No, you are not the only one.
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
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No, you are not the only one.
Probably the first time where I actually thought he was anywhere near to living up to the hype bar those friendlies v Spain. He looked good v Barca, but we have to bear in mind he plays in a left sided role at Juve. It remains to be seen how he would be in a central midfield role.
If he's guaranteed to become a £70m player in the next few years, he's worth that money now. He's worth less because it's not a done deal.
Barca ran rings around United in two CL finals, making the entire squad look distinctly average in the process. So i'd hardly criticise Pogba for not having a stand out performance last night.
Massively hyped, I watch Juventus quite a lot. But he's barely had games wherr he was at a world class level, he has massive potential, but people act as if he's already the finished article. When I compare him to Veratti, he isnt that tactical sublime, even not technically and influences the game far less. He's nowhere near ready to start for Real Madrid, let him develop in time. He should stay at Juve for at least another two years, he's got the skillset to be one of the very best midfielders.
Today Veratti is worth more than pogba, I think pogba may have a higher ceiling, having said that I don't think we are in for either of them.
I think in physical qualities, Pogba could be the best of the world. But I dont think his vision, intelligence, tactical nouse comes close to Veratti.
I agree with that, if we want a cm who can do it all from day 1 then Verratti is our man.
I don't think we can land him for some reason.
Pogba playing alongside Vidal and Pirlo would suggest Juve has probably one of the best midfield line-up's. However after watching their game against Barca... this triio appear ordinary especially Pogba and Vidal.
Same, he's Madrid/Barca bound.
Barca can make any midfield look ordinary TBF.
They made us look just as mediocre in the two finals we played against them.
Makes you think.... is Pogba really worth all the money he is supposedly valued at ?
I thought Pogba had a decent game overall. On that showing, he's not worth £60 million, or whatever the latest figure is, but he's a player we could certain use in our midfield. I heard his post-match interview on Sky, such as it was, and noted that he has a bit of a Manchester accent when he pronounces certain words. Come home lad.
All players in the world have been made to look average when playing a better side.
The fact Barca made us look silly twice doesn't count in Pogba's favour. Surely that was because how poor our midfield was compares to Barca. This guy is meant to be the missing link and clearly according to some going to be the best in the world in midfield. Surely it isn't unrealistic to expect him to at least have an impact on the game against Barca if that is the case?
Pogba's talent and potential has never been in doubt. There was a post in this thread saying he was already the best midfielder in Europe, this is the kind of thing that makes him overrated. Beggars belief really. Forget Barca he wasn't anything special in the 2 games against Atletico either and Juve had majority of the possession in those games. He may become the best player on the planet but so far he has yet to reach the heights set by other young players like Gotze, Isco, Koke, Neymar etc.
His qualities aren't overrated at all. If you pay attention to fanboys,agents and sensationalist media then its a different case. He is still raw, and his performances needs to be more consistent absolutely. I thought he was fine yesterday, was with barca throughout. Next year would be a better time to judge whether the potential sees the expected maturity.
We talk about his potential because he only just turned 22. You expect him to suddenly stop developing at that age? It doesn't matter that he's been playing for Juve for 3 years.
So now we're measuring the technique of Pogba to a player like Iniesta? C'mon. All you have to do is watch him play and you'll notice amazing technique, especially for a player his size. The guy has excellent footwork, can strike a ball with the best of them, can control the ball with the best of them, etc... These are things you'll notice when you have watched him play more than once. I find it ridiculous that I have to defend his technique. That's how obvious it is.
The only thing he really needs to improve on is his controlling of a midfield. Until he has that he can't be considered the best midfielder as that is the most important area for a midfielder. He has everything else. Once he has that there will be no stopping him.
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His big advantage is his huge physique. I think once he learns how to bully opponents midfielder with his combined strength and technique he'll be unstoppable. But he's got some way to go there mind.
Even statements like this baffle me, to be honest.
Pirlo and Marchiso were the weak links. When Juve finally had a foothold in the game, Pogba and vidal were looking pristine and bullying the barca mids. Then bam, simple pass to messi in acres and all the good work goes to waste. Precisely what you get when the midfielder at the base of the midfield has no defensive bone in his body.
Did you see our midfield in 2011?
He'll go to Barca I'd say. The richer will get richer. Even if he had of stayed with us, he would probably have left for Barca too. We'd just be about £70m richer is all.
