The Ready Salter eater finally saw the light.
37
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Funny how we finally got the Pogba that we lost back in 2012 in Mainoo.
Pogba obviously has more range in his passing and a better shot but the good thing for us is Mainoo has a far greater understanding of how to play the CM position on both sides of the ball. Even though there are discussions about his recovery pace, one thing he definitely isn’t is a lazy player, he’s always tracking back to make blocks in vital areas.
The way he glides through midfield dribbling players is so Pogba like. I also like that there debates about Mainoo’s best position aren’t to unlock him, it’s simply about knowing where he’s best at because he’s done all roles asked of him to a very high level for his age.
Pogba obviously has more range in his passing and a better shot but the good thing for us is Mainoo has a far greater understanding of how to play the CM position on both sides of the ball. Even though there are discussions about his recovery pace, one thing he definitely isn’t is a lazy player, he’s always tracking back to make blocks in vital areas.
The way he glides through midfield dribbling players is so Pogba like. I also like that there debates about Mainoo’s best position aren’t to unlock him, it’s simply about knowing where he’s best at because he’s done all roles asked of him to a very high level for his age.
He will go to the Euros. I'm pretty sure after this now.
Southgate will not take 9 forwards and only 3-4 midfielder to germany as he has done with the current squad. I think he wants to monitor all the forward players in contention during the next 10 days incl. Bowen, Gordon, Toney, Rashford.
Southgate will not take 9 forwards and only 3-4 midfielder to germany as he has done with the current squad. I think he wants to monitor all the forward players in contention during the next 10 days incl. Bowen, Gordon, Toney, Rashford.
I think he makes the starting XI when it comes round to tournament time.
He is the best player to play alongside Rice, with Bellingham infront of them.
I'm glad for him but really gutted that he might be playing tournament football this summer when he'd probably benefit from a summer off.
Southgate just did
Southgate probably disagrees with this.
Since Kobbie became a regular starter it cannot be denied that he has been our best player. Rather absurd actually that he has come so far, so quickly.
No chance he doesn't go in the summer now. Every quote about people in the game watching him in training or up close seem to be extremely positive. No chance Southgate sees that and decides its best to leave him at home
If he goes to the Euros I think his minutes will probably be limited. That could change if his form is unbelievable for the rest of the season, he's hugely impressive at this camp and if Henderson/Phillips are injured or out of form. Him going to the Euros as a squad or fringe player would probably be more of a positive than a negative for him imo.
Delighted for him.
That England side picks itself other than left back. If Shaw was fit I'd put money on this being the isde.
That England side picks itself other than left back. If Shaw was fit I'd put money on this being the isde.
Pickford
Walker - Stones - Maguire - Shaw
Mainoo - Rice
Saka - Bellingham - Foden
Kane
Walker - Stones - Maguire - Shaw
Mainoo - Rice
Saka - Bellingham - Foden
Kane
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Obviously given the fact he’s only played 23 professional games for the first team you hope he’s not used too much this time.
There is an argument that he has a skill set which would merit a Euros call up. A very unique player, but probably a bit too raw and unpolished (tactically) at this stage to have a massive impact on the National Team.
But all things considered, it’s a deserved call up and probably insulting that it was as a late addition rather than in the original group.
Obviously given the fact he’s only played 23 professional games for the first team you hope he’s not used too much this time.
There is an argument that he has a skill set which would merit a Euros call up. A very unique player, but probably a bit too raw and unpolished (tactically) at this stage to have a massive impact on the National Team.
But all things considered, it’s a deserved call up and probably insulting that it was as a late addition rather than in the original group.
Great achievement by him, and well deserved.
From a Man United point of view, it's tough to work out what's best. Happy that he'll be with the senior team this international break - for his sake, he'll be delighted and it's fully deserved; and for United it's better that he'll probably play less minutes with the seniors than as a key part of the U21's.
But it's more the longer term, Euro 2024 in the summer that is the dilemma. Him being called up now increases the likelihood of him being at the Euro's, and not sure if that's a great thing in terms of our 24/25 season, or if it would be better after his breakthrough season if he had a good break.
Still, a good problem to have when you develop someone of his ability. And delighted (for him) that he's received his first call up.
From a Man United point of view, it's tough to work out what's best. Happy that he'll be with the senior team this international break - for his sake, he'll be delighted and it's fully deserved; and for United it's better that he'll probably play less minutes with the seniors than as a key part of the U21's.
But it's more the longer term, Euro 2024 in the summer that is the dilemma. Him being called up now increases the likelihood of him being at the Euro's, and not sure if that's a great thing in terms of our 24/25 season, or if it would be better after his breakthrough season if he had a good break.
Still, a good problem to have when you develop someone of his ability. And delighted (for him) that he's received his first call up.
It’s perfectly understandable if Mainoo doesn’t start right off the bat. But I have no doubt that given the known alternatives that he would fit in perfectly for England.
