Our 2nd best midfielder

Bondi77

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Without a doubt Bruno is numero uno but who do we think is second?
Popular opinion would say Pogba but Mctominay is rapidly improving to the extent where he would have to be a contender.
I must admit I thought Jose was having a laugh when he brought him int the first team setup and even gave him an individual award for his efforts but he has most definitely risen to a level which I thought he was incapable of but now I struggle to find a weakness in his game.
 

DannyCAFC

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Pogba on talent, Fred on current form.
 

AltiUn

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Pogba is a close second.

But McTominay and Fred are both playing well and that should definitely be acknowledged.
 

Lewnited

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Don't think McTominay is quite there yet as he doesn't affect the game much from deep, but I'm enjoying his progression so much. I pray that as he continues to develop we don't restrict him to a purely defensive role, because he has all the tools to be a very good box-to-box midfielder
 

Raw

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Agreed with the others. When Pogba's on form he's on par with Bruno. But right now it's Fred, though McTominay is very close. Matic is a way off but he has his uses, and Donny just hasn't settled yet.

Feels good to have a reliable set of midfielders for once, but it could do with a proper defensive mid.
 

Deery

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It’s Pogba when he’s playing well but he’s so inconsistent, nowhere near Bruno.

I’d rate Fred and McTominay as equals on current form, Fred was great last night.
 

RUCK4444

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Pogba is a close second.

But McTominay and Fred are both playing well and that should definitely be acknowledged.
Pretty much this.

Having Pogba and Bruno on the pitch at the same time was great and I hope we can get back to that sharpish.

I think Bruno is undervalued by many and I’m happy with Scott’s progression. The latter has the attributes to be a very good player imo.
 

11101

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In order of necessity to the team:

Bruno
Fred
Pogba
McTominay
Matic

A player as wasteful as Bruno needs a Fred to sweep up after him and keep getting the ball back to him.
Pogba and McTominay are pretty equal, but i'll say Pogba is ahead because he can cover most of what McTominay does, but when he's really on it he can give Bruno a run for his money too.
 

Rozay

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Bruno himself is barely a ‘midfielder’ at all tbh. He’s closer to a forward in real terms.
 

Andersons Dietician

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Pogba when fit and in form.
Fred every other day when Pogba isn’t fit or in form.

Bruno doesn‘t play in midfield.
 
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Pogba is unreliable in terms of both fitness and form. When we’ve got big matches, can we back on him being around? We can’t.

it’s clearly not DVDB, or Matic!

it would be McT hands down in my opinion. I can see why people may say Pogba or Fred, but McT hands down for me.
 

Bebestation

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Its Fred and Mctomminay equal for me.

The last two seasons they have been the pairing we play our main tactics with.

Pogba mostly only plays that with Matic (both not as good) or in a 4 man midfield together.
 

Idxomer

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Pogba is our best midfielder.

McTominay has been up and down all season. None of the options we have is consistent, only Fred comes close in that regard.
 

Jeppers7

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Pogbas our best midfielder by a mile.

Bruno is our best forward and most important player
 

Rozay

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PP is the best midfielder. To say, ‘it would be Pogba, but he’s inconsistent, so McTominay’ is odd - as McTominay himself has as many bad games as he does good ones.

If we’re talking consistency though - then Fred is the most consistent by a distant I’d say.

Echo what’s said above though, Bruno is our most important player easily.
 

MadDogg

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Pogba is obviously the most talented , but he needs to show consistency and defensive solidarity to actually be the best. Which I personally don't think will happen with him playing in a two, although I'd love nothing more than for him to sign a new contract and prove me wrong. Even during his recent good form we tended to have to play him out on a wing when we faced good teams.

In terms of consistent performances and importance Fred has been our best for quite a while. McTominay has arguably been better for the last few games (although he still needs to get more involved) but he'll need to do it for a few months before we start talking about him overtaking Fred.
 

Silas

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Pogba obviously. Form doesn't even come into it.
 
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for those saying Pogba. Surely he needs to be on the pitch? How often has that been over the past 2 years?

there’s no one doubting his talent.
 
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Cypriot

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An off form Pogba is still usually better than our other midfielders bar Bruno. That being said, Fred, McTominay and Matic have really improved and the thought of Pogba leaving doesn't quite give me the doom and gloom feeling it would have last season.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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Pogba easily.

