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To be fair, Eriksen probably was a better choice than McTominay, and he was the only alternative for this game.Thanks. Great to have him back.
Yes, Mainoo imo did better than anyone had a right to expect from such a tactically eccentric midfield, which unfortunately ETH appears determined to die on a hill for.
Glad to see posts like these. He is being given too much to do and without a connective partner to ping balls back and fro with, there's a massive problem for him from the outset.
He's also got a sizeable issue with his stamina in the adult game and a really simple solution to dealing with him is just running him until he gasses, which is when he looks laggy and slower than he initially started the game. It's the manager's job to prevent these things from happening instead of tasking anyone with that role that is more set up for failure than success. Far, far better midfield units than ours ensure that no one player is isolated or ran at all game, either by controlling the midfield outright, or by filling it with able bodies who make pressuring any one player, or even getting clean runs, incredibly difficult. We do not a single thing right in support of the single pivot, and as someone said above, there's a concern that can lead to ruining the player as the load should never ever be as much as we stack. As someone else said, it doesn't matter who is in that role, it's a thankless task that sets the stage for failure; even a routine pass for other midfield #6's is death defying in this set up because the next closest midfielder to balls gone astray is nowhere to be seen.
Smart coaches know to swarm and this will be a theme for the remainder of the season, whether the kid can play through that most of the time isn't relevant; what is is that the times he can't or fails to do so, the set up has us in almost perilous danger from the moment the mistake is made. It's a shambolic way to run a midfield and the caveat should be there in assessment of Mainoo.
Yeah it’s mind boggling how many of us “armchair” experts can see it/agree with it, yet these supposed highly paid professionals at the very top of the profession seem unable to identify it/or wanting to fix it.Spot on.
The setup is suicidal from whichever angle you look at it. Mainoo would be great as an #8 alongside Cas in a traditional, well drilled 4231. Bruno is fine in the #10 if he can learn to drop in and help the midfield keep its shape. If not, Mount is the perfect man for that role, despite his other shortcomings.
Eriksen can slot in as 3rd choice at #10. Amrabat covers Cas, and I'd keep Hannibal around to rotate with Mainoo. McTom can go to whoever wants his .. unique skillset this month, he fits no role in this system.
It is an odd one. I can only hope there's some grand plan at work here, but my gut says he's lost his way and will lose his job if things don't 180 soon.Yeah it’s mind boggling how many of us “armchair” experts can see it/agree with it, yet these supposed highly paid professionals at the very top of the profession seem unable to identify it/or wanting to fix it.
Oh well, at this rate it’s going to cost him his job.
Agreed there. Would love it to work out, but doesn't seem likely it's suddenly going to click at this point.It is an odd one. I can only hope there's some grand plan at work here, but my gut says he's lost his way and will lose his job if things don't 180 soon.
It is an odd one. I can only hope there's some grand plan at work here, but my gut says he's lost his way and will lose his job if things don't 180 soon.
Definitely.We would need to finish the season strongly for him to keep his job, otherwise he's gone.
I think the signing of Antony is enough to sack him.
Definitely.
I was very hopeful for longer than the performances warranted as I do like the guy to be fair. But we've been utterly dire for a long time now.
I think it'd have to be an absolute 180 for him to deserve to stay on next season at this point. And not only in results, but in attractive football on the pitch, individuals looking like they're actually being coached etc.
I don't see it but hope to be proven wrong.
Our season is shot now and all that’s really left to accomplish is player development. Mainoo’s development at the age of 18 is astonishing. Like every every other poster here, I can’t wait to see Mainoo start with Casemiro. Where Mainoo goes with that remains to be seen. Since we spent 60m for Mount when he return a midfield three of Casemiro, Mainoo and Mount could be very interesting.
I don't see this happening with Bruno about.
I think LW might be a good position for Mount. He is decent at pressing and brings good energy to the front line. He can score as well. Not ideal but, rather have Bruno in the centerAgreed. But if Marcus continues to mope around the pitch it’s not hard to see ten Hag shifting Bruno to RW, as he has done in the past.
Not optimal, but surely the manager will see that he has to do something to find a winning formula. It can’t be what he’s done all season, find his players stick in the mud, and then bring on McTominay.
Yes, both good points.To be fair, Eriksen probably was a better choice than McTominay, and he was the only alternative for this game.
On the flip side, he could've played Eriksen a bit deeper (but I don't think it makes that much of a difference if he can't run anyway).
ETH is the ultimate "benefit of the doubt" manager, you can always use the injuries excuse to defend him.
https://fbref.com/en/players/c6220452/scout/365_m1/Kobbie-Mainoo-Scouting-Report
His numbers look tragic tbh. Looks like the typical midfielder our academy seems to produce.
https://fbref.com/en/players/ca22ccb0/scout/365_m2/Hannibal-Mejbri-Scouting-Report
Hannibal in comparison. Wonder who'll turn out to be the better player
I think LW might be a good position for Mount. He is decent at pressing and brings good energy to the front line. He can score as well. Not ideal but, rather have Bruno in the center
The next step is absolutely for him to get more on the ball and help us turn the tide and actually control matches in the midfield. It’s a tough ask for an 18 year old but with the talent he has and the level we think he can all be, that should hopefully start coming out when he’s under a better manager/systemOnly 27 completed passes in 100 mins in a match Utd had 70%+ possession, must have been shit.
Nah, he was good.
Mature performance again, but I wish we'd just play him and Casemiro as a true double pivot rather than having one or the other have to wander down the pitch as a second #10 most of the time.
We'd have so much more control, he's perfectly capable of it.
Yeah I'm leaning the same. I get that if we break the press then having both Bruno and Kobbie up high means we have extra bodies in the attack but I think the sacrifice that happens in us not being able to truly control games is not quite worth it.
Kobbie had a good game, I'm still waiting for him to truly grab a game but hopefully that will come with more experience.
Is he really short? Anyhow, makes up for it with a great leap. He is very good in aerial duels.Why am I always surprised by how short he is? At least once per game I say to myself "Christ, he's short"
Very good is an overstatement. He wins 56% of them.Is he really short? Anyhow, makes up for it with a great leap. He is very good in aerial duels.
Is he really short? Anyhow, makes up for it with a great leap. He is very good in aerial duels.
The next step is absolutely for him to get more on the ball and help us turn the tide and actually control matches in the midfield. It’s a tough ask for an 18 year old but with the talent he has and the level we think he can all be, that should hopefully start coming out when he’s under a better manager/system
Yeah, I should have qualified that with ‘compared to most of our other players’. I guess him winning at least some headers gives me a false impression after years of watching others let the ball float by.Very good is an overstatement. He wins 56% of them.
Yep, we have seen this time and time again. It is also very clear to me those players are following the instructions, whatever they are. McTominay wouldn't be starting 10 games in the row doing exactly the same things game in game out if ETH wasn't happy with what he is doing. And now you can add Mount AND Mainoo to that argument.It’s starting to look like that’s the nature of ETH’s formation and tactics. There will always be one CM who plays high up the pitch, near Bruno, and gets on the ball very little. Because Mount, McT and now Mainoo have all had similarly low number of passes in that role.
It’s hard to work out why Bruno is able to make twice as many passes, though, despite playing in similar areas of the pitch.
