Yeah I’m not particularly fond of the diamond, especially considering our full backs excel defensively and it would take Rashford out of the position he’s been so good in this season.
Where does Pogba fit in?
- Thread starter MyOnlySolskjaer
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Winning a World Cup takes how many games? Pogba is inconsistent and picks and chooses, additionally Italy alongside better players was great for him as he’s too precious to be reliable.
As for being better than Bruno in a role for United, the guy’s been here a month and done more, more consistently, than Pogba has in nearly four seasons.
All of wish Pogba was the type of footballer would work his socks off even for a relegation-bound club, but he isn't. We can either cut him loose for such a player or, now that we have the makings of a proper midfield, bring him back into the fold...provided he's looked the manager in the eye and committed to the cause. I hope it's the latter as even on Bruno's best day he's just not at the level Pogba is on a pretty good day.
I like the diamond formation with Pogba at left mid, but it's not the only we can set up. We can go with 433 against the bottom feeders who park the bus on us. And we can still go with 4231 whenever the opponent suits us for such tactics. Pogba and Bruno give us incredible flexibility, as does the fact that McTominay has come good, Fred has come good and Matic looks a proper midfielder again. Not sure what to do with Andreas and Jesse, but that's another thread.
Pogba is not a problem to solve as much as he is an asset to be exploited.
I like the diamond formation with Pogba at left mid, but it's not the only we can set up. We can go with 433 against the bottom feeders who park the bus on us. And we can still go with 4231 whenever the opponent suits us for such tactics. Pogba and Bruno give us incredible flexibility, as does the fact that McTominay has come good, Fred has come good and Matic looks a proper midfielder again. Not sure what to do with Andreas and Jesse, but that's another thread.
Pogba is not a problem to solve as much as he is an asset to be exploited.
I'm sure he brings individual attributes and will stack a decent number of assists and goals. But that doesn't equate to winning games or getting the best out of others. I feel Fred is too important to drop at this point and along with Bruno has played a massive role in our form. Our workrate has improved too. For all his individual abilities, Pogba doesn't contribute much as a team player. We need cogs that build a powerful machine. Pogba hasn't shown he is compatible to be part of a team that succeeds. When we needed a leader, he always shyed away. We need leaders that can lift others around them. A great player with great passing ability but we've moved forward.
I don't even know why people are backing this arrogant and entitled player whose whored himself to Madrid and Juve at every chance. If he had his way, he would have ages ago.
Purely on footballing ability, yes, 101% of us would, but that's not the issue.
You lose workrate in any midfield with Pogba in it
I don't trust him.
In a big game he'll not be arsed.
In a big game he'll not be arsed.
I actually wonder if Bruno and Pogba can work together to maximise the best of themselves. I worry Bruno will have to cater and play further back. I'd rather it was the other way round.
Funny how many people here don't want Pogba to unbalance a balanced midfield but in the Grealish thread some are suggesting benching Fred and getting a DM to play with Bruno and Grealish or playing Grealish Bruno and Fred.
I mean it's pretty clear right now what we need for a complete midfield is a DM. Bruno Fred and Matic trio is a balanced midfield and has led us to be solid defensive and attacking wise. But Matic is the weakest link there as he is getting old and would need replacing. Replace Matic with a DM not with Pogba or Grealish and the midfield is complete and balanced. In my opinion, Pogba should be sold to add funds to our rebuild and we should get Grealish as a solid rotational option given his versatility
I mean it's pretty clear right now what we need for a complete midfield is a DM. Bruno Fred and Matic trio is a balanced midfield and has led us to be solid defensive and attacking wise. But Matic is the weakest link there as he is getting old and would need replacing. Replace Matic with a DM not with Pogba or Grealish and the midfield is complete and balanced. In my opinion, Pogba should be sold to add funds to our rebuild and we should get Grealish as a solid rotational option given his versatility
Sell
One or the other, for sure, but I'm not sure about both unless we've got a great youth pipeline, Gomes and Garner showing some promise. Andreas can actually be a decent squad player for us in several midfield roles whereas Jesse has already declined from his low ceiling -- but it's hard to see any club being willing to take on his wages even on a free transfer.
