admin Six players, no clear solution but plenty of options. Man United have the players to end the instability in the midfield.
Scott McTominay caused deafening noises from Manchester United supporters 11 days ago that he could cause waves in the River Irwell.
McTominay’s celebrations against Spain were cut short when his free-kick was ruled disallowed, but there was still reason to celebrate as Spain lost to Norway on Sunday night. Scotland qualified to win their second consecutive European Championship.
It’s been an up-and-down season for McTominay and after the highs of his super-sub appearance against Brentford and an exciting game north of the border, a low point could be imminent . United could have six midfielders in all at Sheffield United on Saturday night.
Ahead of the Brentford game, McTominay will largely be in the central midfield position at the back of the line. Maybe he still is.
Kobbie Mainoo is back training with the team and he has been a very important member of the team on their pre-season tour which he started against Real Madrid on 26 July in what was considered a team Erik ten Hag’s strongest form.Three minutes later, Mainoo was the one who suffered damage after Casemiro’s tackle. He hasn’t played since.
When McTominay was introduced as a defensive midfielder to replace Casemiro in August, Ten Hag made a brief acknowledgment and then spoke about Mainoo without hesitation. A week later, he admitted to having “compromised” with a number of midfielders before United signed defensive-minded defender Sofyan Amrabat. McTominay is an obvious compromise.
Thirty-four days later, Ten Hag said: “I want to have a player like Scott McTominay in my squad.” The telling word there is ‘like’.
McTominay’s last five home games in 2022-23 came while Casemiro was suspended. This season, McTominay was placed in the same midfield as Casemiro with mixed results. United were coached tactically by Brighton but bravely won against Burnley a week later.
McTominay was included in the squad for the match against Brighton on the right of the midfield diamond. He played there briefly under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag was heavily punished for using one of the Norwegian coach’s unforgettable tactics.
Including his youth, McTominay played as a striker, as a back three, as a defensive midfielder and as an attacking midfielder. An advanced role is his best use, but United have plenty of attacking players to choose from.
Casemiro is banned (again) against Copenhagen on Tuesday night and depending on the performance at Bramall Lane, the McTominay-Amrabat axis has potential. Amrabat could hold the fort while McTominay charged forward.
Mason Mount, introduced as a central midfielder, was tested on the right wing but endured another lethargic day for United against Brentford.The pressure was evident as Mount, who had the ball and was in Brentford’s third, criticized Diogo Dalot for not moving quickly enough.
Ten Hag introduced Christian Eriksen to replace Casemiro at half-time because he “wanted to play more football”. Casemiro is achieving what many feared when United committed £70m to the 30-year-old from Real Madrid last August. Casemiro’s decline is all the more humiliating after an influential debut season.
Scouts noted that at the time United signed Casemiro, his running stats paled in comparison to McTominay’s.Ten Hag has occasionally accused United of being ineffective this season and ironically McTominay was guilty of this when he was pocketed by Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano.
With another defensive midfield specialist in Amrabat, Ten Hag has the chance to demote Casemiro, whose forced withdrawal in Brazil’s draw with Venezuela last week could be considered a blessing, although he He started the match against Uruguay on Tuesday night. Amrabat has so far not had glory as a midfielder or left-back.
Then there’s Mainoo, 18 years old. “He is ready to take on the [midfield] role… he’ll definitely have his games,” Ten Hag said two months ago.
The Stockport native’s academy graduate’s professional playing time is just 87 minutes, but he’s on his way become an academy legacy this season, a continuation of his FA Youth Cup-winning team-mate Alejandro Garnacho.
Casemiro and Eriksen, born nine days apart, will turn 32 in February.Eriksen tired easily last season and Casemiro has struggled to keep up this season. Despite a frantic 45 minutes, Casemiro reappeared with support to take his place in the second half against Brentford.
United have reduced the average age of their midfield with Mount, 24, and the integration of youngster Mainoo. A big addition to the midfield is planned for next summer.
McTominay is still 26 and one of the United team’s toughest athletes.He earned the flattering nicknames “McSauce” and “McTerminator” while he must have enjoyed the nickname Ashley Young gave him. “F–k off, Scotland,” Young joked during a Rondo at Carrington.
England’s defeat is Scotland’s victory.
