[Isotope]

With Matic was more defensive in the midfield duo, and no Bruno occupying that central attacking midfield, McTom had more license and room on the center when go forward.

 

[Donut]

He does have an eye for a cutting pass between the lines and his shooting can be excellent.

It's his positioning in defense and attack that is suspect.

 

[MadDogg]

3 good games, bloody hell. His only good games this season were today and Leeds.

I'm normally quite critical of Scott but that's not accurate.

He was also good against Spurs earlier in the season, and yes also quite good in this three match spell against Norwich, Newcastle and Burnley (an argument could be had that he was our best outfield player in each of them).

Of course, the issue is that this three match period has come against literally the bottom three teams in the league, and even in them he noticeably dropped off in the second half of each match (Ralf did say that he's playing through the pain after an ankle knock against Newcastle though). Leeds have also been the 5th worst team in the league, and we played Spurs when they lost five out of seven matches and were about to sack their manager.

Scott deserves credit for obviously playing much better recently, and also for noticeably improving how much he's trying to get on the ball and play passes forward to get us on the front foot. But people do need to take into account the level of opposition before going overboard about it. He's had five good matches this season and all of them have been against teams in shit form. Hopefully he can continue that as the level of opposition improves (and he can start maintaining it for the full 90 minutes) but we're just going to have to wait and see.

 

[Real Name]

Man of the match easily. Was full of energy, playing defense, offense, everything, was everywhere where needed. Could have score one or 2 more, really has a shot in him. Not only a strong shot but accurate one too. RR was full of praise for him too.

 

[DWelbz19]

His lay-off shots just outside the box are definitely his best asset. Toni Kroos-lite.

 

[ManchesterManchester]

Just repeating others here but he certainly is able to display more of his skill set the closer to the goal he gets. I know Scotland have played him as a defender but I think that’s just like the way we try to play Pogba as a CDM, it isn’t his best position. His effort and desire is brilliant to watch, becoming a fan favourite from the way he plays for the shirt.

It is yet to be seen if he would be just a squad player or in the starting 11 of a title challenging team.

 

[Bwuk]

Just repeating others here but he certainly is able to display more of his skill set the closer to the goal he gets. I know Scotland have played him as a defender but I think that’s just like the way we try to play Pogba as a CDM, it isn’t his best position. His effort and desire is brilliant to watch, becoming a fan favourite from the way he plays for the shirt.

It is yet to be seen if he would be just a squad player or in the starting 11 of a title challenging team.

He only plays in defence for Scotland due to the poor CB options.

He was superb yesterday. Good finish for his goal and was unlucky not to get another.

Despite Matics legs being gone, the fact he’s an actual DM makes a huge difference. It’s neither Scott nor Fred’s game.

 

[Bobade]

Great last night. Need to see this kind of performance consistently though, as it happens hardly ever. I'm a big critic of McTominay, but if he can flourish like that under a new manager then he would be a great member of the squad to have.

 

[Nick7]

I really want to see a McTominay/Fred midfield in front of a defensive midfielder in their prime. Matic still has performances in him, but not consistently. McTominay’s best matches for us always come when he play a little further up the pitch.

 

[tenpoless]

Is it just me or he looks a bit like Robert Webb?

Okay game. He is not as shit as people made him out to be.

 

[Red Rash]

He played well last night in particular when in and around Burnley's box. However there were still quite a few occasions where he misplaced easy passes and got caught out of position

The problem with McTominay is he will turn in a performance like this once in every ten games and be anonymous or poor for the others. In my opinion the only way we will get the best out of him consistently is by playing a 3 man midfield and give him freedom to get forward.

Still not convinced he is anywhere near first team material but credit where it's due he had a good game.

 

[UpWithRivers]

He's just the kind of player thats attributes are suited to the physical side of the game. Once you have a midfield with some passers that can just bypass him and play triangles around him and give him little space to pass he's fkd. If you sit off him and give him time on the ball then he will thrive.

I hate moving players to random positions like people saying Lindelof at CM but for the first time for a player I would like to see him play Right Wing Back. I think thats why he does ok as a CB because he has more time, its less congested (unless there is a high press of course) but generally he can get the ball with a bit of time put his head up and make passes. When the midfield is congested and he receives the ball with his back to the opposition and needs to turn with a CM at his back he just cant.

