[RuudTom83]

Wonderful performance yesterday...the kid barely has double figures for pro games played.

Naturally he is running out of steam after an hour but EtH was telling everyone how good he was when he was out for months.

Just needs a no.6 behind him and the future is very bright.

 

[Rozay]

@Rozay would love to see Neves next to him (I'm skeptical on if they're the perfect blend for each other but haven't seen him as much), for me they seem very similar but if Neves can develop into an Iniesta superb creative type then it'd be fine. You definitely need a DM behind them though, a ball winner who is going to get around the pitch. Mainoo does very good work defensively but you need someone more aggressive and athletic to partner him for sure, and Neves does a fair bit too but again, just as a complimentary piece. Concern would be is it a creative enough midfield with Neves and Mainoo behind the front 3... But it's probably a non starter anyway given what he'll cost and what we can spend

I just think the best bits of players like Mainoo are accentuated with another on the same wavelength with similar technical ability. Scholes/Carrick, Iniesta/Xavi, Gavi/Pedri, Modric/Kroos. You simply cannot get the same thing from Mainoo/Onana or Bruno. We could have easily said ‘we need someone to win the ball next to Scholes’ and gone Scholes/Essien - which would have some advantages, but would lose a lot of what Scholes can do.

This only works if the pair are very top players of course, and the two in question here are two of the very best amongst the young players. We can get a proper control of football matches with this sort of duo, with silk then being our natural game as opposed to Mainoo providing moments of silk in the midst of chaos. We would need other profiles, so the two of them ahead of an Onana in some games, or behind a 10 in others can work.

I think a lot of us have said for years that we want to move away from being a side of moments, but at some point, these are the sort of decisions that need to be taken to change the OS of United. I think both Mainoo and Neves do enough creatively between them, and defensively between them - but the third midfielder can vary from game to game and tip the scale more defensively or offensively. Even before Neves’ brilliant season, I had been excited by the prospect of Dan Gore developing alongside Mainoo. I do think teams need to go for it and get two of these types though to maximise. You can’t drop Xavi in a Stoke team and just expect him to pass and move, to use an extreme example.

 

[bosnian_red]

I just think the best bits of players like Mainoo are accentuated with another on the same wavelength with similar technical ability. Scholes/Carrick, Iniesta/Xavi, Gavi/Pedri, Modric/Kroos. You simply cannot get the same thing from Mainoo/Onana or Bruno. We could have easily said ‘we need someone to win the ball next to Scholes’ and gone Scholes/Essien - which would have some advantages, but would lose a lot of what Scholes can do.

This only works if the pair are very top players of course, and the two in question here are two of the very best amongst the young players. We can get a proper control of football matches with this sort of duo, with silk then being our natural game as opposed to Mainoo providing moments of silk in the midst of chaos. We would need other profiles, so the two of them ahead of an Onana in some games, or behind a 10 in others can work.

I think a lot of us have said for years that we want to move away from being a side of moments, but at some point, these are the sort of decisions that need to be taken to change the OS of United. I think both Mainoo and Neves do enough creatively between them, and defensively between them - but the third midfielder can vary from game to game and tip the scale more defensively or offensively. Even before Neves’ brilliant season, I had been excited by the prospect of Dan Gore developing alongside Mainoo. I do think teams need to go for it and get two of these types though to maximise. You can’t drop Xavi in a Stoke team and just expect him to pass and move, to use an extreme example.

