[Web of Bissaka]

Another fine performance today.

He's the cool type isn't he, and the one that plays safe and simple -> good traits for a consistent composed CB.

As the centre midfielder, he marked his mark very well for me, doesn't let the player advance, and he helped defensively a lot, but more impressive is the passes he made are all simple to the player's feet, and the short driving forward ~ carrying the ball forward - impressive control and hold the ball well. In addition, compare to against Spurs, he doesn't hide this time. Improvement performance.

Also that recovery passes after being sandwiched by two Southampton players almost leading to costly goal good job~

Positionally, I still suspect it's his limitations for now.

 

[AkaAkuma]

How does he compare to Mensah?

 

[Devil may care]

Love his composure, I thought he did well out of position yet again.

 

[Player Red]

Calm in possession. Keep it very simple. Looks lost positionally in midfield. Hope he plays CB on Sunday.

Felt this as well yesterday too. Your description is probably spot on. He would often end up not available for a pass (hidden behind someone).

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Felt this as well yesterday too. Your description is probably spot on. He would often end up not available for a pass (hidden behind someone).

I saw him play live for the England u20 in that position and he isn't a midfielder going forward IMO. I thought watching him live that he didn't really want to get on the ball all that much as you say.

His best work in that game came when he was defending in his own area. He is a centre back.

 

[Donut]

How does he compare to Mensah?

Smarter and more composed. Not as physically gifted as TFM, but no slouch either.

 

[wythyred]

Very impressive last night, I really like the look of him.

 

[sincher]

Did well but really not tested much yet. Agree he didn't really play a normal CM role.

 

[Name Changed]

Thrown into a position he doesn't play in and looked better than everyone else who did.

 

[shield]

Has great ball control. If LVG had still been managing us, he would have definitely been played more often. Though I don't know if that is good or bad( seeing how Tyler Blackett has ended).

Great prospect for the future though.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Has great ball control. If LVG had still been managing us, he would have definitely been played more often. Though I don't know if that is good or bad( seeing how Tyler Blackett has ended).

Great prospect for the future though.

Blackett was always shit, van gaal didn't ruin him.

 

[Kearnkoff69]

Showed his composure in an unfamiliar role, but he's definitely not a midfielder moving forward. He either played well within himself (my first guess) or just lacks the vision to make more incisive forward passes. Everything was very simple, side to side, handing the ball off to Micki or Mata. Which isn't a bad thing at all - in the NBA a young player doing the simple things and deferring to the vets would be considered a measured performance - but certainly markedly different from other first team breakthrough performances we've seen in the past (thinking specifically of how fearless and bold Ravel and Pogba were in their first few games for us). Playing him in midfield was a tough assignment, but he looks like he's the talent and physicality to potentially make it here as a CB.

 

[OohAahMartial]

Reserve Team Player of the Year!

 

[Manny]

A good post award interview from him alongside Ander -

1.08

 

[worldinmotion66]

Doing a decent job as the holding midfielder, I think he can be a useful player for us next season. Mourinho obviously doesn't trust young centre backs, but I eel both he and Fosu-Mensah are best suited in that position.

 

[#07]

I don't see the point of buying Michael Keane when we've got Axel. If Axel went on loan to a Premier League team next season he'd look every bit as ease with it as Keane has. Axel's bigger, stronger, and faster than Keane.

 

[Raees]

Needs to be a first team squad member proper next year.. feck loan, he can play CDM at EPL level for sure and get lots of minutes next year. Reminds me of Rijkaard in terms of his style of play (not saying he is that level but style wise), very head up, technical and reads the game really well.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Second highest amount of passes for us with 63, 98.4% pass completion rate. Looked good. Hard to read too much into end of season games though, very little pressure on the ball.

 

[3KDré]

I bet he's an even better CB.

 

[Cristiano_RAFC]

I really like what I've seen from him. Even though it wasn't a high stakes game and the opposition wasn't exactly special, I do like how he looked like a seasoned pro. Very composed.

 

[khoazany]

Played like a veteran.

 

[Arka_BleedingRed]

It can be seen why Jose is playing him in the midfield. He is an excellent passer, hardly misplaces his passes, ice cold composure even when under pressure, and reads the game very well for a 19 year old. The next best thing from the academy after Rashford, closely followed by Mitchell. Don't know in which position his future lies, but I want him to be given more games in the midfield in our first team. In a Jose side, his qualities on the ball would be wasted at centre half. Big words, but I feel he has the quality in him to replace Carrick.

