Ten Hag must finally end £60k-p/w dud’s 21-year Man Utd stay, he’s “not good enough” – opinion
Manchester United's revival under Erik ten Hag has been extremely impressive at times this season, but if the 7-0 defeat against Liverpool last weekend exposed anything, it was the Dutch manager's lack of depth.
Should Manchester United try to offload Scott McTominay?
Signings like Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro have been vital to United’s success so far this season, but they cannot be expected to feature in every game, especially with a quadruple still mathematically possible for Ten Hag’s team this late in the season.
Due to a dearth of competent substitutes in the middle of the park, the former Ajax manager has little choice but to start Casemiro in every critical game.
Scott McTominay is undoubtedly the best example of a player who has outstayed his welcome at Old Trafford, and Ten Hag should aim to replace him in the summer with a stronger option.
The Scottish international has been at United since he was five years old, yet after 21 years, he is still on the bench for the bulk of match days, with only 810 minutes of Premier League play this season.
His infrequent outings in the Premier League have further shown why he should depart Old Trafford in the summer, with WhoScored handing him a startling 6.44 rating for his performances, ranking him as the 20th-best player in Ten Hag’s squad.
The 26-year-old, who makes £60,000 per week, started alongside Fred in United’s 2-1 home loss to Brighton earlier this season and was chastised by former captain Roy Keane for his performance on Sky Sports.
According to Keane (via Manchester Evening News):
“The decision-making and football intelligence, especially from Fred — and I’ve said this for a long time — Fred and McTominay are not good enough.
“They won’t get Manchester United back contending at the top. We see that on a weekly basis. [They are] not capable.”
McTominay, while being primarily a defensive midfielder, ranks 10th in tackles, 13th in interceptions, and 12th in blocks per game this season, while Casemiro ranks first, second, and sixth in the same measures.
This highlights the fact that the academy graduate is insufficient as a replacement for the former Real Madrid man in United’s midfield, and if Ten Hag wants to enjoy similar success next season without having to play the Brazilian in every game, he should end McTominay’s 21-year stay at Old Trafford.
