Scott McTominay | Napoli

[Fortitude]

Hmm, difficult to argue for and against I guess. All I can tell you is that I wouldn't see a gulf.

I'd say Hojlund is faster than him. I'd say he is a bit more active than McTominay. I think, it would be interesting to see how McTominay deals with physical CBs who are prepared on him. Because he doesn't have technique, nor speed to reliably overcome them. Game intelligence... yeah maybe thats something where McT has a significant upper hand but he is a more experienced player as well.

Thats understood. But wouldn't the idea of swapping them not just be actionism? I mean, it sounds like you don't expect our overall output to look very different between playing Hojlund or McTominay.

Fair enough. And 99% agreement on the last sentence with the 1% percent being an asterisk saying "0.22 is better than 0.08 and while McTominay may be better than the current iteration of Hojlund, the attack would most likely still be truly atrocious"

I'd expect us to look a lot more threatening with McTominay up top instead of Hojlund. Suddenly we could put aerial balls into the box or try to cross high. We would also have a legitimate threat in melee and box scrambles/chaos. McTominay is also better at 1 and 2-touch football into the box, where our players don't even attempt it with Hojlund because he can't play any quick interlinking football.

I'd refute your second paragraph's notion McTominay doesn't have technique. In advanced positions, he's not that bad at all with his technique; as an actual midfielder, particularly with passing and positioning, he struggles. A lot. But technique, with regard to the final third is a different and McTominay excels more at that than he does with the technical aspects of deeper midfield.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

The only question you need to ask here is if he has more technical ability that the player we have as our starting #9 right now and the answer, you must surely agree, is a resounding yes. We're chuffed if Rasmus' first touch isn't a ricochet to the opposition. That's the bar McTominay would have to win out against.

There's a lot more that McTominay has aptitude when directly contrasted with what he'd be up against to start - a sudden aerial threat in the team; someone who can actually hold his own in strength battles and someone who also understands where he should be running when the team break and there's open space to run into. It's not only goals that should be considered here.

No dispute on your last sentence, but I only interjected by the notion McTominay wouldn't field if he were here right now; he'd almost certainly be our striker or slotted in behind him, literally either or; most certainly capable of usurping Hojlund as the actual #9 because Hojlund is a net negative in the position this season.

I think you'd see much the same as you see with Hojlund. Doesn't have the instincts of a striker and the ball bouncing off him every time you played it up to him.

Maybe slightly better like Maguire was recently due to being a bit of a lump in the air and aggressive. I also think most players in our squad would have been better than Hojlund in the past 30 games or so.

Also he definitely wouldn't play up front as he would have been needed in midfield as we couldn't have signed Ugarte without selling him.

 

[MadDogg]

Perhaps I'm remembering it wrong and it was a very short sample size but I recall him playing up front alone for a game or end of a half, where he subsequently had a bad/invisible game. I'm sure there were a few 'remember people saying he'll be a better striker than Hojlund?' gotcha posts too.

@MadDogg do you remember with your photographic memory?

It's funny you say that as I actually tend to have a bad memory for individual games, unless something really stands out about them. What I'm normally good at is remembering trends that last a while.

In saying that, I think there was one game last season that he did go up front for a while (not the full game) and was largely invisible. No idea which one though.

 

[criticalanalysis]

It's funny you say that as I actually tend to have a bad memory for individual games, unless something really stands out about them. What I'm normally good at is remembering trends that last a while.

In saying that, I think there was one game last season that he did go up front for a while (not the full game) and was largely invisible. No idea which one though.

Wow, I thought better of you! Oh well, I guess I will gladly bury that performance into the abyss of my mind along with the past 12 years too.

 

[Ted Lasso]

It's funny you say that as I actually tend to have a bad memory for individual games, unless something really stands out about them. What I'm normally good at is remembering trends that last a while.

In saying that, I think there was one game last season that he did go up front for a while (not the full game) and was largely invisible. No idea which one though.

You remember his double to beat Brentford 2-1 after training til the 90th min or so?

Inhave sooo many fantastic memories of Scott over the last several seasons. Definitely one of the harder youth lads to see go while we're in our current state

 

[Ted Lasso]

Is/was McTominay better than Darren Gibson or Cleverly?

 

[giorno]

Odd that he's started 25 times this season as a central midfielder, and 12 as an attacking mid.

Nope. Watch them play, he's essentially a second striker in possession

 

[FrankWhite]

Nope. Watch them play, he's essentially a second striker in possession

What position do you think he would have suited, playing for us? A) under ETH B) under Amorim?
He's a player either manager could chuck in a desperate search for goals but he just didn't fit either system as a starter.

