McTominay - what’s his potential?

DavelinaJolie said:
He's a good squad player and useful option to have. Yesterday was an exceptional performance, but it's not like he is routinely very good.
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Watching as a neutral, he was excellent yesterday, his lung-bursting runs and his cool finish had shades of prime-Gerrard!

But it's also worth noting that Leeds gave him acres to play in yesterday. A lot of Premier League midfielders would have had an absolute field day against how Leeds chose to operate.

Until he replicates that performance against top opposition, or even against a side that fills and clogs the midfield, it's probably not worth getting overly excited.
 
roonster09 said:
His passing is erratic which is a big negative for a CM, not the simple passes but when he tries to play between the line passes. But he has lot of positives too. For me he is among the best CMs in the league when it comes to dribbling. His dribbling ability is very underrated. Yesterday was pure box to box performance, he was making attacking runs even in 90th min.
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averages less than a successful dribble per game. Ndombele does more. That's like suggesting someone is one of the best finishers in the league when he scores 3 goals
 
Stacks said:
averages less than a successful dribble per game. Ndombele does more. That's like suggesting someone is one of the best finishers in the league when he scores 3 goals
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Only McGinn, Kovacic, David Silva completed more dribbles per 90 mins than McTominay last season (among CMs).
 
roonster09 said:
Only McGinn, Kovacic, David Silva completed more dribbles per 90 mins than McTominay last season (among CMs).
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He has this very good knack of getting his foot to the ball before the opponentexpects, and can follow it up with a very good stride. It is very useful often when we are under pressure,allowing us to beat the press, get a frikick and lift the team out of defence. Yeaterday he was more akin to Maradona against Leeds’ midfielders - just flowing past players to line up a bottleopener pass. Be good for his confidence!
 
He's not a young player any more, he's 24, so he not likely to drastically improve, so his potential is pretty much what he is now a very decent squad player.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
He's not a young player any more, he's 24, so he not likely to drastically improve, so his potential is pretty much what he is now a very decent squad player.
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Really? You think Matic, Carrick, or Scholes peaked at 24 and didn't improve after that? In fact historically I'd say midfield players peak a lot later than 24 because it has a lot to do with anticipation and positioning which comes with experience.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
He's not a young player any more, he's 24, so he not likely to drastically improve, so his potential is pretty much what he is now a very decent squad player.
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I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss his potential, especially as a defensive player, some age like fine wine.

He's got all the talent, hasn't yet played consistently in the first 11 and the experience he gathers will continue shape him into a better player.

He's a Scottish player though, not expecting peak Xavi, but could certainly be a Roy Keane type of solid, aggressive, box to box midfielder.
 
That was a sensational display yesterday.

If he played anything like that fairly often he'd be one of the best of his type in the league.
 
Sandikan said:
That was a sensational display yesterday.

If he played anything like that fairly often he'd be one of the best of his type in the league.
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Sneaky suspicion he’ll do a Fletcher and end up like that without anyone really noticing he’s become that. He’s one of our first names on the teamsheet for games where we respect the opposition.
 
TMDaines said:
Sneaky suspicion he’ll do a Fletcher and end up like that without anyone really noticing he’s become that. He’s one of our first names on the teamsheet for games where we respect the opposition.
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Yesterday reminded me of the 4-3 City game where Fletcher scored 2 goals.
Totally different goals and game flow but just brought back that memory.

The "oh no" when seeing his name on the team sheet is very reminiscent of early day Fletcher too.
Then that just stopped and you know he's earnt it.
 
WolfInSharp'sClothing said:
Watching as a neutral, he was excellent yesterday, his lung-bursting runs and his cool finish had shades of prime-Gerrard!

But it's also worth noting that Leeds gave him acres to play in yesterday. A lot of Premier League midfielders would have had an absolute field day against how Leeds chose to operate.

Until he replicates that performance against top opposition, or even against a side that fills and clogs the midfield, it's probably not worth getting overly excited.
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His best performances are against top opposition. It's against the 'park the bus' teams he struggled as he lacked creativity and ability to pass between the lines.

In the open games, he is very good which is usually against strong opponents.
 
Sandikan said:
Yesterday reminded me of the 4-3 City game where Fletcher scored 2 goals.
Totally different goals and game flow but just brought back that memory.

The "oh no" when seeing his name on the team sheet is very reminiscent of early day Fletcher too.
Then that just stopped and you know he's earnt it.
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Fletcher indeed earned it. He and park were one of the first names on the team sheet against big opposition. Not just because of their defensive attributes, but they easily transitioned into attack and quickly fed rooney or hernandez post CR7 era. The red card fletcher wrongly got in the champions league semis is imho, the reason we lost to barca in the finals.
 
roonster09 said:
His best performances are against top opposition. It's against the 'park the bus' teams he struggled as he lacked creativity and ability to pass between the lines.