His biggest attribute is his ability to strike the ball accurately. Plus that with his physique and footwork, he is the player that will be difficult to play in and around the opponent box. He doesn't have the engine though or industrious enough to be a box to box midfielder.
Wow, that guy is deep. You learn something new every day.
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When I watch him, I see, big, strong, powerful, fast, good technique and has a shot in his locker, but I don't really see the 60mill+ player that others rate him as, in my opinion you're paying double/tripple his current worth for potential, he's eye catching mostly on his phyiscal characteristics as of right now, I've still not seen him boss a midfield by himself for example, but perhaps I need to watch more Juve games.
I mean even on saturday as another example, when looking at him or say... Rakitic, who's physical prowess isn't a touch on Pogba's yet it was the slightly unfashionable Croatian that influenced the game more for their team.
I mean even on saturday as another example, when looking at him or say... Rakitic, who's physical prowess isn't a touch on Pogba's yet it was the slightly unfashionable Croatian that influenced the game more for their team.
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far easier for Rakitic to do that in that Barca team than Pogba playing against them. the £60m+ is too much but it's based on his potential, not his current skill level. it's a risk worth taking for most (rich) clubs.
This is spot on. It's almost guaranteed he will be the best in his position a couple of years down the line. He doesn't really have a weakness to his game he has everything in his locker to be the best in the world.
Rakitic was impressive with Sevilla, and in my opinion he was more impressive than Pogba but he is older so it's kind of normal.
Pogba has weaknesses in his game at least if you see him as a box to box, he has a poor tactical awareness, he doesn't cover his teammates properly, doesn't mark his direct opponent properly and he is sometimes not strict enough in his defensive positioning.
For the moment I think that he will only reach his potential if he is used in the same role Yaya Touré occupies when he has two midfielders behind him.
Cant expect a 22 year old to be so tactically aware. He covers his ground well and tracks back well enough for someone of his age.
That will all improve year by year so he will be the complete midfielder in the future.
Maybe playing him with 2 midfielders behind him will get the best out of him but he can still play as a natural CM well enough.
I'll pay £60m for him, simple. Just because that sum is bandied about doesn't mean he MUST be good at everything. He's not good defensively, so what? He plays in a midfield 3 or 4 at times, and his primary job is not to be the defensive one! Get a more defensive midfielder to sort that side of the work, and let him do his thing. That £60m will look like peanuts in few years for whoever pays it now.
There's a good chance it wont improve that much. It's easy to think he'll improve significantly in every aspect, but it's just as likely that he wont.
He's better than your average 22 year old midfield right now, but that doesn't mean he'll continue developing in a way that maintains that gap.
The hype is too much for him, in my opinion. As are the ridiculous fees being mentioned.
You are right, I was just pointing out that he had weaknesses. Like @legball I would pay 60m for him because I believe in his potential but sometimes it seems that people refuse to look at Pogba objectively, there is 22 years old players who are a lot better tactically, players like Koke, Kondogbia, Verratti, Saul or Oliver are all more mature tactically but Pogba is probably more talented.
See the thing about Pogba is he has that moment of magic in him that can win a game in one moment all on his own.
Not many players have that especially players who play as a CM. Add that onto all his other qualities and he is in a league of his own for young players who are at a high level already.
Veratti would be the player I would chose to replace him with if when he does decide to move on from Juve.
Veratti is a very intelligent player and he will be one of the best easily.
If we are determined to spend over £40m on a midfielder, Verratti is our man. He can do it all and is the future of the Italian midfield.
disagree with that. of course he may not improve, but given his rapid progress up until now, it's definitely more likely he will continue to improve than not.
i would be ecstatic with either Pogba or Veratti, tbh, whatever the cost. it's just incredibly unlikely we'll get either, which is unfortunate. we barely seem able to convince the slightly below A-listers like Gundogan.
I didn't say he wont improve. I said he might not improve significantly. When people talk about a future best player in the world etc. that would require huge improvements. I think it's unrealistic to expect that to happen, regardless of him currently being good for his age.
If United are really in for Pogba, I hope that's not the case. He's not needed there. Mata and Herrera have that we'll covered. Fellaini could even do a job there against weaker opposition.
Box-to-box ranging play is where he looks like he might be uniquely good at. However, I'm not sure how he'd fit van Gaal's system if these positional and covering criticisms are fair. He'd have to work his way into the team and that's why he left.
Regardless, I hope Ed lands him. He looks destined to be world class.
Shame he didn't come through into Fergie's system. Can y'all imagine him in that swashbuckling attack?
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