[Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick]

I agree, but alas, that has been a tactic used by Ten Hag in multiple games this season whether we like it or not.

Yes too true you’re dead right about that.

 

[Bobski]

Odd game tonight, a lot more involved than some of his games, by the time he was subbed he had attempted more passes than Bruno and Cas, but he gave the ball away badly quite a few times. Made a ton of good runs, a major threat, did some really good stuff, but erratic.

His finishing with his head has let him down at times this season, Cas in comparison just seems to know how to time and guide headers, McT not so much.

 

[Ali Dia]

He was decent. That’s about his top level of play there for all to see. Pretty pointless unless he can grab a goal. He did well bursting forward giving us that focal point in the middle.

 

[Bwuk]

Until Hojlund is back he should be upfront. Only player who can hold the ball up with back to goal.

 

[Lash]

Should have scored one of his chances tonight, better on the ball than usual.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Should have scored. Was terrible in a deeper role as usual.

It's so obvious he's a forward. He makes smart runs and knows where to be.

Give him the ball in the midfield and he looks like a Championship player.

 

[KjaAnd]

Just play him up front until Højlund comes back, ffs! He doesn’t know how to play in midfield but has a nose for goal and good physicality. Would also allow Rashford and Garnacho to play in their best positions while relegating Antony to the bench. Unfortunately, we have a completely clueless manager.

 

[RuudTom83]

Should of scored a couple tonight. Shocked he didn't which says a bit about him.

But I think he needs to play CF against City now, Rashford and Garnacho back to there preferred positions either side...it just might work.

 

[VP89]

Very threatening in and around the box, just put him up top .

 

[tomaldinho1]

He was fine, this is how we should use him and he should be kept around as a sub/squad player for the versatility.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Standard performance from him. Anonymous in the midfield but a threat in the opposition box. That's the player he is.

 

[#07]

McTominay has no value outside of the penalty area. His feet are nowhere near good enough for a Man Utd midfielder, either is his use of the ball.

It's actually laughable for Ten Hag to talk about building from the back when he's picking McTominay in his midfield.

McTominay cannot afford to miss the chances he missed tonight. Cos it just highlights how, when he doesn't bury the opportunities we give him, he brings nothing to the team.

 

[Isotope]

His body of work in final third is brilliant. Outside of it though, he's not very useful (other than defending high ball).

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Very threatening in and around the box, just put him up top .

Completely different skillset to play as a striker vs an unmarked midfielder making late runs into the box.

 

[LInkash]

Completely different skillset to play as a striker vs an unmarked midfielder making late runs into the box.

Got to be better than Rashford though?

 

[VP89]

Completely different skillset to play as a striker vs an unmarked midfielder making late runs into the box.

I agree but I can't think of a more suitable alternative. He will at least bring presence in the box which is a big advantage over anyone else.

 

[Dve]

McTominay has no value outside of the penalty area. His feet are nowhere near good enough for a Man Utd midfielder, either is his use of the ball.

It's actually laughable for Ten Hag to talk about building from the back when he's picking McTominay in his midfield.

McTominay cannot afford to miss the chances he missed tonight. Cos it just highlights how, when he doesn't bury the opportunities we give him, he brings nothing to the team.

He has some value outside the box in his duel play, and he is decent running with the ball. If only he could pass is too.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Could have scored twice and oddly enough was quite involved in the centre of the pitch with his on and off the ball work. It's a low bar but I'll accept that on a game-by-game basis.

 

[Sylar]

Completely different skillset to play as a striker vs an unmarked midfielder making late runs into the box.

Agreed. False nine could work for him, and maybe even help us pack out the middle v city.

 

[jeepers]

Agreed. False nine could work for him, and maybe even help us pack out the middle v city.

Agreed. Case and Mainoo to stay deep, Bruno and McT to push up along with Rashford and Garnacho on the break.

Onana
Lindelof Varane Evans Dalot
Casemiro Mainoo
Bruno
McT
Garnacho ________ Rashford​

 

[Ekeke]

Missed a lot of good chances. His movement is really good to get there but he has these games where his finishing with his feet and hair both are substandard despite his goalscoring record

 

[arnie_ni]

Hes really good a getting into the box and usually taking his chances. But he's awful and anything resembling build up.

 

[MadDogg]

In terms of his general performance, that was probably his best game of the season. Didn't get on the scoreboard, but he was actually getting more involved and positioning himself well to receive the ball, and he also played some nice passes.

Still broke down a few promising moments with poor passing, but I guess you can say the same about Bruno and Casemiro.

 

[NoPace]

Should have scored. Was terrible in a deeper role as usual.

It's so obvious he's a forward. He makes smart runs and knows where to be.

Give him the ball in the midfield and he looks like a Championship player.

There's a reason he's played his best football for Scotland in a 3-4-2-1 as one of the 2 attacking midfielders.

That might genuinely be the only formation for him to excel in because it means he's not charged with playing deep and there are other creators (the other #10, the wingbacks, a passing mid in the 2 behind him) so he doesn't have to play as a typical #10 and be the primary creator.

Basically Tim Cahill. Hopefully Dyche wants him.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

There's a reason he's played his best football for Scotland in a 3-4-2-1 as one of the 2 attacking midfielders.

That might genuinely be the only formation for him to excel in because it means he's not charged with playing deep and there are other creators (the other #10, the wingbacks, a passing mid in the 2 behind him) so he doesn't have to play as a typical #10 and be the primary creator.

Basically Tim Cahill. Hopefully Dyche wants him.

