Back up to Pogba?!

Walters_19_MuFc

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There's not many players around like Pogba, and it's clear we miss him when he doesnt play. Any team would!

To me, we need someone similar to step in when injured/rested.

My question is, who is out there who could bring a similar game to Pogba?

Someone who has the following attributes:

Good passing range
Vision
Keeps ball under pressure
Strong
Drives with the ball

Who's out there?
 
It’ll never happen but I’d have loved it if we got Modric’s twilight years.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
There's not many players around like Pogba, and it's clear we miss him when he doesnt play. Any team would!

To me, we need someone similar to step in when injured/rested.

My question is, who is out there who could bring a similar game to Pogba?

Someone who has the following attributes:

Good passing range
Vision
Keeps ball under pressure
Strong
Drives with the ball

Who's out there?
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It's the ball carrying we really missed today. Herrera and Matic both had space ahead of them so many times and opted for a sideways pass.
 
Isn't many players around that would match that criteria and be happy on the bench.

I can actually see why Jose wanted Bakayoko now as well as Matic, we despertely need somebody with some pace and energy in midfield when Pogba isn't around.

I think Savic from Lazio is the closest player you've mentioned who would be available.
 
Seri from Nice or Koke from Atletico, however, neither of those would be happy with a bit part role. We will have to either promote from within, or find a relatively obscure name with great potential.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
There's not many players around like Pogba, and it's clear we miss him when he doesnt play. Any team would!

To me, we need someone similar to step in when injured/rested.

My question is, who is out there who could bring a similar game to Pogba?

Someone who has the following attributes:

Good passing range
Vision
Keeps ball under pressure
Strong
Drives with the ball

Who's out there?
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Naby Keita - going to Liverpool.

Instead of a backup to Pogba I propose we have a team with multiple creative outlets.

Let's look at our most successful teams, the 1999 team and the 2008 team.

The 99 team had Giggs, Beckham and Scholes as primary creators. It also had Keane who could play from deep and Neville who'd get in on the overlaps.

The 08 team had Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Scholes, Giggs, Carrick who were all creative as well as Evra and Neville on the overlap. Rio could also play out from the back.

Who do we have now? Pogba and Valencia who regularly contribute to an attack, maybe Martial and Rashford but not on the same level as teams of old. The rest aren't doing well enough. The names that I should have typed first were Miki and Mata and neither of them are delivering. Herrera too. They're letting us down right now.
 
A new number 10 could make up for the loss of creativity when Pogba is out.

You will have a hard time finding a midfielder with that big a skillset, who would be happy to sit on the bench. Squad players usually come from demoting players already at the club or promoting youth players.

Won't find much better squad players than Herrera and Fellaini.
 
Zlatattack said:
Naby Keita - going to Liverpool.

Instead of a backup to Pogba I propose we have a team with multiple creative outlets.

Let's look at our most successful teams, the 1999 team and the 2008 team.

The 99 team had Giggs, Beckham and Scholes as primary creators. It also had Keane who could play from deep and Neville who'd get in on the overlaps.

The 08 team had Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Scholes, Giggs, Carrick who were all creative as well as Evra and Neville on the overlap. Rio could also play out from the back.

Who do we have now? Pogba and Valencia who regularly contribute to an attack, maybe Martial and Rashford but not on the same level as teams of old. The rest aren't doing well enough. The names that I should have typed first were Miki and Mata and neither of them are delivering. Herrera too. They're letting us down right now.
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I agree we need to have a creative force other than Pogba. Playing Martial-Lukakau-Rashford does not cut it for me. We must bring a RW/number 10 who is more creative than what we have.
 
Swift Football said:
I agree we need to have a creative force other than Pogba. Playing Martial-Lukakau-Rashford does not cut it for me. We must bring a RW/number 10 who is more creative than what we have.
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That front three could work in a 433 or 4231 but the three behind them need to be setup to provide them service or to exploit space they create. I agree about the 10.
 
YouOnlyLiveTwice said:
A new number 10 could make up for the loss of creativity when Pogba is out.

You will have a hard time finding a midfielder with that big a skillset, who would be happy to sit on the bench. Squad players usually come from demoting players already at the club or promoting youth players.

Won't find much better squad players than Herrera and Fellaini.
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The thing is, a new number 10 wouldnt have made a difference, in my opinion.

You want your 10 to find pockets of space and play in between the lines. If they drop too deep for the ball, which is what sometimes happens, you find the striker will be isolated.