 

[MadDogg]

Much much better in this match than in his previous couple. In the previous matches his movement to get into space to receive passes was...well, terrible to be honest. Never made himself available to pass to. Not that I'm blaming him, he's obviously playing out of position

But in this match he seemed much more comfortable. Got himself onto the ball a lot more and his passing was quite good.

 

[VanGaalEra]

 

[datura]

I don't see the point of buying Michael Keane when we've got Axel. If Axel went on loan to a Premier League team next season he'd look every bit as ease with it as Keane has. Axel's bigger, stronger, and faster than Keane.

Wouldn't say bigger or stronger, definitely quicker though. Keane far better in the air which is one of our big weaknesses

 

[Devil may care]

He looks the real deal, athletic, fast, mobile etc....but more importantly he reads the game well and has composure in posession.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

His composure on the team is what has stood out for me, regardless of what position he has played. Today he played in the midfielders and he was excellent. Still want to see him at centre back, but he's done well in the position he's played in so far.

 

[prath92]

His composure on the team is what has stood out for me, regardless of what position he has played. Today he played in the midfielders and he was excellent. Still want to see him at centre back, but he's done well in the position he's played in so far.

He played in midfield last 2 games too

 

[El Jefe]

This kid is one composed fecker.

If he's that assured on the ball, are we not better off developing him in the position he played today.

Still early I suppose but it makes sense why Jose has trusted him there and not TFM. They are worlds apart in their use of the ball right now.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Axel's really staked a claim in the last few games to step up and be considered one of our four 'first team' CB's. Good on him, good performance today - I really like his composure which is a stark contrast to TFM who really is like a headless chicken.

 

[Raw]

Can't wait to see more of him next season. Hope he gets games ahead of Smalling/Jones.

 

[red_john]

He looks ready to play a big part for us next season. Solid player.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Yeah, I like what I see, Impressive performance.

Playing at CDM, he got the basics right ~ good at holding and keeping the ball not losing posession even when under pressure by three players, play the simple ground passes to every one at every angles, carry the ball forward many times passing through players and then lay it off to another player in space, support defensively well, always available to be passed on in keeping possession, and made a lot of covering positions.

Oh, and he did all of those with pure calmness, seems to be immune to pressures.

Him, McTominay and Pogba/Carrick dominate the centre imo physically and in possession.

I can see now why Mourinho plays him as CM/CDM, passess flowing through him, well Pogba and Carrick helps a lot too.

 

[Icemav]

Yeah, I like what I see, Impressive performance.

Playing at CDM, he got the basics right ~ good at holding and keeping the ball not losing posession even when under pressure by three players, play the simple ground passes to every one at every angles, carry the ball forward many times passing through players and then lay it off to another player in space, support defensively well, always available to be passed on in keeping possession, and made a lot of covering positions.

Oh, and he did all of those with pure calmness, seems to be immune to pressures.

Him, McTominay and Pogba/Carrick dominate the centre imo physically and in possession.

I can see now why Mourinho plays him as CM/CDM, passess flowing through him, well Pogba and Carrick helps a lot too.

He is impressive. If he keeps developing we have got ourselves a very good player. Fingers crossed.

 

[TwoSheds]

Not that convinced about him aerially as a CB as yet. Would be great if he could stake a claim in midfield to give him 2 chances of staying in the team.

 

[itso 7]

He is impressive. If he keeps developing we have got ourselves a very good player. Fingers crossed.

The only way he develops further is if he is given a serious squad role e.g as second choice DM and 4th choice CB. Suppose we sign a Fabinho it won't Axel's development if Mourinho makes him his understudy who plays the COC, early FA Cup games and as a rotation option in between CL and PL congested fixtures. Playing no hopers like Fellaini ahead of him in these scenarios won't help progress the club.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Fair play to those numbers. We've got a serious player on our hands to step into the line-up next year there.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Of all the youngsters on show today he I would say has the best chance of making it.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Played like an experienced player today.

 

[andersj]

Contrary to most in here, I think he deserves a loan. To play consistently would be really good for him and I'm not sure Mourinho will give that to him.

Mitchell, on the other, should be given a chance next season. We probably should have given him more chances this year. Unless something is wrong with his attitude he could be a really good option for us. Unless Mou are planning to give Shaw more game time we need a new left back. Developing Mitchell could allow us to focus our budget and attention on other areas. And with Darmian in the squad, it would not be risky either.

Mitchell vs Shaw could be a new Giggs vs Sharpe story.