[Craig Ward]

I find it hard to believe you can criticize him for this. That's exactly how players grow and improve.

Its not in his skillset to hit 30 yard accurate passes to unlock defences, which he tried to do ALL game and consistently give the ball away.

His passing game may develop over time, yes, I alluded to that.

I think you've misinterpreted, players should play with freedom but also know what they can do well, and what they cannot do well. His passing game was well below par yesterday, he was trying to hit killer balls that frankly he wasn't capable of. So he should have learnt and made an in-game decision to keep the ball better.

Whether it was lack of movement from the front guys, or lack of vision or application - his passing style throughout wasn't working, Instead of changing, he kept trying and failing to hit the bulk of his passes (the more simple passes and the riskier)

He's trying to be Keane and Scholes in one - he needs to master one before thinking he's both to be blunt

 

[Augustus Gloop]

Its not in his skillset to hit 30 yard accurate passes to unlock defences, which he tried to do ALL game and consistently give the ball away.

His passing game may develop over time, yes, I alluded to that.

I think you've misinterpreted, players should play with freedom but also know what they can do well, and what they cannot do well. His passing game was well below par yesterday, he was trying to hit killer balls that frankly he wasn't capable of. So he should have learnt and made an in-game decision to keep the ball better.

Whether it was lack of movement from the front guys, or lack of vision or application - his passing style throughout wasn't working, Instead of changing, he kept trying and failing to hit the bulk of his passes (the more simple passes and the riskier)

He's trying to be Keane and Scholes in one - he needs to master one before thinking he's both to be blunt

I’m not necessarily disagreeing with what you’re saying, as you gave an honest account of him detailing his positives and his shortcomings, but what specifically did you feel was wrong with his passing yesterday in your eyes? I mean, he ended up on an 88% completion rate and so many of his balls were forward, so by all accounts his passing wasn’t shocking?

Was it they way he was cannoning it into the final third? I noticed a couple times that makes it awkward for a team mate to trap it. Aye his distribution has been poor a few times this season but I didn’t think yesterday was it.

 

[Ekeke]

He needs to improve his passing, a lot. He's neither a player who keeps the ball well nor a player who takes chances and creates things. He's just a bit inaccurate with his passing whilst not creating. He does win some freekicks though with his dribbling, so at least he creates that.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Its not in his skillset to hit 30 yard accurate passes to unlock defences, which he tried to do ALL game and consistently give the ball away.

His passing game may develop over time, yes, I alluded to that.

I think you've misinterpreted, players should play with freedom but also know what they can do well, and what they cannot do well. His passing game was well below par yesterday, he was trying to hit killer balls that frankly he wasn't capable of. So he should have learnt and made an in-game decision to keep the ball better.

Whether it was lack of movement from the front guys, or lack of vision or application - his passing style throughout wasn't working, Instead of changing, he kept trying and failing to hit the bulk of his passes (the more simple passes and the riskier)

He's trying to be Keane and Scholes in one - he needs to master one before thinking he's both to be blunt

Yesterday was the perfect game to try those kind of balls. Partizan barely threatened. Again, I find the criticism of a player who is clearly trying to improve himself bizarre.

 

[Rozay]

I disagree. Do Liverpool have world class midfielders playing for them? They won the CL last year, and have been a dominant force for two years now.

What you need is a functional midfield. When we don’t have a playmaker or a creative midfielder, of course he will look a bit bad because he is pretty much the whole midfield. Bring in some competent midfielders around him and he’ll look a whole another level.

With Pogba potentially leaving and our other midfielders being shite, he is the only starter I can think for next season. And if he continues to improve, I see no reason why he can’t be a starter in a top team.

This is not true and needs to stop being said, as it’s unfair to Fred and the improvement he has been making. I see it will be hard for him to win people over after a poor start, but he’s been just as good of late, and better in the last two games than McTominay.

 

[Devil may care]

There's more gas around this lad than a guy on a bean burrito diet, but he's a decent workhorse and we need him to be fit for Sunday.

 

[Rozay]

There's more gas around this lad than a guy on a bean burrito diet, but he's a decent workhorse and we need him to be fit for Sunday.

We’d suddenly have a lot more ‘good players’ if the whole world used the same specs they use for him for the rest of our players. That is, being so kind about any weaknesses (at least he’s trying, that’s what happens when you try etc), or a simple and kind ‘I agree he could probably improve his passing a bit’ and then wildly celebrate all their positives.

 

[Aouer-United]

Scott Mctominay becomes very overrated on here. I've seen people saying we should build around him with new midfield signings if we sold Pogba. Mctominay should never be starters, especially not for the club like United, he's squad player at best, just someone who can come off the bench to help us to see out the game.

 

[norm87cro]

He's been a 7/10 this season overall aldo he did have bad games. Calling him shite or a brilliant midfielder isn't doing him justice and like I said before the guy just doesn't shy away from responsibility and he is setting an example. I would give him a straight 10 in the commitment department. As far as abilites go I'd rate him as a first bench option if we had two world class midfielders in the middle. We don't and the only one who is branded world class here will probably leave. That being said we currently can't drop Mctominay from the starting 11

 

[eire-red]

He's clearly trying to improve the aspects of his game that he's weak on, like his creativity and passing between the lines. It didn't quite work out against Partizan, but those are the games to try these things. I have no issue with that.

