[AndyMUFC]

Really enjoyed his performance as a 10, plays to his and Bruno's strengths to swap them around I think. Was discussing it with someone a few days ago.

Amad/Mainoo on the right and Dorgu/Garnacho on the left with Bruno pulling the strings in midfield for the rest of the season I reckon.

 

[Xaviboy]

Very good in that role tonight.

That's his postion now on. Amad RWB

Get Bruno back in deeper role.

 

[Cassidy]

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.

Iniesta played as a 10 at times. Modric also

 

[Superunknown]

I thought he was excellent tonight. One of his best performances in a while. Hope this position works for him.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

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.

At this point I wouldn’t even mind trying this.

Our strikers are so pointless and lacking threat that you can almost put anyone there and I wouldn’t disagree

 

[Red & White]

Much better from him tonight. Not the best opposition to judge him on but definitely seems better suited to the number 10 role.

 

[harms]

I think as more of the basics get sorted out in Amorims system the more scope he has to tweak things.

Without a doubt. Plus, hopefully, some transfers (and "like a new transfers"). Proper wingbacks especially will give Amorim a lot more flexibility to adjust the balance not just on the wings but everywhere else on the pitch, including in midfield.

 

[bgoodall]

Alot of people on here were overly critical of him the past couple months and should be ashamed. Dude is 19. Of course there will be ups and downs. Happy for him today! Well done.

 

[harms]

Iniesta played as a 10 at times. Modric also

Yes and what's your point? Most of the time they didn't and they've made their name for themselves in a different role.

 

[Fortitude]

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.

Was just coming in to type the same thing, and also that trackers are much more physically and tactically able. But it was more the case that he can see a man, hit the pass quickly and move into a more probing position, which is the foundations of the position in an attacking sense.

I suppose the other issue will be how well he can press and track a man out of possession and then turn back toward goal and progress the play again. Takes a lot of energy and stamina, and on that front we know Kobbie has a ways to go.

Still, I remain more positive than negative that he can deliver the same kind of thing in the PL.

 

[AnotherLondonManc]

Really don't want to get carried away, as he was very good tonight.

Most games won't see us with 70% possession though. He really benefitted from us dominating the ball, and made some good incisive runs.

Won't be like this every week, and I'd still like to see him playing deeper and being the calming, press resistant presence that we need in build up.

If he could combine that with some of the off the ball movement he showcased tonight, he'll be a star

 

[Cassidy]

Yes and what's your point? Most of the time they didn't and they've made their name for themselves in a different role.

Mainly due to the teams they played in.
The point was they were also great in the role and Mainoo being a similar profile to Iniesta would be too.

Amorim usually plays a midfielder rather than an attacker as one of the 10s anyway too

 

[Bobski]

Bit of a surprising stat from whoscored tonight is that he was dispossessed 6 times. That is a lot, he had 6 out of the 10 for the team tonight. Some lovely stuff as well but we need to see him play that role in the PL, to see if it works as well at a higher tempo and against much more defensive intensity.

Expect a big season from him next year, especially if he can end this strong.

 

[Rozay]

 

[Brightonian]

Bit of a surprising stat from whoscored tonight is that he was dispossessed 6 times. That is a lot, he had 6 out of the 10 for the team tonight. Some lovely stuff as well but we need to see him play that role in the PL, to see if it works as well at a higher tempo and against much more defensive intensity.

Expect a big season from him next year, especially if he can end this strong.

The eye test gives better context than the raw stats. Those dispossessions came mostly in the period of the game between the two goals and after the second when we were full of confidence and trying to work the ball through the middle of their block. He was losing the ball in or on the edge of their box, in pursuit of creating chances. If you have the ball a lot in those areas then you're going to lose it a few times too, inevitably.

I think that's why you found it surprising. Because your eye can see he's actually very secure in those areas compared to most, certainly more so than Bruno and arguably as much as anyone in our squad.

 

[Bobski]

Again though the eye test gives better context than the raw stats. Those dispossessions came mostly in the period of the game between the two goals and after the second when we were full of confidence and trying to work the ball through the middle of their block. If you have the ball a lot in those areas then you're going to lose it a few times too, inevitably.

I think that's why you found it surprising. Because your eye can see he's actually very secure in those areas compared to most, certainly more so than Bruno and arguably as much as anyone in our squad.

Yes, it wasn't something that was jumping out as an issue during the game, he is such a graceful player on the ball that even his mistakes look tekky.

