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2018-19 Performances


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5.8 Season Average Rating
Appearances
47
Goals
16
Assists
14
Yellow cards
7
Red cards
1
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He is playing in a 3 man midfield of sorts with two work-horses and two players with exceptional movement in the front three. That is nothing like the set-up he plays with at united which is why he has performed better.

A part of it has also been the world cup but the system enabled him to perform to the standard that he did.

The way France set up defensively is not that different to the way we set up. Deschamps is not any less pragmatic than Jose either. They both want similiar things from Pogba. France’s transition and counter game is better, but they have better players for it IMO.
 
How didn't he win MoTM? Booo no way Griezmann performance was better overall.
Pogba did everything and he did it without Kante :D
 
France have been fairly ordinary going forward though. Be it down to Giroud but Mbappe and Griezmann weren't exactly drifting left and right to open up defences.
I wouldn't say their movement was a strong point in them winning the WC

Mbappe and Griezmann movement is the strongest aspect of their play. You don't need to sdift out wide to have good movement.
 
The way France set up defensively is not that different to the way we set up. Deschamps is not any less pragmatic than Jose either. They both want similiar things from Pogba. France’s transition and counter game is better, but they have better players for it IMO.

We have a three man midfield while defending? We have very rarely played him alongside to work horses with good engines.
 
Mbappe and Griezmann movement is the strongest aspect of their play. You don't need to sdift out wide to have good movement.
I don't agree. Almost all of Mbappes good work for example came from having the ball at his feet.
They were pretty direct to be honest, I don't think their movement was anything special.
They have a better attack (obviously) but its not their movement that sets them apart.
 
We have a three man midfield while defending? We have very rarely played him alongside to work horses with good engines.

I wonder how people would react if we started him alongside McTominay and Herrera...

Yes, when we play with 3 midfielders, they all drop back and defend...
 
Did Matuidi even play through the middle? It seemed like a 442 to me throughout.

Giroud Griezmann
Matuidi Pogba Kante Mbappe

With Mbappe having more license to get forward and Griezmann dropping into the hole. Not often that you'd see Griezmann out wide left.

Could also be represented as a 4231 I suppose.

Giroud
Matuidi Griezmann Mbappe
Pogba Kante

But for those complaining about Jose not getting the most out of him due to formation I really don't get what you are going on about.
 
I don't agree. Almost all of Mbappes good work for example came from having the ball at his feet.
They were pretty direct to be honest, I don't think their movement was anything special.
They have a better attack (obviously) but its not their movement that sets them apart.
I will disagree. Mbappe on ball ability is impressive, but it deceives people to take his movement lightly. Without the movement, he wouldn't be on the ball enough. For his age, his intelligence is among the best teenager I ever seen. It's not youth enthusiasm but the understanding to be at right place.
 
If this World Cup proves anything, it proves that Pogba can play in a desciblined and holding role in midfield, dictating the play and initiating counters pretty well, with good defensive work as well, a complete CM work, unlike the free roam role people keep asking us to play him in and removing all defensive duties from him, completely neglecting what role should any midfielder do.

He didn't shine with France because they gave him a free role upfront, he shone because he stepped up to the occasion and played as a natural CM. No can say Deschamps is an offensive manager as all their matches were played on utilizing counters.

Pogba can play as a complete CM. It's nonsense that he's restricted there and need to be "released" to play well. Pogba showed a high level of maturity and descibline in midfield in this tournament and hopefully he transmits this with us.
 
We should be as our squad lacking the quality and our coach is lacking the understanding to make Pogba work the same he worked in France or Juve. Pogba is a pure luxury player as cherry on top of a functional team, not somebody you expect to carry a ruin
So... you are saying Savic can?
Pogba has showed maturity during the WC, yes but it was only a handful of games compared to full season in club football. Not many teams played park the bus like when teams come to OT where Pogba and United team would shine.

It hasnt been an easy smooth ride for Pogba and Mourinho at United but I hope it is all part of growing pain. Who knows, Pogba excelling might be down to Mourinhos work finally paying in the biggest stage.

Savic might have potential to become as good as Pogba but so far he hasnt done anything yet to warrant a transfer to United as first 11. Let alone replacing Pogba.
 
