Just watched 10 minutes, but he has been great. Almost headed a goal, but good save by Steckelenberg.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 51
- Goals
- 9
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 10
- Status
He's a very dynamic player. It's almost scary when he gets the ball in that position he had when he scored their goal. Absolutely unreal wingspan.
Because that's his standout quality. It's not everyday a player can be compared to Zidane.
Needs to improve his elbowing as well, not up to Fellaini standards
Told Strootman to shut the feck up, top signing.
I thought Fellaini was Belgian? Good finish anyway.
If he can put it on consistently he'd be arguably the best player in the league. In terms of sheer talent he's up there with the likes of Aguero when he's at his best.
If we are looking for a player to play with Pogba, for me Matuidi is made for Utd and the prem...
Yes and no. Matuidi is better to partner Pogba than say CAF's one time favorite Kante. However, playing Matuidi would mean Pogba will be stuck at a deeper role #6 than current role #8. That's a waste of Pogba's talent, and not the best benifit when we can afford better. Not saying Matuidi is bad (actually rate him highly).
He was very good today, almost every touch was good. We need such a performance from him vs Liverpool.
Let's hope he does so at Anfield. If Pogba and Martial come into some consistent top form, it'd be enough to take us on a long winning run I feel.
His passing was absolutely top-class today.
I have dreams of Pogba running rampant against Pool. If we re gonna make a statement then by God doing it to a Pool on a good run would be the way to do it.
Left and right foot too. Sublime long ball to Gameiro
I said Matuidi as I think he'll be available and wouldnt be surprised if he wasn't here next year anyway as I think we were close to signing him anyway. Quite the opposite with regard to #6 and #8. If you watched the game tonight, it actually allowed Pogba to push on...
The first time Di canio volley style pass to set griezmann free was absolutely
Gorgeous, and the pass to gameiro and kurzawa a very close 2nd. Top class tonight.
Gorgeous, and the pass to gameiro and kurzawa a very close 2nd. Top class tonight.
he's not really dynamic imo, it takes him time to start running and turn but that's normal for a player this tall but when he starts running he's really a beast that's why he's good with Herrera who can turn and pass quickly
I liked that too, would appreciate a gif of that first time pass
Yeah but he's technically average.
So was he played in the perfect position, next to the perfect midfielder, in a perfectly laundered kit, in a stadium not warmer than 28C to get a good performance out of him?
Somebody made a point about this recently ,but when hes paired with Fellaini, he tends to play deeper knowing Fellaini wont pass it forward quickly (and thus Pogba needs to receive it deeper)
When hes playing with Herrera, he gets the ball higher up the pitch where he can do more damage.
When hes playing with Herrera, he gets the ball higher up the pitch where he can do more damage.
Verratti seems to be unsettled under Emery so not sure about Matuidi's availability if Verratti leaves. The roles are not static under normal circumstances, however it tend to be Pogba being deeper (due to Pogba range of passing better than Matuidi if one of the 2 has to drop deep) in case the opposition can seal the central area. See the post above mine regarding partnership with Fellaini: similar issue. So I stand on my point that the partnership is workable but not the most optimized one. We should do better.
Edit: IIRC Matuidi was Juventus prime target last summer. We supposed to stir thing up by showing interest in Matuidi to push the Pogba deal. Don't think there is much in it seeing Mourinho was very specific with 4 signings and Matuidi didn't give off the same feeling what Mourinho described this statement signing of CM.
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So he had a good game? Excellent. Alongside one other CM. Can we PLEASE stop this crap about him only being able to perform in one, very specific, set-up?
It's abundantly clear at this point that he can play well or badly in most central midfield formations he would be expected to play. Apart from, obviously, as a purely defensive CM. If someone else holds then he should be good to go.
It's abundantly clear at this point that he can play well or badly in most central midfield formations he would be expected to play. Apart from, obviously, as a purely defensive CM. If someone else holds then he should be good to go.
Having a 2 footed player in the midfield who can pass a ball better than almost anyone alive is a huge plus.
MOTM: scored a beauty as match winner. ans bossed the midfield after that...
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Yeah but he's technically average.
Lucky too, bouncing off his heel like that.
I'm not sure about Matuidi being a good fit for Pogba. I don't watch PSG games regularly but when I have, I like what he does. However, it seems he's at his best when he's off the ball, i.e offering loads of overlaps and running (into space) etc. I'm not sure about his defensive side or on the ball abilities but that means one less willing/tactical passer in midfield and that would affect Pogba's game because as others have noted, Pogba would have to sit/come to the ball more when really we want him higher up the pitch affecting things.
I still think Herrera, stylistically is the best fit and more than a good enough partner for him. The problem is finding the right partner to that duo and we already have the options at the club. Miki in front/interchanging with Pogba or Schneiderlin behind them imo.
I still think Herrera, stylistically is the best fit and more than a good enough partner for him. The problem is finding the right partner to that duo and we already have the options at the club. Miki in front/interchanging with Pogba or Schneiderlin behind them imo.
Amazing!That was scholes like.
That volley pass to Griezmann was just .
.Got lucky with those numerous inadvertent passes that split the defence. But apart from that, eerily similar to Fellaini. Can't believe so many people can't see that they're basically the same player.
Too tired to celebrate.
I always hate it when the "he's not playing in the right setup" excuse gets brought up, as if players of the quality of Di Maria, Mata and Pogba cannot possibly fathom how to play in a sllightly different set up. It's just an easy out to defend a player who is not playing well, to say it's the coach's fault, and the player would smash the league if only the setup got changed.
It's sometimes justified- like Mata underwhelming playing wide right, but to say Pogba needs to play on the left of a midfield three to play well when he's been given basically the same role and the same freedom to move forward in our setup just seems like a poor excuse. Though I actually think he's looked good playing in midfield with Herrera and Mata so what do I know.
That's not what people told you though. Pogba is perfectly comfortable in a midfield three and on the left of that midfield that's where you will get the best of him at the moment, because that's where he is used to play and he is also used to a peculiar role.
Which means that if you change the set up, you are not going to get immediately the best out of him, because he needs to adapt his game, to the new space he is occupying, the new instructions that he is carrying and he also needs to adapt to his new teammates.
Players aren't robots, they need time and experience when their environment changes completely.
No, I get that. I'm always for showing players the patience to adapt to a new team/league etc. But I don't get this idea that he shouldn't be played in a midfield 2. The reason basically every coach over the past couple of years has been salivating at the prospect of what Pogba can become is because of how wide his skill set is. The role he has right now is perfect to exploit that skill set IMO, he has to play box-to-box and do a bit of everything. So, when Deschamps gets criticism on here for playing Pogba a bit deeper so that France can accomodate their best player (Griezmann IMO) in his best position, I think just using that as an excuse for his relatively underwhelming performances at the Euros is letting Pogba off too easily. He has got talent by the bucket-loads, and he should be doing more. Laying the entire blame at the coach's feet is unfair in that situation.
He was excellent against Holland, his passing was top drawer and he was aerially dominant when defending set-pieces.
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