[AP88]

He wasn't terrible last night, but again I can't help but see parallels with Veron; has an arrogance on the ball that catches the eye, and some of his long passing is pretty, but ultimately he isn't very effective and seems to be a tactical misfit, upsetting the balance of the team. I'd say the same also applies to Zlatan, but at least he neutralises some of the flaws with the capacity to put the ball in the net.

The lesson to be learned is stop signing mercenaries.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I thought he played well. Not sure why he's getting so much criticism. Could have been more effective and decisive with his creative passing, but controlled the game very well.

He is woeful infront of goal though. Needs to improve on it big time.

 

[Jaybomb]

He wasn't terrible last night, but again I can't help but see parallels with Veron; has an arrogance on the ball that catches the eye, and some of his long passing is pretty, but ultimately he isn't very effective and seems to be a tactical misfit, upsetting the balance of the team. I'd say the same also applies to Zlatan, but at least he neutralises some of the flaws with the capacity to put the ball in the net.

The lesson to be learned is stop signing mercenaries.

Pogba is not a mercenary. He is an academy product.

 

[kouroux]

You mean a Saints win? That was not even one of his better games, like Boro, never mind actually great.

Saints win ? Wtf are you talking about ?

 

[Vilev]

Maybe great is not the right word, tho he was great vs. Leicester at home. Whenever he played as a part of MF 3, he was very good, always creating and being a threat from a far.

As i've already said he did have a few very good games indeed, but they all were against a rather pathetic opponents. Leicester back then was not even a real team.
And there were quite a lot of matches where Pogba played against a good sides in a 3-man midfield and was simply awful. So it's not like Pogba struggles in two-man midfield and then has a good games when he partnered with Carrick and Ander.

 

[noodlehair]

I'm no united fan, that much is obvious - but I will praise united players if they're good.

Pogba has gotta be the most overrated player I've seen in this era, Higuain aside. What does he actually do? Watched him a few times now, for you and for France. Just trundles around taking pot shots. I don't get it

He's got all the abilities and pphysical atributes you'd think a player needs to be a good midfielder, and no real weakness.

The problem is whatever goes on inside his head. He seems to play football in his own little world where there's no actual game going on, and any time he gets awoken to the fact there is a game going on, he seems to panic.

First half of the season though, he was a massive improvement on anything we'd had in midfield the previous few years. He gives us control and a lot more power in the middle of the pitch. Second half of the season he's had some really bad performances.

I don't think it's that he's massively overated as no one really rates him as one of the best in the world yet. He just attracts a lot of attention to himself and then doesn't really do the business on the pitch to justify it. It's like he's more concerned with wanting to behave and come across like he's the man, than actually doing what's required to be the man in the first place. I know he said the other day it's just how he is, but, why not just grow up and stop plaing footballl like a 16 year old?

 

[Vilev]

Saints win ? Wtf are you talking about ?

His first game this season. Or did mean some other first game?

 

[Godfather]

He's got all the abilities and pphysical atributes you'd think a player needs to be a good midfielder, and no real weakness.

The problem is whatever goes on inside his head. He seems to play football in his own little world where there's no actual game going on, and any time he gets awoken to the fact there is a game going on, he seems to panic.

First half of the season though, he was a massive improvement on anything we'd had in midfield the previous few years. He gives us control and a lot more power in the middle of the pitch. Second half of the season he's had some really bad performances.

I don't think it's that he's massively overated as no one really rates him as one of the best in the world yet. He just attracts a lot of attention to himself and then doesn't really do the business on the pitch to justify it. It's like he's more concerned with wanting to behave and come across like he's the man, than actually doing what's required to be the man in the first place. I know he said the other day it's just how he is, but, why not just grow up and stop plaing footballl like a 16 year old?

Bit of a trend though isn't it. Players acutally regressing playing for us.

 

[Fracture90]

As i've already said he did have a few very good games indeed, but they all were against a rather pathetic opponents. Leicester back then was not even a real team.
And there were quite a lot of matches where Pogba played against a good sides in a 3-man midfield and was simply awful. So it's not like Pogba struggles in two-man midfield and then has a good games when he partnered with Carrick and Ander.

Let's just agree to disagree. Better for everyone.

 

[Reynoldo]

Its frustrating, at times he looks like a boss in midfield and then moments later a schoolboy.

Also he seems to have adopted the method of just whacking the ball towards the keeper and it will naturally move to one side of him approach for shooting which can be done in some scenarios but not fecking all the time. He should know by now when finesse is needed. The thing is though like everything else with him its hit or miss as if half the post shots he hit this season had gone in then everyone would be creaming over him and forgiving the stupid mistakes.

 

[Vilev]

Let's just agree to disagree. Better for everyone.

Sure but can you think of any top game when Pogba really delivered? I mean a lot of those like Chelsea, Liverpool he started in a 3-man midfield and failed.

