[MadDogg]

He was quite good for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Otherwise he was fairly poor.

 

[Isotope]

Doesn't remotely look like the best midfielder in the world.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

def invisible to start the game. Kinda got going after the first goal, but just way too much of a passenger today. Didnt like where he was playing today to start. Dont see the point of shunting him anywhere to try and accomodate matic anywhere. Get pogba forward and central and let him do some damage.

 

[Raven]

So does man united midfield which involves him as well.

So Pogba being class against Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and City last year has escaped your memory? Lost cause.

 

[Raees]

Doesn’t look fit to me. Laboured in his movement.

 

[Patrick08]

Football is a team game, no player does everything. Pogba can't dictate game, defend, attack all by himself. That's why we have Herrera, Matic to play alongside him.

Well than it's not a top top team which is better than the sum of its parts. The midfield is not good enough collectively and pogba along with all the midfield players always leave it short. The way we play or use to play in the past we need a lot more to reach the levels we need to be reaching as a team.

 

[roonster09]

Well than it's not a top top team which is better than the sum of its parts. The midfield is not good enough collectively and pogba along with all the midfield players always leave it short. The way we play or use to play in the past we need a lot more to reach the levels we need to be reaching as a team.

No, it doesn't. We set up to play counter attacking football which means we tries to pass the ball quickly instead of controlling possession. Solskjaer said it many times he wants the ball to move forward asap and that's what our players do. Instead of hoofing it, we keep it on ground.

 

[ErranMorad]

One of those lackadaisical performances that he has in him every few games. He needs to learn to release the ball a little quicker. Holds on to it too long at times, which is very annoying.

 

[Patrick08]

So Pogba being class against Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and City last year has escaped your memory? Lost cause.

I have already counted Chelsea and arsenal away as a top performance before. Spurs he has pretty tosh apart from first half and few moments.

I am not of the view he needs to show goals and assists every big game but you have to dominate the centre and playmake on the highest level if you are not ticking those boxes. Our play style is much more dependent on the efficiency of our midfield than city or Liverpool as we are not a cohesive side as them and unless our midfield dominates the centre I can always see united underperforming in big games to be honest.

 

[roonster09]

I have already counted Chelsea and arsenal away as a top performance before. Spurs he has pretty tosh apart from first half and few moments.

I am not of the view he needs to show goals and assists every big game but you have to dominate the centre and playmake on the highest level if you are not ticking those boxes. Our play style is much more dependent on the efficiency of our midfield than city or Liverpool as we are not a cohesive side as them and unless our midfield dominates the centre I can always see united underperforming in big games to be honest.

Individual players don't dominate games, it's how coach set up dominates it. We had 71% possession at Stamford bridge with Rooney, Fellaini, Herrera midifeld vs Matic, Fabregas. If the roles were reversed, Matic and Fabregas would have dominated possession with Van Gaal in charge.

Our midfield of Herrera, Fellaini dominated City's with Fernandinho, KdB, Silva when we had Van Gaal. Now they dominate every midfield in the league, not because they became 2X the players they were, it's because of how Pep sets up the team.

 

[bosnian_red]

Nothing really came off for him today (apart from the ridiculous pass to Lukaku with his left on that counter). Happens.

 

[Raven]

Individual players don't dominate games, it's how coach set up dominates it. We had 71% possession at Stamford bridge with Rooney, Fellaini, Herrera midifeld vs Matic, Fabregas. If the roles were reversed, Matic and Fabregas would have dominated possession with Van Gaal in charge.

Our midfield of Herrera, Fellaini dominated City's with Fernandinho, KdB, Silva when we had Van Gaal. Now they dominate every midfield in the league, not because they became 2X the players they were, it's because of how Pep sets up the team.

Yep. Playing too different brands of football, completely incomparable, I don't think this fella understands that.

Good post by the way.

 

[Patrick08]

No, it doesn't. We set up to play counter attacking football which means we tries to pass the ball quickly instead of controlling possession. Solskjaer said it many times he wants the ball to move forward asap and that's what our players do. Instead of hoofing it, we keep it on ground.

Individual players don't dominate games, it's how coach set up dominates it. We had 71% possession at Stamford bridge with Rooney, Fellaini, Herrera midifeld vs Matic, Fabregas. If the roles were reversed, Matic and Fabregas would have dominated possession with Van Gaal in charge.

