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2024-25 Performances


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5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
23
Goals
1
Assists
1
Yellow cards
6
We're moving towards this lad becoming the next scapegoat aren't we?
I hope not
For me it is his lack of pace that is an issue and the manager just has to find a position for him where this does not get exposed which is so hard to do in England.
His technique is there for all to see.
 
Hopefully we are moving towards a place where teenagers are not ment to be starters at Man Utd.
Disagree. I hope we move to a place where 9 of the 11 are old enough to accommodate a couple of teenagers week in week out.
 
Think we should play him as an attacking mid or develop into one.

He has a good footwork and burst but not quick enough for a long burst. He also has a tendency to rely on his strength when he can easily just touch and pass it. He gets caught when playing deep which causes a lot of risk.

Needs to keep it simple, dribble pass or touch and pass. I just don’t see him as a long term deep midfielder or box to box with what qualities he has.
 
I think people are really missing a key point regarding this whole "develop him as an AM" thing. He isn't very creative and can't beat people for pace decisively or run in behind. That's an automatic disqualification as an AM so it should really just be forgotten.

It would also negate one of his main current strengths which is attacking space from the middle. He should develop as what he is. A CM. He still needs major work on his passing, decision making and stamina.
 
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I think people are really missing a key point regarding this whole "develop him as an AM" thing. He isn't very creative and can't beat people for pace decisively or run in behind. That's an automatic disqualification as an AM so it should really just be forgotten.

It would also negate one of his main current strengths which is attacking space from the middle. He should develop as what he is. A CM. He still needs major work on his passing, decision making and stamina.

I agree his creativity isn’t there compared to the Ozil or Bruno type of player nor is his final pass. But he should be given a shot in the AM role in this system. His dribbling is good and he has a good shot on him in the box. He won’t need pace if the wingbacks are quick and attacking minded. (Not our current crop) He’ll also have the chance to draw people and play it to the others which is his strength.

Regarding midfield role, he doesn’t have the passing ability which worries me. Can’t blame him as he used to be a striker, I just don’t think you can pick it up to be an elite passer.

He’s still young, time is on his side. I hope he buckles down and raises his levels.
 
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I just think he shouldn't be relied on as much as we currently do, it would do him good to have competition. The best footballers are forged in competitive settings. It would also take the pressure off him to carry that no8 role all by himself.
 
I just think he shouldn't be relied on as much as we currently do, it would do him good to have competition. The best footballers are forged in competitive settings. It would also take the pressure off him to carry that no8 role all by himself.

Agreed. Hence why I think we're linked with Ederson, who can play the 8 and 6 role.
 
I think people are really missing a key point regarding this whole "develop him as an AM" thing. He isn't very creative and can't beat people for pace decisively or run in behind. That's an automatic disqualification as an AM so it should really just be forgotten.

It would also negate one of his main current strengths which is attacking space from the middle. He should develop as what he is. A CM. He still needs major work on his passing, decision making and stamina.
He is great at the give and goes and beating a man with his dribbling. I would much rather have him picking up the positions Bruno and Garnacho are picking up. I'm more worried about if he would be able to press from the front.
 
A midfield 3 with runners around him and a compact shape is where he can excel. Doesn't have the passing range of physical capabilities to cover ground to be a highly impactful in this set up.

The AM/10 thing is one of those forum trends that has gained some traction but he lacks the creativity and running power to make it work.

File it alongside the Lukaku needs to play RW because he put a couple of decent crosses in idea.
 
Was he known for his range of pass at youth level? I’ve never seen a player be so technically secure in close spaces but be so limited with his passing outside of cute one-twos.
 
At the start of the season didn't he have like the most interceptions/tackles etc?

Maybe he did or didn't. It's still clear he hasn't got the engine or passing ability to play in that 2. Rasmus has one of the best chance conversion rates, still doesn't mean he's good enough to be our starting striker. Rather than looking at what the player does, its about what is required of the position. Currently what is needed next to Ugarte is not a Mainoo player. That doesn't mean Mainoo is a bad player, just he's not ideal for that role.
 
