Those few games on the bench under Mourinho just before his sacking may have actually turned out well for Pogba in terms of physical+mental freshness. It was basically a bit of rest for him.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Goals
- 16
- Assists
- 14
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Brilliant, great team performance.
Defensively superb, perfect workrate.
Attacking, oh so good, great assist, had a go many times at goals, and attack attack attack.
Hothead today, I think it's right to subbed him out, at that time, there is a risk he's going to make reckless challenges and get another yellow. We need 11 men.
Right attitude nonetheless, United!
Anyway, overall, superb team performance.
Defensively superb, perfect workrate.
Attacking, oh so good, great assist, had a go many times at goals, and attack attack attack.
Hothead today, I think it's right to subbed him out, at that time, there is a risk he's going to make reckless challenges and get another yellow. We need 11 men.
Right attitude nonetheless, United!
Anyway, overall, superb team performance.He will always lose the ball multiple times a game. Just the way it is.
People forget that Ronaldo and Scholes had big flaws in their game too. Actually people hardly mention Ronaldo in his last season had excellent moments and good stats but wasn't anywhere near 2007 or 2008 Ronaldo.
Pogba is incredible. Just needs better players around him. Hard to believe he had Pirlo and Vidal. That's cheating compared to Herrera and Matic.
People forget that Ronaldo and Scholes had big flaws in their game too. Actually people hardly mention Ronaldo in his last season had excellent moments and good stats but wasn't anywhere near 2007 or 2008 Ronaldo.
Pogba is incredible. Just needs better players around him. Hard to believe he had Pirlo and Vidal. That's cheating compared to Herrera and Matic.
Proving why he is considered one of the best players in the world in every game.
Sounsess speaking out of his arse.
Nah come on he was amazing for 80 minutes....very poor for the last 10 minutes because his body language made me angry.....but before he did a great job for the team.
Amazing player. His vision and creative passing might be the best i've ever seen. Able to switch from defence to attack in a split second. Too bad he uses 10 seconds to do the opposite
That is a let down no matter how you spin it, but if he keeps banging in goals and serving up assist then no one should care.
That is a let down no matter how you spin it, but if he keeps banging in goals and serving up assist then no one should care.Superb performance. Worked hard and was rewarded several times for working hard, couldn't quite get the rub of the green on a couple of those finishes but that pass for Rashford was superb.
As an aside, how quick is he to throw a strop a couple of times he turned on a dime to throw a strop at one of his team mates after stuffing something up previously. Sets high standards for himself, says a lot about his game.
As an aside, how quick is he to throw a strop
a couple of times he turned on a dime to throw a strop at one of his team mates after stuffing something up previously. Sets high standards for himself, says a lot about his game.He's a moron. Like those people who blatantly know they're wrong and cant back up what they're saying but just stick to their bullshit.
Fergie would have had problems with pogba as well. He does indeed has the potential to be something else, if he just cared about his defensive side of the game.
That first half performance and performance when the team attacked with the ball was good, but second half was totally the opposite mate and not cool at all, and i cant ignore it.
If suppose i am on the opposition team playing a cup final against united, as a opposition player i would target the exact same weakness against us and completely dominate. That's encouraging for opposition teams that you can just up your energy against us and dominate the midfield with the little care pogba has for defensive side to his game.
Without a commanding midfield presence we just cant become a top team like in the past.
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Once it was for ShawSuperb performance. Worked hard and was rewarded several times for working hard, couldn't quite get the rub of the green on a couple of those finishes but that pass for Rashford was superb.
As an aside, how quick is he to throw a strop
As I said in the other thread you can't put all of that on him. We had a bad half as a team and defended too deep. It can't be all his fault nor do I think it was that bad. He could have added a goal or 2 practically securing us a win early in the second half.
I'm not sure what is he saying. Now he's playing good he's not a deep lying playmaker and can't do it. I don't even think he wants to be one or is playing like one.
It's clear it's absolutely not his game, no idea why Souness decided to criticize that.
He seems focussed and zoned in. It sounds ridiculous but getting shot of the stupid haircuts makes him just look more serious as a footballer. The strut doesn’t seem the same either, gone is this self centred big time Charlie and now we’ve got an absolute beast of a footballer who’s doing all his talking in the pitch.
Long may it continue.
Long may it continue.
He's worth £200M in this market.
We need to think of a plan B. At some point he'll need resting, or he might get injured. He's critical to how we function.
When Souness played there were two central midfielders who did everything without being a master at anything. He just hasn't accepted the game has changed. Those all rounders don't exist anymore midfielders and he's not able to change his mindset. His management ”career” attests to that.
No white text? He was brilliant.
When we got dominated in the second half he was working his bollox off.
