He'll be in the Euro squad. Said it after his first app. He just needs to stay fit. England really don't have a midfielder in his mould.
Is Mainoo the real deal?
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
He's mint. Question is, what midfielder(s) should he optimally be paired with?
A complete natural. Stay away from injury. Get that man strength. He's golden.
he's 8/1 currently, might be worth a punt
I never heard his name mentioned but thought he was the outstanding player on the pitch (by some distance).
Bags of composure and quality
When he gets the frame he could become a real dominant presence
When he gets the frame he could become a real dominant presence
Fabregas never had a world class season, but he was world class across his career. One of those players that was of the wrong era. For me, he’s up there with Silva and KdB in ability, but existed in this weird period in time where what he had, wasn’t what teams wanted, at the time he played there.
He was too dynamic for Spain and that ridiculous midfield, and not quite dynamic enough (or at the right club) for the PL and how games were played at that time. He came to Chelsea for MK2 Mourinho and after a great season and a title, it all went a bit odd. Great under Conte, but he was a different player then.
He’d be perfect for Pep right now, and would be one of the best midfielders in the world.
Edit : A little off topic. But yes, I agree. Marino is MILES off Fabregas at the same age. Nowhere near.
For a young player to shine in such a shit team means something. Great talent
Xavi and Busquets would be a start, but unfortunately we've got Bruno and McTominay.
In all seriousness, and in as much as people will probably attack me for saying as much but Bill Gilmour and Pascal Groß from Brighton would be good alongside him, and bring our midfield up a level. Maybe not to the level we need to go to to win things but it would be a start.
That's easy money imo. Only thing stopping it would be an injury.
Mainoo-Rice-Bellingham is Englands best midfield.
What now?
Yeah maybe a bit OTT. I guess I mean he was never the best of all of him all at once. I can’t point at any single season and see him at a club, under a manager that saw him utilised and see him utilise all of his ability.
He was great at Arsenal, Barca, and Chelsea, but different best versions of himself at all three clubs. Two different versions at Chelsea. That speaks to his ability.
I guess my bar is high. He never had a Yaya, Suarez, Henry, Hazard, Ronaldo season. But also didn’t hit the single season brilliance of Giggs, Keane, Lampard, Gerrard.
I think Ozil’s best season was as impressive as Cesc’s, as a lazy example.
Maybe I’m (understandably) biased.
Wow. He gives me Greenwood vibes when i saw him on the first team. Protect him - and with a proper of playing time, he will be something speciel.
Levels better than Hannibal and many others we thought would be something speciel (Chong, gomes, Elanga)
Levels better than Hannibal and many others we thought would be something speciel (Chong, gomes, Elanga)
I can't recall being this excited by an academy player. And that is despite being burned a thousand times before!
My thoughts precisely!
What a player. Astounded he didn’t get MOTM tonight
Last edited:
After seeing teams snap up Bissouma, McAllister and Cacaido, the one guy who remains as an original and I've always thought as of extremely underrated is GroB. No idea why nobody ever went for him...
People afraid it will be another Schneiderlin case.
Agree with the first part but more importantly he looks like the best player on our team.
Add him to Rice and Bellingham and he’s exactly the cdm that’s currently missing from the England squad. And what a midfield 3 they’d make.
But you know Southgate will force a way to keep playing Henderson.
I understand the “don’t get carried away “ and “let’s see how he progresses” crowd. 99% of times I’d agree. But there are some young players who at a very young age after a few matches you know.. you just know they have that something.
For Mainoo. It’s simply the fact that in one of the most difficult and disciplined positions he looks like he’s been playing there for several seasons. So if he was a 24 year old you’d say he was very good.
Then you consider his age and variety of attributes that he demonstrates. Passing, tacking, anticipation, composure, skill etc. It all add up to a player who can become amongst the best in his position in years to come.
Last edited:
Don’t think this post was posted based solely on his performance vs Wigan. Although it’s in games like this that you see who still performs.
Not sure about that. He picked up 11 MOTM awards in 2009/2010 and scored 15 goals, producing 15 assists in the PL alone.
That was a period where, IIRC, he was being deployed further forward, but he was still consistently brilliant and carrying Arsenal most of the time.
I really hope not, I'd rather he has a good break over the summer and comes back to United fresh.
The main thing stopping this happening is Gareth Southgate. Southgate won't take any risks on new players going into a tournament. I can see Mainoo getting a look in the September internationals but until the tournament proper, you're going to see all the same faces right up until it starts. Which is fair enough, it has worked for Gareth to an extent so far.
I had that thought when I saw that live. The biggest thing that stood out there was the difference in effort both players put in to win the ball the moment McTominay hit the ball against Mainoo. It's unforgivable how the lesser talented player out of the two is also the one not working as hard.
Definitely one of the most exciting academy players in recent memory. Has a level of composure way above almost any other player in our team.
I don't want to go too over the top as we've been burnt before but has a huge opportunity to become and England and United regular for years to come if he can keep it up.
We need more players like him and Garnacho in the team for sure.
I don't want to go too over the top as we've been burnt before but has a huge opportunity to become and England and United regular for years to come if he can keep it up.
We need more players like him and Garnacho in the team for sure.
Jesus, that's frightening. It's coming home, lads!
/Remindmein2.5years
His composure and positional discipline is outstanding for his age. We haven’t had a midfielder of this profile since probably Carrick. I hope he continues to develop.
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Was Mainoo
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Was Mainoo
A poll on if he should go to the Euros would be interesting. Especially seeing opposition fans opinions. I just don't see a better partner for Rice and Bellingham right now.
The caf would surely be overwhelmingly in favour of Mainoo going to the Euros. He's our new darling.
But generally, I think most would be against it. Mainoo is not a highlight reel player, and while he definitely passes the eye test, his stats on fbref are surprisingly poor.
Unless you're watching United week in, week out, you probably wouldn't rate him as highly as we all do.
For me, he's a must take for the Euros if he keeps this up
Yes and no. You might stand out for that reason but its also the reason so many players struggle at United and you really have to be individually exceptional to stand out. Garnacho is a good example. He went through a phase of struggling partly because teams knew that he was our main threat so they doubled up on him or really focussed on him.
Players have a much easier time at teams like City or Liverpool because they are part of a well oiled machine. You aren't dealing with sloppy passes, teammates out of position all the time, lazy tracking back and people not making runs for you.
He's doing well and we're just seeing a part of his game. The best of Mainoo will come eventually when he's allowed more room to be creative. I guess he's been asked to focus on the basics and avoid risks and he's playing it safe. Once he's more settled we'll see his progressive/creative side which he isn't showing at the moment.
It is clear to see that both he and Garnacho are benefitting from getting more playing time, I hope that it continues when we have Casemiro and Mount back
Ward -Prowse? It's way too early for Mainoo he needs to play & be with United and U21.
Mainoo is gonna need protection from the fans and the club as a whole.
He's already being touted as someone who can go to the Euros for England. If he goes and has a bad game, the same people building him up now will probably want him shot.
He's already being touted as someone who can go to the Euros for England. If he goes and has a bad game, the same people building him up now will probably want him shot.