Our midfield of Herrera, Fellaini dominated City's with Fernandinho, KdB, Silva when we had Van Gaal. Now they dominate every midfield in the league, not because they became 2X the players they were, it's because of how Pep sets up the team.

We set up to play counter attacking football as we are not good enough to play attacking football on the front foot in oppositions half and keep control of the midfield as pogba and matic are not good enough to control the middle of the park in the first place. Then to play counter attacking the midfield need to be a top notch defensive block which pogba and matic are not very good at either and if they put a defensive shift in the creative side of the game is a struggle as well with poor movements and lack of highest level of playmaking to open up defenses which are quicker to get back in position, pogba and matic both share the blame for it but majority of it lies on pogba in creative sense.

 

[roonster09]

We set up to play counter attacking football as we are not good enough to play attacking football on the front foot in oppositions half and keep control of the midfield as pogba and matic are not good enough to control the middle of the park in the first place. Then to play counter attacking the midfield need to be a top notch defensive block which pogba and matic are not very good at either and if they put a defensive shift in the creative side of the game is a struggle as well with poor movements and lack of highest level of playmaking to open up defenses which are quicker to get back in position, pogba and matic both share the blame for it but majority of it lies on pogba in creative sense.

Herrera, Fellaini, Rooney midfield is good enough to control possession, Pogba-Herrera- Matic isn't?

Playing through middle, controlling possession isn't the only way to win. If we have Van Gaal, we would dominate possession, playing boring football. Solskjaer himself said he wants forward passes, that's not someone who wants to dominate possession. Thats someone from SAF school. Pass forward early and attack before defenders are settled in positions.

 

[Patrick08]

Doesn’t look fit to me. Laboured in his movement.

I doubt it's a fitness issue.

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

Was better when we switched to a 4-3-3.
Was wasted on the left in the 4-4-2, we can't play this formation with Pogba in the team. Maybe next to Herrera against smaller sides at home, but that's about that.

 

[Patrick08]

Herrera, Fellaini, Rooney midfield is good enough to control possession, Pogba-Herrera- Matic isn't?

Playing through middle, controlling possession isn't the only way to win.

If you want to keep quoting that Chelsea performance under lvg i'd like to remind you the opposition manager was Jose mourinho who parked the bus that day and had no interest in keeping the ball, he was just waiting to pounce on our mistakes which he did and won it, we hardly created anything passing it sideways and backwards.

Controlling possession and controlling the midfield are totally different things, controlling midfield involves the sense of being at right place at the right time and breaking up oppositions play. When pogba is playing deep, creative wise he is not good enough to hurt decent oppositions unless he has the freedom to roam around and leave his defensive responsibilities to others. He doesn't do both the jobs at top level simultaneously and the reason he doesn't shine out in big games often.

 

[roonster09]

If you want to keep quoting that Chelsea performance under lvg i'd like to remind you the opposition manager was Jose mourinho who parked the bus that day and had no interest in keeping the ball, he was just waiting to pounce on our mistakes which he did and won it, we hardly created anything passing it sideways and backwards.

Controlling possession and controlling the midfield are totally different things. When pogba is playing deep, creative wise he is not good enough to hurt decent oppositions unless he has the freedom to roam around and leave his defensive responsibilities to others. He doesn't do both the jobs at top level simultaneously and the reason he doesn't shine out in big games often.

I gave you examples of City games where they had Fernandinho, KdB, Silva, Yaya playing against Fellaini, Herrera, Rooney, Mata. Somehow you ignored it.

You expect 1 player to play 3 roles, that's the problem with your expectations.

Edit: Anyways this is just pointless. I have made my points with examples. Can't keep repeating them. There is no player who plays all 3 roles at once.

 

[Adamsk7]

I was there and he really wasn’t at the races today. His passing was sloppy, he tried skills in places you don’t try them and he ambled around the field, making next to no attempt to tackle and without much urgency. If his performance looked bad on TV, it was even worse in person.
I’d say he needs a rest but he’s had more of a rest than some out there today.

 

[Raees]

I doubt it's a fitness issue.

Been going on for quite a while though.. is he tired? losing concentration?

 

[Patrick08]

I gave you examples of City games where they had Fernandinho, KdB, Silva, Yaya playing against Fellaini, Herrera, Rooney, Mata. Somehow you ignored it.

You expect 1 player to play 3 roles, that's the problem with your expectations.

