[Mike Smalling]

Jogs about, nice touch here and there, but for the most part he’s not impacting games in a positive way.

I’ll be surprised if he becomes a top player.

 

[Nobby style]

Massive decision to be made on selling him. His growth here seems to have stymied, and another year like this we’d have to sell him for peanuts. We can still get a decent price for him I think.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

That was horrid. It’s like he tries to pull off the “nonchalant” type game but does it without any of the quality and gamebreaking ability players that have played like that possess.

hate to say it but that was a Sancho esque performance.

 

[Catalandevil]

Clearly talented, but I still don't know where he should be playing. I think he is more a #8 than a #10.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Shades of Sancho - good in tight spaces, but no urgency, no pace, no endurance nor intensity.

Anonymous type of player at his worst.

 

[Insanity]

Really don't know where he fits in. I thought he'd be better suited as a #10 then in central midfield as his lack of pack won't get exposed there and his close control will help in the final third. Unfortunately, he hasn't done a whole lot when he has played as #10 and I am unsure on where he should be played.

Maybe it's just the second season syndrome...I don't know.

 

[Hammondo]

Pogba was a world class talent who did everything to a high level very early in his career. He lacked discipline or desire to play within a role but talent-wise it is not a comparison.

He definitely did not do everything to a high level.

 

[Hammondo]

One of his worst performances in a Manchester United shirt. I see the technique and football IQ but not the physical application.

I am not sure about the IQ part.

 

[Top]

Shades of Sancho - good in tight spaces, but no urgency, no pace, no endurance nor intensity.

Anonymous type of player at his worst.

Nothing like Sancho

 

[jem]

You watch him today and you ask yourself how would it make any kind of sense to pay him anywhere near 100k/week. You can understand someone like Luis Diaz at Liverpool demanding that kind of salary but that's because he's proven over multiple seasons to be an integral part of his team's success. Kobbie has had one very promising season followed by an injury-riddled/underwhelming second season. In what world does lead to him deserving a massive pay-raise?

 

[Harry190]

He'd be a very good fit for Barcelona methinks.

 

[Hammondo]

He'd be a very good fit for Barcelona methinks.

They will make a bid then.

 

[Big Ron’s Coat]

Really don't know where he fits in. I thought he'd be better suited as a #10 then in central midfield as his lack of pack won't get exposed there and his close control will help in the final third. Unfortunately, he hasn't done a whole lot when he has played as #10 and I am unsure on where he should be played.

Maybe it's just the second season syndrome...I don't know.

System really doesn’t offer a role that suits him. That said it doesn’t suit Ugarte either. The middle of the park continues to be a vortex despite changing managers. So frustrating.

 

[Bwuk]

He'd be a very good fit for Barcelona methinks.

He wouldn’t get a game.

Hes not putting de Jong or Pedri out the team.

 

[dpansheth]

You watch him today and you ask yourself how would it make any kind of sense to pay him anywhere near 100k/week. You can understand someone like Luis Diaz at Liverpool demanding that kind of salary but that's because he's proven over multiple seasons to be an integral part of his team's success. Kobbie has had one very promising season followed by an injury-riddled/underwhelming second season. In what world does lead to him deserving a massive pay-raise?

Yeah we should stop offering “double your salary “ after a single year deals. Mainoo, still young enough, will need to start strong in whatever role the manager puts him in (whoever is the manager next season) and if he keeps it up till end of next season then reward him.

 

[Dve]

No hunger. Never calls for the ball. Never there to pick up the second ball. Looks like someone who doesn't get paid for their work.

 

[Garethw]

He’s been utter shite this season. Thank feck we didn't give him the new contract he wanted.

 

[GlazersHater]

If the rumors about him wanting a big pay rise are true, then we should find someone willing to pay £60M and take the offer. Honestly, he's not suited to our style of play. This season has been awful for him in every aspect if anything, he's regressed when he should have improved.

He could be a very good player elsewhere, but I just don't think we're the right environment to develop him properly. Maybe it's the "superstar" status that comes with playing for United as a global club even when it’s not earned on the pitch but we’ve seen how badly we can rot young talent.