I understand the sentiment about him being young and needing to be careful with him, but I’m not sure about him being raw and unpolished. Of course he has room to grow, but the brutal facts are he is already arguably our best midfielder right now ahead of our most experienced players who are 30+. He seems the most composed and intelligent player in most of our matches.
Congrats to him. Quite the impressive progression over the last few months.
Bizarre circumstances though with him just being left out of the squad a few days and Southgate commenting that he essentially wasn't ready but he hadn't played as many games as the likes of Bellingham had when he first called up.
Now just a few days later he sin there and from what I can tell, no one has dropped out. Southgate is an odd one.
Bizarre circumstances though with him just being left out of the squad a few days and Southgate commenting that he essentially wasn't ready but he hadn't played as many games as the likes of Bellingham had when he first called up.
Now just a few days later he sin there and from what I can tell, no one has dropped out. Southgate is an odd one.
Indeed. You want player to see there is a route through the academy into the first team and their national team if they are good enough and motivated enough.
Get in, congrats Mainoo. Perfect time to get him some game time, get him part of the squad for the euros without necessarily starting, but he's the perfect player to blend with Rice and Bellingham to balance that midfield and give England a ridiculous group. Literally the perfect balance of players in that midfield, and at those ages. You guys are very lucky.
I absolutely hate Southgate. I cashed out my bet on Mainoo making the Euro's squad after the press were briefed that he was only being called up to the u21's.
Now he has essentially been bullied into selecting him because he clearly made the wrong call in the first place. Just an awful spineless clueless manager.
But anyway... well done to Mainoo for getting a well deserved call up. The first of many!
Now he has essentially been bullied into selecting him because he clearly made the wrong call in the first place. Just an awful spineless clueless manager.
But anyway... well done to Mainoo for getting a well deserved call up. The first of many!
Fully agree with the midfield three being the best, but I would be super surprised if Mainoo is actually a starter for the tournament. Took Southgate a weirdly long time to start Bellingham, despite him being captain of Dortmund aged 19. (I might be exaggerating the Bellingham bit, but it felt like that at times).
Think he’s got a thing of giving players the full tournament cycle before making changes, Mount should’ve been out for Bellingham far sooner than it happened
Yep...England will field an unbeliveable Team in three months. I just hope we will not face them in ko stages as it could get very ugly for us.
IDK, even Southgate must see that Kobbie is a far better option than Henderson or Phillips.
We know that Southgate does. He bows to media pressure.
Id say he should have seen that a few days ago… but that’s Southgate for you. Reactive
No doubt he’s good enough (in my opinion), just want to be careful of his games/development and ensure ready for pre season because Uniteds my priority. Maybe training with other top players will help him and he gets some minutes/big tournament experience…
But what type of midfielder that would be? Creative midfielder or pure defensive midfielder? Mainoo is a player who is something between no 6 and no 8 so i am not sure what type of midfielder would be the best to play with him.
Personally, i like him with Case for now.
All those players were kinda mid. Mainoo appears to be a couple of levels above them. His ability to operate in tight spaces is gold dust in the modern game. You press him and he sucks in three players then releases the ball anyway. I think if I had to choose between him and Rice I'd chose him.
De Jong is defensively average at best which is why Xavi preferred Gavi over him when he first joined.
Southgate: Who is that man?
Steve Holland: That's Kobbie Mainoo, sir
Southgate: Mainoo eh? New lad?
Steve Holland: He thwarted Liverpool's quadruple campaign, you overlooked him for the squad just a few days ago, he saved Erik ten Hag from a meltdown...
Southgate: Doesn't ring a bell... Call him up though.
[Simpsons quote if you haven't seen TV ever...]
Steve Holland: That's Kobbie Mainoo, sir
Southgate: Mainoo eh? New lad?
Steve Holland: He thwarted Liverpool's quadruple campaign, you overlooked him for the squad just a few days ago, he saved Erik ten Hag from a meltdown...
Southgate: Doesn't ring a bell... Call him up though.
[Simpsons quote if you haven't seen TV ever...]
I notice the upcoming generation of top class ball handlers are being taught how to use the entirety of the foot. It makes them virtually impossible to contain in terms of ball release unless you've closed down the entirety of the ball as opposed to the angle of an instep or outer toe line.
