[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

When he plays and on top form/near.... he's a class player that can turn a game. For one reason or another, that hasn't been as often as we expected/needed.

I don't think he's mugging us off with "injuries" but if we got a good deal for him, I can't say I'd be devastated (unlike say when CR left) as long as we invest the fee and for me, that should be in midfield - a b2b or creative/attacking mid, who could make the most of the pace/talent we have upfront and not play slow/sideways passes.

Haven't seen much of Odegaard other than video highlights (maybe RM fans can give a comment on how he's been this season) but if the hype is true, maybe Pogba for Odegaard plus cash (that could go to Haaland fee)?

 

[Champagne Football]

Selling Pogba for £120 million and replacing him with Hwang from Salzburg would be the best thing that has ever happened to this club. A Jose sized giant diva storm cloud will be finally lifted from Old Trafford.

Only problem with Hwang is that he is cup-tied in Europe. Jack Grealish is not cup-tied but Villa will not sell in January as they will get relegated if they sell him in January.

James Maddison is the perfect Pogba replacement, but he definitely won't be sold until the summer.

 

[VJ1762]

Selling Pogba for £120 million and replacing him with Hwang from Salzburg would be the best thing that has ever happened to this club. A Jose sized giant diva storm cloud will be finally lifted from Old Trafford.

Only problem with Hwang is that he is cup-tied in Europe. Jack Grealish is not cup-tied but Villa will not sell in January as they will get relegated if they sell him in January.

James Maddison is the perfect Pogba replacement, but he definitely won't be sold until the summer.

Cup-tied is not a thing from this season. Think UEFA lifted the restrictions.

 

[Champagne Football]

Cup-tied is not a thing from this season. Think UEFA lifted the restrictions.

Yeah I was wondering about that. If Hwang won't be cup-tied then it's a no-brainer, but doubtful Salzburg will be happy to sell in January, considering they just offloaded a key attacker already to Liverpool.

 

[Steerpike]

Selling Pogba for £120 million and replacing him with Hwang from Salzburg would be the best thing that has ever happened to this club. A Jose sized giant diva storm cloud will be finally lifted from Old Trafford.

Only problem with Hwang is that he is cup-tied in Europe. Jack Grealish is not cup-tied but Villa will not sell in January as they will get relegated if they sell him in January.

James Maddison is the perfect Pogba replacement, but he definitely won't be sold until the summer.

I can't see anyone offering anywhere near that figure. As far as I'm aware, there were no such offers in the summer, and nothing has happened since then to suggest his value would go up (if anything, quite the opposite). I'm not sure how much time is left on his contract. If he wants to go in January, I'd sell for anything upwards of £80 million. If we keep him when he doesn't want to stay, his value will just decline further.

Hopefully, he does want to stay, and the whole question is academic, but I'm not convinced.

I don't know anything about Hwang: perhaps he has a buy out clause in his contract..?

 

[Jambalaya]

One of the worst transfers in the history in the club.I wonder how many world class perfomances he had for the club ?City away and...

 

[Champagne Football]

I can't see anyone offering anywhere near that figure. As far as I'm aware, there were no such offers in the summer, and nothing has happened since then to suggest his value would go up (if anything, quite the opposite). I'm not sure how much time is left on his contract. If he wants to go in January, I'd sell for anything upwards of £80 million. If we keep him when he doesn't want to stay, his value will just decline further.

Hopefully, he does want to stay, and the whole question is academic, but I'm not convinced.

I don't know anything about Hwang: perhaps he has a buy out clause in his contract..?

If we forced him to stay and suspended his salary until he starts being arsed again, then you can be sure the mercenary will start playing again.
If he has a good Euro 2020 then his value will rocket again.
So the club will play hardball and not let him and his partner in crime Raiola have it all their own way.

 

[kouroux]

If we forced him to stay and suspended his salary until he starts being arsed again, then you can be sure the mercenary will start playing again.
If he has a good Euro 2020 then his value will rocket again.
So the club will play hardball and not let him and his partner in crime Raiola have it all their own way.

You would need a good reason to do that

 

[Champagne Football]

You would need a good reason to do that

Well there's only so many days you can have the flu for. I think the club would be in a strong position to challenge him if the flu dragged on which seems to be happening

 

[Son]

In another thread I mentioned Yaya Toure and I always tipped Pogba to be better than him eventually.

I can’t see that ever happening now. Peak Toure probably beats Pogba unfortunately in most roles.

 

[Volumiza]

What do people discuss here ?

