If Guardiola was asked to put out an XI using the current United squad, I reckon the resulting 4-3-3 might well have Bruno as the central attacking player, with Pogba + 2 in midfield behind him. The only reason I wouldn't advocate using him as a false 9 is that the squad is so overstocked with forwards and understocked with midfielders.
His possible positive 'impact' will be far less negatively impactful then the poor shape, goalmouth 'toothlessness' and the absence of 'spine' in the team will be.
No proper goal scoring centre forwards only one EPL experienced or worthy CB and a weak goalkeeper does not a league winning team make.
United can field a range of midfield options that is as good as CFC and MCFC, and better by far than anyone else in this league. But that is where the strengths begin and end.
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 2 minutes ago
His possible positive 'impact' will be far less negatively impactful then the poor shape, goalmouth 'toothlessness' and the absence of 'spine' in the team will be.
No proper goal scoring centre forwards only one EPL experienced or worthy CB and a weak goalkeeper does not a league winning team make.
United can field a range of midfield options that is as good as CFC and MCFC, and better by far than anyone else in this league. But that is where the strengths begin and end.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back in mental town
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
The time to shift to 4-3-3 based on personnel was when LVG was in charge. Could have happened under Jose, could have happened when Ole took charge.
Having signed Bruno, in particular, but also considering other changes in personnel over the last few seasons (including the signings of Sancho, Maguire and AWB), it’d make less sense now than it would have at any other time since Moyes’s sacking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross. Do you really think having Pogba and Bruno makes it that unworkable? I'd be interested to know why you don't think it'd work. Would you be more in favour if the three would be McT, Fred and Pogba/Bruno?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No; it wouldn’t be unworkable. I just don’t think it’d get (nearly) the best out of Bruno. Nor would it be the best way to use Bruno and Pogba together. And there are other issues with the squad that’d become more obvious with a single holding midfielder.
Ole has used Bruno high up the pitch (although too high more often than too deep) and across the line for good and several reasons: not least to lead the press (and counterpress when it’s used) and the fact that he’s United’s best player around the edge of the box and with his back to goal from an attacking sense, as well as other benefits in terms of what it forces opposition sides to do.
If you ask me if I’d want one of Pogba and Bruno working from a deeper position, looking up at what’s in front of him and doing more legwork (in both directions), I’d choose Pogba 100 times out of 100. Then if you ask me if I trust Pogba to provide adequate defensive cover for a single holding midfielder (regardless of the quality or lack thereof currently at United) in that kind of role with Bruno given licence to work where he’s most valuable, I’m going to say nope, put Pogba in the pivot: make him aware that he has that defensive responsibility to shield, and start him from deeper.
It’s pretty clear that Bruno loves having all of the space between Rashford/Pogba and Sancho (most weeks I expect in the future) to work in. He’s back and forwards across the pitch looking for gaps between defenders, helping overloading, and looking for quick offloads and runners in behind all the time. He doesn’t actually really *need* help across there. What he does need is runners from midfield, whether that be Pogba or McT looking to get on the end of his deliveries, and the ball moving more quickly around him.
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
The time to shift to 4-3-3 based on personnel was when LVG was in charge. Could have happened under Jose, could have happened when Ole took charge.
Having signed Bruno, in particular, but also considering other changes in personnel over the last few seasons (including the signings of Sancho, Maguire and AWB), it’d make less sense now than it would have at any other time since Moyes’s sacking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross. Do you really think having Pogba and Bruno makes it that unworkable? I'd be interested to know why you don't think it'd work. Would you be more in favour if the three would be McT, Fred and Pogba/Bruno?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No; it wouldn’t be unworkable. I just don’t think it’d get (nearly) the best out of Bruno. Nor would it be the best way to use Bruno and Pogba together. And there are other issues with the squad that’d become more obvious with a single holding midfielder.
Ole has used Bruno high up the pitch (although too high more often than too deep) and across the line for good and several reasons: not least to lead the press (and counterpress when it’s used) and the fact that he’s United’s best player around the edge of the box and with his back to goal from an attacking sense, as well as other benefits in terms of what it forces opposition sides to do.
If you ask me if I’d want one of Pogba and Bruno working from a deeper position, looking up at what’s in front of him and doing more legwork (in both directions), I’d choose Pogba 100 times out of 100. Then if you ask me if I trust Pogba to provide adequate defensive cover for a single holding midfielder (regardless of the quality or lack thereof currently at United) in that kind of role with Bruno given licence to work where he’s most valuable, I’m going to say nope, put Pogba in the pivot: make him aware that he has that defensive responsibility to shield, and start him from deeper.
