[Red Company]

I’ve said it before, will say it again..

Use his performances in the euros to attract buyers and get rid while receiving anything 50m or upwards and reinvest to buy a top quality central midfielder.

With Sancho coming in, our front 4 is decent enough to cause damage and score enough goals on a weekly basis.

What we need is a solid midfield that can hold possession and connect the back to the front on a consistent basis and Pogba is not the solution to that. Specially not at the wages we’ll now have to pay him.

 

[Zlatan 7]

No worries. I probably should have been clearer with my point.

Sometimes I think it’s less of an agenda but pogba is the star of the show and creates headlines, I don’t think Keane or Neville have any real reason to have an agenda against pogba, like I said earlier, viera agreed with keanes views so I don’t think Keane was talking out of his arse with some kind of agenda, it’s just what he saw. He praised pogbas game, said his quality can’t be doubted but had a little Dig about giving the ball away. I had similar thoughts before even hearing Keane speak.

 

[tomaldinho1]

He does lose possession in silly areas, no doubt about that. I just found it bizarre that Pogba losing possession was the talking point and not his goal or the countless chances he created for Mbappe. I get that France lost so the overall take was never going to be positive. But Mbappe and the defenders were dreadful, yet there was almost no mention of it.

Pundits like Neville and Keane are part of the reason why Pogba is so unfairly treated. There's plenty of listeners who can't form their own opinion and just parrot what these pundits say. If Keane and Neville's football insights were so valuable and profound, they wouldn't be sat in an ITV studio. They'd be managing a football team. Oh wait, they both tried that and failed horribly.

It's painfully obvious why Keane and Neville don't like Pogba.

I think the balanced view is there is some truth to their criticisms (even Viera agreed) and it's not an isolated incident, he makes himself an easy target. Couple that with France being huge favourites against a very average Switzerland team and it's a media/clickbait bonanza to blame Pogba. Keane's criticism was essentially that he is a great player but isn't consistently brilliant which the best players are and I kind of agree to be honest, as United fans we know that more than most. Tonight wasn't his fault but he's a big player for them and people will focus on his error, rathe than all the chances he created and the wonderful goal.

 

[littleman]

What more he should do? He put it on plate for Mbappe multiple times. It's amazing how a narrative gets built and then everyone just toes the same line.

There is no exaggeration to defend Pogba. In the same match he won the possession in midfield like he lost for the goal and played a fantastic pass which Mbappe missed. Players can lose ball in football. Roy Keane and Patrick lost ball in the middle of the park. It's not something that only happens with Pogba. But he gets scrutinized to hell for that. If you watch the highlight, the swiss player who actually dispossessed Pogba was not in his sight. It's not like he was dribbling and lost the ball.

The fact that we are criticizing him after such a fantastic performance is ridiculous

It's still insane we have to go through these basic things
He lost the ball that led to the equalizer
Do none of us here do anything meaningful in life where one error can create a massive negative effect on the outcome?
E.g. In an orchestra, you can be perfect and then if you enter a beat early in the finale, it ruins everything
E.g. In a stageplay you are fantastic all the way through and in the finale you just forget all your lines

You can be fantastic and still make mistakes big enough to be criticized

 

[TsuWave]

But viera agreed with Keane

Pundit agrees with fellow pundit. Shocker

In this same video Keane tells Neville that Vieira panders to him

 

[Bullhitter]

Please elaborate. What patterns did you see?

Players alongside him to free him up, movement in front and to his sides, his space not being clogged up by an inferior player (Fernandes)

France get him on the ball in the middle of the pitch with room to both make ground and/or then thread through balls.

It will be a Salah, de Bruyne level balls up if United lose him for nothing again because he is rightly frustrated at being shunted deep or wide to accommodate Fernandes.

 

[Zlatan 7]

Pundit agrees with fellow pundit. Shocker

In this same video Keane tells Neville that Vieira panders to him

I said that because it was put forward that Keane only says this stuff because he has some kind of agenda, I doubt viera also has an agenda so it’s funny he agrees with Keane. Now you’re using a badly edited Micah Richards video to try and be clever.

