He's doing well and we're just seeing a part of his game. The best of Mainoo will come eventually when he's allowed more room to be creative. I guess he's been asked to focus on the basics and avoid risks and he's playing it safe. Once he's more settled we'll see his progressive/creative side which he isn't showing at the moment.
Is Mainoo the real deal?
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
It is clear to see that both he and Garnacho are benefitting from getting more playing time, I hope that it continues when we have Casemiro and Mount back
Ward -Prowse? It's way too early for Mainoo he needs to play & be with United and U21.
Mainoo is gonna need protection from the fans and the club as a whole.
He's already being touted as someone who can go to the Euros for England. If he goes and has a bad game, the same people building him up now will probably want him shot.
He's already being touted as someone who can go to the Euros for England. If he goes and has a bad game, the same people building him up now will probably want him shot.
There is a lot of hype about Curtis Jones of Liverpool
Is he as good as Mainoo?
I think there is a place in the England squad for 1 of them
Is he as good as Mainoo?
I think there is a place in the England squad for 1 of them
Wasn't Pedri and Gavi in the Spain squad fro the World Cup? Also loads of young players have played for their countries - Bellingham 17? Rooney. Owen. Pele. If he's that good he should go. Id like to see what he does in a decent midfield
Two very different types of players. Curtis Jones is really good though, very energetic midfielder can be box to box, he is good in the final third and can finish too. He's a very complete midfielder. I think there should be room for both him and Mainoo somehow in the England squad. Maybe drop JWP.
King Kobbie.
Changed my vote to yes.
His intelligence to give direction to his first touch is way ahead of anyone else in the squad and he's only going to improve.
The way he uses his first touch to get into the position for a long pass is indeed very reminiscent of Seedorf.
The way he uses his first touch to get into the position for a long pass is indeed very reminiscent of Seedorf.
Almost certainly. I can't see any reason why he won't be a good footballer for us with the talent he has. Some of his talents are pretty rare at this stage of a career.
Doesn't mean he'll be a world beating superstar or anything, that relies on many things coming together that we have no evidence for, it needs some luck that he streers clear of injury and hits perfect development.
But I'd certainly back the idea he's going to have a career.
Doesn't mean he'll be a world beating superstar or anything, that relies on many things coming together that we have no evidence for, it needs some luck that he streers clear of injury and hits perfect development.
But I'd certainly back the idea he's going to have a career.
No they won't. People always say this yet we are hilariously soft on younger players, especially academy products. It took 7 years for people to realize maybe Rashford isn't a superstar.
Too many seem to confuse whether a player is actually good, with whether they should be hyped as one of the best in the world. You don't need "patience" to see that Mainoo is already the best midfielder at the club, it was obvious after watching him for a single half of football. Likewise, that doesn't mean we need to give him the armband and sign him to a 200k per week deal.
Also not sure why so many are eager to move him further forward. He's a unicorn as a deeper lying midfielder that can both defend, carry progressively, and pass progressively. Turning him into yet another standard box to box 8 is pointless in my opinion as that is a much easier profile to find elsewhere.
Also not sure why so many are eager to move him further forward. He's a unicorn as a deeper lying midfielder that can both defend, carry progressively, and pass progressively. Turning him into yet another standard box to box 8 is pointless in my opinion as that is a much easier profile to find elsewhere.
If we’re following the story of post-Ferguson Manchester United, he’ll be a complete flop
But I think the tide will turn
But I think the tide will turn
That's a top idea. Let's do that.
I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about protecting them when they come in for ridiculous levels of criticism.
There were effigies of Beckham after he got sent off in 98. The whole club rallied behind him in one of our fanbases finest moments. We'd need to do the same for Mainoo if the time came. The media in this country loves to build people and knock them down. Not everyone always can build themselves up that easily.
Jude is world class. Mainoo is nowhere near yet
Yeah it was sarcasm. Apologies, poor take at it.
Triple his salary before Barca come sniffing.
Needs to bulk up and a few loans.
200k a week contract beforehand mind.
200k a week contract beforehand mind.
Even if he performs to a level deserving of a spot in the Euros, best thing for him would be to have an off summer.
I would agree with this tbf. Give him a summer off away from the spotlight.
He'll be needed for those mid July Conference League qualifiers anyway.
I thought the Tottenham game showed he isn't "ready" in the way people seem to think he is.
Ability wise he's got more than enough. He looks that comfortable on the ball that I can see why people think he's already there, and his composure and attitude on the pitch merits the appearances he's been getting...apart from the odd mistake which you have to expect from any player (never mind an 18 year old) I don't think there's any criticism.
But...physically he can't compete with opposition midfields who are aggressive. He especially can't do it in our system where he is left hopelessly outnumbered. I'd be more sparing of him in those circumstances and either leave him on the bench or play him as a secondary sitting midfielder to someone like Casemiro...maybe even give Mainoo more of the free role of the two.
I don't see ETH doing this as he doesn't seem to understand that a midfield is a thing this season.
Ability wise he's got more than enough. He looks that comfortable on the ball that I can see why people think he's already there, and his composure and attitude on the pitch merits the appearances he's been getting...apart from the odd mistake which you have to expect from any player (never mind an 18 year old) I don't think there's any criticism.
But...physically he can't compete with opposition midfields who are aggressive. He especially can't do it in our system where he is left hopelessly outnumbered. I'd be more sparing of him in those circumstances and either leave him on the bench or play him as a secondary sitting midfielder to someone like Casemiro...maybe even give Mainoo more of the free role of the two.
I don't see ETH doing this as he doesn't seem to understand that a midfield is a thing this season.
