04 Jul 2026 17:25:37
And still people doubt Mainoo. He was our best player in the end part of the season, operating in a midfield 2 with Cas who has no legs. Cas was a fine player for us but his age was clearly showing so even more credit to Mainoo who was having to cover more ground.
Scott and Mainoo couldn't operate as a 2 apparently, what poppycock. Scott is no Cas and likely never will be, but he has energy and legs.
Mainoo isn't good enough to operate in a 2 with anyone, also poppycock. He managed it with an ageing Cas, of course he can manage it with a more energetic younger partner.
It's all about opinions, I happen to have different ones on this.
04 Jul 2026 21:25:46
Ajh, I think Kobbie is a superb player. I also believe that as brilliant as Cas was for us in the end, he lacked energy and, at times, struggled in a 2. I think Kobbie is going to seriously benefit from having an intelligent, strong, athletic midfielder beside him. He will look even better.
Also, watching England, I think Kobbie would be superb in a 2 with either Rice or Anderson. I think he is completely different to those two, and in tighter games, we have seen he is a clutch player.
I do not understand how he doesn't get into this England side.
05 Jul 2026 01:20:13
Did I miss something in Mainoo?
I just don't understand why some of his coaches rate him so highly, like Carrick and Eth and Southgate and Amorim and Tuchel. Others don't seem to have been impressed or trust him at all.
It's weird to me, as they seem to be all in on him or all out.
Tuchel was obviously impressed with his play for United, but since he has spent time with him, he has not played him.
I'm not seeing what Amorim or Tuchel see.
But if they don't think he has the attributes to what they want, you have to respect that.
Coaches pick the teams. You either support the coach or you don't. When you support the manager, you can't complain when he doesn't pick the team you want imo.
England have a great chance to progress in this game. I don't like Tuchel's approach personally. But he's the boss.
05 Jul 2026 04:32:09
Mainoo just didn't get a chance to show what he can do.
Anderson and Rice are unlikely to be dropped, especially now, as the games get tighter and defense is key. I think he likes the solidity. Anderson was brilliant for the second Kane goal. He drove forwards and basically forced Bellingham to run in behind, and the pass was then perfect for Bellingham to run onto.
Mainoo is unlucky for England, and may still get his chance. Earlier in the season and last season, he was not playing well. He finished the season playing very well and was a major difference for us.
05 Jul 2026 08:48:12
Ajh,
Hopefully that happens. It would be nice to have two young English players in midfield. They could forge the spine of this team for years to come. It would also help with the HG quota as well, although Utd could just promote youth players, which isn't ideal as Utd currently lack the strength and depth at this moment in time.
05 Jul 2026 10:59:07
Just my observation on Mainoo. He moves well with the ball, breaks through a press, runs at difficult defences, and creates. Something we could have done with against Ghana.
He lacks recovery pace, so when he gets in front of the ball, he isn't able to recover quick enough, and he gets in front because his positioning seems to get him too far forward, and not closely or tightly enough in conjunction with the relevant teammate.
He tends to be slightly out of position when trying to press, and they get through a touch easily. I suspect that would concern Tuchel, especially against the better teams trying to sit deep and spring fast counter attacks. So, he is good going forward, but in a two, centrally, there are questions.
For me, he is in between a CM and a 10. Played with the solidity of a central three, he could be really good.
05 Jul 2026 11:30:32
Cas told us all exactly everything you need to know about Mainoo. No more needs saying on it really. It even explains why some coaches just don't put him in. Hard to see why you don't get that!
Scott and Mainoo as 2 midfielders would be a disaster, imo.
Yes, Scott got legs, but if you think that makes up for Cas's experience, even with no legs, you are deluded. If Mainoo doesn't get experience next to him, he will struggle, like he does with Ugarte, who does have legs if nothing else.
05 Jul 2026 13:03:09
Jsu,
So not Scott, not Cas, not Ugarte. At what point does it dawn that Mainoo in a central midfield two is the issue rather than the partner being inadequate?
05 Jul 2026 13:03:52
Ken. It's the most German, England side I've ever seen. ?
Just pure athletes everywhere, and I think that's where Rice and Anderson win over Kobbie. They are machines.
I don't believe they are more intelligent, wise, but they are relentless, and that's why I actually think Kobbie with one of them would be perfect.
I would actually believe that Declan Rice would be a better CB option than anyone they have right now. I feel it's the most shaky part of this England team, and having someone like him back there would solidify the back 4.
Remember, Rice is also a CB.
But anyway, Tuchel has what he wants in his head, and Kobbie isn't it. Had he played Kobbie in the group games, I'm in no doubt Kobbie would have made a positive difference, and that would have meant a clamouring for him to play. I don't think that would have helped Tuchel's idea of how he wants this team set up.
05 Jul 2026 12:40:08
I accept he lacks pace Redman.
JSU, poppycock, to pick one thing Cas said, and ignore everything else he said, which was very complimentary, is childish. I don't think in the 14 years I have been on here I have struggled to agree with a poster less often than you, you seem to revel in being negative.
05 Jul 2026 13:21:51
Red man, JSU, don't know what you're watching.
05 Jul 2026 14:14:53
angel
Forgot you cannot make any observations about players you think are untouchable.
05 Jul 2026 14:33:47
AJH, that hurts me. You and I go a long way back wrt Rashford. ? ? ? ?
05 Jul 2026 14:31:15
Jsu cas has an opinion it doesn't make it necessarily so.
You are so narrow minded its dumb
05 Jul 2026 18:36:51
Red Man, the irony. ?
I don't think he is untouchable, I just don't know what you are watching to have that opinion, that's all.
05 Jul 2026 22:43:19
Cas was very complimentary about him. He actually said he was brilliant and could be anything he wants to be, but he needs to be pushed all the time. In training and in games, clearly that's what coaches see. He is just too laid back, and needs a rocket up his ...
Clearly talented but lacks that motivation. Can you ever learn that drive?
Clearly not just Cas' opinion, but Ken, Tuchel, Amorim too, and they have seen more of him than you or I.