By far our best player but some people are blind.
I'm starting to understand why Raiola is looking for a new club for him.
I'm starting to understand why Raiola is looking for a new club for him.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Goals
- 16
- Assists
- 14
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Cashmoney
Cant believe people were having a go at him after yesterday. There have been plenty of times were criticism of Pogba was justified and then some, but yesterday he was among the few who looked like trying
Cashmoney
I think that he came here for the money but his next move will be to play in a good team, improve and win titles.
A lot of people will say that he failed but what is more important ? Saving his career or staying in this lost cause because of his ego ?
He's 25, for a midfielder it's nothing, he can play until 35 ...
He can do a lot in 10 years and by the time he ends his career, the Manchester United chapter may be a black dot in his CV.
Last edited:
Clubs world cup yeah (which means we would have won the CL too
)I can see what that midfield was trying to do and I agree with the sentiment that playing Pogba in front of two defensive minded midfielders is the way to go. We just have a collection of midfielders that don't make sense in certain situations and in terms of leadership, experience, commitment and players that will take responsibility it makes sense to play Fellaini and Matic but as a combination they don't really work for various reasons. Matic is in poor form and should be dropped for Fellaini as a single player at the base but that just sets off another chain reaction in trying to squeeze all these players into the team.
To me, this is where I'm just not really seeing it with Pogba. I have no idea what he's meant to be doing in this setup. He can't play 6 because he doesn't want to do the all-round playmaking from a static base position (plus we have way better and more complementary players to play at the base anyway), he doesn't play 8 because asking him to play a dual role is absolutely pointless as he fake presses and rarely drops into the defensive positions when we don't have the ball and then asking him to play 10 (or at the top and link the attack) means you get these types of leggy performances today where he jogs around in between the lines and doesn't really offer much more than a touch here and there and the odd pass through the lanes.
The whole thing is a mess of players who don't complement each other at all in a 2 or a 3. I can see how a Pogba/Fred/Fellaini in a stagger with Fellaini at the base and Pogba at the top might work, but it is obvious Fred has been here three seconds and throwing him into tough away games and big CL games before his settled is not what Mourinho does. Even the Pogba/Herrera/Matic midfield of last years success still had these "erf it just doesn't really work properly does it?.." moments.
Honestly don't know what to do with him in this team. The options everywhere all seem to be big combo breakers on the sets of players we can put out there and build cohesion.
It's amazing how we have spent so much money yet he is the only player who has good passing range.
Smalling can''t pass longer than to next man, same with bailly. Shaw is decent, Valencia is worse.
Fellaini just plays simple passes, Matic can play passes only on ground, Sanchez can't even complete simple passes and Lukaku can't control the ball. Rashford doesn't know that he can pass the ball.
There were few moments when player in possession had time on the ball and chance to spread the game still they didn't. Every move starts from him. It's frustrating, don't think it's lack of ability though, looks more like lack of confidence.
Smalling can''t pass longer than to next man, same with bailly. Shaw is decent, Valencia is worse.
Fellaini just plays simple passes, Matic can play passes only on ground, Sanchez can't even complete simple passes and Lukaku can't control the ball. Rashford doesn't know that he can pass the ball.
There were few moments when player in possession had time on the ball and chance to spread the game still they didn't. Every move starts from him. It's frustrating, don't think it's lack of ability though, looks more like lack of confidence.
Only player who can pass the ball accurately over 30,40 metres in this team.
His teammates have made him look worse for a long time. They are not on the same wavelength. And on the whole, he’s been excellent anyway, in my opinion. The only issue is that the team has underperformed. As a result, we look at every individual in the context of what they don’t/can’t do because rationalisation is needed as to why we are not the best. It’s because player x doesn’t do this or that enough.
The reality is, if the team were better, players will be looked at in light of their positives. He conversation will be about what makes us the best. For example, Paul Pogba, right now, is better than James Milner, right now. Give or take a couple of games this season where Pogba really hasn’t performed. However, on a number of occasions this very season, he has performed far better than Milner is capable of, including yesterday. However, as Liverpool are flying, what Milner IS doing (effectively running around and kicking/tackling everyone) is being spoken of solely in the context of how it is contributing to making Liverpool a great side. He’s not producing the magic Pogba does, but it doesn’t matter. If they swapped teams, and did exactly the same things they have been doing all season, Pogba would be rated much better. But if Pogba misplaces a pass now, it’s such a big deal. You would think that over in Merseyside, Milner never gives it away. It’s just that it doesn’t matter.
Ask any pundit who they would rather have in their team right now and they would say Milner, and if both players continue performing like they did in their last games (Pogba last night, Milner against Chelsea) it will be said Milner has had a better season. Narrative is so key. Pogba is a world class player, and I don’t even subscribe to this myth that it’s only shown sporadically either. It’s shown most games, but he often performs well in vain I think. We have far greater problems than any Pogba lack of consistency.
