[Synco]

He was playing deep and setting all our attacks in motion. He can't play fast in that position.
It's about picking passes and eyeing situations further forward, not even Carrick plays it quick in those positions.
We dominated the game, we couldn't play better from box to box.

I must have watched a different game but I thought he was the best player on the pitch today. Created most of our chances playing from deep.

Didn't watch the game today, but that sounds a lot like many performances I have seen from him this season.



That's a video of (I hope) all of his touches today, and to me it shows an extremely gifted and intelligent playmaker having a good game. Nearly all of his decisions make sense, and the execution is mostly on a high level, with some truly excellent balls and only few errors. Maybe some people expect the wrong things from him?

 

[Hugh Jass]

Had some good moments today.

 

[wiz4231]

Pogba had a good game but I expect more from him. It wasnt his fault today because he can't get forward as much as he should when he plays with fellaini in midfield and that's where the problem is. I expect pogba to do what alli did today against city but for that he needs Carrick on the pitch giving him the licence to get forward. Carrick, Herrera and pogba are the way forward regardless of how dominant we are. Its also clear that we need to find a suitable Carrick replacement (Andre Gomes) and stop with this Fellani nonsense (get rid).

 

[Keenst]

Overall he's been a disappointment. Can only hope he improves.

 

[Zoo]

Overall he has been good but can improve particularly in the big games.

 

[Jaybomb]

He has too many defensive duties. Get him up the pitch making things happen. Thats what we paid 89m for.

 

[Fridge chutney]

Didn't watch the game today, but that sounds a lot like many performances I have seen from him this season.



That's a video of (I hope) all of his touches today, and to me it shows an extremely gifted and intelligent playmaker having a good game. Nearly all of his decisions make sense, and the execution is mostly on a high level, with some truly excellent balls and only few errors. Maybe some people expect the wrong things from him?

You're absolutely right.

 

[Fridge chutney]

I think Fellaini was given a free role, meaning that Pogba was anchored deeper with Herrera, limiting how much he could offensively impact the game. Not his best match, but didn't play poorly in my opinion. Still a special talent that we are very lucky to have.

He undoubtedly improves our midfield immensely.

 

[predator]

Tbh he does keep the ball too long and does seem dangerously keen to impress the fans. You can just see it when he gets the ball, his body language is saying "right let's do it, I know what to do, watch me". It's refreshing but also frustrating.

It's so natural though.
What did we expect when signing a confident, 23 year old icon, for £89m (making him the most expensive footballer ever)?

He is going to want to impress us. He wants to score free kicks, volleys, solo run goals. He wants to produce Scholesesque passes when he can, he wants to show us his fantastic control under pressure and his immense strength.
There's nothing wrong with it. He's still young and like alot of people seem to forget, is new to the Premier league.

Gradually he will learn everything - that winning is what ultimately makes the fans happy and that will mean him not being our standout player at all times. He will have to put in them performances where his passion and energy is more impressive than his long range passing or shooting.
It will all work out.

 

[simonhch]

He played well today. He plays well every game, except against Liverpool. He's a magnificent player and we are lucky to have him.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

He's got an unstoppable force meets immovable object thing going on with Ibra up front. He pushes, Ibra drops and they both get stuck in no mans land with everyone else getting out of the way not really knowing what to do. She'll come good, just gotta be patient.

 

[ti vu]

Expected a lot more from him. Hate how he dawdles on the ball too long at times, it kills off counters so easily.

I think today Mourinho got the tactic wrong at first. Stoke ain't that good keeping the offside trap and there space behind. We lacks players that love running behind (Rashford, Lingard). Giving Stoke too many credit. They hardly break through and getting chance. Having Fellaini for set piece is overkill while we lack runners. When we got the tactic right, our players getting desperate and frustrated so it affects the end product.

 

[kouroux]

He is "decent" and has been since he came, apart from a couple of games where he has been good and a couple of games where he has been terrible. Is that really enough for the price we paid? Is Pogba not supposed to be the best midfield player in the world?

Hell no , why would you expect him to be that ?

 

[Z_Wolf]

He's nowhere near Kroos, Modric, Iniesta and Veratti. Has a very high ceiling tho but a poor base and brain.

