Scott McTominay | Transfer discussion not performance discussion

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captaincantona

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We now see how detrimental McFred as a duo were to our ability to win football matches. Neither are calm, comfortable on the ball, neither can control tempo, dictate play, show for the ball out from our back line with confidence etc etc etc. However Fred has any number of other qualities that make him a brilliant squad player.

If McT was in any way good enough to deputise in midfield for this team in the form we are in, this wouldn’t even be a discussion. But the fact is that none of us trust him in that midfield to deputise for Casemiro against anything more than a Carabao Cup side. If that’s the case…why hold onto him long term? He is not a 6 and never will be. We need a 6. If there is no chance of getting a replacement that better fits our needs this window - hang on to him but Jesus…get rid this summer.
 

Bebestation

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He's going to be 27 next season in December. At that age, he might want a new challenge that can give him starting XI spot in top level.
Sure but he might also want to win the PL with United first as part of the squad?
 

justsomebloke

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We now see how detrimental McFred as a duo were to our ability to win football matches. Neither are calm, comfortable on the ball, neither can control tempo, dictate play, show for the ball out from our back line with confidence etc etc etc. However Fred has any number of other qualities that make him a brilliant squad player.

If McT was in any way good enough to deputise in midfield for this team in the form we are in, this wouldn’t even be a discussion. But the fact is that none of us trust him in that midfield to deputise for Casemiro against anything more than a Carabao Cup side. If that’s the case…why hold onto him long term? He is not a 6 and never will be. We need a 6. If there is no chance of getting a replacement that better fits our needs this window - hang on to him but Jesus…get rid this summer.
Bingo. He clearly simply can't play instead of Casemiro without weakening the team substantially, also he lacks the right traits to stand in for Eriksen (can't do the passing) or Bruno (lack of sufficient overall offensive ability). So where's he going to fit? Nowhere. If he can't be a credible second choice at any position, there is no sense in him remaining.
 

justsomebloke

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I don't see why there would be a rush to get him out the door. He's a decent squad player to have and our main CMs are in their 30s.
Because he's not a decent squad player, not in this team with this system. AWB is a decent squad player (on the strength of current performances). Lindelof is a decent squad player. Fred is a decent squad player. But McTominay is such a downgrade on our first choice in his best position (No 6) that replacing him with someone better is arguably our most pressing recruitment need.
 

Zen86

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Because he's not a decent squad player, not in this team with this system. AWB is a decent squad player (on the strength of current performances). Lindelof is a decent squad player. Fred is a decent squad player. But McTominay is such a downgrade on our first choice in his best position (No 6) that replacing him with someone better is arguably our most pressing recruitment need.
AWB was on the scrapheap prior to the last couple of games, Lindelof has spent most of his United career there alongside Fred and several others in the squad. McT is perfectly capable of playing a role. And we're not likely replacing him with the imaginary upgrade anytime soon.
 

justsomebloke

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AWB was on the scrapheap prior to the last couple of games, Lindelof has spent most of his United career there alongside Fred and several others in the squad. McT is perfectly capable of playing a role. And we're not likely replacing him with the imaginary upgrade anytime soon.
Really, where? Because if we're playing with him instead of Casemiro, we are a much worse team, in all phases of the game. In a way that is not the case if we play AWB instead of Dalot, or Lindelof instead of Varane, or Fred instead of Eriksen, or Garnacho instead of Rashford or probably even Butland instead of De Gea. He is the weakest point on the team - the position where we'd have to replace our best and most influential player (Casemiro) with our weakest and most limited (McT).
 

Kostov

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We now see how detrimental McFred as a duo were to our ability to win football matches. Neither are calm, comfortable on the ball, neither can control tempo, dictate play, show for the ball out from our back line with confidence etc etc etc. However Fred has any number of other qualities that make him a brilliant squad player.

If McT was in any way good enough to deputise in midfield for this team in the form we are in, this wouldn’t even be a discussion. But the fact is that none of us trust him in that midfield to deputise for Casemiro against anything more than a Carabao Cup side.
If that’s the case…why hold onto him long term? He is not a 6 and never will be. We need a 6. If there is no chance of getting a replacement that better fits our needs this window - hang on to him but Jesus…get rid this summer.
You are blubbering lots of bullshit on the back of 2-3 games where Fred was very good and McT hasn't even featured. Spare us of this crap and at least be a bit more realistic when describing the real needs of the team. MCT had plenty of solid games at the start of the season, when Fred looked like a guy called from the crowd to fill out a place.

