Plenty of people were questioning why we bought a 35 year old who has never played in the Prem.
I still laugh thinking about it.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 51
- Goals
- 9
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 10
- Status
I still laugh thinking about it.
How is he the best when he has scored just 8 goals in 5 seasons at Madrid. It's you guys who use goals and assists to judge midfielders so I'm just using the same.
It's true that no one should judge holding midfielders in the current game for their goals or assists. In fact, in most systems these days the fullbacks are far more likely to get into attacking positions than them. In the current Chelsea or Spurs team people would be mad to ask Kante, Matic, Dembele or Wanyama about their goal and assist output. In Madrid similarly, it's more common to see Marcelo in an offensive position than Modric, who is more often the player who pass to Marcelo. It seems to me that the 'defensive unit' is more often the central defenders and central midfielders these days rather than the fullbacks who are instead expected to play as wingers when in possession with the holding midfielder covering them.
With Pogba, I'm not sure he is best utilized as a CM in this more recent system many teams use today. If so he will need to improve his positioning, defensive awareness etc etc imo. He is nowhere near most of the CM's today in providing balance to the team, controlling the tempo of the game, stability or a platform for the attackers. He is far better if allowed to be allowed to express himself offensively for me, and this is still possible coming from deep in a system where he is allowed to drop deep and be part of the buildup play, but also break forward at will. If, for example he played in a 4-3-3 there would be other players behind/beside him allowing him the freedom to play.
But if he does occupy such a role he will also be judged on his offensive output since he will be free to break forward with runs from deep into the box as well as occupy dangerous positions. I think this role will suit him best, but this role doesn't really exist in a 4-2-3-1 since the three attackers behind the striker will also occupy similar spaces. If he is to be used as one of the front three, he will definitely be judged on his goals and assists since he will then basically play as a forward, who can track back, but is allowed freedom in the attacking third. I'm curious of how Mourinho will use him next season.
With Pogba, I'm not sure he is best utilized as a CM in this more recent system many teams use today. If so he will need to improve his positioning, defensive awareness etc etc imo. He is nowhere near most of the CM's today in providing balance to the team, controlling the tempo of the game, stability or a platform for the attackers. He is far better if allowed to be allowed to express himself offensively for me, and this is still possible coming from deep in a system where he is allowed to drop deep and be part of the buildup play, but also break forward at will. If, for example he played in a 4-3-3 there would be other players behind/beside him allowing him the freedom to play.
But if he does occupy such a role he will also be judged on his offensive output since he will be free to break forward with runs from deep into the box as well as occupy dangerous positions. I think this role will suit him best, but this role doesn't really exist in a 4-2-3-1 since the three attackers behind the striker will also occupy similar spaces. If he is to be used as one of the front three, he will definitely be judged on his goals and assists since he will then basically play as a forward, who can track back, but is allowed freedom in the attacking third. I'm curious of how Mourinho will use him next season.
IMO people underrate Pogba's contribution a lot. He is playing in the midfield 2, sometimes deeper than other CM where he can use his passing range to good effect. Pogba isn't very good defensively just like many other CMs who are more attack minded but he isn't poor either, still need to do better though. I think the issue with him is his concentration when we defend.
Midfield 3 suits like just like most CMs are more suited to 3 man midfield but we won't be playing 4-3-3 as we dont have goal threats from wide players.
Also our problem is not midfield this season. We dominate more games and play most of the game in opposition half. Our issue is not bring clinical and also lack of movement/anticipation in the box.
I don't think that even Mourinho knows, he just puts him out there and hope for the best, same as he does with Fellaini, not that I'm comparing Pogba with Fellaini.
Fair play, I also think he is underrated by many, mainly because of his 'goals and assist' column which hardly tell the whole story. I thought he was your best player against Anderlecht (or how you spell it), but I saw people slate him.
