[DoomSlayer]

Pogba is way too lazy.

Martial has obviously upped his intensity and work-rate, so Pogba could do the same with proper physical conditioning.

 

[Hammondo]

It has and it hasn't. That 99 team would have been title challengers in any year. In the end 4231 isn't much different from a 442 where you have a striker dropping off the front e.g. Rooney, Cantona, Sheringham. Yes obviously you have much more control if you have a DM who just sits, but it also limits the number of guys you can find in the box, and the opposition knows exactly where he's going to be at any given time. If you have guys who take it in turns to hold or go forward it gives you a bit more unpredictability. Look at Fernandinho even, he's great at popping up in places you don't expect him, Kanté too. Also, I'm coming at this from the perspective that we're still a work in progress, we don't need to be perfect in every position, we just need to be competitive and play some football again. Sancho and a class DM next year is still an option, we're not going to turn everything around in one summer.

I don't think it would.

 

[Hammondo]

Martial has obviously upped his intensity and work-rate, so Pogba could do the same with proper physical conditioning.

Pogbas fitness is not the problem.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Pogbas fitness is not the problem.

Neither was Martial's, but a change in mentality towards work-rate can be seen in the squad so far. I've seen Pogba bust a gut to cover spaces or get back in a challenge during the pre-season whereas normally he wouldn't have bothered as much.

Only issue I still have with him is when he dwells on the ball too much and ends up losing it, but that also has to do with the team not giving him enough options.

 

[TwoSheds]

I don't think it would.

Then you're wrong tbf. Same as George Best would have been the best player on the pitch in any era.

 

[Devil may care]

It has and it hasn't. That 99 team would have been title challengers in any year. In the end 4231 isn't much different from a 442 where you have a striker dropping off the front e.g. Rooney, Cantona, Sheringham. Yes obviously you have much more control if you have a DM who just sits, but it also limits the number of guys you can find in the box, and the opposition knows exactly where he's going to be at any given time. If you have guys who take it in turns to hold or go forward it gives you a bit more unpredictability. Look at Fernandinho even, he's great at popping up in places you don't expect him, Kanté too. Also, I'm coming at this from the perspective that we're still a work in progress, we don't need to be perfect in every position, we just need to be competitive and play some football again. Sancho and a class DM next year is still an option, we're not going to turn everything around in one summer.

That 90's team had Roy Keane as one of the 2 CM's, that changes things IMO, however I agree that in principal it can work, and I think McTominay can play the role even if his quality isn't what I want in there, he'll do it tactically well in regards to the defensive side. My concern is that while the system can work, I just don't believe it can work with Pogba as he'll have too many lapses on the defensive side of the role and be a tactical liability, one that could only be compensated for if we had a Kante or Casemiro in there with him.

 

[TwoSheds]

That 90's team had Roy Keane as one of the 2 CM's, that changes things IMO, however I agree that in principal it can work, and I think McTominay can play the role even if his quality isn't what I want in there, he'll do it tactically well in regards to the defensive side. My concern is that while the system can work, I just don't believe it can work with Pogba as he'll have too many lapses on the defensive side of the role and be a tactical liability, one that could only be compensated for if we had a Kante or Casemiro in there with him.

Was Paul Scholes great defensively though? If you keep the pressure on them well enough in their half and have the right players in defence who are good 1 on 1 to snuff out counters then I think it can work, but yes I agree, Keane was a different class to anyone in our team today so there's no guarantees.

 

[Devil may care]

Was Paul Scholes great defensively though? If you keep the pressure on them well enough and have players who are good 1 on 1 to snuff out counters then I think it can work, but yes I agree, Keane was a different class to anyone in our team today.

Scholes was a terrible tackler but he was great positionally and that's more the concern, I'm not expecting Pogba to become a ball winner, it's more about the discipline to keep the shape and not leaving open space for teams to run in to, plus his record when it comes to running back after we lose the ball is patchy and I don't know if he'll have the discipline to hold his position in midfield when the other CM ventures forward.

 

[settembrini]

Interesting on Martial, has it worked? It's amazing that Ole has adopted 4-2-3-1 and we still don't have anyone for the RW role.

So far I haven't been impressed with Martial as a striker and Rashford on the left wing. I liked them more in the reverse positions. Needs more time and actual competitive games though to judge properly.

I've gone through the five stages of grief with our right wing in recent seasons. Right now I just feel depressed about it which means acceptance should be just around the corner. Although Greenwood did show some real quality at times there in pre-season which might send me back to either denial or bargaining.

 

[TwoSheds]

Scholes was a terrible tackler but he was great positionally and that's more the concern, I'm not expecting Pogba to become a ball winner, it's more about the discipline to keep the shape and not leaving open space for teams to run in to, plus his record when it comes to running back after we lose the ball is patchy and I don't know if he'll have the discipline to hold his position in midfield when the other CM ventures forward.

Whilst I agree, I think he only becomes sloppy/lazy like that when he's not enjoying his football. As long as we play some good stuff I think he'll play his part.

 

[Devil may care]

So far I haven't been impressed with Martial as a striker and Rashford on the left wing. I liked them more in the reverse positions. Needs more time and actual competitive games though to judge properly.