 

[Kag]

All of his best work takes place in the opposition half, which has always been the case.

McTominay is no deep-lying midfielder in spite of how hard we try to make him one. With that said, he was very good last night. Even if you remove the shots on goal, he made more of an effort to get on the ball and take control (usually his biggest weakness)

 

[Red Shorts]

I'm probably going to go against the consensus here, but I thought McTominay was dreadful. It's clear that his strengths lie in making forward runs towards the opposition goal and he actually was quite effective at that tonight.

But his ability to retain the ball or progress it is appalling. We had no control over that game against a pretty crap Burnely side. And he's not particularly effective shielding a defence either. So when he plays in a two man midfield it heaps so much pressure on his partner to do most of the actual work. Maybe he might flourish in a midfield 3? I don't know, but tonight, against a relegation threatened side like Burnley, he did nothing to suggest he can make the step up to becoming a genuinely good player.

I am actually with you on this one. Not that he was dreadful, because I thought overall he had a good game, but your 2nd paragraph.

In their half I thought he was great: more urgent and accurate passing, good drives forward and made himself more available around the box. But in our half I felt a lot of the time he didnt make himself available and put our CBs and FBs under pressure, and didnt cover them well at all. He literally had a game of two halves...

 

[Toshey]

Needs to play further up the pitch. Not a defensive midfielder. Always has been good at attacking.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

Always forget how well he speaks in interviews, comes across like the type of character you'd want more of in a team

 

[Siezard]

McTominay is insanely good. He can shoot and can head. He needs to play further up.

 

[Acole9]

Pleased for him, he gets a rough time on this forum.

 

[Siezard]

Best Scottish player 2021!

 

[Bocca9978]

Had a great game last night. Think he will benefit the most when we finally sign a DM.
Matic won’t be around and I don’t think Fred will get many games next season.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

He was a monster yesterday and credit to him as he has played well recently.

He would do well in a midfield 3 along with 2 savvy midfielders who could handle the bulk of the passing and defensive duties.

But he and Matic were nowhere to be seen defensively at times and against a team like Burnely, that is a major concern still.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Best Scottish player 2021!

McGinn?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It’s interesting to see how he’s getting more and more involved and influential with each game he plays under Rangnick (fbref stats)


Some stats from fbref:

Burnley
76 touches, 59 attempted passes (80% completed)
3 interceptions
0 tackles (wtf? I’m sure I remember at least one tackle)
7 presses
55 carries
3 shots on target

Newcastle (played 77 minutes)
67 touches, 59 attempted passes (81% completed)
1 interception
4 tackles
23 presses
42 carries
0 shots on target

Norwich
64 touches, 51 attempted passes (90% completed)
0 interceptions
4 tackles
16 presses
41 carries
0 shots on target

Crystal Palace
48 touches, 37 attempted passes (75% completed)
0 interceptions
0 tackles
19 presses
30 carries
0 shots on target

 

[darko]

He only plays in defence for Scotland due to the poor CB options.

He was superb yesterday. Good finish for his goal and was unlucky not to get another.

Despite Matics legs being gone, the fact he’s an actual DM makes a huge difference. It’s neither Scott nor Fred’s game.

Fred and McTominay are better as LM and RM in a midfield diamond.

 

[Marwood]

It’s interesting to see how he’s getting more and more involved and influential with each game he plays under Rangnick (fbref stats)


Some stats from fbref:

Burnley
76 touches, 59 attempted passes (80% completed)
3 interceptions
0 tackles (wtf? I’m sure I remember at least one tackle)
7 presses
55 carries
3 shots on target

Newcastle (played 77 minutes)
67 touches, 59 attempted passes (81% completed)
1 interception
4 tackles
23 presses
42 carries
0 shots on target

Norwich
64 touches, 51 attempted passes (90% completed)
0 interceptions
4 tackles
16 presses
41 carries
0 shots on target

Crystal Palace
48 touches, 37 attempted passes (75% completed)
0 interceptions
0 tackles
19 presses
30 carries
0 shots on target

That's good to see. Hopefully it's a definite pattern and not just chance.

There definitely was at least one tackle against Burnley because it was a full on smash. A beauty.

 

[meninred]

Well he has to do it on consisent basis.most players will have some good games throughout the season.

