McTominay - what’s his potential?

His technique is very underrated. He has a much surer first touch than a lot of our team and he’s surprisingly good at coming away with the ball from a group of opponents. He’s probably one of the better overall passers in the team too - probably the best after Pogba. And it’s looking like he’s continuing to improve in that regard as well. He’s already started making those fizzed in grounded passes to the forwards that Carrick used to make. I think any talk of what his ceiling is is a bit premature when he’s improving in all aspects so much.
Did you watch the tifo video which highlighted none of our midfielders can pass bar Pogba? Maguire can make better passes than them and often tries to bypass them
 
Did you watch the tifo video which highlighted none of our midfielders can pass bar Pogba? Maguire can make better passes than them and often tries to bypass them

Yeah I have and tifo’s opinion isn’t law. Also McTominay himself has improved a lot in the meantime. You’re speaking as if once it’s decided that no one bar Pogba can pass, none of the players can ever improve.
 
I am not a fan. Yet...
Here is the thing. He has great passion, work rate, scores goals which is great for midfielder and he cost zero. Everything great with all that and if we will use him as squad player then great. I am all into that. Imo, squad players are just like McT. Players who can do their job on decent level.
But, we are Man Utd. We have ambition to be on top of the league again and be no1 in England again. So if we are talking about first 11 midfielder then i want and i think that standard should be whole package. Midfielder with flawless technique. And McT doesn't have potential to become that. He lacks creativity and technique in general. And i don't like it. When we sit back he is good but with him we can't dominate in possession and he will not provide some killer ball or some great assist.

To sum it up. I like McT, i want him in this squad but only as cover option.
The guy who can navigate through 3 Barcelona defenders and not lose the ball under pressure, and pass to his team mates, doesn't have technique? Err OK... Scott has a good first touch, this is fundamental for a good technique. For me, he's a Makelele, Gattuso, Kante type of player, but close to a 8. He does make good passes and doesn't lose the ball easily now. So in short, he's definitely part of the first XI of any top class team in the world because you need those players.
 
This might be an unpopular way of looking at it but to me a lot of it will depend on how well he does when Pogba or another world class mid is lined up again next to him. Ultimately this is a team sport and he s been able to run the middle almost single handedly but that "power" will have to be shared in the long run. A team in some ways is only as good as its weakest link.
 
A usefull player. Never going to be the star of a good team but could be a usefull member of the squad.

He could even be a starter for a throphy winning team following the Liverpool idea. Henderson or Milner arent special players but they make Mane and Salah better players.

I dont think he would fit a Guardiola style team though but i do think Fergie would have liked him in his squad.
 
He's the kind of player who will peak later in his career, mostly in the decision making department. I cant see him ever making Pirlo passes but he'll be an industrious workhorse like Fletcher, who was invaluable for us.
 
He ate Verratti, Henderson and Kovacic easily. Monster of an athlete. Skys the limit. If Pogba had a quarter of this guys mentality we'd have a strong midfield.
There always has to be someone to go overboard :lol:
 
Have you lunatics ever seen Roy Keane play? McT would do well to be even half the player he was.
Oh good, I thought I was the only one. Hyperbolecafe.

He’s made me a fan and if he can improve at a similar rate for the next two years as the last two, he’ll definitely have a very good career here.
 
A somewhat better version of Tom Cleverly.

He lacks the technical ability to be much more. He's a hard-working, professional, reliable lad - so he'll make a long-term squad option for a bigger club or a long-term first teamer for a smaller PL side.

I see him 'settling' properly at a club like say, Everton or Crystal Palace. Around 2021/22.
 
We need his type of players. A Darren fletcher.. a Phil Neville.. a John o'shea..
 
A somewhat better version of Tom Cleverly.

He lacks the technical ability to be much more. He's a hard-working, professional, reliable lad - so he'll make a long-term squad option for a bigger club or a long-term first teamer for a smaller PL side.

I see him 'settling' properly at a club like say, Everton or Crystal Palace. Around 2021/22.

Why would United sell him?!
 
