[Bwuk]

Any other player overtaking Haaland and Mbappe and it would be praised.

Because it’s McTominay it’s downplayed.

Absolutely bizarre.

McTominay is doing it in the same group as Haaland as well.

 

[NZT-One]

Any other player overtaking Haaland and Mbappe and it would be praised.

Because it’s McTominay it’s downplayed.

Absolutely bizarre.

Isn't bizarre at all. Its not like McTominay is some unknown entity, a cheap smart transfer from an unknown league or a talent fresh from the academy. United fans know the player, know what he can and cannot. He is (surely not just down to him) one of the symbols of Uniteds last ten years, failure, shitty performances, false dawns. All this talk about him being so good in front of goal, being in form, glad he has stayed - all this is leading into the wrong direction for some fans (me certainly one of them). Because this club is notorious for emotional fan service decisions and they pick up moods in the fanbase. How many times have we seen shit players score a goal here and there - it means nothing.

Being dangerous in front of goal is great but it should be seen as a bonus for every player except for strikers. Just watch his fbref - 91% of midfielders in the top 5 leagues attempt more passes than him. 93% of midfielders do more progressive passes. He is a threat on opposition goal but at what cost? Based on that logic we could also just line up with 9 strikers.

Before Eriksen went off against Luton, I thought he was his usual invisible self. There was even a moment where Maguire went ballistic at him for his positioning. However, after Erkisen left and he was moved deeper to accommodate Mount's introduction, I thought he impressed. There were numerous moments where he showed nice composure in some tight situations to keep possession, and he shielded the defence well.

I'm assuming he's not playing deep for Scotland, though? His impressive from for them is due to playing further upfield?

He became more visible because he was tasked with taking the ball from the defenders more. Obviously that will increase the number of a players touches, I think it is cute that this is interpreted in him "noticably improving recently". The player has received a little more criticism than necessary over the years but this shouldn't be balanced out by bigging him up. All minutes to him are making him more experienced for his next club. While the players who our club might benefit from in the future are sitting on the bench and watch how ancient-Eriksen and this guy getting minutes.

I guess I am a bit overcritical of this situation and the player didn't do anything wrong.

 

[MadDogg]

I don’t disagree with any of that. I was just pointing out that his performances have improved over the course of this season. Which you initially seemed to want to disagree with. Glad we’re on the same page now.

His performances have improved as he's been played deeper again recently, which goes against the 'he should be playing as an attacking midfielder' thing that a lot of people have been pushing this season.

During the period that we were effectively using him as a #10 he looked a decent goal threat but otherwise he was utterly anonymous and provided nothing else to the team. Admittedly it is a relatively small sample size for us (a few games this season and one last season IIRC) but so far he really hasn't shown any ability to play that role other than maybe as a late sub when we're desperately looking for a goal.

 

[Bobski]

His performances have improved as he's been played deeper again recently, which goes against the 'he should be playing as an attacking midfielder' thing that a lot of people have been pushing this season.

During the period that we were effectively using him as a #10 he looked a decent goal threat but otherwise he was utterly anonymous and provided nothing else to the team. Admittedly it is a relatively small sample size for us (a few games this season and one last season IIRC) but so far he really hasn't shown any ability to play that role other than maybe as a late sub when we're desperately looking for a goal.

It is because he performs best when arriving late from a midfield position, has good timing on his runs. Frankly bizarre that there were so many games were Ten Hag was playing him almost alongside Hojlund with his back to goal, of course he wasn't involved in the game in that role. In the last 3-4 we have finally seen the midfield a bit more compact, the DM less isolated. However against Luton Ten Hag went back to his nonsensical 4-1-4-1 set up and MCT had about 6 touches of the ball until Eriksen got injured, then was fine afterwards playing as a DM. Beyond his own flaws and limitations Ten Hag has not always used him in way that is ideal.

 

[Diamond Chap]

He scored a lovely goal.
He 'passed' the ball into the net, exhibiting great awareness and control as well as composure.
Well done Scotty !

 

[Grande]

Why are you calling him a striker?

He used to be one, maybe he can be one again (better than current Martial)? It’s not my suggestion though, more food for thought.

