When Bruno Fernandes whacked in a stunning strike with his weaker left foot from 25 yards and slid on his knees in front of the Stretford End in celebration of clinching a comeback win over Sheffield United last April, he had racked up seven goals in his last five games for Manchester United.
Twelve matches on, he is still waiting for another one.
Fernandes' most prolific spell of his Man Utd career has been followed by his longest drought.
His failure to break the streak has not been through a want of trying. Just ask any Manchester United fan who has agonised at Fernandes' speculative and sometimes desperate attempts to find the net. (There were two shots against Southampton recently which were each given barely more than a one per cent chance of going in by Opta.)
He has had 30 shots without success during the past dozen matches.
His total of 17 attempts in the Premier League this season is the highest of any player yet to score in Europe's major divisions.
Fernandes has not even hit the target in his past four Premier League games, although he did go close against Crystal Palace, bouncing a shot up off the ground and onto the frame of the goal.
A slash wide of a post in the second half of that match at Selhurst Park was the third big chance he has missed this season, adding to the two he spurned from one-vs-one chances on the opening night of the campaign at home to Fulham.
Unfortunately for United boss Erik ten Hag, this is not just an issue isolated to his captain.
Man Utd rank third for expected goals this season in the Premier League, with a total of 9.10. The quality of openings they are carving out is impressively high. But they have missed more big chances than any side in the division, spurning 17 out of 19 clear-cut opportunities. Only relegation-threatened Southampton have a worse conversion rate.
It leaves them with just five goals to their name, almost half as many as they would be expected to have scored from the chances they have created.
Joshua Zirkzee - who has missed all four of his own big chances, although he does have one goal to his name - joins Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho among the top six players in the league with the worst xG performance this term.
With just two wins from their first five Premier League games, Ten Hag can rightly look to the 2-1 defeat at Brighton and 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace as results which could easily have been improved with sharper finishing from his players.
With United down in 11th in the early Premier League table, already four points off the top four, ground has been lost.
The hope will be Rasmus Hojlund's return to full fitness will help. And Marcus Rashford has shown signs of getting back towards dangerous form.
But the frustration for Fernandes goes on. Can the Portuguese finally find Stretford End salvation against Spurs on Sunday?
gudiest01
0
You have a point there... ETH is average... But a professional can still perform better than what these guys were doing right now. CR7 scored many goals under this same man who even hated him with passion
But Bruno is a midfielder he passes to players who misses it, Besides Ronaldo didn’t score many goals
EmeraldJ
0
But trust me Bruno is not the problem you can criticize all the players but if coach still remain the players won’t perform look 👀 back at Bruno or rashford under ole check their stats and check it now the coach is weighing them down
You have a point there... ETH is average... But a professional can still perform better than what these guys were doing right now. CR7 scored many goals under this same man who even hated him with passion
gudiest01
0
I know but atleast he knows there's competition somehow and he's also thriving to become a Legend of his country. In Manchester United he's already a Legend (awarded). Come to think of it, should he have been Manchester United Captain by now? Same way Maguire was destroyed by so much responsibility
But trust me Bruno is not the problem you can criticize all the players but if coach still remain the players won’t perform look 👀 back at Bruno or rashford under ole check their stats and check it now the coach is weighing them down
Tewcmnost
0
Bruno should be starting from the bench, he should be replaced by mount
Juedikmty
1
When salaries increase,performance became flop,same as Rashford
bucaeor
0
zirkzee should replace Bruno as a 10
EmeraldJ
0
He can’t sit on bench at Portugal 🇵🇹 too bro
I know but atleast he knows there's competition somehow and he's also thriving to become a Legend of his country. In Manchester United he's already a Legend (awarded). Come to think of it, should he have been Manchester United Captain by now? Same way Maguire was destroyed by so much responsibility
Kinito_Kinny
0
you can't just leave out Zirkzee like that. His passes and build up play is good.
Kinito_Kinny
0
Like it or not but it's not a big problem. He's not a striker. It's just a matter of time. He will get back to his best very soon 💪.
gudiest01
0
Same thing I am saying... He feels like the superstar, the best player and lord at Manchester United which has affected his commitment and work rate. He knows he can't sit on the bench at United no matter how he plays but at Portugal he knows exactly what will happen if he fails to deliver.
He can’t sit on bench at Portugal 🇵🇹 too bro
Diwbdemosy
0
The reason why Bruno he is failing to score is that he is making to much experiment and I don’t know who he is trying to impress because every time he wants to score he will shout a shot has if he is playing with small babies or children
wuuadimrsu
0
Who is Responsible For THIS???
jujubee8
0
he's still creating chances for his team
tozbcilstz
0
He Fernandes always shut wide or Over the Bar as the Coach is not helping matters too.
