[RooneyLegend]

Imagine thinking he's not part of our best 11. Like who do we have at the club? Prime Rijkaard and Zidane?

 

[Member 109952]

Plagued by a combination of inconsistency, lack of fitness at the start of the season due to no pre-season / getting covid, but the biggest issue with Pogba is that he's often played as a box to box midfielder or as a deep midfielder.

I've said it a million times since he's signed - he should be playing as an AM or as a forward, or not at all. He's a class footballer in the final third, just because he's 6ft 3 and black doesn't automatically make him a box to box like Viera, defensively he's pretty pants. He's closer to the calibre of David Silva than he is Viera footballing wise.

Technically he's one of our best players but it infuriates me seeing him playing as a deep midfielder. May as well play Mata there while you're at it. Deschamps has deluded United managers by playing Pogba deep, which really only works because you had prime Kante and Matuidi doing all the dirty work, and a combination of 3 attackers that get space to run in behind.

 

[Foxbatt]

He was good. I liked his commitment and running off the ball too. Take away his defensive duties and he can be very good.

 

[thebelfastboy]

Thought it was his best game for us in a long long time. He definitely worked much harder than he usually did, maybe to fend off any criticism with vdb starting in alongside him?.
Let's hope there's more of that too come from him

 

[Withnail]

Thought it was his best game for us in a long long time. He definitely worked much harder than he usually did, maybe to fend off any criticism with vdb starting in alongside him?.
Let's hope there's more of that too come from him

Did you see him glancing toward the bench when Ole was about to make a midfield sub and then busting a gut to try and win the ball back?

 

[RedDevil@84]

Imagine thinking he's not part of our best 11. Like who do we have at the club? Prime Rijkaard and Zidane?

Being the best and staying at their best are two different things. When he is good, he is really good. But when he has off days, it is really bad. Again on his bad day, he maybe better than the likes of Herrera and McT. But now he he has better competition.
So he would regularly play if he is awesome more often.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Being the best and staying at their best are two different things. When he is good, he is really good. But when he has off days, it is really bad. Again on his bad day, he maybe better than the likes of Herrera and McT. But now he he has better competition.
So he would regularly play if he is awesome more often.

Who's this better competition? McT (who simply can't play) or Fred(who can barely play)?

 

[TsuWave]

Wingfielder Pogba is best Pogba

 

[Matt851]

Who's this better competition? McT (who simply can't play) or Fred(who can barely play)?

McT is improving and is a decent high energy midfielder although still pretty limited in the ball

It depends on the formation being player but if we are only playing 3 in centre mid then pogba has generally been pretty average there and on many occassions a bit of a liability. That leaves brunos position

I agree pogba played well the other day and suited the role he was given but that formation might not be suited to every game and he needs to play well regularly something he hasnt done throughout his united career

 

[thebelfastboy]

Did you see him glancing toward the bench when Ole was about to make a midfield sub and then busting a gut to try and win the ball back?

Yep seen that. But tbh I noticed some more urgency in his play from the start of the game. Competition for places and having options on the bench might just be the motivation that he finally needs.

 

[NoPace]

I thought it would be on the right, but left is fine too. Pretty clear our best XI will generally include Pogba, and that he's struggled in the middle apart from as a #10 and Bruno is a better option there, with VDB pretty good too.

 

[Jeppers7]

True but irrelevant to my point. Pogba has been objectively bad up until the point at which he played objectively well. I’ve read some crazy posts in recent weeks about how he gets unfair criticism. Someone even said the issue is islamophobia!

***Turns out it’s actually quite easy to get his critics to stop criticising him. All he has to do is play well.***

Says one of his critics, while criticising him

 

[Jeppers7]

Just a brilliant footballer

 

[friendlytramp]

Wingfielder Pogba is best Pogba

i really dont know how it’s taken so long to play Pogba on the left of midfield. This is where he has always thrived

 

[edcunited1878]

i really dont know how it’s taken so long to play Pogba on the left of midfield. This is where he has always thrived

Because it's taken United even longer to get their central midfield to a place that can consider accommodating Pogba. But this is only just one match, so we'll have to see how Ole and team continue to use Pogba.