On the other hand McT is the only one that can at some capacity deputy for Casemiro if the Brazilian God forbid injures himself, while in the role of Fred we can always fit Eriksen and even McT himself who is also a better player. Longterm Fred should be get rid first however you look at it, yeah he can fill out a role here and there but we all know he is too limited to be relied upon.
 

golden_blunder

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Mctominay and Maguire are being undervalued by many, many posters...

20m for Mct?
25m for Maguire?

This is 2023
I think so too, we need to factor in how much it will take to get replacements.

worse players than them are being quoted for more
 

Kostov

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Bingo. He clearly simply can't play instead of Casemiro without weakening the team substantially, also he lacks the right traits to stand in for Eriksen (can't do the passing) or Bruno (lack of sufficient overall offensive ability). So where's he going to fit? Nowhere. If he can't be a credible second choice at any position, there is no sense in him remaining.
Yeah Bingo. In what parallel deluded universe Fred is a better player or more useful than McT for example. I know Fred has had 2-3 good games but just 3 months ago he looked like an amateur while McT was starting and having good games in the middle of the team.
 

captaincantona

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AWB was on the scrapheap prior to the last couple of games, Lindelof has spent most of his United career there alongside Fred and several others in the squad. McT is perfectly capable of playing a role. And we're not likely replacing him with the imaginary upgrade anytime soon.
Couldn’t disagree more. ETH is finding out which players fit his system and can execute his plans. Lindelof has shown he is capable of that. Fred is and has always had value and can play a number of positions. The world and its dog thought AWB was finished till ETH pulled of a magic trick.

However, under ETH, how we play with McT in that deep role is significantly significantly worse than when Casemiro plays. He is not capable of taking the ball under pressure, he struggles with basic positioning and he has no vision in possession. His physical attributes and energy don’t compensate for those failings in the position we need to cover. If we had no Fred we would hang onto him as a back up 8. But we need a back up 6 and as funds are limited…and we have Mebrij and Mainoo coming through looking for minutes…he should be this one to make way in midfield imo.
 

jeepers

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Because he's not a decent squad player, not in this team with this system. AWB is a decent squad player (on the strength of current performances). Lindelof is a decent squad player. Fred is a decent squad player. But McTominay is such a downgrade on our first choice in his best position (No 6) that replacing him with someone better is arguably our most pressing recruitment need.
Not that I disagree with your main point, but McT is not a 6. I can’t understand why posters keep saying that’s his best position because it’s not. He’s a box-to-box midfielder whose best work (whilst not being any good at it) is attacking the opponent in the final third. Too bad he only does well against Leeds.

I don’t think EtH will sell McT this window, but he very well might in the summer after assessing Mejbri and making his mind up on VdB. There’s also Mainoo who EtH might want to keep around to learn from Casemiro/Eriksen and play in cup games instead of sending out on loan. I reckon Iqbal will go out on loan. Perhaps Hansen-Aaroen will get some cup game time if EtH seems him good enough.

We have other more pressing priorities in getting in a CF and possibly a GK, and these recruits will cost a pretty penny for sure.
 

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Really, where? Because if we're playing with him instead of Casemiro, we are a much worse team, in all phases of the game. In a way that is not the case if we play AWB instead of Dalot, or Lindelof instead of Varane, or Fred instead of Eriksen, or Garnacho instead of Rashford or probably even Butland instead of De Gea. He is the weakest point on the team - the position where we'd have to replace our best and most influential player (Casemiro) with our weakest and most limited (McT).
Judging players against Casemiro isn't going to get you anywhere, anyone will be a significant downgrade on what he's brought to the team (and most of the players you've listed are downgrades on the first choice option. And fopr the record, Lindelof is in no way comparable to Varane). Getting rid of McT will take us from having cover that's a step down, to no cover whatsoever. That'll no doubt be great for our push this season.

McT can play in several positions across the middle and he's pretty much the only CM we have with any degree of physicality to him, other than Casimiro.
 

arnoldS

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Scott is easily worth 40mill for a PL Team. We have seen higher fees for worse players. He would be a good addidtion to many teams outside of the top 6 - maybe even for one or two teams in the top 6. He is relatively young and has a good chunk of experience.

