I'm not so sure, I've got a feeling he stays. Seems happy and to buy into Ralph's system. Could still go either way
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 27
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 9
- Yellow cards
- 9
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Yep, Kibs. We'd much rather sign another LW attacker, extend Martial, lose Pogba and not invest in midfieldYou ask too much of our board @Ish
. That position's been cursed for us. Amateurs running this club.Yeah he's not been consistent enough tbf to all those who criticise him but he's 2 to 3 levels above any other midfielder we have at this club.
For one that link shows exactly 0 games from the spring when he, Cavani, and Greenwood were the only players with a pulse.
And the narrative of "I wish he played like this all the time" when the truth is a.) he's had many more "good" games than bad, and b.) he's not once played in any sort of cohesive midfield besides post lockdown when we figured out something with him and Matic behind Bruno. Put any of your favorite midfielders in the same situation and it probably plays out similarly. There's a reason he dominates games for France and it's not because of some secret formula, it's because he plays within a cohesive system with other similarly technically capable players instead of fecking Wan Bissaka. I get tired of how maligned/borderline hated he's become from a section of our fanbase/ pundits.
Yeah he might. And if he does we need to sign someone fantastic to play with him.
Rice and Pogba would be great together imo.
And we could do with another young midifielder for when he is injured.
If only we could make sure he always plays against 10 men who need to chase a goal.
Changed the game with his talent and intelligence. But expect the excuses to roll out:
'It was just 10 men' being top of the charts......
'It was just 10 men' being top of the charts......
The thing is, enough people have decided they don’t like him for whatever reason - which they’re entitled to - but because of human nature, they will now never change their mind on him, unless he somehow performs above an unrealistic expectation (e.g. never make a mistake, while running the entire pitch, while scoring & assisting in pretty much every match)
I’d personally hate to be that fickle, I just really enjoy watching one of the few quality players we have, play for us.
I’d personally hate to be that fickle, I just really enjoy watching one of the few quality players we have, play for us.
Didnt see Rashford taking advantage of the same.
He is the only quality Midfielder we have and some “fans” want him to go. Whether he leaves or not, its quite clear he wont be easy to replace
I don't hate him in the slightest. I'm a huge fan actually.
And you're half right. Surround him with mediocrity and he won't be at his best. But his application plays into that as well.
And no, it doesn't show games from the spring. You can find them if you want. You said he was dominant before his injury this year, and he wasn't. His 7 assists were in 3 games. His average rating was below 7. Part of the reason he works so well for France is he can apply himself for 3-4 weeks in a tournament and that's it.
It doesn't make me a hater to point out his deficiencies. If you do it after he plays poor, it's kneejerk. If you do it when he plays well, recency bias comes in. We can objectively look at his 6 years here and make our conclusions.
If the outcome is Pogba goes and McFred both staying as starters, then I guess you could imagine what we're setting for in next 5 years or more.
You are right. He is undeniably a very good passer. Probably one of the best overall currently.
Yeah and that is worrying to me as well ^^
You guys are right, we should be happy to see him play well and do exciting stuff. For some of us, that is easier than for others.
That is a duo that would transform us, no doubt.
I'm not calling you a hater, my frustration is more towards a decent sized contingent that have already decided they don't like him for god knows why. And my general point was more that I've heard the "wish he did this more often'" way too much for a player that more often than not actually did play similarly to how he played when he came on tonight (spraying the ball around effortlessly, composed on the ball, finding spaces none of our other midfielders can, etc.).
Just makes me throw my hands up at times when some fans will be glad to see him go for some reason when we've been watching McFred dick around on the ball for the better part of three years now without any success. Unless we replace Pogba with a player of similar class (spoiler: we won't), or do a full house cleaning and bring in at least 3 new midfielders (this is also doubtful), we will always be outmatched compared to the top teams. Frustrating.
Pogba playing well before the hilariously inflated new contract was inevitable tbh.
Harsh but fair.
He was peerless tonight and at times like this he looks like a man playing against kids, but people love to go over the top after a relatively short period of recent excellence.
Like night and day when he came on. Majestic. His consistency in the last 12 months is ridiculous considering the inconsistency of the team and almost all the other players. A level above.
I totally get your point. We are just pretending I am one of the people you mean in the first paragraph, I just want to point out that I totally understand your fear of "losing out in total" when we let him go without replacing him. I totally get it and it is a very likely scenario. But that must not lead to us having no alternative than to keep a player for every wage imaginable. I don't know your personal stance in regards to our wage structure but I feel the majority on here thinks it is really worrisom. I agree. And I think giving Pogba now a new contract with increased wages will only cement this issue even further.
In todays world you won't find any midfield two who are able to carry the midfield on their own. Just look at Brighton today in the first half. They cut through us with ease at times. They had no Pogba, it isn't a necessity. Thats the thing. To me, we are better off getting more players in who are industrious and tactically astute. Who can perform under a specific plan. That to me is a) easier to maintain than needing one very talented player to be in form all the time and b) it is more robust in terms of recruitment because there is not a single other player like Pogba out there.
I know I won't convince, don't want to, just want to make an effort to explain a position you seem opposed by.
