Fletcher when he was getting regular playing time for us was a much, much better player than McTominay. Just because they're both Scottish and United academy players who play in similar positions, doesn't mean that they're in any way similar in their abilities. We are never winning any major trophy with McTominay starting every game in midfield.
39
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 10
- Status
His main technical issue is his first touch, can struggle when the ball is bouncing off the turf. 2 consequences of that, he can get planted when getting ready for a touch, making him a pressing target and at times he is not aggressive in dropping for the ball because of uncertainty in that area.
He has a decent passing range, outside of Pogba he strikes that right to left switch as well as anyone in the squad, but his lack of left foot can make him predictable and he can overthink passes instead of just hitting them early, can cause interceptions.
Not at first. In fact Fletcher was hated among our fans, mocked as Ferguson’s son. Fletcher became his best after several years under his belt.
Like I said, when he was getting regular playing time. Before that, Fletcher was kept around because he was quite versatile and ok enough to be kept on the bench to do a shift when needed. Fergie probably did have a soft spot for him, who knows.
McT's has started every game when he's fit for past couple of years and he's been the weakest link of the starting 11 over long term (not including players who go in and out of the team). If he's kept around as a bench option, fine. As a starter, he needs to be replaced asap if we have any ambition.
I can't wait when we finally upgrade him and some posters here can finally see what a proper midfield looks like, he stepped up when he was called upon and suprised many he's not totally out of his depth but is lazily compared to much superior Darren Fletcher since, the fact is that he's very average CB in the back3 for poor Scottish side who plays in fecking midfield for us because there is no proper competition, tells you a lot. All he does is fight when the ball is around him. Managers like that, one in 20 games when the game fit him, shows what he could be worth only to be useless to average in the next 20. We absolutely need to upgrade him because it is beyond belief he's got to start in the middle because we have no other legs ready there.
That ability is very overrated when you lack vision and execution. We usually see him do that 4 times, only being successful twice in 15 games or stomething, in situations where it's just leading to nothing. Rooney was 10 times better at it and only sometimes it was a handful skill swapping up the play, unless he hit one behind the defence, which McTominay frankly pretty much never did. so it's pointless talking about him having a decent passing range when it's got no use.
Compare him to Fred who might not be able to hit the ball that hard and switch the play so elegantly (he more often does with a different technique over a shorter range) But the ability to be available for the ball, in tight spaces, little pockets to play 3 times more passes per game in the build up, quickly speeding up the play with one touch is just in different space compared to Scott.
This is much more important and people just don't realize that at all, often people who never played football, and don't see the big picture and are vowed by non-effective stuff in football.
Well which is it, 1 in 20 or 2 in 15? Or maybe making up random "stats" isn't really a good way to get your point across?
That is a massive insult to Fletcher who was a quality player before the unfortunate health issues. McTominay will never be half the player. Nowhere near good enough. I really can’t get my head around why managers continue to pick him.
I recall that Fletcher was a late bloomer but was a great contributor to United's game in the end. Why are you so sure the same cannot happen with McTominay? I agree that he should be deployed in specific games as a destroyer primary, but kept in reserve when we play lesser teams because we have better players on the ball to deploy in those kinds of games. Fergie's United always had less technical players but they did contribute to the depth of the squad. Players like Phil Neville, Butt, O'Shea.
You’re comparing him to players who were actually useful which again makes no sense whatsoever. I don’t even see the point of him as a squad player. O’Shea was far more talented never mind the massive difference in football IQ. McT is a headless chicken with and without the ball. And to say he is limited on the ball is an understatement.
Agreed. Fletcher, although not as versatile as O'Shea (who is?), could pull a shift as a right back and right winger, which increased his usefulness as a utility, back up player.
Also, for every "late bloomer" like Fletcher, there are probably 30 other players who faded. It's silly to stubbornly persist with someone who's clearly not good enough at age 25 by saying "Well, he might become good later!"
I absolutely didn't enjoy watching Fletcher at all. A pure player that benefited from SAF's management like Cleverely.
Fletcher under Ole or Rangnick would be absolutely average.
Mctominay under SAF would be a different level to Cleverely and Fletcher.
Don't really care if people hate him due to the whole club not winning; the guy is not going anywhere - the only thing that will happen is he gets down to a more squad position
Fletcher under Ole or Rangnick would be absolutely average.
Mctominay under SAF would be a different level to Cleverely and Fletcher.
Don't really care if people hate him due to the whole club not winning; the guy is not going anywhere - the only thing that will happen is he gets down to a more squad position
He passing is simply not good enough for midfielder from top 4 teams. Its boring, predictable, coward, non-creative, lack of purpose and adds nothing to our build up play, and he tends to feck up his pass under pressure too. He just doesn't have the intelligence to play proper passing game expected from midfielder at top level.
The reason why McFred is so bad, is because of their poor passing, and inability to add anything to our build up play.
Last edited:
This is mental gymnastic revisionism on another level. Bravo, sir.
That's fine and that's your opinion.
If United win titles again Mctominay as a squad player would be liked more just as people value Oshea, Cleverely and Fletcher during the SAF era.
Such average players playing football in a time when the PL aswell as football as a whole was at a much much lower level.
I'm just not one of those fans that value players due to what the club as a whole achieve.
Some fans are very emotionally hurt by not winning titles and as such pick out players that they want to blame - something that didn't happen during the SAF era - why?
