[Ballache]

Once shit, always shit. Look how difficult it is for fans to say that Maguire is doing so much better. Took forever

Precisely.
People forget that Mainoo is 19, has played non-stop for a year and has had injuries. On top of that, he plays the most difficult position in football. Does he have deficiencies? Absolutely. Do we need more rotation options? Definitely. People need to calm down though.

 

[poleglass red]

I thought he was excellent yesterday.

 

[red woppit]

Some dodgy passing at the start of the game but then started to grow into the game and came out with the ball in some very tight spaces. Was also getting stuck in whenever required.

I think that quote probably represents the way the team started as a whole, but the longer the game went on, the more we looked like a proper team, finally.
Mainoo still has deficiencies, primarily, I believe, in picking up the runners, but that part of his game will improve, as will his passing forwards.
As has been stated, he is still only 19, and will need breaks from time to time, as well as picking up injuries, so, for me, another midfield player coming in is essential, may be too early for the likes of Gore etc, but I did like Collier when he played midfield earlier in the season, probably a more defence minded player, but could do a job, anyway, congratulations to Toby Collier on his 21st birthday on 3rd January.

 

[shabin_d_great]

he has been the difference since being substituted for zirzkee against Newcastle. Kind of old mainoo but passing it a bit faster this time..

 

[SonOfFergie]

His form fell off a bit from last season. His freshness seems gone. Looks a bit heavy legged resulting in some bad touches across recent games. Generally Kobie looks great prospect, technique, footballing IQ is all there but there will be two things I think that will define him. First one will be his energy levels as I unfortunately don't see endless stamina of Bruno, Ugarte, Mazraui with him. And second one will be his mobility to move fast across the pitch (ala Ugarte). Could be fatigue or getting up to speed after injury, second season syndrome or maybe this is just who he is. But for CM position his mobility and energy levels will need to be higher if he wants to be a feature of this team I don't see him as a 10 in this formation.

 

[Red the Bear]

If he ups his passing range/consistency he'll be considered among the very best of his specialty in no time.

It's his greatest weakness as of now in my opinion as his lack of athleticism can be compensated for by surrounding him with work horses as we've been already doing with ugarte.

Not too dissimilar to the pirlo gattuso situation, football has changed a lot since then but I belive you can still get by with one or two players who can't exactly put a shift in if the set up takes that into consideration.

 

[Drainy]

Strange that people think he can't fit the system. I don't think Ugarte is a *perfect* partner for him and his strengths but Mainoo can definitely play the link up midfielder who is allowed to get forward, once he's developed a bit more

 

[Raoul]

Probably cheap rumour.

This is a player performance thread.

 

[Raoul]

The transfer thread was locked and deleted immediately in fairness

With good reason. That doesn't mean this thread is fair game to discuss transfers. The appropriate place would be the transfer tweet thread.

 

[Raoul]

What good reason? Wheeler’s been a reliable journalist for United for ages and Ornstein said Mainoo wasn’t considered unsellable. Head in sand moment to not allow people to discuss it.

See my above edit.

 

[TrivelaDeBruno]

I’m not that happy with him today. Without Ugarte saving him over and over again it could have been more open through the middle.

I still think he is a diamond. What is big, big problem is him going to play for England last summer. It brought him backwards in development. Southgate shouldn’t have taken him.

Southgate doesn’t get to the final if he doesn’t bring him.

 

[Rolaholic]

 

[Artimities]

Really would like to see this guy stay. I like his game and still realize he is young. I think we would be wrong to get rid of him.

 

[The United]

His form fell off a bit from last season. His freshness seems gone. Looks a bit heavy legged resulting in some bad touches across recent games. Generally Kobie looks great prospect, technique, footballing IQ is all there but there will be two things I think that will define him. First one will be his energy levels as I unfortunately don't see endless stamina of Bruno, Ugarte, Mazraui with him. And second one will be his mobility to move fast across the pitch (ala Ugarte). Could be fatigue or getting up to speed after injury, second season syndrome or maybe this is just who he is. But for CM position his mobility and energy levels will need to be higher if he wants to be a feature of this team I don't see him as a 10 in this formation.

He is 19, so hopefully, he still has plenty of time to improve, particularly his stamina.

 

[darko]

I thought he was excellent yesterday.

