Manchester United fans were left disappointed when Brazilian midfielder Fred was left out of the starting lineup for their match against Newcastle United. The decision was made by manager Erik ten Hag, who is facing a number of midfield issues due to Christian Eriksen’s long-term injury and the suspension of Casemiro.
Despite many fans expecting Fred to be named in the starting lineup, he was only named as a substitute, with Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer preferred. This decision proved costly for United, as they struggled to make an impact on the game in the first half.
Fans took to Twitter to express their frustration at Fred’s absence, with even United legend Gary Neville expressing his surprise at the decision. Many fans believed that Fred’s energy and work rate would have been crucial in a game like this, and were disappointed to see him left on the bench.
One fan wrote: “Seriously Ten Hag CANT be happy with how things are going!! His favorite is doing NOTHING. FRED HAS TO BE COMING ON!!! There’s Sabitzer/Fred EASILY cover up more ground!”
Another fan commented: “I was happy with the starting lineup, except for no AWB and Martial, but not much Ten Hag can do about that. But now this game is SCREAMING for Fred to make some chaos.”
Despite Fred being introduced late on in the game, he was unable to prevent United from falling to a 2-0 defeat, which saw Newcastle leapfrog them into third place.
The decision to leave Fred on the bench highlights the importance of having a strong midfield in modern football. With injuries and suspensions affecting many teams, managers need to have a deep squad with players who can step up when needed.
Fred’s absence also shows the importance of tactical decisions in football. While he may have been a fan favorite and a strong player, ten Hag may have had other reasons for leaving him out of the starting lineup. Perhaps he wanted to try a different formation or strategy, or maybe he felt that other players were better suited to the game.
Regardless of the reasons behind the decision, it is clear that Fred’s absence had a significant impact on the outcome of the game. This serves as a reminder to managers and fans alike that every decision can have consequences, and that every player on the team has an important role to play.