High IQ footballer, such an intelligent boy.
37
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 31
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 3
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
There were hardly any people doubting him, it was way more exercising caution, which is STILL the right approach.
Lovely to watch him. To play that well in a team that is in such a state as ours really speaks volumes. Great talent.
Honestly I’m more happy for him. And for the team. I genuinely believe the manager wants to use the young players and performances like this will help. Weirdly now is when the expectations might be an issue.
It's mad isn't it
The next Bellingham.
Not just for United but England need his profile too.He is the type of player England simply dont have.
Very impressed today to be honest. Obviously saw the pre season performances which were excellent but always approached any step up with the rational approach. He was class today.
Dare I Say....can Kobbie be our Frenkie de Jong?
No please keep him away from Gareth Waistcoat?
Modrićesque performance.
Disgusting debut, outrageous talent.
Should start every game.
Should start every game.
Watch as Southgate still picks Kalvin Phillips and Conor Gallagher over him.
This kid had a fantastic game, looking for the ball, composed on the ball, few nice runs with the ball, some nice passes. Was a pleasure to watch
I think ETH has handled himn and Garnacho really well. Hope does as well with Amass and Lacey
The only negative is a couple of times the ball over the top was on and he delayed it. Obviously, his debut so he understandably not going to be trying those high-risk Bruno balls. He's definitely composed so if he's able to add that to his game (accurate long distribution that is), he'd be Pirlo!
What a performance from the kid. The stark difference between him and Scott in possession was unbelievable. Hoping he can look even better with an improvement in midfield partner soon.
The drop-off when Amrabat came on for him was noticeable
If it works out and Him Rice and Bellingham play together, it is probably the best Midfield England have had in a long time in terms of profile and style fit between players.
All three bring completely different things that the other lack.
Glad you are happy and all and last thing I want is to downplay the player today where he so fantastically has taken his chance to perform in the PL. But all you say doesn't really mean much because you base it on U19 or U20 football. That doesn't really mean anything. Hopefully he'll turn into the play you describe but to act as if he's already there is bonkers. And it isn't doing any good to the player but putting pressure onto him. I think, he doesn't even have 90 minutes of PL football on his account. Lets keep it reasonable and celebrate a great outing of a very promising player. That is more than enough to be happy about.
My take as well.
Amazing debut - I knew he was good but throwing him straight into starting after injury was a big risk
Playing that DM link role is not easy for anyone, nevermind a teenager - not least because McT and Bruno in front of him were mostly terrible
Awful shout from Neville to give Garnacho and not Mainoo MOTM
Playing that DM link role is not easy for anyone, nevermind a teenager - not least because McT and Bruno in front of him were mostly terrible
Awful shout from Neville to give Garnacho and not Mainoo MOTM
Finally we have found our Keane again.
Without the fisticuffs.
Without the fisticuffs.
I went to a few youth games in 2021/22 including most of the youth cup run and after seeing him first time, I thought “looks good, but maybe I caught him on a good day”.
Then I watched a couple more and I was sold. It was like seeing a young Whiteside again when you say “HOW OLD?!”
I haven’t seen a player look so calm at that age, especially in the hurly burly of midfield… he had positioning, timing (didn’t dive in), decisioning (when to tackle, when to stay on his feet), came out with the ball at his feet, fantastic shielding with his body, simple passing, great engine. And built.. reminded me a bit of McGrath.
Absolutely made up for him that he’s had his proper debut and showed a wider audience how good he is. Star.
Then I watched a couple more and I was sold. It was like seeing a young Whiteside again when you say “HOW OLD?!”
I haven’t seen a player look so calm at that age, especially in the hurly burly of midfield… he had positioning, timing (didn’t dive in), decisioning (when to tackle, when to stay on his feet), came out with the ball at his feet, fantastic shielding with his body, simple passing, great engine. And built.. reminded me a bit of McGrath.
Absolutely made up for him that he’s had his proper debut and showed a wider audience how good he is. Star.
He might have been trying to protect him he knows the hype danger. Hope so anyway.
It wasn’t the doubting factor for me it was that folk outright mocking people for being excited and misinterpreting it as overhype. Your right though, caution and patience will be needed.
What a debut. Insane talent, insane ball driving, energy and positional sense.
Like people have said, that’s de jong-esque play.
just insanely good.
Like people have said, that’s de jong-esque play.
just insanely good.
Nah. I believe when we see really special talent, we should all look forward to it, rather than holding back, taking passive approach and to "exercise extra caution". There were people here who argue he shouldn't even start as he is only 18 and all that. Don't think it is the right approach at all.
Brilliant performance. he can blossom into that number 6 we desperately need.
Hmm we'll have to disagree, Casemiro ver.23/24 is rash, dives into tackles and bombs forward ahead of the ball, I no longer see him as a DM tbh. Not in a United shirt.
But this is a Mainoo thread so that's a discussion for another thread.
He had the highest pass percentage of any of our starting players and constantly took the ball and ran the ball under pressure and being closed down, perfectly using all the time available to find a teammate in a good position. Instead of what we usually have which was our players constantly passing backwards whenever someone puts pressure on them
Nah - it's just the usual cop out MOTM shout to give it to the goalscorer
Fantastic, what else is there to say?
The fact that we are jizzing in our pants about his performance really tells you how far out in the wilderness we have been in midfield for a long time. Feels comforting watching him glide around the pitch 
If this kid will keep growing and developing at a steady pace over the next few years, he will be an absolute Rolls Royce in his prime.
If this kid will keep growing and developing at a steady pace over the next few years, he will be an absolute Rolls Royce in his prime.Wasnt he a CB?
You can do that and be cautious. What people shouldn't do is belittle people because Mainoo had an amazing game and use it as a "one up"
I fully agree. Both trained with the team, then got a few minutes. He only played them based on merit and trust them in big moments too. I said earlier I can see a few more coming through, especially with the age profile of our team. Both those talents could save us on future spending hopefully.
He played like a player other teams we play have, and i ask why dont we have one like that
Already our second best midfielder? The difference between when he was on and Amrabat came on was big. He made a forward pass from a difficult situation to Bruno in first half. Same situation came for Amrabat with no much pressure but he gave it back to Onana.
He actually got man of the match from the commentators on the Utd app. Deserved it too .