[Adam-Utd]

Interesting.

Pogba doesn’t hide, when things are going bad he tries even harder. That Southampton game the team was awful. The problem is Pogba then takes it on himself and when Theres little movement he holds onto the ball, or tries to dribble or forward.

Unfortunately he had an off day and took some bad touches and ran into a few blocks.

The difference when the team is working and flowing is he doesn’t need to do that. He played more 1 touch passes than I can remember as the players all joined in and moved.

 

[Rozay]

I thought he was mediocre yesterday. A bit of the same silliness on the ball compared to our other forward players. But it's a new day, he won't be judged on one game.

@Rozay he has the talent to be the best midfielder in the world, but I can count on one hand the games I've seen where he could make that claim, over his career.

This is the thing though. The games you refer to are likely games he’s won on his own near enough, his very best games, and a standard that other candidates for that title are not held to.

I personally think it’s all about perception. When a team struggles, it’s hard for individuals to be praised. Instead, negatives are naturally focused on, because the conversation is about what is making the team ‘bad’ as opposed to what is making them ‘good’. I honestly think Pogba is generally brilliant for United. He started the season very well on the whole, but people were waxing about James Milner instead, even though he was not showing what Pogba was as an individual. But Liverpool were top of the league and Milner was looked at in that context.

If we constantly watched Modric and picked at what he doesn’t/can’t do instead of the other way round, I think he’ll fare differently. It his team has won 3 CLs in a row. Put Pogba in that team, and even if he played no better than he often plays for us, my belief is that he would be regarded as better.

He was regarded as better than he is now when he was in Italy. Not Sure that would be the case if Juve were the 5th best side. The only individual who gets praised here is the keeper, as having an amazing keeper we are reliant on is in keeping with the overall narrative that the team itself is useless. Ashley Young was as good as any LB last season, Valencia as good as any RB the season before. They would have gotten more credit if the team won.

 

[11101]

Anyone who says he isn’t good enough needs to stop pretending they have any understanding of football.

Pretty much. A happy Pogba in a well functioning team is the best midfielder in the league, simple as that.

 

[Adam-Utd]

This is the thing though. The games you refer to are likely games he’s won on his own near enough, his very best games, and a standard that other candidates for that title are not held to.

I personally think it’s all about perception. When a team struggles, it’s hard for individuals to be praised. Instead, negatives are naturally focused on, because the conversation is about what is making the team ‘bad’ as opposed to what is making them ‘good’. I honestly think Pogba is generally brilliant for United. He started the season very well on the whole, but people were waxing about James Milner instead, even though he was not showing what Pogba was as an individual. But Liverpool were top of the league and Milner was looked at in that context.

If we constantly watched Modric and picked at what he doesn’t/can’t do instead of the other way round, I think he’ll fare differently. It his team has won 3 CLs in a row. Put Pogba in that team, and even if he played no better than he often plays for us, my belief is that he would be regarded as better.

He was regarded as better than he is now when he was in Italy. Not Sure that would be the case if Juve were the 5th best side. The only individual who gets praised here is the keeper, as having an amazing keeper we are reliant on is in keeping with the overall narrative that the team itself is useless. Ashley Young was as good as any LB last season, Valencia as good as any RB the season before. They would have gotten more credit if the team won.

Agree with you pal.

As an individual Pogba is up there with the very best, what weakness does he have?. Yes there’s been a few occasions where his work rate his let him down but I do feel that’s from him not being happy.

When hes feeling the love and the team are playing football he can be unstoppable. He really drove us on yesterday and some of his passes were magestic.

Swap him for anybody in any midfield in the world and he’d be as good if not better IMO.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Interesting.

Guess it tells you that he's actually a team player - when the team isn't creating much, he takes it upon himself, taking risks and trying stuff. When things are going well, he lets others get on with it while orchestrating things, as we saw last night.

Basically, exactly what a good number 8 should be doing.

 

[Bwuk]

Pretty much. A happy Pogba in a well functioning team is the best midfielder in the league, simple as that.

He’d be frightening in the Liverpool side with the movement of their front 3.

 

[adexkola]

Another key point to understand is guys like Keita and even KDB they actually miss or mess up a lot of killer passes but their managers build a system which creates more options for them and secondly these players have the licence to go for the killer pass knowing full well their team will soon get the ball back anyway and their team won’t be out of possession much as they will dominate the game regardless.

With Pogba his misplaced passes increase in magnitude because we wouldn’t see the ball again in a while and he was probably our sole creative passer which drew a lot of attention to him if his radar is out of sync.

KDB today has like 5 misplaced passes which were woeful but then he also had some amazing passes and crosses. But you will never hear about that side to KDB as there’s enough good body of work to back up the argument - he gets his passes right more than he will get it wrong and it is worth handing him the main keys in terms of being the guy who supplies the final pass.