Criminal decisions then, thinks you cannot do in centre midfield.

You can when you are expected to create chances. Roles are different as explained by the player himself. This keeping it simple Pogba won't be of much use for us when we can't create chances.

You are exaggerrating his mistakes, of course every player loses possession now and then, Pogba barely lose it in our own half, probably happened couple of times which you are posting as if it happens everytime.

No way did pogba have a good season. He started the season off well, got injured and decent in the first half but then 2nd half of the season was more shit then anything. He wouldn't have been dropped and subbed off so many times if this wasn't the case. He was much better in his first season compared to last season, when he was definitely a huge disappointment and there was definitely some issues going on. Picked up a bit at the end of the season with the FA Cup semi but nothing much overall in the end.

His world cup was far, far better then anything he has done for us over a tournament and in big games. Is it down to system and how he's used, type of teammates around him (having Mbappe and Griezmann to link up and have a quality attack) or his own effort? Mix of everything imo.

Not sure where to start, Pogba had more than good enough season.

@Stacks see you asked who said Pogba had average season, here is the proof that people think he even had a shit season.
 
Id say Pogba had 4 poor games all season. Spurs, Newcastle, West Brom and Brighton.
Certainly nothing out of the ordinary and he was one of our standout players in multiple big games. Fantastic against Arsenal away, City away, Chelsea at Home.

Exactly. He was very poor against Spurs away and Newcastle away, i mean probably his worst games for us.

But overall his season was more than good enough. 17 goals + assists was more than any midfielder (KdB wasn't a CM no matter what some site says) and he played just 2151 mins, that's equivalent of 24 games.
 
He is playing in a 3 man midfield of sorts with two work-horses and two players with exceptional movement in the front three. That is nothing like the set-up he plays with at united which is why he has performed better.

A part of it has also been the world cup but the system enabled him to perform to the standard that he did.

I agree to an extent, but more towards its effect on the actual team shape more than to Pogba as an individual. Pogba in this World Cup is not the Pogba at United for one reason - Paul Pogba.. He is far more professional and disciplined when playing for France. He tracks back more, he takes more care of his passing, he does less skills, flicks etc. At United he plays too much like it's an exhibition of Paul Pogba whereas at France he looks like its the team first. That may have to do with the fact France didnt pay 89 million for him, maybe there's a psychological barrier there but regardless he needs to sort it. It's gonna be his third year, he's coming off a World Cup win, he needs to do the business this season.
 
Family dab

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:lol:
 
This world cup proving that he has no problem playing as holding midfielder, as midfield 2. He doesn't have to be LCM , he doesn't have to play attacking role, he doesn't have to be freed. The next time we heard all those bollocks it means Raiola is getting into his head again.
 
He's playing with better players at France. It's as simple as that. Doesn't need a genius to figure that out. You're only as good as the team and players around you. Just look at Messi and Ronaldo. Two best players in the world. Messi for Barcelona is out of this world. Put him in Argentina and he's still a good player but not the same player. Ronaldo did a better job of adapting to that drop off in quality but even he couldn't keep it up after starting on fire.
 
He's playing with better players at France. It's as simple as that. Doesn't need a genius to figure that out. You're only as good as the team and players around you. Just look at Messi and Ronaldo. Two best players in the world. Messi for Barcelona is out of this world. Put him in Argentina and he's still a good player but not the same player. Ronaldo did a better job of adapting to that drop off in quality but even he couldn't keep it up after starting on fire.

Not just better players but players who are more appropriate in their respective positions. For instance, having Kante playing behind him allows him to be a bit more forward thinking in his approach
 
He's been great in this world cup, he hasn't always been great for United over the last two seasons.....but what's the reason? Mourinho? Coaches? The way we play? The quality of the team around him? I just don't know.....
The quality of the player around him. Don't tell me Lingard is better than Griezmann, Martial is better than Mbappe, Smalling & Jones better than Varane and Umtiti. With better defender who can play football with their feet, he didn't need to pick the ball so far behind , with player who has better movement upfront, he could pick his pass well.
 
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World Cup Winner @ 25 yrs old.. Congrats Paul Pogba, world football legend!
 