An important and happy moment for Pogba yesterday was his intercepted pass where he was immediately fouled by Kleiuvrt. Pogba was completely aware, dialed in, and committed off the ball and won the ball back/possession for his team 1v1. Rashford just scored the 2nd United goal and it was another positive turning point in the match for United.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Because it's taken United even longer to get their central midfield to a place that can consider accommodating Pogba. But this is only just one match, so we'll have to see how Ole and team continue to use Pogba.

An important and happy moment for Pogba yesterday was his intercepted pass where he was immediately fouled by Kleiuvrt. Pogba was completely aware, dialed in, and committed off the ball and won the ball back/possession for his team 1v1. Rashford just scored the 2nd United goal and it was another positive turning point in the match for United.

Thing is, that's not even remotely true. We've just been so badly coached that Pogba has had to spend his time behind Lingard, Peirera, Mata, James etc because Mourinho/Ole were and are too happy to play 4-2-4 and hope Pogba becomes a Veira/KDB hybrid midfield two player.

We have had Herrera, Matic, Fred and McTominnay all in available in spurts but we've not really played or set up in a way to actually control possession and dominate midfield (on our own terms). Pogba deserves criticisms for his own performances but we are a counter attacking team and his role in a two is a glorified ball recycler and midfield enforcer. We can't play out from the back and we don't try to flood the midfield, so we pin all hopes on Pogba in deep trying to manoeuvre the ball to your Brunos, Rashfords, Martials etc, who are a good 20 yards away. It's a recipe for disaster regardless of personnel.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Vive la Pogba FC.

Class on grass.

Imagine thinking he's not part of our best 11. Like who do we have at the club? Prime Rijkaard and Zidane?

This place has members that’ll go to the grave believing we’re better off with McAverage & Fred because they run with more intent. They’re often chasing the ball they just gave away but they do it with gusto so it’s fine.

Give most managers Bruno & Pogba, the last thing they’d do is put Pogba at the base of a 4-2-3-1 - if you can’t get a tune out of that duo + another then it’s curtains.

Pogba is likely off soon so we’ll see what happens when we’re drawing 1-1 at Newcastle & the mighty McFred have to play the full 90. . .

 

[Member 58925]

Plagued by a combination of inconsistency, lack of fitness at the start of the season due to no pre-season / getting covid, but the biggest issue with Pogba is that he's often played as a box to box midfielder or as a deep midfielder.

I've said it a million times since he's signed - he should be playing as an AM or as a forward, or not at all. He's a class footballer in the final third, just because he's 6ft 3 and black doesn't automatically make him a box to box like Viera, defensively he's pretty pants. He's closer to the calibre of David Silva than he is Viera footballing wise.

Technically he's one of our best players but it infuriates me seeing him playing as a deep midfielder. May as well play Mata there while you're at it. Deschamps has deluded United managers by playing Pogba deep, which really only works because you had prime Kante and Matuidi doing all the dirty work, and a combination of 3 attackers that get space to run in behind.

You’re not wrong about his attacking abilities and where he should play, but have you seen his form and timing when he’s up for some defensive work? Impeccable. Just a supremely gifted all around footballer.

 

[edcunited1878]

Thing is, that's not even remotely true. We've just been so badly coached that Pogba has had to spend his time behind Lingard, Peirera, Mata, James etc because Mourinho/Ole were and are too happy to play 4-2-4 and hope Pogba becomes a Veira/KDB hybrid midfield two player.

We have had Herrera, Matic, Fred and McTominnay all in available in spurts but we've not really played or set up in a way to actually control possession and dominate midfield (on our own terms). Pogba deserves criticisms for his own performances but we are a counter attacking team and his role in a two is a glorified ball recycler and midfield enforcer. We can't play out from the back and we don't try to flood the midfield, so we pin all hopes on Pogba in deep trying to manoeuvre the ball to your Brunos, Rashfords, Martials etc, who are a good 20 yards away. It's a recipe for disaster regardless of personnel.

You put Pogba ahead of those central midfielders and it worked for about 3 months until injuries happened and form fell off a cliff. And it was Herrera and Matic during Ole's interim phase. They deviated from that for reasons that I don't recall, but he thrived with two other central mids.

