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2023-24 Performances


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6.1 Season Average Rating
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The Irish Connection

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He’s easing my disappointment about Caicedo going to Chelsea.
Hope he keeps this up in the league.
That clip above didn’t even show his best moment where he dribbled through midfield while holding a player off before playing a lovely long ball over arsenal’s back line down the right wing.
 

BarryWinks

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He has that trait where he's able to shift his body in such a way that he always seem to have more time when receiving the ball. Also has a zip to his passing and can the little feints to create that little bit of space for his little passes.

Still a bit unsure how quick he is over a short distance as he looks quite bulky, but if he's even decently fast across those first 5 yards (effective for a press) then he has all the tools to develop into a great player and a united regular.


Exciting talent.
 

jesperjaap

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Not seen anything but preseason highlights....and it s only PRESEASON

But alwyas found it strange so many people calling it a priority that we sign a back up to Casemeiro, and calliing for signing Lavia for example. It seemed almost to many THE prority only under sgning a strker.

I have thought for months Mainoo is good enough to replace and mprove on the likes of Mctominay and Fred next season and could be the breakthrough player, has all the attributes.

I also feel similar about Hannibal in central midfield and think all the talk regarding the loan spell is nonsense. Amad had a fantastic loan spell but I think he will struggle to get minutes because there are so many godo options already on the wings.

In central midfield there s the possibility of McFred and VDB movnng on....but there is still Casemeiro, Eriksen, Mount and Fernandes. Three can play the Fernandes role and Mount can also play last seasons Erksen role....I think Mainoo can play both as back up to Casemeiro and also last seasons Eriksens role, there should be opportunities for hm
 

sport2793

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He definitely has improved compared to last season when ETH was already saying he was impressed by him, last season he played really safe but today he showed everything, really nice to see a young lad putting it together
 

TsuWave

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Considering ETH has played him as a dm in every pre-season game this season he obviously disagrees with you
Not everything needs a sassy response. Ten Hag isn't the first manager to experiment in pre-season, and it could be very well that he ends up there, but Mainoo hasn't always operated as a DM - and just recently there were reports that the club sees him as CM long-term and have told him to observe the way Eriksen and Bruno play
 

city-puma

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Not everything needs a sassy response. Ten Hag isn't the first manager to experiment in pre-season, and it could be very well that he ends up there, but Mainoo hasn't always operated as a DM - and just recently there were reports that the club sees him as CM long-term and have told him to observe the way Eriksen and Bruno play
Some always think a team must have a DM. Also, I have no idea why people think he will be and have to be a DM.
 

simonhch

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I hate making predictions on young players because it’s so easy to veer towards either writing then off or overhyping them prematurely, but this kid…..I think he’s going to be a first team regular very soon, and even more than that, I think he has a real shot of becoming a really top player. He’s got everything you want in a top midfielder, but he also has that thing that only the best players seem to have….the ability to create time on the ball. He’s 18 ffs, absolutely exciting stuff. If we keep 6 midfielders on the books, for the three positions, I’d absolutely have him as one of them.

Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes, Eriksen, Mainoo, McTominay. Sell Fred, VdB, and loan Hannibal to a PL club. Personally prefer Fred to McT but age wise and HG quota, I guess we keep McT.

This kid reminds me of Tchouameni in some ways. I am beyond excited about him. Unbelievable maturity in his decision making for his age, and he’s a real unit already. He’s technically excellent, and has a crispness and zip to his passing that only the best players have. I could see him having a breakthrough year. What a wonderful opportunity for him to jumó to first team level under a manager like ETH. He’s going to learn so much at such a critical stage of his development.
 

NoPace

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Considering ETH has played him as a dm in every pre-season game this season he obviously disagrees with you
It might just be that we have 3 first team CM/AMs and only one DM and Ten Hag figures McT and Fred will leave.

If the Amrabat rumours are true and we can sell Fred and McT and Mainoo is 3rd string DM but the 4th choice CM/AM, he might get more minutes there than as the deepest player this season.

Long term I have no idea, don't watch the reserves.From what I've seen Mainoo is strong, decent passer and dribbler, doesn't seem to look far upfield much and prefers to play short balls, so tough to say where exactly in midfield he'll end up.
 

SAFMUTD

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Mar 14, 2018
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Ten Hag has a good history of giving youngsters a chance. From last year's group I don't think anyone deserved it but Garnacho and maybe Pellistri (who wasn't given many chances to be honest). I hope Mainoo gets chances to prove himself this season. He looks promising.
 

KikiDaKats

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Not sure of the generational talent talk going on but he looks a very quick study and that will serve him well in his development.
Hopefully he goes unto a long successful career with us.
 

mav_9me

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I was stunned to see him start against Arsenal. Huge huge responsibility even if it's just a pre season game. I didn't expect him to do so good. I thought he was exceptional.
 

Borys

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I fail to understand how this guy turns into prime Pogba/Yaya Tour overnight. I mean, he was nowhere last season, didn't play, and was not on any loan right? So what happened here?