I've gone through the five stages of grief with our right wing in recent seasons. Right now I just feel depressed about it which means acceptance should be just around the corner. Although Greenwood did show some real quality at times there in pre-season which might send me back to either denial or bargaining.

My guess is Ole is trying this as Rashford will help Shaw more and that might allow Shaw to attack more, and if he finds form Martial is a better finisher.

I knew once Sancho wasn't happening that we'd wait until next summer when hopefully we'll be back in the CL. I imagine we'll see a bunch of players tried out there over the course of the season.

Whilst I agree, I think he only becomes sloppy/lazy like that when he's not enjoying his football. As long as we play some good stuff I think he'll play his part.

I hope you're right, if it works we'll be a better team with his passing range from deeper and the ability to use an extra attacker, I'm just going to need to see it working regularly in the PL to believe it as it's a concept that failed more times than not in the past.

 

[romufc]

Pogbas fitness is not the problem.

His mentality is, and if everyone around him is running and trying, him being a leader he will. What we had last season was a manager that did not fancy him.

He has people like smalling, Young to pass to - Compare it to this pre season when he links up with AWB.

 

[carpy]

Hasn't gone to Cardiff with the rest of the squad. The reason given is a back spasm but I'm sure there'll be plenty of speculation forthcoming.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Now it’s our turn to make up fake excuses.

 

[Adisa]

He better be fit for the Chelsea game or we are in deep shit.

 

[Cassidy]

Hmmm suspicious...

 

[Twingatz]

Pogba is way too lazy.

Sorry but this is absolutely wrong. It also seems you like a few others have a problem with him in our team. The issue is our team isn't set up right and we lack quality all over. If we had better quality he can perform better. This is pathetic the scapegoatism and mild racism from supposed fans of this team

 

[Irwin99]

Hope his back is strong because he's going to be carrying this midfield as things stand, i.e we don't sign another midfielder.

I've been very critical of his level at times over the past 3 seasons and I can't shake the feeling we're in for another hit and miss season from him. I'm not sure what's going to magically change in our midfield with no new additions.

 

[Adisa]

Another season where our entire midfield rests on him.

 

[Shinjch]

Another season where our entire midfield rests on him.

And a lot of our attack.

 

[Twingatz]

And a lot of our attack.

I have no confidence in this team without Pogba.

 

[Giggs86]

This is the biggest shock/miracle of this transfer window that we managed to keep him here.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

This is the biggest shock/miracle of this transfer window that we managed to keep him here.

He's under contract.

 

[Red00012]

He’s going to have to score 15 or more goals this seasons and half of them can’t be penalties.

 

[MadDogg]

This is the biggest shock/miracle of this transfer window that we managed to keep him here.

Why? It was always obvious that Real were unlikely to pay what we wanted and that he wouldn't leave this window. Next season is the one where he will probably do his best to force a move if we haven't shown a significant improvement.

 

[Big Andy]

If he gets an injury, we're fecked.

 

[youmeletsfly]

If he gets an injury, we're fecked.

Let's see if he stays first.

 

[Cassidy]

He doesnt want to be here, could be a long season

 

[Big Andy]

Let's see if he stays first.

He'd have gone by now, and we'd have replaced him.

 

[Big Andy]

He doesnt want to be here, could be a long season

Nah, it's Euro2020 next summer, he'll want to play in that, and being shit all season won't help him.

 

[youmeletsfly]

He'd have gone by now, and we'd have replaced him.

It's Man United and Ed Woodward these days, nothing surprises you anymore.

 

[Kostov]

I bet he loves playing with Matic and Fred.

 

[mancan92]

He's essentially going to have to perform to an unprecedented level to get us champions league football.

Good luck Paul.

 

[FootyGirl88]

He's gonna need to pull a KDB season ala 20 goals and 20 assists

 

[kirk buttercup]

He'd have gone by now, and we'd have replaced him.

Why we didnt replace other midfielders that left or a right winger for the last however many years . Pogba will want to leave and probably force it in the next year

 

[jackal&hyde]

If he gets an injury, we're fecked.

Yeah, and it's another season with him as our only reliable creator from midfield. When him and Rashford are going to have an off day, they will be murdered again on here and social media.

I hope we will play 4-2-3-1 more often then not with Mata/Gomes in nr. 10 to help with creativity. We really needed another creative midfielder if we wanted to play 4-3-3

 

[Adnan]

Been saying it in other threads and i'll say it again. Gomes as the #10 with Pogba behind him in a pivot could potentially be the the season defining combo. I'm just hoping Ole sees it the same way.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[jackal&hyde]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Jesus Christ himself could say Pogba is a model professional in training and playing, not going to matter to his detractors that are convinced he's a virus, bad influence, etc.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Been saying it in other threads and i'll say it again. Gomes as the #10 with Pogba behind him in a pivot could potentially be the the season defining combo. I'm just hoping Ole sees it the same way.

I have been pondering this too, with Scott providing the legs on the right.

I think against some of the worse teams on the league this needs to be trialed.