Yeah, that's how I see McTominay. Not a DM, or a playmaking #10, or a #9. He pretty much works if he's allowed to play as almost a 'spare player' in midfield, able to ghost into the box and find himself in space and then he's a good finisher for a midfielder. So a system player really, who works well if utilised correctly and the other midfielders offer what he doesn't - ball winning, playmaking, etc.

Wasn't that similar to the role van de Beek played in that Ajax system that all gelled so well? And just one of the reasons why he struggled when taken out of it and trying to fit into our midfield system.

 

[NoPace]

Yeah, that's how I see McTominay. Not a DM, or a playmaking #10, or a #9. He pretty much works if he's allowed to play as almost a 'spare player' in midfield, able to ghost into the box and find himself in space and then he's a good finisher for a midfielder. So a system player really, who works well if utilised correctly and the other midfielders offer what he doesn't - ball winning, playmaking, etc.

Wasn't that similar to the role van de Beek played in that Ajax system that all gelled so well? And just one of the reasons why he struggled when taken out of it and trying to fit into our midfield system.

VDB was pretty involved in their link play, as it was more of a 4-2-3-1 with him as a #10. Don't think Mctominay could do that. But defensively the responsibility would be similar.

In terms of the Prem, I could see Brentford as a good fit since they sometimes play 3-4-2-1 and even when they play 3-5-2 he could be useful, though Janelt is a better all-around player outside of goal threat, but they play on the break a fair bit.

Palace now that they have Glasner makes some sense. He seems to like wingbacks and playing 3 attackers which could be McTominay, a striker and whichever of Olise or Eze is still around and healthy.

 

[ZainCRse7en]

Can anybody explain to me how is this guy being known as a midfielder? The invisible man.

 

[stevoc]

How the feck did he stay on for the 90? What is Ten Hag seeing that no one else does?

Shit defensively and shit going forward. Runs from the ball in case anyone passes it to him and can't pass it on the rare occasions someone manages to get him into possession of the ball. The antithesis of what a Manchester United midfielder should be.

Been a decent servant but it's time for him to go and play up front for Burnley.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

He was just lost out there. Ten Hag doesn't really know what to do with him apart from "get on the end of things". But there's nothing to get on the end of in a game like that.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

He was just lost out there. Ten Hag doesn't really know what to do with him apart from "get on the end of things". But there's nothing to get on the end of in a game like that.

I mean that's the only skill McTominay has, which is why he should exclusively be a pseudo Fellaini super sub. Was stupid to play him today, he isn't even very good at winning duels so it's not like we needed him defensively.

 

[Sylar]

If you start him surely it's in a false nine position right? At the very least he won't get involved too much near our own goal but might cause some issues for opposition with late runs into the box. And you can still have a better midfield behind him

 

[#07]

We tried to use McTominay the way we used to use Fellaini and it didn't work. He may be a big lad but he doesn't have the back to goal game. Another one where you look at the situation and say: 'Long term there's not enough there.'

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

I mean that's the only skill McTominay has, which is why he should exclusively be a pseudo Fellaini super sub. Was stupid to play him today, he isn't even very good at winning duels so it's not like we needed him defensively.

To be fair the options were limited, the main alternative was Rashford striker and Antony on the wing, which is hardly much better.

If you start him surely it's in a false nine position right? At the very least he won't get involved too much near our own goal but might cause some issues for opposition with late runs into the box. And you can still have a better midfield behind him

He doesn't have the subtlety for a false 9 role, poor enough technique. There would be a big emphasis on the "false" part if he played there.

 

[Lash]

Such poor awareness on the ball. 5here was a point he was facing forward and KDB basically ghosted behind him and I'm so sure he had no idea he was a yard away from him.

 

[Rossa]

Who was the poster that told me he’s fast? Did anyone notice the “run” down the right wing and subsequent rubbish cross?

He’s useless in that area of the pitch between the two 18 yard boxes. He’s not a midfielder. Playing against City with a full squad is hard. Lacking a midfielder makes it impossible.

 

[Idxomer]

He's always close to the action yet too far away to do anything useful.

 

[Sylar]

To be fair the options were limited, the main alternative was Rashford striker and Antony on the wing, which is hardly much better.



He doesn't have the subtlety for a false 9 role, poor enough technique. There would be a big emphasis on the "false" part if he played there.

I'd agree with you bt it would still be the position with the most positive in using him. Him as dm doesn't work. Him behind the striker doesn't work in a midfield three doesn't work. The only other position is maybe in a back three? But then you take away his late runs into the box when we are already missing our striker

I probably don't start him in this game but given he started ...

 

[Rozay]

Today showed why we bought Mason Mount. I imagine he’d have been in his place today, and theoretically provide the industry but with greater quality. Few moments where Scott got the ball in promising situations, but he doesn’t even trust himself to attempt passes that have any degree of difficulty. In fact, he rarely trusts himself to pass the ball at all, and prefers to walk/run the ball directly to his teammate, only letting go once he’s a yard away.

 

[NZT-One]

Agreed. Case and Mainoo to stay deep, Bruno and McT to push up along with Rashford and Garnacho on the break.

Onana
Lindelof Varane Evans Dalot
Casemiro Mainoo
Bruno
McT
Garnacho ________ Rashford​

Lineup was a good guess, wasn't it

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

To be fair the options were limited, the main alternative was Rashford striker and Antony on the wing, which is hardly much better.

Could have gone for Amrabat for a better passer, or played Amad for more technical security and playability. Either is a better option. Antony is a much worse option I agree.