No he wasn't. Our midfield was getting destroyed after 60 mins.
There were a couple of Spurs fans on one of the leading Dutch footy forums saying Sissoko was going to show Pogba who's boss this game because he had shown throughout December what a talent he really is. It's almost as if a certain bunch of scousers became Spurs fans
Fred is adequate back up for that role.
Reading this thread and around, people have unrealistic expectations of Pogba which I dont see for many other players. Maybe its the price tag but I dont see this for any other players around the world.
He's not going to control a game as well as score and assist 20+. How many people do both? Maybe a player 30 years ago did that but seriously how about now?
If you control midfield you are normally deeper, like modric / pirlo / xavi. Now look at the number of goals / assists they had or how often they got into opponents box to get into goal scoring positions.
If you are higher you will get goals and assists but not control a game nor have high interceptions/ tackles. I look at Lampard as an example (given he was name dropped by Pogba)
Right now the latter is what we need from him. Long term we need a matic replacement as his lack of legs showed in second half when he was run past.
Scholes is a good example too. When he broke into the team he was getting the goals, getting into the box, getting assists, but at the same time he had Keane next to him to help control the midfield.
In latter years, Scholes dropped deeper, controlled midfield, didnt get up much, and didnt get the goals / assists but it helped he had people like Carrick next to him (who himself didnt get the goals but we changed our team to ensure our other attackers did)
Half a season (25 appearances) and nearly 10 goals and 10 assists is quite fantastic. I dont think we are appreciating what hes doing for us. Even on his off games he still has been providing for us.
He's not going to control a game as well as score and assist 20+. How many people do both? Maybe a player 30 years ago did that but seriously how about now?
If you control midfield you are normally deeper, like modric / pirlo / xavi. Now look at the number of goals / assists they had or how often they got into opponents box to get into goal scoring positions.
If you are higher you will get goals and assists but not control a game nor have high interceptions/ tackles. I look at Lampard as an example (given he was name dropped by Pogba)
Right now the latter is what we need from him. Long term we need a matic replacement as his lack of legs showed in second half when he was run past.
Scholes is a good example too. When he broke into the team he was getting the goals, getting into the box, getting assists, but at the same time he had Keane next to him to help control the midfield.
In latter years, Scholes dropped deeper, controlled midfield, didnt get up much, and didnt get the goals / assists but it helped he had people like Carrick next to him (who himself didnt get the goals but we changed our team to ensure our other attackers did)
Half a season (25 appearances) and nearly 10 goals and 10 assists is quite fantastic. I dont think we are appreciating what hes doing for us. Even on his off games he still has been providing for us.
Terrible is a huge overstatement, but so is brilliant.
He made some daft decisions to cede possession in the second half that contributed to us being under pressure, including for the Alli chance. Against lesser teams like the ones we've played recently that's not a problem, but he needs to be more careful against strong opposition. Once he sorts that aspect of his game out he will quickly become one of best in the world.
He didn't boss Pogba, but I thought Sissoko was playing well up to the point he got injured.There were a couple of Spurs fans on one of the leading Dutch footy forums saying Sissoko was going to show Pogba who's boss this game because he had shown throughout December what a talent he really is. It's almost as if a certain bunch of scousers became Spurs fans
For the Alli chance, he lost the ball on the edge of their box. That wasn't a daft decision. Players lose the ball get over it. Eriksen lost it when attacking too. Same with Alli, Son etc. To sort out that aspect of his game he will need to play way too safe and in which case he won't be Pogba. Edge of the oppo box you lose the ball it ain't your fault if your team concedes.
By far our best outfield player and if we set up the team to his strengths, he's amazing... who'd have thought. Shame on those who doubted him or wanted to get rid
Of course hr was the weak link off the ball when Spurs were attacking and were in possession. Herrera and matic had a great game defensively where they were breaking up the play and blocking shots all the time which resulted from the pressure generated due to not having a solid defensive block without the ball enough times in partnership with Herrera.
Now, I do not want to play a spoil sport to all the high mood we have around here neglecting his other side of the game were he was good enough, but with that attitude towards positioning and defense I don't see how we can walk into any game against top teams and top clubs as favourites without willing to depend on cb and keeper to bail us out without it being a grind in the end.
Ideally if Pogba pays attention to that side of his game, he will be on another level as a midfielder. With top midfielders you have to expect this kind of game awareness which i am willing to highlight in the video.
