18 Feb 2018 18:56:36
I thought mctominay was excellent yesterday, and has been very impressive most of the season. I really like the kid. Would like to see him get a few more games before the season is out.
Also I really hope we get to see Gomes and Chong a bit before the season is over too. Two terrific talents.

1.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 21:35:32
Chong could potentially be our solution for the right sided attacking player.

2.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:11:11
Not just about your post Caolan, but I doubt we will be seeing much of McTom after the summer window. He has done ok, hasn't stood out for me - I'd rather have about 100 other CM's starting for Utd.

I assume all of the praise from many fans is factoring in his age and inexperience, with everybody putting some arbitrary weightage to bolster his performance? This inevitably means what we would normally class as average performance is now a good one because of some made up scoring. No real difference between him and a finished Carrick yesterday for me, in fact barely noticed McTom - he played well in one of his first games for us, every other time I have seen him he has been a non-entity really.

Simply compared to other CM's playing for elite clubs, he is nowhere near the standard at the moment - we aren't a finishing school. And before anybody starts, where did Wilson, Blackett, Perreira, James, Tuanzebe, TFM, etc, etc, go, who I was reading exactly the same about in recent years?

3.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:33:25
Jeez Beast you are seriously in need of some love. The kid made his debut this year and hasn’t looked out of place. He may not be exciting but perhaps we should be a finishing school for our own home grown players. Give the boy a chance.

4.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:51:07
I agree with Beast. He looks a competent player but nothing more. But you never know how he'll develop so can't write him off. But for now, he's average.

5.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:51:58
AJH - I'm simply taking away the emotion. McTom wasn't excellent yesterday and I'm basing my views on his future on similar performances from youngsters that many fans raved about only to never see the kids again in a first team shirt!

I'd happily give the boy a chance, in fact I'd give many youngsters a better chance as I firmly believe in building a team with Man Utd in their hearts and a unity that only develops over time. The sad fact is that the club will not do this and too many of our fans want their cake and eat it.

If Vidal or Veratti were available 99.99% of our fans would sign them and it would be McTomWHO next season. If we start losing games because youngsters are being blooded over seasoned pro's the manager will get the axe and the fans will be going mad.

I'm simply saying McTominay hasn't done enough for me going from our recent track record. I unfortunately don't make the rules or decisions. TFM would be starting every week for me, I wouldn't have loaned out Perreira either. I'd have had Rashford starting as my main striker this season instead of signing Lukaku.

You see I'm not in need of love, I think the young players in our team are in need of love and most of our fans are in some desperate need of realism!

6.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:55:14
Very impressed with McTominay, saying there wasn’t much difference between him and carrick is a great compliment for the lad, maybe he will be just as under rated throughout his career 😉.

7.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 22:59:05
GDS2 - Was Carrick excellent yesterday?

8.) 18 Feb 2018
18 Feb 2018 23:15:44
he will probably need a short loan next season for some game time.

9.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 00:55:47
If I can add to my post fellas. Beast I see exactly what you’re saying, but Young scott is could be an invaluable squad player. I’m not saying he will be world class and get 100 England caps etc. But what I like is his willingness to do whatever job he is asked off. He’s not an extremely creative player so he plays simple and let’s the other players get on with it. I’d like to see him given a go in a 3 with pogba and Matic because he’d help Matic out, free up pogba.
Fletcher was never a world beater but he always carried out whatever role was asked of him and was outstanding in some big games for us. I could see scott develop into that sort of player. He would run through a brick wall if you asked him too. Those players can be invaluable. I’m a fan of his, and I know he won’t be a world class midfielder, but I remember fletcher splitting opinions when I was growing up and he turned out to have a great career for us. So let’s give the kid a chance, because he’s not looked out of place when he’s played.
Also on a side note, I’d like to see Chong on the right hand side, unfortunately I think it will need to be an injury that gives him his chance, but he is still young. Gomes excites me the most, but we can’t rush them. Would like to see both get a chance though, maybe on the bench in a premier league game at OT?

10.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 01:37:24
I'm excited to see young academy players brought into the first real and given chances. McTominay is a great example. He will improve. Chong and Gomes need a few matchday squads before the end of the season. There is suddenly a pathway to the first team for youngsters who are good enough, and some of them are, or will be. The younger ones learn by example from the older heads. People like Carrick and Zlatan, Valencia and Matic, who have experience of winning things and taking care of their bodies for many campaigns. That, for me, is at least half the reason to keep paying them the big money for the ends of their contracts: the experience percolates down. We haven't had many leaders in the squad in recent years. I am confident that will stand the younger players in the squad in good stead in the future.

11.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 09:41:28
Beast,

Yes I don't think Carrick put a foot wrong, we always look a better team with him in the middle of the park, thought it was his best game for ages.

12.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 09:51:25
Some good points mentioned. But I have to agree with beast on McTominay. I think although he has done ok, he seems to be a steady Eddie of a player. A jack of all trades. He does not stand out in any aspect of his game. I also would have kept pereira and I think the loan was a bad choice by him because he would have played much more this season with our problems in cm. he Also has quality in dead ball situations and I think Lukaku would have a few more goals with pereira playing. I think McTominay willl go on loan next season. Kid has stepped up but if we want to be winning the champions league and premier league we need better. I am excited to see Chong and Gomes break into he first team in the next few seasons. Two supremely talented youngsters who have what it takes to make it at united.

13.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 10:27:49
Squad players are essential to prolonged success.

14.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 12:04:37
Do I think McTominay will be a world class player? Sadly not.

However, Sir Alex built his success on having very good, committed squad players.

Players like O'Shea, Phil Neville, Butt, Brown and Fletcher.

These guys were invaluable because they had an attachment to the club, they would always give their all even if they didn't play every week.