What we need is someone from deep who can pick out the number 10, in order for them to create.
 
We should bring in two new midfielders, so that together with Pogba and Matic, we have 4 players that are good enough to play in a midfield three, and every combination of the four should be able to play together. Like City have with KDB, Silva, Fernandinho and Gundogan.
 
YouOnlyLiveTwice said:
A new number 10 could make up for the loss of creativity when Pogba is out.

You will have a hard time finding a midfielder with that big a skillset, who would be happy to sit on the bench. Squad players usually come from demoting players already at the club or promoting youth players.

Won't find much better squad players than Herrera and Fellaini.
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Spot on

We don't need a back up to Pogba we need more players that gives us what Pogba does so we're not so totally fecked when he doesn't play

Lingard deserved his place in the team today of course he did but he's not a creative number 10 like an Ozil, nor is he a central midfielder and playing him was always going to leave us light in midfield unless he had a Ji Sung Park v Pirlo type game

Fact is Mata just isn't good enough and Mkhitaryan is out of favour and realistically isn't good enough either so that's where we now need to spend big

City and Pep had a head start on us/Jose with the right investment pre Pep buying the likes of De Bruyne while LVG was wasting money on the likes of Memphis but we're getting there and any other season we'd be top of the league
 
charlenefan said:
Spot on

We don't need a back up to Pogba we need more players that gives us what Pogba does so we're not so totally fecked when he doesn't play

Lingard deserved his place in the team today of course he did but he's not a creative number 10 like an Ozil, nor is he a central midfielder and playing him was always going to leave us light in midfield unless he had a Ji Sung Park v Pirlo type game

Fact is Mata just isn't good enough and Mkhitaryan is out of favour and realistically isn't good enough either so that's where we now need to spend big

City and Pep had a head start on us/Jose with the right investment pre Pep buying the likes of De Bruyne while LVG was wasting money on the likes of Memphis but we're getting there and any other season we'd be top of the league
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You reckon Ozil would have made a difference today then?
 
Zlatattack said:
That front three could work in a 433 or 4231 but the three behind them need to be setup to provide them service or to exploit space they create. I agree about the 10.
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Both Martial and Rashford are very direct and do not have enough vision/execution or at least not consistent enough to produce in the biggest stages. Even when we have good midfield backing, I think we will do better if we have one more creative inside forward at one side of Lukaku.
 
Njord said:
We should bring in two new midfielders, so that together with Pogba and Matic, we have 4 players that are good enough to play in a midfield three, and every combination of the four should be able to play together. Like City have with KDB, Silva, Fernandinho and Gundogan.
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Unfortunately, Jose wont be moving to a midfield three anytime soon.
 
Pogba is one of a kind, so a similar type of player may not be available. But what is needed is an able assistant to play alongside Matic. Currently Herrera is not up to it. What is also missing is a number 10, Mkhitaryan's place needs replacement or he needs to find his confidence and form.

I would like to see Griezmann come in and add some world class quality. But if he is going to Barca, then Paulo Dybala could be a good alternative.
 
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I dont think the question is the quality of the midfield or a replacement for Pogba.
The problem is that is very hard be effective in the modern football without top full backs.
The most successful teams have at least one wc full back, or even two.
You see, we are an exception; look at Madrid, Barca, Bayern, Juventus, PSG, City.
 
It's ridiculous that if Pogba isn't available we cannot rely on Herrera or Fellaini to come in. Neither are even remotely in his class or have anywhere near the ability to create.

Look at City. They have KDB and David Silva as the starting creative midfielders. On the bench they have the likes of Bernardo and Gundogan who can come in and fufil that role.

We have too many not good enough squad players.
 
Charles Miller said:
I dont think the question is the quality of the midfield or a replacement for Pogba.
The problem is that is very hard be effective in the modern football without top full backs.
The most successful teams have at least one wc full back, or even two.
You see, we are an exception; look at Madrid, Barca, Bayern, Juventus, PSG, City.
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Agreed. It's laughable we are playing Ashley Young (who if we are honest, is a failed United winger), and Valencia who can't cross a ball.
 
Bwuk said:
Agreed. It's laughable we are playing Ashley Young (who if we are honest, is a failed United winger), and Valencia who can't cross a ball.
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Think about this: the same line up today, but with Marcelo and Carvajal.
Would be the same game? No way.
When you dont have attacking full backs the adversary only need to outnumber you in the midfield and game over.
 
charlenefan said:
I think someone who's comfortable and confident on the ball would have made a difference
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Id say Martial is, but that didnt make a difference. No point having those type of players if you cant get good service to them, and that all starts with our approach play, which was non existent today.

