I think you're right and its something I've noticed with a lot of the players coming through our academy even the lads I thought at different points would be dead certs like Angel Gomes and Garner. You can even see it with some of the guys that have made it like Rashford, Greenwood and McTominay. Greenwood was our best youth talent in years but he had no clue on what runs to make as a centre forward so ended up being shunted over to wing where his talents weren't optimised. Rashford used to always look for the ball to feet when he really should have been making off ball runs for the likes of Bruno and Pogba to find him. He has improved a lot in this regard but still doesn't get enough poacher type goals. McTominay is just one of the worst off ball players I've ever seen. Always caught in the cover shadow, never aware of what's going on around him. Gomes was a bit like this too and was never able to get on the ball to work to his stengths as a result. It seems like there's a real blind spot in the underage coaching in this regard and it's something I welcome changing if EtH is taking charge of the 23s.
Cheers.
Have you Considered the fact that thr kid may be going through some physical changes which may result in him not being as coordinated in his movements??
it’s unbelievableit’s almost like he’s 17 having played less than a handful of first team appearances.
People on here actually asking why he’s not being assertive or dominating midfield
He's 17 and still growing
If he was the new Pogba, then we should get rid of him asap, but of course he isn't, he's the original Mainoo
To the morning train.
He can already play, and given the circumstances with Eriksen injury, he may well play Garnacho level minutes in the coming weeks.
it’s almost like he’s 17 having played less than a handful of first team appearances.
People on here actually asking why he’s not being assertive or dominating midfield
You aren't wrong but I think it's worth saying he's playing in reserve games now, not youth games, which is a bit of a difference in terms of pace and physicality. The majority of our 2nd years always seem to struggle initially when making the step up to the U21s, previously the U23s. I have faith he'll adapt.
Yes, it’s really hard, indeed. But Seedorf first started in Ajax at a younger age. Maybe he is our Seedorf after all
Yeah, he could well be seen as Fred's back up until Eriksen is back.
On one hand a 17 year old midfielder shouldn't be thrown in at the deep end, on the other hand he'll be 18 in a few months.
Get and agree your point but you probably used the wrong example? Rashford is forward, so the judgement weighs on goals significantly. He scored on every “debut”, league home and away, cup game, European, international. Simply amazing.
Yeah I'm not saying he was poor or anything. My point was more that we didn't see the whole scale of his ability until he was fully settled in the first team. It's unrealistic to expect a young player to come in and show what they're fully about from the first game.
Yes, That’s definitely the case. Youngsters need and also have time to grow their games and their understanding to the game. It’s ridiculous to expect a full package from the day one.
No he won't, he may get a start against Forest and that'll be all except some late sub appearances in games we're coasting
But McTominay is now also injured. So only Casemiro, Fred and Sabitzer are ahead of him in the pecking order
Him and Iqbal are going to get game time.
