Kobbie Mainoo image 37

Kobbie Mainoo England flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

5.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
23
Goals
1
Assists
1
Yellow cards
6
70% of his performances have been start brightly, then disappear about half an hour in. Sometimes you forget he is playing which you can't afford in a position as crucial as central midfield.
 
Giving him big money would just be us not learning our lesson with Rashford. It's quite obvious to see so you'd hope the people in charge see it as well.
 
Anyone think that we might be best to invest in Ugarte partner and push Mainoo to AM? His game might be more suitable at AM. He does not have the necessary passing range for CM
 
reelworld said:
Anyone think that we might be best to invest in Ugarte partner and push Mainoo to AM? His game might be more suitable at AM. He does not have the necessary passing range for CM
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I think so. His lack of pace is a huge concern regardless of position. That might mean he will not make it.
 
reelworld said:
Anyone think that we might be best to invest in Ugarte partner and push Mainoo to AM? His game might be more suitable at AM. He does not have the necessary passing range for CM
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He isn't fast enough and doesn't press enough to be part of the front 3.
 
Frank Grimes said:
70% of his performances have been start brightly, then disappear about half an hour in. Sometimes you forget he is playing which you can't afford in a position as crucial as central midfield.
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This sums it up for me. A number 10 or a wide-player can possibly afford to do the odd disappearing act, but not a midfielder, particularly in a two in the modern game.

Even during his impressive Euros for England, he tended to fade shortly after half-time. Some people naturally possess more stamina than others, but it's concerning to see it in a fella not yet 20. Putting on more muscle mass is only likely to exacerbate this. The strange thing is, you'd expect an athlete lacking stamina to have dynamism - 'fast-twitch muscles', if you like, but he doesn't fall into this category either.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the player. Some of his close control is a joy to watch and at his best he displays a lot of footballing intelligence, but he does feel more like a 'futsal' player, just without the dynamism that you need for that discipline. In addition, defining his best position is not easy.
 
They mentioned playing him in Eriksen's position in commentary. Wouldn't mind seeing it tried.
 
Mainoo did a far better job at winning back possession than Ugarte. Can recall three recoveries within the space of two minutes.

I'd much rather see his qualities on the ball though. Just seems that right now we're not set up for any player to excel. Ugarte is a bomb scare in possession and isn't helping.
 
Fulham 0:1 Man Utd New
Positive cameo appearance. One of the few players in the squad that seemed capable of creating a chance. Linked up well with Amad for the disallowed goal.
 
Nothing work as a CM as we kept getting dominated since he came in. But sexy work on that left side attack with Amad. It seems like some folks are right, to try him as that 10 position.
 
Good combination with Amad for that 2nd goal, shame it was offside before that. Guess he's better for that (left) number 10 position.
 
Why's it so hard for the manager to see he should be played as one of the 10s?

He's always dangerous around the edge of the box creating things but as a box to box or DM it's just not working.
 
Tailor made for the #10 imo, but someone needs to have him on the treadmill every day and eating Djokovic diet or whatever it takes, as his stamina is so bad It’s like he’s hungover at times. And feck off with any obscene contract or you can follow rashford out of the door.
 
Even when he comes on late in the game, he manages to look like he has run 15 km within the first 10 minutes. I love him and want him to be a star for us but it won’t happen unless he’s able to improve his conditioning significantly. He’s simply not fit enough to cover ground as a CM and we can’t afford another slow player in the team.
 
Good in the forward areas, which I’ve long maintained suits him best.
 
This guy grew up in the academy playing as a winger / striker...Surely time to try him as the left 10 along with Amad, as they linked up beautifully and have Bruno in the 8
 
Been saying for a while he should be played in the 10 position, hope that’s where he continues from here on out.
 
Isotope said:
Nothing work as a CM as we kept getting dominated since he came in. But sexy work on that left side attack with Amad. It seems like some folks are right, to try him as that 10 position.
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It might suit him, but the issue is the same as when he plays CM: He needs to cover a lot of ground.
 
So a bit like Pogba at Juve, except Kobbie doesn't have the physicality, energy or passing range, ass much as we dislike Pogba's indiscipline and mentality..
 
Maagge said:
It might suit him, but the issue is the same as when he plays CM: He needs to cover a lot of ground.
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But he can be a lot less conservative than when playing as CM. And also it's worth to try, and see how it works. Keep insisting playing him in CM is just silly.
 
As others have said looks better further forward.

How long will we wait until we have 2 good CM's.
 
At his worst he’s only really effective in tight spaces with little time to think, with quick feet and nice combination play. Which is exactly the thing Garnacho doesn’t have even at his best, and the thing that the two #10s need to have. It’s strange how little we’ve seen of him there, but I’m guessing Amorim has issues with his physical limitations.
 
Analysing a 15min substitute performances is always a bit pointless.

United were winning 1-0 when he came on and there was only 10 minutes to go.

I agree it would be nice to see him in the no.10 position for 90 minutes in one match, but I think that wouldn't work with Bruno as his partner. But something to try out for sure.
 
Nothing important to remark about his performance tonight. Lonnie is an outstanding young prospect who just needs to strengthen his body and manage through his second season with the first team, which really is the end of his first 12 months I believe due to the injury which delayed his performances with the first team.
 
I can understand why people want him to play as L10 but the no 10 position require pace to do high press and making run when there is through ball to be effective like Amad for example. As CM, you don’t need pace, you can rely more on positioning and reading the game. Mainoo doesn’t look like he has the pace do high press opposition defenders and making run like Amad, even Bruno looks quicker and has more stamina than Mainoo based on eye test.

There is still hope that he can be developed as L10 though because he has the technical attribute to be one.
 
I think if we can find a wing back who is naturally left footed and gets up and down the wing then that could work really well with Kobbie in that 10 position.
 
OverratedOpinion said:
I think if we can find a wing back who is naturally left footed and gets up and down the wing then that could work really well with Kobbie in that 10 position.
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Agreed. He linked up well with Trent for England at the Euros (when Trent came on as sub and played right wing-back)
 
He could play as a 10, Bruno deeper? That could work out.
For midfield, he is anyhow painfully slow especially when he needs to sprint back
 
dubplate warrior said:
Play him further up.
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It's so obvious it's painful. Break down his skillset and think what separates him from a bog standard player, it's not in anyway defensive or athleticism based - he's about finding little pockets, clever pass and moves, taking the ball under pressure and is a goal/assist threat. I'd honestly play mainoo/Amad as 10's and Garnacho as a false 9 given I really don't think our system suits either CF we have right now unless we sign a fast LWB.
 
tomaldinho1 said:
It's so obvious it's painful. Break down his skillset and think what separates him from a bog standard player, it's not in anyway defensive or athleticism based - he's about finding little pockets, clever pass and moves, taking the ball under pressure and is a goal/assist threat. I'd honestly play mainoo/Amad as 10's and Garnacho as a false 9 given I really don't think our system suits either CF we have right now unless we sign a fast LWB.
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Too many posters on here are criticising him without understanding the player he actually is. He's a world class talent closer to the box.

It is the biggest single criticism I have of Amorim so far.
 
If you think of his best moments, the wolves goal, the Liverpool goal, it's usually around the zone the left 10 would operate. Not just the goals but the skillset to manipulate tight spaces. Deeper he does some fancy stuff but he can't be that metronome dictating things, nor does he have the engine to go up and down for 90 mins. Maybe later in his career (becoming a deep lying playmaker) but at the moment he should be groomed to play like an Iniesta, people talk about the press but you still don't cover as much distance as someone playing deep.
 
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