 

[hobbers]

Did think it was funny in commentary the suggestion that Pogba flourishes for France because they give him more responsibility.

Err, no. Quite the opposite. He flourishes when he has no responsibility. And when they have a lead to protect he can't be relied on to keep it simple.

 

[Rolaholic]

Was their best player of the tournament by quite some margin

 

[Oranges038]

Was their best player of the tournament by quite some margin

Counts for fcuk all when they all go home with nothing.

 

[TsuWave]

I said that because it was put forward that Keane only says this stuff because he has some kind of agenda, I doubt viera also has an agenda so it’s funny he agrees with Keane. Now you’re using a badly edited Micah Richards video to try and be clever.

No. Your comprehension failed you. I’m using the video as corroboration that pundits pander to other pundits. Keane said as much. There’s a reason football analysis is riddled with cliches, and hardly anyone offers a fresh opinion. Once a narrative has been set, it’s a lot easier to regurgitate it than challenging it, especially when you’re going to work with the same individuals countless times through the week.

 

[Rozay]

Did think it was funny in commentary the suggestion that Pogba flourishes for France because they give him more responsibility.

Err, no. Quite the opposite. He flourishes when he has no responsibility. And when they have a lead to protect he can't be relied on to keep it simple.

Do you think the moment he lost the ball was him being flashy?

 

[Zlatan 7]

No. Your comprehension failed you. I’m using the video as corroboration that pundits pander to other pundits. Keane said as much. There’s a reason football analysis is riddled with cliches, and hardly anyone offers a fresh opinion. Once a narrative has been set, it’s a lot easier to regurgitate it than challenging it, especially when you’re going to work with the same individuals countless times through the week.

Ok, I’m sorry.

 

[Member 109952]

If De Bryune had the kind of game and tournament Pogba had, people would be raving about it. None of this 'oh but he lost the ball once' - De Bruyne loses the ball often too. How many chances did he create for his team, how many amazing passes did he hit, how many great dribbles and controls did he have? Before even getting to the goal. But again it's "oh he's inconsistent, see he lost the ball once!".

I hope he does leave because I'm tired of reading the same narrative over and over again from pundits and a visible section of United fans. It's nauseatingly tiring. It was the exact same thing with Nani, some people decide he's x, y or z and no matter what he does people won't change their opinion on him.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Unbelievable tournament from him. He was let down by his teammates.

 

[tomaldinho1]

No. Your comprehension failed you. I’m using the video as corroboration that pundits pander to other pundits. Keane said as much. There’s a reason football analysis is riddled with cliches, and hardly anyone offers a fresh opinion. Once a narrative has been set, it’s a lot easier to regurgitate it than challenging it, especially when you’re going to work with the same individuals countless times through the week.

I’m fully aware not everyone is a native English speaker on here but I’d strongly suggest not to use Keane telling a joke to make the others laugh as an example.

Pundits tend to just say what they want in my opinion, I even think these days they are told to have arguments on air to get more views to be honest. Viera agreed because he agrees, not because he’s scared or has nothing else to add ffs.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Hopefully his good performance can attract clubs willing to pay a reasonable price for him. Knowing us though, we will use this opportunity to make him the highest paid in the league while still having no place in the starting 11 where we would see the best of him

 

[Rampant Red Rodriguez]

Was their best player of the tournament by quite some margin

To be expected, he's excellent at attacking but his defensive duties are not the best. Today the whole French team was exposed by a harder working Swiss army who were better as a collective than their individual parts of their opposition.

Until Poggers decides to help out defensively, the same defensive frailties will be shown in all the games for club and country. He's just not good enough in a CM 2 because he gets blatantly found out as he did tonight.

 

[Zlatan 7]

I’m fully aware not everyone is a native English speaker on here but I’d strongly suggest not to use Keane telling a joke to make the others laugh as an example.

Pundits tend to just say what they want in my opinion, I even think these days they are told to have arguments on air to get more views to be honest. Viera agreed because he agrees, not because he’s scared or has nothing else to add ffs.

