[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Sorry, I forgot the white text.

But on a serious not it wouldn't surprise me if he somehow ends up on a similar career path to Cleverley. Or even worse - like Januzaj or Anderson.

He's clearly very talented, but lately we've had a knack of getting the worst out of young talents. He's been very impressive for his age for spells during the season, but I think it's too early to know if he's the real, real deal.

He’s the real deal

 

[The Irish Connection]

He was better than Casemiro.
It looks to me like Ten Hags tactics aren’t getting the best out of him.
When Casemiro has the ball as the deepest midfielder Mainoo often moves forward, standing almost on the opposition back four. It’s what he wants Mount to do too, who also has similarly low touches.
It would suit Mainoo much better in my opinion playing in a double pivot, staying close to Casemiro and coming deep to get on the ball more.
He’s much more careful with the ball than Casemiro.

 

[Dan_F]

Mainoo not strong aerially and doesn’t make himself available enough to pick the ball up - both problems for playing deepest of the 3.

Casemiro has to win a lot of headers in front of defense and has been able to free himself up to receive more off the defense - even if his quality upon reception is lower

On that note, Mainoo will need to work on finding spaces and demanding the ball from the back line. Without that, I think we’re putting too much on Casemiro to be the sole outlet for the defense when playing out

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that Casemiro has been told to play that role and Mainoo is doing what he’s asked. I think you’re definitely underestimating how much of building up from the back is coached. They are all playing in the position dictated by the coaching.

I have no idea what Manioo’s aerial ability has to do with him receiving the ball from the keeper.

 

[NoPace]

I kind of see this and don't think it's so negative to say, Sir Alex would have made great use out him, he's a tidy player but nothing too outstanding about his passing or offensive ability.

Koke is the player I hope he becomes similar to. A quality all-around midfielder who is very, very good on the ball without being quite elite. We haven't had anyone give us a decade plus of midfield play like he's given Atletico since Carrick.

 

[NoPace]

It looks to me like Ten Hags tactics aren’t getting the best out of him.
When Casemiro has the ball as the deepest midfielder Mainoo often moves forward, standing almost on the opposition back four. It’s what he wants Mount to do too, who also has similarly low touches.
It would suit Mainoo much better in my opinion playing in a double pivot, staying close to Casemiro and coming deep to get on the ball more.
He’s much more careful with the ball than Casemiro.

Agree with all this. He pushes up to make a front 5 and doesn't end up on the ball as much, and he doesn't seem to really know how to find space that high up the field.

 

[Red00012]

Reports this morning we will triple his wages from 20k to 60k.

 

[Crimson King]

Sorry, I forgot the white text.

But on a serious not it wouldn't surprise me if he somehow ends up on a similar career path to Cleverley. Or even worse - like Januzaj or Anderson.

He's clearly very talented, but lately we've had a knack of getting the worst out of young talents. He's been very impressive for his age for spells during the season, but I think it's too early to know if he's the real, real deal.

I think that's very harsh. Regardless of people's feelings about him, Rashford has been an important player for the first team since he broke into it. He wasn't even as talented as guys like Greenwood, who's off the field issues had very little to do with the club.

Other less talented players like McTominay have still been very useful as squad players, it's just unfortunate we haven't had the quality around them to hide their flaws. Other academy players, like Garner and Elanga, are making a name for themselves at PL level as well.

Mainoo and Garnacho are both playing lots of minutes at the moment, more than they probably should be, but I think it shows that actually the academy and youth integration is on the right track, despite how shambolic the rest of the club has been run.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

If it is true - that's a pretty fair raise in wages for Kobbie

At least it's not 120K, 160K, or 180K as before

 

[ekestubbe]

I kind of see this and don't think it's so negative to say, Sir Alex would have made great use out him, he's a tidy player but nothing too outstanding about his passing or offensive ability.

In the current context I think it definitely is negative. First of all Ten Hag is no Ferguson, and hasn't really shown so far that he can bring the best out of players. Secondly, Ferguson would never "build a team around" Cleverly, like many people seem to think should be done around Mainoo.

 

[Doracle]

In the current context I think it definitely is negative. First of all Ten Hag is no Ferguson, and hasn't really shown so far that he can bring the best out of players. Secondly, Ferguson would never "build a team around" Cleverly, like many people seem to think should be done around Mainoo.

It’s far too early to say that we should “build a team” around him. However, we should definitely be looking for technically competent midfielders who can work well with him. Frankly, buying midfielders who are good on the ball is what we should always have been doing but we have seemed bizarrely averse to doing so over the past decade.

 

[MileStolar]

Tom Cleverley Mk2

Give it to Kobbie till the end of the season?

 

[Spark]

If it is true - that's a pretty fair raise in wages for Kobbie

At least it's not 120K, 160K, or 180K as before

Seems fair. If he improves at his current trajectory he’ll be commanding a huge wage by the time he’s 24 anyway.

 

[Fortitude]

It's no surprise that he is weaker every game after his debut. During his first few games he played the style of football he was coached at younger level, but with every passing game he is instructed by Ten Hag what to do and of course he is not that Bruno type of player Ten Hag likes so it will not suit him.

Big concern. Our midfield play is a disgrace at a time when he should be getting honed and refining what he already came out the academy with. Such disregard for the fundamentals of midfield play can only prove to be detrimental. Mainoo is the antithesis of what the team does and it is affecting him.