You'd say the same thing about these players if they played for us. He does most things right. Our players just don't run in behind enough. Both of our fullbacks and CMs are midiocre. Pogba is miles better than Kroos imo.

 

[Esquire]

Tbh he does keep the ball too long and does seem dangerously keen to impress the fans. You can just see it when he gets the ball, his body language is saying "right let's do it, I know what to do, watch me". It's refreshing but also frustrating.

It's so natural though.
What did we expect when signing a confident, 23 year old icon, for £89m (making him the most expensive footballer ever)?

He is going to want to impress us. He wants to score free kicks, volleys, solo run goals. He wants to produce Scholesesque passes when he can, he wants to show us his fantastic control under pressure and his immense strength.
There's nothing wrong with it. He's still young and like alot of people seem to forget, is new to the Premier league.

Gradually he will learn everything - that winning is what ultimately makes the fans happy and that will mean him not being our standout player at all times. He will have to put in them performances where his passion and energy is more impressive than his long range passing or shooting.
It will all work out.

He needs to practise his finishing. He gets into good positions and gets get least a couple of good chances a game. But his finishing needs to be better.

 

[Rory 7]

Really needs to become more a goal threat. He has such lovely touch and passing ability no doubt but we need goals from him.

 

[Sammyjunn]

You'd say the same thing about these players if they played for us. He does most things right. Our players just don't run in behind enough. Both of our fullbacks and CMs are midiocre. Pogba is miles better than Kroos imo.

He's by no means the best midfielder in the world or amongst the best; a level below as he hasnt displayed at the highest stage in the world. Which the other players have. Ofcourse Pogba and Kroos are very different players and different qualities, but I dont think Pogba has reached that level yet, but he surely will.

 

[clarkydaz]

Hell no , why would you expect him to be that ?

he is certainly hyped and marketed as

 

[LuisNaniencia]

Overall he's been a disappointment. Can only hope he improves.

That's a bit unfair. He was a key part of our winning run up until the Liverpool match. I only saw highlights of yesterday so can't comment on that.

 

[Fracture90]

It's a bit unfair to compare him with Kroos, Modric, Iniesta etc...because all of them listed above are already formed and experienced players.

But the sole fact he's getting compared to them tells a lot about his quality and potential.

All that being said he lacks discipline and he needs to play it more simple, his decision making is also quite poor at times.

 

[Brwned]

I still see him and United as a work-in-progress. It was clear Pogba was still that from his performances for the CL in Juve. Looking at it from that perspective there's far more to be excited about thn concerned about. I'm quite confident he'll develop into a proper goalscorer and when he does, that solves one of our few real problems. We're dominating games and creating bundles of chances every game, and Pogba's a big part of that.

 

[togg]

Really needs to become more a goal threat. He has such lovely touch and passing ability no doubt but we need goals from him.

I don't believe he's ever been a big goal scorer, and definitely something he would be wise to improve on. I'm sure it will come, but he's still young.

 

[togg]

Tbh he does keep the ball too long and does seem dangerously keen to impress the fans. You can just see it when he gets the ball, his body language is saying "right let's do it, I know what to do, watch me". It's refreshing but also frustrating.

It's so natural though.
What did we expect when signing a confident, 23 year old icon, for £89m (making him the most expensive footballer ever)?

He is going to want to impress us. He wants to score free kicks, volleys, solo run goals. He wants to produce Scholesesque passes when he can, he wants to show us his fantastic control under pressure and his immense strength.
There's nothing wrong with it. He's still young and like alot of people seem to forget, is new to the Premier league.

Gradually he will learn everything - that winning is what ultimately makes the fans happy and that will mean him not being our standout player at all times. He will have to put in them performances where his passion and energy is more impressive than his long range passing or shooting.
It will all work out.

This is definitely a hangover from playing in the Italian league....you have much more time on the ball there. I think it takes around a year for a player to get totally comfortable with the relentless pace that the Premier League can be....

 

[Synco]

This is definitely a hangover from playing in the Italian league....you have much more time on the ball there. I think it takes around a year for a player to get totally comfortable with the relentless pace that the Premier League can be....

