A year ago or thereabouts he was smaller than Pearson and now he's not looking out of place at center back. Does he have a future there or is it just a makeshift project due to injuries? He's obviously got a lot to learn and physically still seems a bit on the weak side, but to go from tiny midfield feinschmecker to where he is now in such a short space of time is quite remarkable. Always good to have someone with proper ability on the ball at the heart of the defense.
Paddy McNair
- Thread starter Elliott
- Start date
Paddy McMascherano?
Its funny how he went from one of the smallest players of the group to one of the tallest players just in one summer break, similar to Sam Byrne.
Yes he has done well at CB this year and seems a good prospect. He has good technical ability, passing range and composure on the ball. He also reads the game very well for someone so young. He does lack a little bit of pace however and im not sure he would be first choice CB if everyone is fit. If he continues to develop maybe he could become a good holding midfielder in the future if not a CB.
Yes he has done well at CB this year and seems a good prospect. He has good technical ability, passing range and composure on the ball. He also reads the game very well for someone so young. He does lack a little bit of pace however and im not sure he would be first choice CB if everyone is fit. If he continues to develop maybe he could become a good holding midfielder in the future if not a CB.
Manchester United may call on Paddy McNair due to defensive crisis
http://www.theguardian.com/football...nchester-united-paddy-mcnair-defensive-crisis
http://www.theguardian.com/football...nchester-united-paddy-mcnair-defensive-crisis
Is he ready? I'm not so sure.
I'd have Thorpe ahead of him surely.
Scored a cracking goal against Reading last season to get us through to the U21 play-offs. Defensively I don't know.
Yeah, it's a bit strange that Thorpe is seemingly being overlooked. Also is there no recall option on Michael Keane's loan deal?
Usually there're no recall option if you loan a player to PL club unless it's a mutual agreement within both clubs.
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I would have him on the bench with Thorpe starting.Let's play a CB at CB.
I have no idea but I can't see there being one, much like there won't be one for Hernandez, Nani, Falcoa etc.
Paddy is more in line with our gungho style. Defensive problems? Lets get more people on the pitch with a goalscoring touch
Talented player who continues to improve but definitely behind Thorpe in the pecking order at this moment in time. Then again; if Blackett can jump the queue then so can this guy, I suppose. It would be in keeping with Thorpe's luck.
Any detailed reviews on him? 
Very technically sound player who was described by a Dutch underage coach as the most technically gifted 13 or 14 year old he had ever worked with. Was a very small attacking midfielder up until the age of 16 when he shot up in height very quickly and we moved him back to centre back. He's very good on the ball as you'd expect from a former midfielder, likes bringing the ball out of defence and a good long passer. He developed very well in the past year as he learned the role of centre back and added more aggression to his game and formed a really solid partnership with Ekangamene in the second half of last season for the under 21's. Things he needs to develop are his aerial ability and his strength although both seem to be improving.Any detailed reviews on him?
Looks extremely calm and poised for a young central defender. Hope he grabs this opportunity with both hands.
Was on the bench in the league cup game.
Tom Thorpe aswell.
For some reason I thought he was a fullback.
If I remember correctly he played midfield for a while.
Rumours going about that he's been told he'll be involved in someway on Saturday.....
God, it's going to be carnage
God, it's going to be carnage
we're looking at a back four of : Rafael, Flecher, Rojo, Shaw, with Valencia, and McNair as back up, mind boggling really.
Just have to be pleased it's West Ham at home we're playing, & not Chelsea away!
We're simply going to have to out score them, i'm going for 7-4 to us.
I'd be very very surprised if we play Fletcher as a CB.
Reckon we will, Blind, like Rojo is left footed so he won't play there, we may move Rafael in, and play Valencia RB, but that could be pure comedy.
Can't believe he will just drop McNair straight in next to Rojo who speaks no Englsih, we'd have Mcnair, and Shaw making their debuts, and Rojo making his CB debut for us, could be utter carnage, Fletcher is the best of the bad options we have imo.
He dropped Blackett in so he has no problem doing it. We need to start playing players in their proper positions, even if that means dipping into the fringe players.
As tough a spot we are in at the moment, I have no worries with van Gaal giving these guys a shot, as he said, it's part of the club and something that I think the majority of us like to see.
With 10 injures/suspension we'll have only 18 first team players left (Pereira,Wilson and James included) and we won't include all 3 GKs and 4 strikers in the squad anyway so I think both Thorpe and McNair will be in the squad with one of them starts.
It'll be Thorpe with McNair on the bench. Knowing our luck. McNair will have to come on after about 15 mins as someone in defense will get injured!
Thanks, that was helpful!
Pretty much everyone seems to be saying that he needs to have better heading ability. Will be exciting to watch though!
Where has this indication come from that it'll be paddy over Thorpe or Blind at CB?
Papers and Twitter
It sounds to be like its a name plucked out of nowhere that all media have just decided to run with.
Jamie Jackson
On JJs recent record we can safely say Thorpe should be starting.
Not exactly reassuring given that we are playing West Ham...
Yeah I agree. I reckon Tom Thorpe should be better at that aspect of the game.
We are going youth a chance and the media are back blaming the Club for not buying players. I love the media, they're so funny.
well, it's far from ideal to be throwing youngsters into a crisis situation, for the team or for the youngsters themselves.
Of course United once had to rebuild a whole team with youngsters, so it's certainly a part of the clubs "identity".
McNair will have a tough time at CB against a physical side like West Ham, so would Blind.. Our best bet would be Thorpe rather than giving Paddy a baptism by fire!