 

[andersj]

In my opinion his best performance for us came against Villarreal in EL final. He was a classic 8 that game, while Pogba was more of a 6 , dictating play.

McTominay was the Man Utd player with the most recoveries and touches in the oppositions penalty box that game. In my opinion, that is how you make good use of him. But he needs a good 6 next to him.

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

He used to be one, maybe he can be one again (better than current Martial)? It’s not my suggestion though, more food for thought.

He wasn't though, at youth level he played striker as a stop gap in injury crises, he was always a midfielder first.

Straight from the horse's mouth

“I never used to be a striker! I’ve always been a midfield player, a number eight, so it is funny when you hear stuff like that.”

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...While Scott does not see,for where the net is.

 

[Ekeke]

He used to be one, maybe he can be one again (better than current Martial)? It’s not my suggestion though, more food for thought.

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...striker-talk-from-his-time-in-man-utd-academy

 

[MayosNoun]

Isn't bizarre at all. Its not like McTominay is some unknown entity, a cheap smart transfer from an unknown league or a talent fresh from the academy. United fans know the player, know what he can and cannot. He is (surely not just down to him) one of the symbols of Uniteds last ten years, failure, shitty performances, false dawns. All this talk about him being so good in front of goal, being in form, glad he has stayed - all this is leading into the wrong direction for some fans (me certainly one of them). Because this club is notorious for emotional fan service decisions and they pick up moods in the fanbase. How many times have we seen shit players score a goal here and there - it means nothing.

Being dangerous in front of goal is great but it should be seen as a bonus for every player except for strikers. Just watch his fbref - 91% of midfielders in the top 5 leagues attempt more passes than him. 93% of midfielders do more progressive passes. He is a threat on opposition goal but at what cost? Based on that logic we could also just line up with 9 strikers.


He became more visible because he was tasked with taking the ball from the defenders more. Obviously that will increase the number of a players touches, I think it is cute that this is interpreted in him "noticably improving recently". The player has received a little more criticism than necessary over the years but this shouldn't be balanced out by bigging him up. All minutes to him are making him more experienced for his next club. While the players who our club might benefit from in the future are sitting on the bench and watch how ancient-Eriksen and this guy getting minutes.

I guess I am a bit overcritical of this situation and the player didn't do anything wrong.

^^^ word salad

Probably the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever read on any football related matter. You’re criticising a guy, who most feel is a good finisher, for only showing up recently despite clearly being played out of position as a holding midfielder for many years.

He is played in a more attacking position for his country and he is out scoring some of the best talent in the world. He is scoring against good nations. He has been performing a lot better for Man Utd than say Rashford this season.

I don’t need stats for that assessment but I’m positive his goals per game would be significantly higher than anyone else at Man Utd this season, especially the likes of Antony and Rashford despite not being an attacker.

You can criticise players all you want but the sheer dislike for the guy on here goes beyond football.

 

[Grande]

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...striker-talk-from-his-time-in-man-utd-academy

He wasn't though, at youth level he played striker as a stop gap in injury crises, he was always a midfielder first.

Straight from the horse's mouth



https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/scott-mctominay-addresses-striker-talk-from-his-time-in-man-utd-academy#:~:text=While Scott does not see,for where the net is.

Bah, what does he know?!

 

[Brightonian]

I'm sure 300 people have already posted this, but if Hojlund is out should we not consider trying Scott out as a #9? Dyche will set out a low defensive shape, and as everyone knows the way to beat that is to keep wide players wide, move the ball quickly from side to side to stretch the pitch, and put ball into the box. Without Hojlund, Scott's our best player to get on the end of that sort of service.

McT
LB Garnacho Bruno Mount RB
Amrabat Mainoo
​

Either Mount or Bruno can be sacrificed for Martial if we want more firepower, for something like this:

Martial McT
Garnacho Bruno -------RB
LB Amrabat Mainoo
​

Swap Rashford for Garnacho or whatever if you like and if he's fit.

 

[OrcaFat]

^^^ word salad

Probably the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever read on any football related matter. You’re criticising a guy, who most feel is a good finisher, for only showing up recently despite clearly being played out of position as a holding midfielder for many years.

He is played in a more attacking position for his country and he is out scoring some of the best talent in the world. He is scoring against good nations. He has been performing a lot better for Man Utd than say Rashford this season.