But yes, his defensive concentration or whatever does need to change if he is to play that position regularly. 'Dominating' games in the PL against lesser teams is more the norm these days since most teams will play deep and allow you to have possession. Just look at the recent Arsenal performances, they have over 70% possession and lose, same with Liverpool. If Pogba doesn't realize the danger when the other team breaks then the defense will be put under pressure.
This is now somehow negated by Mourinho being one of the few managers who doesn't seem to push up his fullbacks (yes Valencia sometimes gets forward, but from what I see, he is rarely ahead of the play, trying to get behind their defense thus potentially leaving a huge gap). This means you still usually have defenders behind him. Maybe Jose does this on purpose to allow Pogba to go forward more, I don't know. Or maybe I'm just talking nonsense. Still though, plenty of time for him to prove everyone wrong.
I also thought Pogba was good against Anderlecht but few here slated him because he didn't win us the game. Strange logic but that's how it is here.
Also we won't dominate games against big teams, that's how Jose sets up the team. We were dominating teams against Arsenal, Spurs and Everton though but when it comes to big games in general we won't be on front foot and dominate. Not because we lack the players but that's how Jose sets his team.
I disagree re fullback part. Valencia won't break the offside trap but he is always very attack minded player. Our set up this season is Valencia is always attacking FB and the LB is more defense minded. Valencia plays like a RW than RB. Problem is from past 2-3 years we stopped using overlapping runs which IMO is one of our biggest problem.
The thing that would worry me most is if Pogba thinks he's had a good season. He's been way short of the level we need if we're going to win anything worthwhile. The opposition don't fear him now. He's just one less player for them to worry about.
The oppostion definitely fear him. Hes one of the few people on our team the opposition fear. He should think hes had a good season because he has had one. He has hasnt been incredible season but hes been good to great. Why do people talk about him like hes a scrub. When he his better decision making and composure improve he will be better. I wish people would stop micro analyzing his mistakes and focus on him as a whole because he does so much and it never even gets noticed like in our last PL game when his movement pulled defender away and created space for zlatan to score. Hes one of the last people that we should worry about this team.
Good to great, my god you're easily pleased! He's been abysmal apart from 2 or 3 games this season. For a player of his supposed class he should be making things happen to win us games which he rarely does. We didn't spend 89 million on a player who might just do something good occasionally. I hope he proves me wrong and tears Chelsea apart today but I'm not holding my breath.
He'll be poor again today.
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great support there champ!
He is a midfielder. How is he gonna win us games especially when hes our only midfield that can actually play deep besides carrick. Most games he gives us 1-2 solid chances to score. Hes been a 7 out of 10 at worse which isnt bad in a team with a dysfunctional attack. He obviously needs to improve on things like composure and decision making but to dare say he been abysmal is down right asinine and makes me wonder if you watch games with your head up your butt. He does several good things a lot the time that dont get noticed because they arent goals or assists. Its his first real season in the PL league after playing in a much slower league on a team that isnt even close to his last team. I knew what I would get when we signed pogba and Im more that happy with him. I believe jose was telling the truth when he said people were jealous of pogba because the cap that is spew out of some our your mouths is nothing but stupidity. Get a grip and enjoy your life. Also he has more heart than most of your wums combined.
Pogba is one of my favorite players but when he plays out of position, he's a random player.
I expect nothing from him this season and I hope that this summer Mourinho will call Allegri to know how to get the best of him.
Judging by your ignorance I should be watching the games with my boot up your butt!!
Dude he knows... He knows.
You're head is up your but not your foot if if wasn't you would actually see the games and realize why you calling Pobga abysmal is ludicrous and flat out wrong. If I'm ignorant the word able to describe you hasn't been invented yet. lucky for you I'll make one up. You're an Igyroil. I only have a few posts left since I'm still not worthy of all the glory this forum has to offer but trust me I'll be back tomorrow.
The non-United(especially Spurs)fans on here are so desperate to convice us we bought a nothing player for £89m.