The reality is, if the team were better, players will be looked at in light of their positives. He conversation will be about what makes us the best. For example, Paul Pogba, right now, is better than James Milner, right now. Give or take a couple of games this season where Pogba really hasn’t performed. However, on a number of occasions this very season, he has performed far better than Milner is capable of, including yesterday. However, as Liverpool are flying, what Milner IS doing (effectively running around and kicking/tackling everyone) is being spoken of solely in the context of how it is contributing to making Liverpool a great side. He’s not producing the magic Pogba does, but it doesn’t matter. If they swapped teams, and did exactly the same things they have been doing all season, Pogba would be rated much better. But if Pogba misplaces a pass now, it’s such a big deal. You would think that over in Merseyside, Milner never gives it away. It’s just that it doesn’t matter.
Ask any pundit who they would rather have in their team right now and they would say Milner, and if both players continue performing like they did in their last games (Pogba last night, Milner against Chelsea) it will be said Milner has had a better season. Narrative is so key. Pogba is a world class player, and I don’t even subscribe to this myth that it’s only shown sporadically either. It’s shown most games, but he often performs well in vain I think. We have far greater problems than any Pogba lack of consistency.
I think Paul did ok. Had some bright moments of quality and is clearly our most talented player. He has poor movers next to him and in front of him. Players who cannot pass well not get into dangerous positions
odd post this, not sure why Pogba needs to be compared to Milner for the pogtards here to claim that he is playing very well. He does have his moments but people are kidding themselvs if they think he is already some imperious and buccaneering midfield juggernaut when he quite patently is not. yes, the team could be better and could be playing better but he is also a part of the team and quite often he seems to be part of the problem and not the solution.
I think he was good tonight, nothing special but moments of briliance. His defensive awareness for a MF is fecking shocking though, on par with Rashford. And I'm not sure if anyone saw it, but he literally hugged every fecking Valencia player, like it's some getting together party, and looked like he gave zero fecks that we failed to win.
Yes, not performing to the best of his abilities. But he is head and shoulders above our other players, both on talent and performances.
Sometimes I wonder if i watch the same sports as some people on this forum.
Yes, true, he has no one to play with, but feck me sideways he was wank.
Always looking for a foul, get's surrounded by opposition players - i think he enjoys that actually, to see if he can pull some fancy move and get a
big stage applause....
He tried two or three passes in behind when Rashford and Sanchez made a move....my god, straight in to the keepers arms.
He made one good pass - to Lukaku (the only time he got a shot on target), and it wasn't a great ball either, a normal pass.
For a big man he is, defensively, he is as weak as they get. Not a single tackle, not a single ball he managed to get without fouling Valencia players.
Yes i know, he's not Gatusso, but come on, even De Bruyne knows how to win a ball without fouling. Paul doesn't. End of.
He's our creative midfielder - who doesn't actually create anything. Except for frustration. To himself, the fans, and the manager.
Yes, true, he has no one to play with, but feck me sideways he was wank.
Always looking for a foul, get's surrounded by opposition players - i think he enjoys that actually, to see if he can pull some fancy move and get a
big stage applause....
He tried two or three passes in behind when Rashford and Sanchez made a move....my god, straight in to the keepers arms.
He made one good pass - to Lukaku (the only time he got a shot on target), and it wasn't a great ball either, a normal pass.
For a big man he is, defensively, he is as weak as they get. Not a single tackle, not a single ball he managed to get without fouling Valencia players.
Yes i know, he's not Gatusso, but come on, even De Bruyne knows how to win a ball without fouling. Paul doesn't. End of.
He's our creative midfielder - who doesn't actually create anything. Except for frustration. To himself, the fans, and the manager.
He really can't do any more than what he's doing now. If you really watch the games you see the quality on the ball he has. Someone said it already. Any attacking move which doesn't include Pogba goes to waste.
Fred actually has a decent range of passing and good vision. Once he comes to terms with the speed and physicality of the premier league he could be quite good IMO.
Yeah but it's says Pogba won the duels not Kante.
How did that happen?
Probably has something to do with the teams France played in the World cup.
Smaller midfielders than him.
I think they measure DUELS and TACKLES differently.
Here is Pauls statistics for Manchester United in 2018. https://www.premierleague.com/players/3920/Paul-Pogba/stats?co=1&se=210
That's 6 tackles out of 12 in 7 games. That's got to be bad, right?
And his WC performances? Nothing to light the world about. Average.
They won it, i know. And Giroud played as their attacker the whole tournament. Did not score a goal. What does that say about him? World class?
Yeah right...
Probably has something to do with the teams France played in the World cup.
Smaller midfielders than him.
I think they measure DUELS and TACKLES differently.
Here is Pauls statistics for Manchester United in 2018. https://www.premierleague.com/players/3920/Paul-Pogba/stats?co=1&se=210
That's 6 tackles out of 12 in 7 games. That's got to be bad, right?
