Kobbie Mainoo image 37

Kobbie Mainoo England flag

2024-25 Performances

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5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
35
Goals
2
Assists
1
Yellow cards
7
He might be better as a 10 but that position is more stacked, with Amad, Garn, Bruno, Mount when he’s fit all wanting to play up there too. We have far less options in CM, so I can see why Amorim may be trying to get him to play there. Bruno in CM isn’t ideal either ultimately
 
Personally, I think he is neither a 6 nor a 10. He doesn't have the athleticism and endurance to cover the ground needed in the midfield two, and his attacking movement is too limited/not dynamic enough to play that far upfront. In my opinion, he is best used as a press-resistant connector between a 6 and a 10 in a midfield three (like a Moussa Dembele, Wijnaldum, Kovacic etc...). He would definitely look much better in a Slot or Pep system.
 
Yeah he seems like another player that doesn't have an obvious fit in this system. Ideally he's in a midfield 3 as a more attack minded/ball carrying type, but in a 2 he can't cover enough ground for 90 minutes and if he's played as a 10 I'm not sure he has the stamina to press from the front.

I'd like to see us try it though with Bruno as the true CM, might as well since we hardly are looking that threatening with any other combinations so far. Ultimately though Mainoo has to work on his own deficiencies or he'll just be a niche player with great talent but not a great player. Whether that's his athleticism and engine, or his passing range and ability to become more well rounded as a technical type CM, or his actual creativity. But right now he's stort of just a great dueler and ball carrier with limited mobility/stamina and not much of a progressive passer.
 
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His best game of the season.

No surprise as he needs 2 other midfielders in there to release him.
 
Finally getting played on the position that suits him the best.
 
Our most dangerous player today. No suprise he is really good in the attacking third. Links up well with Amad, hopefully he can keep up the progression.

He was not a 6 in the youth sides, he was usually deployed more in the attacking third. Hes more ineista than a Busquets or a Xavi.
 
A joy to watch him when he’s playing well, he just glides and make it look effortless. The ten role suited him.
 
He added a lot of composure in that role and acted like a bit of a focal point. Definitely worth trying a few more games with him playing there and Bruno in the deeper role.
 
Should play higher up the pitch.
Reminds me on Pogba in that sense, he also looked best when played in attacking midfield.
 
Best performance of the season so far by Kobbie. G+A as well, excellent
 
Good performance. Would still like to see him get on the ball a bit more, seemed to find it hard to find space in the first half but the extra tempo opened things up in the second. Things that are easily improved with experience so all good.
 
Quality of opposition needs to be factored in but that being said, he did well.
 
Looked much better further forward. Still looks like he's overweight but the quick feet is an asset up top as we have seen with Amad.
 
Cashing my stocks in. Been saying this kids a 10 for a hot minute.

Get rid of Rashford and give him the number 10.
 
Think we’ve found the lads position in this team.
We know he’s got a goal in him
He’s creative
Knows when to play it safe
That little passage against Fulham for the Amad disallowed goal has clearly given Amorim an idea of how to get the best out of Kobbie
 
That right sided 10 role looks good for him with Amad outside him providing pace and overlapping. Also gives us 3 centre midfielders at times if he can drop in with Bruno and Ugarte or Toby for more control and hides his lack of pace and motor. Quite a nice balance with Garnacho more of a winger on the other side, which I think will be complemented by Dorgu if he can overlap. It will be interesting to see if he gets used in that role more going forward as it certainly fills a hole in the squad, Eriksen certainly hasn't been cutting it there.
 
Brilliant composure in the final third … massively missing from our side. With experience we just need that same performance against tougher opponents
 
Our best dribbler in tight spaces together with Amad, should clearly play as one of the 10s. Would like to see him and mad as the 10s with speed and width coming from Dorgu and Dalot on the outside.
 
Gaidal said:
Our best dribbler in tight spaces together with Amad, should clearly play as one of the 10s. Would like to see him and mad as the 10s with speed and width coming from Dorgu and Dalot on the outside.
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If only Dalot could be switched with some one better!
 
After the rehearsal tonight it's definitely worth trying it out again in a proper match against Premier League opposition.
 
Finally playing in his natural position.. Excellent in tight spaces, brilliant link up and give & go's plus a goal and assist
 
Most of us have wanted to see him in the 10 role and he had a great game. It suits his game so much more there. Could easily play with Amad, Bruno or Garnacho as the other 10, but with our strikers being so poor I’d like to see….

Dalot Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Amad Mainoo
Garnacho
​
I’d put money on Garnacho scoring more than Hojlund or Zirkzee in that position easily.
 
Marwood said:
I don’t understand those saying he's not a 10.
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Ideally he's not, his best role is one of the advanced midfielders in a three (like Modrić or Iniesta). In Amorim's system he's probably better suited to one of those number 10 roles than to the holding ones though.
 
First half he was getting into some good positions but wasn’t making the most of it but the second half he was excellent. Bodes well if he can play that role in the league.
 
I like him in this role, works for him and suits the team really well. Brings many things we have been missing in attack, hope he gets a run in the team now.
 
harms said:
Ideally he's not, his best role is one of the advanced midfielders in a three (like Modrić or Iniesta). In Amorim's system he's probably better suited to one of those number 10 roles than to the holding ones though.
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I think as more of the basics get sorted out in Amorims system the more scope he has to tweak things.
 
Fortitude said:
Yeah, my thoughts also, but the smoothness of his play suggests he'll manage to do that in the PL.
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It's not so much his poise I worry about, it's also our ability to sustain possession for that long around the opposition box, in the epl.
 
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