Solid, dependable and never caused trouble.

McTominay could well become a player of that ilk. I it fills me with joy to know we aren't one of these newly rich clubs with no history or tradition.

We give youth a chance, and I will never complain while that happens. McTominay is getting chances he wouldn't at any other top club in England.

I hope that continues.

15.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 12:24:46
I can see Mctomminay playing the Nicky Butt role. Not first pick but ready to do a job and give his all.

Its his first season. I reserve judgement and enjoy the fact Jose is putting trust in youth.

No pleasing some people.

16.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 13:39:07
Very confusing Beast. You would love to give youth a chance, but here's a kid who has come in and looked completely unphased with the step up and you slate him and judge his entire future career after about 300 mins of first team football. What a class act.

17.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 14:37:48
I'm confused that you're confused!

Maybe re-read my posts before passing judgement on me if you can't understand. By the way how many John O'Shea's does a team need? Every time somebody says X player doesn't look good enough at the minute we get shot down with the "Squad player" line, but I think our fans forget that our club is not a charity case nor does it have a good recent record of developing young players. We have about 15 John O'Sheas based on recent cake eaters.

Was McTominlay excellent on Saturday, judged against other CM's of top teams? The answer is no he was not, people are adding in miscellaneous points to his scorecard based on their own personal interpretation of what being young and inexperienced means = that is irrelevant being judged on performance alone.

I hope he becomes a star player and has a wonderful career. However I haven't seen anything more in McTom so far than the other young players I mentioned that haven't been given a kick since similar praise was lauded on them. I got slated at the time for saying we wouldn't be seeing Blackett, James, Wilson and Co again once LVG got a transfer window. Not one person came back to apologise for giving me dogs abuse for being 100% accurate.

I think you are confusing what I (Beast) would do and what I think the club will do. Personally I wouldn't sign any foreign mercenaries and would build my team around academy players blooding them relentlessly - no way in hell the club will do that. If a top class CM becomes available in the summer they will be signed, maybe 2-3 will be - in that scenario it will be to the detriment of the young kid, unless he improves significantly imo.

No reasoned argument just name calling for me passing an honest opinion on a player (that I haven't slated at all) . Do you even know what a slating is?

18.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 14:43:54
I like the way you put Beast in brackets, just in case we forgot 😁.

19.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 15:16:41
It's a good sport betting against youth players coming through. History tells you at the big clubs you are likely to be right 98% of the time.

Mctom is behind Pogba, Matic, Carrick, Fellaini and Herrera. His role in the squad is clear, he is very much back up to a raft of proven international players. When called upon he has done superbly. We cannot have a world class international standard 5th choice player when Jose plays with two in midfield.

Added to all of this, he has just grown about a foot in the last year or so, so it stands to reason he may still be growing and developing. From what I have seen I am happy for him to be that 5th choice squad player.

If Fellaini and Carrick leave at the end of the season then they both need to be replaced with a higher standard. I don't think anyone is arguing anything else are they?

20.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 18:43:49
So if I am right 98% of the time and you are wrong 98% of the time, how does that make me the one lacking class?

I'm a spade caller, you're a pipe dreamer!

21.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 19:11:10
Beast, what are you even arguing? Mctom is exceeding expectations of what is expected of him in this squad. He is still developing and will get chance to do so.

Will he become first choice CM for utd, only time will tell. But history says it is very unlikely.

But don't mistake that statement for how important he is to our squad today as 5th choice CM. I don't understand why you are choosing to single him out. Steady at all things, master of none is ideal for 5th choice backup. Not noticing his weaknesses amongst mature and proven EPL pros is ideal for a young 5th choice at the beginning of his career.

It is not his fault Carrick and Fellaini have been injured, that Herrera has switched places with his lesser known (and less able) twin brother and that Pogba has fallen ill or out of favour with Jose.

If you call someone who supports youth players a pipedreamer then yes I am, thanks - I'll take that as a compliment. Every young player doesn't have to go on to serve MU for 20 years to have an important place in our history. Think Wes Brown at rightback, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt in CM, John O'Shea in every position. These players ARE invaluable, no matter how much you seek to devalue their contribution.

22.) 19 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 23:31:28
Dodgy - Did you read the original post on this thread? It starts with "I thought mctominay was excellent yesterday". Nothing about him being 5th choice, etc. I'm saying he wasn't excellent, far from it.

My prediction is that we won't be seeing much of McTom after a summer transfer window. That is the point I was making and I justified it based on our recent track record with similar young players.

I haven't slated him. I just don't think he has done enough to prevent Jose going to the market. You have twisted the point I made into a massive negative against the player, when all I am really doing is saying what all of us deep down suspect.

I think you are a pipedreamer if you think McTom will be the next John O'Shea, Wes Brown etc. Sometimes it happens, but as you already admitted, it often does not.

I'd love nothing more than a team full of academy products, passionate about the club and watching them improve. It probably will not happen again at the Elite level because of how much money is involved and how little patience there is. One or two may make it, but I think they will need to have more in their locker than what McTom has shown me so far if they intend to have a full career at Man Utd. We have £30m signings not getting a real game, a manager can only justify that if the youth player is something really special!

I think you have misinterpreted my posts for being negative, when they are just being analytical (not emotional) .

23.) 20 Feb 2018
20 Feb 2018 00:35:14
Beast the reason why I thought he was excellent was he did a good job in winning the ball back, worked up and down the pitch and just kept play ticking over for us. He seems the kind of lad who does whatever job is asked of him.
Personally I enjoy havin a decent football debate and reading everyone else’s thoughts, but lads no need to get Wound up at each other for disagreeing with your opinion as no one is right or wrong.

{Ed007's Note - Apart from me, I'm always wrong, just ask my wife.}