Although I'm not a big fan of Pogba (mainly because I don't like casual approach on the pitch) but I find it very unfair to say Pogba isn't as good as Yaya or Gerrard when we've seen both Yaya and Gerrard in their prime where as the level of performance we're seeing from Pogba we don't know whether if it's his best or if it's not even a fraction of his true ability. Comparing him against players of similar age group is more apt hence the likes of Verratti, Koke or even Kroos are a better gauge than someone who has already retired or about to retire.
I don't think Pogba and Gerrard are similar in any way, shape or form. To begin with, Gerrrard wasn't technically good but he'd a strong engine that enabled him to make lung-busting runs up and down the pitch all game long. Gerrard was very dynamic, very passionate about the game and it reflected on the pitch through his willingness to get involve in every possible way where as Pogba doesn't show a fraction of that hunger or desire. Even a compilation video of Gerrard would show lots of lunging tackles, strong runs up and down the pitch, some Hollywood passes and some bullet shots. A Pogba compilation on the other hand, would have some deft touches, nice flicks, some dazzling dribbles, some Beckham-esque crosses and some bullet shots.
Pogba isn't Yaya either. Yaya started his career in defense before transforming himself into a box-to-box beast so the laziness he displays nowadays wasn't always like this and I think it's partly because of his age his big frame doesn't allow him to do things that he's supposed to and partly because it's also become a mental issue too. Yaya uses/used his big frame to his advantage which Pogba rarely does.
Purely in terms of style and approach, I find Pogba more comparable to Balotelli although they play in different positions. Both have big frame, strong physique which they rarely use, both have good technique although Pogba is way better technically and in Balotelli's case it at times gets blown out of proportion, both show a serious lack of interest in the game while on the pitch, both can come up with a moment of brilliance which in Pogba's case happens more frequently and in Balotelli's case the very few times it happened the media milked it dry, and both could offer so much more yet they hardly do so.
To get the best out of Pogba the manager must come up with a plan so that it forces Pogba to get involved in the game more otherwise he won't. He needs to be played high up the pitch with very little to no defensive responsibilities. A 3 men midfield of Pogba, Kroos and Kante would struggle in my opinion because Kante won't be able to cover both Pogba and Kroos' backs but a Pogba, Modric/Busquets, Knate combo might potentially work. Probably a 4312 formation would get the best out of Pogba where there are 3 midfielders playing behind working their socks off as well as in this system the No10 normally gets involved in the game more. And with him playing so further up the pitch, a deft touch, flick or dribble can potentially unlock/open up any defense. Not to mention his good shooting technique would become very handy too.
If France drop Pogba and play Payet there who is in great form and can do almost everything that's expected from Pogba, people probably wouldn't even notice it. With their current 3 men midfield in Pogba, Matuidi and Kante I believe they'd probably struggle to control game against most decent sides and would probably have to rely on some magic moments like yesterday's game even though they're a very strong side and shouldn't be relying on such things.
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