It's not about the displaced pass. It's about the intent and urgency about the pass. Knowing when to keep it simple and when to drive the team forward.

But @JPRouve's description of Pogba comes to mind. Maybe it is foolishness to expect all of this from Pogba, and we should be content with a 15/15 season.

 

[villain]

He has to remain focus on the pitch and stay away from the social media. What he has done in Mourinho's final months is unforgivable but he can redeem himself by showing why we bought him for an English record fee.

No, he can remain on social media it doesn’t affect the way he plays. It only annoys people who don’t understand social media.

 

[DWelbz19]

He was never the best midfielder in the world at any point in his career. Come on!

Whether he’s number one or not is immaterial. He’s definitely one of the bests, though.

 

[Brwned]

He was never the best midfielder in the world at any point in his career. Come on!

There's no doubt in my mind you'll recognise you were missing something pretty obvious in a year or two. He's a really special player - the kind only Hazard in your team compares to.

 

[VorZakone]

He’d be frightening in the Liverpool side with the movement of their front 3.

Salah would love Pogba's passing.

 

[DWelbz19]

Salah would love Pogba's passing.

Mbappe loved it at the World Cup

 

[JPRouve]

It's not about the displaced pass. It's about the intent and urgency about the pass. Knowing when to keep it simple and when to drive the team forward.

But @JPRouve's description of Pogba comes to mind. Maybe it is foolishness to expect all of this from Pogba, and we should be content with a 15/15 season.

There are two things that bother me with Pogba, it's the unsuccessful first touches when he has time and some of the shanked long passes. Yesterday, he tried a lot quick short passes in tight space that didn't came through and that's part of the game. But the cross field pass to Young that he completely shanked was unnecessary, if he really felt the pressure he should have kicked the ball in touch or to Cardiff defenders. Now I realize that I'm being too focused on small things because this type of things don't even happen once every game.

On a side note, you can make the same comment about Sanchez, Di Maria or De Bruyne who are also players that will take risks and do things that other players won't try. When they pull it off they are seen like genius and when they don't they are boneheaded.

 

[Jib]

Not to me it isn’t. They have different sets of expectations on them, and play for massively different teams. However, if they were both playing for each other’s club side last 3 years, I doubt there’d be an argument. And that’s with Pogba playing as he’s played the last 3 years.

Pogba would get far more credit if we were title challenging. Watchers can’t decide whether they want him to control the game or win the game. Hence he’s always doing something wrong. Anyway, he’s better than Modric.

I fully agree !

 

[Nate Dogg]

Rumours going around that he will be made captain.

Great news.

 

[fallengt]

I thought he was great yesterday after some dodgy moments in the first 15-20 minutes

He had dodgy moments whole match but that's Pogba. With lot of movements around him we can see the best of him and it often overshadows his bad moments.
Soton match was the example of Pogba trying too much by himself. He needs to be more consistent with his decision making, that without doubt is his weakness but if you put Pogba in a well-functional team he will definitely be better player.

 

[Leftback99]

Didn't think he was at his best yesterday but a good start. Some excellent moments, some sloppy and he makes some daft tackles sometimes.

 

[Prometheus]

There's no doubt in my mind you'll recognise you were missing something pretty obvious in a year or two. He's a really special player - the kind only Hazard in your team compares to.

I know he's a special player, one that I was gutted we missed out on. I'm in no way doubting his talent, and I know he's been one of the finest midfielders in the world. That claim just seemed to be pretty specific.

 

[Rista]

How can anyone actually watch football and suggest Pogba is a better midfielder than Modric? Perhaps in some alternative universe where he has showed it on the pitch.

 

[Rozay]

How can anyone actually watch football and suggest Pogba is a better midfielder than Modric? Perhaps in some alternative universe where he has showed it on the pitch.

You kind of answered it yourself. ‘Actually watching football’. The problem with Pogba comes when you start reading and listening to it.

 

[Cloud7]

Interesting.

The team as a whole seems like they were instructed to move the ball along as fast as possible, combine that with much more runners for Pogba to link up with, and it makes sense that he wouldn’t be in the middle of the park trying to dribble through three people when he could just pass it off and move.

When the team isn’t working he takes it on himself to create something, which is understandable as he’s one of the few in the team who actually have that ability, but once the team raises their level he goes back to just being a key cog in the system. I’m sure he enjoys that much more, as he does for France or did for Juve for example.

 

[Kag]

This is the thing though. The games you refer to are likely games he’s won on his own near enough, his very best games, and a standard that other candidates for that title are not held to.

