Timothy Fosu Mensah

I think hindsight is a big factor in some of these statements though. Did Pogba really look another level when he was with us?

we now know that Pogba has become the world class player we thought he might become, but at the time when we were watching him, was he really that much better than what Mensah (or the likes) have shown?

Genuine question
 
Yes he was in many aspects. Pogba was great on the ball. He was comfortable shifting the ball between both feet. He was intelligent manipulating close space. He was always good for a goal and he scored some great goals which he's done in Italy. Timothy is a different type of player. It's a joke that people are making the comparison. He's still settling into the club. We don't know how he will fully develop. He might end up a defender long term.
 
Walrus said:
I think hindsight is a big factor in some of these statements though. Did Pogba really look another level when he was with us?

we now know that Pogba has become the world class player we thought he might become, but at the time when we were watching him, was he really that much better than what Mensah (or the likes) have shown?

Genuine question
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Firstly, Pogba was inconsistent.

At U/18's he was generally very good in most games.

At reserve level, he had one outstanding game, followed by a poor game, followed by an average game.

He certainly had 'potential' but was never considered 'world class' by most people at that point. (In fact I wouldn't necessarily call him world class now).

Morrison was always the star of that group.

Mensah (after ten games) is nowhere near the quality of Pogba or certainly Morrison.

Let's stop making comparisons and let the kid develop and show what he can do. I think he is a good player with very good potential.
 
I assume due to the internationals, the first team might be a little low on numbers? Still, good for the lad.
 
jb8521 said:
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would change his short name to Timothy You-Shall-Not-Pass Fosu-Mensah. This guy will be top player whether as DM/b2b or CB. I think he will make the tour squad and push on for his senior debut next season..

on one hand I want us to buy top defensive minded midfielder but on the other we have TFM and Pearson. The latter could be ready to step up however is it enough to win trophies? we'll see..
 
m1y2 said:
would change his short name to Timothy You-Shall-Not-Pass Fosu-Mensah. This guy will be top player whether as DM/b2b or CB. I think he will make the tour squad and push on for his senior debut next season..

on one hand I want us to buy top defensive minded midfielder but on the other we have TFM and Pearson. The latter could be ready to step up however is it enough to win trophies? we'll see..
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Timothy Fosu Immensah
 
m1y2 said:
would change his short name to Timothy You-Shall-Not-Pass Fosu-Mensah. This guy will be top player whether as DM/b2b or CB. I think he will make the tour squad and push on for his senior debut next season..

on one hand I want us to buy top defensive minded midfielder but on the other we have TFM and Pearson. The latter could be ready to step up however is it enough to win trophies? we'll see..
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I definitely don't want us to get one this summer. Carrick now, Blind soon, Pearson later, maybe TFM in the future.

And given that Pearson could hardly have been asked to do better so far than he has done - exceptional in the U18s, exceptional in the U21s, and now impressing on loan - a club that professes to give youth a chance would be dashing that claim somewhat if we bought a third senior option in that position. We'd effectively be killing his hopes of a career at United.
 
, already in Holland, was in church today. He'll go with Netherlands u17 to the European Championships so I guess he's played his last match for United this season. Is England going? And are there United players in the side?
Btw, his little brother is a tank, defender at Ajax and also captains his side, wonder if he'll follow in his brothers footsteps.
 
Sammyjunn said:
, already in Holland, was in church today. He'll go with Netherlands u17 to the European Championships so I guess he's played his last match for United this season. Is England going? And are there United players in the side?
Btw, his little brother is a tank, defender at Ajax and also captains his side, wonder if he'll follow in his brothers footsteps.
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Nobody from United.He (Paul Fosu-Mensah) has trained with us before but still at Ajax at the moment I think.Some claimed that the whole family moved to England so I'm not sure what's his current status.
 
Sammyjunn said:
, already in Holland, was in church today. He'll go with Netherlands u17 to the European Championships so I guess he's played his last match for United this season. Is England going? And are there United players in the side?
Btw, his little brother is a tank, defender at Ajax and also captains his side, wonder if he'll follow in his brothers footsteps.
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Which club is he moving to? How good is this lad, heard some positive things about him.
 
Sammyjunn said:
Are you talking about his brother? I dont know if he'll move yet but the most logical possible destination seems United, I havent watched him that often but for his age he's really strong, and he's captain so I guess he must be highly rated.
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Timothy Fosu Mensah. I didn't read your original post properly. Thought it had said he had played his last match for man utd but it said for this season. How good is TFM anyway?
 
Sammyjunn said:
Find that quite strange, Gribbin, Rashford should surely get a look in? And is Tuanzabe's nationality English?
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Rashford too old.Long story but Gribbin was dropped after his disappointing performance in a previous tournament (although partly because he was stunted out wide).Williams and Dearnley were called up last season but dropped this year (no idea why in William's case).Tuanzebe's eligible for England U18s but never get called up (England has many highly rated defenders in that age group tbf).
 
JR10 said:
Timothy Fosu Mensah. I didn't read your original post properly. Thought it had said he had played his last match for man utd but it said for this season. How good is TFM anyway?
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Ah okay, I personally really rate him. He has al the raw attributes to become topclass, his speed, accelaration, strength and explosiveness are really ridiculous. If he becomes a first teamer one day, I really think his speed could be high in the 80's, when the opponent counter, the speed he has to close down is really frightening, Williams and Tuanzebe are the same in this aspect.

Other than his physique, I think he has a good footballing brain, he reads the game well and can play anywhere in the defense and even play as a CDM and box to box, so he's quite versatile. His interceptions, blocks are also an important part of his game.