For sure. But I still think they need complimentary qualities and mentalities. Have to be similar, but also different in key ways. Xavi for example was capable of creating chances, but was a dictating midfielder, he combined with Iniesta plenty but also was the key to the middle third while Iniesta was often thinking of that killer ball/move and they had the perfect blend for each other there. Joao Neves to me seems just like Mainoo in that he's not that final third guy, he's also the "Xavi" type and neither are the Iniesta types. Mainoo's main thing that he hasn't really shown yet is a lack of passing range, which isn't a huge deal but you do want one of them in the group to be able to spread the pitch (like Kroos does while Modric is the dribbler/carrier in midfield and controls the game with more shorter passing). Mainoo is more of the Modric type for me. Has Joao Neves shown enough of the final third play, or would we be a bit lacking in the killer ball in there? Would be great for control no doubt, and get the right DM behind them and that'd be very strong defensively, but my concern would be lacking the Bellingham/Musiala type in there who are the unrealistic dreams of course.

Lots of different ways to build around Mainoo, whether he's part of a deep 2 in a 4231 or he's the 8 in a 433, but he's got such a big future and it's great that he's a home grown kid who you aren't worried about if he'll be poached. If anything he's our next "great" captain like a Keane or Robson IMO.

 

[mav_9me]

He would be more involved in the game if we were a better team and played higher. Re the Casemiro point, We should be fixing the team to maximise his qualities. We need our version of a Rodri that sets the tempo and is defensively sound.

Imagine if we kept the ball like arsenal or city do? He would absolutely thrive as an 8 in that system

 

[Zed is not dead]

Unpopular opinion: Southgate is right not to pick him for England.
Prodigy though he is, he's only played 1/3 of a senior football season, after missing the first 1/3 with a bad injury in preseason.
Give him time grow and develop. He's got time on his side.

Don’t think it’s quite unpopular.
Going from academy player to England call up in 3 months would be a massive change, both physically and mentally for a young players, even for one that seems grounded

I wouldn’t be surprised to read that United would be protective of him and kinda be against early national call ups.

 

[Redivy]

Has he actually got a lack of pace or does he just look slow?

His pace isn’t going to be an issue. It’s an issue in this team because we have that huge gap between defence and attack which has been frequently brought up. But you’d imagine that going forward we’ll solidify ourselves as either a transition team or a team that controls possession. In either system, the pace of our midfielders won’t even be noticed.

 

[Mike Smalling]

Has he actually got a lack of pace or does he just look slow?

I think he is realtively slow for an 18 year old player, so since he is probably going to be in the starting XI for a while, it's something we need to think about when building the squad. I don't really trust the Casemiro-Mainoo midfield all that much, because Casemiro has also gotten really heavy. Eriksen too, of course. We need a DM with more mobility and a good ability to read the game.

 

[Rossa]

I think he is realtively slow for an 18 year old player, so since he is probably going to be in the starting XI for a while, it's something we need to think about when building the squad. I don't really trust the Casemiro-Mainoo midfield all that much, because Casemiro has also gotten really heavy. Eriksen too, of course. We need a DM with more mobility and a good ability to read the game.

Yeah, but then suddenly he dribbles past two players and races from them, so it's hard to tell. He looks quite quick from a standstill, and also looks fast,if not rapid with the ball. It's when he's chasing players that he can sometimes look ponderous. Hoewever, I've also seen him keep up with what I thought were much faster players over distance, but he then looks like he is truly busting a gut to get there. Maybe not so much a lack of speed as a lack of intensity?

At 18, he can improve his speed drastically if he is willing to do the work.

 

[The_Midfielder]

I think he is realtively slow for an 18 year old player, so since he is probably going to be in the starting XI for a while, it's something we need to think about when building the squad. I don't really trust the Casemiro-Mainoo midfield all that much, because Casemiro has also gotten really heavy. Eriksen too, of course. We need a DM with more mobility and a good ability to read the game.

I think Casemiro has to play as a 6 ..and Mainoo in front of him..
Make sure Casemiro doesn't venture forward much..
Mount or Mctominay on the other side

 

[Mike Smalling]

Yeah, but then suddenly he dribbles past two players and races from them, so it's hard to tell. He looks quite quick from a standstill, and also looks fast,if not rapid with the ball. It's when he's chasing players that he can sometimes look ponderous. Hoewever, I've also seen him keep up with what I thought were much faster players over distance, but he then looks like he is truly busting a gut to get there. Maybe not so much a lack of speed as a lack of intensity?