It’s pretty clear that Bruno loves having all of the space between Rashford/Pogba and Sancho (most weeks I expect in the future) to work in. He’s back and forwards across the pitch looking for gaps between defenders, helping overloading, and looking for quick offloads and runners in behind all the time. He doesn’t actually really *need* help across there. What he does need is runners from midfield, whether that be Pogba or McT looking to get on the end of his deliveries, and the ball moving more quickly around him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Ross.
So if we are to get Pogba and Bruno in the same team it'd depend on Pogba being a little more disciplined and doing a bit more donkey work in the two.
Reading that I wish I had IAmMe's opinion of the midfield!
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Ross
———
Why haven’t we been calling him this for years?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FFS!
That's what I'll be calling him from now on in though!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
for the pair of you
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 32 minutes ago
If Guardiola was asked to put out an XI using the current United squad, I reckon the resulting 4-3-3 might well have Bruno as the central attacking player, with Pogba + 2 in midfield behind him. The only reason I wouldn't advocate using him as a false 9 is that the squad is so overstocked with forwards and understocked with midfielders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah; I wouldn’t be at all surprised at that.
Diafol
I actually don’t think using Pogba (nominally) on the left side in certain games is a terrible idea either, particularly now Ole has Sancho to use on the opposite side.
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Ross
———
Why haven’t we been calling him this for years?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FFS!
That's what I'll be calling him from now on in though!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
for the pair of you
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm going to hear all future Ross-o comments narrated by the voice of David Schwimmer.
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 12 minutes ago
Diafol
I actually don’t think using Pogba (nominally) on the left side in certain games is a terrible idea either, particularly now Ole has Sancho to use on the opposite side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, not at all. It's getting the best out of this squad that Ole will be judged on. To be honest I don't really care who's on the pitch as long as they're doing the job.
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 9 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pogba isn't an AM for the purposes of this article!
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 16 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's more like two false tens and a false 9.
If you do the shirt numbers arithmetic:
8.5 + 9.5 + 9.5 = 27.5
10 + 8 + 9 = 27
...you get mathematical proof that Guardiola's system is only 0.5 SNU (shirt number unit) more attacking than playing a centre forward in front of a number 10 and a central midfielder. You can't argue with science.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 16 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's more like two false tens and a false 9.
If you do the shirt numbers arithmetic:
8.5 + 9.5 + 9.5 = 27.5
10 + 8 + 9 = 27
...you get mathematical proof that Guardiola's system is only 0.5 SNU (shirt number unit) more attacking than playing a centre forward in front of a number 10 and a central midfielder. You can't argue with science.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry. Is that you?
As I hit 'SEND' it occurred to me this is my most Barry moment ever.
In other news, apparently Lingard has rejected a contract extension. This facking club.
Wolves waltzed through our midfield.at.will a few weeks ago, and you think we are going to go 433 soon.
yeah right.
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
In other news, apparently Lingard has rejected a contract extension. This facking club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can only think he got offered one so he wouldn't go for free. Or maybe it's something to do with Ole's SNU.
I don't know who's Barry and who isn't anymore.
The Lingard contract makes no sense? Do we really think that extending his contract will allow us to get a fee if/when we sell him? The only chance we had of making money was this summer but it sounded like we were unwilling to go under £25m and Lingard didn’t even want to go to West Ham. I’m guessing Lingard will just see out his contract, hope he can get some sort of game time this season and then have his choice of clubs next summer and a tidy signing on fee.
The Lingard contract makes no sense?
———
Our contract management is crap.
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
Wolves waltzed through our midfield.at.will a few weeks ago, and you think we are going to go 433 soon.
yeah right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't this you from earlier...saying we play three in midfield?
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 21 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 24 minutes ago
He deserves a fair crack. He earnt that when he agreed to join us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He does deserve a fair crack and Ole obviously intends to give him one if he's kept him. However, he also has to force those chances in training and then take them when he plays. He did ok last season, but nothing more. That's not going to be enough to displace Bruno or Pogba.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He doesnt have to displace them. We play 3 in midfield.
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 9 minutes ago
Don’t feed the troll.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know I know but couldn't help pointing out his contradictory comments.
We do play 3 in midfield. That doesn’t make it a 4 3 3 Petal.
Sign in if you want to comment
Bruno's Output and 4-3-3
Page 2 of 3
posted on 7/9/21
If Guardiola was asked to put out an XI using the current United squad, I reckon the resulting 4-3-3 might well have Bruno as the central attacking player, with Pogba + 2 in midfield behind him. The only reason I wouldn't advocate using him as a false 9 is that the squad is so overstocked with forwards and understocked with midfielders.
posted on 7/9/21
His possible positive 'impact' will be far less negatively impactful then the poor shape, goalmouth 'toothlessness' and the absence of 'spine' in the team will be.