He was poor against Bournemouth, but no more so than anyone else, but the games previous to that he was outstanding. He understands his limitations, keeps it simple in the big games, and is still improving.

He's a valuable player for us, no more no less. Saying he's our best player is exaggerating, just as is saying he's useless and will never be good enough. McTominay in a midfield with Pogba and another top CM, and he would be a great foil for those two. His ability to break up play is really good, if he can improve his distribution he could be a really good DM, or the deeper of a midfield 2.

I've been so wrong about this guy, I thought he would never make it. Now I think he can be a quality squad player, but I hope he proves me wrong again, which he will do if he keeps improving at the rate he has.

 

[Kostur]

Scott Mctominay becomes very overrated on here. I've seen people saying we should build around him with new midfield signings if we sold Pogba. Mctominay should never be starters, especially not for the club like United, he's squad player at best, just someone who can come off the bench to help us to see out the game.

I think you should now bring up those quotes so we can all have a laugh.

 

[Stadjer]

With Pogba injured McT is most likely the best midfielder we have... however that isnt because he is so good but because the other midfielders are just not good enough.

I think Fergie would have liked him in his squad but only play him in easy matches or for a special task in a more difficult match. I like McT but i hope he sits on the bench next season because that would mean better midfielders have been signed.

 

[Untd55]

McTominay has played every game in midfield this season. This midfield has no creativity, is not able to dominate and is not defensively solid. On top of this, the team is positioned 10th in the league.

What does this tell you? McTominay is a midtable player. He has been a constant part of a midfield that has been incredibly average. He is part of the issue that our midfield is so average; you cannot blame everyone else for all the failings and give McTominay (our most played midfielder) complete leeway.

I can think of so many players that can do the same, or an even better, job to McTominay in clubs that are positioned beneath us. This is a massive problem, which shows just how average he is. Neves, Longstaff, Rice, Drinkwater could all perform the same part that he has in the team. This is not good enough for a first-team player at Manchester United.

He completely lacks the technical ability required of a first-team Manutd midfielder. He is not the answer and needs to be replaced in the first-team as soon as possible. People compare him to Fletcher, but people seem to forget that Fletcher only became a first-team player after Scholes retired, Hargreaves became a permanent crock and we stopped investing in midfield.

Fletcher was the least technically-gifted midfielder we had, which was why he was behind Carrick, Scholes, and Hargreaves in the pecking order. This is the way it should be. If we ever want to compete for titles, or even top four, we cannot have such a technically-devoid player as McTominay in the first team.

People may say this is harsh, but he is a Manutd first-team player and should be judged by such standards. He fails to meet those standards. It is supposed to be hard to become a Premier League player and it should be even harder to become a Manutd player. The reason why McTominay is able to get into the first-team now is that standards have dropped massively.

 

[Devil may care]

We’d suddenly have a lot more ‘good players’ if the whole world used the same specs they use for him for the rest of our players. That is, being so kind about any weaknesses (at least he’s trying, that’s what happens when you try etc), or a simple and kind ‘I agree he could probably improve his passing a bit’ and then wildly celebrate all their positives.

McTominay is benefitting from the notion that has been created over the last few years that we have players that are "lazy" or don't care, and from those living in the past with the whole "die for the badge" mentality, which Scott certainly has, great attitude, but you need more than that. Do people really think the 2 best teams in the league by a country mile are filled with players that are average but would "die for the badge?" No, they are talented players very well coached by top managers, that's how you get success, the other stuff is the stuff that makes you a plucky mid table side that beats the odds each season and avoids the drop.

 

[simonhch]

McTominay is benefitting from the notion that has been created over the last few years that we have players that are "lazy" or don't care, and from those living in the past with the whole "die for the badge" mentality, which Scott certainly has, great attitude, but you need more than that. Do people really think the 2 best teams in the league by a country mile are filled with players that are average but would "die for the badge?" No, they are talented players very well coached by top managers, that's how you get success, the other stuff is the stuff that makes you a plucky mid table side that beats the odds each season and avoids the drop.

In all fairness, the margins are fine and it depends how you play the game. Can we seriously consider Henderson or Milner to be players of a much higher quality than McTominay? Both linchpins of an incredible football team. And that’s because good teams are always more than the sum of their parts. Scott is a player that I think would look fantastic under a season or two of Klopp, but would struggle with the way City play the game. It’s really not so black and white.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Lot of wierd posts in here trying to 'explain away' his good form.

Same geniuses telling us he would never play well now telling us that despite playing well he won't ever play well

 

[dev1l]

Lot of wierd posts in here trying to 'explain away' his good form.

Same geniuses telling us he would never play well now telling us that despite playing well he won't ever play well

Caf is full of "know it all" experts. Pity that for all their expertise, they pass most of their time locked in posting how smart they are....without ever achieving anything significant

 

[Untd55]

Lot of wierd posts in here trying to 'explain away' his good form.

