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2020-21 Performances


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KennyBurner

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Like what the hell is wrong with him? I cant even blame Covid for this sort of carelessness. Its like he thinks Old trafford is his playground were he can just freestyle whenever he likes. When will he cut out the immaturity from his game?
 

Devil81

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What Ince can do with a football, Pogba can do with an orange.
Ince was a completely different type of player and he was better than you are making out there.

I'd take Ince over showpony any day of the week.
 

kiristao

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Like what the hell is wrong with him? I cant even blame Covid for this sort of carelessness. Its like he thinks Old trafford is his playground were he can just freestyle whenever he likes. When will he cut out the immaturity from his game?
It's not the losing the ball that I have an issue with. It's the reaction after. Not even making a dash to win it back. Also, this giving away the ball because of lax attitude happened a couple other times as well. Very frustrating.
I rate him very highly as a player. He just doesn't show up as often as he should.
 

KennyBurner

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It's not the losing the ball that I have an issue with. It's the reaction after. Not even making a dash to win it back. Also, this giving away the ball because of lax attitude happened a couple other times as well. Very frustrating.
I rate him very highly as a player. He just doesn't show up as often as he should.
It’s like he thinks it’s a pickup game and there are no repercussions. At this point I really don’t know what the problem is.
 

The Original

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Like what the hell is wrong with him? I cant even blame Covid for this sort of carelessness. Its like he thinks Old trafford is his playground were he can just freestyle whenever he likes. When will he cut out the immaturity from his game?
Needs to be dropped for that.
 

Adam-Utd

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It’s like he thinks it’s a pickup game and there are no repercussions. At this point I really don’t know what the problem is.
He was knackered by that point and got subbed not long after - not much into it than that really.

His fitness has been lacking since Lockdown unfortunately.
 

He'sRaldo

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Like what the hell is wrong with him? I cant even blame Covid for this sort of carelessness. Its like he thinks Old trafford is his playground were he can just freestyle whenever he likes. When will he cut out the immaturity from his game?
Clearly knackered. Pogba has been very diligent defensively in the recent past, but you could see there he was out of juice.

Very poor performance mind.
 

The Original

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If we are planning to play 4231, we need someone to replace Pogba because Bruno is definitely better than him as a #10. If Bruno is to be benched, it will be because we have bought a player of the ilk of David Silva because there aren't a lot of top #10 around at the minute.

I still don't get what is his best position. He dithers far too much on the ball to be a reliable #10 and he is poor defensively to be a good #6/#8. He has a lot of top attributes but strangely has some really critical ones missing to be a top player in any one position.

He needs someone like a Makhelele next to him to make him look good. McTominay and him just don't work because Scott is a terrible DM.
I don't see this. In what ways is he really better as 10?

Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
 

DoomSlayer

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We would have benefitted hugely if the 5 subs rule was still used. Pogba was obviously not fit at all.
 

JPRouve

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I don't see this. Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
On the few occasions where he has played there he was subpar, Pogba isn't good when the game is behind him. He is definitely not a 10 and he is also not a pure attacking player.
 

AngeloHenriquez

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my biggest issue with Pogba and perhaps Im being unfair but its the amount of dread I feel when he receives the ball deep, I expect him to be dispossed as despite his talent I find he rarely scopes out his surroundings before receiving the ball...
 

JPRouve

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my biggest issue with Pogba and perhaps Im being unfair but its the amount of dread I feel when he receives the ball deep, I expect him to be dispossed as despite his talent I find he rarely scopes out his surroundings before receiving the ball...
It's not unfair, many players look uncomfortable in that role and Pogba is one of them. Pogba does survey his surrounding but despite the fact that he is fairly agile for a player of his size, he still turns like an oil tanker when you combine it with his relatively slow acceleration you have a player that you don't want in that situation that often, that's also why he isn't a good #10. If you add to that the fact that sometimes he thinks that he can outmuscle his opponent when he clearly can't, you have a player that can make silly mistakes.
 