Mainoo offers the bait of the ball and the angle you could theoretically take it from him on and then simply hits it elsewhere with any other part of foot he deems suitable. It's really befuddling for those trying to press him because they are fundamentally doing the right thing, but by doing so they are selling themselves and simply opening up new angles for him to exploit that wouldn't exist if he was only using the part of the foot most of the older players have hard-coded into them. Indeed, it's your Ronaldinho's who were seen as extraordinary for using other parts of the foot seamlessly, but now you have a whole generation coming up who have it as an intrinsic part of their passing game. With such players, there's no such thing as 'sorting out your feet' because they are not reliant on the instep or its mechanism to manipulate the ball i.e. lift foot up, back and then go through with the instep; they reduce that to: push further out with the foot already there, on the ball in one motion, using toe pokes, or outside of the boot - the ball being available to you, an illusion. It's also why Mainoo can hold on to the ball that bit longer that makes it look like he's about to be tackled, but nope, you've been suckered and the foot closest to the ball hasn't touched the floor in the entire action.
It's going to be an exasperating exercise for anyone trying to win the ball if we get one or two players in who can do the exact same; it's one thing to press, but when you can't find an angle that makes sense, morale will drop swiftly, especially if you are being humiliated and toyed with each time by multiple matadors taking great delight in making you look stupid just by playing their normal game.
Mainoo offers the bait of the ball and the angle you could theoretically take it from him on and then simply hits it elsewhere with any other part of foot he deems suitable. It's really befuddling for those trying to press him because they are fundamentally doing the right thing, but by doing so they are selling themselves and simply opening up new angles for him to exploit that wouldn't exist if he was only using the part of the foot most of the older players have hard-coded into them. Indeed, it's your Ronaldinho's who were seen as extraordinary for using other parts of the foot seamlessly, but now you have a whole generation coming up who have it as an intrinsic part of their passing game. With such players, there's no such thing as 'sorting out your feet' because they are not reliant on the instep or its mechanism to manipulate the ball i.e. lift foot up, back and then go through with the instep; they reduce that to: push further out with the foot already there, on the ball in one motion, using toe pokes, or outside of the boot - the ball being available to you, an illusion. It's also why Mainoo can hold on to the ball that bit longer that makes it look like he's about to be tackled, but nope, you've been suckered and the foot closest to the ball hasn't touched the floor in the entire action.
It's going to be an exasperating exercise for anyone trying to win the ball if we get one or two players in who can do the exact same; it's one thing to press, but when you can't find an angle that makes sense, morale will drop swiftly, especially if you are being humiliated and toyed with each time by multiple matadors taking great delight in making you look stupid just by playing their normal game.
He watched Mainoo school the best pressing team in the league and he’s lacking midfield options.
I respect Southgate a little bit more by making the call now, it gives him time to see him close up in training.
Just wait for them to replace Southgate with someone who looks to dominate games, that's when they'll be a true favourite I'd say. You can't play like an underdog when you have the players to be the favourites.Yep...England will field an unbeliveable Team in three months. I just hope we will not face them in ko stages as it could get very ugly for us.
Yep - dropping Trent for Mainoo is the only consideration but I think Walker adds more balance in an England setup at RB and Trent's not really a CM.
If de Jong is average at best than Mainoo is just plain bad at defending. We have seen Premier League defenders just run with the ball and leaving Mainoo in the dust. It made some worry about Mainoo his speed and others blamed him on the Premier League intensity and that Mainoo doesnt yet have the 'grown man strenght' that will come with age.
Xavi also didnt prefer Gavi over Frenkie de Jong. Xavi played Busquets at de Jong his position and Xavi was never going to play de Jong over Busquets. De Jong isnt a Roy Keane that will run everywhere and make hard slide tackles but he is good at positioning himself at the right place to do a good enough defensive job. De Jong has even played games as a central defender in a three at the back system.
De Jong was great at 18, also a generational player. De Jong is better at progressive dribbling ( unstoppable at times) while Kobbie is good at dribbling with the ball in tight spaces.
I agree Kobbie is an 8. He can drop deep to help playing out the back and penetrate the opposition‘s box as we saw against Pool.
TBF to Southgate, and I'm far from a fan of his... But I get it. I would've put him in the squad but Mainoo hadn't had some big stage game to really excel in, until this weekend. Once you play like that in the fa cup quarter final against Liverpool, you gotta draft him in. Before that it'd be fine but some could see it as rushing him in.
Case is terrible.
Mainoo could be the 8 or the 6 (or even a 10) and forcing him to choose one would diminish him. I would like to see him partnered with someone who also can also switch between 6 and 8 and develop an understanding between them of when to go forward and when to step back. Mainoo already had this in his game and I've seen him drop deep to cover in the back line when players have pushed forward.
I'm far more likely to have a vested interest in England at a major tournament if 1 or 2 United players are playing - even more so if there's an academy lad in there.
Hopefully Southgate will see past the idiocy of starting Henderson so we can see a midfield 3 of Rice, Mainoo and Bellingham.
Hopefully Southgate will see past the idiocy of starting Henderson so we can see a midfield 3 of Rice, Mainoo and Bellingham.
I think he’s the most recent player since
to be fast tracked to the senior squad without any U21 matches.
Sancho
Waste of time really. Let him rest. It’s only friendlies. And it’s only England.
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