There's been a lot of talk this last week about how Ronaldo fits in and how he'll affect the other players around him. We've heard the 'Yes, he'll score goals but to the detriment of the team as a whole' argument quite a few times.
I think, in some respects, the same thing could be said about Bruno. Yes, his stats from his No10 role are amazing (even considering the assists drop off towards the end of last season) but are we not just playing to his strengths there like people claim we would be doing with Ronaldo?
Perhaps changing it to 4-3-3 (which I think suits the squad we have better) would reduce Bruno's output slightly (although I think he'd get plenty of assists from that RM position) but would improve us as a team on the whole? That 4-3-3 IMO would allow us to rotate a bit more in midfield too with McT, Fred and Matic able to play the DM and pretty much all the midfielders able to play the more attacking wider midfielders if required.
I won't hold my breath but I'd like to see it tried.
Bruno's Output and 4-3-3
posted on 7/9/21
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 4 hours, 54 minutes ago
In other news, apparently Lingard has rejected a contract extension. This facking club.
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Fair enough, it's not like he's wanted. He should have gone to West Ham or whatever this summer, he's a good player, he needs to play.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 1 hour, 16 minutes ago
We do play 3 in midfield. That doesn’t make it a 4 3 3 Petal.
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What is the formation then? Who are the three in midfield?
posted on 7/9/21
5 3 2
4 2 3 1
4 5 1
posted on 8/9/21
Bruno was absolute dynamite tonight
posted on 8/9/21
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 1 minute ago
Bruno was absolute dynamite tonight
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That's true Ross
posted on 8/9/21
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 hours, 26 minutes ago
Bruno was absolute dynamite tonight
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What was the formation and what position did he play? Did the overall Portugal team dynamic look very different without Ronaldo? (Obviously, I'm in search of bias confirmation material with my second question.)
posted on 8/9/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 hours, 26 minutes ago
Bruno was absolute dynamite tonight
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What was the formation and what position did he play? Did the overall Portugal team dynamic look very different without Ronaldo? (Obviously, I'm in search of bias confirmation material with my second question.)
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I didn't see any of it, but if the BBC are to be believed, it was 4231
Rui Patrício
Cancelo Pepe Rúben Dias Guerreiro
Alves Palhinha Gonçalves João Moutinho
Bernardo Silva Bruno Fernandes Jota
André Silva
posted on 8/9/21
comment by The Post Nearly Manaldo (U1270)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 hours, 26 minutes ago
Bruno was absolute dynamite tonight
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What was the formation and what position did he play? Did the overall Portugal team dynamic look very different without Ronaldo? (Obviously, I'm in search of bias confirmation material with my second question.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't see any of it, but if the BBC are to be believed, it was 4231
Rui Patrício
Cancelo Pepe Rúben Dias Guerreiro
Alves Palhinha Gonçalves João Moutinho
Bernardo Silva Bruno Fernandes Jota
André Silva
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Yep, 4-2-3-1.
Bruno played a little deeper than he does for United, but Azerbaijan sat very deep and let Jota, Bruno and Bernardo play in front of them.
Bruno was left to dictate the play and spent a lot of time sat close to Bernardo in the inside right channel. They worked some good combinations, got in plenty and Bruno himself whipped some superb crosses in from slightly deeper areas.
The first goal came from a Bruno cross for Bernardo from the inside left channel (right in the De Bruyne zone) and the second from the opposite side. Jota picked up that assist as he scuffed his effort on the corner of the six yard box before smuggling the ball to Andre Silva, but it was one of those where the assist for the assist is the really valuable piece of work. Bruno put another one absolutely on a plate for Andre Silva which he somehow dragged wide, but he could have gone in at half time with three assists already.
Just a great game; he popped up everywhere, worked the ball really well, and used it decisively around the edge of the box. What you’d expect when he’s on song, basically.
One thing that made a real different was Moutinho’s play, and in particular his arrival in and around the box at the right time. Last night was a template for exactly what Pogba should be doing when he’s deployed in the pivot.
posted on 8/9/21
Thanks both to Post and to Mr Geller for the feedback