At 18, he can improve his speed drastically if he is willing to do the work.

I don't think he races from anyone with speed, though. He leaves them in the dust with footwork and body feints. Once an opponent has shifted his weight to one side or taken a step in the wrong direction it can be quite easy to get past them, and that's exactly what Mainoo does. He also has great timing in his challenges, so whenever he decides to use the slide tackle it usually works out.

Over 50 meters, I think he is among the slower midfielders in the league, but it would be interesting to see some stats on it. It's not a major flaw and as you say, something that can be worked at.

 

[Nick7]

I don't think he races from anyone with speed, though. He leaves them in the dust with footwork and body feints. Once an opponent has shifted his weight to one side or taken a step in the wrong direction it can be quite easy to get past them, and that's exactly what Mainoo does. He also has great timing in his challenges, so whenever he decides to use the slide tackle it usually works out.

Over 50 meters, I think he is among the slower midfielders in the league, but it would be interesting to see some stats on it. It's not a major flaw and as you say, something that can be worked at.

Defensively it's much more of an issue that when he's on the ball.

 

[Rossa]

I don't think he races from anyone with speed, though. He leaves them in the dust with footwork and body feints. Once an opponent has shifted his weight to one side or taken a step in the wrong direction it can be quite easy to get past them, and that's exactly what Mainoo does. He also has great timing in his challenges, so whenever he decides to use the slide tackle it usually works out.

Over 50 meters, I think he is among the slower midfielders in the league, but it would be interesting to see some stats on it. It's not a major flaw and as you say, something that can be worked at.

Maybe you're right, but he does look quite quick in terms of acceleration. Over distance, I agree that he struggles to track players, but I'm not convinced it's an outright speed issue or lack of intensity in his running? Even Garnacho has looked pretty slow-ish tracking back, but then he can suddenly turn on the afterburners when he wants to. Yesterday that was not the case for Garnacho, btw, as he busted his lungs several times getting back into defense.

 

[Hoof the ball]

He's better than any other English midfielder outside of Rice and Bellingham so not taking him makes zero sense. But Southgate is clueless and Henderson has compromising pictures of him probably.

Southgate was probably watching that last night like :-

 

[Sylar]

I just think the best bits of players like Mainoo are accentuated with another on the same wavelength with similar technical ability. Scholes/Carrick, Iniesta/Xavi, Gavi/Pedri, Modric/Kroos. You simply cannot get the same thing from Mainoo/Onana or Bruno. We could have easily said ‘we need someone to win the ball next to Scholes’ and gone Scholes/Essien - which would have some advantages, but would lose a lot of what Scholes can do.

This only works if the pair are very top players of course, and the two in question here are two of the very best amongst the young players. We can get a proper control of football matches with this sort of duo, with silk then being our natural game as opposed to Mainoo providing moments of silk in the midst of chaos. We would need other profiles, so the two of them ahead of an Onana in some games, or behind a 10 in others can work.

I think a lot of us have said for years that we want to move away from being a side of moments, but at some point, these are the sort of decisions that need to be taken to change the OS of United. I think both Mainoo and Neves do enough creatively between them, and defensively between them - but the third midfielder can vary from game to game and tip the scale more defensively or offensively. Even before Neves’ brilliant season, I had been excited by the prospect of Dan Gore developing alongside Mainoo. I do think teams need to go for it and get two of these types though to maximise. You can’t drop Xavi in a Stoke team and just expect him to pass and move, to use an extreme example.

Good point. Think this is why Keane/Scholes worked too, due to the short incisive passing or the release for the long range stuff where needed (and covering each other when one went driving forward). Throwback to two man midfield of box to box (and not specialised roles).
Mainoo defo needs somebody who is good with both feet, not fazed when having the ball, and as you said, on a similar wavelength with similar tech. ability.