I rather expect the Premier League to become significantly more continental in style during the next years (it has already started) - and therefore Pogba to excel with exactly that less frantic, but more intelligent approach he shows at the moment. It's the solution, not the problem.

 

[redflair]

Generally, a solid performance but he's not here for those, he's here to make the difference at the key moments and we had one of those when Zlatan was in for a one on one in the second half when all Pogba needed to do was to release the ball and we were in.

These kind of overloads on the oppostion defence happen very rarely and I've got to say that the lack of footballing intelligence he showed on that occasion was alarming.

We know he's got a taste for the spectacular and outrageous - on and off the pitch - but there's a troubling pattern developing of not grasping the details and intricacies of the game.

That said his long-ball passing is wonderful, and with a faster player up front, we could make hay in years to come.

 

[kouroux]

he is certainly hyped and marketed as

Not really, the marketing around him is ridiculous yes but it doesn't scream to me "I'm the best".

 

[Varun]

This is definitely a hangover from playing in the Italian league....you have much more time on the ball there. I think it takes around a year for a player to get totally comfortable with the relentless pace that the Premier League can be....

I don't think it's that. He has very quick feet for a midfielder and deals with the PL just fine. I think it's more about him going "I can hold you off, beat you and then pass, I'm that good" which comes with him wanting to prove himself. Should get better next season when he's no longer new and also with experience.

 

[Jib]

I don't think it's that. He has very quick feet for a midfielder and deals with the PL just fine. I think it's more about him going "I can hold you off, beat you and then pass, I'm that good" which comes with him wanting to prove himself. Should get better next season when he's no longer new and also with experience.

If he plays with Herrera and Fellaini at the same time, he will never be at his best. Today or next season the problem will always be there.

 

[RORY65]

Not really, the marketing around him is ridiculous yes but it doesn't scream to me "I'm the best".

Mourinho said he was the best. Not sure you can be even in the discussion if you can apparently only perform on the left of 2 ahead of a holding player, with the other two needing to be top class, and not in big games/against high quality opposition. I think Pogba has clearly improved us, he's made us much more creative against the lesser sides and has given us more physicality and attacking threat from midfield but I'm hoping there's a lot more to come (I think there is) because he's not been as impressive as I had hoped thus far.

 

[Jib]

Mourinho said he was the best. Not sure you can be even in the discussion if you can apparently only perform on the left of 2 ahead of a holding player, with the other two needing to be top class, and not in big games/against high quality opposition. I think Pogba has clearly improved us, he's made us much more creative against the lesser sides and has given us more physicality and attacking threat from midfield but I'm hoping there's a lot more to come (I think there is) because he's not been as impressive as I had hoped thus far.

For me Pogba is a crack, one of the best midfielder in the world and a superstar but last season ( despite the stats ) he was better because the Juve side was stronger. And last season he wasn't even the best midfielder in the world so now...hell no !

But in 2-3 years when Carrick, Mata, Herrera and Fellaini will no longer be in the team, he'll certainly become it because he needs better players like Saul, Weigl etc.

When he played without a #10 in front of him like Mata and with a creative #6 ( Carrick ) , we saw glimpse of the Juve Pogba.

 

[kouroux]

Mourinho said he was the best. Not sure you can be even in the discussion if you can apparently only perform on the left of 2 ahead of a holding player, with the other two needing to be top class, and not in big games/against high quality opposition. I think Pogba has clearly improved us, he's made us much more creative against the lesser sides and has given us more physicality and attacking threat from midfield but I'm hoping there's a lot more to come (I think there is) because he's not been as impressive as I had hoped thus far.

What Mourinho says doesn't matter much because he is biased like a fan and he wants his player to have full confidence (he did say that Valencia was also the best RB in the world too).
Pogba never was the best midfielder in the world and he certaintly isn't right now, he has the potential to become that player.

 

[kouroux]

I don't think it's that. He has very quick feet for a midfielder and deals with the PL just fine. I think it's more about him going "I can hold you off, beat you and then pass, I'm that good" which comes with him wanting to prove himself. Should get better next season when he's no longer new and also with experience.