We could use the funds. Sell him before it’s too late.

 

[P-Nut]

I'm convinced that no matter what we do with Mainoo in the summer will be the wrong option.

Sell him and he'll go on to have an absolute stellar career and develop past his obvious limitations in physicality.

Keep him and he won't fit the system, and will dwindle out like so many others over the years.

Probably just this season taking its toll on me, but I've no faith in things working out for us.

 

[Dominos]

I'm convinced that no matter what we do with Mainoo in the summer will be the wrong option.

Sell him and he'll go on to have an absolute stellar career and develop past his obvious limitations in physicality.

Keep him and he won't fit the system, and will dwindle out like so many others over the years.

Probably just this season taking its toll on me, but I've no faith in things working out for us.

We sell him to a team who plays him in a 3 man midfield and he starts to look an improved version of what we seen last season and for England in Euros.

We sack Amorim 10 games into the season because results are still poor.

We replace him with a manager who plays a back 4 and a 3 man midfield and we're left wondering exactly why we sold one of our best homegrown talents leave.

The way the last 12 years have gone I can see this happening.


Ultimately, no matter what I'd keep him for another year and see if he can be a decent rotation option in midfield with some work on his game, and see if Amorim is even still at the club by summer 2026. I'm not yet willing to have him play his career elsewhere because of second season syndrome and a niche system from a manager who may not even last a year.

 

[Freak]

Just very immobile and not physical enough. Reminds me a lot of Pogba in the way he’s slow and jogs about. A good technique and talent can only get you so far, he needs to add a lot more to his game.

 

[Aleryan]

Mainoo is clean with his techniques and seldom loses the ball. He gets the job done. He's a born winner.

 

[jem]

Mainoo is clean with his techniques and seldom loses the ball. He gets the job done. He's a born winner.

Satire?

 

[It'sYanitedLads]

Feel like all of my previous issues with mainoo are finally coming to fruition this season.

Even in his first year his underlying metrics showed he wasn't really as good with the ball as people thought he might be. He's not a progressive or creative player. He doesn't have the mentality or probably even ability to progress the ball.

Nor does he have the vision to play line-breaking passes consistently. He's at best a ball-retention midfielder with middling creative ability

He's also very very slow. I think he's slower and less physically fit than retired 40 year olds. In fact you don't even need to look that far. Messi and ronaldo are probably still fitter than him and he's 20!

Since last season he's honestly physically regressed. Added unnecessary bulk and became less agile and flexible (which has affected his carrying and dribbling ability) while still being slower than a tortoise and having the stamina of a sloth.

One thing that he's actually improved a bit is his physicality but he still gets bullied every once in a while. All in All he's athletically woeful.

Another big thing is I'm not even convinced he has the mentality to improve. Seems to have a bit of a non-chalant personality. Might think he's better than he actually is and doesn't seem to want to push himself to improve.

Overall another young player who we prematurely overhyped and overrated.

I'd say keep him for another year then sell but in the meantime sign actual central midfielders who are a net-positive and not passengers.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Feel like all of my previous issues with mainoo are finally coming to fruition this season.

Even in his first year his underlying metrics showed he wasn't really as good with the ball as people thought he might be. He's not a progressive or creative player. He doesn't have the mentality or probably even ability to progress the ball.

Nor does he have the vision to play line-breaking passes consistently. He's at best a ball-retention midfielder with middling creative ability

He's also very very slow. I think he's slower and less physically fit than retired 40 year olds. In fact you don't even need to look that far. Messi and ronaldo are probably still fitter than him and he's 20!

Since last season he's honestly physically regressed. Added unnecessary bulk and became less agile and flexible (which has affected his carrying and dribbling ability) while still being slower than a tortoise and having the stamina of a sloth.

One thing that he's actually improved a bit is his physicality but he still gets bullied every once in a while. All in All he's athletically woeful.