In the open games, he is very good which is usually against strong opponents.
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Well the Leeds game was just about the most open game I've seen, so explains it.
 
I was very impressed by him Since Solksjaer's first season when he burst through. the way he drives forward with a ball is very impressive, has a really nice shot in him, good tackler and a decent passing range. honestly a very likable guy and one of my favourite players in our squad. if he can improve his passing range a bit and keep imposing himself on games like he did yesterday he can be an excellent player for us. the Goretzka comparison is very accurate in my opinion. not perticulary great at anything but solid at every aspect of the game.
 
I've said this for months. He's a smart kid, obviously puts in many hours on his technical ability with his feet, is a physical specimen. All that is missing from him is the confidence and belief that Pogba has (minus the arrogance..). He needs more of an Anderson mentality - just attack the space. Take a positive first touch (on the turn, not towards your own goal) - manipulate your first touch like Herrera. He actually has the footwork to destroy pressing opponents and create huge passing lanes.

All of these mental switches are ignited by belief and confidence because he's got all the physical attributes.

At 24, this kid is nowhere near his potential. Stop it with the weird football manager mentality of 18-20 is your potential window. There are late developers and steady developers through age. Carrick didn't really get going till 26 - he had glimpses before ie like Scott. We know about Fletch. Scholes's best years came after 26. I could go on and on. Scott obviously has the work ethic to continue improving - he's nowhere near his potential.
 
WR10 said:
I've said this for months. He's a smart kid, obviously puts in many hours on his technical ability with his feet, is a physical specimen. All that is missing from him is the confidence and belief that Pogba has (minus the arrogance..). He needs more of an Anderson mentality - just attack the space. Take a positive first touch (on the turn, not towards your own goal) - manipulate your first touch like Herrera. He actually has the footwork to destroy pressing opponents and create huge passing lanes.

All of these mental switches are ignited by belief and confidence because he's got all the physical attributes.

At 24, this kid is nowhere near his potential. Stop it with the weird football manager mentality of 18-20 is your potential window. There are late developers and steady developers through age. Carrick didn't really get going till 26 - he had glimpses before ie like Scott. We know about Fletch. Scholes's best years came after 26. I could go on and on. Scott obviously has the work ethic to continue improving - he's nowhere near his potential.
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:lol:

It’s the McTom potential thread lad.

We’ve been playing great stuff with multiple midfield combos & people still need to slate our own. Agenda Caf is strong.
 
Stacks said:
At the same age Fletcher had 40 Scotland caps and got into a midfield with Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Hargreaves
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Comparing the Scotland side that Fletch was turning out for with the one McTom is competing for a place in is not a great comparison.

Scotland have a lot of players turning out in the Premier League and they have just qualified for the Euros. It is a decent squad and light years ahead of the Scotland Fletch was in.

I would say, with all due respect, that the assumption McTom wouldn't be getting into the same Scotland side is a pretty bold one.

It's also pretty obvious that Fletch was getting into that midfield because Hargreaves was a crock and someone needed to do the donkey work for Giggs and Scholes.
 
Sandikan said:
Yesterday reminded me of the 4-3 City game where Fletcher scored 2 goals.
Totally different goals and game flow but just brought back that memory.

The "oh no" when seeing his name on the team sheet is very reminiscent of early day Fletcher too.
Then that just stopped and you know he's earnt it.
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Yeah, I hated him when he broke through and Mourinho was using him as a pawn. Love the guy now.
 
He's good. He's certainly not as good as Leeds made him look but there's not a lot missing from his game and he seems to be consistently improving. No reason to think he couldn't be one of the best midfielders in the world.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
He's not a young player any more, he's 24, so he not likely to drastically improve, so his potential is pretty much what he is now a very decent squad player.
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makes sense. He will not be a world class undisputed starter I think. But he is someone who will always play a big role in the team throughout the season. Someone who’ll get good game time and contribute well (nicky butt and Ole himself were fan favorites while not regular starters).

I travelled to manchester in October 2019 for the arsenal game (my first and only game at old trafford), he scored a beauty from outside the box. So personally, i love him for that!
 
Nytram Shakes said:
He's not a young player any more, he's 24, so he not likely to drastically improve, so his potential is pretty much what he is now a very decent squad player.
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Says what? Lots of midfielders drastically improve from the age of 24. How many midfielders play their best football at that age?
 