I would guess it’s 97 pages of - ‘he’s our best outfield player, he won a World Cup, we should love him’

‘he’s a selfish show pony who only plays when he can be arsed, we should sell him’

 

[Volumiza]

In another thread I mentioned Yaya Toure and I always tipped Pogba to be better than him eventually.

I can’t see that ever happening now. Peak Toure probably beats Pogba unfortunately in most roles.

No way. I’d take a peak Toure over Pogba any day of the week. Currently I would prefer James Maddison over Pogba just for the effort, commitment and consistency.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Does anyone have a theory as to why Pogba is such a polarising figure? I’m not sure I’ve seen many players generate so much confrontation between two sets of fans. How is it possible that some people like him and believe he’s played as well as possible under the circumstances, while others would happily sell him for £50million?

 

[Canagel]

Rooney had great performances behind him and a hatful of medals to back those statements up - no matter how stupid they were. And you have to say they were right. We didn't have a midfield and the Glazers were stiffing the club.

Pogba has his 2 goals in an inconsequential derby vs City and that glorious game against Sevilla where he punted long passes to no one from the halfway line. I'm not denying he's a brilliant player and utterly irreplaceable and yes I'd fecking love to have him back because he's magnificent and I love watching him but he's all about himself isn't he? It's all about Pogba unhappy as a 6, wants to play on the left side of a 4-3-3, wants to be a 10 and on and on. Meanwhile De Bruyne shuts up and gets on with it. Rooney was moved all over the place and still managed. The only time Pogba has ever sacrificed a bit of his talent for the team was when Deschamps deployed him deeper in Russia and it worked brilliantly.

Pogba was complicit in us finishing 6th last year - that's a fact - and if he wants to leave well too bad. I think United have a decent squad for the first time in years with exciting attacking talent and desperately need a player like Pogba. He should look around and ask himself if he wants to be the main man here or one of five superstars in Madrid or Barcelona. Because the day he squabbles with them - and with Raiola as his agent that'll happen - there's no where else to go but downwards. No one is holding Pogba to unrealistic standards, just the standard you expect from someone who wants to be thought of as world class. You'll note Eriksen, De Bruyne and Silva aren't criticised and that's because they perform every week. They don't blow hot and cold.

No they don't.

 

[flappyjay]

Does anyone have a theory as to why Pogba is such a polarising figure? I’m not sure I’ve seen many players generate so much confrontation between two sets of fans. How is it possible that some people like him and believe he’s played as well as possible under the circumstances, while others would happily sell him for £50million?

Those who expected him to be the messiah who would mask all that was wrong with the team then others who see him for the player he is right now, a player that's frustrating but do some amazing stuff.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Those who expected him to be the messiah who would mask all that was wrong with the team then others who see him for the player he is right now, a player that's frustrating but do some amazing stuff.

Yeh that’s definitely a factor. The other thing is I know some of the older generation (I’m using my dad as the example here) just do not seem to enjoy the flair that Pogba plays with. I think he sees that as wasted opportunity. More personally to him it reminds him of frustrating players which had played alongside back in the day who would over play using tricks and miss out on key opportunities. Now personally, football would be boring without flair players trying to add that spark and I don’t think Pogba is as bad as people make out in that department. Anyway as this post probably suggests, Pogba has been s constant source of debate between me and my dad over the last few seasons!

 

[simonhch]

I can't see anyone offering anywhere near that figure. As far as I'm aware, there were no such offers in the summer, and nothing has happened since then to suggest his value would go up (if anything, quite the opposite). I'm not sure how much time is left on his contract. If he wants to go in January, I'd sell for anything upwards of £80 million. If we keep him when he doesn't want to stay, his value will just decline further.

Hopefully, he does want to stay, and the whole question is academic, but I'm not convinced.

I don't know anything about Hwang: perhaps he has a buy out clause in his contract..?

Pogba has been ranked as the fourth most marketable player in the world after Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo for some time now. That factors into his price. In the current market, and at his age, there is no way you let him go for less than 100m plus clauses.

Personally I’d like to see him come back and play in that no.10 role in front of McT and Fred, with freedom to express himself. He gives us that ability to unlock packed defences, which is our biggest problem, offers a threat from distance - which makes defenders step up and leave space behind, is by far our most creative player, and adds a much needed aerial threat from deep. It is also undeniable that he has by far the best passing range in the squad. Maybe in the league, after KBD. His biggest problem for me is that he dwells on the ball too much, which as a CM slows everything down, but as a 10 is much more suited to our style.