He’s very good, but he’s the new Darren Fletcher or Nicky Butt rather than the new Paul Scholes or Roy Keane.
 
I've changed my view on McT. I'm a fan. He's developing into a beast-mode Fletcher. Great engine, great physique, good ball control, good vision (not Erikson or Pogba-great, but good for a defensive or box-to-box). He also got a good shot, I just wish he dared to shoot more.
Future captain. No doubt.
 
Yeah I have and tifo’s opinion isn’t law. Also McTominay himself has improved a lot in the meantime. You’re speaking as if once it’s decided that no one bar Pogba can pass, none of the players can ever improve.
Obviously not what I am saying. I don't feel we have passed the ball well this season period. Even Pogba has been suspect
 
There always has to be someone to go overboard :lol:

You must not be watching him closely enough. He's developed his game no end over two seasons and he's not reached his ceiling yet. Very good squad player and his consistency has come when our team was broken.

Can't give him enough credit atm.
 
He'll be a solid squad option going forward, but if we ever look to be challenging again then we'll need to upgrade him. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves us within 5 years but I'll be happy if he's still here. Kid loves us and has a great mentality.
 
He has always been good since he first came into the first team. Doing the simple things really well, that's why JM loved him.
I never understood people here slating him, now he is proving his doubters wrong, which is exactly what we want.
 
I can remember him getting slagged off rotten on here when he first broke into the team. we are all too often too quick to pass judgement on players. They have to be judged over the season.
At the moment, he is doing really well, yet when he was in the Reserves he didn't look that special. Just goes to show ..., and why we aint Premiership Managers !!!!
 
He'll be a solid squad option going forward, but if we ever look to be challenging again then we'll need to upgrade him. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves us within 5 years but I'll be happy if he's still here. Kid loves us and has a great mentality.

Within 5 years - pushing the boat out on your predictions!

He’s exactly the sort of player who could be part of a title winning side. Who would you rather him or the captain of Liverpool?
 
For me his best qualities are on the ball, he's very comfortable with the ball in midfield.

Given his size and energy I think he should be hoping to emulate Viera, who was a tenacious midfielder but deceptively very good in the final third and would often rush to join attacks. A big part of Arsenal and Frances successes.

I'd love to have someone like Viera in midfield, but it's a very tough ask. Hopefully Scott continues to develop.
 
His improvement under Ole has been incredible. When he signed his new contract early in Ole's reign, the manager spoke glowingly about his future. His performances since have completely justified that.

Even 6 months ago, I think there would be very few people who would have expected him to displace Matic in the side. He's done it so convincingly that it's not even a debate.

In relation to his potential, it's hard to tell. He is very well suited to this United side. His athleticism and energy is crucial, in particular post Herrera. He has a lot more to develop in his game, in particular his ability to control games from midfield. If he can keep up this level of progress, maybe he can do it.

Future United captain and legend. I will be surprised if that doesn’t happen. In the list of midfielder at United, he can surpass Roy Keane.

His potential, his ceiling, is something similar to Roy Keane. But like Roy Keane he will need players around him who can do the job he can’t (or should not) do.

Wow!

Now that Rashford has hit a bit of form, do you think he'll be better than Thierry Henry?
 
Very impressed by him of late. He was always a huge physical presence with an exceptional work rate and solid tackling ability. But of late, he's starting to show real quality on the ball as well as a goalthreat. It's hard to tell what his potential is - whether he'll be a solid and consistent performer or somebody who can achieved true excellence. But I'm very upbeat about the progress he's already made.

Think people are getting a bit carried away. He's playing very well at the moment but against Liverpool and Chelsea we didn't really have a hold of the game in midfield.

When you think that a year ago he looked like a deer caught in the headlights and was being subbed off at half time, his progress has been pretty impressive.

The best thing about him for me is he actually looks like a leader now. We've been getting battered with criticism and he's been the one standing up in games and trying to force the issue.
That's probably a fair point and holds true for the entire team - how they stand out in games where we don't concede the battle for possession. Norwich was one game but they're also terrible. Its probably a bit easier for a gritty midfielder in games where the team isn't expected to dictate the game or doesn't want to boss possession.
 