 

[DWelbz19]

59 attempted passes per game is better, but we still need more control from our central midfielders. He currently averages 50 which is the 51st percentile across Europe’s top 5. Fred currently averages 61.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

59 attempted passes per game is better, but we still need more control from our central midfielders. He currently averages 50 which is the 51st percentile across Europe’s top 5. Fred currently averages 61.

What centile is that?

I actually checked McT’s stats from last 4 games vs previous 365 days to see if there was a big difference and there is one but not massive.

 

[Walrus]

Simply needs to be allowed to play his natural game as an attacking B2B midfielder. Its no surprise that he looked good when paired alongside a natural holding player. In much the same way, Fred's best performances came when he was allowed more freedom to charge about, with less need for discipline. Personally I think McTominay offers a lot more - especially in the attacking third.

 

[DWelbz19]

What centile is that?

I actually checked McT’s stats from last 4 games vs previous 365 days to see if there was a big difference and there is one but not massive.

77th. Around 70 attempted passes per game puts you in the 90th+ — which Matic seems to be in (averages 73 attempted passes per game).

 

[Pogue Mahone]

77th. Around 70 attempted passes per game puts you in the 90th+ — which Matic seems to be in (averages 73 attempted passes per game).

That’s decent from Matic but probably mainly reflects the “third centre back” position he likes to take up. CBs always seem to top the passing numbers each match.

 

[Scholsey2004]

59 attempted passes per game is better, but we still need more control from our central midfielders. He currently averages 50 which is the 51st percentile across Europe’s top 5. Fred currently averages 61.

Youre right, our holding players do need to control the game more. The deeper you typically play in the team though the more of the ball you get so Matic and Fred would normally have more of the ball since they, especially Matic, typically go forward less.

 

[Redlyn]

If he had more talent he'd be a shoe in for captain imo. As it stands it's not nailed he should be a starter next season. But it's clear he is at his best when he has the freedom to roam and attack like the b2b player he is.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

He needs to be able to switch the play with some long passes from his position when the opposition sags off of him. There was a passage of play where Sancho and Shaw had an attack outlet but McTominay had to take the short pass to Greenwood instead, who then attempted the cross field ball that was too late and ended up being intercepted.

 

[Satsuma United]

Mctominay attacking the ball more often is no doubt a Rangnicks impact. So happy for the United Boy.

 

[Lecland07]

I think people have got slightly over excited by these performances.

People are pointing out that he has been more involved in the last three games and has played further up the pitch, improving his performances. However, there is another factor: these are the three worst teams in the league. All of them are in the relegation zone for a reason. Is it a coincidence his performances are better against worse teams?

He was terrible against any of the good opposition recently, so I think people are jumping the gun a bit. I think Wolves and Aston Villa will tell far more than these three games.

 

[Ixion]

Hopefully see him develop further under Rangnick, would do him the world of good if we signed a worldclass DM for him to play alongside rather than pinning everything on him.

 

[RUCK4444]

I think people have got slightly over excited by these performances.

People are pointing out that he has been more involved in the last three games and has played further up the pitch, improving his performances. However, there is another factor: these are the three worst teams in the league. All of them are in the relegation zone for a reason. Is it a coincidence his performances are better against worse teams?

He was terrible against any of the good opposition recently, so I think people are jumping the gun a bit. I think Wolves and Aston Villa will tell far more than these three games.

Yeah I’ve been critical of him in a sense that we’ve had no meaningful control in midfield even against the lesser opposition.

That said he was great in the last game, very positive in his passing which was good to see, vertical passing which we know Ralf demands.

I don’t know if he’s defensively good enough to be a sitting midfielder long term for us so it will be interesting to see how he fits in depending on what formation we settle on.

 

[youmeletsfly]

He wasn't bad, but not good either. We couldn't control the midfield vs fecking Burnley.

 

[RUCK4444]

He needs to be able to switch the play with some long passes from his position when the opposition sags off of him. There was a passage of play where Sancho and Shaw had an attack outlet but McTominay had to take the short pass to Greenwood instead, who then attempted the cross field ball that was too late and ended up being intercepted.

He does this quite often I got pelted for pointing it out a few games back when he was one of our few decent performers on the pitch.

Hopefully Ralf can instil a confidence in him to play that outlet ball first time, minimise the negative possession that slows our build up play (which is by no means only his doing.)