 

[Bwuk]

Is/was McTominay better than Darren Gibson or Cleverly?

Is this a real question? Obviously.

 

[giorno]

What position do you think he would have suited, playing for us? A) under ETH B) under Amorim?
He's a player either manager could chuck in a desperate search for goals but he just didn't fit either system as a starter.

One of the 2 forwards behind the CF for Amorim. That's his natural role. For ten hag there wasn't really space for him. I know he wanted to try something with Mount and they are similar players, but you never had the personnel for it

 

[FrankWhite]

One of the 2 forwards behind the CF for Amorim. That's his natural role. For ten hag there wasn't really space for him. I know he wanted to try something with Mount and they are similar players, but you never had the personnel for it

Really? Those players are supposed to be clever players that can play in the half space, even Amorim said as much. This unfortunately is one of Mctominays worst traits, are doesn't know how to show for the ball unless he's on the end of a chance. Mount fits that role, Mctominay for me, is better suited to the CF role.

 

[NZT-One]

Is/was McTominay better than Darren Gibson or Cleverly?

I'd have them all on the same level but for different reasons. None of them is overall more than a decent footballer. But Gibson and McTominay had one noticable strength, that was very useful for a team. Cleverley didn't have that one tangible thing that stood out but still was a decent footballer. Gibson had his shooting and iirc was a decent allrounder with a good range of passes, he tended to go invisible in games and was easily taken care of by opposition teams. Cleverley was mobile, had good technique and decent passing but he was as uninspiring as it gets. McTominay has better physique than both of them (but it was always a tad overstated because even though he is so imposing, I've never seen him making use of it and as soon as an opponent isn't two levels below him, odds are back to 50-50), he has this knack for late runs into the box. He isn't a good midfielder though, even today I struggle to say which is his best position because defensively he misses positional awareness (his size obviously helps with aerial duels though I've never considered that an actual strength), he isn't mobile enough nor has the willingness to make himself available for passes which is reflected in his low passing volume. His driving of the ball is overstated in my eyes, he isn't bad and I personally always liked it when he at least tried but his success in that aspect were always down to opposition not expecting him to dare such runs and more often than not, he just stumbled through ending up with the ball. Thats not bad but it isn't a strength and as soon as teams were somewhat prepared, he couldn't make any use of it, which is why we didn't see it very often.

Mix all of them together and you end up with a very useful footballer. But on their own, none of them really has it.

 

[SilentWitness]

Really? Those players are supposed to be clever players that can play in the half space, even Amorim said as much. This unfortunately is one of Mctominays worst traits, are doesn't know how to show for the ball unless he's on the end of a chance. Mount fits that role, Mctominay for me, is better suited to the CF role.

I think either way, the role of McT this season for Ten Hag or Amorim would have been as a substitute bulldozer in those forward positions.

 

[FrankWhite]

I think either way, the role of McT this season for Ten Hag or Amorim would have been as a substitute bulldozer in those forward positions.

I have no doubt he would have been a great sub option for us, especially given the state of Hojlund. What would be more useful though is an actual striker.

 

[giorno]

Really? Those players are supposed to be clever players that can play in the half space, even Amorim said as much. This unfortunately is one of Mctominays worst traits, are doesn't know how to show for the ball unless he's on the end of a chance. Mount fits that role, Mctominay for me, is better suited to the CF role.

His movement is really good in the final 3rd, both in terms of off ball runs and getting himself open to show for the ball, he's deceptively quick with good close control on the turn and while his quality and selection of passes is still pretty poor, he overall does fit the "clever half space player" archetype

And you are playing Garnacho there atm, who is worse at nearly all of that than him

Though I'm willing to concede this might be down to Serie A being slower/less physical

 

[MadDogg]

His movement is really good in the final 3rd, both in terms of off ball runs and getting himself open to show for the ball, he's deceptively quick with good close control on the turn and while his quality and selection of passes is still pretty poor, he overall does fit the "clever half space player" archetype

And you are playing Garnacho there atm, who is worse at nearly all of that than him

Though I'm willing to concede this might be down to Serie A being slower/less physical

Garnacho does one thing that no other player in our squad does (since Amad is injured), and that is stretch the play and force the opposition defensive line back a bit which opens up space for others. That's why he continues to start even though his individual performances have been terrible for most of the season. McTominay wouldn't have helped with that so I doubt he would have been in much competition with Garna, but he'd probably be starting in the other #10 role beside him. With our troubles at striker I do suspect Amorim would have tried him up front as well, but whether Scott would have taken that spot I don't know.