I thought the same as you but sometimes it’s easier to give up.

 

[The United Irishman]

To be expected, he's excellent at attacking but his defensive duties are not the best. Today the whole French team was exposed by a harder working Swiss army who were better as a collective than their individual parts of their opposition.

Until Poggers decides to help out defensively, the same defensive frailties will be shown in all the games for club and country. He's just not good enough in a CM 2 because he gets blatantly found out as he did tonight.

Or maybe Mbappe could have scored some of the half a dozen chances that team mates like Pogba were feeding him.

 

[United in sin]

Pogba was the best player in the tournament by far, most entertaining too. It's a shame France went out like that.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

We can hope the disappointment acts as a motivator for him at club level.

 

[Beachryan]

The way the media treat him - I can't tell if it's the obvious reason (the sad one) or that he plays for us. Surely it's one of those two things.

Has the resentment and hate towards us so permeated the zeitgeist that even getting on a decade since we last won the league, the entire media establishment have to do hit pieces on our players? It's genuinely staggering.

If I were him I'd tell Raiola get me on a plane to Madrid or anywhere else.

That was a world class performance, on the biggest stage and he still has to put up with this sh(t.

 

[thepolice123]

We need to do everything in our power to keep him. This tournament shows why he is still our most talented player.

 

[VidaRed]

Might push Real to pay €60 million hopefully.

Anything below €80 is a rip off. Although 30-40m + varane would be a good deal.

 

[TsuWave]

I’m fully aware not everyone is a native English speaker on here but I’d strongly suggest not to use Keane telling a joke to make the others laugh as an example.

Pundits tend to just say what they want in my opinion, I even think these days they are told to have arguments on air to get more views to be honest. Viera agreed because he agrees, not because he’s scared or has nothing else to add ffs.

Again, it’s easier to regurgitate something than to challenging it. Often times on this forum people call out blatantly false/non applicable assertions these same pundits make. Keane might have been joking, but fact of the matter is, the joke, if indeed one, is rooted in truth. That’s not to say that Vieira is incapable of forming his own views or is scared of Keane, that’s your leap, if you want to argue that you’re moving away from the core of my posts, nor that that’s what happens 24/7, simply that it’s not shocking to see pundits agreeing with their colleagues even if whatever they say isn’t necessarily reflective of reality, so it’s not the smoking gun to validate the “if they’re all saying it then it’s the truth, cause they can’t all have an agenda” people think it is

 

[Rampant Red Rodriguez]

Or maybe Mbappe could have scored some of the half a dozen chances that team mates like Pogba were feeding him.

Switzerland had lots of chances to end the game and never managed to finish them off. Why did they get chances when they had Kante and Pogba in Cmid?. Not to mention Varane at CB..

 

[Rozay]

Anyway, when all the dissecting is done - I’m very disappointed for him personally. Big players are, rightly or wrongly, typically defined by tournaments like this - and you do get the sense that this was his moment. 28 years old, entering his peak, and was in the process of inspiring his team towards glory. Another goal or two along the road to a final and he would have had one of those tournaments that goes down in history.

Just shows how fine the margins are sometimes in the way history remembers players.

 

[Rolaholic]

Counts for fcuk all when they all go home with nothing.

International football results, like club football, don't simply depend on one player though do they?

 

[VidaRed]

I’ve said it before, will say it again..

Use his performances in the euros to attract buyers and get rid while receiving anything 50m or upwards and reinvest to buy a top quality central midfielder.

With Sancho coming in, our front 4 is decent enough to cause damage and score enough goals on a weekly basis.

What we need is a solid midfield that can hold possession and connect the back to the front on a consistent basis and Pogba is not the solution to that. Specially not at the wages we’ll now have to pay him.

Grealish.

 

[KennyBurner]

Did think it was funny in commentary the suggestion that Pogba flourishes for France because they give him more responsibility.

Err, no. Quite the opposite. He flourishes when he has no responsibility. And when they have a lead to protect he can't be relied on to keep it simple.

