Kobbie Mainoo (out)

Dannn411 said:
He can still be absolutely top class player btw but it has to be in a specific system with 3 midfielders. He can't play in a 2-man midfield yet. He doesn't have the legs and his passing and shooting is not great enough to compensate for lack of physical qualities.

There have been a number of all time great midfielders who had little to no physical qualities (Pirlo, Kroos, Xavi, Scholes and Modric immediately come to mind). But those guys are amongst the greatest passers and strikers of the ball ever. That what he needs to aim for. Passing range and shooting need to go up several levels over the next few years if he wants to be truly world class.
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Modric isnt anywhere near the other guys in terms of physicality. Stamina and mobility are far higher than the other guys you listed, that is why he is still playing. He also has the thickest legs and strength, you can't push him around
 
There is clearly something wrong with Mainoo. He was a shining star before Euros, and now he looks below average.

While it can be multiple things, I wonder if he is played in a wrong position. Most games I have seen him shine in, he was great in attack. Which makes me question playing him so deep, alongside Ugarte. Feels more a necessity, because we have no other defensively-minded midfielder, rather than best position for him. He may be better behind the striker.

Would love to see Bruno pulled back, playing alongside Ugarte, and Mainoo-Amad pair as #10s. Doesn't look like Amorim has any intention of doing it, but I think it would be very interesting
 
With Utd doing so poorly in the league he'll probably be seeking to leave to win trophies.
 
NewGlory said:
There is clearly something wrong with Mainoo. He was a shining star before Euros, and now he looks below average.

While it can be multiple things, I wonder if he is played in a wrong position. Most games I have seen him shine in, he was great in attack. Which makes me question playing him so deep, alongside Ugarte. Feels more a necessity, because we have no other defensively-minded midfielder, rather than best position for him. He may be better behind the striker.

Would love to see Bruno pulled back, playing alongside Ugarte, and Mainoo-Amad pair as #10s. Doesn't look like Amorim has any intention of doing it, but I think it would be very interesting
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progress is non-linear for players that age, their body is still growing for one thing

that's before you consider the multitude of other factors that can hold them back, like injuries, pressure, the team struggling around him, or the manager changing

a better environment to grow by far would be surrounded by more capable midfielders who the team can rely on when Mainoo needs a break, but we don't have that

what there is clearly something wrong with is the surrounding structure, that is supposed to be helping him grow and thrive, but is instead pilling immense pressure on his shoulders, as a teenager, to save Manchester United from itself

what's happening with Mainoo is completely expected, and predictable, and normal
 
Pronewbie said:
System or not I'm just surprised he can't even swivel past his man any more.
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It isn't a problem with formation if he looks heavy legged, out of pace, miss-places passes and can't get by his man. Maybe it is a second season syndrome and being run into the ground type of thing. But he doesn't strike me as very athletic type. Give him time to come good.
 
It's not all system, maybe also poor form but don't think he can play in a 2 like this at all. He's already quite an awkward midfielder in terms of his attributes, but he seems completely lost in this system.

Not that it would make us title contenders, but Mazraoui, Diallo, Mainoo, Bruno would benefit so much from just a regular 433.
 
In more ‘normal’ circumstances with the team doing well and some actual midfielders in the squad, he’d be free to be incorporated more sporadically as most young players coming through are.

Utd’s sorry predicament means he has to play more, but consequently judgement is made earlier on him also (maybe unfairly, maybe not). From what I’ve seen he won’t be a starting midfielder for a top 4 side as he lacks any outstanding attribute - decent at some things but not elite defensively or creativity wise - and given the clubs situation financially I’d understand him being sold. Make no mistake though his sale would be a direct consequence of the transfer fees and salaries of Antony, Casemiro, Rashford etc., so another thing for Murtough & co to shoulder blame for.
 
Paul Scholes was older than Kobbie is now when he made his first team debut.

He played 20 games that season, and didn't pass 35 appearances in a season until he was 21.

I'm not saying Kobbie will be a player like scholes, but I am saying you don't sell your best youth players until you see if that potential turns into performances, and we are nowhere near finding out yet.
 
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My issue with Mainoo is that he isn't necessarily what we need right now, even when he has a good performance he does not bust a lung, he is the kind of player we are going to need in 12-18 months when we have better, fitter, more physical players around him, at the moment he is a bit of a porsche in a demolition derby, I think he could be a lot more effective in the 8/10 role but there is no possibility of him playing there yet as we have nobody to partner Ugarte, but I would not sell unless it was stupid money.

Mainoo is being over used, because basically there are no other options, he needs to be used more sparingly or his development is going to be affected.
 
Zed 101 said:
My issue with Mainoo is that he isn't necessarily what we need right now, even when he has a good performance he does not bust a lung, he is the kind of player we are going to need in 12-18 months when we have better, fitter, more physical players around him, at the moment he is a bit of a porsche in a demolition derby, I think he could be a lot more effective in the 8/10 role but there is no possibility of him playing there yet as we have nobody to partner Ugarte, but I would not sell unless it was stupid money.

Mainoo is being over used, because basically there are no other options, he needs to be used more sparingly or his development is going to be affected.
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That's not really how things work anymore, every player needs to work hard.
 
