Firstly, it’s madness to just assume we don’t get any of those 12 points without McT. Someone else may have got some in his place.

But onto the main point. He is a great professional and used like he was yesterday I’m more than happy to have him in the squad. However, when he starts in midfield, he barely touches the ball and we always lose control of the midfield.

He’s an off the bench throw of the dice yes, but he should only be used in that capacity.

Best player in the world in the most recent Euro qualifying campaign.

Outscored Haaland and only one behind Kane (pen), with no pens.

Clearly knows how to find the net. Doesn't have the technique and guile to play for a top team. Will probably get good money for him when you sell him off to the likes of West Ham.

If McTominay is happy as a squad player, playing the last 20 minutes of games where we need a goal, then he's proving to be a great asset for us.

We can all argue that he isn't up to the standard technically or tactically, but ultimately football is about who scores more goals, and right now he's one of the few in the side who can do that.

He's had a good season so far, long may it continue.

"Firstly, it’s madness to just assume we don’t get any of those 12 points without McT. Someone else may have got some in his place."

This is a little unfair on McTominay imo, as I point out above, we don't have many able to get into the box and find the back of the net. Who else is doing it? Could make a case for Casemiro and Hojlund, but that's about it?

Onana, Maguire and McT slamming Utd's Judas fans words down their throats yesterday with matching winning displays.

Not sure ETH has been able to play his first team once this season has he? I wonder if he’ll get the time.

comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 11 minutes ago
Firstly, it’s madness to just assume we don’t get any of those 12 points without McT. Someone else may have got some in his place.

But onto the main point. He is a great professional and used like he was yesterday I’m more than happy to have him in the squad. However, when he starts in midfield, he barely touches the ball and we always lose control of the midfield.

He’s an off the bench throw of the dice yes, but he should only be used in that capacity.
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'Madness' is a little overstated. I'm not assuming we wouldn't have got any of those 12 points with someone else, but purely mentioning where we would be without those seven goals that he is responsible for. But he has often scored when no one else looked like they would, and his goals to minutes ratio in matches where he has come on as a substitute must be phenomenal.

But your post seems to have overlooked the point of my article. I wasn't saying "McT is great and should stay at United for the rest of his career". What I was trying to do was take a step back from the usual, dreary "these players aren't good enough, get rid" conversations. And instead take a moment to be glad that a player who gives everything he has got for his boyhood club has had the chance to make a material impact on our season, despite obviously not being an elite talent.

What I like about him (and the key to being a squad player) is he knows the role required of him and doesn't need time to adjust to the game... He gets on and impacts games.

I think this is definitely his best role for us - coming on later in games and causing a different kind of problem for the opposition with his power and ability to be a menace in the penalty box.

If he's happy playing that role then great as far as I'm concerned. I think we lose a lot as a team when he starts games and I think it takes the edge off his own game a bit. He has that knack of being impactful off the bench which not many players have and there's never really been any question marks over his application and professionalism.

The biggest I have with McTominay is that I now have Hojlund in my FF team and every time he scores I confuse him with Rasmus.

He's very useful in both boxes. His work defensively from set pieces goes under the radar too. Obviously he's a real threat in attacking situations as we know.

Shame he's garbage in the middle third. 😂

Good article this.

Obviously it doesnt work this way that you can say that if he hadnt scored these goals we would be languashing in the bottom reaches of the PL. God only knows what others events would have played out etc.etc...

What McSauce HAS got is the finesse required to operate further up the pitch. Is he a No6 at all? I dont think so. Why? Because he has a strikers natural football brain (that you cant teach) and he makes poistional runs in and around the danger areas, like late towards the back post and centrally furthest forward on the defensive line that are begging for good delivery from wide or central MF players. Dalot provided him with that yesterday. It was a peach of a cross. And McTs bullying header had me harping back to the days of Joe Jordan (Ask yer Dad). Not only is he scoring goals when utilised further forward but he is scoring winning and telling goals in the key moments of games. No coming back.

Its a dilema for ETH what to do with McT. Mainly because in his mind I think Erik thinks he IS a disappointing No6. In reality McT would make a great No10 for some other club prepared to convert and persist him. But meanwhile as ETH is still struggling with trying to stamp a style of play on United McTs willingness enthusiasm and effort to come on in moments and change the game as a plan B is an example and rouser for the rest of the players. Just look how the rest of the lads celebrate around Scotty and our support at Villa Park. You cant buy that in football.

He’s a useful squad player in this capacity. Issue is whether he can sustain it and make it a role that he’s comfortable with, because if not he’s a waste of a squad place.

Yesterday's game is the exact use for him. He could play for 10 years for us in that role. Anything more is questionable

"Issue is whether he can sustain it and make it a role that he’s comfortable with"

If we get to the point we are challenging for titles I'm sure he'd be comfortable with it.

On sustaining the goalscoring streak, I wouldn't be surprised if this proved to be a statistical aberration.

Incidentally, the 12 points from point-winning goals is the most in the league at this juncture. Son is second with 10.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 8 minutes ago
Incidentally, the 12 points from point-winning goals is the most in the league at this juncture. Son is second with 10.
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Interesting. I think he's always had a good eye for goal, but always played too deep to make use of his ability, it seems to come natural to him.

It can't be a coincidence that since he's been given the freedom to get into the box he's scoring goals for both Utd and Scotland.

I think the first real glimpses of Scotty's abiility further up the pitch was when we stuffed Leeds 6-2 during lockdown. Until then he was always Jose's 'young DM prodigy'... who easily disappointed and went missing often.

And fairplay to Scotland for initially giving him license to show us what he could do in advanced positions.

McT is our Gerrard really. Will never be good enough in midfield to control games but, when you need a goal, there's every chance they'll get one.

comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (U2462)
posted 31 minutes ago
McT is our Gerrard really. Will never be good enough in midfield to control games but, when you need a goal, there's every chance they'll get one.
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Agreed. Astute observation as always Diafol.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
"Issue is whether he can sustain it and make it a role that he’s comfortable with"

If we get to the point we are challenging for titles I'm sure he'd be comfortable with it.
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Not necessarily, he may have ambitions of playing regular football rather than being a bit part player.

Not necessarily, he may have ambitions of playing regular football rather than being a bit part player.

.........................

A lot of football fans have trouble understanding this. It is very rare that a player will spend his whole career at a club being just a bit part player.

The vast majority will move on for regular football.

comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
McT is our Gerrard really. Will never be good enough in midfield to control games but, when you need a goal, there's every chance they'll get one.
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Good spot. Like Gerrard, he's a natural attacking right-back who has been misprofiled as a midfielder.

McTominay is a centre forward in disguise.