He still wouldn't have been who Amorim wanted longterm, but considering our issues with the rest of our attack he would have played plenty. Much like what happened last season.

 

[FrankWhite]

Garnacho does one thing that no other player in our squad does (since Amad is injured), and that is stretch the play and force the opposition defensive line back a bit which opens up space for others. That's why he continues to start even though his individual performances have been terrible for most of the season. McTominay wouldn't have helped with that so I doubt he would have been in much competition with Garna, but he'd probably be starting in the other #10 role beside him. With our troubles at striker I do suspect Amorim would have tried him up front as well, but whether Scott would have taken that spot I don't know.

He still wouldn't have been who Amorim wanted longterm, but considering our issues with the rest of our attack he would have played plenty. Much like what happened last season.

Garnacho and Mctominay as 10s behind a striker? That striker would starve! Maybe if it was zirkzee who's happier creating than scoring

 

[tomaldinho1]

Is/was McTominay better than Darren Gibson or Cleverly?

I think Cleverly is his equivalent, they played different roles but both would start at mid table PL clubs in their favoured roles or be squad options at the best teams.
Gibson I swear just had a rocket of a shot, but otherwise you could have swapped him with a Championship player and not seen much difference.

 

[MadDogg]

Garnacho and Mctominay as 10s behind a striker? That striker would starve! Maybe if it was zirkzee who's happier creating than scoring

Yeah, I'm picturing it during that period when we had Zirkzee playing as a #10 behind Hojlund. I think Scott probably would have been playing there instead of Zirkzee, who then would be competing with Hojlund up front and ultimately taking his spot since he's performing better. Even though Zirkzee would nominally be the striker, I reckon Scott would probably end up playing higher most games while Zirkzee drops deep.

 

[Sandikan]

I think Cleverly is his equivalent, they played different roles but both would start at mid table PL clubs in their favoured roles or be squad options at the best teams.
Gibson I swear just had a rocket of a shot, but otherwise you could have swapped him with a Championship player and not seen much difference.

Agreed.
Gibson was the classic Fergie magic player where he could get an absolutely average player producing for the team.

Remember him scoring a screamer v Bayern when we raced into a lead. Unfortunately Rooney got injured and it all fell away late on.

 

[Bobski]

Scored again apparently, 10th of the season.

 

[top1whoisman]

 

[Pintu]

Scored again apparently, 10th of the season.

9th according to the commentator i am listening to… Very important header, keeping the title race wide open.

 

[Bobski]

9th according to the commentator i am listening to… Very important header, keeping the title race wide open.

Has a cup goal as well, 10 in 27 starts, with 3 sub appearances.

 

[Lay]

He scored one in the cup. Might be counting overall.

 

[TheGame]

 

[stretford ender58]

If Scotty was still around Garnacho would be relegated to the bench this season. He's on course to score just as many goals as Zirzkee and Hojlund managed in Serie A and he's not even a striker.

As SJR made clear the problem is that every year we are amortizing the transfer fees of crap players that Ten Hag and Ole bought. So we have to keep selling homegrown players to generate the pure profit to fund new spending. Kovar is another one we should have kept. He's much better than Onana and Bayindir.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

I don't watch Serie A at all, and wanted to understand how much of an impact he's having. Looking at WhoScored average ratings - he's their best outfield player this season, and that's including pre-transfer Khvicha. Looks like he's got the second most goals (9 after Lukaku's 12), and second most MotM performances (4 after Anguissa's 7). Napoli are level on points with Inter for the Serie A with 5 games to go.

Do these stats reflect reality, for those who're watching some of the Napoli games? Is he as vital to the team's title run this season as the number seem to indicate?

Player		CM	KG	Apps	Mins	Goals	Assists	Yel	Red	SpG	PS%	AerialsWon	MotM	Rating
1 Simone Scuffet28, GK	193	77	1	90	-	-	-	-	-	76.9	1	-	7.19
2 Scott McTominay28, D(C),M(C)	193	88	28(1)	2491	9	2	3	-	2.3	85	1.9	4	7.17
3 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia24, AM(CLR),FW	183	76	15(2)	1191	5	3	1	-	2.9	83.3	0.3	2	7.12
4 Alessandro Buongiorno25, D(C)	190	86	21	1862	1	-	2	-	0.4	91	2.1	-	7.04
5 Frank Anguissa29, M(C)	184	78	27(3)	2445	6	3	5	-	1.2	85.3	1.9	7	6.99
6 Amir Rrahmani31, D(CL)	192	87	33	2956	1	2	2	-	0.8	91.4	3.3	-	6.96
7 Elia Caprile23, GK	191	74	3(1)	324	-	-	-	-	-	81.8	0.3	1	6.90
8 Giovanni Di Lorenzo31, D(CLR),M(R)	183	83	32	2880	3	2	5	-	0.6	84.8	1.3	1	6.89
9 Romelu Lukaku31, AM(R),FW	191	93	30(1)	2452	12	10	3	-	1.8	71.2	1.1	1	6.85
10 Matteo Politano31, M(CLR),FW	171	67	29(3)	2423	3	2	2	-	1.5	79.7	0.2	2	6.83