Because we won titles and kept the emotional fan base clique happy and kept.
Neh that’s rubbish mate, 2009-2010 he was phenomenal, he became a really productive passer of the ball matched with incredible energy. Had great European nights against the likes of Milan too. There’s a reason people quote his missing of the 09 final as a huge loss.
Fletcher is a lot better than Mctominay is, and likely ever will be, and far better than Cleverley/O’Shea too.
Right so one season is good in his prime and his whole career is better in your eyes.
Not for me.
Mctominay at Fletchers single prime season can exactly happen at the same age Fletcher achieved it.
Also the rest of the squad was better especially on midfield and the partners Fletcher had.
Mctominay is not even playing in his best position due to the gaps we have in midfield.
Fletcher 2009 was better- but every other season Fletcher was not performing to that standard.
I don’t agree with that, it wasn’t one season either 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 he was very good and then the ulcerative colitis (think it was this but can’t remember the exact name of the condition) all but ended his career at the standards he had set, just when he was coming into his own (leading to him only making the bench in 2011 as it had absolutely ruined him). But that’s your opinion and I respect it.
Last edited:
I agree with this poster. Fletcher, between 08/11 was our best midfielder. It would be Fletcher plus one from Scholes, Carrick, Anderson etc.
McT has similar energy and drive to Fletcher but none of the technical skill.
This is just another in a long line of ridiculous excuses for our current crop of players. Cleverley is McTominay’s level and he got plenty of flack in his day despite all the titles. Nani was shit on even despite being one of our best players, FFS.
And anyone watching the Prem or football in general in the mid to late 2000’s would never claim standards were lower then.
You are having a mare here.
I thought he was good vs Leeds. Got stuck in, quite literally!
This would be very damming of Mctominay, given Cleverley ended up in the Championship after failing to make it at mid-table PL clubs and is now a sub for a relegation club.
I'd say Mctominay is a little better, but even that's pretty sad.
The comparisons with Fletcher are ludicrous.
The only comparison is that they're both Scottish.
bored of the lazy Fletcher comparisons, they are not alike what so ever.
and cleverly was getting minutes in a midfield which mctominay wouldnt get a sniff in now. a ball playing midfielder who wouldnt go hiding like Mct does.
imagine how good Carrick would be in behind Pogba and Bruno now, god how we miss having a proper midfielder. this lad wont be here too much longer, hell get replaced in the starting line up and then become a bit part player who will be replaced by more talented lads ie Garner/Hannibal
and cleverly was getting minutes in a midfield which mctominay wouldnt get a sniff in now. a ball playing midfielder who wouldnt go hiding like Mct does.
imagine how good Carrick would be in behind Pogba and Bruno now, god how we miss having a proper midfielder. this lad wont be here too much longer, hell get replaced in the starting line up and then become a bit part player who will be replaced by more talented lads ie Garner/Hannibal
I dont think I am.
We lose so much control of games through central midfield, we are basically outplayed in the middle of the park in every single game. Every game. Let that sink in.
Our midfield isn't good enough - and McTom is a regular there - he's nowhere near good enough with or without the ball.
He's a perfect squad player - used sparingly and for certain situations. Starting regular? No chance
I always dislike comparing players of old to todays player. Fletcher played in a team that controlled games and was part of a serial winning squad, different era, different levels, different altogether. But i'll bite. Fletcher was a really good player, good enough to start for us every game? Probably not, but the bar was immensely higher then. Fletcher was competing with Carrick/Keane/Scholes/Anderson/Giggs etc and never looked out of his depth. McTominey looks afraid of showing for the ball and his only competition is Matic, who several years ago was a great player, these days he looks like he's running in cement.
His ability to hide from the ball is incredible. You always see the guy following the footsteps of opposition in front of him when we're in possession. Absolutely can't stand that.
That and his tendency to run in the direction he's going to pass in for a few strides before he does it. Absolutely has me screaming at the TV each game.
Badly missed today. We got physically bullied far too much.
Finally played on his best position. And did great there.
I criticise Scott a fair bit (although I also give him credit when it's due), but this was a game where we obviously needed both the members of McFred in midfield. As soon as I saw he wasn't playing I knew we were in trouble.
I’m pleased others see this ! To be fair a few of our players do it
Only Pogba and varane don’t
This forum...Scott has had a poor season and yet some believe he would make a difference today is just mind boggling.
Yes. Playing Pogba and Bruno was bonkers.
Scott's been better under Rangnick, but more importantly it's this particular type of game where you expect the Fred and McTominay combo to do decent work. Especially when the alternative is Pogba who was always likely to struggle in this kind of match.
Wrong thread.
No, it is not
Yeah I don't get it either, McTominay was shite for an hour just this past weekend against Leeds why would he of been the difference tonight?
Fact is you could play anyone this season and the results would be the same (other than DDG, they'd be even worse without him)
Yep really strange, he’s been a problem majority of season now he’s answer to our problems. I suppose it’s inevitable in some ways you benefit by not playing in a game like that but much better players than Mctominay wouldn’t have made much difference given how poor we were.
I distinctly remember Fletcher beginning to really grow into his own around 2005/06 when he scored that looping header against Chelsea in the league
That was a real turning point for him and he never looked back. I was one of his harshest critics but he won me and many of his detractors over that season. McTominay has nothing on him. This is revisionism at it's worst
We missed him last night imo.
I felt this too.
- Status