2 type mover, not a persistent motion guy like Cavani. But anyway, with so many shooters who aren't looking for the pass, Donny's movement at 10 is wasted. I think he wasn't an Ole purchase. I think Ole said he wanted a CM/6 and that's who the board sanctioned.
I think he was a backup option when we found out the price on Grealish TBH. Who's backup option, I have no idea. Clearly not Oles.
Bruno Fernandes' #EURO2020 by numbers:205 minutes played6 chances created6 times dribbled past4 shots1 shot on target0/3 take-ons completed0 goals 0 assists pic.twitter.com/j0HE3E1d80— Squawka (@Squawka) June 27, 2021 Whether it's the stats or based on the eye test, Bruno's displays this tournament have just been funky. He needs to go home, (and by home mean Portugal or one of the beautiful islands nearby) kick back with his family so he can recharge his batteries...
He was good today... and he seemed to be in the mood compared to the last couple games. He hit an incredible cross field ball at one point.
Bruno is a center piece. He hasn't been played as a proper 10. Portugal has catered to Jota and Bernardo Silva who've contributed next to nothing in order to sideline Bruno who probably still has created more chances than any other Portuguese player despite being sidelined. Don’t say anything, just retweet pic.twitter.com/x51VCsQizG— 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴🏴 (@SznTenHag) June 27, 2021
Bruno Fernandes is in his third season at @manutd and still hasn’t lost an away game in the league.— Sam Homewood (@SamHomewood) August 29, 2021