Fair enough, and yes, let’s not take this where it doesn’t need to go. And yes, I don’t appreciate my opinions being put into some sort of box one way or another, they are just my football observations, and I just find it a little insulting after explaining myself to be told I just have an agenda, but let’s not cry about that
. I too enjoy our conversations here.
I’m not even comparing him to Pogba per se, they are not the same level of player and shouldn’t have the same level of expectation. I appreciate that. I just use Scott as an example when, as I have read, people constantly banging on about Pogba giving the ball away. He is the best at keeping the ball that we have! So it just begs a question as to whether the issue is so much about a United player losing the ball, or a Paul Pogba issue (and the conversation in which it arises is usually a mixture of personal and football attack on Pogba). My simple point on this is that McTominay can have a 70% pass completion and be praised by the same people who have decided to nitpick Pogba, who could have left the pitch with 88% and gave it away a couple of times. My only point with Scott here is to question these sorts of views, as there are inconsistencies.
You speak as if ‘liking Scott’ is unique to you, or if it’s a red corner or blue corner camp to be in. I like McTominay too! He’s a Manchester United player. Currently one of the better ones we have in his position too. He’s not a top player though, and as a United man, naturally I want us to have the best. It alarms me when I read the hyperbole on him, because I get worried that we’ll end up keeping him in the XI despite him being easily improved upon. To give an extreme example, it worries me in a way it may worry you if loads of pundits and the manager kept going on about how good a player Jesse Lingard is, and how he’s a key part of the team. I’m sure you don’t hate Lingard, and may even be cool with him being a squad player, but such comments may cause you to fear that perhaps he’s going to be a fixture in the team, despite not being good enough to be so. That’s how I feel when I hear what I hear about Scott. By all means, he should stay here, but we need a player who can handle the ball to a higher level, dribble better, keep it moving with one-touch play, in tight spaces, and pass it better, both under pressure and without. When I watch Scott, this isn’t the player I see, and I don’t think it’s what anyone else sees either, I just think they don’t care right now because he’s likeable for a number of other reasons. For me, I don’t have the sentimental view of it, there will be another youth player after him and another again and again - after a while you are just more concerned with the standard. Especially when the team is struggling, you are more desperate for the ones that can get us back to the top. If Scott was Phil Foden I’d be championing him as much as the next poster. He isn’t though, which is fine, because we aren’t obligated to have a youth player there - we can go and buy someone of Foden-level talent if we don’t have one.
Trust me, you will get over your affection for Scott. All that will be left then, is the footballer you have. How good is he. It happens with all of our kids. People wanted Cleverley to play all the time, they hyped him, Jesse has gone from hero to zero, Jonny Evans was this and that. I don’t care anymore. If Scott becomes a top player, great, but if not, until then, I’d prefer he made way for someone who is. Greenwood is different class, and a young player I’m more than happy to see in the team, as I don’t think we could realistically get a better young striker than him even if we tried. After this, the fact he’s one of our own strengthens the affinity towards him even more for me. I was vocal in not wanting Haaland because of Mason. I wouldn’t share that view if we were targeting say, Tonali or Pellegrini because of Scott, not for personal reasons, simply for footballing ones. He can do no wrong now, and I wish him well, but as I said, I doubt it would be too long before the pitchforks are out and the ‘just a local lad who runs around’ stuff comes out by people who were too invested and ‘hopeful’ to see it earlier. Under any normal circumstances, Scott wouldn’t be a regular for us - we shouldn’t have a 23 year old from the academy playing every week saying ‘if he can just learn to pass a bit better’. Just like that he will lose his Young academy kid privilege like those who have gone before him and then what will we have? Take that away, he really isn’t all that, and would not be playing at a club of this level I don’t think.
Even whatever affection you probably think I have for Paul Pogba is probably overstated. I like him first and foremost because he’s a top player, and one I recognise will be near enough impossible for us to equal let alone better if he left. That’s the main of it. I also think l, mainly in light of this said ability that he has, that he gets way too much shit, and a lot of it is based on some weird personal issues. If he wanted to leave and we could get KDB, I’d do the deal in an instant. I just want us to have the best players. He is one of them, and I desperately want midfielders on a similar level with him, rather than have to have a one in one out policy on top midfielders. Feck why couldn’t we have gotten F De Jong!
