McTominay: so rare for a youngster to come through an academy and straight into the PL as ready made

[Fortitude]

Even if he doesn't make it at United, the understated, but solidly competent manner in which McTominay has performed this season is quite something.

Not saying he has been anything special as a player, but noted by errors, mistakes and fear, he rarely lets himself down in any of these aspects. He's a PL-class midfielder outright already, which I think has gone under the radar.

Was he the main reason why we were so willing to let Fellaini go?

 

[Bastian]

He's rapidly improving. Think Mourinho deserves credit when it comes to McTominay. He's definitely got the right attitude. Humble, works hard, willing to learn.

 

[ivaldo]

I think there's been maybe two/three games this season where he hasn't looked out of depth. He's underwhelming in almost every regard and very rarely does he impact a game.

 

[ReddBalls]

I think there's been maybe two/three games this season where he hasn't looked out of depth. He's underwhelming in almost every regard and very rarely does he impact a game.

He is 22.

 

[Massive Spanner]

It's nice to see but he's nowhere near good enough. He was Jose's little pet project and as a result the only academy graduate with enough PL experience that Ole could really use safely.

 

[mu4c_20le]

He is good at keeping things simple, and not really worse than fellaini in midfield. Eventually he will start pushing forward and score some goals like the afro man as well.

 

[steakpie]

He is 22.

You can't polish a turd.

Not saying McTominay is awful but he certainly lacks ability on the ball and isn't the best tackler. But could stay based on his attitude and professionalism.

 

[Fortitude]

I think there's been maybe two/three games this season where he hasn't looked out of depth. He's underwhelming in almost every regard and very rarely does he impact a game.

But he's solid and dependable with it, basically he can come in and do a job, which is not a given with a youngster at all.

I'm not nervous when he's on the ball, and off it, he does the right things to the best of his capability.

It's a given he's not near a fully fit first xi, but to come in and just perform even at an average level with no dip is [extended] squad worthy.

 

[Pexbo]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

 

[ivaldo]

He is 22.

So? That doesn't mean he doesn't look out of his depth.

 

[gerdm07]

He was really good today until the neck injury. It affected him and the whole team IMO. I think by next year he could be our first selection as a DM though I am not convinced just yet.

I wouldn't say he was ready made for the PL because he has been with the first team for a while. This season he is starting to look the part.

 

[simonhch]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

Very good post. Hits the nail on the head.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

Yeah and they used to bitch and moan about Cleverley and Welbeck too. They don't get them all right.

 

[ivaldo]

But he's solid and dependable with it, basically he can come in and do a job, which is not a given with a youngster at all.

I'm not nervous when he's on the ball, and off it, he does the right things to the best of his capability.

It's a given he's not near a fully fit first xi, but to come in and just perform even at an average level with no dip is [extended] squad worthy.

I don't see it as dependable, but rather incapable of unwilling to affect the game. He's so reserved in everything he does, a safety first approach, that he's largely pointless.

How often do you see him in a situation where he can lose the ball? Does he receive the ball under pressure?

 

[Irwin99]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

This 100%. Apart from his customary great games against Arsenal, Fletcher got a ton of criticism from fans asking what the hell it was that he contributed other than just running around a lot. He did all the basics right (like Mctom) but took a bit of time to really impose himself in games and that came with age. I'm unsure about McTominay but the fact is he does play with some maturity for his age and I've heard our coaches and Jose say that he has more to his game than just being a defensive midfielder.

 

[Wumminator]

I just love seeing us fill squad positions with our talented youngsters.

Lingard, McTominay, Pogba, Rashford, Pereira all around the first team.

Gomes, Garner, Greenwood, Chong, TFM around there next year?

It’s just brilliant to see,

 

[mu4c_20le]

Yeah and they used to bitch and moan about Cleverley and Welbeck too. They don't get them all right.

Welbeck is an England international..

 

[Bojan11]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

Not every player is like Fletcher.

Also how much did Fergie squeeze more out of Fletcher that no other manager could.

Mctominay just reminds me of McNair. I don’t see him being here long.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Welbeck is an England international..

So are plenty of players who aren't good enough for Man Utd. What's your point?

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

I just love seeing us fill squad positions with our talented youngsters.

Lingard, McTominay, Pogba, Rashford, Pereira all around the first team.

Gomes, Garner, Greenwood, Chong, TFM around there next year?

It’s just brilliant to see,

It's something we should be very very proud of.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

Not every player is like Fletcher.

