Bruno Fernandes hadn't scored a aim all season earlier than Erik ten Hag's exit, however it's now 4 targets in 4 appearances since then. In 250 video games for Manchester United, the Portuguese scored 83 targets and supplied 72 assists. They’re particular numbers.
He wasn't flawless in opposition to Leicester. He’s uncommon. It's a part of what's so spectacular. It had been a poor cross and an errant cross again to the thrower simply earlier than his opening. Fernandes nonetheless had the boldness to smash one from exterior the field.
He was concerned within the second and claimed a cross for the third, creating seven possibilities in whole – two greater than every other participant within the Premier League on the weekend. He created as many in two video games underneath Ruud van Nistelrooy than 9 underneath Ten Hag.
Just a little extra freedom helped, transferring from 10th on Sunday as an alternative of being restricted to the proper as he had been at occasions earlier this season. However that hints on the problem looming for Ruben Amorim – how finest to ship off the captain.
United's unique boss favors a Three-Four-Three formation, and Fernandes' finest route into that system comes as an inside ahead, however it's not excellent, particularly with competitors from inside for these roles. Wouldn’t it restrict his affect if he operated from the flank?
Proof this season suggests so, however Van Nistelrooy was unwilling to handle the difficulty when the difficulty got here up within the press convention. “I can't touch upon that,” he mentioned of the brand new man's system. Not his downside. It’s one which Amorim should resolve.
Lone Wolf Cunha remains to be taking part in
In what had been thought-about a must-win recreation for Gary O'Neil, Matheus Cunha arrange the primary aim and scored an excellent second to safe a 2-Zero win for Wolves over Southampton at Molineux. It was the primary win of the season for O'Neil's group. Cunha was the distinction.
His supervisor used the press convention to remind the Brazilian of the necessity to enhance on the ball, however this appeared misplaced given his contribution to it. There isn’t any right-footer within the Premier League who has scored extra targets this season – and Cunha is creating too.
Regardless of Wolves' kind, solely Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo scored extra from open play, whereas solely Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer created extra large possibilities for others. He has taken benefit of 9 such alternatives this season.
Most had been missed, with Pablo Sarabia squandering two one-on-one alternatives in opposition to Crystal Palace earlier than profiting from his early ball in opposition to Southampton. Cunha ranks third for full balls, by the way in which, 11th for accomplished dribbles.
Solely Salah has made extra of the short breaks and Cunha seems greater than able to holding Wolves awake if they’ll solely tighten up on the again. O'Neil might want extra from his star participant, however letting him play with that freedom appears to be reaping rewards.
Talking to Cunha in the summertime, he prompt as a lot, suggesting it was his nature. “I don't wish to go on the sector and be a robotic, I wish to get pleasure from it.” Wolves have had little to cheer about up to now, however Cunha's performances have been a notable exception.
Robinson's Overlapping Races
Antonee Robinson is nominally a left-back, however his significance in assault for Fulham can’t be overstated. After offering the help for the successful aim in opposition to Brentford, he adopted it up with one other tremendous efficiency in a 2-Zero defeat of Crystal Palace.
He’ll take credit score for his position within the clear sheet, making twice as many interceptions as every other Fulham participant. Robinson ranks within the prime 10 gamers within the Premier League this season for each tackles and interceptions, a testomony to his combative method.
However it’s his willingness to drive ahead that units him aside, little question attracting the curiosity of golf equipment on the very prime finish of the sport. America worldwide had 16 entries within the last third in opposition to Palace, by far essentially the most of any participant on the pitch.
Whether or not it's Alex Iwobi or, extra just lately, Reiss Nelson, Fulham boss Marco Silva encourages his left-back to maneuver inside, utilizing Robinson to offer the width. Overlap runs are a function of his recreation, as proven by Genius IQ information.
This monitoring information reveals that Robinson has made 53 overlapping runs this season, which is the second-most of any Premier League participant, putting him simply behind Milos Kerkez. No quarterback, together with Kerkez, made extra high-speed runs than him.
The results of these motion shows is that no defender has extra assists than the 27-year-old Robinson. The pressure is with the person who calls himself a Jedi, nonetheless flying slightly underneath the radar on this tremendous a part of Fulham – however for the way for much longer?
Beforehand on The Debrief
GW1: Salah's sprints, Saka's one-on-ones, Mount's urgent
GW2: Calvert-Lewin's runs, Odegaard's urgent, Pereira's corners
GW3: De Bruyne's place, Gravenberch's runs, Dawson's return
GW4: Nuno's Masterclass, Duran's Hit Fee, Nketiah's Taking pictures
GW5: Diaz's end, Traore's finish product, Archer's issues
GW6: McNeil's position, Kulusevski's creativity, Gravenberch's conduct
GW7: Saka's creativity, Kovacic's capturing, Mitoma's return to kind
GW8: Rashford's kind, Buonanotte's sort out, Gvardiol's cross
GW9: Palmer's positioning, Iwobi's cross, Savinho's field entries
GW10: Semenyo's dribbling, Salah's boxing expertise, Caicedo's tackling