I wasn't sure about the whole 10 thing with him, but why not, the rest of the PL season is a perfect opportunity to try a few things at a high level.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Think what really impressed me was his off the ball runs. We know he’s good enough at tight spaces for the 10 role but I wasn’t sure if he had the attacking instincts required. Still needs to be tested against tougher opponents but promising signs

 

[Bebe]

His skill set is so much better suited to this position than the more deep lying role he's been in.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Number 10 positions probably suit him better. Obviously man of the match.

 

[Herman Toothrot]

Really good. Hope he can cement that place and be the heir to the captaincy.

 

[macheda14]

I would like to see Amad pushed back into the RWB role and Mainoo and Garnacho continue as the 10s.

Mainoo doesn’t have the dynamism for the midfield two, but he’s one of our best in tight spaces and can score a goal. Also with Dorgu and Amad as wing backs we become a lot more attacking against the low blocks. Then swap one of them out for maz/Dalot when we need to be more defensive.

 

[Rolaholic]

Hmm

 

[dubplate warrior]

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.

Players like him help you sustain possession around the opposition box.

 

[DJ_21]

Hope Amorim keeps him at 10.

 

[dubplate warrior]

Hmm

Sounds like he's basically come to the conclusion that Kobbie is a 10. Only wish he'd done this sooner.

 

[DJ_21]

I would like to see Amad pushed back into the RWB role and Mainoo and Garnacho continue as the 10s.

Mainoo doesn’t have the dynamism for the midfield two, but he’s one of our best in tight spaces and can score a goal. Also with Dorgu and Amad as wing backs we become a lot more attacking against the low blocks. Then swap one of them out for maz/Dalot when we need to be more defensive.

Agreed. This is definitely what should happen

 

[Orange Tree]

Been mentioning it a lot, but the no 10 role suits his skill set more. Not the perfect 10 by any means, but better than him playing as a 6/8.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Sounds like he's basically come to the conclusion that Kobbie is a 10. Only wish he'd done this sooner.

Seeing as Kobbie hadn’t once played as a 10 in his entire United first team career to date it’s a bit harsh to have a go at Amorim for taking a couple of months to try it out.

 

[dubplate warrior]

Seeing as Kobbie hadn’t once played as a 10 in his entire United first team career to date it’s a bit harsh to have a go at Amorim for taking a couple of months to try it out.

I feel like it was obvious to see to be honest.

 

[Cassidy]

I feel like it was obvious to see to be honest.

I think its only obvious if you know his history in the youth side, and not so obvious if you watched most of his games for England and United first team.

 

[dubplate warrior]

I think its only obvious if you know his history in the youth side, and not so obvious if you watched most of his games for England and United first team.

Maybe that's making me biased, as that's how I knew him prior to his breakthrough.

Even then, his skillset was obviously not that of a central midfielder, but at least it's happening.

 

[dcrompton]

Kobbie's goal was a typical Ten Hag goal. I saw us concede loads of goals like that last season

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I think its only obvious if you know his history in the youth side, and not so obvious if you watched most of his games for England and United first team.

Not to mention that he’s been competing with Bruno and Amad for that position. Which made it an even more unlikely call by Amorim. If anything he deserves a lot of credit for risking Bruno in CM, which is why there was a vacancy at 10 in the first place. That really isn’t an obvious call at all but it has improved us every time he tried it.

 

[Cassidy]

Maybe that's making me biased, as that's how I knew him prior to his breakthrough.

Even then, his skillset was obviously not that of a central midfielder, but at least it's happening.

Yet he had a standout season and played for England...

 

[Rolaholic]

Me too , made up for it thoughwith a goaland assist in the 2nd half

 

[AdNani]

The team looked more balanced with him as the 10 and Bruno deeper. Would like to see more of it, his one touch play around the box was great and he obviously chipped in with an assist and a goal.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Very good performance.

But we've also seen him play well deeper under Amorim too and vs better opposition.

 

[TsuWave]

 

[pocco]

Very good performance.

But we've also seen him play well deeper under Amorim too and vs better opposition.

This is an issue for Amorim in general. One game a player plays well and you think you’re on to something, then the next they look like shit.

Jury is out on Kobbie and his position but I think there’s some value to what Amorim said about him and the recovery in the deeper role. It’s an area he’s lacking, and he’s clearly going to enjoy the freedom further up. It’ll come down to how productive he is in that role.

 

[bosnian_red]

Was thinking more of a situation where Bruno goes at CM next to Ugarte, and then Mainoo is the left attacking mid with probably Amad the right attacking mid. That way Bruno can use his passing range while Mainoo can be used in the tight spaces to link up and his close dribbling that we've often seen from him in that area.

Not that it'd be a regular thing. But I could see it working quite nicely, in possession at least.

Called it ^