Let's just make our main tactic lump it up to Mctominay, would be a better tactic that what we have been playing this season.
Is it worth playing McTominay up front?
- Thread starter PoTMS
- Start date
We shouldn't play him up front... but the guy should move. He is really blossoming and won't play under Eth. There are teams he could have an impact at. He really needs to force a move and could be a top 8 p/starter at the right club
Way things are going he probably reckons he can outlast ETH.
Feck it, I’m in.
Although I must tell you I don’t give a shit about stats, I just don’t trust them. Unless it’s Goals or Points or something unambiguous, I trust my own eyes instead.
Nevertheless, I’m not happy with Rashford this season and McT is out-scoring him so I’m up for anything at this point.
You cannot NOT play him up front.
Scott has been with United since he was 5, and I have watched every single senior game he's played for us, ever. We know everything about him, but none of that matters. It doesn't matter he came hairline close to being sold.
Right here, right now - let him score goals. Period. It would be UNTHINKABLE for him to not start next game and we know he is horrible in the deep of midfield, so he needs to start in some attacking role. We have zero goals in us, we need him
Scott has been with United since he was 5, and I have watched every single senior game he's played for us, ever. We know everything about him, but none of that matters. It doesn't matter he came hairline close to being sold.
Right here, right now - let him score goals. Period. It would be UNTHINKABLE for him to not start next game and we know he is horrible in the deep of midfield, so he needs to start in some attacking role. We have zero goals in us, we need him
The first goal today was class and a true strikers goal. Not sure I would pick him over Hojlund though but back in the Weghorst days I often wondered why ETH didn’t play McT instead in that role.
I believe if we tried it you would soon see why. But he appears to be damn useful in a “kitchen sink” situation. Scored more goals in five minutes than Weghorst did in 20-plus games.
At least mctominay knows not to hit the ball towards the keeper. The goal is 22’ wide but martial seems to want to find the keeper most times.
Anyway, to answer the question; yes.
Anyway, to answer the question; yes.
Worth chucking on for the last 10 minutes of a game if we're chasing an equaliser or winner, he seems to have a knack of arriving in the box at the right time and can finish.
Need to get him in striker drills on the training ground and use him as an impact sub. Scotty is the loyal sort and I’m sure he would be more than happy to be a bench player who gets regular minutes like Ole used to. The higher up the pitch he is, the better he plays.
I said it around this time last year when Martial was injured (shock) and we had no other player to turn to, that McT should be tried up front. The guy made a great strikers run to get on the end of an incoming cross in the Europa league last year. Can't remember who but it was late onto the game and the run was perfect and the finish was great. I'll try find the clip
Edit: it was against Aston Villa not in the EL
Edit: it was against Aston Villa not in the EL
Last edited:
Mctominay use to be a striker Didn’t he? Makes sense to use him coming off the bench when we’re chasing a goal. He’s always been better when he’s played further forward. Scores for fun for Scotland. I’d rather him of came on earlier instead or Martial and had him and Højlund up front. 2 physically strong players.
Ye he could be our wildcard in getting more goals. Problem is what system would we use? Could he play as a 10? Don’t think he’s creative enough but it could turn into a 4-2-4 when attacking. I don’t want us to turn into a crossing/lump ball up pitch team though. ETH is trying to clearly create a technical team… but at the minute he’s doing whatever’s possible to get the wins.
Yes, definitely. I think we should have played him up front at times last season when we struggled scoring. He obviously has a goal scorers instinct as shown by his Scotland performances. Even had he not scored I don’t think he would have been worse than the alternatives. I don’t understand why ETH never took a punt.
I'm sure he can given the poor job Eth is doing right now. But even under a new manager next season he shouldn't take this risk. He should find a manager that wants him for his style.
All good points. I think he plays second striker or #8 for Scotland and does pretty well? Definitely not a #10.
Also, I wonder if we should have played him as a striker instead of Rashford, when we didn't have Hojlund. I know couple goals doesn't make McT a striker, but for FFS could he not have done a better job than Rashford as a CF? Makes you wonder
In what position. Whenever he starts he offers nothing.
Does he? They used to play him at CB?
McT is our modern day Ole/Sherringham. Super sub!
He has better finishing skills than Martial and Mount.
He has better finishing skills than Martial and Mount.
The lad comes on and scores two goals and some of you lose your minds. The very definition of a knee jerk reaction.
Where does he play in the Scotland squad? I don't mind him playing if he is scoring but you can't put him in a DM role.....can't start him over Hoj either.
Two goals in 4 minutes of extra time to win a hopeless game. Which also happens to be more than all of the goals Rashford has scored this season. And he is a top scorer in Euros qaualifier.
We are hardly overreacting.
Yeah you are. He's not a striker and never will be. He's scored goals before on occasion. I'm delighted for him but it proves nothing.