Using the "he comes from Italy so he had all the time in the world is the most tired and cliché thing that keeps being said about his bad performances.
As if teams teams do not put players under pressure or have no clue about closing down space in Italy. Pogba was playing in a team that was better coached than our current one at the moment

 

[Jacky Quacky]

Remember when Mourinho said Hazard was as good as Messi and Ronaldo? Hazard only scored one goal in a year after that statement. I'm not saying it's Joses fault here but he has to keep expectations high, he definetly regards his players highly but he can't allow complaceny to fall in place. It's why Chelsea were so shit last year, they had so much time off after their league win that they laxed, and so did Jose.

I'm slightly concerned the same might happen here. Pogba might think he's already the finished article, and decide he doesn't need to try harder. I would like Mourinho to say something like "Pogba can do better". Maybe, if he's not playing well, he can be subbed off to protect him (what I would've done against Liverpool) and give him time to adjust on his faults.

 

[Smudge]

Remember when Mourinho said Hazard was as good as Messi and Ronaldo? Hazard only scored one goal in a year after that statement. I'm not saying it's Joses fault here but he has to keep expectations high, he definetly regards his players highly but he can't allow complaceny to fall in place. It's why Chelsea were so shit last year, they had so much time off after their league win that they laxed, and so did Jose.

I'm slightly concerned the same might happen here. Pogba might think he's already the finished article, and decide he doesn't need to try harder. I would like Mourinho to say something like "Pogba can do better". Maybe, if he's not playing well, he can be subbed off to protect him (what I would've done against Liverpool) and give him time to adjust on his faults.

I think Pogba himself knows that he has to improve in areas and will push himself therefore doesn't need them statements from Mourinho. A player like Hazard was happy with his level when he said he can never be the level of Messi or Ronaldo but Mourinho thought otherwise hence why he felt the need to make such statements about Hazard in terms of improvements.

 

[bugmat]

Really needs to become more a goal threat. He has such lovely touch and passing ability no doubt but we need goals from him.

I agree 0 hope he can develop as such - he gets plenty chances each game..if he can improve his finishing (not a sure thing) he'll be better than Lampard was.

 

[Synco]

A player like Hazard was happy with his level when he said he can never be the level of Messi or Ronaldo but Mourinho thought otherwise hence why he felt the need to make such statements about Hazard in terms of improvements.

Hazard actually said he will never be a goalscorer like Ronaldo and Messi, which is just a correct self-assessment.

 

[Jib]

Remember when Mourinho said Hazard was as good as Messi and Ronaldo? Hazard only scored one goal in a year after that statement. I'm not saying it's Joses fault here but he has to keep expectations high, he definetly regards his players highly but he can't allow complaceny to fall in place. It's why Chelsea were so shit last year, they had so much time off after their league win that they laxed, and so did Jose.

I'm slightly concerned the same might happen here. Pogba might think he's already the finished article, and decide he doesn't need to try harder. I would like Mourinho to say something like "Pogba can do better". Maybe, if he's not playing well, he can be subbed off to protect him (what I would've done against Liverpool) and give him time to adjust on his faults.

Conte and Allegri said that Pogba could win the ballon d'Or and a whole bunch of compliments. That didn't prevent Pogba from being brilliant.

On the other hand, Deschamps always said " Pogba can do better " and he isn't that good with the french team.

And subbed him off after a bad performances is the worst thing to do with a player like Pogba. He isn't Mkitaryan.

 

[pocco]

Might have already been mentioned but I noticed in yesterday's press gossip section that Ruud Gullit had said Pogba is facing going the same way is Memphis.

Is he really perceived as playing that bad by non-United supporters? I even know a few United supporters that think he's garbage i suppose.

 

[Sparky10Legend]

Might have already been mentioned but I noticed in yesterday's press gossip section that Ruud Gullit had said Pogba is facing going the same way is Memphis.

Is he really perceived as playing that bad by non-United supporters? I even know a few United supporters that think he's garbage i suppose.

Gullit truly is an idiot, i dont think he's ever gotten over history semi forgetting him so he has to talk crap to stay semi "relevant"

 

[Ban]

Might have already been mentioned but I noticed in yesterday's press gossip section that Ruud Gullit had said Pogba is facing going the same way is Memphis.

Is he really perceived as playing that bad by non-United supporters? I even know a few United supporters that think he's garbage i suppose.

Gullit is speaking absolute bollocks.