Fred is the better and more effective of the two but there's a clear need of upgrading on both.
McFred is the worst midfield 2 of the PL’s top 10 teams
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Fred is fecking rubbish.
I like Mctominay generally but he's been even worse than Fred recently.
I like Mctominay generally but he's been even worse than Fred recently.
I like them both, decent players but both of them starting for us makes our midfield not good enough. McTominay-Fred isn't a midfield good enough if we wan't to make next step forward and fight for title.
So Luiz would get in our team then yeah? Ridiculous thread.
This thread is embarrassing. See how everyone quiets down about the midfield once the forwards make all their pressure and possession count and actually score? The problem isn’t that we concde the odd goal or that the midfield lack in the buildup. It’s that we have loads of the ball and muster up relatively little threat on goal between our attackers. Of course we are going to be susceptible on the counter when we spend 2/3 of the game aimlessly attacking and half heartedly pressing.
It’s laughable, same with the AWB thread, so incredibly over the top, but hey, Jacob Ramsey has just come on in CM, presumably he’s better than our midfield too
Criticism of Fred and McTominay as a midfield pairing for Manchester United is perfectly reasonable, rational and justified. Most of it is supported by evidence, too.
I’m sorry but you guys are mostly just followers. Especially posters who seem to think the midfield is poor but then at the same time will tell you with a straight face that McT is a way better player than Fred. The same people were calling for Pogba or someone “more technical” in there all season. Have you seen the central midfields of the teams around us apart from city? This thread is terrible and you are fools for keeping it going. The reason we aren’t winning anything major this year is because we aren’t nearly creative or consistent enough amongst the forward 3 and without Cavani we’ve lacked any focal point in the box for long periods.
You seem to think the front 3 should be the only catalyst for chances. The main criticism of McFred is their lack of creativity from midfield
There are multiple areas of the team that needs to improve, the McTominay-Fred pairing included. The midfield is not poor; both players are good, but it isn’t good enough and we need a midfielder or two who can offer more with the ball from deep. All reasonable, all right.
I’m a fan of both players but agree with your points here. This thread is way over the top however, worst midfield of the top 10 is ludicrous.
this thread is a joke
Hmmm. No
Because you dislike it when posters with more than a couple of brain cells tell it how it is? Grow a set.
Calm down pal. It's a forum meant for discussion. McFred partnership is a big talking point. Not sure why you are so offended by it.
Fred is just better and more effective as a midfielder. McTominay only offers more in his physical attribute. McTominay scores more goals but I don't judge midfielder in term of goals unless if you are attacking mid. To me, having Fred in XI for next season is something we can afford but McTominay probably something I would like to see for an upgrade in our regular XI and also nothing wrong to sign a new midfield as we don't have enough depth if McFred get injured.
Certainly not the worst in top 10 by a stretch OP. Both need upgrading though. If we want the bigger prizes and not just top 4, then we need to splash the cash. I would argue that Jimmy Garner will be a far better player than both of them. Maybe bring him back for next season? Has done really well at Forrest.
Grow a set? Grow a brain and think for yourself. Remember you’re posting in a thread saying they are the worst midfield pairing in the top 10 with absolutely nothing to back it up. On the contrary we are second and the midfield have been fine. Could they still be better? Probably a little bit. If we want to go up another level the forwards need to sort themselves out first and foremost. If you think a controlling midfielder would boost out attackers performances by as many goals and and assists we need to step up then you’re crazy. Look at the attacking numbers of players on other successful teams and get back to me.
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It is a talking point I agree, but it’s an extreme (and over the top imo) view to say they’re the worst midfield of the top 10 teams. It’s also frustrating that this thread is bumped as soon as we go behind.
Yet another win with them both playing, Both played very well second half, people bumping this thread at half time are an embarrassment, it’s almost like a game is 90 minutes long not 45.
Fred did his Fred thing today, a bit all over the place in many regards. McTominay looked totally off it though to me.
As a pairing it isn’t great. It offers little protection to the back four and neither are great individually.
We could definitely upgrade in the summer with 1 quality midfielder doing the job both of them are supposed to do. McT to be honest is all over the place when we don’t have the ball.
