19 Sep 2022 12:30:33
Not saying we should have gotten Arnautovic in, but he's the serie a top scorer and I think he would've worked better than Cristiano has this year.
ETH does have a good eye for a player and it's getting more and more obvious as time is progressing.

Some of the best decisions that have happened this year is the end of McFred and Maguire being benched. For me that is a huge step which other managers failed at.

Also ETH reminds me a bit of LVG with if a player comes back from injury they don't automatically start. He gives them to recover and come upto pace. After the recent horrible mismanagement of fitness under Ole, I think this is a breath of fresh air. There were also if Varane on a special program in pre-season.

I have no sources at all but the next step for us would be to sell some like Tuanzebe for very little, Brandon, Maguire (please), AWB etc and get some 40-50odd million in.

And use that to buy one of the problem positions like a Gakpo or whoever the manager feels is a good fit.
Most of the top clubs tend to sign good players on free and it'd be refreshing to see a pre-contract agreement before season-end for 1-2 players.

1.) 19 Sep 2022
19 Sep 2022 13:57:29
I would be wary of strikers from Italy Ronan. Over the years there has been more misses than hits.

Shevchenko tore Italy up but failed at Chelsea. Zlatan left us for the U. S and then went to Italy and done well. Higuain was poor at Chelsea but that may have been due to his age. Lukaku being the most recent too to have excelled in Italy and be poor in England.

Touching on what you said about the manager playing players in form, that's such a breath of fresh air. It also shows them that if you can get in the team and perform, you'll stay there. There is no better motivation.

Ole dropped De Gea for Henderson for no reason. Played Maguire every game even when injured. McFred were guaranteed games even though the were abysmal. It sets an awful precedent.

Reports are Ten Hag is pushing for more players in January, more music to my ears. Seems like no one the organisation will be sitting still while he's there.

2.) 19 Sep 2022
19 Sep 2022 15:46:38
Yes. McTominay started poorly but has been a good performer past few games.
Arrival of Casemiro hasn't meant he drops to the bench automatically.

3.) 21 Sep 2022
21 Sep 2022 09:51:03
McT is a good player, let down by poor coaching over the last few years, much like many of the players. Will be a fine squad player.

4.) 21 Sep 2022
21 Sep 2022 13:01:13
Has been let down angel. I don't its just poor coaching though, perhaps having a certain Maguire being awful all over the backline makes McTom a bit more extra cautious and not confident.
With Varane and Lisandro at the back personally I feel very confident can't say that about Maguire though.
Still think Casemiro will dislodge him, as he has a better pass and a wonderful long shot but I'm really happy McTom hasn't just folded and let the expensive signing just take his place.

5.) 21 Sep 2022
21 Sep 2022 13:01:41
Angel

Agreed. There are areas of the field we need fixing before worrying about mct replacement. He will be a united player for many years imo.

6.) 22 Sep 2022
21 Sep 2022 18:14:00
McTominay has been good for the most part this year and I'm looking forward to see if he can improve further with a top class coach working with him.

His attitude has always been first class and he is one of our own. Which like it or not does make a difference.

I don't see any need to sign someone to "replace" him. Keep him in and around the first team until someone like Charlie Savage or Kobbie Mainoo, or just someone from the academy steps up to replace him.

We need more quality in several areas of the starting 11 and more quality in depth in defence before we start worrying about improving quality in depth in midfield.

7.) 22 Sep 2022
22 Sep 2022 00:04:43
Angel,

Have to disagree with you regarding McT. Yeh fair enough we’ve had woeful coaches which haven’t helped, but he’s not a top level footballer never will be. If we’re going to play counterattack football and play at pace he always slows any attack down, it’s infuriating to see how many touches he takes all the time. He doesn’t have to football brain and awareness around him to see his next pass before he receives the ball. Just holds it for far far to long before either remaking pass or being dispossessed. I don’t think he’ll ever be good enough and if we listed him for sale another top 6 side wouldn’t come in for him.

8.) 22 Sep 2022
22 Sep 2022 08:14:48
He is no Scholes but my god he is nothing what people make him out to be. Over the years we have had plenty of players in very successful teams who played their part and where not wow. Every player has bad spells and not perfect every game.

I can see us letting Fred go given his age and him being surplus especially if we sign a different type of midfielder. It is not a coincidence MCT is starting pretty much every game even ahead of cas.

ETH must see something he likes and disagrees with most here.

9.) 22 Sep 2022
22 Sep 2022 21:00:11
McT is good enough to do a job in the team/ squad always has been, he isn't good enough to carry a team on his shoulders and never will be.

He is what he is, and what he should be is a squad player that you can bring in as required to cover for injuries or to do a specific role in certain matches.