I personally think it’s all about perception. When a team struggles, it’s hard for individuals to be praised. Instead, negatives are naturally focused on, because the conversation is about what is making the team ‘bad’ as opposed to what is making them ‘good’. I honestly think Pogba is generally brilliant for United. He started the season very well on the whole, but people were waxing about James Milner instead, even though he was not showing what Pogba was as an individual. But Liverpool were top of the league and Milner was looked at in that context.

If we constantly watched Modric and picked at what he doesn’t/can’t do instead of the other way round, I think he’ll fare differently. It his team has won 3 CLs in a row. Put Pogba in that team, and even if he played no better than he often plays for us, my belief is that he would be regarded as better.

He was regarded as better than he is now when he was in Italy. Not Sure that would be the case if Juve were the 5th best side. The only individual who gets praised here is the keeper, as having an amazing keeper we are reliant on is in keeping with the overall narrative that the team itself is useless. Ashley Young was as good as any LB last season, Valencia as good as any RB the season before. They would have gotten more credit if the team won.

Great post, this.

Players are absolutely viewed through the lens of the success of their team. Milner is a great example. If he were here he would be highlighted as a symbol of our mediocrity. ‘Works hard but lacks the quality’ etc.

Pogba has been our best player under Mourinho yet you’d think he attempted to murder him. It’s impressive how well Mourinho managed to spin the Pogba narrative. What’s more impressive is how many idiots bought into it even though he did this to Hazard six months prior to joining the club.

 

[devil in me]

Yesterday game sunmed him, and his united career, up for me. Sometimes really sloppy, sonetimes really good. Needs to be more consistent not just over 7-8 games but in 90 minutes.
Still by far our best outfield player though when he is on his game.

 

[Adisa]

About to make an announcement. Think his baby is coming.

 

[Jeppers7]

Yea, a week after the Leicester game, and a couple before the Burnley game and the Watford game. And the Young Boys Game. This notion that he’s not been playing for months is pure bollocks, fuelled by media propaganda that is brainwashing people.

If a player does not play well in a game it doesn’t means he’s downed tools ffs.

Everton, Newcastle also outstanding performances off the top of my head. Wolves also our best player.

 

[Tiber]

Jose's tough love (or tough hate?) was never going to work. The Roy Keane's of the world will moan about it, but the simple fact is that Pogba needs a manager who has total faith in him. Build a team around him and he will be a great player.

When he makes a mistake don't lash out at him in the media and make snide comments - put your arm round him, pat him on the back and tell the journalist lurking in the hall that he will score a screamer in the second half. You obviously need to make sure he doesn't freelance too much and sticks to the game plan, but Pogba simply isn't the sort of person who is ever going to respond well to the sort of aggressive, negative management he received from Mourinho, he needs a manager he trusts to be in his corner.

If your not prepared to handle him in a way that brings the best out of him? Just let him go to Barca - they will handle him right and you can sit and watch as he plays like the superstar he should have been here.

 

[Jeppers7]

This is the thing though. The games you refer to are likely games he’s won on his own near enough, his very best games, and a standard that other candidates for that title are not held to.

I personally think it’s all about perception. When a team struggles, it’s hard for individuals to be praised. Instead, negatives are naturally focused on, because the conversation is about what is making the team ‘bad’ as opposed to what is making them ‘good’. I honestly think Pogba is generally brilliant for United. He started the season very well on the whole, but people were waxing about James Milner instead, even though he was not showing what Pogba was as an individual. But Liverpool were top of the league and Milner was looked at in that context.

If we constantly watched Modric and picked at what he doesn’t/can’t do instead of the other way round, I think he’ll fare differently. It his team has won 3 CLs in a row. Put Pogba in that team, and even if he played no better than he often plays for us, my belief is that he would be regarded as better.

He was regarded as better than he is now when he was in Italy. Not Sure that would be the case if Juve were the 5th best side. The only individual who gets praised here is the keeper, as having an amazing keeper we are reliant on is in keeping with the overall narrative that the team itself is useless. Ashley Young was as good as any LB last season, Valencia as good as any RB the season before. They would have gotten more credit if the team won.

Wasting your time the guy said Pogba was mediocre yesterday. What's the point of carrying on ?

 

[Rozay]

Yesterday game sunmed him, and his united career, up for me. Sometimes really sloppy, sonetimes really good. Needs to be more consistent not just over 7-8 games but in 90 minutes.
Still by far our best outfield player though when he is on his game.

This is what I mean about how he’s analysed in comparison to others. He will never grow out of this, and it will always be used against him, because all players are ‘sometimes sloppy over 90 minutes’. Literally all. It’s just that nobody sits down with a pen and paper counting every time any other top player gives the ball away, especially their team’s chief creator.

