Does he have a weird bonus in place whereby he earns more money for the more people that surround him when he has the ball?
@GifLord can we have the turn in the first half where he went passed 2 players with a little cruyff touch. Magestic.
My mate who's a Leeds fan sent me a message after it happened that simply said "That turn by Pogba was life changing"That was glorious.
My mate who's a Leeds fan sent me a message after it happened that simply said "That turn by Pogba was life changing"
Hard to argue.
Thanks!
Yeah, absolutely filthy Pogba may still have a few little holes in his game but he's 1 of the best in the world at those little moments. So many times through a game he does things that not many others can.My mate who's a Leeds fan sent me a message after it happened that simply said "That turn by Pogba was life changing"
Hard to argue.
can you be both? I would've thought that not being able to do it in the crunch games is what stops people like Ozil being absolutely superb players.....Not a big game player at all. But overall still an absolutely superb player. I think the mentality issues will be settled over the next few seasons and he'll be a much more complete footballer in 2/3 years.
Well it's down to each person. I don't think one necessarily relates to the other. For example last season I maintained Hazard was a superb player as he obviously is. And I would say Alexis Sanchez is a fantastic footballer, despite him only scoring once against a top 6 team this season IIRC.can you be both? I would've thought that not being able to do it in the crunch games is what stops people like Ozil being absolutely superb players.....
Not really a fan or contextless stats (touches?!). Thought I'd look at some though this time. Whoscored says he had 4 successful dribbles, and was dispossessed 3 times, so about half the instances he held the ball for a length of time, he was disposessed. Just for context, that's second only to Martial for number of times he was dispossessed.He was dispossessed 3 times in 90 minutes. He touched the ball 86 times and had more succesful dribbles than any other player on the pitch. It is infuriating but you're misremembering how often it happened.
So he succesfully completed more dribbles and was dispossessed less often than arguably the best dribbler in our squad. Seems harsh to criticise on that basis.Not really a fan or contextless stats (touches?!). Thought I'd look at some though this time. Whoscored says he had 4 successful dribbles, and was dispossessed 3 times, so about half the instances he held the ball for a length of time, he was disposessed. Just for context, that's second only to Martial for number of times he was dispossessed.
Probably because they're the only ones who will pick the ball up and run at players.Just for context, that's second only to Martial for number of times he was dispossessed.
Don't think I'm being controversial in saying that Martial's dribbles, going at the defence, are more risky than Pogba's in the middle of the park, so he's more likely to lose the ball.So he succesfully completed more dribbles and was dispossessed less often than arguably the best dribbler in our squad. Seems harsh to criticise on that basis.
Total number of touches are relevant because they show how often he was on the ball (a lot). A player can be dispossessed without attempting a dribble.
Yeah like I say, not against him dribbling at all. Looks great when he manages to shrug people off, but hate seeing him needlessly overplaying and risking possession. The infuriating thing is, so easy for him to rectify.Probably because they're the only ones who will pick the ball up and run at players.
Umm, who is our better midfielder? Herrera and Carrick have been playing well. But Pogba is the most important of all of them. Take Herrera or Carrick out, and we can still field a good midfield pair including Pogba that can dominate most midfields and create chances. But if Pogba is taken away, we are back into the familiar territory of last three years - no midfield control, prone to opposition pressing and lack of chances created from the midfield. Pogba is easily our best midfielder!Missing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
To be fair, the £89 million is more a "leap of faith" than he "is an £89 million player." we are hoping that he becomes a top player and remains at that level for years. Then the money will be a bargainMissing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
Bore off, we'd be back in the non creative days if you took him out the team.Missing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
Herrera has 8/9 assists to his name so far, to be fair.Bore off, we'd be back in the non creative days if you took him out the team.
No exactly his fault if every time he plays players through on goal, they either sky it or shoot straight at the keeper. This is clearly a case where stats don't tell the complete truth. And the number of times he hit post...Pogba all competitions 3193 mins 7 goals (one pen) 5 assists. Goal/assist every 266 mins. Non-penalty goals/assists every 290 mins
Lingard all competitions (not including Charity Shield) 1112 mins 3 goals 3 assists. Goal/assist every 185 mins
Herrera all competitions (not including Charity Shield) 2829 mins 1 goal 8 assists. Goal/assist every 314 mins
Not bad for the more defensive/combative/enforcer guy. I still have hopes of him playing a more adventurous role. He isn't really a dictator, as I feel he does better when he doesn't have too much time to thinkHerrera has 8/9 assists to his name so far, to be fair.
YawnMissing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
I dare you to throw those stats in the Lingard performace thread. Then step back and watch the fireworks.Chances created per 90 mins in the PL:
Lingard 2.74
Mkhitaryan 2.64
Pogba 1.92
Martial 1.60
Herrera 1.43
Chances created per 90 mins in the EL:
Pogba 2.10
Lingard 1.69
Mkhitaryan 1.64
Martial 0.79
Herrera 0.50
Beautiful.
I know the response: stats don't matter. I watched the games and I think Lingard is crap.I dare you to throw those stats in the Lingard performace thread. Then step back and watch the fireworks.
He's streets ahead of the rest of our midfield, Herrera is having a good season but people see lots of energy and immediately think "he's brilliant", not even a contest, ridiculous post.Missing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
Yeah, this is what bothers me... and I know it shouldn't.Missing for large parts of the game, 89m right there and he still isn't our best midfielder let alone our best player.
No.Yeah, this is what bothers me... and I know it shouldn't.
I know it's unfair to burden him with that daft price tag, but I just can't help it, it's the pragmatic notion that a player you pay 90m for should be the best player in your fecking team!
I like him, I think he's good, and I think he's a likeable lad who really genuinely wants to be here and make Man Utd a success again. But, I think people are wanting to see greatness in what he's doing so they're just projecting it onto him, when deep down, if they're honest, they know he's been somewhat of a disappointment, thus far.
I mean, can you imagine us with that Gueye fella from Everton, or Kante in a mid 3 with Carrick and Herrera...? We'd be better than we are now!
In fact, I think it's possible that we'd be challenging the Premier League title right now.
And it does bother me that people are saying how we need a top DM to get the best of Pogba, when actually, if we had a top DM instead of Pogba, we'd actually be better (or at least I believe so).