Fred(Signed for United)

[Thorin Oakenshield]

I wouldn't rule it out. I still don't 'get' Fred as the future main DM, too lightweight and lacks aerial ability. But if Pep treats him as a versatile player covering 6,8 and LB positions, his acquisition makes a lot of sense. Pure guesswork on my part ofc, Pep's vision is very hard to comprehend.

I agree with you. Hard to understand Fred as the next DM . I feel with Gomez coming from PSG (and peps willingness to play young players) that maybe it is better to get Weigl. Pep has wanted him for a while. Plus we still have fernandihno for another year and Delph. I feel that Fred would be more of the same. Weigl provides something different..

 

[Kompany Car]

I don't understand. Are we buying both Weigl and Fred in the summer? Surely fernandihno signing an extension means we will only buy one.

Think we all have to realise that Dinho is coming to the end of his career. He may have signed an extension but in a couple of years time he will be sadly gone. Considering how long it takes players to learn Peps system it wouldn’t surprise me City buying two DM’s. Fred can play other positions as well. Maybe we will see Dinho move to a CB position when Kompany’s contract is up at the end of next season.
It will certainly be interesting to see how it pans out.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Pep is buying for the next iteration of the team, not this years. What that means in real terms is that he is already thinking about who, and how, these players would fit into his next iteration, NOT direct replacements for this player or that player.

Football is constantly evolving, as we learned this season with the trouble we have caused so many teams, STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD is the key to the future. I think Pep is looking for players who are “next generation” players, not this year’s model and especially last years model, because he already sees the next evolution of this team, but understands that the personnel needed for that are not here.

Technical expertise, vision, athleticism, character, proven ability for their age/development. These are the things that Pep looks for, and the younger the better, because he is a sculptor and if you are unwilling to be malleable, then you are not on his radar and if you are currently here you have to go.

The Future is Blue
The Future is Here

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Does Fred need to have aerial ability? Seems from what I've noticed this season is that it isn't crucial to win the header against the long ball to the isolated opposition forward, merely to squeeze him using the DM and a CB, let the ball go over all three players' heads and the other CB to take control of the ball and start the next attack.

 

[domalino]

Does Fred need to have aerial ability? Seems from what I've noticed this season is that it isn't crucial to win the header against the long ball to the isolated opposition forward, merely to squeeze him using the DM and a CB, let the ball go over all three players' heads and the other CB to take control of the ball and start the next attack.

Fernandinho wins more headers than anyone else in the side, so it's an important part of his role. If Fred played there, we'd need to change the way we defended long balls.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Fernandinho wins more headers than anyone else in the side, so it's an important part of his role. If Fred played there, we'd need to change the way we defended long balls.

Get one of the CBs to challenge for the ball, makes sure the forward gets underneath it and the other CB mops up.

 

[domalino]

Get one of the CBs to challenge for the ball, makes sure the forward gets underneath it and the other CB mops up.

Which is different to what we do now where we have both CB's available to recover the second ball or drop off as appropriate. Guardiola changed to this way after the Leicester game last season, there's obviously a reasoning behind it.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Which is different to what we do now where we have both CB's available to recover the second ball or drop off as appropriate. Guardiola changed to this way after the Leicester game last season, there's obviously a reasoning behind it.

Not always. It depends on the opposition. Against Burnley, we did this and against other teams that left their big lump of a forward massively isolated.

Against someone like the rags, we'd need to adapt as they got their wide forwards up with play quicker.

 

[Thorin Oakenshield]

Get one of the CBs to challenge for the ball, makes sure the forward gets underneath it and the other CB mops up.

If we switch to 3-5-2 then this could work. There was an enlightening tactical breakdown of Peps 3-5-2 on this forum. Basically it said that role fernandihno played was vital but fernandihno himself did not play it well enough. If Fred does come in I believe pep may try the 3-5-2 again with Fred in the pivot role. He will be protected by the 3 centre backs behind him. As a DM in a 4-3-3 I think he may struggle.

 

[Andrew___K]

If we switch to 3-5-2 then this could work. There was an enlightening tactical breakdown of Peps 3-5-2 on this forum. Basically it said that role fernandihno played was vital but fernandihno himself did not play it well enough. If Fred does come in I believe pep may try the 3-5-2 again with Fred in the pivot role. He will be protected by the 3 centre backs behind him. As a DM in a 4-3-3 I think he may struggle.

Always thought that it's DMs duty to 'protect' defenders, not the other way round...
And our CBs aren't really suited for 3ATB, not mobile enough. In fact, the best RCB in this squad is Walker.