Yes, I've seen him keep things simple and let the game come naturally.
It seems to be more prevalent in the big games, him trying too hard to impress.
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It seems to be more prevalent in the big games, him trying too hard to impress.
Is ''reading a game'' really something that can be coached? I'm not so sure. I would have thought it's a key ingredient in the basics, not something that's learned later. Luka Modric at Spurs for example was already advanced in that area, long before he took himself up a level at Madrid.
Dare I say it, but maybe SAF seen certain aspects of Pogba' game that worried him.
I think it can be coached, but it's also dependent on the player realizing his mistakes and improving on them. I'm sure players watch games back and look for key points to improve on.
His decision making is going to hold him - and us- back. We really need him to be brilliant if we are going to have a truly great season.
All my friends supporting other clubs claim he is overrated, I struggle to disagree. His size helps, without it he'd look even worse.
The team was set up tonight to give him that attacking role and I felt he wasted it, very sloppy and made the wrong choice more than once.
The sum we paid for him was obviously too much. Although as we know the market is crazy and we see the same things with other teams as well paying over the odds.
Tries to do it all really when keeping it simple will do, at times the only player n our team that takes risks though.
Annoyingly, there was also a moment on the edge of the box where I was hoping he'd launch it at the goal on the volley, but he controlled instead and nothing happened.
One thing Pogba did well today was bring the ball out under pressure and get it up the pitch. Although doing the things in the final third he was terrible and it is a worry. I am not sure he is a good attacking midfielder. It is tricky with him as finding out how to use him the best is not very easy.
This. Whenever he doesnt complicate he's good.
Pogba wasn't that bad today actually he got us up the pitch and when he kept it simple he was pretty good.. but, in these big games he tries too hard. Only time he frustrated me today was that counter attack where he should have played it right instead of having a pop, asides that he was pretty good.
Seemed to make the wrong decisions today sadly
A huge loss to today's team is the reluctance of the players to have a go at each other. They really have bought into the idea that as superstars they can't do that.
The counter attack he botched before their first goal. That's not inexperience or pre season rust. It's a player putting himself before the team.
If he'd done that in any of Fergie's best XI's he'd have instantly known about it. Bruce, Keane, Scholes, Neville, Cole, Cantona etc just wouldn't have it.
Stick Pogba in the '94 team and he'd instantly improve with strong leaders there to curb his self indulgence.
The counter attack he botched before their first goal. That's not inexperience or pre season rust. It's a player putting himself before the team.
If he'd done that in any of Fergie's best XI's he'd have instantly known about it. Bruce, Keane, Scholes, Neville, Cole, Cantona etc just wouldn't have it.
Stick Pogba in the '94 team and he'd instantly improve with strong leaders there to curb his self indulgence.
6th best midfield player on the pitch in the first half.
I hate to keep harking back but you're absolutely right. I think he'd sharpen up quickly in one of our older teams and be forced to focus. He looks a bit lost at times, like he needs direction. Someone to tell him what's needed of him on the pitch.
We don't have anyone to give any of that direction, which a major part of our problems in general imo.
Should've played it left.
Hopefully he'll "self correct" with maturity because I don't see modern players providing the leadership some of our past greats did. Mourinho can't do it from the sideline.
To be fair the same could apply for a few of our guys(Mkhitaryan in particular needs toughening up). They badly need leadership. It's just ultra frustrating with Pogba because the talent to be the best is clearly there.
The best midfielders in the world do one thing very well, and that is keeping it simple, Paul doesn't do this well.
We hear constantly that he would walk into any team in the world no question and that he is already one of the top 5 CM in the world, and I am constantly reminded that's not the case when up against actual quality midfielders. Someone said a few weeks ago that he would replace Kroos for Real but I struggle to see how because on an individual basis, Kroos is so much more consistent in possession and better footballing brain. i would love to have Pogba's raw footballing ability but without the brain/mental stuff, its worthless. Also people need to stop blaming his teammates because in games like these, they can out perform him. Still hes only 24 so hopefully we can all chill, be patient and accept that he isn't there yet, may take a while but could develop into a world class CM and generally one of the best in his role. I'm cool on him as he will score some bangers for me to rave about.
I thought he was one of the top 5 midfielders in world football?
Please just grow up for the sake of everyone reading the thread. Cheers
I really think Matic can be that guy. He's won the PL twice and will partner Pogba for most games. He has the intelligence and ability to extract that Pogba, hopefully.
This place is insane, opinions on players change literally on a game by game basis 
He needs to watch the performances of Kroos, Modric...
They do the simple stuff so well and dont try and do the extravagant all the time. (yes they have better players, but the way they move the ball is simple yet effective)
Weve seen Pogba do this. When he keeps it simple hes so fantastic. When he tries to make it a one man mission to win games, its so frustrating.