No proper goal scoring centre forwards only one EPL experienced or worthy CB and a weak goalkeeper does not a league winning team make.
United can field a range of midfield options that is as good as CFC and MCFC, and better by far than anyone else in this league. But that is where the strengths begin and end.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 2 minutes ago
His possible positive 'impact' will be far less negatively impactful then the poor shape, goalmouth 'toothlessness' and the absence of 'spine' in the team will be.
No proper goal scoring centre forwards only one EPL experienced or worthy CB and a weak goalkeeper does not a league winning team make.
United can field a range of midfield options that is as good as CFC and MCFC, and better by far than anyone else in this league. But that is where the strengths begin and end.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back in mental town
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
The time to shift to 4-3-3 based on personnel was when LVG was in charge. Could have happened under Jose, could have happened when Ole took charge.
Having signed Bruno, in particular, but also considering other changes in personnel over the last few seasons (including the signings of Sancho, Maguire and AWB), it’d make less sense now than it would have at any other time since Moyes’s sacking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross. Do you really think having Pogba and Bruno makes it that unworkable? I'd be interested to know why you don't think it'd work. Would you be more in favour if the three would be McT, Fred and Pogba/Bruno?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No; it wouldn’t be unworkable. I just don’t think it’d get (nearly) the best out of Bruno. Nor would it be the best way to use Bruno and Pogba together. And there are other issues with the squad that’d become more obvious with a single holding midfielder.
Ole has used Bruno high up the pitch (although too high more often than too deep) and across the line for good and several reasons: not least to lead the press (and counterpress when it’s used) and the fact that he’s United’s best player around the edge of the box and with his back to goal from an attacking sense, as well as other benefits in terms of what it forces opposition sides to do.
If you ask me if I’d want one of Pogba and Bruno working from a deeper position, looking up at what’s in front of him and doing more legwork (in both directions), I’d choose Pogba 100 times out of 100. Then if you ask me if I trust Pogba to provide adequate defensive cover for a single holding midfielder (regardless of the quality or lack thereof currently at United) in that kind of role with Bruno given licence to work where he’s most valuable, I’m going to say nope, put Pogba in the pivot: make him aware that he has that defensive responsibility to shield, and start him from deeper.
It’s pretty clear that Bruno loves having all of the space between Rashford/Pogba and Sancho (most weeks I expect in the future) to work in. He’s back and forwards across the pitch looking for gaps between defenders, helping overloading, and looking for quick offloads and runners in behind all the time. He doesn’t actually really *need* help across there. What he does need is runners from midfield, whether that be Pogba or McT looking to get on the end of his deliveries, and the ball moving more quickly around him.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
The time to shift to 4-3-3 based on personnel was when LVG was in charge. Could have happened under Jose, could have happened when Ole took charge.
Having signed Bruno, in particular, but also considering other changes in personnel over the last few seasons (including the signings of Sancho, Maguire and AWB), it’d make less sense now than it would have at any other time since Moyes’s sacking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross. Do you really think having Pogba and Bruno makes it that unworkable? I'd be interested to know why you don't think it'd work. Would you be more in favour if the three would be McT, Fred and Pogba/Bruno?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No; it wouldn’t be unworkable. I just don’t think it’d get (nearly) the best out of Bruno. Nor would it be the best way to use Bruno and Pogba together. And there are other issues with the squad that’d become more obvious with a single holding midfielder.
Ole has used Bruno high up the pitch (although too high more often than too deep) and across the line for good and several reasons: not least to lead the press (and counterpress when it’s used) and the fact that he’s United’s best player around the edge of the box and with his back to goal from an attacking sense, as well as other benefits in terms of what it forces opposition sides to do.
If you ask me if I’d want one of Pogba and Bruno working from a deeper position, looking up at what’s in front of him and doing more legwork (in both directions), I’d choose Pogba 100 times out of 100. Then if you ask me if I trust Pogba to provide adequate defensive cover for a single holding midfielder (regardless of the quality or lack thereof currently at United) in that kind of role with Bruno given licence to work where he’s most valuable, I’m going to say nope, put Pogba in the pivot: make him aware that he has that defensive responsibility to shield, and start him from deeper.
It’s pretty clear that Bruno loves having all of the space between Rashford/Pogba and Sancho (most weeks I expect in the future) to work in. He’s back and forwards across the pitch looking for gaps between defenders, helping overloading, and looking for quick offloads and runners in behind all the time. He doesn’t actually really *need* help across there. What he does need is runners from midfield, whether that be Pogba or McT looking to get on the end of his deliveries, and the ball moving more quickly around him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Ross.