Then I’d see where we are in the summer. If expectations are realistic and he’s played to these strengths, he can still be massive for this club. He has a talismanic quality. If he’s kept here to play as one of the two CMs, I’d rather sell him. He’s just no good in a two, unless that other player is doing double work.

That’s the short term. Beyond the end of the season, if his heart isn’t in it. Move him on. There’s no other choice. I’d love to bring in Havertz as a replacement.

 

[Joeace2020]

I think the difference between how Pogba was viewed by fans a year or 2 ago and now is that we agree we'll do fine if he was sold and the money invested properly in the midfield. I remember there was a time people here thought we were finished as a club (not even as a team) without Pogba. He was the substance that held everything at Manchester United together. When he is sold, it will be good riddance to a wasted talent.

 

[kouroux]

Well there's only so many days you can have the flu for. I think the club would be in a strong position to challenge him if the flu dragged on which seems to be happening

You're making a big speculation based on nothing. Do you have access to his daily medical status ? I don't think so therefore it's wiser to wait

 

[RedDevilUnited369]

.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-hierarchy-convinced-paul-21131229

In the words of The Donald this is fake news.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Is he still 'ill' then, yeah?

 

[Infra-red]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Lots of conflicting reports surrounding Pogba's injury and illness. Are we sure we are going to see him play for us again?

Extremely surprising information.

 

[fergiesarmy1]

Does anyone have a theory as to why Pogba is such a polarising figure? I’m not sure I’ve seen many players generate so much confrontation between two sets of fans. How is it possible that some people like him and believe he’s played as well as possible under the circumstances, while others would happily sell him for £50million?

Also if you don’t like him you are racist apparently, even though united have a proud history of black players.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Extremely surprising information.

Only if you're gullible. Writing has been on the wall since the summer, he's never playing for us again. He's been on gardening leave pretty much all season.

 

[VJ1762]

Only if you're gullible. Writing has been on the wall since the summer, he's never playing for us again. He's been on gardening leave pretty much all season.

It does seem like that. This Pogba experiment has been a waste of everyone's time, both his and ours. Hopefully we can move him for decent money and build on.

 

[Infra-red]

Only if you're gullible. Writing has been on the wall since the summer, he's never playing for us again. He's been on gardening leave pretty much all season.

It's "garden leave", but yes, you may well be right.

 

[RoyH1]

I've been vocal about my thinking that Woodward will not allow his most marketable player to leave (at least until another player of the same PR calibre lands). Now I'm beginning to have my doubts. If Ole says that he can live without Pogs and a solid offer comes...then maybe...Question is who? There are only 3,4 clubs outside the Premiership that can afford him. Barsa and Bayern probably won't go for him. Madrid could, but it's well documented that Perez will not pay the United asking price. Juventus is definitely a possiblity but how can they fit him under FFP rules? They could of course sell Dybala. And then there's PSG which I think is the most likely destination if he leaves.

 

[kafta]

I doubt he's pulling a Kwahi Leonard and sitting out the season. He'll be back playing pretty soon. Ole has said this repeatedly, he'd look foolish if hes been completely left out of our plans.

What happens in the summer is a different issue though. Problem is, as most have highlighted, we won't get many clubs in for him due to the transfer fee, agent fee and wages. PSG could be the only club that could actually afford him, but would he want to spend the peak of his career in Ligue 1?

 

[kopviolator]

I've been vocal about my thinking that Woodward will not allow his most marketable player to leave (at least until another player of the same PR calibre lands). Now I'm beginning to have my doubts. If Ole says that he can live without Pogs and a solid offer comes...then maybe...Question is who? There are only 3,4 clubs outside the Premiership that can afford him. Barsa and Bayern probably won't go for him. Madrid could, but it's well documented that Perez will not pay the United asking price. Juventus is definitely a possiblity but how can they fit him under FFP rules? They could of course sell Dybala. And then there's PSG which I think is the most likely destination if he leaves.

I guess PSG are also a contender if they can stay with in FP. I doubt Juve would be interesed to enter a 100m plus deal so soon after Ronaldo. No I think its Real and I think he's pushing for a move there via advice from his agent and pressure from Real. It's clear as day that he's at the wrong place. Hopefully we can get rid and squeeze Real a little bit although we do have a history of bending over if you ask me.

 

[RoyH1]

I guess PSG are also a contender if they can stay with in FP. I doubt Juve would be interesed to enter a 100m plus deal so soon after Ronaldo. No I think its Real and I think he's pushing for a move there via advice from his agent and pressure from Real. It's clear as day that he's at the wrong place. Hopefully we can get rid and squeeze Real a little bit although we do have a history of bending over if you ask me.