Same geniuses telling us he would never play well now telling us that despite playing well he won't ever play well

Do people think his form is as good as people are making out? What are people defining as 'good'? 'Good' as in good for a mid-table side or 'good' as in for a Manchester United side?

I think it is clearly the former. That is the problem that people have with McTominay: his form is fine for a mid-table side but not for a team that should be seeking at least a top four finish. People are making his form out to be more than it is.

It is an acceptance of lower quality and a deterioration in standards in the first-team. This has been a major issue for Manchester United for a long time and it seems to have reached its worst point this season. McTominay symbolises this acceptance of mediocrity and lowering of standards.

 

[zenith]

How difficult is it to recognize and appreciate a player in good form who is currently very important to us without dissing him as 'not good enough'. The levels of entitlement among the caf folks is just ridiculous some times.

Scott is a good player without being great and those are the kind of players which the club needs at this time, not more expensive pansies that are not up for the fight.

 

[Untd55]

How difficult is it to recognize and appreciate a player in good form who is currently very important to us without dissing him as 'not good enough'. The levels of entitlement among the caf folks is just ridiculous some times.

Scott is a good player without being great and those are the kind of players which the club needs at this time, not more expensive pansies that are not up for the fight.

It is not being entitled; it is maintaining the standards that Manchester United should have. It should be hard to become a Premier League player but even harder to become a Manchester United player. With the massive wages they get as a reward, they should be expected to meet those standards.

I am not going to be grateful because a player puts in some effort. Seriously, that should be a basic trait of any player.

 

[TwoSheds]

It is not being entitled; it is maintaining the standards that Manchester United should have. It should be hard to become a Premier League player but even harder to become a Manchester United player. With the massive wages they get as a reward, they should be expected to meet those standards.

I am not going to be grateful because a player puts in some effort. Seriously, that should be a basic trait of any player.

But given that it's clearly not...

 

[Untd55]

But given that it's clearly not...

Most players put in effort; it is an odd few that are lazy.

 

[TwoSheds]

Most players put in effort; it is an odd few that are lazy.

Almost all players put in effort when things are going well...

 

[GDaly95]

He's a decent player who naturally lacks creative passing ability but is clearly working hard on it.

He is quite good at winning both aerial and ground duals and he's very good at dribbling out of tight spaces, using his strength and tenacity to help him.

He has a fairly good shot on him and he has leadership qualities.

Again, a decent player who might become a very good one.

People who said he was among the best in the league in his position (I honestly seen that on here) were daft, and the people now saying he's blatantly not good enough are also daft.

Hyperbole in either direction is boring.

 

[Duafc]

is he fit for tomorrow do we know?

 

[Adam-Utd]

is he fit for tomorrow do we know?

In the travelling squad at the hotel so that’s a good sign at least

 

[Devil may care]

In all fairness, the margins are fine and it depends how you play the game. Can we seriously consider Henderson or Milner to be players of a much higher quality than McTominay? Both linchpins of an incredible football team. And that’s because good teams are always more than the sum of their parts. Scott is a player that I think would look fantastic under a season or two of Klopp, but would struggle with the way City play the game. It’s really not so black and white.

A couple of things with that, one is Liverpool have arguably the best attack in the game right now, a prime front 3 that are cohesive and all contrbute, plus two fullbacks that offer a lot in atack, so they can get away with having a purely workmanlike midfield. The other thing is that while I don't massvely rate Henderson or Milner, only the former really plays a regular part in midfield since they actually won something and really challenged for the league, and I'd say McTominay still has a long way to go to be as decent on the ball as Henderson, who is no great measuring stick to begin with in that department.

 

[RedIan]

Looked a serious ankle injury hope he’s ok.

 

[Freak]

Absolute warrior in midfield. He’s going to be a future captain for us.

 

[Slevs]

Is my boy okay? How did it look?

 

[mu4c_20le]

He didn't need the stretcher, so hpoefully back after the break

 

[villain]

Sir Scott McTombele is an absolute baller

 

[Van Piorsing]

Next game's on 24th so he should have time to shake that off.

...and what a performance.

 

[Godfather]

Hope he is ok. Had a good game again. Real crafter in midfield.

 

[100]

He does tend to be a bit dramatic when he goes down injured. That looked different though. Hopefully he's ok

 

[Based Adnan]

Hoping it's nothing too serious but didn't look great

 

[Rozay]

Absolute warrior in midfield. He’s going to be a future captain for us.

He’ll be lucky to be in the XI long term. He has qualities, but his qualities are not his quality.

Seems to have picked up a bad injury, hopefully not out for long as we need him every game right now.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I'm worry. I think he really twisted his ankle. I might be wrong on this but it looks to me his feet bend the other way when I saw the replay and probably pop back again (may be my eyes play trick on me since last week happened to my mate in Sunday League). However if he really twists his ankle that bad, it could be very long recovery.

 

[roonster09]

Hope he is ok. We don't even have CM to play next to Fred.

His passing was bit erratic but his ability to carry the ball has improved a lot.

 

[Majima]

Good performance today, but his injury looked nasty.

Looked like a bad sprained ankle to me. I'll be very surprised if he plays vs Sheffield United.

We could be looking at over a month here.