Yeah. Casemiro had 27 successful passes (out of 32 attempts), McTominay had 34/41.
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
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- Goals
- 3
- Assists
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- 10
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I don’t know how you’ve inferred that from my post. I just stated that, ball retention, and circulating the ball isn’t in McTominay’s game, and it probably never will be.
McTominay can have a good game (he did) and it can still be true that our possession issues and losing central midfield battles against teams far weaker than us can be avoided with central midfielders who get on it more. Both can be true.
Yes. McTominay made 34 passes, Casemiro made 27. Eriksen made 47.
For Leicester: Soumare 41, and Tielemans 50.
Fred got hooked at HT whilst McTominay - despite being booked - played almost the full game. Despite this, people still convince themselves that out of the two, McTominay was miles worse, such as @Rozay 's implication above.
41 attempted passes in 90 mins? That's fecking dreadful from a CM.
Perhaps we form our own opinions and don’t apply silly formula like ‘who was substituted first’ to determine what we think of respective performances.
He was very good in the 1st half, but we'll always struggle to control games from midfield because he doesn't make himself available for passes.
I’m not saying he’s great or anything, but he’s obviously a useful player yet some people were acting like him leaving would solve all our midfield problems. He’s been a scapegoat here while there have been much bigger problems and worse performers.
It’s awful but many on here won’t understand the importance of the midfielder that doesn’t hide from the ball.
Three very good performances in a row. Good signs.
Likes to hide from the ball doesn't he
He was good in the first half and broke play up and got the ball forward at the first opportunity. He's not someone I look at and think he's going to progress play for us, because I don't believe he's good enough in that regard. But if he can show his first half performance on a consistent basis, then it would allow us work around his flaws.
He played well though and all credit to him.
He played well though and all credit to him.
There is no silly formula involved. My point was that - much like last season when McTominay was given MOTM (by the pundits) only to be lambasted on here as our worst player - opinions dont always reflect reality. Sometimes it is worth looking at the cold hard truths such as which players are actually being selected by the manager, and revisiting an opinion. Bias recognition and critical thinking are underutilized skills nowadays, especially in such partisan and tribal environments as football and politics.
This argument isn't as water-tight as it may seem to be — Maguire stated the same stuff out loud last season and look where he is now. If McTominay keeps the starting spot come mid-season when Casemiro is match-fit and integrated into the team, you'll have a point.
Played really well and was everywhere. Credit where it's due that was a very good display.
Surprisingly very good today. Hope he keeps his place against Arsenal.
Oh yeah, it is so hard to understand. Could it be that some realize that we need to upgrade on him, that he has flaws that cause problems but are also ok with giving him credit for the things he can do well instead of just relentlessly shitting on him?
Despite what people will make up on here, he's been solid for three games on the bounce now, hence why he started again today.
No doubt we will see a pivot of him and Casemiro against Arsenal.
No doubt we will see a pivot of him and Casemiro against Arsenal.
The best he's played in ages. Man of the match for me. Can't not pick him after that game tbf
I missed a large part of the second half but the first half he wasnt hiding from receiving the ball today. He actually made himself an option to receive the ball.
That just sounds like you doubling down on a reliance of some sort of algorithm such as who the manager picks or who got MOTM over making your own judgement.
And then there is the fact that this ideology is, in my view, vastly exaggerated (or just false) that people turn around after MOTM performances and say he was the worst player on the pitch. This is not what has been happening at all. What is more likely is that he is called terrible more often than not because he has been. Also, I can at least speak for myself here - but if we go far enough back regarding Scott’s performances, I was calling them poor despite many people saying they were excellent because they were caught up in academy kid emotion. Various stages of emotion. At certain times it was probably a bit of ‘anyone but Pogba’ for some posters. For others it was an academy kid. I remember a couple of games at the beginning of Ole’s first full season where Scott was lavished with praise and I was here voicing my concern about his passing. These views were largely dismissed, with others simply saying ‘it will come’.
Just because everyone is saying something that doesn’t mean it needs to be your assessment. From what it looks like to me, too many people are unable to simply watch games/players for themselves and objectively give a view on what they have seen. Many just follow whatever the storyline or narrative is.
With all this being said, my comments on tonight’s performance were very glowing. All I said is he has been getting better since being rubbish against Brighton. Now it probably looks like ‘you have just come to criticise Scott again even after he played well’.
He was energetic and effective and his tackle ultimately led to the goal. I was one of the believers in the past but I now see his limitations.
