[Pogue Mahone]

Obviously.

The "he's the best midfielder in the world" crowd won't have that, though.

I said it months ago: the fact that Ole wants him deeper, to have a greater impact (as he's on record saying), is worrying.

Yes - in our current setup with a very good player in the hole, Pogba could work after a fashion, France style, sure.

We don't have a very good player in the hole, though. And Pogba isn't the best midfielder in the world, nowhere close.

Go 4-3-3, release him and let him be a pure AM. It's better than using him deeper and fielding a seriously sub-par No 10 in a 4-2-3-1. It's just not working. Lingard is utter shite in anything which doesn't involve pressing and off-the-ball play, and Mata just doesn't cut it. Could gamble on a kid in the role, I suppose - but the obvious move is to use Pogba in the only capacity he looks likely to be an actual asset in on a regular basis. Pair McTominay with whoever - Matic, Pereira, Fred - and see how it turns out.

We’ve tried that before. Many times. With extremely mixed results.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

I just wish he’d do a Coutinho and play his best football to encourage his dream club to go all out for him instead of sulking so we have to get rid.

 

[AaronRedDevil]

They really need to push him up further on the pitch. Problem is hes to far away from making any real impact.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

The revisionism about Pogba on here is hilarious. You do realise he’s played further forward fecking umpteen times for us already? And been no less capable of being shit in that position than he was in the position he played today.

You do realise he is our only creative player? Who else would you suggest playing as CAM?
Even on his ‘shit’ days he provides more assists than Lingard, Mata, Rashford & Martial on their good days.

Seriously who would you prefer to play there?

 

[JPRouve]

How did he play today? I only catched the last 20 minutez and he was lively.

For me he was sloppy and generally lacked intensity. But he was also not helped by his teammates who have the tendency to give him the ball when he isn't open.

 

[Sylar]

He plays like these games are beneath him.

 

[tjb]

Two things:

Like everybody else has said, better going forward, and we saw this last season. Ole know it too, but, our build up play from the back may not be as smooth in theory. In reality, i don' t think Pogba has had the effect playing from deep that ole would have hoped for, and in fact his defensive liabilities are hurting mctominay. The improvement in our defence on the ball, with mcguire and wan bissaka coming in, seem to have been more responsible for this than anything pogba has done. Playing Matic there or experimenting with Fred as a dm should be considered, but neither mctominay or pogba should be the dm's for our team.

no. 2, Pogba is not worth all of the fanfare over his departure. He's not that influencial, not nearly as influential to us as people would believe. If a kroos or thiago were playing in his spot in a two man midfield ( where there are only two influencers from deep), the team wouldn't look as poor in possession and aggression through the middle as it sometimes does. He has moments of magic during the game, but unless the game is open, does not really impact our control of games. People would have you believe that losing him would absolutely destroy us as hes irreplaceable. It may, if noone else was signed in his stead, but he can easily be replaced in the market by players who fit the premier league model of what a midfielder should be.

I don't believe he is a premier league midfielder, and as a result, has struggled for consistent form. In less aggressive leagues, Pogba would be a phenom with his skill combined with his physical stature. But in the premier league, where second balls matter, a good midfielder has to have good concentration, anticipation and a high enough work rate to perform defensively. Keane, vieira, gerrard, lampard, scholes, all had these features. Pogba does not.

 

[Hammondo]

Eh no

He is right, we are built for him.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

We’ve tried that before. Many times. With extremely mixed results.

I know - I know.

But that nevertheless is his best role. And we're not exactly spoiled for choices. We can't drop the fecker, he's one of the few players we have currently who is likely to create something.

 

[el3mel]

It's hopeless for Pogba. He's a great player but he's either very inconsistent or not committed to stay here. The only solution is to sell next summer and invest.

But you know us. We'll just do the first half of the sentence (selling him) then put the money in the Glazers pocket, then go next season with Fred, Scott and Periera as our main midfield.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Worst man on the pitch

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

I don't like Pogba. He doesnt' want to be here, his attitude is weird, he's rarely looked the player he's touted to be.

Do I blame him?

Not really.

Juventus - he was playing with Pirlo, Marchisio, Matuidi, Vidal.

France - an array of solid midfielders who can cover his deficits.

Here? He's playing week-in-week-out with Scott McTominay and Lingard/Mata. I don't blame him for wanting to leave, I would want to leave this shambles.

 

[Twingatz]

Worst man on the pitch

I think this is a little too far. There were far worse performers on the pitch today.

I don't think his heart is 100% with the team and I also think Ole's tactics and personnel choices are hurting him. Playing him deeper is making him look worse than he is and he isn't as bad as his critics on here are saying.

Also the person saying he isn't a Premier League midfielder is not looking at his contribution. He has played in a dysfunctional Man United side under coaches that failed to use him properly for over 2 seasons. This is a problem with the team overall, and it has affected him.