The quality of the player around him. Don't tell me Lingard is better than Griezmann, Martial is better than Mbappe, Smalling & Jones better than Varane and Umtiti.

Leave Lingard out.

Sanchez should be at Griezman level, let’s hope he comes back well rested and in top shape.
Nobody is better than Mbappe, but Martial has some speed and can score goals too. We also have Lukaku who can do some of those Mbappe type runs.
Smalling is same or better than Umtiti. There, I’ve said it. Now you can have a meltdown.
Bailey has the potential to be similar to Varane.

What we really need is fullbacks that can run up and down all game long, like Fernandez and Pavard. Valencia an Young just won’t do.
 
Leave Lingard out.

Sanchez should be at Griezman level, let’s hope he comes back well rested and in top shape.
Nobody is better than Mbappe, but Martial has some speed and can score goals too. We also have Lukaku who can do some of those Mbappe type runs.
Smalling is same or better than Umtiti. There, I’ve said it. Now you can have a meltdown.
Bailey has the potential to be similar to Varane.


What we really need is fullbacks that can run up and down all game long, like Fernandez and Pavard. Valencia an Young just won’t do.

*Facepalm* I love both and think they are very good defenders but that's severe overrating.

I think France has better quality upfront ( except the striker position) and better flanks, Griezmann is better than Sanchez overall imo and Mbappe is far better than Rashford and Martial. Pesence of another superstar (Griezmann) means the pressure isn't exclusively thrown on Pogba as well.

However it's not just the quality, it's how mature and desciblined Pogba decided to become in this tournament. That's the biggest difference for me.
 
Yeah. Didn't like it all.

He plays in England and has a number of English teammates in his squad. No need to be classless towards them, why start mocking when you've just won the world cup? It's no big deal but I really didn't see the need for it. I certainly wouldn't be too happy if I was Lingard, Stones, Rashford or Jones seeing that video, having just suffered a massive loss your teammate is rubbing it in after winning the trophy? Doesn't really seem right.

What's wrong with some banter? It is a game after all. Nothing classless about it.
 
*Facepalm* I love both and think they are very good defenders but that's severe overrating.

I think France has better quality upfront ( except the striker position) and better flanks, Griezmann is better than Sanchez overall imo and Mbappe is far better than Rashford and Martial. Pesence of another superstar (Griezmann) means the pressure isn't exclusively thrown on Pogba as well.

However it's not just the quality, it's how mature and desciblined Pogba decided to become in this tournament. That's the biggest difference for me.

I agree on everything you say. But even though France has better quality up front, specially with Mbappe & Griezman, we also have some good quality players that should allow Pogba to play better.

I also noticed that Pogba seemed to mature during the WC. His defensive performance against Belgium was amazing, and he played well throughout the tournament including the final. Even though Mourinho is criticised due to trying to use Pogba assigning him too many defensive duties instead of “freeing” him for attacking, it seems Mourinho’s coaching has after all improved Pogba become a more complete midfielder. Let’s hope he can carry this form to our team now!
 
I agree on everything you say. But even though France has better quality up front, specially with Mbappe & Griezman, we also have some good quality players that should allow Pogba to play better.

I also noticed that Pogba seemed to mature during the WC. His defensive performance against Belgium was amazing, and he played well throughout the tournament including the final. Even though Mourinho is criticised due to trying to use Pogba assigning him too many defensive duties instead of “freeing” him for attacking, it seems Mourinho’s coaching has after all improved Pogba become a more complete midfielder. Let’s hope he can carry this form to our team now!

Agree and I posted about that earlier in this thread. Hopefully he transmits this level of maturity with us when the season starts. This tournament can be a turning point for him. He looked like a complete CM in it.
 
If this World Cup proves anything, it proves that Pogba can play in a desciblined and holding role in midfield, dictating the play and initiating counters pretty well, with good defensive work as well, a complete CM work, unlike the free roam role people keep asking us to play him in and removing all defensive duties from him, completely neglecting what role should any midfielder do.

He didn't shine with France because they gave him a free role upfront, he shone because he stepped up to the occasion and played as a natural CM. No can say Deschamps is an offensive manager as all their matches were played on utilizing counters.

