Scott McTominay has been in positive kind for Manchester United of late and has even managed to maintain new signing Casemiro on the bench within the early phases of the season.
The worldwide break provides us a superb alternative to look underneath the hood and see the place he has shone and the place he might but enhance.
With 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, and 5.7 duels gained per 90 minutes (Sofascore), McTominay has been key in serving to his staff win the ball again in a midfield constructed across the artistic abilities of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.
He has been dependable sufficient in possession as nicely, with a gentle move completion charge of 82% regardless of noticeably trying to play extra optimistic passes basically.
Curiously, his passing has not suffered from altitude illness in any respect, with an 83% accuracy for passes accomplished within the opposition half.
McTominay’s ball retention has been aided by his distinctive 73% dribbling success charge, which has typically been used to nice impact in escaping opposition stress.
The stats definitely do seem to focus on the Scotsman’s upturn in performances underneath Erik ten Hag, however there are nonetheless areas he can enhance upon.
As identified above, his passing has been okay if unspectacular by way of each accuracy and creativity, so whereas it’s heading in the right direction, extra will be executed there.
His spectacular dribbling numbers have at instances been a double-edged sword as nicely and McTominay has been responsible of holding onto the ball for too lengthy on plenty of events.
This occurs notably typically within the remaining third, resulting in a breakdown in good attacking alternatives.
The power to reorient oneself to their choices on the go is a troublesome one to grasp however ought to McTominay enhance his consciousness and decision-making after a ahead burst, United will profit from the faster interaction the midfielder might provide.
A standard downside for McTominay has additionally been his common involvement in possession – making himself accessible to his teammates. It’s nonetheless one thing he appears to battle with a reasonably low touch-count of 45.3 per match.
That is considerably mitigated this season by him getting used as a ‘pessimist’ in midfield, nevertheless.
McTominay will typically make counter-runs quite than provide himself as a passing choice, primarily assuming that the subsequent move his teammate makes will cede possession and readying himself to win the ball again from the opposition instantly.
That method has its deserves, however a top-class holding midfielder is often in a position to prepared themselves for a worst-case situation and provide to recycle possession with the identical motion.
If McTominay actually does need to proceed holding Casemiro out of the staff, that type of motion is what he might want to provide.
Given his press-resistance and ever-improving passing skill, he ought to be a much more beneficial participant in possession than he presently is.
Having proven early indicators of taking to Ten Hag’s strategies, the longer term appears to be like vibrant for Scott McTominay.
