{"id":630548,"date":"2023-10-10T06:27:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T10:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=630548"},"modified":"2023-10-10T06:27:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T10:27:22","slug":"scott-mctominay-manchester-united-savior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/10\/10\/scott-mctominay-manchester-united-savior\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;So Happy I have Him in My Squad&#8217;: Erik ten Hag&#8217;s Job May Continue To Be Saved by Man Utd Match Winner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It may seem like a bandwagon-jumping statement to suggest that Scott McTominay is the player who can save Erik ten Hag&#8217;s job at Man Utd in the coming weeks but there is more to come from the Scotland international after his stoppage-time double to secure a 2-1 against Brentford.<\/p>\n<p>Last Word on Football takes a look at his key attributes and why he may just be the most valuable player at the manager&#8217;s disposal for the upcoming fixtures after the international break.<\/p>\n<p>[metabet_core_game_tile query=&#8221;536630&#8243; size=&#8221;350&#215;300&#8243; show_granular=&#8221;yes&#8221; style=&#8221;fraction&#8221; site_id=&#8221;lastwordonsports&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Squad is to Be Tested but Ten Hag Has Ace Up His Sleeve<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Watch:<\/strong> Manchester United&#8217;s SECRET Problem That Ten Hag CAN&#8217;T Fix<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Manchester United&#039;s SECRET Problem That Ten Hag CAN&#039;T Fix\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nsdrBsJsIG0?start=52&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>McTominay Completes United&#8217;s Versatility in Midfield<\/h3>\n<p>The make-up of the club&#8217;s midfield has been analysed intently since the start of the season. If we were in an ideal world, Casemiro would break up opposition attacks, move forward and add goals when the forwards were struggling to score. Sofyan Amrabat would dictate play from deep, providing cover defensively when needed and this would allow captain Bruno Fernandes to be at his creative best without having to worry about his defensive duties as often as he has done so this season.<\/p>\n<p>Mason Mount would be another attack-minded option when he settles into whatever role the manager has in mind for him. Christian Eriksen is another option to dictate play from deep and very few possess his qualities as a deep-lying playmaker. However, none of this has clicked into place due to tactical changes, injuries and a slow integration process for some of the newcomers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/10\/09\/manchester-united-andre-onana\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">\u2018Far From His Best\u2019: Fabrizio Romano Reveals Man Utd\u2019s Current Stance On Struggling Star After Difficult Start<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is one variable left out of these options and McTominay offers the Red Devils an aerial threat, excellent ball-carrying skills and a knack for getting forward and supporting attacks when the team needs him to do so.<\/p>\n<p>The 26-year-old is United through and through with his commitment levels second to none amongst this current squad. He is effective in both boxes and having a player with these attributes when the team is struggling gives the team a highly versatile player who can be turned to regardless of who the opposition is or how the game has turned out.<\/p>\n<h3>Club Legend Highlights Midfielder&#8217;s Value<\/h3>\n<p>Peter Schmeichel was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.football365.com\/news\/man-utd-schmeichel-blasts-ten-hag-treatment-brentford\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">full of praise for McTominay<\/a> after his late double sealed a comeback victory over Brentford and questioning why the player was up for sale in the summer:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He\u2019s got the ability to do that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t understand what coaches are doing. Scott McTominay was up for sale all summer and I don\u2019t understand that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/10\/07\/man-utd-glazers-biggest-signings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Analysing Man Utd\u2019s Five Biggest Signings of the Glazer\u2019s Era &amp; What Went Wrong<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The club&#8217;s former goalkeeper went on to speak about what the player can offer:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He\u2019s a fantastic player, you need utility players. You need players that can play different positions, that can come from the bench and change the course of the game and he\u2019s one of them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Manager Has Previously Spoken on Brentford Hero&#8217;s Significance<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Scott McTominay included in Premier League Team of the Week <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZioX25TXKO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ZioX25TXKO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SirNurain \ua9c1IP\ua9c2 (\u00d8,G) (@UTDNurain) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UTDNurain\/status\/1711668326756176256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It is not the first time the manager has recognised the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.manutd.com\/en\/news\/detail\/erik-ten-hag-reacts-to-man-utd-2-everton-0-on-8-april-2023\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">midfielder&#8217;s importance<\/a> to the squad, speaking after the win over Everton in April, he stated:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;McTominay is a great player, a big personality, and I\u2019m so happy I have him in my squad, with his energy and never giving up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>If the Red Devils had lost at home to Brentford we likely would have been just one more poor result away from the Dutchman facing the sack. If the team collected anything less than three points away to basement dwellers Sheffield United a decision would have had to be made around the progress this side is making.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/10\/08\/manchester-united-monitoring-brazilian-wonderkid-luis-guilherme\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Fabrizio Romano Reveals Man Utd Scouting \u2018Phenomenal Wonderkid\u2019 in South America<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The next three games after the Blades against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, the Manchester derby and the Carabao Cup game against Newcastle could leave the team all but out of Europe, out of the cup they won last season and miles off the race for the top four.<\/p>\n<h3>McTominay&#8217;s Importance Will Become Clear as Vital Period for Ten Hag&#8217;s Job at Man Utd Beckons<\/h3>\n<p>McTominay&#8217;s qualities are going to be a key factor if positive results are to be achieved at Old Trafford in the coming weeks. Casemiro is suspended for the Copenhagen game meaning a goal threat and energy will be depleted from midfield, an area that has already been struggling in most outings this campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The derby against Manchester City will be difficult to navigate tactically as despite Pep Guardiola and his side&#8217;s recent struggles, adopting an attacking approach may leave United vulnerable and the treble winners have the quality to pick off any team. If the red side of Manchester can keep the game tight then their match-winning midfield can make the difference in the closing stages.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2023\/10\/04\/erik-ten-hag-records-man-utd\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Five Shocking Records Set by Erik ten Hag After Man Utd\u2019s 3-2 Loss to Galatasaray<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The fixtures list is quite heavy at this time of year and with every game crucial to halt the current poor run of form, rotation will be essential to stay competitive in every competition. Changes will need to be made for the midweek Carabao Cup meeting with Newcastle and with the regular starters needed for the fight to stay in Europe and maintain a respectable position fighting for the top four, the Scotland international may just be the key to the team ticking over in midfield in a repeat of last season&#8217;s final.<\/p>\n<p>McTominay has a crucial role to play if Ten Hag is to see out this tricky period and keep hold of his job as manager of Man Utd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It may seem like a bandwagon-jumping statement to suggest that Scott McTominay is the player who can save Erik ten Hag&#8217;s job at Man Utd in the coming weeks but there is more to come from the Scotland international after his stoppage-time double to secure a 2-1 against Brentford. Last Word on Football takes a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4692,"featured_media":629744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,3],"tags":[1950],"class_list":["post-630548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manchester-united","category-premier-league","tag-scott-mctominay"],"modified_by":"Alex Richards, LWOF Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4692"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}