I don’t need stats for that assessment but I’m positive his goals per game would be significantly higher than anyone else at Man Utd this season, especially the likes of Antony and Rashford despite not being an attacker.

You can criticise players all you want but the sheer dislike for the guy on here goes beyond football.

Plenty of people saying the total opposite of this: rather he is hopeless further forward, barely touches the ball and, unless he scores, contributes nothing. I like him but I don’t rate him as a starting player. That said, he has done a fair-to-middling job recently when played deeper, i.e. expressly not more advanced.

 

[didz]

I'm sure 300 people have already posted this, but if Hojlund is out should we not consider trying Scott out as a #9? Dyche will set out a low defensive shape, and as everyone knows the way to beat that is to keep wide players wide, move the ball quickly from side to side to stretch the pitch, and put ball into the box. Without Hojlund, Scott's our best player to get on the end of that sort of service.

McT
LB Garnacho Bruno Mount RB
Amrabat Mainoo
​

Either Mount or Bruno can be sacrificed for Martial if we want more firepower, for something like this:

Martial McT
Garnacho Bruno -------RB
LB Amrabat Mainoo
​

Swap Rashford for Garnacho or whatever if you like and if he's fit.

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

 

[OrcaFat]

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

He also scores some when waiting in a packed box. Being a big guy and an extra body in the box is sometimes enough to get him a chance and he’s good at taking his chances.

But I agree, he wouldn’t score more as a forward. There is no way I would play him as a 9.

 

[OleGunnar20]

He isn't a striker, never has been. He proving to be a useful scoring #8, but his game just isn't well rounded enough for a club with our ambitions. The guys not exactly young after all.

He's on a great run of form though fairplay. He should push for a move to a Fulham type club for my money. He'd do well with consistent game time in the correct role (#8 next to a #6 who can dictate play).

 

[OleGunnar20]

He isn't a striker, never has been. He proving to be a useful scoring #8, but his game just isn't well rounded enough for a club with our ambitions. The guys not exactly young after all.

He's on a great run of form though fairplay. He should push for a move to a Fulham type club for my money. He'd do well with consistent game time in the correct role (#8 next to a #6 who can dictate play).

 

[NZT-One]

^^^ word salad

Probably the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever read on any football related matter. You’re criticising a guy, who most feel is a good finisher, for only showing up recently despite clearly being played out of position as a holding midfielder for many years.

Tell me you are new to footfall related matters without saying you are new to football related matter.

He is played in a more attacking position for his country and he is out scoring some of the best talent in the world. He is scoring against good nations. He has been performing a lot better for Man Utd than say Rashford this season.

Have you seen us play this season? Its as dire as it gets. No exceptions. Comparing him with one of the most shitty versions of Rashford doesn't really help his case. You could also say fecking Maguire sent more positive signals than McTom by now.

I don’t need stats for that assessment but I’m positive his goals per game would be significantly higher than anyone else at Man Utd this season, especially the likes of Antony and Rashford despite not being an attacker.

Yeah than good riddance to you sir. If you want to talk about your feelings, go for it. Calling comments from people not agreeing to you, backing it with some stats a "load of nonsense" is more damaging to you than the other poster.

You can criticise players all you want but the sheer dislike for the guy on here goes beyond football.

Yeah right. Makes sense. I just gave you a paragraph of reason and your reply is "look at his goals" and "you hate him". Picture boy of how not to debate.

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

Spot on.

 

[Isotope]

Was told that we can't judge players from their International performance. Hmm..

 

[OrcaFat]

Was told that we can't judge players from their International performance. Hmm..

Not wishing to come across argumentatively but is it worth clarifying who was told that and by whom? (And what is the relevance of it..?!)

 

[Brightonian]

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

Genuine question as I haven't watched that closely, but aren't a lot of his Scotland goals coming from headers and finishes from deep inside the box? I feel that's the vague impression I've had from catching highlights of their qualification campaign. Happy to be corrected if not of course!

 

[OrcaFat]

Genuine question as I haven't watched that closely, but aren't a lot of his Scotland goals coming from headers and finishes from deep inside the box? I feel that's the vague impression I've had from catching highlights of their qualification campaign. Happy to be corrected if not of course!