How does he decide to up his game several fold the moment we sign a replacement? 
I actually thought he was the biggest loser when that Casemiro signing was made and Fred the bigger winner. Now I’m not so sure.
His form certainly presents options. In games where we potentially prioritise defensive solidity; we could field both him and Casemiro together. Or even games like today where we look to preserve a lead. Certainly good problems for a manager to have.
I actually thought he was the biggest loser when that Casemiro signing was made and Fred the bigger winner. Now I’m not so sure.
His form certainly presents options. In games where we potentially prioritise defensive solidity; we could field both him and Casemiro together. Or even games like today where we look to preserve a lead. Certainly good problems for a manager to have.
Clearly a player with some real quality. All he needed was a coach who knows how to give players a defined role and system.
Probably our best player this year alongside Martinez.
This guy understands the game on a level mourinho and Eric ten hag simply cannot
Has improved under Eric, as most have.
A useful option to have for now.
A useful option to have for now.
MotM for me today, just ahead of Varane/Martinez, and Fernandez as a good number four. Dominant duelling and positioning, efficient on the ball, all over the pitch.
He's so spacey off the ball in transition. Just doesn't see opposing midfielders. Did use his size and mobility well a fair bit though.
Agreed. He broke up play well today and showed how useful he is aerially as usual, however on the ball he's at best a non entity.
ETH saw what McT did for the team when he was sent on against brentford in the second half. It’s why McT has be playing every full game since them. Unfortunately, some people here didn’t see the same.
Scott has been brilliant this season. He has been winning all the second balls in the middle of the park. Also, his forward passing has improved a lot. Fingers crossed ETH can help him improve the offensive side of his game a bit more.
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Indeed
He was better today but he's still not a top-four/CL central midfielder. Just watch Casmeiro in his cameo - one touch passing to the open man, turning passes around the corner to cut out the press and so forth. Scott has a decent engine and was fairly well placed throughout to disrupt, but we should really be aiming higher. He's also really tall and useful defending set pieces, which I'm convinced is why he's in there instead of Fred, personally.
Would figure he'll play plenty, but he's still not good enough for our aspirations. Squad player at best.
Would figure he'll play plenty, but he's still not good enough for our aspirations. Squad player at best.
Agreed.
Competition for places is a wonderful thing.brings the best out of everyone
He's not Brazilian and we didn't pay 50m for him + he's from the academy, so he has to be crap, right? He adds a lot of balance to the team and that's something every manager sees. Some in the CAF are blind. Hopefully, Casemiro/McTominay will be a partnership for big games going forward when Bruno/Eriksen is not an option. The faster we get rid of Fred, the better our midfield is going to be.
A role of a DM is to recover possession and distribute the passes to players who can progress the ball further such as a CM or a AM. It is a safety role and McTominay did that very well.
Regarding hiding from passes, he is not trying to hide but rather it is a instinct. He used to be a striker and strikers have the tendency to play on the blindside of the opposition in order to receive the final pass. It will take a while to tune his striker's instinct and despite that, he is starting to show improvement in making himself available.
I always had this feeling that Scott is good at winning the ball but its that simple pass you make after, is where he failed.
For the past few games he has been much better at this specific aspect and we can see his game improve so much.
He is becoming an essential cog in the team. He isn't a defensive midfielder as such but more of a roamer and he will be involved in firefighting all across the pitch.
Hope he takes his game a few notch up with better players around and under a manager who trusts him.
For the past few games he has been much better at this specific aspect and we can see his game improve so much.
He is becoming an essential cog in the team. He isn't a defensive midfielder as such but more of a roamer and he will be involved in firefighting all across the pitch.
Hope he takes his game a few notch up with better players around and under a manager who trusts him.
Difference is, McTominay comes from the youth system and didn't cost us upwards of 100 million after wages and transfer fees.
Look, I am sick of the stick McT gets. Does that mean I think he's a long solution to our midfield? Absolutely not. He will eventually be replaced by Casimero and become an impact sub/rotation option.
However, his performances have been the least of our problems over the last couple of seasons.
Fred was at mayor fault for two goals. McT lost the ball for the first, but losing the ball in that situation can happen. Fred actions after that, however, was inexcusable:
- First lunging for the ball, trying to win it back, instead of dropping off,
- Then ballwatching and not tracking his man,
Did much of the same mistake on the second goal. Dived in, ballwatched and failed to protect space. This is part of why EtH now prefer McT.
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