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Don't think that's fair. His harshest critics have all been United fans from what I've seen. In my opinion he is yet to produce a single great performance against a good team IMO. Not only his fault of course, but most oppo fans watch the big games, and that's what they base their opinion on.
Regardless. I've said this for a long time now, but the talent is clear, and I'll hold my judgement until next season.
I said the same thing about Lamela as well who most fans simply branded a flop, same as Son and now Janssen. An underwhelming first season doesn't mean everything. And he still has time to help United win a few big games coming up now, something that would immediately change people's perception of him.
Imagine our attackers finished half of the chances he created in this video
Highlights reel player at the moment. Only one real good 90 mins performance against a good/top side this season (Spurs at home)
Hopefully more of that next season
Hopefully more of that next season
I said it before the Liverpool game too, but he needs a big game perfomance for us.
Sadly in that Liverpool game he had an absolute stinker and he hasn't been great since.
Sadly in that Liverpool game he had an absolute stinker and he hasn't been great since.
No he's not. I mean Thiago has done sweet feck all in his career compared to Pogba. The idea that he's an upgrade on Pogba is complete nonsense. The rest is somewhat closer but Pogba had proven himself to be one of the best CM's on the planet before he joined us. I wouldn't swap him for any of them.
Some times i feel like I'm watching different games. His big game performances for us needs to improve but other than that he's been fantastic for us. Dominates games, creates chance and after chance almost always squandered by our supreme leader Ibra and then gets hammered on here for being poor.
And also Arsenal if you consider Arsenal as a good/top side.
Fair enough I can count that one too.
I think you've misunderstood the nature of my post...
Sorry I quoted you instead of @balaks. He used goals to rate Pogba and then said Modric is the best CM in the world.
I wouldn't swap him for anyone either and I don't think he has been poor but today he is still a downgrade on Thiago, Vidal or Modric. It's not an insult to not be as good as the best midfielders around, he has the tools to get there but currently he is a soloist, he shines alone from time to time and to be as good as the others he needs to make his teammates better, he needs to make the collective better which he isn't doing currently and was never doing at Juventus.
Pretty much
I reckon like Gerrard and co. he'll never become a player that makes the collective better. I don't think he'd need to for him to justify his price tag though. People were talking about paying £50m for Gerrard over a decade ago.
Think you are confusing me with someone else if you think i rate midfielders by their goals.
Exactly, he flits in and out of games, really needs to go out and put in some huge performances in big games and do it consistently. Not worried so much about him getting goals as others seem to be, just want to see him running the show in the games that really count.
Today against Chelsea is a great opportunity for him to make a point.
He quite blatantly isn't a downgrade on Thiago. Its ludicrous to even suggest such a thing. Not even sure what soloist implies. He can't finish sitters for our strikers that he creates week in week out. We're a much better team with him than without.
What a bizarre interview
He'll score today.
Stop it FFS, as shit as you think he is he was and is still is better than all the midfield options playing ahead of him back then, which consisted of Jones, Rafael, Anderson, 40 year old Giggs/Scholes and Park. Fergie goofed on that big time, Pogba having a shitty first season with us can't change that. I bet if Madrid maybe bought Lukaku and he flopped there someone would claim Mourinho knew all along and it would sound equally as stupid
Poor poor post and not accurate in the slightest.
...really odd. You're both quoting a post 7 pages back, from Wednesday, a day before our last match, and I've made 8 posts in here since then.
These are my last 3 posts in this thread...
I find it really weird that you both scoured back 7 pages, both ignored my most recent posts in here, and both quoted the exact same message and took it out of context in the exact same manner - what a coincidence.
I think I'm starting to understand what this 'agenda posting' thing is all about.
I'm a Utd fan, I want Pogba to do well, but I love the club more (way more) than any individual. Seems like you 2 dafties are more interested in high school style cyber bullying than getting into the pre-match build-up of 1 of our biggest games of the season.
I hope Pogba scores today, and I hope we win, and I hope you both have a lovely Easter
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