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2024-25 Performances


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5.4 Season Average Rating
Appearances
34
Goals
2
Assists
1
Yellow cards
7
Do we? Isn't Garnacho in his 3rd season as a first teamer? And Hojlund has been playing men's football for 4 or 5 years hasn't he?
Its actually Garnachos first season as a starting 11 player
 
So he's having a difficult first season? Seems a bit mixed up this line of thinking.

Never said he was. But clearly hes struggled going from impact sub to starter
 
Do we? Isn't Garnacho in his 3rd season as a first teamer? And Hojlund has been playing men's football for 4 or 5 years hasn't he?
Classic Cafe

That was maybe 5% of my post, and it’s not worth debating Garnacho in the Mainoo thread.
 
Classic Cafe

That was maybe 5% of my post, and it’s not worth debating Garnacho in the Mainoo thread.

I'm not debating anything, just thought I'd point out that you said something fairly daft. They're all quite different cases and must be judged on their own merits.
 
I think to get the best out of Mainoo he needs to play in a midfield three, and not one that includes Bruno Fernandes, who is more of a traditional 10 then he is a midfielder. If he played with, as an example, a midfield three of Toni Kroos, Kante and himself I think we would see the best out of him, all different styles of players that would compliment each other and each bring something different to the midfield. Not sure where he will fit in with Amorim's system, but I certainly don't want to see him leave, he's young enough he can adapt to Amorim's tactics.
Put most people in a midfield 3 with Kroos & Kante and they’d look world class.
 
Never said he was. But clearly hes struggled going from impact sub to starter
That's been the case since he's played for us. He's always looked better as a sub even when EtH was the manager, every time he started he struggled to get going.

I think Mainoo just needs a fresh pre-season with this set up, I agree he's struggling with Amorim's system but he didn't look awful against Bournemouth he looked like he was able to cut through the defenses in his dribbling. He's just coming back from injury, he might just be one of those players who needs time to get into rhythm. Wasn't Rooney notorious for taking time to get into game shape after a long layoff? He might just be the same
 
He's struggled with an injury and adapting to a completely new system, besides still being very young. It's far too early for fans to be losing patience with him.

Still think his future is in CM and he can form a long term partnership with Ugarte.
 
He's a lot better than this formation and playing style is making him look. And he's not the only one struggling. Pretty much everyone has regressed from last season.
 
He's a lot better than this formation and playing style is making him look. And he's not the only one struggling. Pretty much everyone has regressed from last season.

Pretty much. He has his flaws currently which is his pace, ability to get around the pitch and his progressive passing, however, this formation does nothing for him. For me he needs to play in a 3. There is also a question of why we as a club decided to switch to a formation that provides no natural place for our youngsters. I'd argue even for Amad the no 10 role in this formation doesn't get the best out of him.
 
Put Tom Cleverly in there with those two and he'd look world class.

As soon as we start talking about a player needing XYZ to play well, I think you needs to ask questions about the player himself.

Put most people in a midfield 3 with Kroos & Kante and they’d look world class.
I said as an example, I was just pointing out the type of players, not specifically saying those players. I am just saying in Amorim's team he won't excel in a midfield two and he won't excel playing as a 10.
 
Brentford 4:3 Man Utd New
Mainoo was shocking today. He was completely rubbish and out of depth.
I don't know what happened to him. He's definitely suffering from the second season syndrome.
 
He's a player that if a good offer came in we should really considered it. Needs to played in a midfield three and that won't happen if Amorim remains in charge.
 
I remain hugely skeptical about his future usefulness in a Premier League midfield. No intensity, no physicality, and limited passing range.
 
Having a tough season where he looks to be figuring out what he is as a player and what his role is in this team. Obvious talent, and so young so not a huge deal yet, but hopefully next season can step up and get back on track.
 
Sell while his stock is high, as he just doesn’t offer anything. You can understand why Harry Maguire would move like a dump truck, but why does Mainoo have a lack of agility and explosiveness?

How does Erikson move better than you?
 
Unsure if we’re sitting on a goldmine here or if he’s a player with some really excellent assets to his game that won’t ever truly shine because of the innate weaknesses to his game. I fluctuate my opinion on him nearly every time I see him play.
 
He's a player that if a good offer came in we should really considered it. Needs to played in a midfield three and that won't happen if Amorim remains in charge.

Another one I have spotted when I have just responded to a post from another thread.

Every time a midfielder or centre-back is mentioned as not being good enough, posters always find another way to fit them into a different system, as in…they aren’t good to play as a two and needs another player to protect them. For example, in a three-man midfield or centre-back. Realistically, they are just not very good, and we need to stop making excuses.
 
He didn't get much better after Amorim switched him to number 10 position. Poor game from Mainoo.
 
