“It’s a very big problem. If he doesn’t do anything about it he will end up becoming a flop. He must take necessary action to avoid same issue Ngolo Kante had before he became a world star”-Alan Pardew has spotted a potential problem with Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United

Alan Pardew has given his verdict on Manchester United defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo after watching him in action against Tottenham Hotspur this past weekend.The former Newcastle United manager and talkSPORT pundit thinks that Mainoo’s stature is a problem for him.

Alan Pardew notes a potential problem with Kobbie MainooWell, Manchester United faced Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the Premier League this past weekend. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. Kobbie Mainoo started the game for the Red Devils. United manager Erik ten Hag deployed the 18-year-old as one of two holding midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Christian Eriksen was the other holding midfielder. It was a really strange decision to play the former Tottenham star in that role given that the Dane is a playmaker by trade.Mainoo is a natural defensive midfielder, and he played well against Spurs. Arsenal legend Ian Wright was impressed.

While former West Ham United manager Alan Pardew rated Mainoo highly, he does not think that he has the stature to play the holding midfield role and win headers, like the likes of Manchester City star Rodri and West Ham United ace Declan Rice do.Pardew said about Mainoo on talkSPORT (6:56 pm, January 14, 2024): “One of the problems you have got with Mainoo, he is not big, in that sitting position in front of the back-four where you have Rodri and people like that, you know, Rice, you have usually got that third fourth header of the ball, and he is not going to be that. So, that’s a downside to him in that team.“And also, obviously, he is an outstanding player, but in the team, you need those four, five dominant headers of the ball, and Man United looked weak at set plays.”

My View: There is no need to worry about Kobbie MainooKobbie Mainoo is 5ft 9in. While I agree that the Manchester United defensive midfielder is not the biggest of players, there is no cause for concern at all.Just because Mainoo may not always win headers does not mean that he will not develop into a top-class defensive midfield. After all, he is only 18 now, and he is already playing for arguably the biggest club in England. Micah Richards rates him highly.N’Golo Kante is one of the best defensive midfielders the Premier League has ever seen. The 32-year-old former Leicester City and Chelsea midfielder is 5f 6in.