gaffs
Full Member
The Ready Salter eater finally saw the light.
I think he makes the starting XI when it comes round to tournament time.What a boost for him. He’ll probably play less minutes, if any, than he would’ve for the U21s.
Southgate just didGem of a player. I'm actually glad Southgate hasn't called him up for the friendlies. Risk of injury which we cant afford plus the pressure that accompanies an England cap. There will be plenty of time for that down the road. ATM we need him for the run in.
Southgate probably disagrees with this.I think he makes the starting XI when it comes round to tournament time.
He is the best player to play alongside Rice, with Bellingham infront of them.
No chance he doesn't go in the summer now. Every quote about people in the game watching him in training or up close seem to be extremely positive. No chance Southgate sees that and decides its best to leave him at homeFine with friendlies but still hope not included in summer squad
If he goes to the Euros I think his minutes will probably be limited. That could change if his form is unbelievable for the rest of the season, he's hugely impressive at this camp and if Henderson/Phillips are injured or out of form. Him going to the Euros as a squad or fringe player would probably be more of a positive than a negative for him imo.I'm glad for him but really gutted that he might be playing tournament football this summer when he'd probably benefit from a summer off.
I understand the sentiment about him being young and needing to be careful with him, but I’m not sure about him being raw and unpolished. Of course he has room to grow, but the brutal facts are he is already arguably our best midfielder right now ahead of our most experienced players who are 30+. He seems the most composed and intelligent player in most of our matches.If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Obviously given the fact he’s only played 23 professional games for the first team you hope he’s not used too much this time.
There is an argument that he has a skill set which would merit a Euros call up. A very unique player, but probably a bit too raw and unpolished (tactically) at this stage to have a massive impact on the National Team.
But all things considered, it’s a deserved call up and probably insulting that it was as a late addition rather than in the original group.
Indeed. You want player to see there is a route through the academy into the first team and their national team if they are good enough and motivated enough.Great achievement by him, and well deserved.
From a Man United point of view, it's tough to work out what's best. Happy that he'll be with the senior team this international break - for his sake, he'll be delighted and it's fully deserved; and for United it's better that he'll probably play less minutes with the seniors than as a key part of the U21's.
But it's more the longer term, Euro 2024 in the summer that is the dilemma. Him being called up now increases the likelihood of him being at the Euro's, and not sure if that's a great thing in terms of our 24/25 season, or if it would be better after his breakthrough season if he had a good break.
Still, a good problem to have when you develop someone of his ability. And delighted (for him) that he's received his first call up.
Fully agree with the midfield three being the best, but I would be super surprised if Mainoo is actually a starter for the tournament. Took Southgate a weirdly long time to start Bellingham, despite him being captain of Dortmund aged 19. (I might be exaggerating the Bellingham bit, but it felt like that at times).I think he makes the starting XI when it comes round to tournament time.
He is the best player to play alongside Rice, with Bellingham infront of them.
Think he’s got a thing of giving players the full tournament cycle before making changes, Mount should’ve been out for Bellingham far sooner than it happenedFully agree with the midfield three being the best, but I would be super surprised in Mainoo is actually a starter for the tournament. Took Southgate a weirdly long time to start Bellingham, despite him being captain of Dortmund aged 19. (I might be exaggerating the Bellingham bit, but it felt like that at times).
Yep...England will field an unbeliveable Team in three months. I just hope we will not face them in ko stages as it could get very ugly for us.Get in, congrats Mainoo. Perfect time to get him some game time, get him part of the squad for the euros without necessarily starting, but he's the perfect player to blend with Rice and Bellingham to balance that midfield and give England a ridiculous group. Literally the perfect balance of players in that midfield, and at those ages. You guys are very lucky.
IDK, even Southgate must see that Kobbie is a far better option than Henderson or Phillips.Southgate probably disagrees with this.
