Scott McTominay (Out) - Newcastle, West Ham, Everton, Southampton, Leicester interested

And when we pick up an injury and need someone to play when we want to dominate he will let us down. Definition of a squad player is a flexible one who is not brilliant but good at many things like an O’Shea

The player who should be covering that role is DVB and we probably should be replacing him as he doesn't look like he gives anything at all to the team at the moment.. O'Shea was great, but could cover defence and at a push, midfield (and definitely not dominating possession). McTominay can cover most midfield positions and at a push, defence.

If we did get rid of him we would need another backup to fill his squad role anyway. As it stands I think Fred is still going to get a lot of games.
 
The player who should be covering that role is DVB and we probably should be replacing him as he doesn't look like he gives anything at all to the team at the moment.. O'Shea was great, but could cover defence and at a push, midfield (and definitely not dominating possession). McTominay can cover most midfield positions and at a push, defence.

If we did get rid of him we would need another backup to fill his squad role anyway. As it stands I think Fred is still going to get a lot of games.
O’Shea played in midfield in plenty of games where we dominated possession. DVB is not physical enough for what we need in that role.
 
He's a decent squad player but everyone has a price. If we get an offer north of 30m, we should sell him.

Else it's not worth it.
Kind of how I see it. We don’t have a good enough squad, ETH knows it. Either we bring in more which is hard to do now or we spend a year developing young uns for those squad places.then sell McT next year
 
O’Shea played in midfield in plenty of games where we dominated possession. DVB is not physical enough for what we need in that role.

I mean, I loved John O'Shea, but he sat in front of the back 4 and sat making tackles and covering. He wasn't exactly Pirlo :lol: (famous GIF aside)

That's what I mean about DVB, there's one role we need cover for which is to keep things tidy and dominate possession (which is what DVB should be there for) and a squad cover role for the enforcer, and general midfield for the games against opposition who will get a lot of possession (McTom).

The DVB role is a problem as he's nowhere near the level and we need to replace him, the McTom role we could improve, but we would need to find somebody who's willing to be a squad player and better than Scott. One of him and Fred won't get many games this year.
 
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I mean, I loved John O'Shea, but he sat in front of the back 4 and sat making tackles and covering. He wasn't exactly Pirlo :lol: (famous GIF aside)

That's what I mean about DVB, there's one role we need cover for which is to keep things tidy and dominate position (which is what DVB should be there for) and a squad cover role for the enforcer, and general midfield for the games against opposition who will get a lot of possession (McTom).

The DVB role is a problem as he's nowhere near the level and we need to replace him, the McTom role we could improve, but we would need to find somebody who's willing to be a squad player and better than Scott. One of him and Fred won't get many games this year.

No one called him Pirlo, but he could pass a ball well (not brilliant) and he could use the ball well when he got it in the attacking third too (which is why he could play fullback)
Pirlo wouldn’t be a squad player at United.

To be honest that type of comment you made tells alot.

DVB is not physical enough for what we need in a deep role as I already mentioned.
 
No one called him Pirlo, but he could pass a ball well (not brilliant) and he could use the ball well when he got it in the attacking third too (which is why he could play fullback)
Pirlo wouldn’t be a squad player at United.

To be honest that type of comment you made tells alot.

DVB is not physical enough for what we need in a deep role as I already mentioned.

O'Shea was fine, I loved him like I already said and he was probably a level above McTom, but we still would need to find a squad player to replace him and I personally think we've got more urgent squad issues to look at. All opinions though.

That's why I keep on saying we need to sell DVB as I already mentioned twice.
 
I agree that he generally isn't top team quality and needs to leave sooner or later if he wants to remain a starter for a club in the PL but this summer would be the wrong time, our depth in midfield isn't that deep so letting him go this summer imo would be a mistake.
 
O'Shea was fine, I loved him like I already said and he was probably a level above McTom, but we still would need to find a squad player to replace him and I personally think we've got more urgent squad issues to look at. All opinions though.

That's why I keep on saying we need to sell DVB as I already mentioned twice.

I have no issue with selling DVB, you’re missing the point entirely. They both need to go McTominay isn’t going to be what we need in 70-80% of our games. You called him the definition of a squad player, he isn’t. O’Shea is an example of one.

He should be replaced, even if its next summer
 
People ignore the fact he's one of the few decent physical players who's useful defending set pieces.

The guy is 6ft 3 and apart from Varane and Maguire, we don't really have many other big players to deal with those teams who cause you loads of problems from set pieces. We are a pretty small team all in all.

That alone is as much a reason to keep him. Plus he's British, home grown, which helps with squad rules.
 
I have no issue with selling DVB, you’re missing the point entirely. They both need to go McTominay isn’t going to be what we need in 70-80% of our games. You called him the definition of a squad player, he isn’t. O’Shea is an example of one.

He should be replaced, even if its next summer

OK, let's agree to disagree, as I think he will be a very good squad player this season unless he gets frustrated with the lack of minutes.

To replace McTom would require us to find someone with his physical abilities, at a good price and willing to sit on the bench 70% of the time but still be useful to close out minutes in bigger matches (as that's when we will need him due to the type of player he is)- I just don't think it's that easy.

I'll agree with next summer, we can look at our youth team and get someone used to playing a few matches and replacing a squad role in the first team for next season. If there's still no-one we would need to scour the market to look for someone in advance.
 
People ignore the fact he's one of the few decent physical players who's useful defending set pieces.

The guy is 6ft 3 and apart from Varane and Maguire, we don't really have many other big players to deal with those teams who cause you loads of problems from set pieces. We are a pretty small team all in all.

That alone is as much a reason to keep him. Plus he's British, home grown, which helps with squad rules.

I think his height played a part in him starting over Fred on the weekend. Without him in the lineup the only tall person in the 11 would have been Varane. That would not be a good idea for a team that has struggles with set pieces.
 
I think his height played a part in him starting over Fred on the weekend. Without him in the lineup the only tall person in the 11 would have been Varane. That would not be a good idea for a team that has struggles with set pieces.

Considering over half the teams in the premier league play a quite physical style. Refs, seemingly are taking a more lenient approach, allowing more physical contact judging the early matches, it would be utterly foolish to sell our one player, who's main strength is his physicality.

Very short sighted to sell McT.
 
The numbers we have in midfield right now are good and I think loosing McTominay this window makes us a little weaker going into the season. However I also wonder if we will ever have a better chance to cash in on him and if we do, does it end up making us better long term.

Although not like for like, I think Casemiro is McTominay's replacement. He offers the same physicality that he does (regardless of how unpopular it is, we do need it in our team), but does it while offering more on and off the ball. I also feel like the style ETH is looking to implement, doesn't suit McTominay's at all. Cup games and Europa League dead rubbers, doesn't move the needle any for him, where as that game time given to someone like Garner could be a catalyst to see him kick on and increase his reputation.

The question I have is, what would he be worth? 25 years old, British, has finished 2nd in the Premiership, hasn't finished outside of the top 6. It may be wishful thinking, but I think we would have teams lining up to sign him.