I though he played very well in the second half. I have only one concern. He's looked quite slow recently. Other than that I like his skill set.

 

[Alemar]

Decent today, and against very strong opposition

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Defensively, both he and Ugarte are fairly solid. However, I believe we still need a playmaker in midfield, especially when facing teams that sit deep in a low block. That said, his ability to carry the ball is a huge asset when we’re being pressed, as it allows us to break out and relieve pressure effectively. Looked knackered when he came off but overall I felt he had a good game.

 

[Hammondo]

I don't think he has the talent. He's so far off the game it's a big problem for us when he plays.

 

[stepic]

Absolutely shocking tonight. Well deserved being taken off.

 

[Dannn411]

He can ride pine for a few games. Shocking conditioning and decision making. Has been the same all season.

 

[Bobski]

Lack of running power stood out today, it is going to be an ongoing issue with him, have to hope a solid summer and pre season brings him on physically.

 

[Cassidy]

I don't think he has the talent. He's so far off the game it's a big problem for us when he plays.

He showed his talent literally in the last game.

 

[Cloudface]

Needs to go on a diet and run some laps. He shouldn't be this unfit at his age.

Unquestionable talent on the ball but he's always likely to be overrun.

 

[saivet]

He was poor but I don't think he was the main reason for the poor performance. I thought we got worse at the start of the 2nd half and after Collyer came on we still didn't play particularly well either. He needs to perform at a high level though.

 

[Adisa]

He needs to work on his athleticism. Doesn’t seem to have the engine of a top player.

 

[flameinthesun]

Just so many questions about his game. He is a bit of a luxury player, I have a feeling that he will only work in a 3 where he has 2 players around him with energy. He is just so slow on the pitch, effectively playing with 1 CM.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I stand by him not being a CM, needs to compete with Bruno/Amad for the 10 spots. he canbeat men with the ball (remember that incredible Wolves goal) and his skillset is about taking the ball under pressure and finding little passes, keeping it and playing one twos. He's not someone to graft and run and be like Ugarte all game, he can do it but he's not great at it.

 

[redNATION]

He doesn’t work next to Ugarte, we need a player like Ugarte next to Ugarte , ie dogged and with an engine. Mainoo needs to fight for one of the 10 positions.

 

[Idxomer]

He looked unable to move tonight, slower and worse than any version of Casemiro we've seen.

 

[tomaldinho1]

He looked unable to move tonight, slower and worse than any version of Casemiro we've seen.

Steady on

 

[Superunknown]

Starting to think we should only play him for a maximum of one half of football every time he plays. His stamina is shocking.

 

[Lyng]

Awful tonight. Complete ghost

 

[Uncle Mainoo]

He really doesn’t fit this system, as much as we keep trying. It would probably help if he lost some weight too.

 

[Godfather]

Thought he was pretty terrible. Complete passenger and you cant be that as a midfielder in games that we need and should win.

 

[Dans]

So lethargic.

 

[Crackers]

Needs to go on a diet and run some laps. He shouldn't be this unfit at his age.

Unquestionable talent on the ball but he's always likely to be overrun.

I think that's a bit unfair. He's clearly suffering from second season syndrome.
At his age there will be times that he game drops or his fitness is stretched. It's unfair to expect so much out of a 19 year


Actually, the bold line here is awful.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

I think that's a bit unfair. He's clearly suffering from second season syndrome.
At his age there will be times that he game drops or his fitness is stretched. It's unfair to expect so much out of a 19 year

He was incredibly unfit last season as well, he looked knackered after an hour every week.

 

[#07]

I don't put all the blame on Kobbie for how poor he was. As Amorim just said in his post match interview, our pressing structure led our midfield getting pulled all around...

...but he looked f'n leggy tonight.

 

[-Supreme-]

Doesn’t deserve to get more than Amad who is on around £100k, let alone the reported £200k demand. Even before tonight’s performances.

 

[Redstain]

Poor performance but those saying he needs more athleticism etc Mainoo isn't the profile of a midfielder especially centrally in a pivot.

He played predominantly as a striker / winger in the academy, he is by no means a 6. Southgate / Erik totally mis-profiled him and it seems Amorim is making the same mistake but his insistence could be due to the omission of Casemiro.