Whatever you want to call it, Scott is a level up from Andreas so take it how you want.
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He's been fine. Nothing special, but always performs the role he's asked and is never phased by a big occasion.
What's shocking is the lack of depth and quality we have in central midfield. Andreas has some talent, but I don't see him as a long term first team United player. Fred was really poor for most of last season, I'm sorry to say, but it looks like he was a poor purchase. Matic is finished at the top level, another awful signing from Mourinho.
What's shocking is the lack of depth and quality we have in central midfield. Andreas has some talent, but I don't see him as a long term first team United player. Fred was really poor for most of last season, I'm sorry to say, but it looks like he was a poor purchase. Matic is finished at the top level, another awful signing from Mourinho.
I struggle to see what his uses are beyond ‘tackling a bit’. That is, what he offers that could not be substituted with 50+ other midfielders in England. I can’t use some possession stat to imply that he’s good, or was good, on the ball yesterday. I watched the game, he wasn’t.
He may well end up being a squad player for us (we had no Gary Neville in midfield, that is, as a regular in the first XI) but it would be a sad day for United I think if we started going into the market to ‘look for a partner for McTominay’, I think. I won’t begrudge him a rotational player role, but he’s not what I’m accustomed to with this club as the calibre of player who is an automatic choice. Don’t think he’s talented enough for that. Useful? Absolutely. I don’t dislike the kid at all. But come on. He shouldn’t be a United starter. We shouldn’t have starters who would be targets for promoted sides if they were sold tomorrow.
Okay, he’s a C+ while Andreas is a C, if it makes you happy. You seem quite committed to the Andreas example I used anyway. I couldn’t give that much of a feck about who is better of the two, Andreas is not the bar. Scott McTominay is an automatic starter at United, and everything you say about him suggests that you believe that is a total natural order of things because of the list of qualities he apparently possesses.
Scott is average so take it how you want.
I never said Scott should be starting every game either. You're just making stuff up.
At the moment he should be, but it's not like we currently have better options. He will be a good squad player for us for the next 10 years. Someone like Andreas, will not.
No, I said he shouldn’t, because he isn’t good enough to. You have continually argued with me. Again, perhaps you don’t disagree, and also see him as a squad player. Maybe you just enjoy the debate. At least whenever some sort of perceived underdog needs a barrister.
You say that you don’t claim he should be a starter, but I have repeatedly said that I don’t claim he shouldn’t be part of the squad. But he’s better than the level I think he is apparently. That would make him a starter then.
No, not really.
Right. So I claim he’s average and not good enough to be more than a squad player, and you go the the greatest of lengths to dispute my assertion by claiming what exactly? Agreeing that he is not good enough to be a starter, but just not agreeing to any weakness he has in his game it seems.
He is a better player than you give him credit for. That doesn't mean I think he should be starting every week. It's as simple as that.
When you say things like this you are heavily underrating Scott as a footballer.
I thought he had a quiet and 'poor' game but his and Pogba's performances in this game should be taken into the context that their no.10 was absolutely diabolical.
It was two midfielders against Wolves flat 5.
It was two midfielders against Wolves flat 5.
Yeah he wasn't good with the ball yesterday at all, as most have said and I think I did too at some point
Did you notice his performance off the ball yesterday? I thought it was really impressive
Although broadly speaking I do agree with you that in an ideal world, he shouldn't be an automatic starter for us. However with the squad as it stands, he should and I'm glad Ole agrees.
I thought he had a decent game, I think he did a good job of dealing with an area of the pitch Wolves tend to be dangerous in with Jota and Jimenez dropping off to create counter attacks and link up. He was hardly the problem, even if it was a fairly standard Prem #6 performance.
He needs more confidence next to Pogba. Watch his games without Pogba - he’s doing the things you wish he would do next to Pogba. He’s pinging passes, taking one twos in opposition half and picking up the ball on a turn in the box and shooting.
Next to Pogba he’s very reserved and almost looks like he’s just waiting for Pogba to give the ball away. He’s said it himself that when he’s playing with Pogba he tends to hold back because Pogba is ‘world class’ and has the ability to create anything.
However, Pogba would really benefit if Scott was to play more like Herrera. More 1-2 passing in midfield with the purpose of moving forward and involving the #10 rather than playing keep ball with the central defenders. It’s great for safety but useless for transitions.
The thing is, Scott is the only midfielder in our team capable of integrating all these phases of play. Fred has no discipline in a press/no aerial ability, Andreas is piss poor and hopeless in defensive transitions which is why Ole & co have shafted him as far away from defensive transitions as possible in the team. Matic is not even in this discussion because we’re not talking charity matches.
Scott will get it right next to Pogba - I’m sure. Regardless, we have 18+ games before the next window and in those 18 games he is easily our best option next to Pogba.
Next to Pogba he’s very reserved and almost looks like he’s just waiting for Pogba to give the ball away. He’s said it himself that when he’s playing with Pogba he tends to hold back because Pogba is ‘world class’ and has the ability to create anything.
