First half he tried too much imo. Him and Sanchez were both drunk.
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So playing him advanced, with less defensive responsibilities makes him worse and he plays better in a midfield 2? Like @Pogue Mahone said it time and time again, the issue with him has never been about positioning.
Yup. And pushing back against the party line that his performances could be excused by the formation has been frustrating as hell.
Now here we have him play better in a two than he did in a three - in the same match - and you’ll still get people refusing to back down on this. Bananas.
Fluidity? In the first half? Did you watch the game?
Truth always takes longer to be accepted. There is no shame for him to accept that role as a proper midfielder, work hard and be even more influential to the team than a supposedly advanced role that would allow him to magically score and create more.
You just knew he was going to have a slow start (again) when he was struggling to put his fecking glove on ten seconds after the ball had already rolled. 
Yeah, after the first half I was thinking "not another off day for him", but he kicked on in the 2nd half. I don't think it was any coincidence that he got even better when Alexis transitioned to a CM. They both benefited as it were.
Come on you can’t be serious? He was an absolute shambles. He was clearly hiding from the ball and every time he got it he fell over.
The guy is also a coward. He’s scared to head the ball and simply won’t tackle now. Clearly scared to put the brand at risk.
Can anyone name a more lazy player?
Someone was still going on about it in the match-day thread saying his performance was because Jose was ruining him by playing him too deep.
He's frustrating as hell.
The thing that annoys me about him is that he looks so indecisive. Remember when people would praise players like Scholes, Carrick, Rooney for looking like they say the game two steps ahead, knowing what they were going to do before they even got the ball?
Pogba looks the complete opposite to that, gets the ball, then looks around to see what's on (often something that's not on but he thinks his skill will enable him to pull off). He plays too slow, waiting for something to present itself and ends up with 3 players on top of him.
The thing that annoys me about him is that he looks so indecisive. Remember when people would praise players like Scholes, Carrick, Rooney for looking like they say the game two steps ahead, knowing what they were going to do before they even got the ball?
Pogba looks the complete opposite to that, gets the ball, then looks around to see what's on (often something that's not on but he thinks his skill will enable him to pull off). He plays too slow, waiting for something to present itself and ends up with 3 players on top of him.
Wish he could get himself more involved and be the main man, scoring the decisive goal etc but he just can’t seem to reach that point, at least not yet. He’s so good but he’s so frustrating.
If you think he had an acceptable first half then I think you actually might have watched a different game. He was shocking.
Talented but lazy player.
The new Berbatov. Even runs like Berbatov.
The new Berbatov. Even runs like Berbatov.
Yep, I've seen it. What little fluidity was there had quite a bit to do with Pogba distributing in the middle, imo. He often came back to collect the ball from the CBs or DM.
As I said, he played almost 60 passes that half. That is a lot, you don't get that by hiding. What didn't work were his dribblings and suchlike (and a couple of bad passes, like I mentioned).
Bringing the ball from build up to the attacking third is often pretty unspectacular.
(Edit: Sorry, misread it, you meant physical play - agreed, he's not enough of a factor on defense. Don't dig the "coward", though.)
But since basically everybody in this thread has seen it so drastically different, I'll probably better rewatch that first half tomorrow.
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Shambolic performance, and he was trying very hard in that game. Just in poor form.
Worrying form from Pogba recently. Hasn't played particularly well since we won away at Everton. Maybe the Alexis signing has undermined his sense of self? Whatever it is he needs to stop playing like he's trying to create a highlight reel and start working for the team. So many times he either overlooked or misplaced the obvious option. Glad Lukaku gave him some for not passing. Someone had to.
Pogba is very frustrating. Amazing talent and absolutely world class when he turns it on. He just seems to have an attitude of effort problem some of teh time. I can't remember being frustrated with Robson's or Keane's effort, they always gave it 110%.
The Sanchez point is interesting, you’d think he’d want to play with better players? Weird mentality if he’s pissed off by that.
50 of those passes were five yards straight back to where they came from and contributed nothing.
Great effort, still not clicking but seriously need to stop playing with the ref, stop relying on ref for help.
