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2023-24 Performances


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6.2 Season Average Rating
Appearances
27
Goals
3
Assists
1
Yellow cards
3

Fortitude

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I've been thinking maybe Koke as a comparison?
His game is fundamentally Dutch and it's no surprise he's compared to Dutchies more than anyone else thus far (de Jong and Seedorf pop up regularly despite the contrast between their games); would be delighted if the path that route leads to continues - the Milan version of Seedorf... :drool:

Hard to say how he'll turn out because the body you have and the attributes it gives determine what you can be ultimately. If he stays how he is with no power, athleticism buffs, it's the Spanish line of playing: being elusive and constantly on the go for ceaseless combination plays/rondos; if he gets that physical beast element to his game, he will most likely be a lot more maverick and able to simply go it alone as and when he pleases, which is what delights us in so many of those superhero midfielders.

He's a very exciting prospect to follow and watch develop - been the only shining beacon of our season, for me - because of how good he is so young and how much room for every element of growth there is in him. Personally, I'm most looking forward to his engine improving because at that point, he won't have to conserve energy or play as within himself as he's doing. When he can work 2-way all game long with no issues, I expect his influence on games to be considerable, like how Modric was, but obviously not with that kind of tank! As that's not possible for him, or most players.
 

Buster15

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Really good player who will benefit from playing alongside Casemiro. There is a good balance developing with these 2.
 

saivet

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Excellent goal last night, pure class. I actually think we've seen better performances from him this season but playing as a more advanced midfielder alongside Casemiro is pretty new to him, so fascinated to see how he does with more games there.
 

dhadz

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I remember watching him against Lyon in the preseason friendly and thinking he didn’t look that impressive. I have never been so glad to be so wrong
 

lex talionis

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Still buzzing 12 hours later. When I first watched Mainoo play for the first team I saw a potential superstar. Long way to go still but we’re seeing all that potential transform from potential to actual.
 
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The Corinthian

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Love the lad. One of the few bright spots of the season.
 

RuudTom83

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Any young player coming into the team needs to have a few moments of magic to keep there place among the senior players.

With Casemiro coming back plus a few others it was perfect timing for Mainoo last night.

Midfield is basically Mainoo and Casemiro now for the next few months.
 

Annihilate Now!

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I mean, what a feckin' goal.

It would have been an incredible goal if it was the 5th after we were 4-0... the fact that it was a winner in the last minute? Jesus.
 

Borninthe80ts

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Just need Gore next season as we have discussed. Ideal replacement for Eriksen. I think the balance looks good with Cas and Eriksen on the way out and Mainoo and Gore to replace. Feels natural. I know we both see that the same way!

RE Euros he could be a wildcard pick yes. There’s space for him given Phillips has struggled and Henderson on the decline. Who else is there? Murmurs of Ross Barkley getting another look.
I genuinely think that’s the plan. I think he wanted to work Mejbri into the mix but Gore’s composure and style is very much Eriksen with aggression. In a good way of course! I’d like to hear the media highlight this positive aspect of the club more and find out the managers plans for the kids next season.

I’m hoping that as there’s few players like him and on form too in the league that he can at least get in the preliminary squad. Boost the confidence too. I like Barkley as a player, but I think get we covered in his best position.
 

Buster15

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Agree but I’m sure you’ll get abuse for been positive
That is up to them to say what they think.
But the evidence is perfectly clear to see.
Casemiro gives us a much stronger physical presence in midfield. Something none of the others is able to do. And this allows Mainoo the opportunity to use his skills to develop.
 

Pogue Mahone

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Just occurred to me that our shitty European campaign could be a big benefit here. Kobbie started his 8th game in a row last night. Usually that might be a worry for an 18 year old but the fixtures from here on in will be so spaced out we can keep him as first name on the teamsheet without needing to worry about burnout. Which will be a brilliant experience for him.
 

Red00012

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Just occurred to me that our shitty European campaign could be a big benefit here. Kobbie started his 8th game in a row last night. Usually that might be a worry for an 18 year old but the fixtures from here on in will be so spaced out we can keep him as first name on the teamsheet without needing to worry about burnout. Which will be a brilliant experience for him.
Didn’t realise it was his 8th . Great to see
 

2cents

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Any of those all touch video compilations from last night going around yet? There was a bit of play on the edge of our box late in the second half that I want to see again.
 

sebsheep

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I mean, what a feckin' goal.

It would have been an incredible goal if it was the 5th after we were 4-0... the fact that it was a winner in the last minute? Jesus.
Indeed, a special goal for a few reasons.
 

The Irish Connection

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Still buzzing 12 hours later. When I first watched Mainoo play for the first team I saw a potential superstar. Long way to go still but we’re seeing all that potential transform from potential to actual.
Me too. Finally we have potentially a midfielder to rival scholes and Keane.
Have followed him since the under 18s, delighted.

I thought he was a bit quiet overall outside of the goal, but his positioning off the ball was still very mature and helped us to stay compact and keep our shape through the middle.
 

DWelbz19

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Just occurred to me that our shitty European campaign could be a big benefit here. Kobbie started his 8th game in a row last night. Usually that might be a worry for an 18 year old but the fixtures from here on in will be so spaced out we can keep him as first name on the teamsheet without needing to worry about burnout. Which will be a brilliant experience for him.
Yep, definitely. Martinez and Shaw (Casemiro/Varane too I guess) will be able to game manage a lot better with one a week basically until the end of the season.