I'm not sure about Madrid. I have no doubt that Zidane wants him, but with the rise of Valverde and the lack of interest by Florentino Perez, it sounds like a bit of a longshot. Also if we're to believe the Spanish papers, the Madrid brass are obssesed with Mbappé and are going all in for him in the summer. Can hardly accomodate both, even in a club with a turnover like theirs.

 

[Bobcat]

When he plays and on top form/near.... he's a class player that can turn a game. For one reason or another, that hasn't been as often as we expected/needed.

I don't think he's mugging us off with "injuries" but if we got a good deal for him, I can't say I'd be devastated (unlike say when CR left) as long as we invest the fee and for me, that should be in midfield - a b2b or creative/attacking mid, who could make the most of the pace/talent we have upfront and not play slow/sideways passes.

Haven't seen much of Odegaard other than video highlights (maybe RM fans can give a comment on how he's been this season) but if the hype is true, maybe Pogba for Odegaard plus cash (that could go to Haaland fee)?

Agreed on this. We have lost better/more important players in the past and we can handle just fine without him. If he truly wants to leave and we get a good fee for him i wont miss him.

 

[kopviolator]

I'm not sure about Madrid. I have no doubt that Zidane wants him, but with the rise of Valverde and the lack of interest by Florentino Perez, it sounds like a bit of a longshot. Also if we're to believe the Spanish papers, the Madrid brass are obssesed with Mbappé and are going all in for him in the summer. Can hardly accomodate both, even in a club with a turnover like theirs.

Yes, hence the low budget approach for what it seems RM rejects plus change. They've also obviously been sniffing around Neymar. But they are a Hollywood club so who knows.

 

[doriandun]

The only way Pogba gets sold in Jan or Summer is if Addidas, top up the transfer fee by at least 40 mill, Perez, doesn't value him at more than 80 mill.
Pobga turns 27 in March and needs to be careful as his international career, could take a nose dive, come summer 2020, the board can excercise the 1 year clause, but by then they would of paid Pogba 60 mill in wages, add that to the transfer fee thats £150 mill outgoing.

If you factor in the loss in income from Sanchez wages and nothing made on Lukaku, that would be hit of close to 80 mill, over the last 3 years.

The club would then have to convince Pogba to give them one more year, where he performs consistently to recoup their transfer fee and wages out lay.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Raiola has just stated that Pogba wants to stay according to the telegraph.

Anybody have access to the full article?

 

[AltiUn]

Raiola has just stated that Pogba wants to stay according to the telegraph.

Anybody have access to the full article?

1. We turned down an approach from Madrid last summer
2. Raiola says United sometimes seem to care more about money than success
3. Pogba wants to stay although the club need to show they can be successful
4. Raiola said he thinks we need a sporting director

 

[RedTiger]

1. We turned down an approach from Madrid last summer
2. Raiola says United sometimes seem to care more about money than success
3. Pogba wants to stay although the club need to show they can be successful
4. Raiola said he thinks we need a sporting director

2,3 and 4. Not everyday I agree with the Raiola.

 

[AltiUn]

2,3 and 4. Not everyday I agree with the Raiola.

Yeah that’s what I thought. Hopefully stops all the doom mongers thinking up stupid fecking conspiracy theories at least until after January.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

2,3 and 4. Not everyday I agree with the Raiola.

He knew all of those things well before he moved Pogba to Manchester. There are obvious issues with the club but lets not turn Raiola into a some kind of saint. His intentions behind the press briefing are entirely different from the well being of United.

 

[JPRouve]

He knew all of those things well before he moved Pogba to Manchester. There are obvious issues with the club but lets not turn Raiola into a some kind of saint. His intentions behind the press briefing are entirely different from the well being of United.

Redtiger agreeing with Raiola has nothing to do with Raiola being a saint and no one pretends that he unconditionally cares about United's well being. What he cares about is his client well being and for that reason United doing well is currently one of Raiola's concerns, that applies to every other agents with players that are linked to United or currently playing for the club.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Redtiger agreeing with Raiola has nothing to do with Raiola being a saint and no one pretends that he unconditionally cares about United's well being.

Agree and I stand corrected.

What he cares about is his client well being and for that reason United doing well is currently one of Raiola's concerns, that applies to every other agents with players that are linked to United or currently playing for the club.

This goes back to my original post. If he cared so much about his client and he was concerned by the failures of the club he was getting him into, he wouldn't have advised him to make that move because all of these issues were apparent back then. He steered De Ligt to Juventus and away from Barcelona for apparently the same reason.