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2016-17 Performances

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6.3 Season Average Rating
Appearances
51
Goals
9
Assists
6
Yellow cards
10
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Regulus Arcturus Black said:
So many can't grasp this still.

He left because he & SAF disagreed on his "readiness", no other reason.
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Correct. And Fergie thought he'd have his way with a player too, except this one time he didn't. Raiola himself has said that United eventually offered a bigger contract to Pogba than Juventus.

Fergie and the club didn't misjudge his talent, that claim is total bollocks.
 
Rado_N said:
The pass to Rooney when Rooney fired wide was legitimately insane.
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That and his outside of the foot chip for Mkhi's chance (where the oppo player ran into Rashford) were sublime. For the Rooney chance, I saw Wayne making the run at the top of the screen and, seeing that Pogba had the ball, I expected that pass. He's just brilliant.
 
predator said:
Fair enough, I thought we received an official fee prior to his transfer.
Either way, the club didn't see his potential (neither did I!). But do you not think it's bizarre how much he has progressed since those reserve days 5 years ago?

I think if Fergie did realise how good a player was in the reserves he would stop them flying to Turin to sign a contract :lol:
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I think everyone knew he was pretty damn good.

I think the refusal to play him was more Fergie still harking back to the days when the youngsters knew their place and spent their days cleaning the seniors' boots rather than anyone not thinking he was good enough. He was going to play him when he thought he was ready, not when Pogba, his agent, or anyone else thought so.

Without the Juve move the arrogance that makes him so good may never have come out.
 
MDFC Manager said:
Correct. And Fergie thought he'd have his way with a player too, except this one time he didn't. Raiola himself has said that United eventually offered a bigger contract to Pogba than Juventus.

Fergie and the club didn't misjudge his talent, that claim is total bollocks.
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Honestly mate I hope you're right. But I don't think it's as black and white as you think.

I mean, what do you reckon were the real series of events which led to Pogba going to Juve?

Was he just annoyed with Fergie for not selecting him over the dire midfield options we had at time? And in doing so, flew to Turin and signed the first contract Juve offered him.
Surely there was ongoing discussions involving the club, Fergie, Raiola, Pogba and Juve prior to him leaving?

I just find it hard to believe that Fergie would allow a United player to sign a contract at another club if he truly rated them - especially if they wanted to stay! Surely he could've facilitated a system where pogba could play ahead of Anderson or Tom Cleverley.

I don't want to turn this into an anti SAF post because I think he is the best manager that ever graced the game.
 
11101 said:
I think everyone knew he was pretty damn good.

I think the refusal to play him was more Fergie still harking back to the days when the youngsters knew their place and spent their days cleaning the seniors' boots rather than anyone not thinking he was good enough. He was going to play him when he thought he was ready, not when Pogba, his agent, or anyone else thought so.

Without the Juve move the arrogance that makes him so good may never have come out.
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Good point. As promising a youngster as he was, few could have imagined him turning into the player AND personality that he is today. His stint at Juve seemed to have unlocked his full potential, and I'm not so sure it would have happened had he stayed on at OT. With his style, he probably would not have survived LvG's watch.
 
predator said:
Honestly mate I hope you're right. But I don't think it's as black and white as you think.

I mean, what do you reckon were the real series of events which led to Pogba going to Juve?

Was he just annoyed with Fergie for not selecting him over the dire midfield options we had at time? And in doing so, flew to Turin and signed the first contract Juve offered him.
Surely there was ongoing discussions involving the club, Fergie, Raiola, Pogba and Juve prior to him leaving?

I just find it hard to believe that Fergie would allow a United player to sign a contract at another club if he truly rated them - especially if they wanted to stay! Surely he could've facilitated a system where pogba could play ahead of Anderson or Tom Cleverley.

I don't want to turn this into an anti SAF post because I think he is the best manager that ever graced the game.
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Fergie rated him. He just didn't think he was ready at the time. Anybody that watched United's youth team would have rated Pogba. United continue and kept tons of players that aren't as talented as Pogba past the age of 18 and 19. Why would Fergie choose to keep other less talented players, but not keep Pogba? It makes no sense. This was never a case of Fergie not rating Pogba and choosing to sell him or let him go based on talent.

Pogba was annoyed he didn't get to play more over the midfield options we had. I still disagree with Fergie choosing to use those other options. From what I remember, Pogba had decided to leave a couple of months (maybe 1 or 2) before the season ended and those rumors were out in the papers. I remember Pogba getting booed a little at Old Trafford after that news came out. There was also a rumor that the only way Pogba could be convinced to stay at United was if his contract included a certain amount of games he must be played. Remember, Pogba didn't trust to be played after that season.

Fergie was the boss. It was always like that. No player was above the manager. So if Pogba was demanding something, naturally Fergie wouldn't give in like that. That doesn't mean that Fergie didn't want him or that he didn't rate him.
 
