Manchester United’s 2017-18 Premier League campaign has
reached it’s penultimate and decisive period. Jose’s men are fighting hard to
attain the 2nd spot and are trying to add pressure on leaders
Manchester City, which may seem a very daunting task with all the injuries and
inconsistent performances coming from the United side, who are having
difficulties in their engine room. With injuries to Marouane Fellaini and Ander
Herrera, United are restricted to a midfield of Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick,
Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay.
Despite being in three competitions, namely, the Champions
League knock-out stages, FA Cup quarter-finals and the Premier League, Jose
will have to construct his midfield pivot around these available players.
Fellaini is out for a couple of months, Herrera also injured for few weeks.
With Ander’s on-going match fixing trial, it will be very difficult for him to
concentrate on his game, when he returns, as it is psychologically difficult
for a professional player to produce consistent displays when he has just
shaken off an injury and has his mind running on a situation which threatens
his career. Captain, Michael Carrick is set to retire at the end of the season
and join the back-room staff. At 36, he is a mentor to the players, a leader
and the most experienced player in the squad. But, given his age, it will be
very difficult for him to maintain the required level of fitness in this pacey
league. However, he is still fully committed and doesn’t disappoint whenever
summoned on the pitch. This leaves us to our remaining and most obvious
midfield three of, Pogba, Matic and McTominay. Matic has been a very important
part of the team, becoming the anchor of the side in a holding midfield role.
Pogba, on the other hand, is the more attacking minded option. But, given his recent
performances his first priority will be to get back into the good books of the
gaffer.
| McTominay will play an important part in the coming weeks. |
This leaves us with McTominay. The 21-year-old midfielder
and academy graduate has been catching the eye of the manager and all the fans
due to his recent good form. Due to all the injuries, the manager has put his
faith in the young player. At 6”4, McTominay has got the physique of a perfect
Mourinho player. His versatile qualities allow him to play anywhere in midfield
and occasionally, also as an auxiliary striker, which he played in, during his
time with the reserve squad. He can score, pass, has good pace and a genuine
aerial threat due to his height. Having made a total of 15 appearances this
season, starting 7 of them. He has the quality to reach the top and become a
United great. Many personalities including, Mourinho, Sir Alex, who are giving
rave reviews for the youngster, the latter also telling Jose to play him more
often, which is looking more likely. Carrick has announced him as his successor
and is determined to train, develop and mentor his apprentice even further,
also given the fact that Carrick will be his coach next season.
Scott has shown time and again that he has the tendency to
control the game. His precision passing and excellent man-marking qualities are
superb. That clearly showed during the recent victory against Chelsea, where he
kept Eden Hazard at bay, just like Herrera did last season. However, he is
still young and makes few mistakes, but that’s all in the process of becoming a
top-class player. The only thing that will help him is more game time. With
Herrera out and inconsistent, McTominay will definitely be the first-choice
player in the starting XI, until Herrera and Fellaini return. But, given United’s
midfield requirement and sole aim of creating a midfield around Pogba, who
prefers to place in a three-man-midfield, McTominay will be the perfect choice
to complete the trio, giving it a fair balance of attacking, defending and
controlling the tempo of the playing style. McTominay will definitely instil
positive energy during the match, and will also allow attacking freedom to
Pogba, thus creating more chances. His vast versatility, composure, confidence
and hard-work will be beneficial for United in the coming weeks. These
qualities and his role in the squad will dictate the performances of his
teammates as he will be the axis in the midfield. He will be a complete
surprise package and wildcard in the coming days. Former u-23s boss Warren
Joyce, who played a crucial part in developing McTominay said that he plays in a
number 10 role but has got the physique, calmness and technical ability of a
box-to-box midfielder. He also possesses, great strength and ball control even
though he is tall. He will also fit into Jose’s policy of defending when out of
possession and all out attack when the club have possession. Thus, shunning his
park the bus style.
| McTominay played very well against Chelsea. |
Things won’t get any easier for him yet. Because, there will
be tremendous pressure on him to perform, as he may be drafted straight in the
line-up due to the injuries to other first teamers and pressure to dictate the
tempo of the game, as without him, Pogba will not get the support. There also
comes the factor, that he has not yet represented a country at international
level, and may be in line for an international debut very soon. Born in
England, Scott is eligible to play for England and Scotland, and both the teams
are fighting over his signature. Scotland boss, Alex McLeish and England boss
Gareth Southgate are both interested in the prodigy. Sir Alex wants him to
represent Scotland, but, Jose Mourinho wants him to develop under Gareth
Southgate at England. There is a higher probability that he will choose
Scotland over England as he will get more playing time and due to his current
form, he may be drafted straight into the senior squad.
It was always clear that McTominay was in Jose’s plans and
has his trust or by now he would have been loaned out like Andreas Pereira,
Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, Mitchell and others. Given Jose’s history with promoting
and developing youth, Scott will change the stereotype by becoming a pioneer in
Jose’s youth revolution at United. Jose publicly stated that the club will sign
a top-class midfielder in the summer as, Fellaini could leave in the summer,
Carrick will retire and Herrera’s inconsistent form. Should this happen, it
will be clear that McTominay may not get that amount of game time which he is
getting now.
| Jose has put all his faith in young Scott. |
To conclude, McTominay will be an integral part of the team
and his performance will influence the form of the players around him. He will
be a very crucial factor and will be in the spotlight of the manager who has
put his full faith in him, and will be in the spotlight of the fans, media and
national team scouts and managers.
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