AngeloHenriquez

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It's not unfair, many players look uncomfortable in that role and Pogba is one of them. Pogba does survey his surrounding but despite the fact that he is fairly agile for a player of his size, he still turns like an oil tanker when you combine it with his relatively slow acceleration you have a player that you don't want in that situation that often, that's also why he isn't a good #10. If you add to that the fact that sometimes he thinks that he can outmuscle his opponent when he clearly can't, you have a player that can make silly mistakes.
I think people expect to much of him too, Id play him at 8 or 7 wierdly, he has pace, can go past a player, track back if needed... he cant be in a position where the majority of the job is defensive minded.

I realise 7 may not be ideal but based on our squad, I cant see him doing worse than others and hes not performing as we hoped at 6
 

Hammondo

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I think people expect to much of him too, Id play him at 8 or 7 wierdly, he has pace, can go past a player, track back if needed... he cant be in a position where the majority of the job is defensive minded.

I realise 7 may not be ideal but based on our squad, I cant see him doing worse than others and hes not performing as we hoped at 6
He's never had a role that's majority defensive minded, not even close.
 

Bobski

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I don't see this. In what ways is he really better as 10?

Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
Bruno quickens the game up, Pogba slows it, he can play at a higher tempo, both in making runs and crucially in pressing. Also gets shots off quicker and is sharper with his back to goal.

Pogba has fantastic ability with a ball but that doesn't make him a 10, he is better when he can see the game, the rate at which he is prone to losing the ball in deep areas with his back to goal should be an indicator that 10 isn't really his role. Also that every manager he has had since Juve at Club and international levels have wanted to use him in a deeper midfield role.
 

Chesterlestreet

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Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
Pogba has never proven himself as a traditional No 10. He has never proven himself as a consistent, string pulling playmaker of any description. He's decidedly creative - but without being a playmaker (you can actually rely on).

He's a hybrid - he isn't "pure" anything.

That can be a great strength. It can also be a big bloody problem.
 

Clermontois

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Two-thirds are and likewise if anyone used Fernandes' goalscoring ability in a Utd shirt as a selling point I'd point out his penalties similarly.

Just for the record though:

Pogba 16/17 G+A ex penalties - 14
Pogba 17/18 G+A ex penalities - 18
Pogba 18/19 G+A ex penalties - 19
Pogba 19/20 G+A ex penalties - 5

56 in 158. Numerically creative he is not.
They do it all the time.

For someone who has played all bar 6 games for us in a defensive role those are elite numbers.

Best to put him on ignore. He’s on my list. He never posts anything of sense.
This lad and his list again, look lad while I am honoured to be there why keep bringing up this magic list? Keep it to yourself, no one wants to know.
 

Clermontois

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I don't see this. In what ways is he really better as 10?

Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
Same question you are asking I have asked countless times and have never got a coherent answer.

While I agree Paul is more of an attacker and far closer to a AM than he is to DM I am not sure he is a pure 10. When he played for us there though he was utterly devastating, best football we played since Fergie.

Bruno quickens the game up, Pogba slows it, he can play at a higher tempo, both in making runs and crucially in pressing. Also gets shots off quicker and is sharper with his back to goal.

Also that every manager he has had since Juve at Club and international levels have wanted to use him in a deeper midfield role.
Fernandes sure did not quicken the game against Palace or any recent games I saw.

Paul was never played in a deeper midfield role at Juventus. His last season there he was played in AM and even given the #10 shirt. Not sure why people always talk stuff that is simply not true when it comes to this player.
 

Bobski

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Same question you are asking I have asked countless times and have never got a coherent answer.

While I agree Paul is more of an attacker and far closer to a AM than he is to DM I am not sure he is a pure 10. When he played for us there though he was utterly devastating, best football we played since Fergie.


Fernandes sure did not quicken the game against Palace or any recent games I saw.