An out of form Pogba is still miles better than Scott, Fred or Matic on their best day.

It’s crazy we’re even debating this.

Why do people highlight Pogba’s inconsistency but overlook McTominay’s? Both play well about as often as they play bad but you only hear it on one side.
 

Raven

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Given that I consider Bruno to be a forward (and I think Ole does too, he keeps calling his position shadow striker), it's got to be Fred.
 

Ali Dia

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An off form Pogba is still usually better than our other midfielders bar Bruno. That being said, Fred, McTominay and Matic have really improved and the thought of Pogba leaving doesn't quite give me the doom and gloom feeling it would have last season.
Pogba who gives the ball away and just jogs around? No chance! We need players to clean up for and feed Bruno direct in this system. Pogba is mostly useful for his shooting this season and doesn’t really stand out in any other other metric.

Fred most important
Pogba most talented player on paper but not really needed in the same team as Bruno.
 

Annihilate Now!

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Pogba when on form and interested.

When he's off-form I don't agree that he's still the best, he becomes a hinderance more then anything... so at that point it's McTominay for me, just because I think he has the ability to have better one off games then Fred does, who is more consistent (though I feel he had a bit of a dip these last few weeks until last night)
 

Lay

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Bruno
Pogba
Scott
Fred

But I feel Fred is a must starter
 

Rozay

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Pogba when on form and interested.

When he's off-form I don't agree that he's still the best, he becomes a hinderance more then anything... so at that point it's McTominay for me, just because I think he has the ability to have better one off games then Fred does, who is more consistent (though I feel he had a bit of a dip these last few weeks until last night)
In this analogy, is McTominay also required to be ‘on form’ - which in itself is no more a given than Pogba? There’s this implication that only Pogba has good games and bad games, whereas in reality, Pogba, Bruno and McTominay have as many under par games as each other from my viewing. Only Fred can say he consistently performs at a similar level every week.
 

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In this analogy, is McTominay also required to be ‘on form’ - which in itself is no more a given than Pogba? There’s this implication that only Pogba has good games and bad games, whereas in reality, Pogba, Bruno and McTominay have as many under par games as each other from my viewing. Only Fred can say he consistently performs at a similar level every week.
I think Pogba's under par games are more damaging then McT's... maybe its unfair because you expect more from Pogs but there it is. Anyway I still have Pogba at number one, I just have McT at number 2 because his best games are better then Fred's for me (if that makes sense - I don't think I'm really articulating my thoughts well, but in my defense it's Friday and I've been trying to compose the same email for an hour now!)
 

wolvored

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On form, Pogba although i'll be glad when him and the pantomime that surrounds him goes. Matic would be next but too slow. McTom is gradually getting better and scoring important goals. Fred for a player who cost £50 mill doesnt really excel at anything and should for that money. Cant shoot, gets one pass in six right. Decent at breaking down play and can run all night, but so can James. We need a DM that can play a bit then we wont need Fred.
 

Grylte

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No point judging players by their ceiling, when we very rarely see Pogba's.
McTominay is more consistent, and has been the better of the 2 for us this season.
 

Rozay

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I think Pogba's under par games are more damaging then McT's... maybe its unfair because you expect more from Pogs but there it is. Anyway I still have Pogba at number one, I just have McT at number 2 because his best games are better then Fred's for me (if that makes sense - I don't think I'm really articulating my thoughts well, but in my defense it's Friday and I've been trying to compose the same email for an hour now!)
I get what you mean. I don’t think Pogba’s under par games are necessarily more damaging personally in terms of affecti, but I do think they seem that way largely due to greater expectations as you said.

PPs under par games are also perhaps more damaging in a non tangible way - which is in terms of mood/morale towards the team. A poor PP game is often a huge topic (especially if we don’t win the game), while McTominay’s won’t be discussed in the same way. Unfortunately for Pogba - that’s a price he has to pay due to his profile - but poor games from him quickly shift the mood around the side due to all the conversation that comes with it.

I agree with you that McTomminay’s better games are better than Fred’s, or at least, certainly more eye-catching anyway. Largely due to their contrast in style. Scott is far better going forward for a start, and goals are the most memorable thing a player can do on the pitch!

What I’ll say about Fred though is that if nothing else, he is very consistent. He’s gone almost 2 years without any real spell of poor form.