[tentan]

Last game for United.

 

[ivaldo]

Excellent tonight. Horrendously underrated by our fans. Looked really comfortable next to Fred. Largely dominated a very combative Sevilla midfield.

 

[AltiUn]

Excellent tonight. Horrendously underrated by our fans. Looked really comfortable next to Fred. Largely dominated a very combative Sevilla midfield.

I hope we explore this combination a bit more next season, Fred's energy seemed to complement Pogba nicely and helped us beat their press.

 

[ivaldo]

I hope we explore this combination a bit more next season, Fred's energy seemed to complement Pogba nicely and helped us beat their press.

It just means the whole team can step a little further forward. Sevilla had about 15/20 minutes success after we scored where they pressed us well. Besides that, they struggled to get near us at times, eventually resorting to playing long ball forward in order to avoid battling us in the centre.

 

[Hammondo]

I don't know why people are praising him so much, we were beaten in midfield. Little presence aside from a few good forward passes. He was out manoeuvred, at times they went straight through our midfield.

 

[Clermontois]

Excellent tonight. Horrendously underrated by our fans. Looked really comfortable next to Fred. Largely dominated a very combative Sevilla midfield.

Nothing new, add to that the fact he is playing a restrictive role I can see why someone like him would consider a move. I hope it is not his last game for us but I just don't know.

I don't know why people are praising him so much, we were beaten in midfield. Little presence aside from a few good forward passes. He was out manoeuvred, at times they went straight through our midfield.

We have been hounded in midfield for a few months now, no matter the personnel so go talk to Ole about his formation and tactics.

 

[Mindhunter]

He was ok. In my opinion, he should have dominated their midfield and proved why he is considered one of the top midfielders in the world. He had a 7/10 performance - nothing to write home about.

He did his job well but couldn't deliver anything special or a magic pass or a run that would have broken the deadlock. He tried a few long passes but they were more miss than hit today.

Also, they specifically targeted him as he had very less time on the ball. Several times he was surrounded by Sevilla players and got isolated and then had to try and play out of it alone as there was no support.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

He was ok. In my opinion, he should have dominated their midfield and proved why he is considered one of the top midfielders in the world. He had a 7/10 performance - nothing to write home about.

He did his job well but couldn't deliver anything special or a magic pass or a run that would have broken the deadlock. He tried a few long passes but they were more miss than hit today.

Also, they specifically targeted him as he had very less time on the ball. Several times he was surrounded by Sevilla players and got isolated and then had to try and play out of it alone as there was no support.

He laid one on a plate for Martial.

Played a pass to Rasford that had him 1vs1 with a defender at the end of the 1st half.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Last game for United.

Wait what did I miss? Where is going?

 

[criticalanalysis]

When you need one of your two deepest midfieldesr doing pirouettes, half turns, ball manipulations, holding players off and doing switches with their weaker foot in midfield to open up the play or bypass the opposition press then you've got fundamental issues in the team shape.

Decent to good performance from Pogba I thought. Some sloppiness coupled with defensive discipline, possession play and spinkles of pure genius.

 

[He'sRaldo]

When you need one of your two deepest midfieldesr doing pirouettes, half turns, ball manipulations, holding players off and doing switches with their weaker foot in midfield to open up the play or bypass the opposition press then you've got fundamental issues in the team shape.

Decent to good performance from Pogba I thought. Some sloppiness coupled with defensive discipline, possession play and spinkles of pure genius.

Very eloquently put.

 

[ghaliboy]

Over this re-start period as a sample size I still don't see the point of him in the deeper role he's played.

 

[Class of 63]

The good, the bad, and the very Ugly again from Pogs when the team needed him most.

Time to move him on, and hope we can find somebody, preferably Portuguese speaking to compliment Fernandes and Fred in a mid-field three.

 

[Dr. McBeasty]

Wasn’t his best game, but was a solid effort. Came alive in the second half, created some good chances and routinely pulled off incredible skills and excellent interplay that probably doesn’t get appreciated as much as it should. Really hope he extends his deal now, losing him would cripple the momentum we’ve built.