But obviously he should not be allowed to leave now. Our midfield is thin and if there is no replacement it would be mental to let him go in winter.
 

flappyjay

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Some of ya'lls hate for the lad goes so deep that you would be willing to have us shoot ourselves on the foot just to see him gone.
 

Zen86

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Couldn’t disagree more. ETH is finding out which players fit his system and can execute his plans. Lindelof has shown he is capable of that. Fred is and has always had value and can play a number of positions. The world and its dog thought AWB was finished till ETH pulled of a magic trick.

However, under ETH, how we play with McT in that deep role is significantly significantly worse than when Casemiro plays. He is not capable of taking the ball under pressure, he struggles with basic positioning and he has no vision in possession. His physical attributes and energy don’t compensate for those failings in the position we need to cover. If we had no Fred we would hang onto him as a back up 8. But we need a back up 6 and as funds are limited…and we have Mebrij and Mainoo coming through looking for minutes…he should be this one to make way in midfield imo.
Again, Casemiro has been our most influential player this season, so it would be good to know what your plan is for that deep role that wouldn't result in a significant step down. Unless chucking kids in and hoping for the best is your plan. That said, McT has never actually been a deep lying midfielder so it's a bit strange why this has turned into a McT vs Cas thing in the first place. He can do a job anywhere in the middle and yes, his physical attributes are useful.
 

captaincantona

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Again, Casemiro has been our most influential player this season, so it would be good to know what your plan is for that deep role that wouldn't result in a significant step down. Unless chucking kids in and hoping for the best is your plan. That said, McT has never actually been a deep lying midfielder so it's a bit strange why this has turned into a McT vs Cas thing in the first place. He can do a job anywhere in the middle and yes, his physical attributes are useful.
No plan. Keep McT till the summer. Then replace him with a younger holding midfielder who will be happy to learn from one of the best.

We obviously don’t want to get rid of him without a more suitable replacement
 

Marcus

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We should only sell McT for a ridiculously inflated fee. Look at what EtH's coaching has done for Shaw, AWB, Rashford. I think if McT has been applying himself in training, he would be good enough as an extra body schooled in EtH's ways to be useful to fill in for the first 11.
 

Bebestation

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Who is this next player we can buy that can play like Casemiro if he gets injured or rested?

Just want to see who this supposed player is.
 

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I never thought I'd say this but.. why sell him? Especially to our main rival for third. Makes no sense.

He's clearly not good enough, mind, but with the ridiculous schedule right now, we can't afford to.
 

georgipep

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Because he's not a decent squad player, not in this team with this system. AWB is a decent squad player (on the strength of current performances). Lindelof is a decent squad player. Fred is a decent squad player. But McTominay is such a downgrade on our first choice in his best position (No 6) that replacing him with someone better is arguably our most pressing recruitment need.
I'd leave these finite valuations to Ten Hag and his coaches.

If he stays and the manager uses him, I trust him to know a tiny bit more than all of us, armchair managers here.
 

captaincantona

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You are blubbering lots of bullshit on the back of 2-3 games where Fred was very good and McT hasn't even featured. Spare us of this crap and at least be a bit more realistic when describing the real needs of the team. MCT had plenty of solid games at the start of the season, when Fred looked like a guy called from the crowd to fill out a place.

On the other hand McT is the only one that can at some capacity deputy for Casemiro if the Brazilian God forbid injures himself, while in the role of Fred we can always fit Eriksen and even McT himself who is also a better player. Longterm Fred should be get rid first however you look at it, yeah he can fill out a role here and there but we all know he is too limited to be relied upon.
Just saw this now. You need to calm down. It’s simple and it’s not my fault you can’t see it. For the first time in years we look coherent and our midfield has gone from our problem area to our strongest asset arguably. That is because for the first time in years we have a specialist defensive midfielder that knows the role, has positional sense, is comfortable reviving the ball from the defence, is press resistant etc etc. it’s not just because that player is fuking Casemiro…(which clearly helps) but it’s because that type of player is essential. You don’t need to be a 5 time champions league winner. Plenty of ordinary enough players play at CDM and are just crucial to how their team plays - Fabinho, Fernandinho, Jorginho, Brozovic, Kimmich, Hojberg, Rice, Laimer, Neves even.