Wow!

Now that Rashford has hit a bit of form, do you think he'll be better than Thierry Henry?
:lol: People do go way overboard. Last season as well I was reading about him being the next Roy Keane. Like I said, he's been doing really well of late and it's great to see a young player decelop rapidly but some here definitely need to calm down.
 
For me his best qualities are on the ball, he's very comfortable with the ball in midfield.

Given his size and energy I think he should be hoping to emulate Viera, who was a tenacious midfielder but deceptively very good in the final third and would often rush to join attacks. A big part of Arsenal and Frances successes.

I'd love to have someone like Viera in midfield, but it's a very tough ask. Hopefully Scott continues to develop.
I read that he has more success take ons than Salah. That's fanstastic for a CM.
 
Kind of got used to him in the starting 11. Not sure if it’s a good thing or not though.

But he’s definitely better than Fred and Andreas on current form.
 
What sets him apart is his mentality which he is able translate into his game. He's very composed on the ball, tactically excellent and not overawed by the big occasions. On top of that, he seems the kind of lad who is genuinely appreciative of being able to play top-flight football and that motivates him to continually improve himself.

Its very hard to tell at this point but it wouldn't be surprising at all if he eventually become a better player than Fletcher, Cleverley, Gibson and Drinkwater.

And will that makes him our best homegrown CM since the turn of the century?
 
Did you watch the tifo video which highlighted none of our midfielders can pass bar Pogba? Maguire can make better passes than them and often tries to bypass them

I watched that video but I couldn’t help but feel that with the likes of Mata, Pereira, Lingard and Rashford (as a CF) to pick out, it’s no wonder we struggled to find forwards passes in the Newcastle game (which received particular scrutiny)

I’ve never gone along with the idea that McTominay is technically limited. Certainly not when compared to players like Fernandinho, Henderson, Fabinho, Milner etc...who have all been very successful playing CM without having flashy tricks or goals up their sleeve
 
You must not be watching him closely enough. He's developed his game no end over two seasons and he's not reached his ceiling yet. Very good squad player and his consistency has come when our team was broken.

Can't give him enough credit atm.
What does all of this have to do with Pogba needing to have McTominay mentality or whatever else from him?
 
A somewhat better version of Tom Cleverly.

He lacks the technical ability to be much more. He's a hard-working, professional, reliable lad - so he'll make a long-term squad option for a bigger club or a long-term first teamer for a smaller PL side.

I see him 'settling' properly at a club like say, Everton or Crystal Palace. Around 2021/22.
He’s on course to be a better version of Darren Fletcher, why would he be sold?
 
I like mctom a lot, in a year he has grown from a seemingly scrawny kid into a fearless, skilful powerhouse. The penny has literally just dropped for me when I see a Keano type of player.
He seems to have a robust body,speed and a fearless attitude. Give him another year at this progression and should be captain material and a world class player.
 
He is the perfect Man Utd midfielder. I’m not going to make it sound like he is the best player right now in the team but his body language and passion is remarkable. No matter what happens he always gets up and goes into the tackle. He has played quality oppositions and mentally has not given in.

His role is very simple. He needs to keep the game ticking. He doesn’t haven to be some game changer. Assuming we recruit right his job will remain the same. And I must say he is doing it well. I’m genuinely happy for the lad and hope he makes it.
 
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For me Scott McTominay at times demonstrates various facets of some of our great past midfielders; Bryan Robson, (willingness to get in the box and amongst the goals); Darren Fletcher (his overall 'engine') and Roy Keane, (getting struck in), he could become a hell of a midfield player in due course, especially if his rate of improvement/consistency continues on a upward trajectory, as it is just now.
Great summation
 
He is a great lad, loads of character. However instead of rating him individually, I prefer to rate midfield as a unit. A good team elevates individual performance whereas bad team can put down performance of an elite player.

As of now our unit is not strong, Fred and Andreas are not good enough. Pogba is when he wants to be. So effectively we need two players to see what Scott's level could be.
 
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