 

[Tony247]

Solid performance yesterday. He and Bruno has developed a very good understanding. We need anothet good DM to compliment both so that we can start moving the ball effectively from the back.

 

[WR10]

When you need one of your two deepest midfieldesr doing pirouettes, half turns, ball manipulations, holding players off and doing switches with their weaker foot in midfield to open up the play or bypass the opposition press then you've got fundamental issues in the team shape.

Decent to good performance from Pogba I thought. Some sloppiness coupled with defensive discipline, possession play and spinkles of pure genius.

Sure, however Pogba has a habit to dwell and milk possession regardless

 

[Borys]

Over this re-start period as a sample size I still don't see the point of him in the deeper role he's played.

Agreed. He certainly does not look comfortable in that role (especially defensively). I can imagine us functioning better once we play more natural central midfielder in his place. With him in midfield we will never be fluent, as he tries to beat pressing with strength and tricks which will not work against better teams.

He seems to be much slower when not on the ball.

 

[Man of Leisure]

The good, the bad, and the very Ugly again from Pogs when the team needed him most.

Time to move him on, and hope we can find somebody, preferably Portuguese speaking to compliment Fernandes and Fred in a mid-field three.

You've got some strange thoughts. Pogba was more than fine.

 

[thepolice123]

When you need one of your two deepest midfieldesr doing pirouettes, half turns, ball manipulations, holding players off and doing switches with their weaker foot in midfield to open up the play or bypass the opposition press then you've got fundamental issues in the team shape.

Decent to good performance from Pogba I thought. Some sloppiness coupled with defensive discipline, possession play and spinkles of pure genius.

Agree with this. Pobga's ability on the ball was one of the main reasons why we even had some flow to our game. Our midfield play looks so fragmented.

Look at Sevilla, we pressed Banega but he always had an escape outlet available. I don't think it was a particularly difficult match for him and he barely lost possession.

 

[izec]

Wait what did I miss? Where is going?

Nowhere

 

[Zen86]

I’m sure this isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but I often struggle to see what he brings to the team lately in all honesty. He’s a good player no doubt, but he can be a passenger a lot of the time.

He just doesn’t take control of games enough. As good as he can look when he gets the ball, he dithers on it far too much and can often drift around for periods, leaving our back line under pressure in possession. Despite how good his control his, in that he’s capable of clever turns and footwork to relieve pressure, it ends up being in high risk areas and when it goes wrong we’re badly exposed. There are better, safer ways to move the ball around than his one man army routine. Sure he can produce some magical balls at times, but he’s not particularly prolific at doing this by any means.

Don’t get me wrong, he does some great highlight reel worthy stuff, but I don’t think he’s a particularly efficient player for us on the whole. He’s the best we have certainly right now, but there are other midfielders out there who could do a much better job for us.

 

[Skåre Willoch]

Great game yesterday. I think he should be encouraged to shoot a bit more, but then again, we are so good when he attracts defenders his way, opening up space for combinations with Bruno, Martial and Greenwood.

 

[Craig Ward]

When you need one of your two deepest midfieldesr doing pirouettes, half turns, ball manipulations, holding players off and doing switches with their weaker foot in midfield to open up the play or bypass the opposition press then you've got fundamental issues in the team shape.

Decent to good performance from Pogba I thought. Some sloppiness coupled with defensive discipline, possession play and spinkles of pure genius.

He doesnt need to be doing half that stuff though. He gets caught out and loses the ball quite often trying stupid things from deep.

Dont get me wrong, when it comes off his physicality and passing range are pretty good. But when he gets caught it puts the team in trouble. Thats why i'll never trust him playing deep, he's either a genius or a liability. Liability too often for my liking.

His first half was poor, he did improve 2nd half. For a player as talented as Pogba, he should be so much better than he is.

 

[Terminator]

Very good last night. Solid 8/10. Dealt with their press very well and passing was on point.