Lovely footballer that will look better with better players around him.
 
We’d be daft to sell him, he’s a top talent. He’s also very young and has had a stop-start season playing in a weird system.
 
Feels like he's not quite back to full match fitness, nor does Amorim really know what his ideal position is. Suspect, we may look to cash in if the right offer comes along since he isn't likely to be a full time attacker nor a full time CM.
 
If he really wants to make it as a midfielder he needs to really improve his defensive workrate and general running/tenacity. That's his biggest weakness and he's actually gotten worse at that part of the game. He looked like a tidy, tenacious midfielder when he first broke through but right now he moves like 33yr old Casemiro.
I wonder where he thinks his future lies. I think he's got maybe a year to actually specialize at a midfield position.
 
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He'll come good. Give him time. He was not good today, but so were a lot of the players. It was a rotational squad with kids against an in-form opponent with strong attackers. And we lost our CCB too early. Wasn't easy.
 
Unsure if we’re sitting on a goldmine here or if he’s a player with some really excellent assets to his game that won’t ever truly shine because of the innate weaknesses to his game. I fluctuate my opinion on him nearly every time I see him play.
By now I'm almost certain that it's this. We cannot have a player with this little agility and mobility in midfield in the Premier League. It just won't cut it, when all other teams are so physical. As others have pointed out, there really isn't a lot between how he and Eriksen move.
 
This season he’s been all the worst parts of Pogba with none of the positive parts except for the goal vs Lyon.
 
He may thrive in 3 midfield systems which have other 2 midfielders who are very good at progressing, duel and passing.
What he can do is only link up in small space, but lack all other attributes to be good CM.
If I'm decision maker, I'll sell him and keep Garnacho.
 
Obviously there's potential there but right now he doesn't have a stand about ability to his game.

His passing is short and not through the lines like Bruno
He doesn't have the energy or physicality like Ugarte
He doesn't have the defensive ability of Casemiro

His best ability is probably a bit of dribbling.

I always thought his position would be the deepest CDM. Let him rotate possession but make him learn to position himself defensively.

I can't really see him further up in midfield or as an AM.
 
He was shockingly bad today. I know he's had a tough year with injuries but I'm getting a little bit worried about him, he hasn't really developed anything in the last 12 months, if anything he looks like a worse player now compared to a year ago.
 
Sell. Seen enough now. He has a few good moments but he's largely anonymous every game this season.
 
He is literally what the best futsal player in the world would look like playing full pitch football. I was hoping to see other areas of his game expanding like long balls, through balls, driving through midfield etc but he doesnt seem to have it in his locker.
 
Sell while his stock is high, as he just doesn’t offer anything. You can understand why Harry Maguire would move like a dump truck, but why does Mainoo have a lack of agility and explosiveness?

How does Erikson move better than you?

Is his stock high right now? The limitations in his game have become much more obvious this season.

As I said in the match thread I'm torn on it as he has some exceptional ability with close ball control in tight spaces and a lovely placed shot in him. But he doesn't have the passing range to progress the ball from deeper areas or pace to run with it into space. It's almost like he can navigate tight midfields with the ball at his feet, but needs a distributor like Bruno next him to actually set the attack into motion.

I just not seeing how he works in this set-up. Ugarte has more range in his passing than Mainoo.
 
Mr Invisible today. Ugarte was all over the place, while Mainoo didn’t do shit in the middle
 
he was bad, didn't contribute anything to the game except maybe during the first goal, but calls to sell him is crazy. Are we going to sell every players that have bad spells during the season? plus he's still 20 years old.
 
His performances have bee ok, he's not in the team to score goals that job is for Bruno and Mount.
 
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Really dislike seeing players who was good under previous management get stick for being poor under new management who himself is an utter disaster. Mainoo has regressed under the current manager who’s football is best suited for shin kickers like Ugarte, Palhinha etc
 
Really dislike seeing players who was good under previous management get stick for being poor under new management who himself is an utter disaster. Mainoo has regressed under the current manager who’s football is best suited for shin kickers like Ugarte, Palhinha etc

Ah yes. All those extremely talented Sporting players, best known for kicking shins.
 
His performances have bee ok, he's not in the team to score goals that job is for Bruno and Mount.
What exactly is his role in this current set up? He is not really a tempo setter, nor is he an aggressive defensive player. He has decent ball carrying abilities but obviously he is still growing into it. What is that role which he would suit in our current system and actually do we do well in?
 
It's ridiculous that if a young player, who by the way was brilliant last season is having a below par season then the entire forum seems to jump on the sell him bandwagon. He's obviously talented and one for the future. Let's be patient

Besides, who knows if Amorim is here next season and we change the system again.