We know that Southgate does. He bows to media pressure.Fully agree with the midfield three being the best, but I would be super surprised if Mainoo is actually a starter for the tournament. Took Southgate a weirdly long time to start Bellingham, despite him being captain of Dortmund aged 19. (I might be exaggerating the Bellingham bit, but it felt like that at times).
Id say he should have seen that a few days ago… but that’s Southgate for you. ReactiveNo chance he doesn't go in the summer now. Every quote about people in the game watching him in training or up close seem to be extremely positive. No chance Southgate sees that and decides its best to leave him at home
But what type of midfielder that would be? Creative midfielder or pure defensive midfielder? Mainoo is a player who is something between no 6 and no 8 so i am not sure what type of midfielder would be the best to play with him.Find him the right partner and we are set. Just keep away for now Southgate!
All those players were kinda mid. Mainoo appears to be a couple of levels above them. His ability to operate in tight spaces is gold dust in the modern game. You press him and he sucks in three players then releases the ball anyway. I think if I had to choose between him and Rice I'd chose him.But on a serious not it wouldn't surprise me if he somehow ends up on a similar career path to Cleverley. Or even worse - like Januzaj or Anderson.
De Jong is defensively average at best which is why Xavi preferred Gavi over him when he first joined.Similar to what Mainoo is doing for us, but a bit better overall IMO, especially defensively
He watched Mainoo school the best pressing team in the league and he’s lacking midfield options.Congrats to him. Quite the impressive progression over the last few months.
Bizarre circumstances though with him just being left out of the squad a few days and Southgate commenting that he essentially wasn't ready but he hadn't played as many games as the likes of Bellingham had when he first called up.
Now just a few days later he sin there and from what I can tell, no one has dropped out. Southgate is an odd one.
Just wait for them to replace Southgate with someone who looks to dominate games, that's when they'll be a true favourite I'd say. You can't play like an underdog when you have the players to be the favourites.Yep...England will field an unbeliveable Team in three months. I just hope we will not face them in ko stages as it could get very ugly for us.
Yep - dropping Trent for Mainoo is the only consideration but I think Walker adds more balance in an England setup at RB and Trent's not really a CM.Delighted for him.
That England side picks itself other than left back. If Shaw was fit I'd put money on this being the isde.
Pickford
Walker - Stones - Maguire - Shaw
Mainoo - Rice
Saka - Bellingham - Foden
Kane
If de Jong is average at best than Mainoo is just plain bad at defending. We have seen Premier League defenders just run with the ball and leaving Mainoo in the dust. It made some worry about Mainoo his speed and others blamed him on the Premier League intensity and that Mainoo doesnt yet have the 'grown man strenght' that will come with age.De Jong is defensively average at best which is why Xavi preferred Gavi over him when he first joined.
De Jong was great at 18, also a generational player. De Jong is better at progressive dribbling ( unstoppable at times) while Kobbie is good at dribbling with the ball in tight spaces.The boy is an 8. I did see one reply to me question asking whether anyone saw Keane or Scholes at 18, the point being Kobbie is undoubtedly better than either of those two at this age. What about De Jong?
TBF to Southgate, and I'm far from a fan of his... But I get it. I would've put him in the squad but Mainoo hadn't had some big stage game to really excel in, until this weekend. Once you play like that in the fa cup quarter final against Liverpool, you gotta draft him in. Before that it'd be fine but some could see it as rushing him in.Congrats to him. Quite the impressive progression over the last few months.
Bizarre circumstances though with him just being left out of the squad a few days and Southgate commenting that he essentially wasn't ready but he hadn't played as many games as the likes of Bellingham had when he first called up.
Now just a few days later he sin there and from what I can tell, no one has dropped out. Southgate is an odd one.
Case is terrible.But what type of midfielder that would be? Creative midfielder or pure defensive midfielder? Mainoo is a player who is something between no 6 and no 8 so i am not sure what type of midfielder would be the best to play with him.
Personally, i like him with Case for now.