Yeah, I've always maintained I'd rather try to get the best out of Pogba than try to make McTominay and Fred work.
If Pogba does go, we obviously don't replace the talent. Maybe the hope is we become a more rounded team. Liverpool's title winning team didn't have a midfielder as good as Pogba at his best, but was incredibly balanced and was perfect for the team. That has to be the hope for us.
Certainly think that can happen if we continue to move towards more of a high press oriented team focused on transitions, but it's still gonna take some new midfielders that are comfortable playing out of presses. Liverpool didn't have anyone as creatively brilliant as PP but Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson all would move the ball quickly and could think quickly under pressure.
Rice
Pogba
Bruno
Now that looks tasty. With Fred, McTominay and Garner as the reinforces/back up. Won’t happen though as he’s had too many chances and will be after a final big contract in Turin, Paris or Madrid pre a World Cup.
Pogba
Bruno
Now that looks tasty. With Fred, McTominay and Garner as the reinforces/back up. Won’t happen though as he’s had too many chances and will be after a final big contract in Turin, Paris or Madrid pre a World Cup.
Wish he had a better midfield around him
If he leaves feck knows what we will do to replace him ....Promote Garner ?
I don't agree, his talent won't be easy to replace but his performances for Utd will be easy to replace. Has been very promising since he came back though but he is playing for a huge payday.
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Poetry
He's just not the answer to any 6 or 8 role for us, that's the main caveat, he's not good enough/doesn't apply himself enough defensively. These roles are expected to defend more and better than he currently does.
Unless I'm mistaken he's played his best football with 4 or 5 central "defenders" alongside or behind him (defense & midfield combined). Either in a back 3 or alongside combos such as Vidal/Marchisio or Carrick/Herrera. He does play some 2s with Kanté for France, but I think they play a back 3 more often than not.
Put him a winger, put him as the offensive player in a 3-man midfield, great. But he's not going to be our answer in a 2-man midfield. I just don't see it, not with our current tactic. Offensively he's a joy to watch on his day, but I think he can have significantly more of those days if we played him "better".
Could have been interesting to see him left or right (depending on what Sancho's best position is, looks to be left) with Bruno in the middle and a striker up front (CR7 now, someone else soon-ish).
This doesn't look half bad.
Unless I'm mistaken he's played his best football with 4 or 5 central "defenders" alongside or behind him (defense & midfield combined). Either in a back 3 or alongside combos such as Vidal/Marchisio or Carrick/Herrera. He does play some 2s with Kanté for France, but I think they play a back 3 more often than not.
Put him a winger, put him as the offensive player in a 3-man midfield, great. But he's not going to be our answer in a 2-man midfield. I just don't see it, not with our current tactic. Offensively he's a joy to watch on his day, but I think he can have significantly more of those days if we played him "better".
Could have been interesting to see him left or right (depending on what Sancho's best position is, looks to be left) with Bruno in the middle and a striker up front (CR7 now, someone else soon-ish).
Ronaldo
Sancho - Bruno - Pogba
two midfielders that can defend
Sancho - Bruno - Pogba
two midfielders that can defend
This doesn't look half bad.
He was shocking between Leeds and his injury.
Which would be brilliant, wouldn't it.
I’m one of his bigger fans on the forum but I’m happy to say he’s had his chance & not really delivered but the amount of posters that will dig him out for performances McFred would dream of is laughable.
He has 8 League assists this season. McTominay has 3 in 3 seasons. Fred has 3 this season & went 2 seasons without one. Whilst I understand he has been underwhelming, there are threads on this forum where the notion Pogba is worse than either of that duo were taken seriously which is a joke quite frankly.
Facts
McTom, Fred & Matic are evidence enough that bettering his performances isn’t par for the course. I get the point you’re trying to make but a player could just as easily come in & be worse.
Drop Bruno. Put him in. Gain some control and creativity
Don't agree with drop Bruno as he's easily one of our most important players, but generally I've been wanting us to start rotating the 2 of them way more often. Bruno doesn't need to play 90 minutes every single game, we can rotate him out for Pogba occasionally just like we rotate Pogba out occasionally.
Really? Southampton away he was our best player and Newcastle at home perhaps also maybe Ronaldo aside. He had inconsistent performances after that, like everyone else in the team, but doesn’t change the fact that given most of our players can’t put more than three decent performances together….his form since last January has been very consistent
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Well yeah that’s what I meant. Just like how Pogba was rotated today. I don’t see why it can’t be that for the next game. They offer different things that can be beneficial game by game.
Yep. Especially with us playing Atletico mid week next week. Rotate Sancho, Ronaldo, Bruno and Shaw for Rashford, Cavani, Pogba and Telles this weekend, and then have them all pretty fresh for Atletico.
He might be moody and lazy at times. But he is our only midfielder who brings quality, control and creativity to our midfield.
He is so strong sometimes.
I think Pogba is by far the best midfielder and if fit should start. He made such a difference yesterday with calm on the ball. Before he came on we hardly held the ball in midfield.
His issue has been that some games he just doesn't seem switched on or motivated. The managers job will be to help him enjoy football in the long run.
His issue has been that some games he just doesn't seem switched on or motivated. The managers job will be to help him enjoy football in the long run.
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