Horrible attacking performance first half in 4-3-3, yet instead good defending, not spectacular, but the effort is there, and his obvious def flaw is clear, good effort.
Better all-around performance second half in 4-2-3-1.
Overall frustrating.
Horrible attacking performance first half in 4-3-3, yet instead good defending, not spectacular, but the effort is there, and his obvious def flaw is clear, good effort.
Better all-around performance second half in 4-2-3-1.
Overall frustrating.
I agree with much of what you’re saying, however not many have suggested (at least none worth responding to) that Pogba is literally incapable of performing in a two. In fact, many have said they’d favour him playing in a two against the smaller teams. Do you agree that, generally speaking, (and particularly in the bigger games), he benefits from more defensive cover alongside him (ie from playing in a 3), allowing him to contribute a little more offensively? You’re right he’s been lazy the last 6 weeks, and that’s entirely on him. You’re also right that he can play well in a two. However, allowing him the freedom to get forward (again mostly in the bigger games against better midfields that don’t sit deep against us) more is hardly baffling when we look back at his Juve days or look at his highlight reel at United so far!
That formation is his only problem is a myth anyway.
His problem is that he tends to show his quality only when he wants. He lacks consistency and needs to improve it. His talent is too much to get wasted because of such a thing.
It has clearly affected him. It cannot be a coincidence
http://www.football365.com/news/f365-says-pogba-again-put-in-the-shade-by-matic
Quick, change the intro and alter the title..
Dammit Matic!
Quick, change the intro and alter the title..
Dammit Matic!
Not at his best in the first half but definitely much better in the second half. Our only player who was looking to make things happen...
That's the kind of passes you often have to play for fluidity (and many were forward).
What I notice: If he tries to force plays too much he gets slated for "not keeping it simple", but if he plays those simple passes he gets slated for being "invisible", "not trying" etc.
Beginning to think he'll always be inconsistent both in form and application. At least people are now seeing that "building the team around him" is a non-starter.
a very very talented player but lacks the intelligence to be a great right now
decision making very suspect and goes for the Hollywood option far too often
I'd swap him for a 24 year old Scholes in a heartbeat
decision making very suspect and goes for the Hollywood option far too often
I'd swap him for a 24 year old Scholes in a heartbeat
Yeah I agree, just think it’s really weird. I’d be buzzing if I was Pogba, seeing a quality player coming in to play alongside. It’s not like they are in the same position.
It’s no surprise that he came to life once Sanchez moved centrally begins Lukaku. It’s a big problem at the moment fitting those two in as Sanchez drops deep taking too many touches which affects Pogba.
Better in the 2nd half but still not great and he was fecking dreadful in the first half.
Needs a big game on Saturday.
Needs a big game on Saturday.
Felt he was wonderful in the second half. Moved the ball so well under pressure and I can't remember him losing possession. One or two hollywood passes also came off, one with his left hit 60 yards.
Pogba and Sanchez are getting in each others way on the pitch and it's not working. Neither have had a good game since the arrival of Sanchez. The problem with Sanchez is he keeps coming deep for the ball and this clogs up the left hand side where Pogba is mainly occupied.
Impossible to know for sure but you could speculate that Mourinho has given Sanchez the freedom to take risks and instructed Pogba to play things simpler and put more focus into covering space than finding it.
As a result, it knocked a bit of the wind out of his sails.
I'd swap him for a 34 year old Scholes never mind 24.
It’s not just scholes for me, I would take loads of other players over him now.
I think he is very overrated in here and believes a lot in his own hype.
Loads of footballers have talent but it’s their application and commitment that separates the cream from the rest. Unfortunately, he seems to be lacking both.
Yes, it was an obvious problem in the making given where they both like to operate. Mou's greatest achievement in his career might be turning Pogba into a proper midfielder, still a long way to go.
Yeah, it's been something mentioned on here from a few since we got him back. Doesn't play off instinct enough and often still makes the wrong decision if he isn't being wrestled by a defender by then. Then whoever receives it usually turns backwards too while they weigh up the now slower attack.
As bad as I've seen a Man Utd midfielder in that first half.
WTF was that?
WTF was that?
It's an issue at the moment but Sanchez can surely play higher or wider if we work out how to attack properly?
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