[CR1]

I never quite agreed with the criticism of him when he first broke through. Ok yes, maybe at times he was a bit limited on the ball but that's at least partly because he was given instructions to keep it simple. I always thought he looked squad player potential at worse. Good at screening and tackling etc.

And obviously he's improved further since he started playing more regularly around midway last season. He's definitely more than a squad player now. Before criticizing his performances this season one has to take into account that he is being played out of position. He's currently playing as a 6 when his best position is at 8.

For me McTominay is a definite starter and I think he'll improve even further, especially when we get someone else to be the first-choice 6 so he can move back into 8. One of my favorite players in the current squad. I don't think we need to sign another 8/box-to-box except maybe someone for back-up. Focus on 6/CDM instead. Then when Pogba leaves we can assess if we need to sign someone there as well or if Gomes is good enough.

 

[Foxbatt]

Obviously he is going to be a starter because we have no one left to start in midfield. But if he is going to be the regular midfield player for us then God help us.

 

[Member 117152]

I miss Herrera

Mctomminay has been awful for us so far this season. I guarantee at the same age Herrera was just as good too if not better technically.

We’ve had awful, awful luck with midfielders for years. Pogba is a star though. I long for a day Pogba is further up the field without players like Mctomminay behind him. Unfortunately never happening I doubt...

 

[Beans]

I never quite agreed with the criticism of him when he first broke through. Ok yes, maybe at times he was a bit limited on the ball but that's at least partly because he was given instructions to keep it simple. I always thought he looked squad player potential at worse. Good at screening and tackling etc.

And obviously he's improved further since he started playing more regularly around midway last season. He's definitely more than a squad player now. Before criticizing his performances this season one has to take into account that he is being played out of position. He's currently playing as a 6 when his best position is at 8.

For me McTominay is a definite starter and I think he'll improve even further, especially when we get someone else to be the first-choice 6 so he can move back into 8. One of my favorite players in the current squad. I don't think we need to sign another 8/box-to-box except maybe someone for back-up. Focus on 6/CDM instead. Then when Pogba leaves we can assess if we need to sign someone there as well or if Gomes is good enough.

Interesting post! I think Scott has looked limited on the back at times, but so do most people playing holding midfielder. Besides, he has Pogba next to him, the best passing midfielder in the world, it makes sense to defer, especially early in his career.

I'd love to see him get a run playing more attacking role. A little easier for the club to find a DM in the transfer window than a good box to box midfielder, as well.

 

[SambaBoy]

I don't want to judge him too much on the start of the season but I don't think he's ever going to eclipse what Herrera provided for us. Herrera seemed to be busier about the pitch while being less careless on the ball. Herrera's passing range wasn't that adventurous but he played neat forward passes at times and was a big game player.

McTominay has a lot to develop before he can reach them sort of levels for me. His passing has been very sloppy thus far, and when you know Pogba will turn over the ball numerous times before a games starts due to him trying to be creative, then it's hard to have your two deepest midfielders turning over the ball 30-40+ a game.

As it stands, McTominay is going to start for the foreesable future due to the lack of competition but unless he improves, he shouldn't more than a squad player.

 

[CR1]

Interesting post! I think Scott has looked limited on the back at times, but so do most people playing holding midfielder. Besides, he has Pogba next to him, the best passing midfielder in the world, it makes sense to defer, especially early in his career.

I'd love to see him get a run playing more attacking role. A little easier for the club to find a DM in the transfer window than a good box to box midfielder, as well.

Thanks, yes and in my opinion I think Longstaff might be a good option. I like Ole's strategy of primarily focusing on English players.

 

[FrankDrebin]

He's a solid yet unremarkable competitive midfielder. As a bench/squad option he's perfect , as a nailed on first teamer though ? you would like more.
But he'll amass a number of minutes this season due to the ever present lack of quality in our midfield.

I miss Herrera

Mctomminay has been awful for us so far this season. I guarantee at the same age Herrera was just as good too if not better technically.

We’ve had awful, awful luck with midfielders for years. Pogba is a star though. I long for a day Pogba is further up the field without players like Mctomminay behind him. Unfortunately never happening I doubt...

But..