I’m afraid McT has no idea how to play no9. He has a knack for getting himself in the right place and is a decent finisher but has been hopeless when played higher up the pitch. I doubt he would touch the ball as a no9. I prefer him in CM, off the bench, late on, when we need a goal. If he must start then traditional CM is his best position and he has shown he can get goals from there. Isn’t Martial fit? If not, there must be better options than McT.

 

[Bwuk]

He’d do better than Martial upfront, as he’d actually put himself about.

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

Agreed.

 

[Isotope]

Not wishing to come across argumentatively but is it worth clarifying who was told that and by whom? (And what is the relevance of it..?!)

Was just tongue in cheek, referring to Pogba can be good as CM and Bruno can play in passing oriented team, as proven by their NT track record.

 

[Trequarista10]

^^^ word salad

Probably the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever read on any football related matter. You’re criticising a guy, who most feel is a good finisher, for only showing up recently despite clearly being played out of position as a holding midfielder for many years.

He is played in a more attacking position for his country and he is out scoring some of the best talent in the world. He is scoring against good nations. He has been performing a lot better for Man Utd than say Rashford this season.

I don’t need stats for that assessment but I’m positive his goals per game would be significantly higher than anyone else at Man Utd this season, especially the likes of Antony and Rashford despite not being an attacker.

You can criticise players all you want but the sheer dislike for the guy on here goes beyond football.

Nah, it was a good post by @NZT-One

 

[didz]

Genuine question as I haven't watched that closely, but aren't a lot of his Scotland goals coming from headers and finishes from deep inside the box? I feel that's the vague impression I've had from catching highlights of their qualification campaign. Happy to be corrected if not of course!

He does score close to goal, but if you see where he's starting moves, he tends to break into the box and find himself relatively unmarked. If you ask him to actually occupy defenders, I don't think he has those little agile, angled movements that get strikers away from centre halves at the right moment.

Like a lot of our players, McTominay wants to be running onto the ball. Since he can make up ground quickly and is hard to block off when he's in motion, it makes more sense to have him crashing the box rather than being a reference point in it.

 

[OrcaFat]

He does score close to goal, but if you see where he's starting moves, he tends to break into the box and find himself relatively unmarked. If you ask him to actually occupy defenders, I don't think he has those little agile, angled movements that get strikers away from centre halves at the right moment.

Like a lot of our players, McTominay wants to be running onto the ball. Since he can make up ground quickly and is hard to block off when he's in motion, it makes more sense to have him crashing the box rather than being a reference point in it.

Also, if you play no9 you have to be useful in that position for 90 mins whether you score or not. You have to know when and where to run. You have to know how to set yourself to receive and hold the ball. It’s a specialist position.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

If you put McTominay up top I think you lose what it is that's getting him goals. Runs from deep, at or beyond the backline, are how he's scoring. I would never have advocated Frank Lampard as a centre forward and I wouldn't do so with McTominay either.

Not sure when's the last time he scored from runs from deep, it's more from him being a presence at the box and being more alert than others.

 

[OrcaFat]

Not sure when's the last time he scored from runs from deep, it's more from him being a presence at the box and being more alert than others.

He gets both types of goals over the course of a few months. Probably more of the scramble in the box type. He’s a unit and has the strength to stand his ground in a crowd, he’s probably less likely to be marked by one of the specialist defenders and, to his credit, he knows where the goal is and has enough determination and technique to get shots and headers on target.

In most other aspects of his game he is lacking and that’s why I say he’s best coming off the bench when we need a goal (but not to come in at no9 - we need to use him as an extra goal threat from CM).

 

[NoPace]

These goals should help for getting a good price for him. Tim Cahill was probably a better player but he wouldn't have made it here either. Same for Raul Garcia who was getting 10 goals a year in La Liga for Bilbao when they let him play as a 10 who would bully midfielders and score in a Lampard-esque manner.

That's enough to be a good player for a team trying to make the Europa League every year in a big league, and if McTominay goes to a squad where they don't look to own possession or even better a team playing 3-4-2-1 since that's where he's scoring goals for Scotland (right, they haven't switched that up?) then he'll probably do well for them.