And his WC performances? Nothing to light the world about. Average.
They won it, i know. And Giroud played as their attacker the whole tournament. Did not score a goal. What does that say about him? World class?
Yeah right...
Pogba is our best outfield player by absolute miles and if you don’t see it you don’t understand football.
There’s a reason if we sold him it’d be to one of the worlds best sides, half our squad would struggle for a mid table side.
There’s a reason if we sold him it’d be to one of the worlds best sides, half our squad would struggle for a mid table side.
This x10000
Looked like he gave a shit.
Imagine the frustrating of playing with Sanchez and Lukaku as the players in front of you. They are beyond useless.
Imagine the frustrating of playing with Sanchez and Lukaku as the players in front of you. They are beyond useless.
I’m comparing him to Milner because of the praise around Milner presently. Pretty sure that is explained in the post. Milner is being referred to as the best midfielder in the PL at the moment, when he isn’t better than Pogba. Even at the moment.
Pogba was one of our more consistent performers last night.
You must have watched a different game then. Literally everything good came through him. Not his fault our forwards couldn’t do anything with it.
So was Kante puppeteering Pogba? Is that why the stats say that Pogba won more duels than anyone else?
So very wrong
No, everything runs through him as other players are either not good enough or brave enough to carry the ball forward.
I had someone on the way out yesterday asking me what game I watched when I mentioned Pogba running his socks off last night. It is amazing how thick some football fans are.
Duels take into account successful tackles, but also aerial challenges, take-ons and fouls won. Paul was top of that list for midfielders. That's great for a box to box midfielder who is expected to do a bit of everything.
If you consider his WC performances average, you must have high standards indeed. Aside from Modric, there were few other midfielders that were consistently better than him throughout the tournament.
I'm not really going to address your first point regarding size advantage, because it's been proven false time and time again in the modern game.
Hardest player to unlock :P
I think hes decent, but I think he needs pace in front of him. TBF to him, the times he takes the many many touches, he sometimes doesnt have people running for him. Would like to see Martial / Rashford / Sanchez doing that for him. Making those off the ball runs.
Would also like to know we are trying to at least work on that when Pogba gets the ball. Weve seen he can put the ball into a space to be attacked, but we need the players to know to run into that space where they will get the ball and be left in a one on one.
I think hes decent, but I think he needs pace in front of him. TBF to him, the times he takes the many many touches, he sometimes doesnt have people running for him. Would like to see Martial / Rashford / Sanchez doing that for him. Making those off the ball runs.
Would also like to know we are trying to at least work on that when Pogba gets the ball. Weve seen he can put the ball into a space to be attacked, but we need the players to know to run into that space where they will get the ball and be left in a one on one.
Yeah, he can't pass to people who aren't moving for him. I assume Mourinho is instructing everyone not to go too far ahead of their man but the likes of Lukaku and Rashford just do not move unless the ball is played directly to them.
Despite the negativity narrative around him this season I would actually argue he has been our best player this season alongside Shaw (not saying much).
It is actually quite concerning how big the gap is between him and our next best outfield player.
It is actually quite concerning how big the gap is between him and our next best outfield player.
Im not hating on Pogba or slating Pogba for this particular game. And no it isn't his fault other players doesn't take advantage of the things Pogba does good. But what also happens is those moments when Pogba is the one doing the fecking up of a move. Everything gets tight and slow around the box, and while i don't blame Pogba for that alone, he isn't doing much of importance to change that in those positions. I just don't think it is his position really as he doesn't makes the best choices closer to goal. We create very few clear cut chances and concede a few too many counters and Pogba plays his part just like the others. He certainly isn't carrying us atm, we are doing bad but it is not a given we would do worse without him, as its a team game. If the team works, one good player missing out doesn't matter all that much.
With the talent he has you all should expect a whole lot more allround from him. I don't know why suddenly a lot of people are this heavy on his d.
Fellaini after them for me !
What a charming attitude. Pogba's marmite at the moment and gives both supporters and critics ample ammunition in nearly every game. Should be possible to voice your opinion without branding the other side thick.
I've had my gripes with Pogba, but when you see him receive the ball and there's feck all movement in front of him, it's so bloody frustrating. The only one who even looked like he wanted to move yesterday was Rashford. I'd play him up front and drop Lukaku. Think it would suit Pogba more, also. Lukaku looks done at the moment. He'll be back, but at this moment in time he needs dropping.
The club. If you are a United fan, its emo-terrory this view. If he wants it he is good enough to make it here, i still believe that, but if he doesn't and does bad or good somewhere else, who really cares except him.
Also. I don't think its a good career move to just move anywhere the money takes you then wait it out a few years before you want to start your career forreal. I mean, who does that
If that is how you see Pogba I wouldn't put my money on him being a success at his next club either if i were you.He would be outstanding at Liverpool with Salah and Mane making runs. Our attackers are a bit dumb
- Status