 

[HowYouDoin]

He's just not good enough. Im surprised we havent dumped him to Madrid when they wanted him.
I actually like him, like his personality, he always smiles, I actually like the guy. I dont think theres any attitude issues.

But as a player where do you play him? PL is probably a bit too fast for him. As a number 8 he is slow to make decisions in his own half. As a number 10 he doesnt get enough space and its hard to get him on the ball.
He just doesnt fit the PL. Its likely too fast for him. Elsewhere he could work, maybe. In a better setup.

But I find it crazy we havent sold him in the summer.

 

[Twingatz]

He's just not good enough. Im surprised we havent dumped him to Madrid when they wanted him.
I actually like him, like his personality, he always smiles, I actually like the guy. I dont think theres any attitude issues.

But as a player where do you play him? PL is probably a bit too fast for him. As a number 8 he is slow to make decisions in his own half. As a number 10 he doesnt get enough space and its hard to get him on the ball.
He just doesnt fit the PL. Its likely too fast for him. Elsewhere he could work, maybe. In a better setup.

But I find it crazy we havent sold him in the summer.

The PL isn't too fast for him. The team he's in doesn't fit him. In a team with more quality he would get more assists and make more contributions without losing the ball as much. Man Utd has been poor since 2011.

 

[Kostur]

Nothing new in the Pogba department, this is exactly the same type of performance you'd see from him two years ago, a year ago, you'll see those this year and next years moving forward wherever he goes.

 

[tjb]

It's hopeless for Pogba. He's a great player but he's either very inconsistent or not committed to stay here. The only solution is to sell next summer and invest.

But you know us. We'll just do the first half of the sentence (selling him) then put the money in the Glazers pocket, then go next season with Fred, Scott and Periera as our main midfield.

If he were willing to develop into either role, that would have helped, but he hasn't. Under Mourinho, he flat out refused to develop in a two man midfield. He had three years under one of the greatest defensive managers of all time to develop a more combative skill set to complement his physical presence but chose not to. as a no.10, can he run the way ole requires for a sustained press? Will he be even more reckless in possession higher up in more congested areas than he is from deep? We have to find out right now, but we really need to sell him next season, he just doesn't fit with the style, culture and vision of the team. Far too individualistic for a utd team that has only ever allowed that sort of individuality from its wingers.

 

[clarkydaz]

im confused here. Wasn't the whole fallout with Mourinho about playing him deep and not allowing him to go forward and create? A season on he is being asked to do the same without his watercarrier

 

[Judge Red]

Again, I can no longer blame him for not being interested, which he blatantly isn’t. He’s said he doesn’t want to be here, he has valid concerns and reasons for not wanting to be here when he could be in Madrid with the chance to win things.

This is how it will be all season.

 

[Devil may care]

Dreadful in the first half, got into the game when moved further forward and could have had 2 assists if Rashford had his shooting boots on.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

im confused here. Wasn't the whole fallout with Mourinho about playing him deep and not allowing him to go forward and create? A season on he is being asked to do the same without his watercarrier

I tend to think it was more a straight up battle of egos.

 

[Stadjer]

Worst man on the pitch

Did you even watch the game?

 

[Jimmy_Bond]

Again, I can no longer blame him for not being interested, which he blatantly isn’t. He’s said he doesn’t want to be here, he has valid concerns and reasons for not wanting to be here when he could be in Madrid with the chance to win things.

This is how it will be all season.

We can't blame him for not being interested?!

Some people really will defend him for anything.

He's getting paid about £2m a month to pay for the club that developed him. It he isn't interested, it says a lot about him.

"Virus" indeed if that's the case.

 

[Kopral Jono]

Worst man on the pitch

There were plenty of men on the pitch who played way worse than Pogba today: Lindelof, McTominay, Pereira and Rashford to name the worst culprits. I'm not his biggest fan but I thought he played relatively decent given the mediocrity surrounding him; at least he tried to make things happen with little one-twos and through balls and whatnot.

Could he have tried harder? Possibly, as is often the case with him. But in the end it's not his fault his teammates are shit.

 

[el3mel]

If he were willing to develop into either role, that would have helped, but he hasn't. Under Mourinho, he flat out refused to develop in a two man midfield. He had three years under one of the greatest defensive managers of all time to develop a more combative skill set to complement his physical presence but chose not to. as a no.10, can he run the way ole requires for a sustained press? Will he be even more reckless in possession higher up in more congested areas than he is from deep? We have to find out right now, but we really need to sell him next season, he just doesn't fit with the style, culture and vision of the team. Far too individualistic for a utd team that has only ever allowed that sort of individuality from its wingers.

Agree. I lost hope on him long time ago. Obviously a great player on his day, but he's a big tactical headache and not even committed much to stay here.

The only thing is I'm afraid of is us doing what we did with Lukaku this summer. Sell without replacing, which knowing us is totally possible. We're that idiots.

In a dream world we sell Pogba for 120m and invest 200-250m or so in midfield and attack, but we're a stupid club, so even if we sell Pogba, the money will go straight to Glazers' pocket.