If he was the same talent level as Lingard, they wouldn’t.
Even Sir Alex would make exceptions for players of a certain talent.
I’m in the majority I think where I’d like him to stay if he genuinely wants to be here and will get his head down, but want him to go if he doesn’t want to be here.
With a focused Pogba, we probably have the best midfield in the league.
Yes. But, there's no such thing as the following equation
focused + pogba + manchester + united ≠ reality
Sir Alex Ferguson made exceptions on talent yes. But he was also ruthless with talent Kanchelskis, Stam, Van Nistelrooy, and Beckham had all done much more than Beckham. He got rid of talented players for being toxic too.
Pogba is highly talented. But, we can thrive without him.
Exactly and why should we adjust our formation for this brat. We need to start thinking of moving forward and thinking of a reality where we are independent of any player.
I don’t know the full story of what’s going on behind the scenes. If that equation can’t happen, then fine I agree with you
If Solskjaer thinks Pogba is toxic, again give him the elbow.
Of course United can thrive without Pogba, but they’d be better with him if he stays and wants to be here.
Sure. I just feel if we can sell him, it might start a fresh chapter. With those funds go all out on Sancho and replace Pogba with Grealish.
I think giving him a chance just sends the wrong message to younger players about agents.
This is naive, every player is represented by an agent and 99% of them are sleazeballs by default. Some are worse than others of course, but footballers are not what they used to be. They are also much, much better and more valuable so their «interests» are taken care of by so-called professionals.
It's naive to start afresh from a player that has never shown signs of wanting to be here?
I think the club > any player regardless of talent. Great teams are built with a group of players and manager that are aligned to together to achieve something as a unit. Pogba has not shown that at United. He has showed that he is more interested in himself only.
Right..... Pogba got Ole the job when also got himself into the team of the season and Bruno has not matched this. You are delusional boy!
Pogba went on a run. He hasn't come close to replicating that before or since. I've seen more fight and heart from Fernandes, and for sure it's over far less time and he may well drop off, but at the moment I know which one I'd like in the United team more. One who fits the profile of having heart and lungs as well as touch and invention.
Another Carrick would be perfect.
Where does Pogba fit in? No where. He plays for himself and do
If he came out tomorrow and said he genuinely wanted to be here, how long would it last? Until Real comes knocking? Until Raiola pisses in the pool and ruins Pogba’s relationship with the club? It would take years to trust him. For all I know Pogba keeps all this garbage out of the dressing room and is a consummate teammate. But who needs it? Rather see someone else wearing the shirt.
If he came out tomorrow and said he genuinely wanted to be here, how long would it last? Until Real comes knocking? Until Raiola pisses in the pool and ruins Pogba’s relationship with the club? It would take years to trust him. For all I know Pogba keeps all this garbage out of the dressing room and is a consummate teammate. But who needs it? Rather see someone else wearing the shirt.
Bruno could turn out to be a Pogba. Its a small sample so it's best to play them both. That way when one drops off there is another
If Pogba doesn't play enough to prove his form and fitness in the run in, Ed will be lucky to get a 60m transfer fee for him. Bruno has been the catalyst for getting the best out of our midfield and attack. There's no reason to think he wouldn't be the catalyst for getting the best out of Pogba. Getting the best out of Pogba in the run in would be best for Man Utd whether he stays or goes, imho.
Its funny to see people turning up their noses at Pogba when he is one of 2-3 world class players we have. Its so silly its like saying we have Xavi we dont need Iniesta. Some people are going to look real silly real soon when Pogba comes back and delivers world class performances. He is the best outfield player we have, its surprising people are forgetting his amazing performances just because he doesnt run around like a madman.
This all day! Give it a month and we will change our tune.
Do people not want top 4? If he plays alongside Bruno and one of Scott/Fred/Matic behind them, surely we got it in the bag!?