Gary Neville "Herrera, to be fair, huffed and puffed, but there's loads of him - there's loads of them around, there's loads of Ander Herrera's. He's nothing special."

 

[RooneyLegend]

Thanks, yes and in my opinion I think Longstaff might be a good option

You can't be serious.

 

[RooneyLegend]

The lad tries I’ll give him that. I want him to succeed I really do.. but I’m sorry you’ve either got it or you haven’t and unfortunately I don’t think Mr 6ft 4 will ever be good enough for United. What I’d do for a centre mid who can pass a ball forwards.. My god I wish I’d appreciated Carrick more what a player he was.. This lad on the other hand is basically Tom Cleverly Mk two we won’t win anything with the likes of him and Lingard starting every week. Sorry boys but you know I’m right.

I'd have Cleverly over him any day.

Not sure he's quite Premier League quality

Doesn't seem like it. Amazing we have the most expensive midfielder ever playing next to a championship player.

Play him with Fred in pivot and give Pogba more freedom and Mctominay will be better. His strengths are his pressing and play in transition. Fred, though with his own issues, strengths and ball circulation and build up. Pogba won't then have to play from so deep.

I think Scott can be a Henderson type player, who can be useful in the right team like Liverpool have shown.

He's nowhere near where Henderson was at the same age.

 

[Roboc7]

The guy is a trier but he’s nowhere near good enough, it’s a simple truth he wouldn’t get in team of any of the four teams we have played in league so far. Lucky not to be subbed off but in fairness we don’t have anyone else.

 

[Zoo]

I thought he played well actually.

 

[tjb]

clearly a box to box player, but he's playing with pogba so he has to be a defensive midfielder which he is not great at

 

[Sp00ks11]

The least of our problems, nothing wrong with his game today.

 

[Rozay]

Best game for a long, long time today. Very good I thought.

 

[bosnian_red]

The least of our problems, nothing wrong with his game today.

Apart from having a poor touch and not being much of a passer? Positionally he isn't great from a defensive perspective either. He's just plain average. He can get stuck in, get blocks in, get in physical duels and all that, but he's just so so average in pretty much every aspect and it'll be a recurring issue throughout the season. We'll never have control in midfield or games because he's not capable of being that quality holding midfielder who can provide that.

 

[Kag]

Never in a million years a United midfielder.

 

[LoCalXT]

Only midfielder in the squad we can count on for regular 6/10 performances week in week out.

 

[Omahahaha]

It's weird how he is now starting every game. Good attitude and has some good attributes, but not good enough for a starting spot if we are in any way ambitious.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Apart from having a poor touch and not being much of a passer? Positionally he isn't great from a defensive perspective either. He's just plain average. He can get stuck in, get blocks in, get in physical duels and all that, but he's just so so average in pretty much every aspect and it'll be a recurring issue throughout the season. We'll never have control in midfield or games because he's not capable of being that quality holding midfielder who can provide that.

This. No problem with the effort, but quality is lacking.

 

[Yorkeontop]

He's probably better than Lingard but he's still ultimately an overpromoted squad player just like Jesse.

 

[Chicharito_]

How many times does he want to pass the ball out of play though?

Physically he's good and get's around the pitch but concerned about the quality sometimes.

 

[LJJT]

He showed urgency, fight and desire to win the ball and play it at least. Thought he was alright today really. Least he doesn’t dally on the ball taking 10 touches looking up and down at the ball cos he can’t play with his head up

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

He's a great trier.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

It's weird how he is now starting every game. Good attitude and has some good attributes, but not good enough for a starting spot if we are in any way ambitious.

I agree. It’s weird though because he does good things in games doesn’t shy away and is a trier. His attitude is fantastic but I don’t think the good out numbers the bad. He gives the ball away a lot gets caught out of position a lot and you can see Pogba and others directing him on where he needs to be but given Matic’s cameo I’d still rather persist with the uncertainty of McT than see Matic out and about.

 

[AJ10]

poor on the ball, good off it.

 

[slored1]

Miles better than Matic, but still not good enough to start for a team that wants to finish in top 4.

 

[#07]

He's a great trier.

I think this sums him up nicely. He'll get stuck in, give 100% at all times but is he actually that good? I honestly don't know.