Hopeless situation.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Did you even watch the game?

Yes.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

There were plenty of men on the pitch who played way worse than Pogba today: Lindelof, McTominay, Pereira and Rashford to name the worst culprits. I'm not his biggest fan but I thought he played relatively decent given the mediocrity surrounding him; at least he tried to make things happen with little one-twos and through balls and whatnot.

Could he have tried harder? Possibly, as is often the case with him. But in the end it's not his fault his teammates are shit.

Thought McTominay was better. Pereira was equally shite yes, and Rashford was anonymous, but Pogba hardly did anything right and lost the ball countless times.

 

[Hugh Jass]

My Liverpool supporting mate is hoping we keep him which is a bad sign.

 

[Redo91]

Clearly better when moved further forward. Thought OGS has realised last season that he is wasted deeper so I don’t understand why he is persisting with it so far. Glad to see him moved forward towards the end. Hopefully that’s a permanent move.

 

[Raven]

He wasnt good the first 45 minutes but did you even see where he received some passes? I believe it was Mata who passed to him near our own box when Pogba was literally surrounded by 3 Southampton player. One behind him and two in front of him blocking all passing options... his teammates dont make it much easier for him.

Yeah, I noticed this as well. Kept being passed the ball when there were 2-3 players on him.

 

[Stadjer]

Thought McTominay was better. Pereira was equally shite yes, and Rashford was anonymous, but Pogba hardly did anything right and lost the ball countless times.

Created two chances for Rashford...

 

[simplyared]

Still on a different level than anyone else on the pitch.

 

[kiristao]

He has to play further up. Looked a different player in that position. If Ole doesn't trust Periera or Fred next to Mctominay then I would not mind Matic there but Pogba has to play further up

 

[Steven-UK]

Still on a different level than anyone else on the pitch.

Nonesense. He has been here a few years now, and been decent a handful of times the time. You cannot blame the rest of the team all the time for Pobga's short-comings.

There is simply no consistency in his performances, and there never will be. The excuses for his performances are becoming extremely tiresome.

 

[kouroux]

Nothing new in the Pogba department, this is exactly the same type of performance you'd see from him two years ago, a year ago, you'll see those this year and next years moving forward wherever he goes.

Not sure about this but I agree with the rest if he stays at United.

 

[Dan_F]

I don’t really understand the point of playing him deep when we’re lacking creativity. He will always lose the ball more, as part of his game is about drawing players in and creating space. Unfortunately the rest of our team is mostly rubbish at moving off the ball, granted he takes too many touches at times.

I don’t remember him taking a single shot today, which says it all. The whole reason Matic came on was to release him forward, which is basically Ole admitting that we have no other creative options.

 

[starman]

Youtube player.

Hes putting in Rooney type post 2012 performances, awful and inconsistent for 80% of the game, but capable of a moment of brilliance. I would only play him deep when at home against bottom half teams, otherwise always as a AM

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Created two chances for Rashford...

Yeah just like last game. He always creates one or two chances but he always gives the ball away ten times as much. There's loads on here who believe his best position is the one he's currently playing in but it's clearly not. He should be moved further forward as Solksjaer did when he just got here. He's a defensive liability, which is why he should be played in a 3 man midfield

 

[nesty]

I don't like Pogba. He doesnt' want to be here, his attitude is weird, he's rarely looked the player he's touted to be.

Do I blame him?

Not really.

Juventus - he was playing with Pirlo, Marchisio, Matuidi, Vidal.

France - an array of solid midfielders who can cover his deficits.

Here? He's playing week-in-week-out with Scott McTominay and Lingard/Mata. I don't blame him for wanting to leave, I would want to leave this shambles.

This. Clearly not arsed anymore considering his dream move to Real is dead and he is wasting one of his prime years playing in a hopeless team. I'm fully convinced he'll leave for a massive fee next year and we'll either piss away the fee on more nothing players or even more likely, fail to reinvest heavily at all. The post-Ronaldo transfer money springs to mind...

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

This. Clearly not arsed anymore considering his dream move to Real is dead and he is wasting one of his prime years playing in a hopeless team. I'm fully convinced he'll leave for a massive fee next year and we'll either piss away the fee on more nothing players or even more likely, fail to reinvest heavily at all. The post-Ronaldo transfer money springs to mind...

Replace him? Nope. The board have got their patsy by the bollocks. They'll tell Ole that he should tell the fans (while smiling, of course, because all is well), that Longstaff for 1/3 of the price is a good signing because he vaguely resembles one of our former good players - Carrick - and it doesnt matter that the 100m goes into the coffers, because The United Way and all that). Ole will relay the message, grinning. Looking like Moyes. Most fans will look up Longstaff on YouTube and say "yeah, this is the right way to go". Season tickets will be renewed. Shirts will be bought for £100 a pop.

Then the following year, rinse and repeat with some other 'name'. Bollocks.