I recommend this Tifo video (and indeed all of their tactical analysis content) on McTominay's midfield role.
It focuses on a recurring issue with his poor positioning when we build from the back: pointing out that he tends to fail to make himself available for a progressive pass, staying too close to opposition players, unless the CB shift left, creating a space for him to drop in on the right. It speculates that this tendency may be linked to him wanting to 'mark' the pressing attacker in case we lose the ball, so I guess the general lack of confidence of our side moving out from the back could be a factor.
The video generally makes the argument that McT is basically a good footballer playing in the wrong position. In his youth career he was most often played as a number 10 or number 8 (and briefly as a striker). It's probably because of his physique and aggression, and a lack of better defensive midfield options in the squad, that he's being deployed in a deeper role. It's instructive that if you compare him to Rodri and Jorginho, McTominay plays significantly more progressive passes per 90 minutes than them; at the same time he receives the ball much less than the, and passes aimed at McT have a noticeably lower completion rate. He's in his element in the attacking half of the pitch, not the defensive half.
In essence, another player who would thrive in a 4-3-3 with a genuine DM.
Here's the video if you are interested: https://youtu.be/D9rNF_1bBE4
PS I'd really like this discussion to focus on tactical specifics not "who cares, he's not good enough anyway". We know he's not Bryan Robson.
McTominay
posted on 22/10/21
I've signed up to the Athletic
posted on 22/10/21
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
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..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
posted on 22/10/21
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
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..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
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Think MU52 means Bilbao...
posted on 22/10/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
----------------------------------------------------------------------
..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think MU52 means Bilbao...
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Baggins?!?!
He’s old, but bit harsh calling him that daifol!
posted on 22/10/21
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
----------------------------------------------------------------------
..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think MU52 means Bilbao...
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Baggins?!?!
He’s old, but bit harsh calling him that daifol!
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He's got a bad hobbit of insulting people on here
posted on 22/10/21
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
----------------------------------------------------------------------
..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think MU52 means Bilbao...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Baggins?!?!
He’s old, but bit harsh calling him that daifol!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh...but fair. I shall Basque in the glory of that post.
posted on 22/10/21
Very happy to be Bilbao Baggins, a decent cove who get to live with elves.
posted on 22/10/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ole-dirty-Baztard- I was there when lambau invented the ja606 tier rating system (U19119)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I've signed up to the Athletic
----------------------------------------------------------------------
..Madrid? Arent you a bit old? Don’t know what simeone is playing at signing pensioners?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think MU52 means Bilbao...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Baggins?!?!
He’s old, but bit harsh calling him that daifol!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh...but fair. I shall Basque in the glory of that post.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
😄👍
posted on 22/10/21
The OP could have saved time by just calling McT a scheite bag.
posted on 22/10/21
Bog average.
Another one that the club hangs into and keep putting in the starting xi because it's more convenient to do so than acknowledge the academy is bust.