So if McT is not capable of playing as a CDM…and we then have Fred and Eriksen and possibly Bruno as well as youngsters coming through to play as an 8… Why hang on to McT when we clearly need a deputy for Casemiro and when funds are limited?

Also, my views on Fred are not recency bias. It was clear from the outset he was not suited to playing alongside McT. We are going back years now. The only person that couldn’t see it was Ole. Its also clear that his engine and tenacity are a dream for a coach like ETH. I wouldn’t sell Fred full stop. Epitome of an excellent squad player.
 

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Just saw this now. You need to calm down. It’s simple and it’s not my fault you can’t see it. For the first time in years we look coherent and our midfield has gone from our problem area to our strongest asset arguably. That is because for the first time in years we have a specialist defensive midfielder that knows the role, has positional sense, is comfortable reviving the ball from the defence, is press resistant etc etc. it’s not just because that player is fuking Casemiro…(which clearly helps) but it’s because that type of player is essential. You don’t need to be a 5 time champions league winner. Plenty of ordinary enough players play at CDM and are just crucial to how their team plays - Fabinho, Fernandinho, Jorginho, Brozovic, Kimmich, Hojberg, Rice, Laimer, Neves even.
I completely agree about this, and we still lack another CDM which we will probably buy 10 years from now.

So if McT is not capable of playing as a CDM…and we then have Fred and Eriksen and possibly Bruno as well as youngsters coming through to play as an 8… Why hang on to McT when we clearly need a deputy for Casemiro and when funds are limited?
There is the issue of how you portrait something. Yeah McT is not capable to play as a CDM to the level of Casemiro, yet is the only one that portrait any sort of capability to hold a midfield at the start of the season when we didn't have Casemiro, and Fred looked like an amateur playing as an 8 which is supposedly his best position. Let's remind ourselves that McT has had plenty of good games as a number 8 himself, which adds to his value to the team. Personally I think MCT is better than Fred in both roles while also being younger and more versatile.

Also, my views on Fred are not recency bias. It was clear from the outset he was not suited to playing alongside McT. We are going back years now. The only person that couldn’t see it was Ole. Its also clear that his engine and tenacity are a dream for a coach like ETH. I wouldn’t sell Fred full stop. Epitome of an excellent squad player.
And that logic is crap imo, you can say that McT was not suited to playing with Fred either, which comes to the point of who is actually more useful to have around. Even at it's worst I think McT can actually be useful with his physicality unlike Fred. It's like some of you waited half a season for Fred to have a decent game and get out with your pitchforks and attack McT. Let's be real for a second. If someone should be kept from the two it's clearly McT. Ideally we need to get rid of both and bring in better quality.
 

justsomebloke

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I'd leave these finite valuations to Ten Hag and his coaches.

If he stays and the manager uses him, I trust him to know a tiny bit more than all of us, armchair managers here.
Absolutely. But if there's consideration of moving McT out, one would assume that's not contrary to EtHs preferences? If EtH want to keep and use him, the issue won't arise.
 

croadyman

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Who is this next player we can buy that can play like Casemiro if he gets injured or rested?

Just want to see who this supposed player is.
We certainly can't find them in last two weeks of window,so will have to rotate him best we can this season and scout someone over next few months who could be an able deputy.
 

justsomebloke

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Judging players against Casemiro isn't going to get you anywhere, anyone will be a significant downgrade on what he's brought to the team (and most of the players you've listed are downgrades on the first choice option. And fopr the record, Lindelof is in no way comparable to Varane). Getting rid of McT will take us from having cover that's a step down, to no cover whatsoever. That'll no doubt be great for our push this season.

McT can play in several positions across the middle and he's pretty much the only CM we have with any degree of physicality to him, other than Casimiro.
Did I write that Lindelof is comparable to Varane? Of course he isn't, that's why Varane is in the first XI and Lindelof isn't. The point is this: No one can play all the time, and so you need cover who can step in without degrading the quality of the team too much. Judging from what we've seen, we do have that in a lot of positions. If Lindelof plays instead of Varane or AWB instead of Dalot or Malacia instead of Shaw, I think we still have a pretty solid back line. Not as good as our first XI, but good enough - and it won't fundamentally affect the functionality of the whole team. If McT plays instead of Casemiro as no 6, I do not think that is the case. Hence, we need someone better as cover in that position, to such an extent that it looks like a pretty obvious priority to me. Doesn't need to be as good as Casemiro, just better than McT at the most key aspects.

