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Previously yes, but this season he's basically been used as an attacking midfielder. We play with a DM and two AM's, not using anyone in what I'd class as a box-to-box role.Isn't that what McTominay does, B2B?
He generally appears in defence, midfield and certainly in the opponents box, so I would class that as B2B.
Exactly. One thing is he has not impressed this season, but another is like @Fortitude mentioned there simply is no place for B2B players in ETH system. You are either a part of back 5, or front 5 - but you need to be a direct goal threat or Antony to get into the attacking formation.Previously yes, but this season he's basically been used as an attacking midfielder. We play with a DM and two AM's, not using anyone in what I'd class as a box-to-box role.
Hannibal was also used in an attacking midfield role this season, although his superior work-rate meant he probably did help the midfield a bit more than Scott does. But playing that advanced is one of the reasons I think he did struggle to get as involved as I'd like him to.
I've seen him close to the back four recieving the ball from them, and generally he plays the ball straight back to them. I believe it was McTominay who made the poor effort to collect the ball from a defender on Saturday when the Bournemouth player got in front of him and created the first goal, is that what part of the AM role is?Previously yes, but this season he's basically been used as an attacking midfielder. We play with a DM and two AM's, not using anyone in what I'd class as a box-to-box role.
Hannibal was also used in an attacking midfield role this season, although his superior work-rate meant he probably did help the midfield a bit more than Scott does. But playing that advanced is one of the reasons I think he did struggle to get as involved as I'd like him to.
A bit disrespectful calling people loonies just because they think different to you.Not read the last few pages but I'm assuming it's full of loonies saying he's the answer to our midfield woes even though he's looked shit every time he's played for the first team?
Sell.
Yes. It was Bruno, the other AM, who was even deeper in our own half who made that pass to McTominay. We got the ball back and were going for an attack and McTominay was positioned to get the ball, pass sideways and start running towards the goal - pretty much all that he does in midfield. Not sure what's your point here. Notice how in build up McTominay is by design not getting involved and it's Bruno dropping deeper more frequently than Scott.I've seen him close to the back four recieving the ball from them, and generally he plays the ball straight back to them. I believe it was McTominay who made the poor effort to collect the ball from a defender on Saturday when the Bournemouth player got in front of him and created the first goal, is that what part of the AM role is?
Being an attacking midfielder doesn't mean you don't come back at all. Just like being a defensive midfielder doesn't mean you never go forward at all. Or a winger/inside forward doesn't get back, and a fullback doesn't go forward, etc. It's about your general positioning and movement, and in the majority of games this season McTominay has played as high as Bruno as an attacking midfielder. Hence why everybody is complaining about our midfield setup which is making it very hard to build with the ball and which is also leaving us very open without the ball.I've seen him close to the back four recieving the ball from them, and generally he plays the ball straight back to them. I believe it was McTominay who made the poor effort to collect the ball from a defender on Saturday when the Bournemouth player got in front of him and created the first goal, is that what part of the AM role is?
My point is that he appears deep in our half on numerous occasions, my interpretation of an AM would be a player who generally finds space around the half way line, receives the ball and either turns and attacks the defence or lays the ball of and then runs forward.Yes. It was Bruno, the other AM, who was even deeper in our own half who made that pass to McTominay. We got the ball back and were going for an attack and McTominay was positioned to get the ball, pass sideways and start running towards the goal - pretty much all that he does in midfield. Not sure what's your point here. Notice how in build up McTominay is by design not getting involved and it's Bruno dropping deeper more frequently than Scott.
In this situation we have been pushed back to our own 3rd so everyone was defending, I don't think this is a proof that they are not AMs. It's not like AMs don't defend, just like wingers they need to track back at least.My point is that he appears deep in our half on numerous occasions, my interpretation of an AM would be a player who generally finds space around the half way line, receives the ball and either turns and attacks the defence or lays the ball of and then runs forward.
I would never think that a purely AM player would go that deep into his own half, to me that is a B2B player, which apparently ETH does not employ anymore.
Why would you sell a 20 year old who looks half decent even if he's just a squad player? This isn't FM, you don't just sell everyone.Not read the last few pages but I'm assuming it's full of loonies saying he's the answer to our midfield woes even though he's looked shit every time he's played for the first team?
Sell.
I certainly don't think he looked unimpressive in pre-season. And the one time he played that role from the start was against Palace in the cup and he was very efficient. With regards to the whole midfield conundrum, I do think Erik will settle on two deeper midfielders soon enough. And I suspect it will be Mainoo and Amrabat, until Casemiro is fit and he'd come in for the latter.Yeah. You're either an AM or a DM in that system and he is neither, so effectively, there's nowhere for him to play.
Piecing it together, Hannibal was tasked with playing AM during preseason and the collective disappointment in that was it didn't give him a chance to exhibit his skills that are nearly all CM-related. In hindsight, it looks like that was the test run for the season proper to see if he could slot into the planned system up top.