The chance in the first half when he opted to shoot from distance rather than use one of the runners is an example
Hopefully playing more with Matic will give him the guidance he needs.
They do the simple stuff so well and dont try and do the extravagant all the time. (yes they have better players, but the way they move the ball is simple yet effective)
Weve seen Pogba do this. When he keeps it simple hes so fantastic. When he tries to make it a one man mission to win games, its so frustrating.
The chance in the first half when he opted to shoot from distance rather than use one of the runners is an example
Hopefully playing more with Matic will give him the guidance he needs.
One of the two.. Had runners both sides... Was the only time I really went ffs though, I know that much.
Hopefully this performance isn't an indicator of whats to come. We've built the midfield to cater to his weaknesses, there is no more room for excuses.
He simply had a poor game and surely needs to be a lot more composed.
Tonight Fellaini did a better job then him, if he ain't got over him self and put his ass in gear by January we should be looking for a replacement next summer.
He gets paid a shit load and his more worried about his hair/social media/Dabs then his performance on the pitch!
He gets paid a shit load and his more worried about his hair/social media/Dabs then his performance on the pitch!
It was a similar game to how he performed early last season. The issue is his desire to take control of matches when the rest of the team is failing to do so. It's an admirable quality, but detrimental to the side's cohesion. Herrera is guilty of the same thing sometimes. It's why the two of them work so well together but perform much worse when the other is missing.
Ultimately, Real's dominance through the flanks left Pogba in a fit of pique. There is still strengthening to be done to the squad.
Ultimately, Real's dominance through the flanks left Pogba in a fit of pique. There is still strengthening to be done to the squad.
Eh, he's had some horrible decision when he could've put people through on the counter. Let's not just make it out be the team not being able to do anything and him overcompensating for it. The opportunities for him to set people up was there, he simply committed the wrong decisions.
Very much so; He's overthinking things because he is trying too hard and it plays on his mind and it starts again.
That split second where you hesitate, as in the counter, is where he's failing to make the right decision - he needs to relax and play the rounded game he can if only he stops heaping mountains of "I have to prove myself, watch what I do now," pressure.
The baby-elephant tag will grow to be a Mammoth if he can't relax during crucial big games regularly. Today his mistakes weren't irregular or forced, they were just example of terrible reading and decision making.
He will improve and I expect him to boss games but in these big ones he has few excuses now that Matic has his back.
In the big games he seems to want to let loose and show the world his ability but he ends up overdoing things and making the wrong decisions.
He needs to relax and just keep it simple. I feel he gets over excited in such big games and gets carried away hence we see the performance we saw earlier. Mourinho will hopefully analyse his performance and sort these issues with him and we'll see a much improved Pogba for the rest of the season.
He needs to relax and just keep it simple. I feel he gets over excited in such big games and gets carried away hence we see the performance we saw earlier. Mourinho will hopefully analyse his performance and sort these issues with him and we'll see a much improved Pogba for the rest of the season.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here, he had a bad game today but he's still supremely talented, and our best player by a distance. Criticise his decision-making certainly, but lets not behave all of a sudden like he's not all that good after all, because he is.
Was very poor. That counter Attack where he opted to shoot instead of play Lingard or Micky through was terrible decision making.
He's untouchable for Mourinho because of the price tag. Personally, I think he needs to be fall back in line. Can do with a bollocking in the dressing room.
I think he can but he just needs to mature as a player, he plays football like it's street football with all "me me I'm the best" bravado. We don't give a feck about that tbh, we just want football to be played simply.
He should study tapes of Toni Kroos and improve his decision-making. He just plays like shit in important matches, he was awful against City at OT, against Liverpool at OT (gave up a stupid PK), doesn't seem able to handle the spotlight.
Play it easy Paul
Play it easy Paul
He should study tapes of Viera and take it from there. This Zidane impression isn't going to take him or us anywhere.
I would agree that Pogba time & time again made poor decision & overcomplicated thing. However, I don't agree it's all about him. What I meant is our team as a whole is still very unbalanced in which Pogba (even) as (third) midfielder role, need to do more as one or even two attackers keep drift out of the game. Compare to Madrid, Isco has been in consistent good form. Bale is Bale as he has that X factor. I am not talking about just quality since it's clear, it's about the comfortability with the role. We don't have the left full back to help with attacking, yet our left side attacker keep drifting inside. Valencia is overall very good on the right, but lack that extra dimension compare to Madrid's full back.
For Pogba it's harder to let thing flow naturally doing simple thing as it's predictable that for gaining width it's likely crossfield ball to the right for Valencia. To get something on the left then he needs to hold on to the ball longer for somebody to finally move there to offer an option. Recently in France shirt, playing with the other energetic, flair attackers, he feels like at home. Or to lesser extend, I saw him improved when Rashford came on.
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