Advertisement
Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

Neville: 'I'm not sure he's actually good enough on the ball to be a Man Utd midfield player'

Scott McTominay may be better suited to a centre-back post, according to the former United defender.

SCOTT McTOMINAY LACKS the ball-playing ability to be a Manchester United midfielder, says Gary Neville, with the 21-year-old better suited to a centre-back post.

The Old Trafford academy graduate has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2017-18, with Jose Mourinho having drafted him into the senior fold for 21 appearances. McTominay has also earned international recognition, with England snubbed in favour of representing Scotland.

The youngster is, however, still learning his craft and may be forced into a positional switch before fully establishing himself for club and country.

Neville believes that will see McTominay shunted backwards, with United requiring greater creativity in an engine room which already includes the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.

The former Red Devils defender told Sky Sports on an area of the field which has proved problematic for Mourinho at times: โ€œPogba has fallen short in terms of quality [this season] โ€” far too inconsistent.

โ€œMcTominay, when I watch him, Iโ€™m not sure heโ€™s actually good enough on the ball to be a Man United midfield player. I do think heโ€™s the type that itโ€™s good for him to play games in there โ€” but I do wonder whether if actually heโ€™s got more of a position at centre back eventually, the physicality that he has.

โ€œHeโ€™s a big lad. Is he sharp enough on the ball to be a Man United central midfield player?โ€

McTominay made his debut towards the end of the 2016-17 season, with a first Premier League outing taken in against Arsenal.

The current campaign has seen him make his bow in the Champions League, while also committing his long-term future to United by penning a new deal through to 2021.

โ€˜Even people over here wonder how a team like Dundalk managed to achieve thatโ€™

Our back four are pretty much all wingers so itโ€™s a makeshift defence but they were outstandingโ€™

Author
View 17 comments
Close
17 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hibernicus
    Favourite Hibernicus
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 1:54 PM

    I like GAA too! If only I cold find a way to wriggle out of my PAYE obligations, I could then throw out a bit of the cash Iโ€™d save to my pet sport and everyone would say Iโ€™m a great fella.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Ford
    Favourite Richard Ford
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 1:55 PM

    @Hibernicus: Thereโ€™s always one who has nothing good to say.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hibernicus
    Favourite Hibernicus
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 2:59 PM

    @Richard Ford: You misunderstood, I am inspired & keen to emulate the great man!

    5
    See 5 more replies โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rocky R
    Favourite Rocky R
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 3:36 PM

    @Hibernicus: the man owns and runs a Swiss based company where he is clearly doing pretty well. This is also where he pays tax. I appreciate that might be a difficult concept to wrap your head around when youโ€™ve likely spent your life in the one village.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Ford
    Favourite Richard Ford
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 3:51 PM

    @Hibernicus: . Well then please do your very best to do so. All donations gratefully accepted Hibernicus.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Odeier
    Favourite Paul Odeier
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 3:59 PM

    @Hibernicus: typical

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hibernicus
    Favourite Hibernicus
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 5:53 PM

    @Paul Odeier: succinct!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David o'shanahan
    Favourite David o'shanahan
    Report
    Dec 16th 2023, 8:49 PM

    @Hibernicus:you come across as a great fella.revenue are crying out for great fellas

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Kennedy
    Favourite Mike Kennedy
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 4:29 PM

    As I said to Shane below, we are a tax haven. Tax avoidance is the way of the world. We gratefully accept multiple billions from corporations who base their headquarters here to avoid tax. We canโ€™t have it both ways. People be careful not to fall off their high horses.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Griffin
    Favourite Shane Griffin
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 2:59 PM

    Fantastic balanced journalism from the headline down, exactly why I decided to pay for a subscription.

    I look forward to the day when I can stop paying tax like all the smart people and donate an iPad to the club raffle for a gushing write-up in the local paper.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Staed
    Favourite David Staed
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 4:23 PM

    @Shane Griffin: When are you expecting to become one of the smart people?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Kennedy
    Favourite Mike Kennedy
    Report
    Dec 15th 2023, 4:25 PM

    @Shane Griffin: how do you feel about the fact that Ireland is a tax haven? Do you think we should send back the multiple billions we receive from tax dodging corporations every year???

    13
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel