Watching as a neutral, he was excellent yesterday, his lung-bursting runs and his cool finish had shades of prime-Gerrard!
Exactly who I was thinking too. We need to find our Thiago...
averages less than a successful dribble per game. Ndombele does more. That's like suggesting someone is one of the best finishers in the league when he scores 3 goals
Only McGinn, Kovacic, David Silva completed more dribbles per 90 mins than McTominay last season (among CMs).
He has this very good knack of getting his foot to the ball before the opponentexpects, and can follow it up with a very good stride. It is very useful often when we are under pressure,allowing us to beat the press, get a frikick and lift the team out of defence. Yeaterday he was more akin to Maradona against Leeds’ midfielders - just flowing past players to line up a bottleopener pass. Be good for his confidence!
Really? You think Matic, Carrick, or Scholes peaked at 24 and didn't improve after that? In fact historically I'd say midfield players peak a lot later than 24 because it has a lot to do with anticipation and positioning which comes with experience.
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss his potential, especially as a defensive player, some age like fine wine.
Sneaky suspicion he’ll do a Fletcher and end up like that without anyone really noticing he’s become that. He’s one of our first names on the teamsheet for games where we respect the opposition.
Yesterday reminded me of the 4-3 City game where Fletcher scored 2 goals.
His best performances are against top opposition. It's against the 'park the bus' teams he struggled as he lacked creativity and ability to pass between the lines.
Fletcher indeed earned it. He and park were one of the first names on the team sheet against big opposition. Not just because of their defensive attributes, but they easily transitioned into attack and quickly fed rooney or hernandez post CR7 era. The red card fletcher wrongly got in the champions league semis is imho, the reason we lost to barca in the finals.
Well the Leeds game was just about the most open game I've seen, so explains it.
Comparing the Scotland side that Fletch was turning out for with the one McTom is competing for a place in is not a great comparison.
Yeah, I hated him when he broke through and Mourinho was using him as a pawn. Love the guy now.
Combine his dribbling skills with his shooting, I guess he could become our Kaka
makes sense. He will not be a world class undisputed starter I think. But he is someone who will always play a big role in the team throughout the season. Someone who’ll get good game time and contribute well (nicky butt and Ole himself were fan favorites while not regular starters).
Says what? Lots of midfielders drastically improve from the age of 24. How many midfielders play their best football at that age?
Most players don't improve drastically after 24, not saying he won't improve at all, but very few players go from a decent squad player to much beyond that after 24.
Wide players and strikers don't usually but you think most midfielders and centre backs are more or less the finished article by 24?
Wouldn't get carried away. Just had a look at the squad and it looks more or less the same in quality to me. 7 premier league players, and only 5 starters, mostly for relegation candidates.
yea boiii. I can see him making world XI shortlists and everything.
Probably not. Don't recall Carrick ever making them but he was one of the best midfielders in the world and I think he could be as good as Carrick.
Very different players though. Whoever likened his potential to Goretzka is right, he needs to be in an old fashioned B2B role but with a specialist DM behind him. Carrick could never have played that role, he simply was not mobile or combative enough and the same goes vice versa, McT will never be as good as Carrick was in his role because he's nowhere near good enough technically/positionally.
When?
At his peak, Stacks.
Why that much butthurt with the lad?