 

[Licha-Vidic]

W.O.R.L.D

C.L.A.S.S

 

[kouroux]

Yeah, but then suddenly he dribbles past two players and races from them, so it's hard to tell. He looks quite quick from a standstill, and also looks fast,if not rapid with the ball. It's when he's chasing players that he can sometimes look ponderous. Hoewever, I've also seen him keep up with what I thought were much faster players over distance, but he then looks like he is truly busting a gut to get there. Maybe not so much a lack of speed as a lack of intensity?

At 18, he can improve his speed drastically if he is willing to do the work.

His dribbling is about timing and not necessarily pace.

 

[Ali Dia]

I just think the best bits of players like Mainoo are accentuated with another on the same wavelength with similar technical ability. Scholes/Carrick, Iniesta/Xavi, Gavi/Pedri, Modric/Kroos. You simply cannot get the same thing from Mainoo/Onana or Bruno. We could have easily said ‘we need someone to win the ball next to Scholes’ and gone Scholes/Essien - which would have some advantages, but would lose a lot of what Scholes can do.

This only works if the pair are very top players of course, and the two in question here are two of the very best amongst the young players. We can get a proper control of football matches with this sort of duo, with silk then being our natural game as opposed to Mainoo providing moments of silk in the midst of chaos. We would need other profiles, so the two of them ahead of an Onana in some games, or behind a 10 in others can work.

I think a lot of us have said for years that we want to move away from being a side of moments, but at some point, these are the sort of decisions that need to be taken to change the OS of United. I think both Mainoo and Neves do enough creatively between them, and defensively between them - but the third midfielder can vary from game to game and tip the scale more defensively or offensively. Even before Neves’ brilliant season, I had been excited by the prospect of Dan Gore developing alongside Mainoo. I do think teams need to go for it and get two of these types though to maximise. You can’t drop Xavi in a Stoke team and just expect him to pass and move, to use an extreme example.

didn't they have Joe Allen the Welsh Xavi at one point?

 

[Rozay]

didn't they have Joe Allen the Welsh Xavi at one point?

Indeed, but he missed Leon Britton next to him like he had at Swansea!

 

[moses]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

There was a moment where Salah attempted to sneak behind him and nick the ball from him, Mainoo was aware and slightly kept the ball safely until he passed it and even the path of the pass was semi blocked so he added the right power to the pass so it's not intercepted, he is really good in tight situation and very much has a 360° view that allows him to be aware of oppo players coming at him, Liverpool players tend to try to surround a player on the ball to dispossess him but when they tried it against Mainoo it didn't work at all

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

I am not really fussed for Mainoo to be in the England senior squad, of course it's a huge achievement if he gets selected, but all I want is for him to be given consistent game time for the remainder of this season and next season so he can continue to develop

 

[Licha-Vidic]

There was a moment where Salah attempted to sneak behind him and nick the ball from him, Mainoo was aware and slightly kept the ball safely until he passed it and even the path of the pass was semi blocked so he added the right power to the pass so it's not intercepted, he is really good in tight situation and very much has a 360° view that allows him to be aware of oppo players coming at him, Liverpool players tend to try to surround a player on the ball to dispossess him but when they tried it against Mainoo it didn't work at all

He trusts his abilities and he knows he's better than many others. Such a very rare and priceless thing to possess.
He never rushes or breaks a sweat because he knows what he's doing and what he can do.

 

[midou]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

Bellingham
Mainoo
Rice



Seems good to me.

 

[Blood Mage]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

Yeah if the system became more of a 433. Bellingham as the most advanced midfielder.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Bellingham
Mainoo
Rice



Seems good to me.

This, Mainoo and Rice switch being deepest.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I really think Amad could be incredibly good as an attacking 8 a la Silva. Has so much composure and great footballing IQ

The exact same player I likened him too. He could easily play that RCM role like Silva or Odegaard. He's a top technician!