Pogba can play as a complete CM. It's nonsense that he's restricted there and need to be "released" to play well. Pogba showed a high level of maturity and descibline in midfield in this tournament and hopefully he transmits this with us.

So true, Pogba can play many different positions but as a CM it's where he can be the most efficient and influential player in the team. The perfect position for him
 
So true, Pogba can play many different positions but as a CM it's where he can be the most efficient and influential player in the team. The perfect position for him
Agree with you both. Even in some of the statements he made about what Mou asks from him, it's pretty clear he has no problem being the engine and doing the dirty work without it necessarily leading to flashy goals and assists. Pogba seems to be one of those rare specimens that in a way seems to benefit from having strict instructions on the pitch--perhaps more a Pirlo than a Scholes.
 
Agree with you both. Even in some of the statements he made about what Mou asks from him, it's pretty clear he has no problem being the engine and doing the dirty work without it necessarily leading to flashy goals and assists. Pogba seems to be one of those rare specimens that in a way seems to benefit from having strict instructions on the pitch--perhaps more a Pirlo than a Scholes.
And he is so good that he can still have those flashy goals and assists from CM. Not many players have this ability tbh, I don't think there is another like him in the world.
 
How didn't he win MoTM? Booo no way Griezmann performance was better overall.
Pogba did everything and he did it without Kante :D
Tbf Griezmann scored 1, created the own goal with his delivery (it was one of those where if nobody touches it its in since its on target too), and then also played it to pogba but wont get the assist since pogba had a shot bounce back to him before the goal. But basically goal or assist in the 3 key goals. Pogba could have got it too though.
 
Just occurred to me that Pogba is the first current United player to star in a World Cup winning side. At least going back thru tournaments in my lifetime. How we can see a few more of them in coming years.
Think Pogba's only the 4th ever United player to play in a World Cup final while playing for United. Think the other 3 were England 1966.
 
Think Pogba's only the 4th ever United player to play in a World Cup final while playing for United. Think the other 3 were England 1966.

That's a pretty provacative fact considering we are the most successful club in England. I'm going to guess that more winning clubs in the Champions League have more representatives in the World Cup winner's list.
 
And he is so good that he can still have those flashy goals and assists from CM. Not many players have this ability tbh, I don't think there is another like him in the world.

Yeah agree with that, will be interesting to see how we set up considering Jose signed Fred for big money and Matic is his favorite. So we will play 4-3-3 but Pogba has showed that he is capable of playing any role in midfield.

Also our attackers should step up and start creating chances, for France he can pass the ball from deep and rely on Mbappe and Griezmann to take care of the rest, at ManUtd we rely on Pogba very much to create chances and also to carry the ball from deep.

With fully rested Sanchez and Fred added to the team, we should see different Pogba this season.
 
Yeah agree with that, will be interesting to see how we set up considering Jose signed Fred for big money and Matic is his favorite. So we will play 4-3-3 but Pogba has showed that he is capable of playing any role in midfield.

Also our attackers should step up and start creating chances, for France he can pass the ball from deep and rely on Mbappe and Griezmann to take care of the rest, at ManUtd we rely on Pogba very much to create chances and also to carry the ball from deep.

With fully rested Sanchez and Fred added to the team, we should see different Pogba this season.
I really hope so. He can be at his best if even he is burdonned by too many responsibilities. I hope Mourinho finds inspiration in how Deschamps used him in this tournament
 
I’m getting the predictable texts he was awful, invisible; France worst player, goal was deflected he made the game close, he got nutmeg etc; suffice to say I’m enjoying this right now hahahahaha
 
That's a pretty provacative fact considering we are the most successful club in England. I'm going to guess that more winning clubs in the Champions League have more representatives in the World Cup winner's list.
Actually before this year, only 5 players have even played in the world cup semi final while at United.
  • Charlton 1966
  • Stiles 1966
  • Ronaldo 2006
  • Saha 2006 (late sub)
  • Van Persie 2014
Pogba, Rashford, Lingard, Young, Lukaku and Fellaini get added to the list now. Pogba joins Charlton, Stiles and then I think the other article I read had 1 more random player who didn't appear in the semi's, not sure who. One of those weird stats. Bayern and Inter for example have had someone appear in every World Cup final since the early 70's I think.
 
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