Paul was never played in a deeper midfield role at Juventus. His last season there he was played in AM and even given the #10 shirt. Not sure why people always talk stuff that is simply not true when it comes to this player.
Since Juve, I meant post Juve, but I apologize if the meaning was not clear.

Pogba might enjoy playing 10 with complete freedom, but it is not about what is best for Paul.
 

He'sRaldo

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Since Juve, I meant post Juve, but I apologize if the meaning was not clear.

Pogba might enjoy playing 10 with complete freedom, but it is not about what is best for Paul.
We all enjoyed that period, it was very nice football. I think it's not that complicated, play the better players in their natural positions and they'll perform better and help you win games.

There was a debate around Martial's position as well because Jose just wouldn't play him as a striker. To no one's surprise, when he played at striker he tore it up for us and everyone's happy. Pogba's in a similar position with the double pivot, but if Ole is going to stick with it no matter what then maybe we're better off with him leaving.
 

Jacob

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The only player I'd pay to watch in this United side, having said that; sell him.

Mourinho was right calling him a virus, he lacks the mental attributes to utilize his physique/technique. His nonchalant aura is grinding my gears.
 

Bobski

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We all enjoyed that period, it was very nice football. I think it's not that complicated, play the better players in their natural positions and they'll perform better and help you win games.

There was a debate around Martial's position as well because Jose just wouldn't play him as a striker. To no one's surprise, when he played at striker he tore it up for us and everyone's happy. Pogba's in a similar position with the double pivot, but if Ole is going to stick with it no matter what then maybe we're better off with him leaving.
So what is his best position then?

An attacking midfielder, with 2 more solid types behind him would be the obvious answer, but is his output in that role worth building a team around him? Or is it a diamond? But how then do you juggle that so Pogba has minimal defensive responsibilities, and doesn't have to cover wide?
 

starman

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"He's a Rolls-Royce" something I keep hearing...

He's more of a Mazda or MG, looks good in certain situations, is all style and little substance, generally unreliable and breaks down easily.
 

Hammondo

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So what is his best position then?

An attacking midfielder, with 2 more solid types behind him would be the obvious answer, but is his output in that role worth building a team around him? Or is it a diamond? But how then do you juggle that so Pogba has minimal defensive responsibilities, and doesn't have to cover wide?
Hes never done well at the front of a midfield, hes way too easy to pressure. He doesn't do well enough in the tight situations.
 

Sayros

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The only player I'd pay to watch in this United side, having said that; sell him.

Mourinho was right calling him a virus, he lacks the mental attributes to utilize his physique/technique. His nonchalant aura is grinding my gears.
Complete nonsense, let's not try to give Mourinho any credit for the embarrassment of calling Pogba a virus when it's quite clear who was the virus in that situation. Projection is the tool of the narcissists to avoid their precious ego getting bruised.
 

KennyBurner

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It's not unfair, many players look uncomfortable in that role and Pogba is one of them. Pogba does survey his surrounding but despite the fact that he is fairly agile for a player of his size, he still turns like an oil tanker when you combine it with his relatively slow acceleration you have a player that you don't want in that situation that often, that's also why he isn't a good #10. If you add to that the fact that sometimes he thinks that he can outmuscle his opponent when he clearly can't, you have a player that can make silly mistakes.
Never actually thought about it like this but you might be unto something. He always gets dispossessed more times than not and probably lacks good spatial awareness for a top midfielder. I guess the only thing I disagree with is that he surveys his surrounding given how consistently he gets dispossessed.
 

finneh

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For someone who has played all bar 6 games for us in a defensive role those are elite numbers.
Pogba has no cognisance of the word "defensive".

"Defensive" to Pogba is like "creative" to Smalling.
 

Falcow

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Complete nonsense, let's not try to give Mourinho any credit for the embarrassment of calling Pogba a virus when it's quite clear who was the virus in that situation. Projection is the tool of the narcissists to avoid their precious ego getting bruised.
It's easy to see where Jose was coming from. Pogba is lazy, careless and lacks real desire/hunger..in short he doesnt give a shit and as we know from his pasta belly mouthpiece, he doesnt even want to be here.

