Depends if Solskjaer lets him play the box to box role more often. He had a lot more license to roam today.Has to make this a regular thing, he's very capable of being a 10 goal a season man. Fantastic performance even without the goals, loved it when he was driving forward.
Depends if Solskjaer lets him play the box to box role more often. He had a lot more license to roam today.
You'd hope so. For a while it did seem to be Fred who ventured forward more often but McTominay has a lot more in his locker, I hope we see more of that side of his game going forward.I think it's safe to say when he plays it will most likely be with Fred. If so, he'll be the midfielder that has a bit more license to go to the edge of the box.
I’m waiting for the post “I’m not his biggest fan but he was excellent today “
Not his biggest fan, far from it but wish the lad a speedy (groin) recovery.
He has been brilliant today. Really happy for him as he deserves all the praise he is getting. He was up for it and gave 120% today - making runs from one end of the pitch to the other and getting on the end of through balls, dribbling past players, smashing the ball into the net.
He tends to hide for periods in games and is a safety first player in general but today he was either looking to release a runner or to run with the ball and dribble past players. He has been clearly instructed to do so today and given the license to get into the box. I hope this is a marker in his career and he gets himself up a level or two from here. That would be truly amazing for a homegrown player to be a mainstay of our midfield for the next 5 years.
Not his biggest fan, far from it but wish the lad a speedy (groin) recovery.
Has to make this a regular thing, he's very capable of being a 10 goal a season man. Fantastic performance even without the goals, loved it when he was driving forward.
Ole said he didn’t know how long he’d be out for. He’s been good with injuries so fingers crossed, he’s a quick healerVery good performance last night. Any news on his injury?
This was a rare match in which we kept our full-backs in defence, giving McTominay the licence to not only carry the ball forward but also continue into the Leeds penalty area, in the hope of getting on the end of through-balls or crosses, as he did for his 2nd goal.
It isn't realistic to expect him to get into the penalty area in open play if we push our full-backs high up the pitch to offer width to the attack, as it would leave our defence, which is already vulnerable against the counter-attack due to Maguire's lack of pace, horribly exposed.
The encouraging thing about McTominay is that he has improved significantly since becoming a first team player. Still a lot of aspects of his game that need developing; he is yet to score a header in the PL, he could do with building an understanding with one of the forwards so he could play a long ball over the top from time to time, similar to Lindelof's pass for Rashford's first goal against Sheffield United. He has to find a way to contribute more assists, more key passes.
Too much of the discussion in Scott's performance threads over the years has assumed that he will remain the player he was at the time of the post, that his limitations aged 22, will remain in place when he's in his mid to late 20s. Everything we know about him suggests that he is a relatively modest young man who works hard in training to become the best player he can possibly be. If Carrick or Matic offers advice, he tries to take it onboard. Of course there is a huge gap between knowing what to do in certain situations and actually being able to do it on a regular basis in matches at PL level.
Since the start of 2018/9 Paul Pogba has scored 15 PL goals for United (including 7 penalties) and has 12 assists in 4860 mins. McTominay has 8 goals + 2 assists in almost 3400 mins. So if you ignore the penalties, Scott is down by about 4 goals/assists in 3400 mins on a pro-rata basis.
not just based on today, but think the question very soon will be who partners McT.
I think it's safe to say when he plays it will most likely be with Fred. If so, he'll be the midfielder that has a bit more license to go to the edge of the box.
Yeah when you're asking Scott to sit as the deepest player you're generally in trouble. The Arsenal game, when he was ostensibly the base of the diamond, the midfield was a complete mess due in no small part to Scott's poor positioning (stood more or less on Fred's feet) and his inability to get anything going with the ball from deep. Maybe that's a harsh example as the whole team were woeful, it's a different formation and he's actually done well deeper still for Scotland but for me he's much better further up in a kind of box to box role where he can dribble, drift wide when necessary and of course break into the box or provide an outlet on the edge of it when we're attacking.
I still question whether he has it in him to start in a quality Manchester United team challenging for honours but he definitely looks to have a role in this squad and I'm made up for him after yesterday's genuine MotM performance.
Yeah when you're asking Scott to sit as the deepest player you're generally in trouble. The Arsenal game, when he was ostensibly the base of the diamond, the midfield was a complete mess due in no small part to Scott's poor positioning (stood more or less on Fred's feet) and his inability to get anything going with the ball from deep. Maybe that's a harsh example as the whole team were woeful, it's a different formation and he's actually done well deeper still for Scotland but for me he's much better further up in a kind of box to box role where he can dribble, drift wide when necessary and of course break into the box or provide an outlet on the edge of it when we're attacking.
I still question whether he has it in him to start in a quality Manchester United team challenging for honours but he definitely looks to have a role in this squad and I'm made up for him after yesterday's genuine MotM performance.
Yh exactly, I think trying to retrain him as a DM is a waste as well because he can be influential further forwards. I think yesterday you have to take with a pinch of salt as Leeds are so unique in how they play that he'll rarely get that much space however, there's no reason he shouldn't be making those kinds of runs into the box against other teams as well.
I think fans look at him and see a combative, physical guy who can press and has great stamina and just think he needs to be a DM but that's ironically where he's weakest.
Absolutely fantastic last night.
But what's funny about it is that in his best game ever in a United shirt he showed why he isnt really a DM even if we want him to be.
Sure he has the graft to be a DM but he doesn't have the passing ability from deep. Doesn't have the long balls, the switch of play or the between the lines passes.
He really is much more a box to box player. Thrived in the space Leeds left in their midfield.
Hope the injury is nothing, would be a shame from him to be out after that performance.
Glad he reads the caf and has taken on some of my constructive criticism. If he keeps playing to his potential he'll be transformational!It’s frustrating watching him play. He picks up the ball in positions where if he had some Ajax coaching he would be transformational. Always takes a first touch negatively - never on a turn. Rarely drives the ball into the open space created by his positioning. He leaves so much on the table. It’s frustrating because he has the physical attributes to play like that.
He’s just a coward happy in a comfort zone.