If there was so little intention of actually playing a functional midfield, why even bother keep him here for the season when he could've been at a PL club getting PT and ironing out his game?
That's a worry I share. People ask who are these youth players, and aside from Mejbri you obviously have Pellistri who wanted to go out on loan and get vital minutes but was asked to stay to never play. Now, I'm not sure Pellistri is good enough but you can understand if he'll feel cheated here. Amad coming back will be a bit of a litmus test. The other disappointing thing for me was getting Reguilon in on loan and shipping Fernandez out on loan.It's a massive concern independent of anything else.
Only your post so far.Not read the last few pages but I'm assuming it's full of loonies saying he's the answer to our midfield woes even though he's looked shit every time he's played for the first team?
Sell.
Being an attacking midfielder doesn't mean you don't come back at all. Just like being a defensive midfielder doesn't mean you never go forward at all. It's about your general positioning and movement, and in the majority of games this season McTominay has played as high as Bruno. Hence why everybody is complaining about our midfield setup which is making it very hard to build with the ball and which is also leaving us very open without the ball.
Basically, for most of his time here Scott played as a box-to-box midfielder that a lot of people mistook as a defensive midfielder because he provided so little actually going forward. Then for 18 months (last season and the 6 months under Rangnick) he actually did play as a DM most of the time. Now this season he's playing as an attacking midfielder.
In this situation we have been pushed back to our own 3rd so everyone was defending, I don't think this is a proof that they are not AMs. It's not like AMs don't defend, just like wingers they need to track back at least.
Ok. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with analysing the difference between an AM who drops deep when we defend and a B2B player who would be in the same position when we defend.In this situation we have been pushed back to our own 3rd so everyone was defending, I don't think this is a proof that they are not AMs. It's not like AMs don't defend, just like wingers they need to track back at least.
Exactly this.Being an attacking midfielder doesn't mean you don't come back at all. Just like being a defensive midfielder doesn't mean you never go forward at all. Or a winger/inside forward doesn't get back, and a fullback doesn't go forward, etc. It's about your general positioning and movement, and in the majority of games this season McTominay has played as high as Bruno as an attacking midfielder. Hence why everybody is complaining about our midfield setup which is making it very hard to build with the ball and which is also leaving us very open without the ball.
Basically, for most of his time here Scott played as a box-to-box midfielder that a lot of people mistook as a defensive midfielder because he provided so little actually going forward. Then for 18 months (last season and the 6 months under Rangnick) he actually did play as a DM most of the time. Now this season he's playing as an attacking midfielder.
So true6 mins vs Everton 2 weeks ago aside, the last time he got minutes was nearly 1.5 months ago
May as well play him vs Bayern then
I mean, going by that logic there basically is no such position as an AM, as they all get back sometimes. In fact every single midfielder out there would be classed as a box-to-box, from a player like Makelele through to someone like Ozil.Ok. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with analysing the difference between an AM who drops deep when we defend and a B2B player who would be in the same position when we defend.
Same thing with Pellistri getting his 1st start of the season against bayern a few months ago. Then varane misses weeks on the bench and then yes lets him start against Bayern.6 mins vs Everton 2 weeks ago aside, the last time he got minutes was nearly 1.5 months ago
May as well play him vs Bayern then
Who is PT?The manager not playing with a midfield will have a lot to say about PT; there's nowhere for Mejbri to go in this system.
His role is the one that's been abandoned.
Playing time.Who is PT?
Careful, I criticised him yesterday and had about three posters jump on me within minutes.He's easily the most overrated youngster since I started following Man Utd in the 90's, I don't see any quality in him besides high levels of energy which unfortunately also ends up being wasted due to his chaotic behaviour. I really hope his minutes will go to other more promising players like Gore or Hansen-Aarøen.
There were some very basic and worrying things that he did wrong though, i.e. judging the flight of the ball, protecting it, controlling it, etc. All things Mainoo did very easily. I don't think he's cut out for it here, he was good against Burnley but that's about it, apart from his consolation goal.He's never a left winger, and he's barely played so I wouldn't look into a 10 min cameo too much.
I agree he probably needs to leave, even for his own sake. He won't get a run in the side, and he's at an age now where he needs to play regularly.
Forget it, people think every youngster should play well no matter the position. It reminds me of the Gomes situation except Gomes was actually an attacker, but after failing there, it felt like a really easy decision that his attributes were best suited deeper.He's never a left winger, and he's barely played so I wouldn't look into a 10 min cameo too much.
I agree he probably needs to leave, even for his own sake. He won't get a run in the side, and he's at an age now where he needs to play regularly.
Not really, this is what you saidCareful, I criticised him yesterday and had about three posters jump on me within minutes.
It's not because you don't rate him, it's just being rude. There are plenty of people who already think he's shite.Not read the last few pages but I'm assuming it's full of loonies saying he's the answer to our midfield woes even though he's looked shit every time he's played for the first team?
Sell.