 

[Bwuk]

I don't watch Serie A at all, and wanted to understand how much of an impact he's having. Looking at WhoScored average ratings - he's their best outfield player this season, and that's including pre-transfer Khvicha. Looks like he's got the second most goals (9 after Lukaku's 12), and second most MotM performances (4 after Anguissa's 7). Napoli are level on points with Inter for the Serie A with 5 games to go.

Do these stats reflect reality, for those who're watching some of the Napoli games? Is he as vital to the team's title run this season as the number seem to indicate?

Player		CM	KG	Apps	Mins	Goals	Assists	Yel	Red	SpG	PS%	AerialsWon	MotM	Rating
1 Simone Scuffet28, GK	193	77	1	90	-	-	-	-	-	76.9	1	-	7.19
2 Scott McTominay28, D(C),M(C)	193	88	28(1)	2491	9	2	3	-	2.3	85	1.9	4	7.17
3 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia24, AM(CLR),FW	183	76	15(2)	1191	5	3	1	-	2.9	83.3	0.3	2	7.12
4 Alessandro Buongiorno25, D(C)	190	86	21	1862	1	-	2	-	0.4	91	2.1	-	7.04
5 Frank Anguissa29, M(C)	184	78	27(3)	2445	6	3	5	-	1.2	85.3	1.9	7	6.99
6 Amir Rrahmani31, D(CL)	192	87	33	2956	1	2	2	-	0.8	91.4	3.3	-	6.96
7 Elia Caprile23, GK	191	74	3(1)	324	-	-	-	-	-	81.8	0.3	1	6.90
8 Giovanni Di Lorenzo31, D(CLR),M(R)	183	83	32	2880	3	2	5	-	0.6	84.8	1.3	1	6.89
9 Romelu Lukaku31, AM(R),FW	191	93	30(1)	2452	12	10	3	-	1.8	71.2	1.1	1	6.85
10 Matteo Politano31, M(CLR),FW	171	67	29(3)	2423	3	2	2	-	1.5	79.7	0.2	2	6.83

The Napoli fans absolutely love him. Their subreddit had a vote on their best player this season and it was mostly him getting mentioned.

 

[stretford ender58]

Everyone would have been happy for McTomminay to be kept as a squad player. He wasn’t the right person to start every week but when he played he gave solid performances. He wasn’t a defensive midfielder and he got lumbered in that role often because of poor investment.

He was moved on because we had wasted so much on Mount and Casemiro. He had much greater impact than what Mount has done so far who has essentially replaced him in the attacking mid positions.

Same goes for Elanga

 

[Nogho]

Imagine replacing Mount and Zirkzee with McTominay and Elanga plus 30 million.

I would have taken that deal in an instant.

Insane.

 

[Marwood]

Guys remember his passing stats.

You can't help but like McTominay because of his personality but he can't pass the ball. You can't be at United if that's the case. Banking on him getting 7-10 goals a season to make up for that isn't the way.

Mount is a better footballer and I don't particularly want to say that as he still feels like a Chelsea player to me.

But obviously one is one the pitch every week and the other isn't.

 

[hellhunter]

Guys remember his passing stats.

You can't help but like McTominay because of his personality but he can't pass the ball. You can't be at United if that's the case. Banking on him getting 7-10 goals a season to make up for that isn't the way.

Mount is a better footballer and I don't particularly want to say that as he still feels like a Chelsea player to me.

But obviously one is one the pitch every week and the other isn't.

Because we're currently a much better side than Napoli, where that's acceptable?

 

[Marwood]

Because we're currently a much better side than Napoli, where that's acceptable?

I can't speak for Napoli and the Italian league. That's upto them.

But I know at United you can't have forwards/midfielders who don't want the ball or can't pass the ball. It isn't the way.

 

[stretford ender58]

I believe he’d be our joint top scorer in the league this season based on his 8 goals.

McTominay ultimately wasn’t good enough to be starting in a side at the level that we want to be. But he was miles away from the worst player in the side we actually are.