However, Pogba would really benefit if Scott was to play more like Herrera. More 1-2 passing in midfield with the purpose of moving forward and involving the #10 rather than playing keep ball with the central defenders. It’s great for safety but useless for transitions.
The thing is, Scott is the only midfielder in our team capable of integrating all these phases of play. Fred has no discipline in a press/no aerial ability, Andreas is piss poor and hopeless in defensive transitions which is why Ole & co have shafted him as far away from defensive transitions as possible in the team. Matic is not even in this discussion because we’re not talking charity matches.
Scott will get it right next to Pogba - I’m sure. Regardless, we have 18+ games before the next window and in those 18 games he is easily our best option next to Pogba.
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The support that McTominay is receiving is because of how he played during the last few months of last season and the majority of this preseason. I, along with many others in here, didn't particularly rate him before that period and largely rated him very similar to how you seem to. He was a good option against top teams where we needed that workhorse, but against lower teams he was pointless as he didn't provide enough when he was on the ball.
However he then stepped up significantly towards the end of last season, showcasing a level of ball-playing ability (touch and maintaining the ball under pressure, vision and passing) that he hadn't shown before. He maintained that throughout most of this preseason. He's now had three fairly average games (Milan, Chelsea and Wolves) in a row where he's perhaps gone back more to his older level, but hopefully that is the blip and he quickly gets back to playing well. If that doesn't happen and it starts looking like that period of good form was the outlier then we'll see people start to change their minds again. Before either 'side' fully make up their mind about him we need to give him the opportunity to show which one of those will be the case.
I've started thinking that a lot too lately.
He's not or ever will be holding midfielder, should play box to box role.
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Fully agree with you. I thought that he performed slightly above expectations.
He is still relatively inexperienced and is playing in a team both in transition and with a poor midfield.
He works hard for the team but isn't going to be a flair player.
I am sure that Ole is pleased with him and he does his job reliably.
He didn't play well against Wolves but his development over the last 6 months has been incredible. He is now a regular first choice ahead of Matic. If someone said that would happen 6 months ago I would have said they were nuts.
He, Ole and the coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for his improvement. Hopefully he continues to improve and develops into a genuine top class midfield player.
He, Ole and the coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for his improvement. Hopefully he continues to improve and develops into a genuine top class midfield player.
I think Pereira is a better technician, certainly has all the tools to be a very good player, but is struggling to get used to the pace of the league. Not all great players have world class technique, I mean I've had debates with people about who was the better midfielder out of Scholes and Keane. Scholes was on a different level entirely technically speaking, but Keane made up for that by being aggressive and having a great understanding of the game, which made him the perfect partner for Scholes.
McTominay is certainly not world class at the moment and will likely never be, but as I've said time and again, we don't need 11 world class players, I would say no team has ever had 11 world class players. As long as McTominay can do his job, that's all we need.
He is the player with the most difficult role in the team (other than Pogba himself), which is to partner Pogba in a midfield two.
As far as we know there’s only one player in the world who can do it flawlessly, a big big ask for anyone, let alone such a relatively young midfielder, so far he did well.
As far as we know there’s only one player in the world who can do it flawlessly, a big big ask for anyone, let alone such a relatively young midfielder, so far he did well.
Just got a notification through from the United app. McTominay covered the most ground against Chelsea, and only Neves and Dendoncker did against Wolves.
Not surprising really. This lad is a breath of fresh air.
Not surprising really. This lad is a breath of fresh air.
Man Utd 1:2 Crystal Palace
Well done on the pen but overall poor game.
It’s shocking our plan was to start season with him as a starter. He’s not even close to being good enough, especially in this role.
You can never fault his effort and he did well to win penalty but he’s completely out of his depth, I doubt palace would pick him every week.
You can never fault his effort and he did well to win penalty but he’s completely out of his depth, I doubt palace would pick him every week.
A nothing player. His passing ability is non-existent, his position is nothing special, he has decent strength, does not seem great in the air. Honestly, I think relegation teams have midfielders of his standard in them. I have never rated him and we will pay for not signing a midfielder.
Second pretty poor game in a row. I like him, but he needs to improve.
He is a decent player. We missed his presence when he went off. Our midfield was paper weight without him. McTominay would've covered for that second Palace goal, I'm certain of it.
For all that, however. Gary Neville is delusional to say he thinks McTominay is as good as Ander Herrera. Totally mad statement. We've seriously downgraded by losing Ander to give Scott more games. Maybe in 2-3 years, with more experience McTominay will mature into a Herrera type. Right now they're acres apart.
For all that, however. Gary Neville is delusional to say he thinks McTominay is as good as Ander Herrera. Totally mad statement. We've seriously downgraded by losing Ander to give Scott more games. Maybe in 2-3 years, with more experience McTominay will mature into a Herrera type. Right now they're acres apart.
Average squad player in a crucial starting 11 role. Nothing to see here.