Pogba played really well with Zlatan ahead of him. He has also played well at times with Bruno. He even played well behind Lingard during Lingard's best form at United.

Fred came into his own last year and most of it was without Pogba. McTominay is playing better this year, but again, he wasn't playing with Pogba too much or at a good enough level previous years.

Recently, United have made some tactical tweaks in central midfield and have committed towards functionality with Fred and McTominay and then this week Matic and Fred responsible for a lot of the core defensive work while Pogba worked off the left.

I agree that Pogba isn't really suited for any central midfield pairing and needs a supportive left back and ideally two other central mids. If the game is stretched, we've seen him pushed further up behind two central mids and it can work.

Paul is a class player and he has been let down by himself and United far too many times.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Wingfielder Pogba is best Pogba

Agree with that. Stupid of Ole to put him in a midfield two tbh.

 

[The United]

Let's see if he will have a bad game in that LMC role and how people will react.

Pogba has ability to play anywhere in the midfielder very well. For me, seems like it depends on his mood. We have had this kind of praise for him when he played in a midfield two before for a few games. Then, we know what happened.

He is just very unpredictable.

 

[CG1010]

I still think there is extra added on when he has an off day. So many times he's played well and he's still criticised, when other players can do a lot worse but hardly a peep is mentioned. His recent bad patch has had people going wild and it's just odd why.

Last night though is definitely more of what we want to see, I think his fitness has improved but he just looks a lot happier and more natural in that position. Playing him deeper doesn't suit his best abilites and he's always best closer to the oppositions goal rather than ours.

It seems like the pennies dropped for Ole and the coaching staff now, the 3 of Fred/Mctominay/Matic can cover the DM role.

I am a fan of Pogba and he has proven he can get lots of goals and assists for the team when on form. The problem is he needs a be an extra man to a fully functioning midfield in order to work well. And he doesn't produce that kind of output to justify it. I have a feeling he would he the kind of player who would always be better suited to international football than club football, because the latter places emphasis on cohesion of the team.

 

[kouroux]

Let's see if he will have a bad game in that LMC role and how people will react.

Pogba has ability to play anywhere in the midfielder for a very high level. For me, seems like it depends on his mood. We have had this kind of praise for him when he played in a midfield two before for a few games. Then, we know what happened.

He is just very unpredictable.

If he plays there consistently then having a bad game will happen as it's a natural part of football. As long as the fans see try his best and work hard, I think that's what matters the most.

We may have also been underestimating how Covid affected his fitness levels because the game vs RBL wasn't just about his position but also how energetic he looked.

 

[MadDogg]

I am a fan of Pogba and he has proven he can get lots of goals and assists for the team when on form. The problem is he needs a be an extra man to a fully functioning midfield in order to work well. And he doesn't produce that kind of output to justify it. I have a feeling he would he the kind of player who would always be better suited to international football than club football, because the latter places emphasis on cohesion of the team.

Not when he plays in the deeper role, but when he plays in front of another two he has often had great output.

 

[The United]

If he plays there consistently then having a bad game will happen as it's a natural part of football. As long as the fans see try his best and work hard, I think that's what matters the most.

We may have also been underestimating how Covid affected his fitness levels because the game vs RBL wasn't just about his position but also how energetic he looked.

My point is though arguing about where he can play the best might not matter as he plays well when his mood is good. Does not matter as CDM or CM or LCM or CAM. He is super talented like that but does not seem to be stable or consistent which has always been the issue.

I didn't exactly see anything so much special from last game that it must be his best position. I still saw the same Pogba with what he could do and what he didn't seem to care. I would say playing on LCM might bring back his long shots though.

 

[CG1010]

Not when he plays in the deeper role, but when he plays in front of another two he has often had great output.

Not as much as say Bruno, who further does a lot more work defensively too.

 

[kouroux]

My point is though arguing about where he can play the best might not matter as he plays well when his mood is good. Does not matter as CDM or CM or LCM or CAM. He is super talented like that but does not seem to be stable or consistent which has always been the issue.

