iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

When Amad and Baleba are fit here is what I’d go with. I’ll listen to Maguire over Yoro and Dalot over Mazraoui. Sesko should be nowhere near a starting 11.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Working on a lecture, whilst being watched…

4 sparrows in a tree looking into a window

020

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

2nd trip to OT for the nephews ❤️

030

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I added this to my ‘To Read’ pile in June but just have not got around to it 🤦‍♂️ thanks for the nudge!

020

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

This is where I joined. Again it's largely irrelevant. The central point is, educators shouldn't be gatekeeping or penalising students because we (incorrectly) think we can spot 'AI writing' - no matter the subject, level or length of prose. The evidence against this is overwhelming.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I’m terrible at these types of cryptic questions, so have no idea how plausible this response is!? I assume not very? Interesting (encouraging) that ChatGPT acknowledges its lack of confidence in its answer though.

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Bruno is a disaster (see below). Thankfully Carrick knows you either have to drop him (as he did first time around), or construct the entire team around him i.e., drop Cunha, Sesko, Mount, Ugarte and your promising CBs to make up for his faults.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

The best they have both played was when Dorgu played in front of Dalot on the right in that first half against Newcastle…and we’ve never seen it again.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

And it’s not just Cunha/Wolves. It’s everyone else. Highlighted Palmer and Odegaard here as someone else said they would be good comparators. He’s nowhere near their level.

120

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

I agree with a lot of this, especially that he actively makes others worse. I don't think he is as much of an asset as he is a liability though, in fact nowhere near. Your high volume passer simply cant be doing this week in week out - no other player does this.

010

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Here was a 55 game run I kept stats for. Averaged 18 misplaced passes a game during that time. 38/55 games he lost it more than 15 times. It's so bad no other player comes even close across all of Europe.

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Carrick's selection for his first game in charge in 2021... a 2-0 win over Villarreal. How many of the current squad get into this 11...not sure it's many.

220

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

It’s like they are playing different sports entirely. Bruno giving it away 300 more times than those two and creating less chances whilst doing so.

010

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Can add McTominay to the long list of players (Mainoo, Mount, Cunha, Amad, Mbeumo, Pogba, Mata, Pereria, Sancho, van de Beek, Elanga, Hojlund) negatively effected by either trying to play alongside, out of position to accommodate, or denied a place because of, Bruno Fernandes.

120

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

If you think this is acceptable for any United player at any point in time, we must just have very different expectations. I grew up watching the likes of Hughes, Keane, Cantona et al under SAF. None would have stood for this for more than a few games, let alone multiple seasons.

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

either of these, much better for me.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Convinced either of these would have been a significant improvement.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Thing is we have Mainoo, Mount, Cuhna (even Zirkzee!) who can do the ‘creative’ stuff Bruno does but can also complete more the 70% of their passes. Look at who is the same or better than Bruno on chance creation below. It’s simply not required to be so careless in possession.

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

how did you guys survive 24/25? Bruno had 200 more (600 total) incomplete passes than the next worst player in all of Europe?? Might have to click the figure to find Bruno….

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

No more peaceful way to write than with a gently snoring dog behind you 💤🐶

010

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

What about this line up…I know it varied wildly game to game but when it clicked!

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

What do we prefer: Ole's squad from 20/21 or 25/26?

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

My family’s the same, love the risk taking, think he’s a ’united player’… I just want a Scholes/Carrick type who can complete a 5 yrd pass! Bruno fails to complete 20+ passes a game,Scholes/Carrick wouldn’t miss 20 passes in a season 😂 Rodri scores & assists like Bruno, but never loses the ball

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I know, I’m in the minority. I detest Bruno! The worst thing to happen to United since SAF got into horses! 🤣 Here is why ⬇️ (click to find Bruno…). Simply impossible to accommodate in any team, let alone this one.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Whoever comes in next, on whatever basis, needs to leave Bruno on the bench.