Casemiro's our top goal scorer this season but shouldn't be starting games so what does that prove?
Look the lad has done very well for himself and I am pleased for him.
He is not rubbish and he is no Brian Robson either. The guy can obviously contribute upfront and is an option in the last half an hour and if ETH actually rated him (which he doesnt) he would know this and use him more often.
Unfortunately yesterday was probably a desperation move and ETH doesnt really rate Scott that much and wont be using him in favour of his own players (and by this point I really dont know what Casemiro has done to varant his first team status)
He is not rubbish and he is no Brian Robson either. The guy can obviously contribute upfront and is an option in the last half an hour and if ETH actually rated him (which he doesnt) he would know this and use him more often.
Unfortunately yesterday was probably a desperation move and ETH doesnt really rate Scott that much and wont be using him in favour of his own players (and by this point I really dont know what Casemiro has done to varant his first team status)
Because he was put wide so Casemiro and other could play central. We have to many central midfielders that tenHag want to play at same time. Big, big problem. For balance.
McTominay needs to play as one of the central midfielders. From my point of view give him more attacking role. But seeing Casemiro struggle. Put McTominay there together with Amrabat. Give them specific roles.
Yes he does.
Yes we did.
He can literally do it all. Best academy product we’ve had in twenty years. If he was English all you fools would love him and demand he start weekly.
Indeed.
When you look at the goals he has scored recently for Scotland and yesterday, he is a very clean striker of the ball. And he takes the shot quite early.
As to whether he should be starting up front, it really depends on who to leave out.
The obvious would be Rashford who has become more like Martial than Martial.
I agree with some here that there is a tendency to get carried away by a good performance by McT yesterday, but that being said I have always been of the opinion that he is someone who belongs at United, not only for sentimental reasons but also because of his all round qualities. He is useful as a sub both when we are chasing a goal like yesterday and when we need some extra muscles in midfield at the end to defend our position.
Just off the striker. Our best form lately has been McTominay & McGinn just off the striker. Something like this.
Gunn
Hendry - Porteous - Tierney
Hickey - Gilmour - McGregor - Robertson
McSauce - McGinn
Adams
Hendry - Porteous - Tierney
Hickey - Gilmour - McGregor - Robertson
McSauce - McGinn
Adams
He’s not a 10 in the traditional playmaking sense, but gets about the pitch using his physicality and makes great runs to get onto the end of things.
Onana
Varane - Evans - Maguire
Dalot - Casemiro - Amrabat - Regulion
McSauce - Bruno
Hojlund
Varane - Evans - Maguire
Dalot - Casemiro - Amrabat - Regulion
McSauce - Bruno
Hojlund
That’s probably the equivalent in our set up with who’s available?
Hes a great player to throw on in the death up top amd he does consistently deliver goods in that scenario.
Although hes also no worse starting than our other options.
I do think hes best when he can roam free role though - which is much more possible when thrown on.
Although hes also no worse starting than our other options.
I do think hes best when he can roam free role though - which is much more possible when thrown on.
*sweatdrop emojis*
OK, what?
You haven't seen the Philip lahm is a black man thread before? Bellingham is excelling at the moment for Real in the role McT can excel in!
Said it before but he would be really good in our side but we can't afford him. His best position is essentially the same one we use Doucoure in. Madrid have shown that it's possible to play at a high level with a player of his ilk if you have the tactics right and to a lesser extent we (Scotland) have too.
I'm not sure if you're serious but McTominay isn't the same ilk as Bellingham.
I am serious. By same ilk I mean their best positions. Both are best placed in the position between midfield and the striker. Obviously Bellingham is a much better player with more facets to his game and that ability allows him to play deeper but they're both incredibly effective in the former role.
The thing is Bellingham is a creative player who can play a great pass at any time. Madrid or any top team wouldn't put a player in that position who can't pass the ball at a good level.
Of course. Bellingham is a genuine world class player. McT isn't and won't be but is a solid PL player that can be very effective if used correctly. His 6 goals in the Euro qualifiers and yesterday aren't luck, he's got a very good knack of being in the right place and has excellent finishing.
He could get a hat trick if marrial was not offside. Crazy, that could be the fastest hat trick?
If we use him well, he could become our own frank lampard.
If we use him well, he could become our own frank lampard.
Pretty much how ETH wants to play Mount I guess?
He is probably more useful as impact sub like garnacho is used but eth should never be using him deep in midfield.
In many ways he reminds me of fellaini who was also most effective behind the striker and yet for years our manager made the same mistake of trying to play him as a defensive midfielder.
In many ways he reminds me of fellaini who was also most effective behind the striker and yet for years our manager made the same mistake of trying to play him as a defensive midfielder.
McT never plays well when we start him. Yesterday was his best ever contribution and it’s the only way to use him productively. He’s good as a wildcard or joker to be used sparingly, in moments of desperation. I like him but I don’t want him in our MF.