I'm sorry, I was being a dick.
I think he'll do well in any position but I think Williams is better and should be brought through along with Tuanzebe which crowds the CBs so that is one reason I'd like to see him in midfield. As jb says I don't think his positioning is as good as the two others and one of his best attributes is his ability to drive with the ball, playing at CB would completely limit that from his game. As can be seen from today's game he has a tendency to follow the play a bit and likes to throw himself in to challenges which you will be punished for at CB and is better suited to midfield. His physicality and engine would also solve a problem we've long had in midfield.
There is play in here which shows why he would offer another dimension further up the field and is capable of some exceptional passes.
I was a bit as well to be fair.
I'm not saying for a second he can't play football. He clearly can. I guess the difference of opinion we have centres around the attributes you need to play CM. Whilst useful, I've never really seen speed and physicality as attributes that are best utilised in central midfield. At high levels the game tends to be more congested and it's much more about intelligence, vision, range of passing and being really comfortable in tight spaces. How many players with TFM's pace do you ever really see playing in central midfield. How often do you see the game open up enough for a CM to really open up his legs and use real pace? Not that much, especially at the highest levels. You rarely see top midfielders sprinting around. The room isn't there. That's different to U21 and U18 where the games are slower, more open and he can just run past people. It doesn't really translate to first team football.
I'm not saying his pace and energy wouldn't be useful. Kante at Leicester is a perfect example of how it can but we don't really play the way Leicester do. We tend to play against teams that sit back and make it difficult for us to break them down. While a decent passer I don't see TFM as the player to that much damage against these types of team from central positions. I think he'd be wasted there.
I'd like to see him at CB. Under SAF we used to throw everyone forward because we knew we had a couple of quick CBs to defend against counter attacks. With TFM and Smalling in our defence I think we would have that. His quality on the ball would mean he'd also be able to step out of defence with the ball and use it well which is important.
Weird how? I've watched them both play. They have similar attributes. Both physically impressive and powerful, both technically adept, both skillful/great on the ball and both have the ability to carry the ball and run down channels for days, both have great vision and an eye for a pass to bring others into play, etc. How is it a weird comparison? If anything the only thing that sets them apart IMO is that Pogba had goals in him. Mensah hasn't shown much of that because he's obviously been groomed for more defensive roles, but he might have that ability as well. The comparison is far from weird. Now tell me how Mensah is not suited for midfield, i'm curious as to why you think he isn't.
You obviously really like him. I'm sure you're right. If he wasn't groomed for a defensive role he may well smashing in volleys from 30 yards out every second week like Pogba.
All joking aside, to say TFM's ability with the ball is anything like Pogba's is a huge reach. It's not close. In the same way that Pogba has nowhere near the type of pace and ball winning ability TFM has. Different players with different attributes. It happens.
I've never said he's not suited to midfield. I've simply said I think he's much better suited to defense. For the reasons described above.