What Do Legends REALLY Think of Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo will become one of the best  midfielders in the world… Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch at the moment but some football legends  felt that way after his recent performances in November. From the good to the not-so-great  comments, here’s what some of the biggest names in the sport are saying about Kobbie Mainoo. United legend Roy Keane believes that Kobbie Mainoo has what it takes to be a Manchester United  kind of player and it is easy to see why. No one controlled the midfield bet

ter than the Irishman  in his heyday. After making his first competitive start for the club on November 26th, Kobbie  received a lot of praise from Keane. Keane agreed that his performance was unbelievable and that he  showed plenty of courage. He went further to say that he loved watching Kobbie and hoped that he  would remain injury-free. Here’s what Keane said about the midfielder. (Clip) (tweet) But Keane isn’t the only person who has been impressed by Kobbie Mainoo. Another United legend an

d former captain Gary Neville also thinks highly of the 18-year-old.  Neville remains one of the most decorated English footballers of all time, with a total of 20  trophies - including eight Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. Speaking about Mainoo,  he said, “The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say it, is that he looked  like a Man City player. I thought that was someone that Pep Guardiola would look  at and want to have in his midfield.” Really, it’s hard to bla

me Neville for making such  comments especially when you think of the fact that United hasn’t really had a player like Mainoo  with the flair and quality he brings. Besides, Man City is still the best team in the Premier  League, so I don’t think it was an insult to United because he was simply holding Kobbie to the  highest standard but if you disagree with my take, I’d love to hear you out in the comments. Neville also claimed that Manchester United only signed Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day b

ecause  of Kobbie’s injury. (Tweet). Kobbie had been one of Manchester United’s stars in the pre-season  before an ankle injury kept him out for 3 months. But how about we talk about a legend who played  for Man United’s bitter rivals, Manchester City, and see what he has to say about Kobbie. Micah Richards, who began his senior career with Manchester City, made 245 appearances across  all competitions in ten seasons for the club, winning a Premier League title and an FA  Cup. He also became the

youngest defender to be called up to the England squad after he  made his full England debut in November 2006. Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, the  former City right-back Micah Richards didn’t hold back in his praise for Mainoo and talked  about what he loved most about the teenager’s performance against Eberton. Richards who  has been a pundit since 2019 had this to say, “Whether it was clearing the ball off the line,  or beating a player in the middle of the park, he did it without

fear. I loved that he  didn’t shy away from the ball and looked composed and not under too much pressure.” Kobbie joined Manchester United in 2014 at the age of nine and signed his first professional contract  in May 2022, so this next player has watched him develop over the last couple of years. Current Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandez says that Kobbie put in a man-of-the-match performance  in United’s 3-0 win away at Everton. Bruno pointed out that the teenager was comfortable with  the bal

l and never made a mistake. He then went further to say that for his age, Kobbie had  so many qualities. In Fernandez’s words, “I always talk about Kobbie. I think he’s a special player  too. Obviously, people will not talk as much as they will about Garnacho because Garnacho scores  goals, gives assists, and everything. But what he (Mainoo) puts on the game, what he gives to  the team, it's known to anyone (in the squad). I think he has great players in front of him  to learn from…” But someone

else thinks there’s still room for improvement for the youngsters. United boss Ten Hag has come under criticism in recent weeks for some of Man United’s poor results  but we have to give him some credit for his work with the young talents. Like other greats, Ten Hag  also has a strong opinion of Mainoo and expects the 18-year-old to match his high standards.  Speaking to the club’s official website, Ten Hag said that the young players were on the team  to deliver results and contribute to the s

uccess of the team. When asked about what impressed  him most about Kobbie Mainoo, Ten Hag said, "His scanning. It looks like he always has time  because he is scanning, he is running free, then he is scanning to see the options and  then make the right decisions. He can delay, he can speed up. He makes the right decisions." Apparently, Ten Hag really believes in the midfielder because he has also hinted that  he is set for big things in the future. The Dutchman watched United’s match against Ev

erton at  Goodison Park from the stands due to a touchline ban but still had plenty of rave reviews for  United’s academy graduate. Ten Hag said in his post-match conference, "He (Kobbie) has a lot  of abilities and it was a really disappointing moment in pre-season when he got so badly injured,  for him but also for our team, because I know he can progress a lot if he plays as he did today.  I know young players can develop quickly. “We thought it was the moment to bring him in. He  did a great

job. Now he has to build on this.” This point of view is supported  by yet another all-time great at the club in the person of Paul Scholes. Paul Scholes remains widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and is  easily one of the greatest at Manchester United. Having made 718 appearances in the heart of the  midfield for the club, he certainly knows a thing or two about talent and Scholes has now called  for Kobbie Mainoo to be a permanent fixture in Manchester United's s

tarting XI moving forward. Scholes believes that Mainoo should be given a starting role because he offers the team more  control when he is playing. According to Scholes, 'I think Mainoo needs a run in the team. And  from what we saw at Everton on Sunday, I think now it’s time to give him a chance.' Scholes  also told TNT Sports that no one sensed danger as much as Mainoo. But Scholes couldn’t help but  criticize Ten Hag’s formation and midfield setup, stating that the manager just ‘can't seem

to  get it right' but he also admitted that Kobbie was the real deal and that he didn’t see anyone  protecting the back four as he could do. (link) But it’s not just Manchester United legends  alone who have waxed lyrical about Kobbie. English-born Jamaican former footballer, Robbie  Earle clocked in almost 300 appearances for Port Vale in the 80s and replicated his performances  and appearances in the midfield for Wimbledon in the 90s. Robbie Earle has admired Kobbie’s  performances from afar.

But he has even gone a step further by identifying some of the  subtle specifics about Mainoo’s game. Earle told CBS Sports, “He did something in  the second half where he dropped between two center-backs, the ball got worked back to  him and he took a touch, stood on the ball, and he almost went to Everton, ‘come and get  it’." That move for the former footballer, was the hallmark of self-confidence, which he  thinks is a major part of Mainoo’s game. According to Earle, “[It’s] something you do

when you are  27, 28, 29 when you are confident, in front of a big crowd. He waited, he looked around, he saw  the pass wasn’t on, he baited Calvert-Lewin, then he passed the ball, did a little give  and go, and that, regardless of ability, that mentality, 18 years of age is incredible.” Really, we can’t argue with most of the praise and hype that Kobbie Mainoo has received  because, in all honesty, he deserves every bit of it. But there’s just one thing… It’s still early days and Kobbie hasn’t

played too many games for Manchester United, so  it might be a good idea to go easy with the hype and pump the brakes just a little bit so we don’t  set him up by making outrageous demands from him. Kobbie Mainoo is still developing into the next  phase of his career but he sure looks like the real deal. What are your thoughts about Kobbie  Mainoo and Manchester United’s midfield setup?