Another big thing is I'm not even convinced he has the mentality to improve. Seems to have a bit of a non-chalant personality. Might think he's better than he actually is and doesn't seem to want to push himself to improve.

Overall another young player who we prematurely overhyped and overrated.

I'd say keep him for another year then sell but in the meantime sign actual central midfielders who are a net-positive and not passengers.

This is your sales pitch to be Mainoo's agent!

I don't think he has a forceful personality, so in a team that's struggling, he sort of disappears.

International football or one of the other European leagues appear a better fit for his skill set. EPL is all about intensity and athleticism nowadays. It's not so much that he's a bad player, but he appears to be a player out of his time. He can come again in a better functioning outfit, but I think I'd be inclined to draw a line in the sand at say, 50 million. Any bids at that price or above and I think you should let him go (though you'll probably struggle to get that much atm). If you don't get a good price then keep him and try to work on his cardio, conditioning etc. For a young guy to appear so sluggish is a worry.

 

[Mmm-Qatarian]

I'm convinced that no matter what we do with Mainoo in the summer will be the wrong option.

Sell him and he'll go on to have an absolute stellar career and develop past his obvious limitations in physicality.

Keep him and he won't fit the system, and will dwindle out like so many others over the years.

Probably just this season taking its toll on me, but I've no faith in things working out for us.

Our only consideration should be whether or not we think he can develop past his limitations and become an effective player for the club at United. If the club decides that the answer to that is no, we should sell him regardless of whether he might go on to do it at another club.

 

[Mmm-Qatarian]

Well aware that I'm jumping on the bandwagon but, in hindsight, I think probably some of the concerns about Mainoo's physicality were also evident last season and just got ignored because he was very impressive in other areas.

Our midfield being as open as it was last season was blamed almost entirely on Casemiro being "shite" but this season is proving that his regression was amplified by the ridiculous amount of ground he was being left to cover in the middle of the park because Ten Hag decided for whatever reason that it was workable to have one player responsible for the entire middle third of the pitch. Mainoo's very limited mobility meant that, as much of an asset as he was (and still is) under pressure, he leaves a pretty big hole in transition which was exploited time and time again last season.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Lack of intensity is one problem, but the bigger concern for me is his lack of passing range. Hes really not shown he has it in his locker to control a midfield simply because he just lacks the passing ability needed. Let’s hope it’s just a blip and he can improve these things. Personally I would still hate for him to be sold.

 

[Withnail]

I think he's really too young to make a call on how he'll develop just yet. He's only just turned 20 and has played a lot of games for the first team already.

Ideally he shouldn't have 69 appearances for the senior team under his belt yet. I'm not sure it'll happen but I'd like to see us getting two senior CMs in so we can allow him to develop while under less pressure to perform week in and week out.

 

[dpansheth]

We sell him to a team who plays him in a 3 man midfield and he starts to look an improved version of what we seen last season and for England in Euros.

We sack Amorim 10 games into the season because results are still poor.

We replace him with a manager who plays a back 4 and a 3 man midfield and we're left wondering exactly why we sold one of our best homegrown talents leave.

The way the last 12 years have gone I can see this happening.


Ultimately, no matter what I'd keep him for another year and see if he can be a decent rotation option in midfield with some work on his game, and see if Amorim is even still at the club by summer 2026. I'm not yet willing to have him play his career elsewhere because of second season syndrome and a niche system from a manager who may not even last a year.

Two things: no one knows what future holds especially for a 20 year old. Second, how many players left in last 12 years proved that it was a wrong decision.

 

[silvercre]

Leaving Amad and Maz to press alone for the first goal while he's having a tea break.

 

[Withnail]

Leaving Amad and Maz to press alone for the first goal while he's having a tea break.

It was Urgarte that left his man and didn't track the run into the box for the assist though, wasn't it?

 

[Frank White]

Two things: no one knows what future holds especially for a 20 year old. Second, how many players left in last 12 years proved that it was a wrong decision.

Don't know the number off the top of my head but quite a few have gone on to kick start their careers after leaving this shit show. We've had multiple players go on to win leagues titles at new teams and even had a few CL finalists too.