And I'm assuming here that we're not talking about dumping McT with no replacement brought in.
 

justsomebloke

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Not that I disagree with your main point, but McT is not a 6. I can’t understand why posters keep saying that’s his best position because it’s not. He’s a box-to-box midfielder whose best work (whilst not being any good at it) is attacking the opponent in the final third. Too bad he only does well against Leeds.

I don’t think EtH will sell McT this window, but he very well might in the summer after assessing Mejbri and making his mind up on VdB. There’s also Mainoo who EtH might want to keep around to learn from Casemiro/Eriksen and play in cup games instead of sending out on loan. I reckon Iqbal will go out on loan. Perhaps Hansen-Aaroen will get some cup game time if EtH seems him good enough.

We have other more pressing priorities in getting in a CF and possibly a GK, and these recruits will cost a pretty penny for sure.
Well no, strictly speaking you are right. But he is our best option for no 6 if Casemiro isn't playing. I agree the summer is much more likely, but I do think it should be a big priority to find better cover for Casemiro than he is. Right now, I'd say that's our biggest weakness (assuming Weghorst can cut it as second-string striker).
 

captaincantona

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And that logic is crap imo, you can say that McT was not suited to playing with Fred either, which comes to the point of who is actually more useful to have around. Even at it's worst I think McT can actually be useful with his physicality unlike Fred. It's like some of you waited half a season for Fred to have a decent game and get out with your pitchforks and attack McT. Let's be real for a second. If someone should be kept from the two it's clearly McT. Ideally we need to get rid of both and bring in better quality.
IMO McT biggest issue is his football IQ and his positioning. He is never in the right place as a midfielder and is slow in possession often choosing the wrong option. Fred’s positioning is excellent…so is his movement…his lack of physicality or strength on the ball is not a huge issue due to his tenacity and positional sense.

I would rather a less physical player who can keep the tempo in our play then a more physical presence that slows us down in possession. It’s as simple as that for me.

Ironically McT has a better chance at a top side as a defender or an attacker…he is just not comfortable enough on the ball to be a midfielder for a top 4 team.
 

UpWithRivers

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So if McT is not capable of playing as a CDM…and we then have Fred and Eriksen and possibly Bruno as well as youngsters coming through to play as an 8… Why hang on to McT when we clearly need a deputy for Casemiro and when funds are limited?

Also, my views on Fred are not recency bias. It was clear from the outset he was not suited to playing alongside McT. We are going back years now. The only person that couldn’t see it was Ole. Its also clear that his engine and tenacity are a dream for a coach like ETH. I wouldn’t sell Fred full stop. Epitome of an excellent squad player.
The question is this ideal back up DM that's available in Jan on the cheap?
 

Stobzilla

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It is about as much money as we will ever get for a player whose value will continue to go down owing to a lack of game time.

With that in mind, it is a smart sale. I would sooner put up with mistakes from a younger player like Mainoo or Iqbal with the McTominay money ready to reinvest come summer than have to put up with McTominays short comings.
 

justsomebloke

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You are blubbering lots of bullshit on the back of 2-3 games where Fred was very good and McT hasn't even featured. Spare us of this crap and at least be a bit more realistic when describing the real needs of the team. MCT had plenty of solid games at the start of the season, when Fred looked like a guy called from the crowd to fill out a place.

On the other hand McT is the only one that can at some capacity deputy for Casemiro if the Brazilian God forbid injures himself, while in the role of Fred we can always fit Eriksen and even McT himself who is also a better player. Longterm Fred should be get rid first however you look at it, yeah he can fill out a role here and there but we all know he is too limited to be relied upon.
Right, because obviously I'm basing my assessment of Fred on the last 2-3 games, and you're taking the broader view because you're looking all the way back to the start of the season. :rolleyes:

You can have your view - mine would be that Fred has pretty consistently been a significantly better player than McT, and of greater value to the team, over the past 3 seasons. Certainly McT is the obvious stand-in for Casemiro. But then my argument was that we need to replace him with someone who's better at that job than he is, because he really doesn't cut it.
 

captaincantona

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The question is this ideal back up DM that's available in Jan on the cheap?
Sorry I should clarify, I’m not up for selling guy in January…just think we need to replace him generally as we desperately need someone to cover CDM better…the fear of losing Casemiro to suspension or injury looms large!….FOR ALL OF US!!!!!!
 