Souness saying he needs to learn his position was correct.
 
Needs to be an option off the bench for a little while. He's in bad form. Depending on opponent and physical condition, I'd rather one of Bruno/Casemiro/Eriksen start next to Ugarte for now.
 
Maybe he did or didn't. It's still clear he hasn't got the engine or passing ability to play in that 2. Rasmus has one of the best chance conversion rates, still doesn't mean he's good enough to be our starting striker. Rather than looking at what the player does, its about what is required of the position. Currently what is needed next to Ugarte is not a Mainoo player. That doesn't mean Mainoo is a bad player, just he's not ideal for that role.
I agree with you, but he did seem to have quite an engine but rather poor stamina where he fades after the 60th minute.

He was everywhere for England at times during the Euro's.
 
Doesn’t have the passing range for a midfielder. Unless he develops that, dont see how he will become the player that he is being hyped as
 
He has no business being in the starting eleven on current form. Should be used as a substitute until he learns the basics of being a midfielder.
 
The team has resorted to old form now that Amorim’s honeymoon period has ended.

Mainoo has looked a bit exposed in the middle and his lack of match fitness/sharpness isn’t helping either.

But we focus far too much on the kids in the team, they are not the issue. He needs to learn the CM position and develop over the next 2-3 years before anyone is shortsighted enough to write him off.
 
He needs to lose weight. No idea why the training staff let him put on so much muscle. He moves around the pitch in slow motion and he looks gassed 20 minutes in. Terrible conditioning.
 
I agree with you, but he did seem to have quite an engine but rather poor stamina where he fades after the 60th minute.

He was everywhere for England at times during the Euro's.

I think when the game is compact he looks good. In the Euros he was in a three often with 2 workhorses around him in Rice and Bellingham. For United whilst he looked good when we got the ball to him, he also was routinely getting run past or struggling to get back. Its why I think he will be at his best in a 3. However, what really concerns me is his lack of a good passing range. Which means to progress through midfield with him he either needs to dribble which is tough when there is no space or he needs a well oiled midfield 3. I think (and I'm not saying he is this level of quality) that he is similar to Iniesta in that he could work in the midfield, kind of floating and getting into positions where he can dribble. However that requires a midfield 3 and for there to be no Bruno taking up those spaces. In this formation, he just doesn't really fit the midfield.
 
Not good enough for us to be starer. Another headless chicken with no technique whatsoever.

He started giving the ball away from the first minute onwards, has no touch or an ounce of creativity or awareness of what’s happening around him.

Another Lingard or Mount in the making.
 
He looks lost at the moment.

Funny enough I think he was looking better than last year till he got injured before Ten Hag was sacked.
 
I think when the game is compact he looks good. In the Euros he was in a three often with 2 workhorses around him in Rice and Bellingham. For United whilst he looked good when we got the ball to him, he also was routinely getting run past or struggling to get back. Its why I think he will be at his best in a 3. However, what really concerns me is his lack of a good passing range. Which means to progress through midfield with him he either needs to dribble which is tough when there is no space or he needs a well oiled midfield 3. I think (and I'm not saying he is this level of quality) that he is similar to Iniesta in that he could work in the midfield, kind of floating and getting into positions where he can dribble. However that requires a midfield 3 and for there to be no Bruno taking up those spaces. In this formation, he just doesn't really fit the midfield.
Good post, totally agreed.
 
He does his best work around the edge of the box. As a deeper central midfielder, he really isn't all that.
 
He seems like a player that will follow instructions very carefully and work well with the coaches and perhaps he's not been receiving enough information as there's so many other fires to put out. He looks lost at the moment.
 
He won’t be playing for United midfield long term if we’re aiming to achieve top 4. Will be more like a rotational player unless he steps up playing one touch football and works on his fitness.

He doesn’t have the passing range and engine, also seems slow to recover. He should be playing AM or atleast tried there.