Also how much did Fergie squeeze more out of Fletcher that no other manager could.

Mctominay just reminds me of McNair. I don’t see him being here long.

exactly. It is like every player can be said the same thing of. Just because one player turned out one way has pretty much no bearing on mctominay. Loan him out to a mid-table team and let's see how he does with a consistent run of games.

 

[mu4c_20le]

So are plenty of players who aren't good enough for Man Utd. What's your point?

He was good enough, injuries ruined him. Still a top 6 player. Putting him in the same bracket as cleverly seems harsh, like he's an academy failure.

 

[TypeR]

For every Fletcher, there's a Cleverley. Not that Cleverley is a bad player, just not good enough for the Man Utd first team squad, and ultimately, I can see that's sort of McTominay's level.

 

[Massive Spanner]

He was good enough, injuries ruined him. Still a top 6 player. Putting him in the same bracket as cleverly seems harsh, like he's an academy failure.

Nah he wasn't good enough. We got rid before the injuries fecked him too. Maybe a top six player but not a Utd one.

Anyways there are countless other examples apart from Welbeck. For every Fletcher there's 5 Cleverley's.

 

[Nico87]

I'd keep him but only use him in certain games, I'd have him do a man marking job when we need to mark players out the game like we used Herrera on Hazard or Park on Pirlo.

 

[Kazi]

Thought he was shockingly bad today

 

[Charlie Foley]

I just love seeing us fill squad positions with our talented youngsters.

Lingard, McTominay, Pogba, Rashford, Pereira all around the first team.

Gomes, Garner, Greenwood, Chong, TFM around there next year?

It’s just brilliant to see,

Dalot too!

 

[groovyalbert]

Take him out of Utd, I'm not convinced he makes it in the league.

Reckon he'll be at Celtic or Rangers soon.

 

[Wumminator]

Dalot too!

He isn’t an academy player!

 

[Revan]

I remember how people used to bitch and moan about Fletcher at the same age and were then shocked that he matured into a fine midfielder when he was 24/25.

As if our coaches and academy staff are just throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks, rather than working closely with these young players on a daily basis recognising their potential and showing trust that they can fulfil it.

For every Fletcher, you have a few Cleverleys and Gibsons.

I think that Scott is more likely to have a similar career to those two, but on the other hand, we are hardly stacked in midfield, so no harm on keeping him for another season or two and see how things happen. He isn't bad, just that he is not that good at most stuff.

 

[francobaresi]

I'm not exactly sure what he's good at

 

[Varun]

Well, I'll be surprised if he makes it here long term as anything more than a bit part player when injuries feck us up. Just don't see it with him. Hope I'm wrong mind and he turns the tide like fletch.

 

[Charlie Foley]

He isn’t an academy player!

You said youngsters, not academy players

 

[arthurka]

Thought he was shockingly bad today

He wasnt by any stretch.. Southampton setup with an extra midfielder and it showed but he wasnt bad. Pogba had a bad game, as the extra midfielder shut the spaces for him to work in.

 

[Pass and Move]

You can't polish a turd.

Not saying McTominay is awful but he certainly lacks ability on the ball and isn't the best tackler. But could stay based on his attitude and professionalism.

No, but you can roll it in glitter.

 

[Fridge chutney]

Well said OP.

The reality is, it's impossible to judge an academy product so early, especially in McTomimay's position in the center of the park.

He's improving, and over the next couple years we'll start having a better understanding of his ceiling.

 

[stepic]

Don’t think he’s ready made at all.

 

[dove]

I just don't believe a player with no particular stand out ability can succeed at the club like ours, and McTominay is certainly one of these players. He is very average at everything and I am pretty convinced he will follow the footsteps of McNair, Blacketts and CBJ sooner or later.

 

[Roboc7]

Think thread is a bit premature, he isn’t premier league quality at the moment, his physicality covers up the flaws and gets him by a lot of the time.

I also think we could promote lots of players who could do a job for odd games or short spells, players like CBJ and McNair are examples. What’s difficult is playing and performing week in week out to a high level, Mctominay hasn’t been trusted to do that and at the moment doesn’t look capable of it. He has huge improvements to make before he can be compared to Fletcher.

 

[adexkola]

Yeah and they used to bitch and moan about Cleverley and Welbeck too. They don't get them all right.

Both went on to have decent careers in the top flight. Which is the OPs point.