21 Sep 2021 10:13:48
What does it say about Man Utd and OGS that despite the star studded names of Ronaldo, Fernandes, Pogba, Sancho and Varane perhaps the managers most important player is an unassuming academy graduate Scot Mctominay. Lauded by Jose Mourinho and equally valued by OGS, Mctominay is quickly becoming the glue that holds everything together. His stock amongst many supporters critically undervalued Solskjaer invariably turns to the wily Scott in order to add steel and discipline to a much maligned and dysfunctional midfield.

In another difficult fixture, amid the mutinous whispers, as the worlds media sharpened their pencils in anticipation of another damming headline Mctominay was rushed back from injury to quell the rebellion.

Many will argue that Solskjaer's faith in Mctominay is misjudged and may be an alliance that ultimately costs him his job. In a team that can often lack cohesion and direction Mctominay is generally relied upon to provide the positional discipline, energy and physicality to release the forwards of their defensive responsibilities and shield the back four by sustaining attacks and preventing counter attacks.

In this story of unappreciated villains, Mctominay's partner in crime Fred fulfils a similar role. Two people doing one persons job, but in a team that surrenders possession as much as Utd even superman couldn't cover the cavernous openings vacated by Pogba and abandoned by Fernandes as they push forward with little regard to what's left behind them.

McFred often lack the guile and finesse to consistently provide ammunition to a forward line regularly starved of service but they plug the holes vacated by others. In a team that can so regularly score something from nothing perhaps it's a choice between the lesser of two evils. Over expose a defence and gun sling or wait for the moments of individual quality that will invariably arrive in most games. I think we all know which OGS prefers?!

The PE teacher (not my words) does have tactics it's just many don't like them. In Oleball the midfield pivot allows the forwards to play more freely and the full backs to push forward. When a move breaks down the pivot are used to re gain possession and prevent counter attacks. The problem it's also required to play the ball forward between the lines feeding the front four. We lack the combination to do both.

The success of any title challenge this season will be the ability to turn previous seasons draws into victories. To the horror of some McFred will prevail and Ronaldo expected to make the difference.

1.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 10:24:56
Agree completely which is why i always say fred and Mctominay would be considered world class if football was played without a ball.

2.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 10:33:03
I'm a huge fan of McTominay, I think he has a great attitude and is far better than most give him credit for.

I agree that despite everyone's pleas and protestations McFred are the best pivot pairing we have.

I'd be interested to se McTominay and Donny play as a pair in some game, and feel that in theory they could work at least as well as McFred while also offering better ball retention and progression.

In an ideal world I'd love to see McTominay play along side someone like Ruben Neves, someone who could sit and do the Carrick role and give McTominay slightly more license to drive forward and unleash more of his edge of the box shots which tend to be very good. Seven goals for McTominay last season shows he retains that shooting quality he showed when playing as a forward at academy level. Allowing him to break forward as a late unmarked arrival on the edge of the box to sweep home could see him score anywhere between 5-15 goals a season.

3.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 10:40:52
There won't be a title challenge Dlib.

4.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 11:29:13
My post was not a defence of Ole, Mctominay or Fred more of an observation of how I feel Ole wants his midfield pivot to function.

Like DSG opined McFred are very good out of possession. They provide the team with boundless energy, tenacity and intensity. They work well together (out of possession) and allow us to retain attacks by recycling possession quickly. When crosses go into the box they are invariably well positioned to collect the ball when it is cleared or be in a position to put the opposition under pressure and win the ball back when a move breaks down.

Ole wants his front 4 and full backs to attack. People refer to Fernandes as a midfielder but he’s generally so advanced he’s more of a second striker. There has to be some balance in the team.

McFred ultimately fail with their ability on the ball. They just don’t play enough vertical passes through the lines. We advance up the pitch too slowly. Sideways passes between the full backs and then back inside. I agree with Shappy I’d like to see Donny next to Mctominay in midfield to ascertain if he could make more incisive passes but I believe he perhaps lacks the energy, tenacity and mobility of Fred which is maybe why Ole doesn’t pick him.

When McFred play we don’t lose many games but draw far too many. With the acquisitions of Ronaldo and Sancho we should now have the ability to turn a lot of those draws into victories.

It won’t be thrilling football, I accept it won’t be good enough for many but if Ole is to win trophies it will delivered on a strong defence and relying on individual moments of quality to win most games.