This is going to be another year where he is not in the running for any of the club player of the year awards and will be a million miles away from the league player of the year awards once again. Why do you think in his 4 years he he hasn't ever been mentioned as a club player of the year candidate despite at one point being the worlds most expensive footballer? Honest question. Seriously that's a shocking indictment of him. The least we might expect of him is that he is there or there abouts for club awards at least. Look at Rooney, Keane, Ronaldo, Rio, season after season they were in the mix for league player of the year awards, never mind club player of the year awards which Pogba cant even manage to do just once....I'm absaloutely sick of him, I'm sick of listening to the litany of excuses always made on here for him and quite frankly he is a disgrace. Jose was 100% right.

All of his negative attributes (of which there are many unfortunately) are infectious and rubs off on teammates hence the virus comment from Jose.
 

Bobski

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To be fair, Scholes never won the club player of the year either, but to also be fair to Scholes, he was up against vastly superior players.
 

Clermontois

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It's not unfair, many players look uncomfortable in that role and Pogba is one of them. Pogba does survey his surrounding but despite the fact that he is fairly agile for a player of his size, he still turns like an oil tanker when you combine it with his relatively slow acceleration you have a player that you don't want in that situation that often, that's also why he isn't a good #10. If you add to that the fact that sometimes he thinks that he can outmuscle his opponent when he clearly can't, you have a player that can make silly mistakes.
I guess with his poor acceleration Riquelme was also not a good AM.

He needs to improve his awareness indeed but if he is aware a player is approaching I have never seen him struggle to hold off anyone. Players always use all their might to throw off players like Paul and Tanguy, not sure why they do not respond more aggressively like Yaya Toure used to. Needs to add that aggressiveness to his game though but he tends to get cards easily where others don't so not sure.
 

Banana Republic

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Pogba has no cognisance of the word "defensive"...................
Totally correct.
It's laughable and incomprehensible that some on here have talked about his "defensive qualities" ?
There are no defensive qualities or attributes.
Pogba rarely shows any desire or inclination to do the defensive hard work. Neither does he have the tools, being slow, lacking agility and generally lolloping around when facing an attack from the opposition, just watching the play go by.
When he tried, early on in the Palace game, he just committed clumsy fouls. We don't even see that very often.

His senior track record is mostly his last 4 seasons at Utd and we all know what most of that has looked like.
Forget his early spell at Juve. That's long ago when he first moved up to first team football and where he was lucky to be in a very experienced squad of top quality players.
He basically had the freedom to perform and no doubt was enthused and highly motivated to find himself playing in that team at such a young age.
Sadly, I don't see him ever getting that back.

We wouldn't be able to sell Pogba, so Ole will have to find a different role for him and not continue to weaken our midfield core by playing him alongside a lone DM, who usually ends up struggling to cope with most of the midfield duties on their own.
 

DomM

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Totally correct.
It's laughable and incomprehensible that some on here have talked about his "defensive qualities" ?
There are no defensive qualities or attributes.
Pogba rarely shows any desire or inclination to do the defensive hard work. Neither does he have the tools, being slow, lacking agility and generally lolloping around when facing an attack from the opposition, just watching the play go by.
When he tried, early on in the Palace game, he just committed clumsy fouls. We don't even see that very often.

His senior track record is mostly his last 4 seasons at Utd and we all know what most of that has looked like.
Forget his early spell at Juve. That's long ago when he first moved up to first team football and where he was lucky to be in a very experienced squad of top quality players.
He basically had the freedom to perform and no doubt was enthused and highly motivated to find himself playing in that team at such a young age.
Sadly, I don't see him ever getting that back.

We wouldn't be able to sell Pogba, so Ole will have to find a different role for him and not continue to weaken our midfield core by playing him alongside a lone DM, who usually ends up struggling to cope with most of the midfield duties on their own.
I couldn't agree more, defensively he is awful and doesn't offer enough offensively to start ahead of Bruno. He shouldn't be a starter imo, more of an impact sub when needed.
 