Zen86

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Did I write that Lindelof is comparable to Varane? Of course he isn't, that's why Varane is in the first XI and Lindelof isn't. The point is this: No one can play all the time, and so you need cover who can step in without degrading the quality of the team too much. Judging from what we've seen, we do have that in a lot of positions. If Lindelof plays instead of Varane or AWB instead of Dalot or Malacia instead of Shaw, I think we still have a pretty solid back line. Not as good as our first XI, but good enough - and it won't fundamentally affect the functionality of the whole team. If McT plays instead of Casemiro as no 6, I do not think that is the case. Hence, we need someone better as cover in that position, to such an extent that it looks like a pretty obvious priority to me. Doesn't need to be as good as Casemiro, just better than McT at the most key aspects.

And I'm assuming here that we're not talking about dumping McT with no replacement brought in.
That's the key part, though. Who is this replacement and how do we fund it? Replacing McT certainly isn't as high a priority as a CF, or a CM to take over from Eriksen. Most of our squad could be improved on if we apply the same logic, and that includes Lindelof. The fact of the matter is we're pretty light on CMs as it is, selling McT makes no sense until that's addressed.
 

PieCrust

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McT has never been good enough for United. At best, he's a squad option, but he really brings down the quality when he's on the pitch. I'd be happy to let him go this month. I don't think he'll have any appreciable impact for Newcastle or where ever he might end up.
 

SirReginald

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He’s 27 next season? Time flies :eek:
There’s still people who like to refer to him as a young player with time on his side to develop. He should already have his style of play and even the basics of football nailed down by now as he reaches his peak. If his peak is not even making Scotlands midfield then he isn’t good enough for United. With all due respect.
 

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Right, because obviously I'm basing my assessment of Fred on the last 2-3 games, and you're taking the broader view because you're looking all the way back to the start of the season. :rolleyes:

You can have your view - mine would be that Fred has pretty consistently been a significantly better player than McT, and of greater value to the team, over the past 3 seasons. Certainly McT is the obvious stand-in for Casemiro. But then my argument was that we need to replace him with someone who's better at that job than he is, because he really doesn't cut it.
The only thing that Fred does consistently, is being appalling in large parts of the season.

McT has had more top performances and much more useful ones. On top of that his bottom level is actually passable unlike Fred’s. And yeah I base my opinion on longer periods of time also. I mentioned the start of the season because nobody just like yourself had the courage to spout crap about how fred was useful just 2 months ago, because he wasn’t, he was crap. 3 good games after and he is better than prime Kante and significant better than the guy who easily outperformed him this same season.
 

El Zoido

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There’s still people who like to refer to him as a young player with time on his side to develop. He should already have his style of play and even the basics of football nailed down by now as he reaches his peak. If his peak is not even making Scotlands midfield then he isn’t good enough for United. With all due respect.
It’s like with Jesse Lingard, you remember them breaking through and mentally expect a time where they’re top class and solidify a place in the first team. But then they never get any better so you never age them in your mind because they’re perpetually performing like a young player about to step up. Any day now..
 

Kostov

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IMO McT biggest issue is his football IQ and his positioning. He is never in the right place as a midfielder and is slow in possession often choosing the wrong option. Fred’s positioning is excellent…so is his movement…his lack of physicality or strength on the ball is not a huge issue due to his tenacity and positional sense.

I would rather a less physical player who can keep the tempo in our play then a more physical presence that slows us down in possession. It’s as simple as that for me.

Ironically McT has a better chance at a top side as a defender or an attacker…he is just not comfortable enough on the ball to be a midfielder for a top 4 team.
You question McT’s IQ while having no problem with Fred’s who had this clown obsession on taking a shot from 20 meters every semi decent chance even knowing he is terrible long shot taker?

Better trait positioning and movement? Christ man, they are both limited footballers, but praising his movement and praising his tempo? The guy is a terrible passer 90% of the time how can he set tempo? By running around? What tempo like at the weekend when we had 30% possession? Yes he is useful when we are an underdog to fill out a place and hope for the best. MCT actually has more uses while the same goes on record for him. And in what world is Fred better on the ball than the other, Scott is a much better dribler and carries the ball better.
 
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