DOTA said:
Says what? Lots of midfielders drastically improve from the age of 24. How many midfielders play their best football at that age?
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Most players don't improve drastically after 24, not saying he won't improve at all, but very few players go from a decent squad player to much beyond that after 24.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
Most players don't improve drastically after 24, not saying he won't improve at all, but very few players go from a decent squad player to much beyond that after 24.
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Wide players and strikers don't usually but you think most midfielders and centre backs are more or less the finished article by 24?
 
LDUred said:
Comparing the Scotland side that Fletch was turning out for with the one McTom is competing for a place in is not a great comparison.

Scotland have a lot of players turning out in the Premier League and they have just qualified for the Euros. It is a decent squad and light years ahead of the Scotland Fletch was in.

I would say, with all due respect, that the assumption McTom wouldn't be getting into the same Scotland side is a pretty bold one.

It's also pretty obvious that Fletch was getting into that midfield because Hargreaves was a crock and someone needed to do the donkey work for Giggs and Scholes.
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Wouldn't get carried away. Just had a look at the squad and it looks more or less the same in quality to me. 7 premier league players, and only 5 starters, mostly for relegation candidates.

They had a few premier league players playing back in 2008 too. They got into the top 20 in Fifa rankings back in 2007/8 and were narrowly pipped by France (2 points) to miss the Euros in a group with Italy and Ukraine in it also. Currently they are ranked 44th.

Who are these great midfielders that would keep Fletcher out? McGinn and Armstrong?
 
DOTA said:
He's good. He's certainly not as good as Leeds made him look but there's not a lot missing from his game and he seems to be consistently improving. No reason to think he couldn't be one of the best midfielders in the world.
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yea boiii. I can see him making world XI shortlists and everything.
 
Stacks said:
yea boiii. I can see him making world XI shortlists and everything.
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Probably not. Don't recall Carrick ever making them but he was one of the best midfielders in the world and I think he could be as good as Carrick.
 
He was very good against Leeds, but I will be a bit more reserved in rating his potential. You have to take into account that Leeds left an absurd amount of space in midfield; I don't think I have ever seen so much space before. McTominay used it very well, but this question remains: is he going to get that type of space in most Premier League games? The answer is no.

The question still stands as to whether he can have such a creative/goal scoring impact against teams that will not provide such space. I feel this performance is more of an outlier from the norm of what he has shown to date, rather than a promise of what is to come. He scored 2 and assisted 1, but this is not the norm as these are the only direct goal contributions he has this season. He also did not score since March in the Premier League, and before that October of last year. It has not been a consistent aspect of his.

I'm not saying he could not improve his goal output, but I do think that people are perhaps expecting too much based on yesterday's game. I don't think he has once come close to replicating yesterday's performance in a match beforehand, so I think we need to take it with a pinch of salt in terms of his potential.

I mean, I see some people saying he could end up better than Carrick, which is a bit over the top based on this game. Especially, since this game was really based on his attacking output rather than any significant defensive contribution. The defensive side was mostly left to Fred, with McTominay making no tackles etc. because he was pushing further forward, so I don't really understand the comparison to Carrick if he is to play that role.

I still think he can be a good player, but I will wait to see whether he can ever get close to this type of performance again when we play more compact teams.
 
DOTA said:
Probably not. Don't recall Carrick ever making them but he was one of the best midfielders in the world and I think he could be as good as Carrick.
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Very different players though. Whoever likened his potential to Goretzka is right, he needs to be in an old fashioned B2B role but with a specialist DM behind him. Carrick could never have played that role, he simply was not mobile or combative enough and the same goes vice versa, McT will never be as good as Carrick was in his role because he's nowhere near good enough technically/positionally.

I have forever wanted to us to ditch the double pivot and find a top DM who can sit on his own. I think Fred can suffice for now which leaves McT and Bruno as CMs higher up the pitch. Can we improve on McT, of course if we have the money, but he has a lot of potential.
 
He’s the nearest thing I’ve seen to a Darren Fletcher type player. Never going to be a superstar but a vital player particularly in big games vs the better teams. The sort of player you don’t realise how useful he is until he doesn’t play in those big games. The blonde and Scottish thing are just a coincidence!
 
He will be as good as Fletcher when he reaches his eventual prime. When he plays below-par, I don’t think he has as much use as Djemba-Djemba, and after yesterday, I don’t think he will become Paul Scholes’ successor either.

Mind you, should he progress to Fletcher’s level like I believe, we will have a really good player on our hands. Hardworking, utility player with loads of quality, Fletcher was.
 
Was weird wanting players to give him the ball constantly because I felt like every time he had it something could happen. Loved it and hopefully it gives him so confidence to push on with his game
 
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