I can assure you that Modric, Scholes and anyone else of the mythical standard Pogba needs to reach all have the ball away or were caught in possession every single game. The day people start focusing on what Paul Pogba CAN do, and DOES do well, on a CONSISTENT basis, is the day they will appreciate that not many can get near him. Souness has fecked everyone’s head.

I’m not saying he’s perfect, or that these flaws are not there, by the way, I’m saying that they are also there for those who are supposedly better than him too. I believe literally the only difference between them is that they play for winning teams, and Pogba’s isn’t even challenging. It’s the same reason he was apparently some reborn player in the summer for France. ‘He kept it simple’, they said. Since when did was that enough for a player of Pogba’s ability anyway? I can almost guarantee that if Pogba has played EXACTLY the same way as he did for France in the summer, but they went out in the group stage or second round, that he would have been seen as underwhelming. Guarantee it. After all, he did not dribble 3 players and score. He only kept it simple. But simple is enough to draw praise when your team is the best. The focus is always on your positive contribution. Giroud came out of the World Cup with credit, as an individual. They spoke about ‘what he brought to the team’. If France hadn’t won, the focus would be on what he DIDN’T bring to the team, which in reality was far more than he did.

 

[UnitedBoy]

I love pogba started a little sloppy but whatever.

One thing I must say, Pogbas defensive awareness is shocking. Slow at tracking back, let's opponents run past him into empty space inside the box.

During a corner, was half a yard too far away from his mark and even the wrong side of him. Then ended up marking the wrong man, leaving his man unmarked at the back post.

If he wasn'tso tall he wpuld be a million miles away from defending out box on set pieces.

 

[ottosec]

His performance was a lump of coal in Souness' and Neville's Christmas socks.

 

[Jeppers7]

This is what I mean about how he’s analysed in comparison to others. He will never grow out of this, and it will always be used against him, because all players are ‘sometimes sloppy over 90 minutes’. Literally all. It’s just that nobody sits down with a pen and paper counting every time any other top player gives the ball away, especially their team’s chief creator.

I can assure you that Modric, Scholes and anyone else of the mythical standard Pogba needs to reach all have the ball away or were caught in possession every single game. The day people start focusing on what Paul Pogba CAN do, and DOES do well, on a CONSISTENT basis, is the day they will appreciate that not many can get near him. Souness has fecked everyone’s head.

I’m not saying he’s perfect, or that these flaws are not there, by the way, I’m saying that they are also there for those who are supposedly better than him too. I believe literally the only difference between them is that they play for winning teams, and Pogba’s isn’t even challenging. It’s the same reason he was apparently some reborn player in the summer for France. ‘He kept it simple’, they said. Since when did was that enough for a player of Pogba’s ability anyway? I can almost guarantee that if Pogba has played EXACTLY the same way as he did for France in the summer, but they went out in the group stage or second round, that he would have been seen as underwhelming. Guarantee it. After all, he did not dribble 3 players and score. He only kept it simple. But simple is enough to draw praise when your team is the best. The focus is always on your positive contribution. Giroud came out of the World Cup with credit, as an individual. They spoke about ‘what he brought to the team’. If France hadn’t won, the focus would be on what he DIDN’T bring to the team, which in reality was far more than he did.

Interesting point, it's definitely been forgotten that's he's been around our best player this season, the media would have you believe he's been by far the worst.....because he's the highest profile player in a failing team and not English ergo he must have been terrible

 

[Jeppers7]

I love pogba started a little sloppy but whatever.

One thing I must say, Pogbas defensive awareness is shocking. Slow at tracking back, let's opponents run past him into empty space inside the box.

During a corner, was half a yard too far away from his mark and even the wrong side of him. Then ended up marking the wrong man, leaving his man unmarked at the back post.

If he wasn'tso tall he wpuld be a million miles away from defending out box on set pieces.

Did you see Matic lose his man at the far post ?

 

[BluesJr]

Speaks volumes that his latest instagram post hasn't caused any outrage like the previous one. That performance from him and the team yesterday has destroyed Mourinho. Great times.

Interested to see what his 'announcement' is today, probably just some marketing Adidas related thing.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Hopefully a new contract

Now caption this big announcement later today

 

[unplayable]

The last time he used "caption this" it was for an adidas commercial tweet. Will be the same this time imo.

 

[Skills]

In a fully functional system he's going to be unbelievable. He has everything.

 

[kouroux]

That's the one, mate. It wasn't a goal, but I thought it was his best pass.

Notice how clueless commentators are to slick passes like that.

 

[IhabX7]

Am I reading this right? Some people actually think he was anything short of excellent yesterday?

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Hopefully a new contract

Please be contract.

 

[Oly Francis]

Please be contract.

No way it's a contract imo, i'd put my money on a new personnal sponsor or something like that.