 

[amolbhatia50k]

W.O.R.L.D

C.L.A.S.S

He gave the ball away twice early on pretty cheaply but that aside, what an incredible talent. Just look at the intelligence and technical quality in some of those moves.

 

[Remember the geese]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

Why not? They aren't remotely similar.

 

[VictoriaRed]

Nobody in our team progresses the ball forward better than him. What a talent. Glad he's on our team!

 

[Cassidy]

But can Mainoo and Bellingham play in the same midfield for England? That's the real question.

Of course they can. Add Rice too thats a very good midfield

 

[moses]

Of course they can. Add Rice too thats a very good midfield

I was mostly joking. Taking the piss out of the press that surrounds the England team. And hoping to cause a negative narrative to stop them winning the world cup.

So with all that in mind, I think they'll struggle to field the three of them in a midfield.

 

[Cassidy]

I was mostly joking. Taking the piss out of the press that surrounds the England team. And hoping to cause a negative narrative to stop them winning the world cup.

So with all that in mind, I think they'll struggle to field the three of them in a midfield.

Haha

 

[Chicharo]

W.O.R.L.D

C.L.A.S.S

What like the most about these highlights is his calmness and composure. Yes, he did have a couple of mistakes, but for an 18-year old kid who just began playing senior football, he looks great. Just continue providing him with opportunities to grow and develop, and add someone to partner him in the midfield, and the future looks bright
After all these years, we scream for someone who can control the ball and dominate our midfield

 

[Ali Dia]

There was a moment where Salah attempted to sneak behind him and nick the ball from him, Mainoo was aware and slightly kept the ball safely until he passed it and even the path of the pass was semi blocked so he added the right power to the pass so it's not intercepted, he is really good in tight situation and very much has a 360° view that allows him to be aware of oppo players coming at him, Liverpool players tend to try to surround a player on the ball to dispossess him but when they tried it against Mainoo it didn't work at all

He carries and touches the ball at weird angles. He sucks players into challenging him but he’s always got that extra gear and picture in his head of how to get through the press. That’s probably the highest compliment I think you can pay a midfielder that is so young

 

[Fluctuation0161]

This guy is already a legend. Love him!

 

[MDFC Manager]

Will Southgate take a risk for once in his life and bring him to the Euros? He surely worth a look for England in some of the summer tune-up games anyway. Incredible what he’s doing in his position for his age.

I'd prefer if he got some rest and has a good pre season instead.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Will Southgate take a risk for once in his life and bring him to the Euros? He surely worth a look for England in some of the summer tune-up games anyway. Incredible what he’s doing in his position for his age.

Hope not. I’m hoping he gets a good Summer rest so refreshed for us come pre season

 

[90 + 5min]

Such a intelligent player and you can see that he is growing all the time. So clever in his movement and always have time on the ball.

Needs to be more aware in his defensive work. And of course work on his stamina. That should come with him playing more and more games.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

ETH has found his new Frenkie De Jong. He will eventually also be better than Frenkie.

 

[Redstain]

The key attribute is that he's a superior technically proficient player so it gives him another dimension in possession and why he's press resistant, but he masks it well because he's very mature in how he deploys himself.

In another sense if you gave the majority of 18 year old's his talent, they would just dribble at the opposition all day. Mainoo on the other hand has context to his play so he knows when it's good to recycle the ball, when to move into the right spaces, has the vision to recognize open spaces and so many other elements that makes him possess the makings of a complete player.

All the while he's standing out in an area that the manager has showed tactical insufficiency within this season. So imagine what he would be like in a system where there's balance positionally and a structure in place that even against being overturned in possession, the midfield is not exposed. He in theory should even ascend to another level because he can take on a greater responsibility with less risk towards chasing the reward.

Long way to go but a very promising player and if his trajectory stays on course one of the best midfield talents to come through the club since the likes of Scholes.