He's quite technically gifted for a defender, he can dribble himself out of tight areas and even pass midfielders (his physique help him quite a lot).

I think his long pass needs sorting out and he's sometimes quite sloppy.

So overall I rate him as a very complete player, he was rated as one of the most talented defenders at Ajax, captains his age group, so it seems promising.

But I have to admit, I dont watch the u18's nearly as much as Khoazany, jb2581, and mrmujac, they might have different opinions as they have seen more of him this season.
 
khoazany said:
Rashford too old.Long story but Gribbin was dropped after his disappointing performance in a previous tournament (although partly because he was stunted out wide).Williams and Dearnley were called up last season but dropped this year (no idea why in William's case).Tuanzebe's eligible for England U18s but never get called up (England has many highly rated defenders in that age group tbf).
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Oh that's a bummer, I think it would be very good for their development as they're talented lads.
 
Sammyjunn said:
Are you talking about his brother? I dont know if he'll move yet but the most logical possible destination seems United, I havent watched him that often but for his age he's really strong, and he's captain so I guess he must be highly rated.
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I heard he's one of the best talents of Ajax in that age group.Though Ajax C2 isn't a strong group by their standard so not sure where does he stand in.
 
The Netherlands vs England compilation kind of highlights Fosu-Mensah's biggest strength. Despite having good physical stature, he is not overly reliant of it. Own goal aside, the traits that really impress me are his advanced positional discipline and calm nature. A lot of young players are gifted from an athletic standpoint but never master the mental side of football, which ultimately leads them nowhere once they transition to senior level football. Fosu-Mensah by comparison seems very methodical and mature, no wonder he's their captain. The experience should hold him in good stead from a leadership perspective. Have hopes for him as a potential CB/ DM mainstay in the United XI. :)
 
Invictus said:
The Netherlands vs England compilation kind of highlights Fosu-Mensah's biggest strength. Despite having good physical stature, he is not overly reliant of it. Own goal aside, the traits that really impress me are his advanced positional discipline and calm nature. A lot of young players are gifted from an athletic standpoint but never master the mental side of football, which ultimately leads them nowhere once they transition to senior level football. Fosu-Mensah by comparison seems very methodical and mature, no wonder he's their captain. The experience should hold him in good stead from a leadership perspective. Have hopes for him as a potential CB/ DM mainstay in the United XI. :)
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Seen him play a couple of times and the thing that strikes me the most is his composure. Very good reader of the game and always looks like he haa a fwpew gears to kick up if required.
Calm need of rio with the interception of a mcgarth.
 
I watched most of the game. Despite the unfortunate own goal, he looked supremely comfortable throughout. A cut above.

Agree with Invictus above too. He knows how to use his physical assets but he's not relying on them by any means. He has the makings of a 'total' CB, quality in every area. Great feet, all-round technical excellence, good composure, decision-making, reading of the game. He has that ability to be aggressive in the tackle/tussle when necessary without actually being aggressive. Reminds me very strongly of Thiago Silva in that sense - he's a proactive, tackling sort of defender, but doesn't actually have the temper or aggression of a Vidic, Terry or Puyol. Hopefully that should translate into fewer fouls, penalties and rash decisions by the time he's a senior player.
 
I haven't seen much of him but anytime I have he has played centre-back, where do people who have watched enough of him believe his best position is? Because he appears to have excellent attributes to succeed as a midfielder.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
I haven't seen much of him but anytime I have he has played centre-back, where do people who have watched enough of him believe his best position is? Because he appears to have excellent attributes to succeed as a midfielder.
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I don't mind him playing some games as a DM now, with the youth sides, but I think his future is at CB.

Everyone likes to think that CBs with ball skills would be better off as DMs, but follow that logic to its end and you'll just end up with CBs who are shit on the ball, and DMs whose technical ability doesn't stand out compared to their competition the way it did when they were CBs. Barca could have moved Pique into DM and ended up with someone less technical behind him. But better to keep him at CB, play Busquets in midfield and end up with a team that are technically superior to the opposition in every position instead.

Plus TFM is so much more than just his ability on the ball - his positioning, composure, strength and intuition as a CB are superb. He looks well suited to the position.
 
Brightonian said:
I don't mind him playing some games as a DM now, with the youth sides, but I think his future is at CB.

Everyone likes to think that CBs with ball skills would be better off as DMs, but follow that logic to it's end and you'll just end up with CBs who are shit on the ball, and DMs whose technical ability doesn't stand out compared to their competition the way it did when they were CBs. Barca could have moved Pique into DM and ended up with someone less technical behind him. But better to keep him at CB, play Busquets in midfield and end up with a team that are technically superior to the opposition in every position instead.

Plus TFM is so much more than just his ability on the ball - his positioning, composure, strength and intuition as a CB are superb. He looks well suited to the position.
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Cheers man.
 
Brightonian said:
I don't mind him playing some games as a DM now, with the youth sides, but I think his future is at CB.

Everyone likes to think that CBs with ball skills would be better off as DMs, but follow that logic to its end and you'll just end up with CBs who are shit on the ball, and DMs whose technical ability doesn't stand out compared to their competition the way it did when they were CBs. Barca could have moved Pique into DM and ended up with someone less technical behind him. But better to keep him at CB, play Busquets in midfield and end up with a team that are technically superior to the opposition in every position instead.

Plus TFM is so much more than just his ability on the ball - his positioning, composure, strength and intuition as a CB are superb. He looks well suited to the position.
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Perfect summary.
 
He's a tall lad so of course he will make an excellent central defender if he goes that route. I still think he could end up as a number 6 though as he appears to have brilliant awareness of whats going on around him and is very good at getting the ball moving
 
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