Tosicsleftpeg said:
If we sell Mainoo the club can get in the bin, dreadful.
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But he's apparently holding the club to ransom and he's gone backwards this season, not really done anything of note when he's played and been injured a lot.

Based on what you've seen this season, you can't blame the club for taking a tough stance if the story we're being fed is true.

In addition to that, Mount is a perma crock 'earning' 250,000 a week for doing nothing, Luke Shaw on 150,000 for being injured all the time, the services of Rasmus Hojlund and Onana secured for a combined 125 million. The club can't just go around offering these mega bucks contracts to all and sundry, especially if we don't make Europe and finish in the bottom half.
 
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JoseM4 said:
Kobbie wants £180,00-a-week. Does he deserve it or should we sell him?
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If United give him £180k a week then they’ve learned nothing. He’s worth £60k at best at this stage of his career, he can’t even lock down a guaranteed starting position ffs and it’s not like he has insane physical prowess either.

£180k and then in 2 years time his agents will be knocking on the door again for £250k. If he won’t budge to a reasonable wage, then show him the door.
 
You guys are falling for it hook line and sinker. The club leaked this to invite offers for him so when we sell him instead of the fans saying “years of incompetence from the glazers led us to the point that we’re forced to sell our brightest young talents” the story will be “we didn’t have a choice he was asking for too much money”.
 
The only chance we have to build a better football team is selling Rashford, Mainoo and Garnacho in the summer.

I do hate it a bit, but that is the position the club has put itself in. If we want genuine investment in the first team and better footballers on the pitch, it’s the only way.
 
Maluco said:
The only chance we have to build a better football team is selling Rashford, Mainoo and Garnacho in the summer.

I do hate it a bit, but that is the position the club has put itself in. If we want genuine investment in the first team and better footballers on the pitch, it’s the only way.
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Rashford and Garnacho I get. Mainoo a wonderful talent and the sort we need to get to the top. Unless he’s crossing the line in negotiations then we should ensure we keep him. Losing good and potentially great players will only hurt us as we struggle to find equally talented players in the market.
 
Maluco said:
The only chance we have to build a better football team is selling Rashford, Mainoo and Garnacho in the summer.

I do hate it a bit, but that is the position the club has put itself in. If we want genuine investment in the first team and better footballers on the pitch, it’s the only way.
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I doubt we would sell all three. Two is a possibility, but not three imo. We can also raise funds by selling non-home grown players as well, so I don't expect there to be much of an issue with transfers this summer.
 
I like him a lot but we're been in situations like this before where you give big contracts to players on the back of one really good season and then you rarely see them at that level again. I'm not saying that will happen with Kobbie but he's hardly set the world alight with his performances this season.
 
Curious if those that want to sell him and Garnacho believe in our ability to replace them with better players in the summer? Or is it more of just wanting to move them on for profit? Also are you assuming that Amorim will get better results without them in particular?
 
Maluco said:
I do hate it a bit, but that is the position the club has put itself in. If we want genuine investment in the first team and better footballers on the pitch, it’s the only way.
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You mean the position the Glazers put us in? If they put their hands in their pockets and paid down that debt, we wouldn't be forced to sell our best young players.
 
bgoodall said:
Curious if those that want to sell him and Garnacho believe in our ability to replace them with better players in the summer? Or is it more of just wanting to move them on for profit? Also are you assuming that Amorim will get better results without them in particular?
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We can almost certainly replace them given their PSR value.
 
bgoodall said:
Curious if those that want to sell him and Garnacho believe in our ability to replace them with better players in the summer? Or is it more of just wanting to move them on for profit? Also are you assuming that Amorim will get better results without them in particular?
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I'm not sure I want either of them to be sold, and I can see arguments for both sides but all the noise from the club and manager though has been looking at our current players and thinking there isn't much physicality or power in this team. That's obviously the profile we're after and neither Kobbie or Garnacho really fit in with that.
 
Judas said:
I think the doubt is in our ability to identify talents that will actually come in and do a good job, something we've been frankly shit at for years.
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True, but none of that has happened under Berrada and Wilcox. With the possible exception of Zirkzee, all of our recent transfers have been pretty good. I don't think Zirkzee is bad either, he's just not an ideal fit for Amorim's system.
 
Raoul said:
True, but none of that has happened under Berrada and Wilcox. With the possible exception of Zirkzee, all of our recent transfers have been pretty good. I don't think Zirkzee is bad either, he's just not an ideal fit for Amorim's system.
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All the signings we made in Summer have big question marks in regards to fees as well as quality .
 
gajender said:
All the signings we made in Summer have big question marks in regards to fees as well as quality .
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I don't feel that way. They've all been very good in their own ways imo. The only reason it may seem like they have question marks is they were bought for Ten Hag's system and are having to learn a new one mid-season.
 
He should not be paid anything like 180k per week. If we acquiesce to this then it's no different to the Rashford situation. If he doesn't want to renew at a reasonable wage then he's welcome to try to get that wage elsewhere.
 
“saw it on reddit”

so it must be true. Quick, let me run off to redcafe to create more toxicity about our injured player supposedly “holding the club to ransom”!
 
If its true, no way is he worth that per week. Sell to the highest bidder and use the PSR money to get 2-3 players.

Again, IF its true.
 
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