"Someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck"

[Rado_N]

This has oft been mentioned as something we haven't had for ages. For all the (deserved at times) criticism he's had recently, Pogba did exactly that in that second half today.

He drove us forward and really made things happen, it was great to see even if it shouldn't have been needed for us to come back from behind against shit like Newcastle.

More of that please Paul.

 

[charlenefan]

Not just Pogba mention for Mata as well

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Thought Mata was a calming and positive inclusion too, Vastly underrated player (especially on here)

 

[Bubz27]

Consistency is the only thing missing from his game. At least a 7/10 every week and he'd be phenomenal.

 

[3KDré]

Pogba and Martial I would say, but players who supposedly are never working hard enough.

 

[VP89]

He is a completely different player when operating deeper where there is more space. I think he needs to play there more and make the later runs into the box instead.

Terrific performance and I'm very pleased.

 

[reelworld]

I thought that somebody was Martial. The hardest I've ever see him played.

 

[Amar__]

Mata and Pogba were excellent. Martial did well towards the end too, but he was terrible for majority of game tbf.

 

[Bastian]

Pogba and Mata. I thought Pogba looked great at times in that Beckenbauer role, but never did I expect this 2nd half of the 2nd half team performance.

Enormous character shown.

 

[DatIrishFella]

Martial, Pogba, and Mata were fantastic. Showed great character.

 

[Rozay]

Pogba is a world class player, and if we had a better structure, he would be more recognised as one.

I’m sick of the criticism he gets. More often than not, he’s our best player. He’s nowhere near as inconsistent as is levelled against him either.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Not just Pogba mention for Mata as well

Thought Mata was a calming and positive inclusion too, Vastly underrated player (especially on here)

Should start every match over Matic.

 

[Josep Dowling]

Mata was superb. When things don’t go your way you need to put in 100%. He was sprinting after everything.

He was telling players to move off the ball. Then scored a wonderful free kick.

Pogba showed today that we desperately need a CB who can come out with the ball. His assist was also sublime.

 

[RoadTrip]

Everyone played a role. Pogba, Mata and even Sanchez looked to make things happen.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Pogba, Mata and to a lesser extent Shaw were excellent at wrestling control back.

 

[WR10]

Martial was the one for me. His insane courage and ability to dribble into the tight spaces put their whole team on the back foot. Mata a close second with his extraordinary effort. Pogba with his rolls Royce like elegance and brilliance. He just shifted into a higher gear and never came down.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Credit to pogba. Even though he downed tools earlier in the season and is a part of why we are in this situation, he has come to life in the last few weeks while everyone else has been struggling

 

[Yagami]

Pogba always tries his best. When we're down, he's always the one pushing us on. The abuse he gets is ridiculous. Without him, we'd be a lot worse off.

 

[Turnip]

Pogba and Mata rescued us. Fair play to Jose, he must have dished out the liquid acid or something at half time because they wimply weren't the same players as the first half (bar a couple of them).

 

[Canagel]

Pogba and Mata were so important for us. They drove the team forward.

 

[Scarecrow]

Agreed but he did it in the first half, as well. That's what surprised me - I wasn't sure he had it in him, to keep going when the team around him seemed to give up. His pride was hurt, I suppose. Fair enough, brilliant attitude today.

 

[finneh]

I think Mata was the catalyst. A massively calming influence with the intelligence to keep hold of the ball. His movement also makes a huge difference, particularly playing in much more of a free role. I think this movement is exactly what allows the likes of Pogba to be at their best.

He should be one of the first names on the team sheet in my opinion.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

I think Mata was the catalyst. A massively calming influence with the intelligence to keep hold of the ball. His movement also makes a huge difference, particularly playing in much more of a free role. I think this movement is exactly what allows the likes of Pogba to be at their best.

He should be one of the first names on the team sheet in my opinion.

Mata's movement and intelligence were key. He is always dangerous, even when playing badly because of how he anticipates what his teammates will do. His free kicks are special, too.

 

[Canagel]

Mata was the crucial one. Pogba and Martial were already playing in the 1st half but they needed someone to link up with.

 

[sunama]

I thought that somebody was Martial. The hardest I've ever see him played.

He was definitely up for this match. I could see the intensity from him today.