 

[Drainy]

I thought he played well. Not sure why he's getting so much criticism. Could have been more effective and decisive with his creative passing, but controlled the game very well.

He is woeful infront of goal though. Needs to improve on it big time.

This is why. People seem to only care about goalscorers for some reason.

The team does need more goals, but Pogba shouldn't be the one we are looking at to score them.

He's actually doing quite well compared to previous seasons by most metrics you should judge a midfielder on that don't rely on the quality of his team mates.

 

[Fracture90]

Sure but can you think of any top game when Pogba really delivered? I mean a lot of those like Chelsea, Liverpool he started in a 3-man midfield and failed.

Our best run of games came when he played in MF 3.

You can't really say that any player has delivered in a top game in this dreadful system of ours. Only exception maybe being Mikhi vs. Spurs.

 

[arthurka]

Played really well I thought just edged out by Carrick as my MOTM.

He,Carrick and Darmian all had a great game yesterday..

 

[evil_geko]

Very good performance.

So this is regarded as "brilliant" performance these days at United eh?
Moysey and LVG really lowered the standards for our fans...

 

[kouroux]

His first game this season. Or did mean some other first game?

Yes, I though you said that the Saints won , my mistake. So yeah, that game, his best for me. The excitment felt afterwards on the caf was ridiculous

 

[Vilev]

He's got all the abilities and pphysical atributes you'd think a player needs to be a good midfielder, and no real weakness.

The problem is whatever goes on inside his head. He seems to play football in his own little world where there's no actual game going on, and any time he gets awoken to the fact there is a game going on, he seems to panic.

First half of the season though, he was a massive improvement on anything we'd had in midfield the previous few years. He gives us control and a lot more power in the middle of the pitch. Second half of the season he's had some really bad performances.

I don't think it's that he's massively overated as no one really rates him as one of the best in the world yet. He just attracts a lot of attention to himself and then doesn't really do the business on the pitch to justify it. It's like he's more concerned with wanting to behave and come across like he's the man, than actually doing what's required to be the man in the first place. I know he said the other day it's just how he is, but, why not just grow up and stop plaing footballl like a 16 year old?

He still would be overrated even if smb rates him like one of the better CMs in PL. Right now, based on his performance this season he hardly qualifies as a top player.
His physical side of the game is great, however no top player in ever put that in front of intelligence. You look at world best midfielders over the years, DMs, CMs, AMs it does not matter, many of them are not exactly athletes but they are best because of their understanding of football etc. Something that is currently completely lost on Pogba.

 

[Zoo]

So this is regarded as "brilliant" performance these days at United eh?
Moysey and LVG really lowered the standards for our fans...

Or maybe some people have no agenda and are willing to say when he has a good game.

 

[Vilev]

Yes, I though you said that the Saints won , my mistake. So yeah, that game, his best for me. The excitment felt afterwards on the caf was ridiculous

I agree. In terms of potential, the excitement, the promise of days to come that game really was hs best. But since then hi unfortunately failed to live up to this promise.

 

[Vilev]

So this is regarded as "brilliant" performance these days at United eh?

I think that is actually a very accurate and fair depiction of Pogba performance against Anderlecht:

 

[ivaldo]

So this is regarded as "brilliant" performance these days at United eh?
Moysey and LVG really lowered the standards for our fans...

It's weird, I could have sworn I said "very good" immediately above the video...

 

[MadMike]

I'm no united fan, that much is obvious - but I will praise united players if they're good.

Pogba has gotta be the most overrated player I've seen in this era, Higuain aside. What does he actually do? Watched him a few times now, for you and for France. Just trundles around taking pot shots. I don't get it

Higuain overrated? 107 goals in 190 games (many from the bench) for Real. 71 goals in 104 league games for Napoli, including breaking the all time league goal scoring record in Italy with 36 league goals in 35 apps last year? 27 goals this season already for Juventus including 21 in the league. Overrated?

If you're gonna wum do it properly at least.

 

[evil_geko]

It's weird, I could have sworn I said "very good" immediately above the video...

You aren't the only one posting here though, I saw several "brilliant" posts. Maybe I was watching another Pogba in alternate reality, I don't really know.

 

[dove]

Its frustrating, at times he looks like a boss in midfield and then moments later a schoolboy.

Also he seems to have adopted the method of just whacking the ball towards the keeper and it will naturally move to one side of him approach for shooting which can be done in some scenarios but not fecking all the time. He should know by now when finesse is needed. The thing is though like everything else with him its hit or miss as if half the post shots he hit this season had gone in then everyone would be creaming over him and forgiving the stupid mistakes.

Well, yeah. Same as with Ibra. He is usually frustrating to watch but he does what he needs to do- scores goals. Pogba's half of the shots go to row z and the other half straight to the gk...

 

[ivaldo]

You aren't the only one posting here though, I saw several "brilliant" posts. Maybe I was watching another Pogba in alternate reality, I don't really know.