In Rainbows said:
Fergie rated him. He just didn't think he was ready at the time. Anybody that watched United's youth team would have rated Pogba. United continue and kept tons of players that aren't as talented as Pogba past the age of 18 and 19. Why would Fergie choose to keep other less talented players, but not keep Pogba? It makes no sense. This was never a case of Fergie not rating Pogba and choosing to sell him or let him go based on talent.

Pogba was annoyed he didn't get to play more over the midfield options we had. I still disagree with Fergie choosing to use those other options. From what I remember, Pogba had decided to leave a couple of months (maybe 1 or 2) before the season ended and those rumors were out in the papers. I remember Pogba getting booed a little at Old Trafford after that news came out. There was also a rumor that the only way Pogba could be convinced to stay at United was if his contract included a certain amount of games he must be played. Remember, Pogba didn't trust to be played after that season.

Fergie was the boss. It was always like that. No player was above the manager. So if Pogba was demanding something, naturally Fergie wouldn't give in like that. That doesn't mean that Fergie didn't want him or that he didn't rate him.
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Good post mate. Thanks

I just always put myself in the managers shoes in these situations.

For example Ronaldo did get away with murder under Fergie whether it was on or off field antics. Fergie knew he simply couldn't lose him because he so was so good. In the end Fergie was powerless of course.
I know Pogba wasn't that vital to us at the time and Fergie isn't psychic so he was never to know how good Paul would turn out.

Also I guess Fergie didn't feel it was necessary to jeopardise the harmony at the club for some 18 year old's demand, regardless of how talented he was.
 
predator said:
I mean, what do you reckon were the real series of events which led to Pogba going to Juve?

Was he just annoyed with Fergie for not selecting him over the dire midfield options we had at time?
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Yup, that's really it IMO. Pogba himself has said the same, and his agent has said that United were offering more money too.

Anyways, it's ended well for us eventually. Expensive outcome, but what the hell...we now have the fourth best midfielder in the league :drool:
 
Juventus was a great move for him. Even if he was better than our midfield options at 19, we couldn't have provided him with the protection that Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo provided in the middle at a key stage of his development.

If Ferguson threw him in the team, it would've been in a 2 man midfield with Carrick. I'm not sure if he's fully comfortable in a two now, let alone as a 19 year old. Ferguson himself also knew he was on the way out, so he wasn't committed to changing his set up to accommodate him. He wanted to win at the end and leave on a high, so he stuck by his tried and tested formula.
 
Tbh not many young player made countless mistakes and still gained Fergie's trust. The last one was probably De Gea

Couldn't blame Ferige for not trusting 18 y.o Pogba, might be he didn't want to throw Pogba under the bus knowing our Midfield was shit at time.
 
Di Maria's angel said:
7. There's a post a few pages behind illustrating each one.

I think his stats at the top should include shots which hit the woodwork.
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Quite a good idea actually, it'll get more comical as the season goes on.
 
Pogba will be a great, great player for us but it showed yesterday that he is still finding his feet in some regards. He has already improved dramatically in the past few months, but yesterday showed a little bit of naivety and a tendency to try a little too hard. Often holds on the ball for too long in an effort to showcase his strength. It's great how he can hold the ball, but sometimes he just needs to move it on quickly.

Expecting him to step-up big time on Sunday. That's the game he needs to boss.
 
I'm going to be annoyed when Zlatan hammers his next free kick into the wall with Pogba standing next to him.
 
a_devil_inside said:
Think there was a season where Ronaldo kept hitting the woodwork loads of times for us, anyone know how many?
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That was 05/06. I remember at the end of that season I half-jokingly made a post that if he started converting all the times he'd hit the post he'd end up getting the most goals in the premiership. I had no idea how accurate I was about to be.
 
predator said:
Either way, the club didn't see his potential (neither did I!). But do you not think it's bizarre how much he has progressed since those reserve days 5 years ago?

I think if Fergie did realise how good a player was in the reserves he would stop them flying to Turin to sign a contract :lol:
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Pogba was out of contract, United offered him a VERY good new one. By all reports we offered him as much as Juve did, that's how highly the club and SAF rated him! SAF even went to his house to try and convince him and his mum.

The problem was that it was too little too late as Pogba didn't trust that SAF was ready to make him a fully fledged first team player. SAF, in typical SAF style, dug his heels in a little with Pogba, no doubt hoping to teach him patience and have extra control of him. That was all.

No-one made a mistake as such, because I'm sure SAF would do the same today as that was his management style and it served the great man alright wouldn't you say @predator ?
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Pogba was out of contract, United offered him a VERY good new one. By all reports we offered him as much as Juve did, that's how highly the club and SAF rated him! SAF even went to his house to try and convince him and his mum.