I hate when world class is used with Pogba. He has a few world class attributes. He's not a world class player, in my opinion. He doesn't shine every week, he's wildly inconsistent. He has easily as many bad games as good. And he doesn't lift those in the team around him.
Pogba isn’t going anywhere in the current climate. Clubs aren’t going to be committing to mega transfer fees and contracts with all the uncertainty.
Our current run is built upon being a team. We've a great double pivot that is complementing each other well in Matic / Scott / Fred (one being left out in any given game) who give that base for Bruno and the forwards to build off. They link the defence to attack, move the ball quickly and provide solidity for the defence.
Bring Pogba in, and you're back to showboating, taking too many touches in midfield, not tracking back. Now, obviously he's capable of moments of pure genius. But would the team benefit, for sure? Possibly, but I wouldn't say it's nailed down.
When we've a tough game that needs fighters, he'd more likely disappear in my opinion, as we've seen in the past. His character is that, if the chips are down, flight. Look at the history with us. Not getting his game at United? Leave. Come back, things aren't going well, uses 2 mouthpieces to try and get a way out. In games where we're struggling, and it's a dogfight, can probably count on 1 hand the number of times he's been in the fight and helped.
Tell me about it. Like they forgot that when you mark Pogba out the game we have nothing. Same can happen to Bruno
It is a formation that works one off IMO, in the odd games where you want to exploit certain areas of the opposition, but would you want it as your main formation?
It will mean Fred goes and helps the RB, Pogba LB and left with Matic on his own in the middle?
The 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 and 5-3-2 work well.
Getting into semantics about world class is pointless. He is one of our best players, and debating that is moot. And whats this about lifting those around him that I keep hearing about ever since Bruno is here? Sure some players bring the best out of others, and Pogba has done that plenty times with his world class passing and creativity. Is he a natural leader who is super vocal? Maybe not but he doesnt need to be. He was a leader for France in the world cup and that was very evident. We need Pogba back and firing, because Bruno will inevitably be injured/out of form/marked out and then we will be fecked.
Yep.
Just a reminder of Pogba's performance when he came back from injury this dec :
Pogba when he is on form, is the best outfield player we have bar none. Ole has brought out his best before, and I'm sure will do again.
We don't have 2-3 world class players actually, he is the only one. he made a cameo appearance while still injured and was like MOTM in 20 minutes. like 2/3 levels ahead of our next best players and about 10 levels ahead of everyone else. nobody else has that kind of influence apart from him.
the term World Class is thrown about too easily these days. complety lost it's meaning.
WC players at United:
1. Pogba
end of list
I know people are not too hot on Pogba right now and are acting as if he doesnt even deserve a spot in our team, but if he was moving to City/Liverpool/Chelsea tomorrow, everybody will be bricking it here. Because I'm pretty sure if he moves to another team he will tearing it up. I think he will do the same when he comes back from injury too.
It's as simple as this.
Bruno is fresh in the PL, has all that new player energy. He's bound to get knackered with PL, FA and Europa. If Bruno is Pogba's replacement our midfield is exactly where it was at the beginning of the season - thin.
We can use the depth.
Plus Pogba is great at playing slightly left of AM. I'm sure Ole will find a way to deal with this (good kind of) problem.
Better teams with better midfields have managed to accommodate this terrible Pogba in expense of better players than the ones we will leave out. I feel if it was worth the risk for them then it is for us. Our balanced double pivot does not compete with France or Juve midfield or Real or anyone else who wants him. Basically United fans think he isnt good enough for United but he is wanted for Real and Juve? Makes sense....
Yep. Get rid. If Ferguson were here he'd be gone. Financial loss or not.
Those better teams had better defences too, so they didn't need as much shielding.
He's not wanted by Real and Juve though. Not realistically. Neither of those are going to put the bid in that would be required to move him. That should tell you a lot.
Edit: It's not that he's not good enough. It's that he doesn't care enough to be good enough as often as he wants, and doesn't have the mentality to dig in often enough, when the going is tough for a team in transition.