We could definitely upgrade in the summer with 1 quality midfielder doing the job both of them are supposed to do. McT to be honest is all over the place when we don’t have the ball.
Thought they played well today. Strange time to criticise them
Fred's creativity is on par or better than most players in his position. People seem to significantly over-estimate how much players in that position actually do in other teams.
As a pairing they are below what we should want though, but that's more on McTominay. We actually saw in the second half when he stepped it up the difference it makes when we have two midfielders taking control instead of relying on Fred to do it all by himself like we normally have. McTominay needs to do that more often or we need somebody new who will.
This is more or less correct. If we had a proper defensive midfielder like a Fernandinho, Carrick, Rice or whatever, we'd dominate games from the start and might be another few points closer to City.
The point is that if we want to compete for the biggest trophies, the midfield isn't good enough. Are they good players? Yes. But look at the midfield of the best teams in the world and I'm sorry but McFred doesn't compare to them. That's what Manchester United players should be compared to, not West Ham or Leicester
I’m posting in a thread expressing my own views, not those of the OP. These views have been expressed fairly and accurately. Feel free to read back what I’ve written and educate yourself. Failing that, wipe up your snotters and start posting with a little bit more of a clue.
To go up another level we need to do a fair few things: bring in a robust centre half, sign a right winger, ensure that we seek to (eventually) replace Cavani with a player of a similar profile. And yes, perhaps most of all, improve upon a first choice midfield duo that consists of McTominay and Fred.
Look at our attackers goals and assists. Now look at other league and CL winning forward lines. See the huge difference in creativity and output? No?
Except we regularly outplay sides with so called better midfields.
They became the whipping boys of our problems pre Bruno. Pogba couldn't play with lesser players, we arent good enough going forward with those 2 in midfield, our defence doesnt get enough protection.
It turns out if we stop blaming them for things out of their control, they are actaully good players.
McTominay was purely passenger in first half to me.
Fred should not be tarred with the same brush as McTominay. Fred may have his shortcomings, but his contributions to our midfield far outweigh McTominay's. I struggle to see what the Scott actually offers. Doesn't contribute a great deal in progressing the ball up the pitch and constantly seems to shy away from being an option for our defence when they have the ball. He's not good enough with the ball at his feet to be a starter for us.
Both look poor at times and great other times. I think we need the latter more often off at least one of them.
As I said above. Go and look at league and CL winning teams. Look at their forwards output in goals and assists. We aren’t even close. That’s the main problem.
I genuinely will never get the Fred hate. Really believe he has been one of the catalysts for our improvement in the last 18 months. Midfield isn't just about creativity, it's also about energy and industry.
I do understand the idea of adding a better 8 to the team. But our midfield is getting way too much flak on here.
I do understand the idea of adding a better 8 to the team. But our midfield is getting way too much flak on here.
Like it or not- they are by far and away our most effective partnership and control most games that they play!
Someone tell me how, in the most important part of the pitch that operates both defensively and attackingly, we probably get to 2nd and a final? You think you get that by just running around? It's absolutely embarrassing people's blinkered view. Can we upgrade them yes, but who can't we upgrade.
There was a time (i think maybe one of the liverpool games) where McT was getting the ball out of tight spaces in the press all game. Looked a different class to now. I think both are inconsistent and I think McFred is made tactically redundant in games where the opposition dont want the ball - the Leeds game being most recent example. But games are won and lost in midfield and we have won more than often. They arent bad Just dont think they are always a go to midfield.
Bet you were one of the plonkers who thought lingard was championship quality too.
Fred good again today.
League and CL winning teams have better starting midfield pairings.
I’ve already told you that I think we need at least one attacking player to improve further. You’re arguing with yourself here.
McTominay needs to at least be getting in areas to shoot if not score in order to have a really good match, because even his strong areas arent that strong without the attacking part on top.
Fred needs to not allow players to get past him too easily, not have loose touches or mess up easy passes and be positive with the ball getting it to our attackers early. Thats probably easier to do on a consistent basis than someone starting from defensive midfield getting goals
Fred needs to not allow players to get past him too easily, not have loose touches or mess up easy passes and be positive with the ball getting it to our attackers early. Thats probably easier to do on a consistent basis than someone starting from defensive midfield getting goals