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Is it that hard to do this? Would be amazed if this didn’t get top 5 regardless of who is in charge. A proper title challenge is clearly a different ask.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Yep, can share the data & code if you want to double check. He's consistently one of the worst (normally THE worst) passer (based on number of failed passes) in all of Europe. It's also a bit of a myth his goals and assists make up for it, they dont. See Rodri outdoing him below.

020

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

I have a pathological loathing of Bruno so I can’t ever put him in a starting eleven. But I accept I’m in the minority! Btw, this is why…click to see Bruno 🤦‍♂️

120

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

How much ‘sorting’ does this really need? Proper striker and Casemiro replacement standout, but beyond that is it that bad??

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The possibility of this or a version of it, should give us hope shouldn’t it? Crying out for a proper striker and Case needs replacing obviously but I am the most optimistic I’ve been in a long time.

220

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Agreed. This, or some version of it should be capable of challenging for top 4. My concern is how unbalanced we are - trying to fit 9 players (Amad, Mount, Bruno, Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko, Zirkzee, Mainoo, Dorgu) into 3 (maybe 4) positions?

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Agree. How attractive is the job for incoming managers...I think hugely, and am feeling optimistic! I cant see how the team set up like below (or a version of) cant compete for top 4 (especially this season).

000

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

I get why people says its a poisoned chalice & with the shower upstairs it probably is. But I cant believe the team set up like this (or 442, 4411) cant be comfortably challenging top 4. Not perfect but better than what we saw - I think Amorim was actively making us worse than the sum of our parts.

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Obviously that’s true in the general football management sense, but I’d love to know why any of these options isn’t better than what he is currently doing?

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

I get that, enjoying watching him is one thing. I think the creation and goals is a massive myth, it’s just not supported by the actual data. Compare him to Rodri for example below, same assists, more goals and hardly ever lost the ball. Goals an assists don’t have to mean high turnovers.

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Many teams have a high-risk, high-usage ‘creator’. The difference is theirs don’t give the ball away anywhere near as often (meaning repeated defensive transitions & fewer stable attacking phases). A teams focal point shouldn’t also lead all of Europe in turnovers (c.600 last season!)

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

I wish I had your confidence in Amorim to turn it around! How do you keep the faith in the face of a 2025 record like this?

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Need some help choosing the next audible listen, ideally from this list, but will take recommendations! #books #blueskybooks #bookrecommendations

210

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Some pics from a long weekend trip, walking in Crickhowell, Wales.

Hillside landscape with two remote properties

040

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Could never get bored of playing Parkstone GC, one of the best in the country.

010

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Might be of interest. Bruno's goal creating actions against total attempted passes & then misplaced passes. Tells a story I think when compared to the players around him. Easy to top the table for chance/goal creation when you attempt so many passes, but it comes at a cost when you misplace so many

120

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Interesting, if you look at his goal creating actions as a product of attempted passes it looks okay. But as a product of misplaced passes the problem is really clear. Its easy to create chances/goals when you attempt lots of passes - but at what cost to your team when >30% are misplaced...

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

am interested in that won possession 24 times stat, do you have the source? This is the season so far - no interceptions, 2nd highest for lost challenges, poor in terms of blocks and tackles...

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Here is what I was referring to in the last reply - no interceptions, 2nd highest for lost challenges, bottom half for blocks and tackles.

020

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Favourite reads from the last couple of months: God Human Animal Machine - Meghan O’Gieblyn Incompleteness - Rebecca Goldstein 2084 - John C. Lennox Superbloom - Nicholas Carr These Strange New Minds - Christopher Summerfield From Bacteria to Bach and Back - Daniel C. Dennett

020

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Will those ‘chances’ be worth it if he loses the ball more than 400 times again. The worst in all of Europe by a distance.

Graph of lost possessions and assists in football

100

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

That fact Bruno gets on the ball so much is exactly our problem. We turn the ball over more than any other team because of him. There isn’t a worse player in all of Europe at completing a pass, it’s scandalous he has played as much as he has for us.

110

James Fern @jamesfern.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I pointed out that we hadn't signed any players 'to fit his system', and you disagreed??

000