Zesciklosz
1
goal will come
Ngoakoefefe
0
he signed a new contract, that's what most players from United do after getting paid... UNDERPERFORM
hezbdopty
0
Watched him closely in the last few matches.He is on the decline like Rashford.
bamadiloty
0
Forget about Cry Baby, it’s over
Gun1
0
pain in your a$$
8 games and still counting. A below average player relying on spot kicks
Naaacdlmps
0
Dalot isn't good enough at the left side... it's time to play Malacia
Dalot for me has been the weak link all season so far am even surprised that some people are praising him, for nearly all the goals they have conceded have come from his area. At Southampton he made to look very weak defensively after that young winger run rings around him and embarrassed him. I don't know why Ten Hag sold Bissaka and left the poor Dalot it was a big big mistake which he can't admit until he's sacked
mupaiklmnu
1
Dalot isn't good enough at the left side... it's time to play Malacia
Alopenu
0
The players are not understanding the managers philosophy the manager should go he is destroying the team
Philosophy has nothing to do with poor finishing dude. Stop hating and speak the fact
Alopenu
0
the coach is an absolute jackass the team play with no identity
You watched back of the TV anytime United play... I can tell that. Poor finishing is absolutely their problem this season and not fucking identity.
EmeraldJ
1
What’f in Portugal 🇵🇹 can you say the same Bruno is not the problem he always score for Portugal
Same thing I am saying... He feels like the superstar, the best player and lord at Manchester United which has affected his commitment and work rate. He knows he can't sit on the bench at United no matter how he plays but at Portugal he knows exactly what will happen if he fails to deliver.
Navyteetrapberry
5
Best lineup to Tottenham Hotspur
gudiest01
0
The point is not about him not scoring but his body language so cold and undeserving as the captain plus his selfishness and so trying to do what he has no idea on how to (skills)
What’f in Portugal 🇵🇹 can you say the same Bruno is not the problem he always score for Portugal
gudiest01
0
which 12 he scored for Portugal what are you talking about
Can you raise the volume bro 😎 this press are killing me
gudiest01
0
Zirkzee and Bruno shares the same position
No Bruno is more creative
gudiest01
0
That why I hate those media against man united 😏 When Rashford went so many months without single goal with highest paid I think this poster wasn’t aware then 🤷♂️ He didn’t score but created chances and assists All team down you guys here single out one player as a problem for the result but when he got injured we’ll know what the result you got out of the match 🤔
As in. Am not surprise! They don’t like Bruno
teyborsu
0
A penalty merchant
pain in your a$$
Suedkmstyz
2
the coach is an absolute jackass the team play with no identity
TkraneAyomidey2233
3
That why I hate those media against man united 😏 When Rashford went so many months without single goal with highest paid I think this poster wasn’t aware then 🤷♂️ He didn’t score but created chances and assists All team down you guys here single out one player as a problem for the result but when he got injured we’ll know what the result you got out of the match 🤔
rouabrstuy
0
The point is not about him not scoring but his body language so cold and undeserving as the captain plus his selfishness and so trying to do what he has no idea on how to (skills)
That is how he used to play and he scores it is not about him it’s about the manager
Liwdlmory
3
Zirkzee and Bruno shares the same position
rouabrstuy
3
The players are not understanding the managers philosophy the manager should go he is destroying the team
Kesaceoruz
2
is he a striker
waykmprtuz
0
among worst player ever seen most most overrated
I am very sure that your team best midfielder didn’t come near to him…. So fuck off
Diwikmstuy
6
which 12 he scored for Portugal what are you talking about
BallySen
6
When it starts coming, there will be none stopping. Keep working hard bro. It will surely come at the right time, sooner than later.
EmeraldJ
2
The point is not about him not scoring but his body language so cold and undeserving as the captain plus his selfishness and so trying to do what he has no idea on how to (skills)
Gun1
1
A penalty merchant
Manufreeak
3
Bruno is not at all that bad of a player but I think its time the manager starts thinking about benching him for his and the teams good
GGMUSTAR
0
only thing he's good at is running for 90 mins.. too bad the spot he chose is football
When he score,you idiot will still have something say 🤡 it's normal for you that's how your wretched mother does too
123Isaacman
3
bench this Bruno of a guy or lost your job ten hag
habcelnor
1
among worst player ever seen most most overrated
123Isaacman
2
bench this guy or you post your job
badbatch
2
only thing he's good at is running for 90 mins.. too bad the spot he chose is football