So if we are to get Pogba and Bruno in the same team it'd depend on Pogba being a little more disciplined and doing a bit more donkey work in the two.
Reading that I wish I had IAmMe's opinion of the midfield!
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Ross
———
Why haven’t we been calling him this for years?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FFS!
That's what I'll be calling him from now on in though!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
for the pair of you
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 32 minutes ago
If Guardiola was asked to put out an XI using the current United squad, I reckon the resulting 4-3-3 might well have Bruno as the central attacking player, with Pogba + 2 in midfield behind him. The only reason I wouldn't advocate using him as a false 9 is that the squad is so overstocked with forwards and understocked with midfielders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah; I wouldn’t be at all surprised at that.
posted on 7/9/21
Diafol
I actually don’t think using Pogba (nominally) on the left side in certain games is a terrible idea either, particularly now Ole has Sancho to use on the opposite side.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago
Ross
———
Why haven’t we been calling him this for years?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FFS!
That's what I'll be calling him from now on in though!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
for the pair of you
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm going to hear all future Ross-o comments narrated by the voice of David Schwimmer.
posted on 7/9/21
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by rosso - time to #takefootballback (U17054)
posted 12 minutes ago
Diafol
I actually don’t think using Pogba (nominally) on the left side in certain games is a terrible idea either, particularly now Ole has Sancho to use on the opposite side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, not at all. It's getting the best out of this squad that Ole will be judged on. To be honest I don't really care who's on the pitch as long as they're doing the job.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 9 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pogba isn't an AM for the purposes of this article!
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 16 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's more like two false tens and a false 9.
If you do the shirt numbers arithmetic:
8.5 + 9.5 + 9.5 = 27.5
10 + 8 + 9 = 27
...you get mathematical proof that Guardiola's system is only 0.5 SNU (shirt number unit) more attacking than playing a centre forward in front of a number 10 and a central midfielder. You can't argue with science.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 16 minutes ago
Pep’s fooled a lot of people into thinking a three man midfield with essentially two number 10’s is normal, and easily replicable. Once he facks off we can stop having this tedious debate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's more like two false tens and a false 9.
If you do the shirt numbers arithmetic:
8.5 + 9.5 + 9.5 = 27.5
10 + 8 + 9 = 27
...you get mathematical proof that Guardiola's system is only 0.5 SNU (shirt number unit) more attacking than playing a centre forward in front of a number 10 and a central midfielder. You can't argue with science.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry. Is that you?
posted on 7/9/21
Ffs.
posted on 7/9/21
As I hit 'SEND' it occurred to me this is my most Barry moment ever.
posted on 7/9/21
In other news, apparently Lingard has rejected a contract extension. This facking club.
posted on 7/9/21
Wolves waltzed through our midfield.at.will a few weeks ago, and you think we are going to go 433 soon.
yeah right.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
In other news, apparently Lingard has rejected a contract extension. This facking club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can only think he got offered one so he wouldn't go for free. Or maybe it's something to do with Ole's SNU.
I don't know who's Barry and who isn't anymore.
posted on 7/9/21
The Lingard contract makes no sense? Do we really think that extending his contract will allow us to get a fee if/when we sell him? The only chance we had of making money was this summer but it sounded like we were unwilling to go under £25m and Lingard didn’t even want to go to West Ham. I’m guessing Lingard will just see out his contract, hope he can get some sort of game time this season and then have his choice of clubs next summer and a tidy signing on fee.
posted on 7/9/21
The Lingard contract makes no sense?
———
Our contract management is crap.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
Wolves waltzed through our midfield.at.will a few weeks ago, and you think we are going to go 433 soon.
yeah right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't this you from earlier...saying we play three in midfield?
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 21 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by The Mur Man (U22601)
posted 24 minutes ago
He deserves a fair crack. He earnt that when he agreed to join us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He does deserve a fair crack and Ole obviously intends to give him one if he's kept him. However, he also has to force those chances in training and then take them when he plays. He did ok last season, but nothing more. That's not going to be enough to displace Bruno or Pogba.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He doesnt have to displace them. We play 3 in midfield.
posted on 7/9/21
Don’t feed the troll.
posted on 7/9/21
comment by Jadon The King Sancho (U10026)
posted 9 minutes ago
Don’t feed the troll.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know I know but couldn't help pointing out his contradictory comments.
posted on 7/9/21
We do play 3 in midfield. That doesn’t make it a 4 3 3 Petal.
Page 2 of 3