Ludens the Red

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It seems we have aged Rooney mk 2.

When he's fit and performs badly he's not fit and the manager shouldn't have selected him. When he's fit and he is fit but performs poorly he's been positioned 9 metres from his ideal position and therefore can't play effectively. When he's fit and performs adaquatly offensively but completely reneges on his responsibilities defensively it's his partners fault for not being a peak hybrid of Makelele and Keane. When he just about scrapes by defensively but does nothing offensively he's having to cover defensively for mediocrity (or see 9 metre positional problem), despite stats showing he did little of the sort.

Truly good players are good players regardless. They don't play for 4 full years and not stand out in either good, decent or mediocre teams. They don't get overlooked in award ceremonies year after year when the likes of Shaw, Herrera and a goalkeeper; or a bloke that literally signed a dozen games before the end of the season get recognised.

Great players are great players and Pogba ain't one I'm afraid.
Can’t argue with any of that although I’m sure some will.
It is quite something that it is his fifth year here and we still have people convinced it’s all going to somehow fall into place.
 

NK86

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I don't see this. In what ways is he really better as 10?

Pogba is a pure attacking player and 10 really is right where he should play regardless of whatever supposed weaknesses he has.
He dithers way too much on the ball to be a good #10. Just because he isn't good enough in a deeper position, doesn't mean we should play him as a 10.
 

sammsky1

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Totally correct.
It's laughable and incomprehensible that some on here have talked about his "defensive qualities" ?
There are no defensive qualities or attributes.
Pogba rarely shows any desire or inclination to do the defensive hard work. Neither does he have the tools, being slow, lacking agility and generally lolloping around when facing an attack from the opposition, just watching the play go by.
When he tried, early on in the Palace game, he just committed clumsy fouls. We don't even see that very often.

His senior track record is mostly his last 4 seasons at Utd and we all know what most of that has looked like.
Forget his early spell at Juve. That's long ago when he first moved up to first team football and where he was lucky to be in a very experienced squad of top quality players.
He basically had the freedom to perform and no doubt was enthused and highly motivated to find himself playing in that team at such a young age.
Sadly, I don't see him ever getting that back.

We wouldn't be able to sell Pogba, so Ole will have to find a different role for him and not continue to weaken our midfield core by playing him alongside a lone DM, who usually ends up struggling to cope with most of the midfield duties on their own.
BBC’s Match of the Day did an analysis of the tenacious pressing and tackling performed by Palace’s double pivot midfielders McCathy and McCarthur.

They were amazing to watch, and it also dawned on me that I’ve never seen Pogba do that, nor is he at all capable of doing so.
 

He'sRaldo

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BBC’s Match of the Day did an analysis of the tenacious pressing and tackling performed by Palace’s double pivot midfielders McCathy and McCarthur.

They were amazing to watch, and it also dawned on me that I’ve never seen Pogba do that, nor is he at all capable of doing so.
That one's for the Ole thread I'm afraid. We need to press as a team, which we've rarely done under Ole or Jose.
 

sammsky1

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That one's for the Ole thread I'm afraid. We need to press as a team, which we've rarely done under Ole or Jose.
Pogna can’t press his shirt, let alone another footballer. His pathetic defensive abilities have nothing to do with OGS at all.
 

He'sRaldo

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Pogna can’t press his shirt, let alone another footballer. His pathetic defensive abilities have nothing to do with OGS at all.
When we defend we track back deep into our own half, and Pogba has been diligent in doing that under Ole.

Our high press is disorganized and easily bypassed, so of course you won't see Pogba pressing high the way others do.
 

sammsky1

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When we defend we track back deep into our own half, and Pogba has been diligent in doing that under Ole.
Our high press is disorganized and easily bypassed, so of course you won't see Pogba pressing high the way others do.
I thought it was impossible to come up with new Pogba excuses, but you've proved me wrong :p
 
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