With the squad back to fitness and good levels of recovery between matches — really should be finishing top 4 with a strong finish to the season.
 

chocolate cloud

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Very glad to see him play frequently and prove me wrong in saying he will only get a few spare minutes here and there this season. He has made the best of his opportunity and hopefully stays in the team permanently even after Amrabat returns.
Amrabat should not be starting ever ahead of Mainoo
 

MadDogg

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Pretty much everything he does is quality.

The only two negative things that have stood out to me are his inability to defend at set pieces (I feel like we've conceded 3 or 4 goals already from his man getting away from him), and he doesn't get on the ball as much as I'd like. The latter is something I hope will improve naturally as he gets more experienced and comfortable, but the former is definitely something that needs to be worked on.

Otherwise, the kid is pure class.
 

Solius

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Imagine where we'd be if he hadn't picked up that 5 month injury in pre-season.

Slightly less shit, I'd reckon.
 

RuudTom83

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Just occurred to me that our shitty European campaign could be a big benefit here. Kobbie started his 8th game in a row last night. Usually that might be a worry for an 18 year old but the fixtures from here on in will be so spaced out we can keep him as first name on the teamsheet without needing to worry about burnout. Which will be a brilliant experience for him.
Yeah same can be said for Garnacho and Hojlund.

One game a week is fine for the development of this team. Even more so if the same eleven can stay fit.
 

SmashedHombre

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Imagine where we'd be if he hadn't picked up that 5 month injury in pre-season.

Slightly less shit, I'd reckon.
If we hadn't lost most of our first 11 this season we'd probably be doing a little less shitty. Of course, then Mainoo may not have had much of a look in. As it is he's the bright light in a black hole of a season and his trajectory makes me hopeful for the future as there are others in the academy I can see following him. It's still early days of course, but hopefully Mainoo becoming a mainstay in the first 11 will light a fire under some of our other prospects.
 

Posh Red

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The only ray in the Ten Hag tenure and shows
the benefit of giving young players enough chances. There were some other midfielders in the reserves in the past who would probably have tied down spots in our god awful midfield department and saved us a lot of money wasted on garbage if they were given the chances. Glad we didn't blow this one.
Garnacho?
 

Solius

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If we hadn't lost most of our first 11 this season we'd probably be doing a little less shitty. Of course, then Mainoo may not have had much of a look in. As it is he's the bright light in a black hole of a season and his trajectory makes me hopeful for the future as there are others in the academy I can see following him. It's still early days of course, but hopefully Mainoo becoming a mainstay in the first 11 will light a fire under some of our other prospects.
Yep fair. The drop off to the rest of the squad is stark.

Haven't seen you on here in ages! Glad you're still knocking about mate, hope you're good.
 

GazTheLegend

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Lads I just watched the post match interview. In my mind I had Kobbie down for about 5'8 but he looked taller than Bruno Fernandes now and it's blown my mind a bit. He must be close to 6'0 if not over.

I gotta admit I was a little worried about that physical presence for Mainoo but looks like it's well on the way.
 

Fortitude

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This thing about getting on the ball or making an authoritative stamp on proceedings; it’s really not so easy if your teammates shy away from that kind of football and are not comfortable enough to play combination football intuitively and improvisationally. If you aren’t good at those things, the very last thing you want is to be knitted into intricate and blindingly fast, clever chains of play, so when Mainoo ‘gives’, the candidates to supply the ’go’ reduce to crickets, which is why it is absolutely imperative to get in like-minded players who gravitate towards that kind of play and give Mainoo options to bounce the ball to and fro with, which would open up the field in a matter of seconds.

The kind of get on the ball and be instrumental with it you currently have here is primed for a Pirlo-type, who is the be all and end all of the play, rather than someone infinitely weaving pass and move sequences that are reliant on others playing their part to really get going. Even if we take the DLP version of Scholes, he still had a brilliant foil in Carrick to play off of. Xavi had Iniesta and Busquets; Modric, Kroos and so on and so forth.

Bottom line is Mainoo can’t be expected to do all that here, by himself, especially so when each action causes an equal and opposite reaction, as in, if he’s trying to chain here, he’s vacating his position and providing a potential exploit should the play break down (because someone else fecked the chain), so his prudence is well warranted in this team until the players are conducive to that style of play.
 
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Wow. Is showing insane talent as an 6, 8 and 10. He’s a superstar.

Rice, Kobbie and Jude midfield in the summer please Gareth.
 

SAF is the GOAT

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ETH's reaction is the funniest shit I've ever seen(look at his face) and SAF reaction warms my heart

 

Pughnichi

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Two instances last night (that led to nothing) show how/why he’s so good. sure it happened more than twice as well

both instances he received the ball off Martinez, already on the turn, and moved the ball in an attacking direction. On both occasions he beat a man/the press in the process.

Like i said, nothing came of it and the ball was recycled back, but in doing so, he has elevated us from a returned pass straight back to the cb…instead to giving oppo something to think about when he’s in possession

and because he is so good, he’ll draw more attention, creating more space for those elsewhere.

the guy is class

add to that…he then goes and scores an absolute banger. What a player. Said it few months back…on this trajectory, he should be in the England squad