And other people have also called him "poor", which clearly he wasn't. So maybe he was just "very good". Oh and you didn't see several, you saw two, one not even commiting the comment for the whole game.

Must be the only explanation if you didn't think he had a good game. Acceptance is the first step.

 

[evil_geko]

And other people have also called him "poor", which clearly he wasn't. So maybe he was just "very good". Oh and you didn't see several, you saw two, one not even commiting the comment for the whole game.

Must be the only explanation if you didn't think he had a good game. Acceptance is the first step.

Nah, I can't accept the todays United fans low standards, will rather stay with my own, cheers.

 

[ivaldo]

Nah, I can't accept the todays United fans low standards, will rather stay with my own, cheers.

Ah, who needs context when you've got a good agenda to keep you going.

 

[AP88]

Pogba is not a mercenary. He is an academy product.

....who came back to the club outside of the champions league because Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern weren't stupid enough to pay the asking price/already have numerous better options available to them.

 

[el3mel]

....who came back to the club outside of the champions league because Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern weren't stupid enough to pay the asking price/already have numerous better options available to them.

He could have stayed in Juve.

 

[Pexbo]

He could have stayed in Juve.

Spoiler

 

[El-Manos]

Getting real tired of his bullshit, hope we feck him off to anyone stupid enough to pay close to what we did. Wasteman.

What a wonderful post, would read again.

 

[Carl]

Getting real tired of his bullshit, hope we feck him off to anyone stupid enough to pay close to what we did. Wasteman.

Is that a serious post?

 

[Minkaro]

I thought he did well, overall. Couple of times he misplaced passes that should have been simple, and maybe lingered on the ball too long, but nothing I'd go mad over.

 

[AP88]

The reality is him and Lingard, with their on pitch mediocrity paired with their off pitch flamboyance, epitomise everything that's wrong with modern United, modern football and even the modern wider society.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

He wasn't terrible last night, but again I can't help but see parallels with Veron; has an arrogance on the ball that catches the eye, and some of his long passing is pretty, but ultimately he isn't very effective and seems to be a tactical misfit, upsetting the balance of the team. I'd say the same also applies to Zlatan, but at least he neutralises some of the flaws with the capacity to put the ball in the net.

The lesson to be learned is stop signing mercenaries.

Pogba isn't a mercenary, he loves United.

He might not work out here, and his footballing intellect might not fit the PL, but he ain't a mercenary.

The reality is him and Lingard, with their on pitch mediocrity paired with their off pitch flamboyance, epitomise everything that's wrong with modern United, modern football and even the modern wider society.

They're both overpaid, but that's the club's fault, not theirs.

 

[montpelier]

I see a big guy with a great engine who is jack of all trades but master of none. He has done OK for me, I can see limitations in his game, the occasional dozy pass & seems to bumble around to no useful purpose occasionally. Concentration might wander, I dunno. Exhibit A for this is the daft handball of course

Not worth the ££££ paid but a few goals / assists would take the heat off too. I can see him improving a lot but that doesn't help him or the team much just now, obviously.

The extreme criticism is a bit silly but that's the way it is.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

If he'd just stuck away half of the chances he's blown this season he'd be on about 13 or 14 goals this season and things would look a lot better for him.

As it is the fact he keeps missing, think it's 13 games now without a goal, it just adds to this idea he's been a flop. Which he hasn't been but seems to be the general narrative.

 

[Carl]

If he'd just stuck away half of the chances he's blown this season he'd be on about 13 or 14 goals this season and things would look a lot better for him.

As it is the fact he keeps missing, think it's 13 games now without a goal, it just adds to this idea he's been a flop. Which he hasn't been but seems to be the general narrative.

Agree i don't think he's flopped either. However, rightly or wrongly, when you move for such a big fee and you're such a big personality you will be judged on either goals or how you dominate a football match. Unfortunately for us, he's not done either. Instead, he's probably had a 6 or 7 out of 10 season.

 

[montpelier]

completely agree with both of you - nicely summarised

 

[GiddyUp]

Do you see the merit of arguing that he occupied the Anderlecht midfield, which allowed Carrick and Mkhitaryan the space generally? Carrick was able to pick out an advanced player time and again.

I honestly wish Pogba had more discipline, he could be a world class #6 and an excellent replacement for Carrick, but he clearly wants to do everything himself.

Yep, he does try to do it all and then when he screws up he looks straight to the bench to see Mourinhos reaction. It's tough for him at the moment and he really does bring so much to the team but he needs to start dominating lower level opposition. I said yesterday a number of times that he had opportunities to take out half the Anderlecht team with a forward pass but choose to hold on to the ball and eventually would lucky to pass it back in to Rojo.
Again I'm sure it will come good but my opinion is that this was a significant game in our season and putting them away with a 1-4 score line there by finishing the tie, we could have next week to concentrate all our efforts fully on the league. We need every advantage going and to go in to next season without champions league because of performances like that pisses me off.