 

[romufc]

Don't know the number off the top of my head but quite a few have gone on to kick start their careers after leaving this shit show. We've had multiple players go on to win leagues titles at new teams and even had a few CL finalists too.

Getting to the CL final for another team and winning another league does not mean it was the wrong decicion

Mikhi, Darmian are in 2 CL finals in 3 years... it was not the wrong decision to let them go.

 

[silvercre]

It was Urgarte that left his man and didn't track the run into the box for the assist though, wasn't it?

Look again the replay when van bissaka gets the ball back to play it into the box.

 

[Mmm-Qatarian]

Getting to the CL final for another team and winning another league does not mean it was the wrong decicion

Mikhi, Darmian are in 2 CL finals in 3 years... it was not the wrong decision to let them go.

So much this.

I'm all for people not wanting to sell Mainoo because they still think he could be a success here. What I absolutely cannot understand is the idea that we shouldn't sell him because he might go on to be successful elsewhere.

I mean perhaps that's a case for not selling him to a Premier League rival, in fairness, but to a point I really don't give a shite how any of the players we sell do after they're gone. Our only concern should be whether or not their value to us outweighs the amount of money a prospective buyer is willing to offer for them.

 

[romufc]

So much this.

I'm all for people not wanting to sell Mainoo because they still think he could be a success here. What I absolutely cannot understand is the idea that we shouldn't sell him because he might go on to be successful elsewhere.

I mean perhaps that's a case for not selling him to a Premier League rival, in fairness, but to a point I really don't give a shite how any of the players we sell do after they're gone. Our only concern should be whether or not their value to us outweighs the amount of money a prospective buyer is willing to offer for them.

At this point... there is probably only 3 players you say, should stay. Bruno, Yoro and Amad.

The rest... if an offer comes, I am negotiating and letting them go. I haven't seen anything special in Mainoo to think, wow we are going to miss him.

If you are a top elite player, you dont need elite players around you to shine, you will shine. A diamond shines in any condition.

This is why smaller clubs do well when they have 1 elite player in there... Bale at Spurs for example.

 

[Brand Nubian]

Really don't know where he fits in. I thought he'd be better suited as a #10 then in central midfield as his lack of pack won't get exposed there and his close control will help in the final third. Unfortunately, he hasn't done a whole lot when he has played as #10 and I am unsure on where he should be played.

Maybe it's just the second season syndrome...I don't know.

Almost looks like as if he has lost confidence and belief in a manager who has no clue how to use him. Or rather doesnt have a proper role for Kobbie in this nonsensical formation.

Add to that a disaster of a league campaign being long done and its no surprise he isnt going to bust the gut to help the team finish 14th instead of 17th. He has already shown a lot of promise and while still huge improvement needed to shine in United kit Im afraid the chances of that happening under Rubens coaching are really slim.

 

[Frank White]

Getting to the CL final for another team and winning another league does not mean it was the wrong decicion

Mikhi, Darmian are in 2 CL finals in 3 years... it was not the wrong decision to let them go.

Agreed. Does show they had at least at little bit to offer in teams that are capable of winning/competing for major honours though whilst we're left with utter dross. Don't think anyone would disagree Mctominay would improve are team right now.

 

[Frank White]

Almost looks like as if he has lost confidence and belief in a manager who has no clue how to use him. Or rather doesnt have a proper role for Kobbie in this nonsensical formation.

Add to that a disaster of a league campaign being long done and its no surprise he isnt going to bust the gut to help the team finish 14th instead of 17th. He has already shown a lot of promise and while still huge improvement needed to shine in United kit Im afraid the chances of that happening under Rubens coaching are really slim.

Surely that speaks volumes about his mentality then, no? He had the perfect platform to show why he should be starting in the final and he dropped a stinker of a performance. No doubt he's a class player on the ball but this team is literally are worse team ever, or there about and Mainoo can't lock down a position be it as a 10 or in midfield and that's on him.