Edit: Anyways this is just pointless. I have made my points with examples. Can't keep repeating them. There is no player who plays all 3 roles at once.

Against city in that 0-0game when both teams had 50% percent of the ball and cancelled each other out you mean.

The point and reality is there are way better teams in epl and Europe than us and midfield dominance and ball circulation/ retention is a big reason we are hardly counted as a elite team which scares oppositions team, and we are not on that level as the way we set up and play we need that player who is good at all three and doesn't go hiding when the chips are down to be a top consistent team capable of winning titles as consistency is key to win titles with the level city has set. A inconsistent pogba alone will never take us to that level who lacks the intelligence to be good at all three, as its the need of the hour with the way we play.

 

[roonster09]

Against city in that 0-0game when both teams had 50% percent of the ball and cancelled each other out you mean.

The point and reality is there are way better teams in epl and Europe than us and midfield dominance and ball circulation/ retention is a big reason we are hardly counted as a elite team which scares oppositions team, and we are not on that level as the way we set up and play we need that player who is good at all three and doesn't go hiding when the chips are down to be a top consistent team capable of winning titles as consistency is key to win titles with the level city has set. A inconsistent pogba alone will never take us to that level who lacks the intelligence to be good at all three, as its the need of the hour with the way we play.

Good luck with that.

 

[Patrick08]

Been going on for quite a while though.. is he tired? losing concentration?

Played in a 3 with defensive duties and being nullified and outworked by opposition players at basics? Ole is not playing him as a 10 like he did just after he came in December.

 

[AngliaRed]

The rest did him no favours. He looked a yard slower in everything he did today.

Great left footed cross field ball though.

 

[Shark]

He's gone off the boil again the past few games.

 

[Patrick08]

Good luck with that.

I 'd say good luck to ole and company to find midfield partners to pogba as well who will cover all the vulnerabilities in his game and make us title contenders and possibly favourites.

 

[Tomuś]

The rest did him no favours. He looked a yard slower in everything he did today.

Great left footed cross field ball though.

Can't be 100% fit. The likes of Xhaka outpaced him today.

 

[roonster09]

I 'd say good luck to ole and company to find midfield partners to pogba as well who will cover all the vulnerabilities in his game and make us title contenders and possibly favourites.

Are those midfielders expected to defend, control the game, attack by scoring goals, assists, creating chances and doing all that simultaneously?

 

[Patrick08]

Are those midfielders expected to defend, control the game, attack by scoring goals, assists, creating chances and doing all that simultaneously?

No, but at least expected to control the midfield and circulate it well and ain't crazy after goals and assists but actually care about dominating the midfield and provide a platform for pogba to be a super star he is from his Juventus days. We'd be lucky to find him another vidal and pirlo or kante and a league where one team can win it 8 years in a row.

 

[Sylar]

He looked really tired at the beginning of the match which made no sense.

 

[yfoFC]

Been going on for quite a while though.. is he tired? losing concentration?

Losing his midfield generals alongside him especially the most important one (Herrera) should have something to do with it..

 

[yfoFC]

Now watch as the next time he has a quiet game against a top team he will be branded not good enough against the big boys.

It's like performances like today just get magically erased soon after.

Perhaps I should be the counterpart to @Rozay.. "Master of Foresight"

 

[11101]

He's gone off the boil again the past few games.

Herrera out and Lukaku in.

He needs the cover from Herrera to create, and better movement ahead of him than Lukaku provides.

 

[golden_blunder]

Barring one superb pass he looked a bit lost today

 

[Frank Grimes]

Problem with Pogba is he doesn't know if he wants to be a CDM or a forward. If he is a CDM then he needs to stay in the middle and control the game from there. Doesn't mean he can't attack but has to be selective with his runs and arrive late, like Lampard used to do to great effect.

 

[Frank Grimes]

He looked really tired at the beginning of the match which made no sense.

Maybe he is tired.

 

[Leftback99]

No excuses he was poor.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I thought he played better than the last few games. Strange that people go at him now just because we lost.

 

[tentan]

Doesn't remotely look like the best midfielder in the world.

That's because he isn't.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

No show in yet another big game. Not surprising at all. Kept it simple but it was not the time to be simple with us chasing the game.

Didn't he just do well away from home against Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea ?

He had the tendancy to struggle in the tighter games before but had remedied that under Ole thus far.

He was very average yesterday though. Not involved enough. And very careless with that challenge on Ramsey. Could have been another red.