The problem was that it was too little too late as Pogba didn't trust that SAF was ready to make him a fully fledged first team player. SAF, in typical SAF style, dug his heels in a little with Pogba, no doubt hoping to teach him patience and have extra control of him. That was all.

No-one made a mistake as such, because I'm sure SAF would do the same today as that was his management style and it served the great man alright wouldn't you say @predator ?
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Fergie did make a mistake. His management style wasnt to consistently take the tough stance. And he really should have put the same faith in Pogba as he did with Giggs, Ronaldo and co. Or what we're doing with Rashford now by giving plenty of chances.
 
Yagami said:
That and his outside of the foot chip for Mkhi's chance (where the oppo player ran into Rashford) were sublime. For the Rooney chance, I saw Wayne making the run at the top of the screen and, seeing that Pogba had the ball, I expected that pass. He's just brilliant.
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Same here with the through ball to Mkhi. You could sense that narrow window for a pass emerging, so I looked up - "Who's got the ball? Ah, Pogba. He'll find a way to play him through."
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Fergie did make a mistake. His management style wasnt to consistently take the tough stance. And he really should have put the same faith in Pogba as he did with Giggs, Ronaldo and co. Or what we're doing with Rashford now by giving plenty of chances.
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The difference with the players above (Ronaldo aside as we bought him for a decent fee at the time) showed patience and trusted SAF, Pogba didn't.

Obviously it was a "mistake" but I meant in pure SAF management terms, that's just how he was, he wanted a young Pogba to know that the manage decides when he's ready, not him.

To claim he has ever been different with other young player just simply isn't true.
 
Ekkie Thump said:


The passes to Mkhitaryan and Rooney are from 5.45 onwards.
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Listen to the way the commentator says 'Pogba' every time the ball comes to him in space. With a sort of quiet contentment, like job satisfaction. If you're going to commentate on a football match, it's nice to do one that has Paul Pogba in it.
 
But isn't the number of times he has hit the post beyond ridiculous now. It will hit double figures soon. He's never been very prolific but surely they have to start going in at some point.
 
redlyn said:
But isn't the number of times he has hit the post beyond ridiculous now. It will hit double figures soon. He's never been very prolific but surely they have to start going in at some point.
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Have the groundsman move the goal slightly to the left
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Obviously it was a "mistake" but I meant in pure SAF management terms, that's just how he was, he wanted a young Pogba to know that the manage decides when he's ready, not him.
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I still don't see it as a mistake. We won the league the year that we sold him. Pogba got to play in the perfect incubator for a crucial part of his development. There is almost zero chance that he would have got as much opportunity at United.

When players catch a break matters so much.

Pogba was a good lad. He was cut throat, but by all accounts respectful, he backed himself to fulfil his potential and at the age of 19 he moved to a country where he couldn't speak the language. He then carved out a starting spot in one of the best sides in European Football while we went through two managers in three mostly unsuccessful seasons.

Controversial perhaps but I'd happily see our best youth prospect leave every year and return 3 years later with Champions league experience and a few league titles in their back pocket. Would rather they got that in-house but as a second option it's not unpalatable.
 
If Memphis wore this :lol:

Off-white hoody with United leggings

3C0E07FE00000578-0-image-a-15_1484156864513.jpg
 
NinjaZombie said:
How many times has he hit the post this season?
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He reminds me of Frank Lampard during his time at Westham and early Chelsea days, the goals will start coming regularly soon. He is due a super golazo as well.
When I look at Pogba, I always shake me head and I can't let go of the fact we had to buy him back. There should be a pin thread explaining why and how SAF did not do enough for a talent like this to stay.
 
UnrelatedPsuedo said:
I still don't see it as a mistake. We won the league the year that we sold him.
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Any which way you see having to buy a player back for a world record fee in 4 year time always shows a mistake happened. Playing a player of his quality will never diminish our chance of title so our success that year has nothing to do with it.

That said I think it turns out to be the best for all parties though. He got to be the world record. We still got him while he's reaching his peak and having playing abroad and rejected by Real Madrid money men, there's a bigger chance now he will stay with us for many more years than if he had to play through Moyes and that crazy guy after him.
 
Cantona_Forever said:
Any which way you see having to buy a player back for a world record fee in 4 year time always shows a mistake happened. Playing a player of his quality will never diminish our chance of title so our success that year has nothing to do with it.

That said I think it turns out to be the best for all parties though. He got to be the world record. We still got him while he's reaching his peak and having playing abroad and rejected by Real Madrid money men, there's a bigger chance now he will stay with us for many more years than if he had to play through Moyes and that crazy guy after him.
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Would you happily pay a world record fee every single year for a player that we had let go 4 years prior? I would.

It's rare for a top club to play a player at 19-23 while they become world class. That list is short.
 
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