MyOnlySolskjaer said:
Ross Barkley.
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Good shout. Can play as a 10 too.

Bwuk said:
Yes, a player who isn't getting a game for a shocking Everton side is the answer.
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Maybe because he's been injured since the start of the season.
 
Bwuk said:
Yes, a player who isn't getting a game for a shocking Everton side is the answer.
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I think Ross Barkley plays like Pogba, just that Pogba is just flat out better in every facet. Technical skill to vision, Pogba is just more skillful as we all know. He would be a good back up that is useful whenever Pogba is out. I wouldn't want Barkley if his role was more than just being a Pogba back-up though.

Doubt it changes this outcome though. City are just better in possession and that comes down to how much work they put in that area of the game during training sessions.
 
We shouldn't be looking for a pogba back up and adding more dead wood

We need to replace the dead wood

Matic and Fernandinho are relatively similar players.

Compare the other two midfielders today de bruyne and Silvia vs Herrera and lingard and it is clear to see why we were utterly dominated.

Even add in pogba to the mix and city's attacking pair are better. We need to replace those players so pogba isn't the only creative outlet we have no accepting a back up
 
In Rainbows said:
I think Ross Barkley plays like Pogba, just that Pogba is just flat out better in every facet. Technical skill to vision, Pogba is just better as we all know. He would be a good back up that is useful whenever Pogba is out. I wouldn't want Barkley if his role was more than just being a Pogba back-up though.
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Think the same about Barkley but I also feel it’s not good to sign players with the intention of them being back ups. They’ll turn into deadwood and their values will drop. Might be better to go all out for a proper midfielder who we think can actually compete a place with Matic and Pogba and raise the squads level. Bayern Munich are a team that always look to improve their midfield, okay, it didn’t work out but they signed Renato Sanches for £40M when their midfield was already looking amazing. It’s always been their philosophy to keep improving rather than sitting on what they’ve got and that’s where we’ve fallen behind in recent times.

Wouldn’t mind if we did this for Weigl.
 
NextSeason said:
Not a backup at all but I'd love a player like Pjanic at United.
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He'd be great, he could help control the tempo as well as supply the attack with probing passes, we'd have to move to 4-3-3 though as like you say he's no back-up.
 
Zlatattack said:
That front three could work in a 433 or 4231 but the three behind them need to be setup to provide them service or to exploit space they create. I agree about the 10.
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Martial - Lukaku - Rashford don't work at all. They don't pose much of a threat in the games that actually matter. Maybe it's because Lukaku is out of form. But honestly, the threat of Sane - Aguero/ Jesus - Sterling are far more mature and dependable. The front three of City are way more dangerous. Martial didn't pose any threat today. Rashford was lucky to score that goal but didn't pose much of a threat and Lukaku... the guy has been pathetic and I'm not even taking into account the fact his poor clearance led to the winning City goal.

And yes Pogba was a big factor on how we played today. We were literally inviting trouble from the get go. We gave De bruyne so much space and the set pieces. The mean height of out team is 6'0 and we still managed to concede from 2 set pieces which is inexcusable.

Savic to play with and in place of Pogba to control the tempo of the game.

Herrera is waste of human skin and needs to leave. He offers nothing but fouls and the dives that does not help us in anyway. Yes, that was NOT a penalty. He was looking for one.
 
There was another thread like this, the answer is to find an alternative way to play when Pogba is out. We need a better plan B than the even longer ball counter we seem to go for now. No-one good enough to replace Pogba is going to be content playing second fiddle to him.

beingshe7don said:
Martial - Lukaku - Rashford don't work at all. They don't pose much of a threat in the games that actually matter. Maybe it's because Lukaku is out of form. But honestly, the threat of Sane - Aguero/ Jesus - Sterling are far more mature and dependable. The front three of City are way more dangerous
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Remind me again how many goals the City front 3 scored yesterday? And how many ours scored? Our attack is plenty potent enough when we set up to utilise them. In the big games we effectively play a 6-3-1 formation with a massive gap in between, that's why it doesn't work. Pogba is the only one capable of linking them.
 
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If there is one, do you honestly think he'd be happy being a back-up?
 
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