What a talent, gotta love such a great debut. Let’s not waste this kid, he can go really far
37
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 30
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 3
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
I am a believer. Kid has it.
He does everything we expected from Mount.
Kid has a future here.
You realise we could have Xavi and Iniesta in there in this team and they would be screwed because Rashford can’t control a ball or retain possession (our other attackers are only slightly better at it!). All you can do as a controlling midfielder is be available, make your passes and on occasion play through the press. He did all of those things to a high level today!
There was a piece of play around 63rf minuted, we had a corner on the left hand side and Mainoo was playing as right back. Bruno switched play from left to right. Mainoo hestiated upon receiving the pass. baited Everton player into tackle. Mainoo then controlled the ball, passed to Dalot and with this simple move took 2 Everton players off. A joy to watch today.
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Mainoo looked the business in preseason but you never know how that may translate into competitive fixtures.
Today Mainoo showed that not only were those preseason performances an accurate gage of his talent, he's also easily the best #8 in this squad.
Having a central midfielder who can take the ball from the defence with his back to goal, turn and progress play made such a difference to us. It wasn't like he was carrying the ball through midfield like a young Cesc Fabregas. It was simple stuff, just executed flawlessly.
Shows how much we've been deprived as United fans that it levelled us up so much. The club has f'd up by continuously ignoring actual central midfielders to stockpile #10s like Van de Beek and Mount. However, the academy might have bailed out the incompetence of the suits by producing this kid.
MOTM. Easily. Wrap him in cotton wool.
Helping us avoid some Maguire discourse puts him high in my books.
Yeah. We need better players alongside him. Which is a low bar when it comes to upgrading McTominay.
Brilliant talent. Press resistant, composed, knows how to play the deep midfielder role perfectly. Knows where to move, knows how to receive the ball with players around him, and can both pass and move with the ball to get it forward. We finally have a guy like this after so long, great to see.
We would have lost today without him. Played superbly
Easily
I never expected this from Mount. He’s not that player. Maino looks like a proper number 6 who can get on the ball.
Brilliant first start, so proud of him! May all the Gods protect him from injury.
Our first choice midfield should be Mainoo and Casemiro in a two. Fernandes/whoever ahead of them in a 10.
None of this weird 4141 we’ve failed to implement.
Whoa. What a performance, from an 18 year old CM on his debut. Remarkably composed and intelligent. And physical.
Brought a lot of composure to the midfield. Turns and faces comfortably, taking the pressure off the defence and getting us up the field. McTominay should take notes in how to turn and face under pressure.
Don't understand how an 18 year old kid making his debut can be our most composed player on a pitch with seasoned pros.
I thought he was good but how people are giving him MOTM is beyond me. He gave the ball away a lot and didn't really do anything special. He kept it simple, which is good, and he worked hard. I want to see more of him, but I think people are getting carried away here and are going to end up putting unrealistic expectations on him if we are giving him 8/10 for a 6/10 performance.
Composure and vision with ability to back it up.
Obviously has to prove it over a period week in week out with niggles and fatigue but what a player in the making.
Obviously has to prove it over a period week in week out with niggles and fatigue but what a player in the making.
Mount has never ever been that kind of player.
Anyone expecting him to be able to sit deep and control games has never watched him play.
That's not true.
Wow. Don’t want to start getting giddy but what composure.
You always seem to fish for a reaction
They gave up trying to press him, great debut! We only lost control at the 20 minute mark till half-time but fought hard to keep it 1-0; Mainoo's clearance was so good.
I'm just giddy with excitement on what this kid can achieve. Has all the attributes, if we can keep him injury free (other PL players woukd have watched the game and would be looking for 'reducers') and manage his game time, wow what an addition he could be.
Some just don't listen. It was weird too, because it was clear the manager rates him very highly from last season.
Awesome debut. Very good touch and ball control. Few times it looked the ball was beyond him and he had deft touch to regain possession.
I always thought we have too many midfielders who are the same, he can be the key to bringing balance.
I always thought we have too many midfielders who are the same, he can be the key to bringing balance.
Yeah I didn’t get the downplaying. Nobody expects him to be a world beater as he’s an 18 year old kid. But it was a bit too obvious in preseason how much he added in terms of skillset to our team which severely lacks in those areas.
We can upgrade on McTominay so Mainoo has someone decent next to him?
United gave away 24 shots today, had 50% possession and had zero control of the middle.
That's not on Rashford, that's on the team.
We need more in the middle, as it was a very similar performance to what we have seen already this season.
Need more players like him. Did he get Gary’s MoTM? Lost signal so didn’t catch the last 5 mins
That composure, ability to turn, dribble and technique is well beyond the age. We haven't had one with this sort of ability since the days of Scholes. Add to that boy can put the foot in and do a job off the ball and doesn't get outdone by physicality, we have a gem in our hand.
Who needs FdJ anyway? 
I would still welcome him if it is ever possible
I would still welcome him if it is ever possible
I love him already. I hope we don't ruin him too quickly.
Yeah, that's a good shout.
Then why did we sign him?
Impressive display from him today, would love to see him and Dan Gore secure the midfield instead of Amrabat or McTominay.
If team continues to play as two groups (defence or attack) with nobody wanting to occupy the midfield, then Mainoo is going to be a starter most weeks.
He is a more silky mobile version of Amrabat, and has more defensive instincts than any other CM in the team.
He is a more silky mobile version of Amrabat, and has more defensive instincts than any other CM in the team.
Seen this kid a lot and I’m not surprised by his performance today, fantastic talent.