Brentford play this style a fair bit, but they don't really spend 25-30M on guys like McTominay. Soucek has done pretty well (inconsistent but more good than bad) for West Ham even though they play 4 at the back because Moyes doesn't care about having the ball. Probably some Serie A teams would fit, if one of them will spend the cash. Palace depending on who succeeds Hodgson, as they play on the break and have Eze and Olise to create chances, and never have a forward who can score goals. Adding McTominay as a #10 type for them would probably work pretty well, with Eze tucking in from the left and the striker looking to run at the LCB a lot which is good for right-footers. Lerma and Doucoure to do the midfielder. Would be a tough team to play against if they can finally replace Wan-Bissaka, even if they never do find that elusive #9.

 

[didz]

Also, if you play no9 you have to be useful in that position for 90 mins whether you score or not. You have to know when and where to run. You have to know how to set yourself to receive and hold the ball. It’s a specialist position.

Yep, that's the other reason he absolutely shouldn't start up front. The bigger one, too, as it would affect more moving parts of the team. My point was to argue that playing McTominay up top would make poor use of his talents as well.

Not sure when's the last time he scored from runs from deep, it's more from him being a presence at the box and being more alert than others.

Thursday was the last classic example of him running onto a layoff to find himself relatively unmarked that I can think of. Fair enough, nothing since then comes to mind.

 

[Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick]

What sort of supporter would be so critical of their own player’s intentional achievements?

Are you forgetting his double v Spain?

He also scored against Spain away which was incorrectly disallowed.

I don’t care about his performances for Scotland, I’m not Scottish. I’m only interested in what he does for United. So what if he scored a couple of goals against Spain once. The most he has ever scored in a Premiership season is 4 goals before now and he’s played over 150 games for us so that’s more than enough time to assess his qualities or lack thereof. I point out that the vast majority of international football outside the majors tournaments is poor and well below Premiership standards, that’s why he appears to possess more goal threat. Exactly the same with Welbeck before him.

 

[MayosNoun]

I don’t care about his performances for Scotland, I’m not Scottish. I’m only interested in what he does for United. So what if he scored a couple of goals against Spain once. The most he has ever scored in a Premiership season is 4 goals before now and he’s played over 150 games for us so that’s more than enough time to assess his qualities or lack thereof. I point out that the vast majority of international football outside the majors tournaments is poor and well below Premiership standards, that’s why he appears to possess more goal threat. Exactly the same with Welbeck before him.

I don’t know any other way to make it more simple for you to understand.

He plays in a different position for Scotland. He has scored 7 goals in 7 games.

He’s scored at most 4 in a season as you noted. He plays in a more defensive position.

Who’s at fault?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I don’t know any other way to make it more simple for you to understand.

He plays in a different position for Scotland. He has scored 7 goals in 7 games.

He’s scored at most 4 in a season as you noted. He plays in a more defensive position.

Who’s at fault?

I’m going with nobody.

 

[Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick]

I don’t know any other way to make it more simple for you to understand.

He plays in a different position for Scotland. He has scored 7 goals in 7 games.

He’s scored at most 4 in a season as you noted. He plays in a more defensive position.

Who’s at fault?

Well I don’t know how I can make it more simple for you, international football outside of the top sides is a much lower standard than the Premiership. That’s why he scores more for Scotland than United. Georgia would be a Championship side at best if they played in the league.

 

[city-puma]

Scotland has him taking corners. Interesting!

 

[DRJosh]

Despite his heroics with the national team, MCT is a type of player reflecting our current standards (sporadically competent but not a stand-out technically). He would not get into a Sir Alex squad and the same could be said for many first team players we have now.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

The fact that some are saying we need to change how we play to accommodate Mctominay blows my mind

 

[3KDré]

Despite his heroics with the national team, MCT is a type of player reflecting our current standards (sporadically competent but not a stand-out technically). He would not get into a Sir Alex squad and the same could be said for many first team players we have now.

We used to have Darren Gibson and Cleverly in our squad. I think McT is a perfect sub player. If you need a goal get him in the box. If you need a bit of energy to defend a lead he can do that too. No more, no less.

 

[lysglimt]

The fact that some are saying we need to change how we play to accommodate Mctominay blows my mind

The fact that some have a clue what football we try to play blows my mind