 

[Zehner]

Probably regret posting here but I don't really get how one can praise him after this game. Sure, he had some great moments on the ball as always but he's given the ball away in dumb fashion at least 12-13 times yesterday. That's far too much for a world class midfielder. His offensive impact isn't bad but it's not enough to justify his wastefulness in possession.

 

[romufc]

I don't know why people are praising him so much, we were beaten in midfield. Little presence aside from a few good forward passes. He was out manoeuvred, at times they went straight through our midfield.

What game were you watching? Our midfield was fine yesterday.

 

[Devil may care]

I thought he played well on and off the ball, i still have reservations over him in a two but he's acquitted himelf well post lockdown, him and Fred as a duo will never work though, Pogba's midfield partner can't be getting ahead of him so much.

 

[Clermontois]

I’m sure this isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but I often struggle to see what he brings to the team lately in all honesty. He’s a good player no doubt, but he can be a passenger a lot of the time.

He just doesn’t take control of games enough. As good as he can look when he gets the ball, he dithers on it far too much and can often drift around for periods, leaving our back line under pressure in possession. Despite how good his control his, in that he’s capable of clever turns and footwork to relieve pressure, it ends up being in high risk areas and when it goes wrong we’re badly exposed. There are better, safer ways to move the ball around than his one man army routine. Sure he can produce some magical balls at times, but he’s not particularly prolific at doing this by any means.

Don’t get me wrong, he does some great highlight reel worthy stuff, but I don’t think he’s a particularly efficient player for us on the whole. He’s the best we have certainly right now, but there are other midfielders out there who could do a much better job for us.

You should get yourself a teamsheet and some glasses to see where he is playing and what he does as it is more than any of our midfielders are capable of.

Where is he supposed to dribble from based on where he is playing? There was a game where he made no runs from deep and people complained about how he was now playing too safe, this guy just cannot win with some people and I will be happy when he walks away from this club and fans such as yourself. Even if I would prefer him to stay.

Probably regret posting here but I don't really get how one can praise him after this game. Sure, he had some great moments on the ball as always but he's given the ball away in dumb fashion at least 12-13 times yesterday. That's far too much for a world class midfielder. His offensive impact isn't bad but it's not enough to justify his wastefulness in possession.

Fernandes and Havertz give it away in dumber fashions and more often.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

It's games like this we need him to play to his normal free attacking instinct.

We didn't and there we go -> heritage out!

 

[bosnian_red]

I don't know why people are praising him so much, we were beaten in midfield. Little presence aside from a few good forward passes. He was out manoeuvred, at times they went straight through our midfield.

Completely wrong. Our midfield was the best part of our game yesterday. We played the majority of the game in their half, they barely got in our box, we were having chance after chance. Look at whatever stat you like; pass maps, chances created/key passes, tackles, interceptions, heat maps, etc. Our midfield, chance creation and even chance prevention was excellent. Our finishing let us down, and the fullbacks let us down in simple marking from the only 2 chances they had all game.

 

[Zehner]

Fernandes and Havertz give it away in dumber fashions and more often.

Haven't seen enough of Fernandes but Havertz definitely isn't.

Pogba is supremely talented but also incredibly frustrating to watch. Especially yesterday when he showed at times that he actually can keep it simple if he wants to. The worst thing is that he doesn't seem to care too much about his wastefulness. Apparently he doesn't even recognize it as a problem and likely won't work on it.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Mixed game yesterday for me. Brilliant in certain moments, poor in others and some somewhat wasteful passing.

Its brilliant to see him beat 3 people and then set someone away, but there are occasions he tries it in dangerous positions and gets caught. As much as I love the risk taking at times I do just wish he’d keep it simple.
That control on the edge of our box then left foot pass to Rashford was sublime. Then there were periods of hospital passes and just not quite being where they were supposed to be.

 

[GiddyUp]

Probably regret posting here but I don't really get how one can praise him after this game. Sure, he had some great moments on the ball as always but he's given the ball away in dumb fashion at least 12-13 times yesterday. That's far too much for a world class midfielder. His offensive impact isn't bad but it's not enough to justify his wastefulness in possession.

