After a disastrous last season, changes were expected at Manchester United, both in terms of personnel and style of play with Erik ten Hag tasked with bringing the club out of this rut and into the light.
After just three additions and two comprehensive defeats to kick off the new Premier League season, Ten Hag was said to be furious at the lack of support from the club’s hierarchy.
Midfield was identified as a point of particular concern, as players in that position were not considered good enough to carry out Ten Hag’s plans.
Casemiro’s struggles or Scott’s brilliance?
United were forced into action and ended up paying an initial £60m for midfield enforcer Casemiro after they failed to land Frenkie de Jong’s long-term goal.
The Brazilian was expected to go straight into the squad alongside Fred and in place of the much-criticized Scott McTominay.
But the Scot has found extra gear in his game and has managed to keep the former Real Madrid man out of the squad for three games in a row with Casemiro playing just 51 minutes in his three substitute appearances.
Ten Hag has been quick to point out the rationale behind his decision making. “He’s new, he has to adapt to the team,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s win over Arsenal. “He has to get used to my way of playing football. The other thing, Scott McTominay is playing very well.”
Thank you tweet from Scott McTominay. He has been immense in the last four games. ???? pic.twitter.com/BA6RpZPvTO
— The United Devils (@TheUnitedDevils) September 5, 2022
The Scottish international has always divided the fans.
“To some, he is ‘McSauce’ or ‘McDominate’, the plucky and ambitious prospect from the local academy who brings much-needed energy and aggressiveness to United’s midfield and could one day become captain.
“For others, McTominay’s ingenuity in receiving and passing the ball is a hindrance and his physique often gets it wrong,” Carl Anka wrote in his article for The Athletic.
How Scott has kept Casemiro out
The truth lies somewhere in between. Yes, he has his limitations in terms of ball-playing ability, but with the addition of Christian Eriksen, he’s managed to stick to his destroyer role, something he’s much more adept at.
His height and ability to use his physique during aerial and ground duels has added his importance to the plans of Ten Hag, who prefers to stick to a winning formula as connections on the field begin to become automatic.
And it is that the Dutch coach has already commented that he plans to use the entire squad and that anyone from the bench can go up and secure his place in the first team, something that will be music to the ears of the Brazilian international.
“Scott McTominay may one day make room for Casemiro in the starting lineup, but there is a method to the repeated selection of the Manchester United man,” Anka succinctly summarized.
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