I like signings like this.

Why would they leave Barcelona and Madrid to move to Manchester? I guess it will be money, but seems like a strange move when the clubs have offered them a contract to stay. I suppose if they contract is good enough if sets them up for life, even if they don't end up having great careers.

Am I right in saying Ed isn’t actually involved in transfers regarding our youth teams? Haven’t we brought in a few youth players too recently?

Didnt do Fabregas or Pique any harm.

Maybe they feel that United’s set up suits them more, players have left Barca and Real’s youth teams before for better opportunities. I’m sure I’ve read that La Masia is in a bit of a state too these days.

comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 6 minutes ago
Why would they leave Barcelona and Madrid to move to Manchester? I guess it will be money, but seems like a strange move when the clubs have offered them a contract to stay. I suppose if they contract is good enough if sets them up for life, even if they don't end up having great careers.
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Might be something to do with our proven development of young players, particularly over recent years whereas by all report La Masia's is on a very downward trajectory

Alvaro Fernandez can eventually add something different to our penalties, having a Z instead of an S at the end.

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 19 seconds ago
Maybe they feel that United’s set up suits them more, players have left Barca and Real’s youth teams before for better opportunities. I’m sure I’ve read that La Masia is in a bit of a state too these days.
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I agree with this 8 2, I love our youth team to do well, and it's great if they make the first team.
Ole seems good at bringing them through,

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
Am I right in saying Ed isn’t actually involved in transfers regarding our youth teams? Haven’t we brought in a few youth players too recently?
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Think that's right. And these two were all across the papers a month or so ago, so they haven't been formally announced, but they were mentally in the bank a long time ago.

this week we've also signed a "norwegian wonderkid", who is apparently 16, but looks about 12:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8653503/Manchester-United-set-complete-signing-16-year-old-Norwegian-wonderkid-Isak-Hansen-Aaroen.html

I love the League cup because you get to see a mix of these kids, reserve players and those returning from injury.

comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
Am I right in saying Ed isn’t actually involved in transfers regarding our youth teams? Haven’t we brought in a few youth players too recently?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think that's right. And these two were all across the papers a month or so ago, so they haven't been formally announced, but they were mentally in the bank a long time ago.

this week we've also signed a "norwegian wonderkid", who is apparently 16, but looks about 12:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8653503/Manchester-United-set-complete-signing-16-year-old-Norwegian-wonderkid-Isak-Hansen-Aaroen.html
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The next Mats Moller Daehli

Lots of wonder kids don't make it.
Then a non wonder kid like Scott Mct does

comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 8 minutes ago
Lots of wonder kids don't make it.
Then a non wonder kid like Scott Mct does
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Big season for McT coming up. He seemed to be a very important part of the team early/mid season, but was somewhat marginalised towards the end. He needs to really push on now and I think that he would be wise to try and adapt his game a bit and become a DM if he wants to play regularly.

comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 8 minutes ago
Lots of wonder kids don't make it.
Then a non wonder kid like Scott Mct does
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big season for McT coming up. He seemed to be a very important part of the team early/mid season, but was somewhat marginalised towards the end. He needs to really push on now and I think that he would be wise to try and adapt his game a bit and become a DM if he wants to play regularly.
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I've wondered whether McT could add something to the team on the right side of midfield if we were to play a 3-3-1-3 formation with Shaw and AWB either side of Maguire.

Something like

---------------------DDG-----------------
--------AWB---Maguire---Shaw-----
--------McT------Matic-----Pogba-----
----------------Bruno--------------------
Greenwood---Martial---Rashford

That could easily go to a 4-3-3 with Matic dropping back into CB (or even McT going in there) but in the 3-3-1-3 it would be McT tasked with going forward on the right allowing AWB to stay back in defence. I think that formation would get the best out of both Shaw and AWB although it may cause Pogba and Rashford having to work a bit harder.

Just an idea and I don't think it'll ever happen but I do think McT could do that job just as I think he could be a decent CB as well.

We have 5 good CM's to fill the 3 roles in our CM. McTominay will get plenty of game time.

comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 32 minutes ago
We have 5 good CM's to fill the 3 roles in our CM. McTominay will get plenty of game time.
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Yes, but he isn't going to be fist choice ahead of Pogba and Bruno. So if he wants to play regularly, he would be better trying to take the DM spot from an aging Matic.

comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 32 minutes ago
We have 5 good CM's to fill the 3 roles in our CM. McTominay will get plenty of game time.
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Yes, but he isn't going to be fist choice ahead of Pogba and Bruno. So if he wants to play regularly, he would be better trying to take the DM spot from an aging Matic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd rather not label him and hope Ole can make him the best he can be.

comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 32 minutes ago
We have 5 good CM's to fill the 3 roles in our CM. McTominay will get plenty of game time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, but he isn't going to be fist choice ahead of Pogba and Bruno. So if he wants to play regularly, he would be better trying to take the DM spot from an aging Matic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd rather not label him and hope Ole can make him the best he can be.
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Dare to dream.

I think McTominay is one of those who may be used in big games and against more physical teams.

You kind of know what you're getting from him and his attitude to a confrontation is something you need in the crunch games.

Let's be honest, we aren't going to Anfield, Etihad, Stamford Bridge and outplaying these sides next season. So if we're going to play on the country then McTominay is a solid option. I think he'll be the type of player you wouldn't fancy playing against as a creative midfielder, the enforcer type role.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 minute ago
I think McTominay is one of those who may be used in big games and against more physical teams.

You kind of know what you're getting from him and his attitude to a confrontation is something you need in the crunch games.

Let's be honest, we aren't going to Anfield, Etihad, Stamford Bridge and outplaying these sides next season. So if we're going to play on the country then McTominay is a solid option. I think he'll be the type of player you wouldn't fancy playing against as a creative midfielder, the enforcer type role.
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You could be right, but who gets dropped? I can't see either Pogba or Bruno being happy with that. It'll be interesting next season when we have them all fit and firing.

comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 minute ago
I think McTominay is one of those who may be used in big games and against more physical teams.

You kind of know what you're getting from him and his attitude to a confrontation is something you need in the crunch games.

Let's be honest, we aren't going to Anfield, Etihad, Stamford Bridge and outplaying these sides next season. So if we're going to play on the country then McTominay is a solid option. I think he'll be the type of player you wouldn't fancy playing against as a creative midfielder, the enforcer type role.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You could be right, but who gets dropped? I can't see either Pogba or Bruno being happy with that. It'll be interesting next season when we have them all fit and firing.
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It's a tough one, but yes somebody has to be dropped. We don't get the point we did versus the top 6 this season if we play the same 11 we do against lower quality opposition.

Fergie played Park every big game, a lot of people didn't understand it but it was necessary for us to be as successful as we were.

Maybe it's Rashford or Greenwood who miss out and make an impact later on.

I know going into a game against a sturdy midfield where we have little possession, I trust SM to get in their faces, cover ground and runners. Pogba, Fred, even Matic, not so much.

I'd be very wary of praising McT too highly, he could turn out to be another Januzaj.

You remember him, supposedly better than Sterling.

Whatever happened to him?

comment by פlǝuƃɥᴉs (U19365)
posted 10 minutes ago
I'd be very wary of praising McT too highly, he could turn out to be another Januzaj.

You remember him, supposedly better than Sterling.

Whatever happened to him?
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The difference being that Adnan burst onto the scene and had a short term impact, before fading away. McT has grown into his role within the squad over 4 seasons and steadily improved. I don't really seen any correlation between the two to be honest.

comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)


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The difference being that Adnan burst onto the scene and had a short term impact, before fading away. McT has grown into his role within the squad over 4 seasons and steadily improved. I don't really seen any correlation between the two to be honest.
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going to take a wild guess that he didn't put an awful lot of thought into the analogy. and he seems to be confusing januzaj with Ibe.

The DM role requires a bit of experience. You can see Matic and Fred do it well, even though the latter is supposed to be a B2B. McTominay doesn't.