 

[langster]

Should start every match over Matic.

100% Juan is a legend on and off the pitch. I honestly cannot understand why he gets so much shit. He should be admired, appreciated and adored instead of being used as a space goat or being told he lacks passion and commitment.

The fact his weekly blog didn't include the word hugs at the end says it all to me. So glad he got a chance today and scored a beauty as well as playing well too.

Mata haters piss me off!

Hugs. Bitches!

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

100% Juan is a legend on and off the pitch. I honestly cannot understand why he gets so much shit. He should be admired, appreciated and adored instead of being used as a space goat or being told he lacks passion and commitment.

The fact his weekly blog didn't include the word hugs at the end says it all to me. So glad he got a chance today and scored a beauty as well as playing well too.

Mata haters piss me off!

Hugs. Bitches!

hugs back!

 

[sullydnl]

Mata & Pogba made the difference.

 

[We need an rvn]

100% Juan is a legend on and off the pitch. I honestly cannot understand why he gets so much shit. He should be admired, appreciated and adored instead of being used as a space goat or being told he lacks passion and commitment.

The fact his weekly blog didn't include the word hugs at the end says it all to me. So glad he got a chance today and scored a beauty as well as playing well too.

Mata haters piss me off!

Hugs. Bitches!

I don't think there's Mata haters mate. We all love the guy and how respectful he is and what he does outside the game. What we expect is him to be the Silva at City when he's not at that level, that's why many get frustrated. Maybe he's just simply found his place. Super sub, leader within the squad with his experience and no one will say a bad word about. Aka Carrick but a shorter and just as handsome version

 

[PlayerOne]

Pogba was captain material you could say.

Very calm and collected, pushed us forward. More of that please

 

[Rozay]

Credit to pogba. Even though he downed tools earlier in the season and is a part of why we are in this situation, he has come to life in the last few weeks while everyone else has been struggling

Did you read that in The Sun?

 

[Regalia]

Mata drove the game today. Almost looked like peak Mata at Chelsea. Pogba was superb in the 2nd half, had a calm air of control about his play, which helped link everything up. Hopefully he buckles down and places more importance on playing well for the club than mouthing off to the press over the international break.

 

[langster]

I don't think there's Mata haters mate. We all love the guy and how respectful he is and what he does outside the game. What we expect is him to be the Silva at City when he's not at that level, that's why many get frustrated. Maybe he's just simply found his place. Super sub, leader within the squad with his experience and no one will say a bad word about. Aka Carrick but a shorter and just as handsome version

Great post, but there are more than a few Mata haters here. Check the match thread (if you don't mind a headache akin to brain freeze for three hours) there were a few moaning about him coming on and he's been bitched about a fair bit in the past. But he is probably one of the more liked players in the squad. Deservedly so.

Hugs!

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Did you read that in The Sun?

Watched him walk around the pitch for 2 or 3 games around the time of the tranfer window

 

[el3mel]

Mata and Pogba were absolute great today. I was surprised Mata still has this in his locker.

 

[anant]

100% Juan is a legend on and off the pitch. I honestly cannot understand why he gets so much shit. He should be admired, appreciated and adored instead of being used as a space goat or being told he lacks passion and commitment.

The fact his weekly blog didn't include the word hugs at the end says it all to me. So glad he got a chance today and scored a beauty as well as playing well too.

Mata haters piss me off!

Hugs. Bitches!

Hugs mate!
Nothing better than seeing Mata put in that sort of a performance while (I'm) wearing a Mata jersey as well

 

[FootyGirl88]

Mata, Pogba and Pereira are the best technical players in the squad. 2 out of the 3 need to start every game.

 

[langster]

Hugs mate!
Nothing better than seeing Mata put in that sort of a performance while (I'm) wearing a Mata jersey as well

Nice! It is a joy watching him play like that. Good times.

 

[Rozay]

Watched him walk around the pitch for 2 or 3 games around the time of the tranfer window

Interesting. He was MOTM in the first game after the window closed, against Leicester. He had two poor games in the following two, and has played well in every game since then, off the top of my head.

 

[Moonred]

Has been good most of the time albeit expectation is to be better all the time.
Was immense and covered a lot of ground. His passing has always been sublime. Was everywhere and clearly was in no mood to just give up.