I’d have been happy with him as a squad and rotation player. Sabitzer probably we should’ve picked him up, but McTominay is miles ahead of him as a player who can make a difference. When you’ve got the likes of Mount kicking about your squad either injured or stinking the place out, completely unable to affect a game, letting Scott go is a shame.

 

[Lay]

I don't watch Serie A at all, and wanted to understand how much of an impact he's having. Looking at WhoScored average ratings - he's their best outfield player this season, and that's including pre-transfer Khvicha. Looks like he's got the second most goals (9 after Lukaku's 12), and second most MotM performances (4 after Anguissa's 7). Napoli are level on points with Inter for the Serie A with 5 games to go.

Do these stats reflect reality, for those who're watching some of the Napoli games? Is he as vital to the team's title run this season as the number seem to indicate?

Player		CM	KG	Apps	Mins	Goals	Assists	Yel	Red	SpG	PS%	AerialsWon	MotM	Rating
1 Simone Scuffet28, GK	193	77	1	90	-	-	-	-	-	76.9	1	-	7.19
2 Scott McTominay28, D(C),M(C)	193	88	28(1)	2491	9	2	3	-	2.3	85	1.9	4	7.17
3 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia24, AM(CLR),FW	183	76	15(2)	1191	5	3	1	-	2.9	83.3	0.3	2	7.12
4 Alessandro Buongiorno25, D(C)	190	86	21	1862	1	-	2	-	0.4	91	2.1	-	7.04
5 Frank Anguissa29, M(C)	184	78	27(3)	2445	6	3	5	-	1.2	85.3	1.9	7	6.99
6 Amir Rrahmani31, D(CL)	192	87	33	2956	1	2	2	-	0.8	91.4	3.3	-	6.96
7 Elia Caprile23, GK	191	74	3(1)	324	-	-	-	-	-	81.8	0.3	1	6.90
8 Giovanni Di Lorenzo31, D(CLR),M(R)	183	83	32	2880	3	2	5	-	0.6	84.8	1.3	1	6.89
9 Romelu Lukaku31, AM(R),FW	191	93	30(1)	2452	12	10	3	-	1.8	71.2	1.1	1	6.85
10 Matteo Politano31, M(CLR),FW	171	67	29(3)	2423	3	2	2	-	1.5	79.7	0.2	2	6.83

I'd have Anguissa over him but McTominay is doing well and probably is top 3. Lukaku who can have his down moments has turned into a fantastic provider and is leading the league in assists.

 

[Ish]

Everyone would have been happy for McTomminay to be kept as a squad player. He wasn’t the right person to start every week but when he played he gave solid performances. He wasn’t a defensive midfielder and he got lumbered in that role often because of poor investment.

He was moved on because we had wasted so much on Mount and Casemiro. He had much greater impact than what Mount has done so far who has essentially replaced him in the attacking mid positions.

Same goes for Elanga

Yeah, very much so. I think even EtH wanted to keep hold of Scott but ultimately due to a combination of needing the money and Scott wanting more guaranteed minutes, he was sold. Very happy for him - that he’s doing well.

 

[Born2Lose]

Club were wrong to let him go, his goals were important last season to United.

You buy the replacement first, let him bed in and then sell a guy like McTominay.

Really glad for him, always came across as a decent lad.

It's funny how it's the unfashionable players on here that always leave for decent fees.

 

[Quagmaguire]

Mctomminay wasn't just goals.

He allowed us an ability to play with a Maguire upfront without playing Maguire upfront.

Even if he didn't score we had that presence of Maguire in the box with Mctomminay making his runs in to the box.

We saw vs Lyon that Maguire upfront can really break down the organisation of a defensive structure. It's why Mctomminay behind a striker is very effective.

The only problem is that we played him deep and used him more for his engine than his penteration and power.

I don't think he would have fit Amorim's system, but I still like players in the first XI that fits Amorims system but players on the bench that play more differently to Amorim's system so it gives us some tactical versatility.

Whilst not so much hated, another player scapegoat targeted by fans of that nature.

 

[Kostov]

Guys remember his passing stats.

You can't help but like McTominay because of his personality but he can't pass the ball. You can't be at United if that's the case. Banking on him getting 7-10 goals a season to make up for that isn't the way.

Mount is a better footballer and I don't particularly want to say that as he still feels like a Chelsea player to me.

But obviously one is one the pitch every week and the other isn't.

I remember his contributions, not his passing stats. We all knew he isn't Paul Schnoles. And you mentioning Mount as of know being a better footballer is cringeworthy. Based on what can someone who actually has seen Mount claim that?

He has only shown that he can foul in a United shirt. And I am being generous.