 

[haram]

Play Matic and let Scott be more box to box with Pogba.

 

[RRCE]

I thought the kid was pretty decent today. I love his attitude and physicality, and am pleased that he’s starting ahead of Matic. Yes, he has his limitations, but he’s young and will improve. He’s certainly far from our biggest problem.

 

[Roboc7]

I thought the kid was pretty decent today. I love his attitude and physicality, and am pleased that he’s starting ahead of Matic. Yes, he has his limitations, but he’s young and will improve. He’s certainly far from our biggest problem.

He’s a big problem, by no means only one, because it’s such an important position and he can’t do what is needed. Some aspects of his game might improve but his ability on the ball is miles off.

We might be able to get away with him playing in a midfield 3 but that’s it, not his fault is just staggering we have go into season with him as a starter and little alternative.

 

[Aouer-United]

I like the fact that he has hunger, defended so well and desire to win the ball. Mctominay needs to command midfield more and connecting midfield to attack together. I was frustrated when he wins the ball back, he just quickly released the ball longer over Southampton which they intercepted so easily. There was the time they were overrunning over us, he finally has a ball, he released the ball quicker so they won possession and dominating us.

He needs to take more responsibility from the build play alongside Pogba because Pogba can't do everything on his own but when he's marked and get pressed by at least 2 players, he'll lose more ball which can lead to dangerous attack for them.

He is squad player at best, we need a midfielder who can control the game and knew whenever we need to slow tempo after winning the ball back.

 

[kundalini]

Good performance. Assist for James' goal and a super cross for Wan-Bissaka's big chance. Also his driving run resulted in the red card.

 

[RRCE]

He’s a big problem, by no means only one, because it’s such an important position and he can’t do what is needed. Some aspects of his game might improve but his ability on the ball is miles off.

We might be able to get away with him playing in a midfield 3 but that’s it, not his fault is just staggering we have go into season with him as a starter and little alternative.

I think he has more potential than you’re giving him credit for, but it’s a matter of opinion and I definitely understand where you’re coming from. I agree that him being a starter is representative of the weakness of our team. No doubt about that. Don’t get me wrong, I’d much prefer a better player in there, particularly in the system Ole seems determined to play. Still, I like the kid, and if we’re attributing fault, I have a long list before I get to him.

 

[Roboc7]

I think he has more potential than you’re giving him credit for, but it’s a matter of opinion and I definitely understand where you’re coming from. I agree that him being a starter is representative of the weakness of our team. No doubt about that. Don’t get me wrong, I’d much prefer a better player in there, particularly in the system Ole seems determined to play. Still, I like the kid, and if we’re attributing fault, I have a long list before I get to him.

I dont think there are more than 3 teams in the league he’d start regularly for but we are picking him every week. Don’t see much potential myself.

 

[GenZRed]

He is a solid player but it says it all about the state of our midfield when he looks like the best midfielder we have.

 

[Ekeke]

Wasnt our worst player thats for sure, but you'd expect better from both our deep CMs than this

 

[dev1l]

Good performance. Assist for James' goal and a super cross for Wan-Bissaka's big chance. Also his driving run resulted in the red card.

The "experts" over here will prefer to highlight his
mistakes. They need fuel for their constant moaning.

 

[Tarrou]

I think he has more potential than you’re giving him credit for, but it’s a matter of opinion and I definitely understand where you’re coming from. I agree that him being a starter is representative of the weakness of our team. No doubt about that. Don’t get me wrong, I’d much prefer a better player in there, particularly in the system Ole seems determined to play. Still, I like the kid, and if we’re attributing fault, I have a long list before I get to him.

I agree with this. He's a great player to have in the squad who can come in and do a job, but we shouldn't be relying on him - but that's not Scott's fault.

 

[M Bison]

I like him, gives everything and doesn’t shirk when the going gets tough.

 

[Augustus Gloop]

I think there were moments, such as a few attempts at a cross field pass, that even though they’re not coming off now, they will do as he plays more and gets older. That’s my only criticism.

Other than that, he was effective. Grabbed an assist and “won” a red card for us. He was also a decent defensive unit using his frame and positional intelligence.

I hope he gets better and better this season. It’s 100% in his locker.