That's the easy solution isn't it. Play Mainoo with Casimero (or even Amrabat as worst case scenario!). But I think Erik has other ideas...
The Newcastle game stated the same; he’s not ready to tussle with full grown men, particularly athletic specimens, but the solution to that is to not put him in situations where that is obviously going to happen. He’s supposed to be a foil that can one and two touch with someone out of trouble and progress the ball up the pitch. If we’ve got him there expecting him to go into 1:1’s and come out on the other side of them having outfought vastly physically superior opponents, it’s yet another failing that needs addressing. If he’s in there with Casemiro, these issues should reduce significantly. I’m repeating what you’ve said, but it bears repeating!
ETH isn't compatible with any idea that involves actually playing a midfield.
This is my biggest worry for Mainoo, as I don't think there's a single midfielder in the world who could look good in our current team/system, never mind an 18 year old who it's very important not to missmanage.
What I reckon will happen is ETH will drop him for Casemiro and then Casemiro will struggle trying to play as a one man midfield for a bit while Mainoo sits on the bench, or comes on to replace him.
Every now and then one or the other will look decent during the 15 minutes of the game that Eriksen has the legs to help them for.
Amd it'll be incredibly frustrating, especially when they both get criticised on here for what is a basic managerial failure.
He's looked great so far.
He’s just so good at reading the game and being in the right area. Some of the things he did in the Spurs game were exceptional.
It is far too early to tell.
I still remember when some people thought Antony Martial would be Ballon dor level player.
Some may laugh but many genuinely thought that.
Now, we can't even sell him as his wages are too high and as a player he is poor.
Sancho was talked up and look what happened to him.
Same for Van der Beek.
Who can remember Baily?
And what about Mkhitaryan.
Morgan Schneiderlin - remember him?
All these players were already VERY good (better than Mainoo) when they arrived at the club and they turned to "nothing".
For Mainoo to become one of the best midfielders in the country (if not the world) he has a long way to go. And the odds of him making it to that level are slim to none. That's the reality (millions of boys take up football and only 1 of them will become a Roy Keane or a Cantona or a Scholes or even a Bruno F).
I would suggest that you enjoy the ride. If he becomes great - fantastic. But if he fades into nothingness (which is most likely), then at least you enjoyed the ride up.
I still remember when some people thought Antony Martial would be Ballon dor level player.
Some may laugh but many genuinely thought that.
Now, we can't even sell him as his wages are too high and as a player he is poor.
Sancho was talked up and look what happened to him.
Same for Van der Beek.
Who can remember Baily?
And what about Mkhitaryan.
Morgan Schneiderlin - remember him?
All these players were already VERY good (better than Mainoo) when they arrived at the club and they turned to "nothing".
For Mainoo to become one of the best midfielders in the country (if not the world) he has a long way to go. And the odds of him making it to that level are slim to none. That's the reality (millions of boys take up football and only 1 of them will become a Roy Keane or a Cantona or a Scholes or even a Bruno F).
I would suggest that you enjoy the ride. If he becomes great - fantastic. But if he fades into nothingness (which is most likely), then at least you enjoyed the ride up.
Very sensible analysis and argument. My only additional comment is that quite a lot of how he develops will depend who we play alongside him at the start of his career. If it is MacT and Bruno then I fear will will destroy him before he is 23. He cannot carry all the defensive responsibilities on his own. I hope ETH decides for now it is Casemiro, Mainoo and one other and not Casemiro or Mainoo
I think that's the outstanding concern with him; he's short on physicality, which matters more in the position he's playing than in most others. He still looks like he's able to function within that limitation though, it's something that still limits his impact on the game rather than something that is a critical flaw. And it will improve with time. What he's already got are things that are rare, and hard to learn.
That's a valid general logic pushed too far. The same line of reasoning would be valid for any young promising player. But the fact is, some of them do turn into great players.
With Mainoo, the sort of skillset, judgment and calm he displays, that is exceptional for a player his age. Particularly given that he delivers it with consistency in possibly the most pressure-filled environment anywhere in the world. It is of course true that you can never be sure, and that only time will tell with certainty. But he is already arguably our best and most consistent central midfielder.
I think people have been overly concerned. Of course he won’t be world beater every single game. Bottom line he is easily our best midfielder this season, I wouldn’t worry if we rely on him too much.
He is legit, just look at how he moves and touches the ball. The eye test doesn't lie, now go and look at how Mctominay and Amrabat touch and move.
He's looked good for an 18 year old playing in midfield on his own.
Also, we've often had no midfield and struggled to control the game or get any service at all to our front players.
Giving a teenager an impossible job isn't a great way to develop them imo...and it's also not a great way to set up a team (You will notice we are in the middle of our worst season since more or less the 1980s)
So on one hand you’re saying that no single midfielder looks good in our present set up, but the reality is, that this inexperienced 18 year old is looking the business. Not just for being 18, he’s quality and looks very good and knows what he’s doing, beyond his years, regardless of age.
He is way too young and inexperienced to make a qualified judgment yet.
He certainly has the talent. He looks great in games where United play against weaker midfields.
But we still need to see how he plays against teams like City. Pre-season against Arsenal is not a decent barometer. Not to mention how his consistency stacks up after a year of playing regularly.
So at this point; I'm optimistic, but it's still way too early to make a decisive argument.
He certainly has the talent. He looks great in games where United play against weaker midfields.
But we still need to see how he plays against teams like City. Pre-season against Arsenal is not a decent barometer. Not to mention how his consistency stacks up after a year of playing regularly.
So at this point; I'm optimistic, but it's still way too early to make a decisive argument.