Very true but some in this thread just won't accept that because everyone else is to blame. I knew they would jump all over your opinion like that and say you know nothing just because you aren't drooling over a supposedly world class player. I will also be attacked for posting this opinion.

 

[Zehner]

Very true but some in this thread just won't accept that because everyone else is to blame. I knew they would jump all over your opinion like that and say you know nothing just because you aren't drooling over a supposedly world class player. I will also be attacked for posting this opinion.

Yes, I have the feeling that many people just ignore the bad touches/passes/dribblings of a midfielder if he shows some spectacular things in his game although one doesn't outweigh the other. I have the same impression with KdB by the way. Incredible player with great output from the midfield position but he's also very wasteful. Not that his output doesn't justify it (in contrast to Pogba yesterday, IMO) but it puts things into perspective when you compare him to players like Kroos, Modric, Iniesta or Xavi. You could almost see the confidence of their opponent's dropping by the minute while they were chasing shadows, unable to get in proximity of the ball. If you play like that AND provide goal threat to an occasional through ball or shiftings of play, it's a completely different thing to a player playing a few throuhg balls but losing possession 12+ times a game.

 

[GiddyUp]

Yes, I have the feeling that many people just ignore the bad touches/passes/dribblings of a midfielder if he shows some spectacular things in his game although one doesn't outweigh the other. I have the same impression with KdB by the way. Incredible player with great output from the midfield position but he's also very wasteful. Not that his output doesn't justify it (in contrast to Pogba yesterday, IMO) but it puts things into perspective when you compare him to players like Kroos, Modric, Iniesta or Xavi. You could almost see the confidence of their opponent's dropping by the minute while they were chasing shadows, unable to get in proximity of the ball. If you play like that AND provide goal threat to an occasional through ball or shiftings of play, it's a completely different thing to a player playing a few throuhg balls but losing possession 12+ times a game.

I think everyone has a point regarding Pogba but we all have to be honest in our assessment. His 1st game back against Spurs and he hit that delightful ball to Rashford some poster said it was the best pass he had ever seen. The hyperbole and excuses are nauseating sometimes (and the unwarranted criticism against the player) and then to be called anti french or racist just because you feel a $90million player isn't justifying his worth in the team is disheartening.
We all want to see Pogba turn it up and I agree we need to see him further up the pitch where our faster players can link up with him. But the blinkers have to come off and a player's reputation, good or bad, shouldn't be defined by one tournament. A great world cup means nothing to United. He has been good since his return but still has those couple of moments in a game that makes you roll the eyes, especially when it happens during a poor half by his standards. But he offers something very special, there's no denying that.
I would love to see him sign a new contract though and stamp his authority on this club, he needs it and the coaches should be facilitating that's much as possible.
No matter what is said about Pogba in this thread I'm sure we are all excited to see him here this season, settled and ready to do the badge proud and put his name in the ring for player of the season. His personality could certainly deserve it, let's hope his football can.

 

[Beachryan]

He's basically doing exactly what is asked of him. He's sacrificed his marquee role for Fernandes, and just quietly does all the work of a central midfielder.

I cannot believe people are slating him. The guy simply cannot win. He's being the model professional, delivering at a high-level every week and still gets grief.

And the best bit is all those posters would probably wax lyrical about Carrick's discipline and reading of the game.

 

[AlexUTD]

Bruno and harry captain and vice deffo

 

[DoomSlayer]

We could have won by 2 or 3 goals yesterday and Pogba would have been rated as one of the best players on the pitch on the night. Players that let the team down were the forwards and the full-backs, AWB had an extremely poor game defensively for his standards.

 

[Squeaky Bumtime]

I'd play him as an 8, the way we play is Fred and him occupy similar positions and are both too deep sometimes. He should be more forward especially when Matić plays. He's decent in deep positions but playing as an 8 he'd be more useful. Lots of quick passes, connecting the lines or making forward passes to Bruno or the forwards.

 

[#07]

Pogba was really good last night. Used his size to great affect and when we were on top it was mostly because he was dominating the midfield. He was failed by his defence.