I didn't exactly see anything so much special from last game that it must be his best position. I still saw the same Pogba with what he could do and what he didn't seem to care. I would say playing on LCM might bring back his long shots though.

Like what ? His biggest issue was giving up when losing the ball or losing the ball in dangerous spots. He didn't do much if at all in that game.

 

[Isotope]

This LM allow him to do more fancy stuff with much less effect on our defensive structure if he lost the ball. And also it make use of his strength, which is his vision/passing and (probably) shooting ability. This may motivate him to be more consistent.

Like it or not, it happens in every day work that people with immense talent or skill, would be more motivated to do work that cater to their capabilities.

And this also possible because Rashford decides that he's even better as a striker than as LW/LF.

 

[Bobcat]

Thought it was his best game for us in a long long time. He definitely worked much harder than he usually did, maybe to fend off any criticism with vdb starting in alongside him?.
Let's hope there's more of that too come from him

True. I've been harsh on him at the start of the season, but he looked twice the player than he did vs Spurs for example

Hopefully he can kick on and find his best form again. If we can get the Pogba we had under Ole as caretaker and combine him with Bruno i think most teams will find it hard to contain us

 

[Feed Me]

How many times have we actually played Poggy slightly advanced, left of a three?

He was bloody excellent against RB Leipzig and that’s the sort of Rolls Royce performance which, if turned out consistently over a season, would have us in a title race.

Also notable to me that his work rate was very, very good, which leaves me wondering whether Ole benching him has imbued him with extra desire.

 

[Caesar2290]

I think we finally found his position on the left side of a diamond or a 4-3-3. He looked really threatening in the match against RB.

Also, did anyone else noticed that he has improved both his workrate and urgency when playing and when trying to win the ball back?

Must be that competition and the fact that Ole dropped him.

Did him a load of good actually.

 

[Borys]

How many times have we actually played Poggy slightly advanced, left of a three?

He was bloody excellent against RB Leipzig and that’s the sort of Rolls Royce performance which, if turned out consistently over a season, would have us in a title race.

Also notable to me that his work rate was very, very good, which leaves me wondering whether Ole benching him has imbued him with extra desire.

That's the best part. I really like how Ole has managed Pogba. Obviously a player of such class will get more time to find his form even if not performing, but if he fails, he should be sidelined. It seems to be working for Pogs.

No holy cows in the tam please.

 

[Jeppers7]

Not as much as say Bruno, who further does a lot more work defensively too.

Do we have stats on this ?

 

[Zehner]

I think we finally found his position on the left side of a diamond or a 4-3-3. He looked really threatening in the match against RB.

Also, did anyone else noticed that he has improved both his workrate and urgency when playing and when trying to win the ball back?

Must be that competition and the fact that Ole dropped him.

Did him a load of good actually.

Sounds interesting. Thought for a while that he may be better as a wide play maker on the left since he can be more wasteful there. Did he play as the left eight or as a left forward?

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I think we finally found his position on the left side of a diamond or a 4-3-3. He looked really threatening in the match against RB.

Also, did anyone else noticed that he has improved both his workrate and urgency when playing and when trying to win the ball back?

Must be that competition and the fact that Ole dropped him.

Did him a load of good actually.

This was the position he was playing in for Juventus. The position he made his name in, so to speak. Therefore, whilst he's had some decent games in a 4231, it was always confusing as to why managers persisted (and still do persist) on playing him in a double pivot.

Going forward, we need to see more consistent performances from Pogba, but if he's consistently played in a position he's comfortable in, then we may well see that.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Sounds interesting. Thought for a while that he may be better as a wide play maker on the left since he can be more wasteful there. Did he play as the left eight or as a left forward?

An eight.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

He just needs to be sold.
We're more likely to give him 400k a week, but the lad just cannot do it in this league.

He's had the odd bits of brilliance between a load of dross.
Real Madrid.... He's having a laugh

 

[Sir Matt]

It's a shame we couldn't sell him in the summer because of COVID-19.

 

[Verminator]

If I never saw him in our shirt again, it would be too soon.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Solskjaer will go and Pogba will get a new manager reprieve again but the fact is he isn't good enough. No point playing him for one good performance every month or so.