 

[CasaStreets]

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that Casemiro has been told to play that role and Mainoo is doing what he’s asked. I think you’re definitely underestimating how much of building up from the back is coached. They are all playing in the position dictated by the coaching.

I have no idea what Manioo’s aerial ability has to do with him receiving the ball from the keeper.

I wasn't suggesting that aerial ability and receiving the ball are related, just that those are the two separate reasons Casemiro is playing the deeper role than Mainoo

 

[CasaStreets]

If it is true - that's a pretty fair raise in wages for Kobbie

At least it's not 120K, 160K, or 180K as before

Good, I think it was important that he's kept close to Garnacho's earnings to avoid any sort of negative group dynamics.

Hojlund is on 85k/week. So our young, talented group of 3 would all be between 50-85k/week.

 

[NZT-One]

It's no surprise that he is weaker every game after his debut. During his first few games he played the style of football he was coached at younger level, but with every passing game he is instructed by Ten Hag what to do and of course he is not that Bruno type of player Ten Hag likes so it will not suit him.

I think, this is a little shortsighted take to be honest. Mainoo plays his first senior season, he came onto the scene with a bang, being an unknown entity. By now, opposition are expecting him to play, scouts are observing his tendencies, his strenght, his weaknesses and teams are prepared to face him. We can't allow ourselves to be too self-centred - not everything that happens on the pitch is a reaction of things we do or did, the opposition is a major factor in the equasion. And Mainoo, just as Greenwood in 2022 or Garnacho now will face the challenge to play against top class opposition that doesn't take them lightly.

 

[Raees]

He's been invisible lately.

Doesn't help when Ten Hag stupidly starts removing him from build up responsibilities and pushes him high up the pitch (his weakest part of game) and makes him have to cover box to box.

 

[RuudTom83]

Hojlund is on 85k/week. So our young, talented group of 3 would all be between 50-85k/week.

It shouldn’t really bother the average fan…but reading that is very soothing/pleasing for some reason.

 

[CasaStreets]

It shouldn’t really bother the average fan…but reading that is very soothing/pleasing for some reason.

Yes. I think it sets a good precedent for the incoming era of the club if reports are true that we'll emphasize bringing in young players.

These figures are benchmarks all over the pitch for what talented young players who are either starting every week or competing for places earn here.

Just for comparison, Martial signed at 19yo for 110k/pw, and that was 9 years ago - the average PL salary has slightly more than doubled over that time!

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[FrankWhite]

He also said Antony was special last year, if I remember correctly.

 

[ColvaleGoa]

Looks like he won't be picked by Waistcoat for the friendlies. Good news.

 

[top1whoisman]

First England U21 call-up, well done Kobbie!

If my memory serves me right, England don’t have players playing up several age groups that often so it’s not a bad achievement.

From the latest squad it’s only him and Archie Gray (both 18) as well as Lewis and Bynoe-Gittens (both 19).

A big chance to impress them and make a claim for the senior squad.

 

[andersj]

He's clearly very talented, but lately we've had a knack of getting the worst out of young talents. He's been very impressive for his age for spells during the season, but I think it's too early to know if he's the real, real deal.

I agree. Mainoo is a huuuge talent (unlike Cleverley), but has a long way to go. First and foremost he needs to improve alot physically. He needs Man Utd to be different from the past few years. I think the most improved talent at Man Utd the last few years is Garnacho. Really do think EtH, for all his faults, is a great coach for young players.

 

[Hester_manc]

I have to admit that I will be amused if Mainoo selects the Ghana national team now. I really expected him to be selected for English.

 

[FrankDrebin]

I have to admit that I will be amused if Mainoo selects the Ghana national team now. I really expected him to be selected for English.

Really?

 

[DJ Jeff]

Good, I think it was important that he's kept close to Garnacho's earnings to avoid any sort of negative group dynamics.

Hojlund is on 85k/week. So our young, talented group of 3 would all be between 50-85k/week.

Very surprised we managed to get a £70m signing and not give him 100k+ a week. On this occasion, well done Murtough.

 

[gajender]

Very surprised we managed to get a £70m signing and not give him 100k+ a week. On this occasion, well done Murtough.

Not a chance Hojlund is on less than 100k base wages his gross would be around 150k minimum a week .

 

[DJ Jeff]

Not a chance Hojlund is on less than 100k base wages his gross would be around 150k minimum a week .

Yeah it does sound odd that any agent wouldn't wrangle a minimum of 120k a week out of a 70m transfer of one of his clients, regardless of age.

 

[Donut]

You got to laugh at the Cleverley comparisons… Out of all our wonderkids (Hojlund, Garnacho, Mainoo), he’s the one with the highest ceiling.

 

[top1whoisman]

 

[Zoo]

Find him the right partner and we are set. Just keep away for now Southgate!

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

He is a baller, he really is .

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Best player on the pitch today, 1 man midfield playing next to those two posers.

 

[Amar__]

Absolutely ridiculous in that first half. Great great player.

 

[the hea]

This kid is special.

 

[Nick7]

Best game for us, maybe? Absolute quality out there.

 

[FromTheBench]

We need better midfielders to partner him.

Simple.

 

[Bobski]

Some of his dribbling was insane. Positonally you might have a few questions, but I attribute much of that to the insane set up giving him and his midfield, I don't even want to call them partners given how far apart they are, acres to cover.

If he he physically develops we are looking at a Seedorf regen.

 

[Brightonian]

Someone likened him to Cleverley somewhere on this page...