The fight bastian puts into the midfield without the ball in partner ship with Martinez as a defensive block, stops Barcelona from getting to the final third and create host of chances and offer resistance in the middle of the pitch. This is how bayern maintains control of the game without having the keeper and defense to bail them out. The pressing and ball winning instantly puts Barcelona vulnerable to counter attacks and it does not affect bastians ability to affect the game offensively on the ball with goals and assists as he times his run perfectly into the box to create that plus one effect in oppositions box which is a deadly attribute pogba also possess. Now Herrera is not as good as martinez but he still puts a shift in and offers resistance in midfield, matic hasn't got the legs to be a def mid playing in a two any more but as a 6 he did some great defensive work last night as well.
Now put our midfield against the technical players Barcelona possess i could totally see us losing the midfield battle and probably the game as top players will beat de gea 2-3 times if they have so many shots at goal.
To be a big team, you have to play like one. When ever we play a big team i can see our midfield folding when the opposition piles on the pressure with high intensity and pogba's lack of effort will always put is on the back foot as all the big teams playing football these days majorly wants to play with the ball and its going to take a significant effort in the middle of the pitch to win it back which pogba keeps getting exposed at time and time again.
At juventus he had that luxury to cover for him and he was a developing player then, who needed all the freedom in the world to just stay up field and damage when your fellow mid partners do all the dirty work and give the ball to you. But it's not the case with this team. If you play as a no 8 defensive work inside our own box is expected as well. I dont see how this will not come back to haunt us in the near future again.
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Scholes never possessed the pace ,power strength pogba posses as a midfielder. Pogba has it all but the work rate and effort to be that complete player. It's not the pogba has to defend against poor sides which could bring down his numbers as well. He has all the attributes to be good at both, but it seems he lacks the 'will' to do it.
No its not possible to be a type of midfielder that has never existed before and for a reason. Running forward exerts as much energy as running back.
Yesterday vs Spurs Pogba was gassed after 70 minutes but I guess his workrate was lacking.
Also, Scholes was literally playing as a striker when he broke into the team.
Funny/surprising that people still see Pogba as some sort of complete midfielder. Those midfielders don't exist. He has a role in the team and he is doing to well. It's to create chances. The expectations on him from few are just unrealistic.
Both Pogba and peak Schweinsteiger are kind of allround midfielders, but still very different ones. Schweinsteiger was a more organising, defensive-minded, balancing type of midfielder, but with less offensive impact and responsibility than Pogba.
I see Martinez/Schweinsteiger closer to Matic/Herrera in yesterday's setup, and Pogba to Kroos/Müller - or in terms of creativity + firepower actually Ribery/Robben. (These comparisons don't really work because of the many differences between Bayern 2013 and United 2019. But Schweinsteiger definitely wasn't Pogba + better workrate back then.)
Exactly. I know people will compare this to Bryan Robson but his peak probably came before my time and it was mainly highlights I saw so its hard for somebody who didnt see him week in, week out to make this true comparison.
But again, Pogba put in a lot of effort yesterday, and was tired. Its no surprise Lingard was gassed too cos he put in a lot of effort especially that second half.
I do wish we had prime carrick instead of matic as I think that would make Pogba look even better than he is to some. (or younger Matic I guess).
I have no issue with him losing the ball when he's trying something which was a good idea but didn't quite come off. I expect that from a player in his position. What I don't expect of a player of his quality is for him to get caught dawdling on the ball, or trying shots/passes/flicks/tricks that obviously aren't going to come off. Especially not in tight games against strong opposition.
For the Alli chance, he was on the edge of their box with plenty of support, he could have moved the ball on, instead he dawdled, lost the ball and put us back under pressure. Similarly, at one point he received the ball on the turn about 30 yards out and immediately went for the Hollywood option and sent a weak shot straight at Lloris without even assessing other options. Decision-making is one of the things that separates the very best players from the rest. He has it in his locker to be an all-time great is his position, if I seem a little harsh on him it's because I want him to reach that level.
I don't agree at all on your last point, if you give away the ball for no reason and the opposition have a shot on goal as a result you're certainly culpable for that. If the same attack had come from him trying a through ball which didn't quite come off I would have no problem with that.
Our best outfielder anyway. Best player since Ole joined. In terms of needing to improve he is the player that needs to do so the least. Watching the Alli chance back sure he lost the ball trying a difficult turn but it wasn't so simple, there was a lot of pressure on him instantly after receiving the ball. Great players try great things and I for one would hate him to cut that out of his game. I have seen Ibra Berba etc giving the ball away doing similar extravagant things. They don't do it for the laugh they do it as if it comes off suddenly you have sent a few opponents out of the game and in a moment of pure magic have made space to attack.
So what you're saying is Matic and Herrera aren't capable of doing what Schweinstiger and Martinez did.....then you're blaming Pogba for that
So what you're saying is Matic and Herrera aren't capable of doing what Schweinstiger and Martinez did.....then you're blaming Pogba for that
Haha
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