Ken believes a title challenge will never materialise, perhaps he’s right and it probably wouldn’t be delivered in a style palatable to most but I think we can get in the mix if we’re defensively sound our forward line is always capable of scoring a goal.

5.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 12:08:31
Agree on Mctominay DLIB, but Fred is a poor footballer who needs to be replaced asap.

6.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 12:13:05
It's one of the poorest midfield duos in the league. I think McTominay will have a very good career at United but Fred is simply an average footballer.

Even though at the weekend I thought Mctomnay wasn't at his best, Fred was up to his usual tricks. We look quality going forward, shaky at the back and non existant in midfield.

The reason we concede so many chances is that it's criminally easy to pick the ball up in their defensive 3rd and glide up to our defensive 3rd. Fred for all his "workrate" his positioning is very poor, which often means McTominay is covering extra ground and both can get lost in the game.

Beside a proper DM or someone comfortable with the ball at their feet playing there, McTominay could flourish in a box yo box role. He did well last year chipping in with a few goals too. Right now he seems like he can play multiple roles well but none great. But he has the ability to be an integral part of our squad going forward.

Once Fred is replaced by an actual footballer, we will see the best of McTominay.

7.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 13:33:55
Fred will be replaced by Bellingham soon enough. Then we will have the McBell partnership, or maybe McHam. Despite what the papers say we are not going for Declan Rice as McRice doesn't have the same ring to it.

8.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 15:21:20
Grim, I'd be over the moon if we replaced Fred with Bellingham. I really think we missed out on a special player when he went to Dortmund.

In hindsight probably the right decision for him, especially when we see the trouble Amad and Pellistri are having getting minutes. He needed to go somewhere that was a higher level and he was going to start every week more or less.

That Dortmund team have some awesome young players even after Sancho left. Bellingham, Reyna, Haaland, Moukoko and now Malen. A few future worldies there.

9.) 21 Sep 2021
21 Sep 2021 18:57:59
Our manager doesn't trust youth he made right decision.

10.) 22 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 02:17:26
Jesus Christ now he doesn't support youth. Honestly lads yere living in cloud cuckoo land.

11.) 22 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 07:25:23
Bellingham made the right choice to go to Dortmund and to develop. I think either this summer or the next he will return to one the big EPL clubs who will be fighting for him.

12.) 22 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 13:37:38
Rosspique. What youth players has he developed and which ones have had considerable game time under him?
Greenwood. Who else?

13.) 22 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 17:41:11
Henderson had his opportunities last season.
AWB
Mctominay
Greenwood
Rashford
Sancho this season
Elanga.

Let me ask you what young players would you like to have gotten more of a chance under Ole. Or who are those that he doesn't trust.
Also would you have been happy if playing those youth players cost us extra points and let's say a place in europe.

14.) 22 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 20:32:33
50m signing away the 3rd most expensive full back ever? Prem proven before one got him
Henderson is 24 prem proven before one got him
Mctom is 25 and was in the team before one came as was rasford
Sancho 70 mil signing. Hardly played yet
Elanga what sustained opportunity has he had Ross?

15.) 24 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 20:38:17
Ken, I wouldn't say he doesn't trust youth, but them it takes either a very brave or very foolish man to pluck a 17 years old from the championship and make him a first choice player in a team that is supposed to be challenging for the EPL title.

As it turns out the way Bellingham has taken to the Bundesliga I think he would have been fine. But that's the beauty of hindsight.

16.) 24 Sep 2021
22 Sep 2021 20:45:54
Rosspique, I'm not having a go at Ole, I think he tends to give more youth a chance than some managers.

I just think it's very difficult for any manager who is expected to win every game and gets slated for a draw to sign a 17 year old from the bottom half of the championship and then play him every week in midfield ahead of players like Matic, Pogba, and Donny.

You need to be very brave or very foolish to make that call.

Personally I don't think players without 3-4 years top level experience should be moving to teams expected to challenge for titles unless they are obvious generational talents.

At the ages of 17-21 you NEED to be playing every single week to have any chance of reaching your potential. Those are the ages you learn quickest and develop the most. You can't do that without playing.

It's really tough for any manager with such high expectations on their shoulders to keep playing and giving chances to young players even after they make mistakes.