The fine print everybody always ignores. He is so much of a child all his great work during the game was undone because he couldnt keep it simple and not easily give up possession. He will never change this aspect of his game.

 

[Cassidy]

He often loses it for us far deeper than that. Maybe being overly critical as it was good pressure robbing him after his firts touch, but the sloppyness and naivety of some of his play for such a talented player at his age and with so much experience consistently is why he isnt world class. But this "player of the tournament...has been fantastic"....for France he seems to do more magical things and less sloppy ones than he has in his time for us....but they have still been there in every game at times. Obviously the full backs and play of France in general let France down so not directly blaming Pogba, but even with Kante alongside him, France the whole tournament didnt look super solid in midfield, every side got at them through the middle, he cant play in the pivot defensively.....if Pogba was a club he would be Keegans Newcastle as going forward and backwards....chalk n cheese and so often naive

Not maybe you are being over critical

 

[KennyBurner]

We can hope the disappointment acts as a motivator for him at club level.

There is nothing he has done here that he doesn't do at club level. From amazing passes to needlessly losing the ball that leads to a goal. No motivation needed this is POGBA!!!

 

[Red Company]

Grealish.

As much as I would love for us to sign Grealish, you’re missing the point.

We need a replacement for one of or both of Fred/McT.
(If I had to pick, I’d definitely replace Fred first. McT might shine with a disciplined partner next to him).

 

[RedRonaldo]

By far France best player in this tournament.

 

[He'sRaldo]

He is a strange player because his insane passing ability suggests he should play deep, however his creativity, flair and playstyle suggests he should play higher up the pitch.

Most of his managers have valued his passing over his attacking abilities, which makes sense since it's one of the best in the world, if not the best. But that means that he is often played a lot deeper and in much more defensive roles than he should be.

I reckon if he didn't have such good passing he'd have played in the Iniesta role for most of his career and most likely done better than he has, due to it being a more natural fit for him.

 

[Dve]

Players alongside him to free him up, movement in front and to his sides, his space not being clogged up by an inferior player (Fernandes)

France get him on the ball in the middle of the pitch with room to both make ground and/or then thread through balls.

It will be a Salah, de Bruyne level balls up if United lose him for nothing again because he is rightly frustrated at being shunted deep or wide to accommodate Fernandes.

Oh, that's what you saw. People moving around on the pitch. Often happens during football matches. I thought you meant "patterns", but maybe it was just a type. Like in your nickname.

 

[Eternitiy]

I would much rather give Pogba free role in our team than Bruno. Bruno needs to be brought back to Earth next season. His statistics will continue their downward trajectory and match his usually erratic performances.

 

[Canagel]

Anyway, when all the dissecting is done - I’m very disappointed for him personally. Big players are, rightly or wrongly, typically defined by tournaments like this - and you do get the sense that this was his moment. 28 years old, entering his peak, and was in the process of inspiring his team towards glory. Another goal or two along the road to a final and he would have had one of those tournaments that goes down in history.

Just shows how fine the margins are sometimes in the way history remembers players.

I doubt he will be too bothered when the dust has settled. he has already been a lot more successful internationally than most players will ever be and is widely acknowledged for his exploits with the France NT, at least away from the xenophobic English media.

His club career should be more concerning.
In the right team he is someone that can win a Champions League and a Ballon Dor (if the team is built around him like we saw at the Euro ) . He should move teams , otherwise he might go down as one of the "streets will never forget" players

 

[adexkola]

If De Bryune had the kind of game and tournament Pogba had, people would be raving about it. None of this 'oh but he lost the ball once' - De Bruyne loses the ball often too. How many chances did he create for his team, how many amazing passes did he hit, how many great dribbles and controls did he have? Before even getting to the goal. But again it's "oh he's inconsistent, see he lost the ball once!".

I hope he does leave because I'm tired of reading the same narrative over and over again from pundits and a visible section of United fans. It's nauseatingly tiring. It was the exact same thing with Nani, some people decide he's x, y or z and no matter what he does people won't change their opinion on him.

Same.