I will continue to bang the drum. If Scott was Ghanaian and not from the academy people would have suggested he leave on loan in the summer with a view to selling.
I will continue to bang the drum. If Scott was Ghanaian and not from the academy people would have suggested he leave on loan in the summer with a view to selling.
He really said that?
Pretty much, on some Sky Bet debate thing. Said that Herrera wasn't a loss and there are loads of players like him and that McTominay could come in and do the same. Couldn't believe my ears. Him and Adam from Full Time Devils had a whole argument about it.He really said that?
I didn't think he was that bad today..
He and Pogba are going to find it hard to shine in this formation. They are constantly outnumbered and are expected to defend a shaky back 4 while also helping an anemic attack create chances.
He and Pogba are going to find it hard to shine in this formation. They are constantly outnumbered and are expected to defend a shaky back 4 while also helping an anemic attack create chances.
Squad player at best, he just doesn't have enough about him to be more than that. You can't be a starter at Man United just being able to run around a lot. Might stay a while and have a useful career here, but it won't be as more than a squad role. Going forward if he wanted to leave to be a starter somewhere, it would be some random lower/mid table team like Palace or Newcastle or something like that. Maybe a bit harsh, but entirely true.
He wasn't that bad today, but anything other than simple passing or dare I say simply playing it safe, and it seems so forced and unnatural. He can play alongside Pogba and another midfielder, him alone alongside Pogba is not enough.
I like his attitude but... he'sa bit rubbish isn't he?
I really can't blame Scott he's a system player, he works well sitting behind in a midfield three. Solskjaer pairing him In a double pivot with Pogba is quite possibly the worst decision he's made heading into the new season, even worse than our dreadful transfer window.
We have seen Pogba In a midfield two with Matic guess what it doesn't work. So why are we now doing the same thing with an even less experienced individual ? Tactically Ole is making Herrera a bigger miss then what he should be, the 4231 is a counter attacking formation, why are we playing such a full system against a relegation battling team. We have lost our Mojo with Pogba not playing as a 10. There's no creativity stemming from the midfield to the forwards, that's why all the patterns of play are coming from wide areas.
Blueprint to beat us is easy, sit back, compress, nick a chance or two, celebrate, the end. Solskjaer has had 9 months to sort it out and he's still not come up with the solution.
We have seen Pogba In a midfield two with Matic guess what it doesn't work. So why are we now doing the same thing with an even less experienced individual ? Tactically Ole is making Herrera a bigger miss then what he should be, the 4231 is a counter attacking formation, why are we playing such a full system against a relegation battling team. We have lost our Mojo with Pogba not playing as a 10. There's no creativity stemming from the midfield to the forwards, that's why all the patterns of play are coming from wide areas.
Blueprint to beat us is easy, sit back, compress, nick a chance or two, celebrate, the end. Solskjaer has had 9 months to sort it out and he's still not come up with the solution.
He is fine as a squad player, that being said neither him nor Pogba are helped by having a player like Lingard ahead of them.
He LL be fine but like all young inexperienced players, he needs time and more patient fans. Not the ones who slate him with every mistake he makes.
If he s giving playing time , by end of the season I m convinced he LL be a much better player.
The alternative is to spunk another 60 million on a midfielder hoping he LL be better than Fred and Matic.
If he s giving playing time , by end of the season I m convinced he LL be a much better player.
The alternative is to spunk another 60 million on a midfielder hoping he LL be better than Fred and Matic.
Seems to give the ball away too much although i'm sure someone will correct me and say he had 99% accuracy today.
I like his energy and he's a fierce tackler but I think him and Pogba need a lot more help in there.
I like his energy and he's a fierce tackler but I think him and Pogba need a lot more help in there.
The fact that he's generally considered our 2nd best midfielder shows you how utterly terrible our midfield is.
I find it crazy that we didn't buy a CM; putting our hopes on Scott. Nowhere near good enough.
I find it crazy that we didn't buy a CM; putting our hopes on Scott. Nowhere near good enough.
Had to listen to people all summer on here going on like this guy was the answer to our midfield issue. He was never ready. By no means a poor player but not ready to be our 2nd important midfielder.
Captaincy was even being suggested ffs.
Captaincy was even being suggested ffs.
His biggest asset to me is that he's not Matic, good run to win the penalty today but overall he's a bit of a nothing player, not that good on the ball, very little in the way of a passing game and he's also guilty of getting caught on the ball like Pogba and missing runs as he's not actually a DM or #6, he's more of a box to box, so he's currently being given responsibilities that are not in his wheelhouse.
Neville talks shit when it comes to United, total flip flop merchant, he was the one last season who said McTominay wasn't good enough on the ball to be a Man Utd midfielder and his best chance of making it was as a CB, now he's coming out with this dross and from what I heard acted like an obnoxious prick towards McKola. The only thing Neville has stayed consistent on and is right about regarding United is his questioning of how managers and players have come and gone but Woodward is still in his job after 7 failed seasons.
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