[Manchester United] Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo
4/19/2005
175cm, Right Footed
England/Ghana
Manchester United
6/27/2027 Contract
+1year option to extend
Kobbie Mainoo is a player best suited for central midfield or defensive midfield positions, but in the U-23 team, he has also played as an attacking midfielder, showcasing exceptional creativity and excellent long-passing abilities.
He is from Stockport, United Kingdom, and is eligible for also Ghana.
In European nations, it is common to find individuals with dual nationality, especially those with African heritage.
A similar case is that of Tariq Lamptey, who represented Ghana in the 2022 World Cup and played in a match against South Korea. Lamptey, like Kobbie Mainoo, exemplifies the trend of players with dual nationality participating in international competitions.
Kobbie Mainoo began his football journey at Cheadle & Gatley's Juniors, and at the age of 9, he joined the Manchester United Academy.
Kobbie Mainoo garnered (not James) significant praise and high expectations during his time in the youth team at Manchester United. The legendary central midfielder Roy Keane didn't hesitate to commend him, and Mainoo lived up to the expectations by playing in all four preseason matches during the 2022-2023 season.
His impressive performances caught the eye of the manager, Ten Hag, who singled him out as one of the standout players during training in Spain. Mainoo's promising start and recognition from both Keane and the coaching staff speak volumes about his potential and talent in the midfield.
It's unfortunate that Kobe Mynu's promising preseason performance was marred by an ankle injury during the game against Real Madrid. The injury has sidelined him for three months, delaying his debut for the season.
It's an interesting development in Kobbie Mainoo's journey.
Until the game on October 21, 2023, he was excluded from the squad due to the ankle injury. However, due to other players' injuries and absences from the Manchester United lineup, Mainoo found himself on the bench for the first time in the Manchester Derby on October 29, 2023, in the 10th round of the English Premier League.
Then, on November 26, 2023, in the 13th round against Everton, Mainoo was named in the starting lineup, forming the midfield alongside Scott McTominay. It's a significant step for Mainoo to be part of the starting XI, and it indicates his progress in overcoming the earlier injury setback. Fans and followers of Manchester United will be eager to see how he contributes to the team in the matches ahead.
Afterward, in the Champions League match against Galatasaray on November 29, 2023, Kobbie Mainoo made his debut, playing for 32 minutes.
Despite being younger than the youth player Willy Kambwala, who also debuted this season, why did he get the debut opportunity earlier?"
https://tonnykang.tistory.com/19
tonnykang.tistory.com
Ten hag likes to start with a lineup of 4 defenders but he prefrers
3-2 or 2-3 build up situations
with a lineup like 4-2-3-1
Manchester United's both fullbacks tend to have an offensive role
So, primarily, Diogo Dalot or Luke Shaw tend to position themselves deep alongside Kobbie Mainoo, initially through underlapping movements.
Mainoo's midfield partner, an attacking midfielder, takes a more advanced position.
In alignment with this, Victor Lindelof, who was often playing as a right full-back during his time at Benfica, opens up the right side, allowing the defensive line to move dynamically, almost like a back three.
This pursuit of a 3-2 situation allows for fluidity in the defensive structure. When facing weaker opponents who seek a more dominant play, both full-backs push up, presenting a 2-3 build-up scenario. This tactical approach aims to achieve a more controlling style of play and adapt to different situations during the match.
Kobbie Mainoo's midfield partner, in the case of Everton, McTominay or the underlapping full-backs, rather than directly involving themselves in the build-up, work to drag and engage opposition players, creating space for Mainoo, who is confident in his passing abilities.
This allows opportunities for the ball to be played directly to players like Bruno Fernandes or Rasmus Hojlund, who come down from the defensive line to use their physicality to retain possession. Alternatively, it creates opportunities to swiftly progress the ball into more dangerous areas through quick passes after receiving the ball from Mainoo.
The role that Mynu plays in these situations, acting as a link between the defensive and attacking phases, is known as the Pivot. This position requires exceptional technique and quick passing timing, allowing the player to receive the ball and distribute it rapidly even under pressure. While challenging, if successful, the Pivot becomes a crucial position that can eliminate opposition players from the play with just one pass or touch, serving as a key link between the starting point and destination of the attack.
Recently, a youth player with a similar role is James Garner. While playing a crucial role at Everton and garnering high expectations from many Manchester United fans, especially during Nottingham Forest's promotion season in the Championship, he unfortunately made a move to Everton. Currently, he is consistently performing in matches for Everton, leaving behind the anticipation he had generated among Manchester United supporters.
As a result, Ten Hag has consistently sought to make an offer for Frenkie De Jong to play in this role. Additionally, Michael Carrick, who played alongside Park Ji-sung at Manchester United in the past, serves as a role model for Kobbie Mainoo.
However, it's worth noting that when Michael Carrick joined Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur, he was the seventh most expensive signing in the club's history. In contrast, Kobbiee Mainoo, with no transfer fee, is a presence akin to a gift during what could be described as a nightmare season for Manchester United, especially given his youth player status.
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