He looks like a senior player with all the skills and athletism. Plays through press, makes himself available for the ball, closes down players, holds the ball with a player on his back.

One thing we as fans do we overrate attacking players in preseason because there's less pressure on them in those games. I don't recall being so excited about a defensive player/central midfielder in a long long time. I never got onto Iqbal/Hannibal train as well.

He needs to be a part of the squad next season.
 

VP89

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I fail to understand how this guy turns into prime Pogba/Yaya Tour overnight. I mean, he was nowhere last season, didn't play, and was not on any loan right? So what happened here?

He looks like a senior player with all the skills and athletism. Plays through press, makes himself available for the ball, closes down players, holds the ball with a player on his back.

One thing we as fans do we overrate attacking players in preseason because there's less pressure on them in those games. I don't recall being so excited about a defensive player/central midfielder in a long long time. I never got onto Iqbal/Hannibal train as well.

He needs to be a part of the squad next season.
I think ten hag mentioned in post match that he had an injury setback in the spring
 

Red Rash

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I fail to understand how this guy turns into prime Pogba/Yaya Tour overnight. I mean, he was nowhere last season, didn't play, and was not on any loan right? So what happened here?

He looks like a senior player with all the skills and athletism. Plays through press, makes himself available for the ball, closes down players, holds the ball with a player on his back.

One thing we as fans do we overrate attacking players in preseason because there's less pressure on them in those games. I don't recall being so excited about a defensive player/central midfielder in a long long time. I never got onto Iqbal/Hannibal train as well.

He needs to be a part of the squad next season.
I think he's always been highly rated by the club but last season he was 17 plus had injury problems.
 

Thiagoal

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Jul 8, 2013
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The boy is really making his mark and the fact he played today when no other youngsters did says everything you need to know. The exciting thing for me- someone who watched a lot of him playing for the U18’s- is that he has other strings to his bow which we haven’t see of him as a first teamer. He’s great at dribbling past players, got fantastic range on long passes, very silky taking players on one on one and can also shoot really well too!
 

Drainy

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I fail to understand how this guy turns into prime Pogba/Yaya Tour overnight. I mean, he was nowhere last season, didn't play, and was not on any loan right? So what happened here?

He looks like a senior player with all the skills and athletism. Plays through press, makes himself available for the ball, closes down players, holds the ball with a player on his back.

One thing we as fans do we overrate attacking players in preseason because there's less pressure on them in those games. I don't recall being so excited about a defensive player/central midfielder in a long long time. I never got onto Iqbal/Hannibal train as well.

He needs to be a part of the squad next season.
1 ) as great as his potential is let's calm down
2) I'm sure a lot of hard work and dedication has gone into getting into physical shape to complete
3) sometimes young players have a breakthrough, but should still expect inconsistency
 

roonster09

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He was key to the build up play, he was playing in RB/RCB position to build up play from the back and later in the game he was playing centrally with both CBs split wide.

Also went wide in the final third to support wingers/FBs.

Very good performance by a young player in the most difficult position on the pitch.

Also academy saving us lot of money, one more academy player who will be promoted to first team.
 

AndySmith1990

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Exciting player. Looking forward to seeing how he performs in actual competitive games throughout the season
 

tenpoless

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I fail to understand how this guy turns into prime Pogba/Yaya Tour overnight. I mean, he was nowhere last season, didn't play, and was not on any loan right? So what happened here?

He looks like a senior player with all the skills and athletism. Plays through press, makes himself available for the ball, closes down players, holds the ball with a player on his back.

One thing we as fans do we overrate attacking players in preseason because there's less pressure on them in those games. I don't recall being so excited about a defensive player/central midfielder in a long long time. I never got onto Iqbal/Hannibal train as well.

He needs to be a part of the squad next season.
He had injuries last season so this match against Arsenal must have felt like a big PL match for him. He was really up for it.
 

renatosanches85

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Mar 6, 2016
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Just a reminder that Iqbal and Savage were getting rave reviews last pre-season
I haven’t seen much of the preseason so far so can’t really comment on Mainoo. Preseason friendlies mean nothing, but it wasn’t hard to tell last summer that Iqbal and Savage were not good enough. Fans/media go over the top hyping preseason performances. A bit like the hyperbole over Havertz not scoring from crosses and volleys, then he scores a volley in the next match.
 

Jeppers7

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Feb 25, 2014
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The difference with Iqbal and Savage was the genuine suprise, to anyone who has followed Mainoo this is no suprise at all. He’s a different level to those.
 

Borys

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1 ) as great as his potential is let's calm down
2) I'm sure a lot of hard work and dedication has gone into getting into physical shape to complete
3) sometimes young players have a breakthrough, but should still expect inconsistency
No need to tell me to calm down, I have A LOT of distance to those pre season games and definitely don't expect Mainoo to translate this level to EPL games. However, I do see his all round skills in a position that is not so easy to play for a young player.