At the start of Erik ten Hag’s third season, debate continues to rage about the balance of Manchester United’s midfield.
There was some initial promise about a new-look four man set-up of Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount.
Until, of course, the latter suffered yet another injury blow following an excellent first 45 minutes away at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Forced into a midfield three – and denied the services of their most effective presser – Manchester United were catapulted back to that disastrous 2023/24 campaign as Liverpool ran riot at Old Trafford before the September international break.
With the United bosses reportedly harbouring ‘serious concerns’ over Ten Hag’s tactical approach, per The Guardian, whether or not the Dutchman can find a solution to the Red Devils’ long-running midfield issues could be deciding factor as to whether he survives the Ineos axe.
Manchester United sold Scott McTominay to Napoli
The £25 million sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli – a decision driven by Profit and Sustainability concerns – also removes Ten Hag’s primary midfield goal threat outside of captain Bruno Fernandes.
The Scotland international provided a reminder of his box-crashing talents with two goals in two matches to start the UEFA Nations League campaign.
Joined at Napoli by Tartan Army team-mate Billy Gilmour, there is a feeling that Antonio Conte is now a giant step closer to solving his own midfield puzzle while Ten Hag is still scrambling around for the missing corner pieces in his incomplete jigsaw.
“Gilmour and McTominay are two excellent players with a very respectable pedigree,” former Serie A centre-back Lorenzo Amoruso tells Radio Kiss Kiss. “And they demonstrated it with a goal each (against Poland at Hampden Park).”
Amoruso, who spent six years in Scotland himself with Rangers, was surprised to see Napoli succeed in their pursuit of McTominay.
And, from a outside perspective, you can understand his confusion. McTominay was one of the few reliable goalscorers and one of the stand-out performers in a largely dismal Man United campaign after all.
“I’m surprised that Manchester United had decided not to continue to develop McTominay among their ranks. A player who is rising exponentially,” adds a bemused Amoruso, the all-action Carrington graduate perhaps the perfect foil alongside workaholic Gilmour and the deep-lying Stanislav Lobotka.
“(The signing is) good for Napoli. Antonio knows them well. And I think he knows equally well that they are two players who can co-exist on the pitch together, perhaps, with (Stanislav) Lobotka.
“It will take a lot of collaboration and brains from these guys because, in Italy, having balance within the two phases of the game is fundamental.
“Even though Napoli don’t have (European) competition, these two guys will keep the level of intensity high as well as raising the competitiveness with their team-mates in that department.”
Can McTominay fire Napoli to Serie A glory again?
McTominay’s arrival has turned heads aplenty over in Italy.
Labelled a ‘stratospheric’ addition by some – Napoli needed reinforcements after a dreadful title defence which saw them finished tenth – the 2023 Scudetto winners have been tipped to challenge for top honours again under perennial champion Conte.
McTominay and Gilmour also continue a proud recent tradition of Scottish footballers making the move to Serie A.
Aaron Hickey and Josh Doig have also made a name for themselves in mainland Europe, while former Aberdeen starlet Lewis Ferguson captained Thiago Motta’s Bologna into the Champions League.
“I think British footballers are subverting the not very happy tradition of the past decades. Ferguson did very well in Bologna and was targeted by many important clubs,” adds Amoruso, who also had a spell at Blackburn Rovers in the 2000s.
“Unfortunately, in the past, Scottish football did not have the media coverage it deserved.
“There has been an evolution from many points of view; tactical, physical and technical. Consequently, in our league, they can represent a very important reservoir of talent.”
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