Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has gone 470 minutes without scoring or providing an assist in the Premier League, leading some fans to believe he should be benched for the Champions League game against Como.
Fernandes has been below his best and has looked in need of a rest over the last few weeks. In recent matches against Atletico Madrid and Leeds, manager Michael Carrick chose to play Youri Tielemans in the No.10 role, moving Fernandes out of his favoured position.
Podcast Debate on Fernandes' Form
On Monday's edition of the Manchester is Red podcast, Manchester Evening News writers Steven Railston and Tyrone Marshall discussed whether Fernandes needs to be dropped. Marshall highlighted the team's poor season, noting they have won two out of 10 games and kept only one clean sheet.
Marshall said: "They've won two out of 10 all season, which is staggeringly bad. They've kept one clean sheet against Sabah, who probably wouldn't have scored in the media game at Old Trafford. It's not pretty, you know, it makes for desperate reading. It's the worst start for 40 years and that's not good enough."
Midfield Improvement Without Fernandes?
Railston offered a more measured view of the Leeds performance, calling it "a slight step in the right direction." He praised the midfield setup with Andres Santos and Carlos Baleba alongside each other, and Tielemans in the number 10 role.
Railston said: "I thought he had another good game. And the curious thing about that setup, though, Ty, is that Bruno Fernandes is playing out of position. And he looked knackered, and we both saw him in the tunnel, and we both said he looks subdued, doesn't he? He didn't look up for it, and he came to life on the pitch because he lost his head and became a bit rattled. But he's clearly tired at the moment, he's clearly not at his best."
Railston concluded that the question is whether the midfield is now better on current form without Fernandes, who is playing as an attacker. He said it gives Carrick something to think about ahead of important games that will ultimately decide his future.
