We should replace Pogba with a DM

[Tallis]

Let’s please swap Bentancur if Pogba joins Juve. He is at a good age (23) - best years to come but has already had good senior football experience. Also has the right skill set - good passing, ball retention, skill on the ball and defensive contribution.

Juventus have Rabiot, Arthur and McKennie so I think they may be willing to let him leave.

 

[united for life]

For starters, I hope the money generated from the same of Pogba will be added to the transfer budget; in full. There are several positions that need first improvement. RW, DM and CB (ST also, but will postpone this probably since we're expected to extend Cavani's stay at Old Trafford, so no point of discussing a ST now).

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

For starters, I hope the money generated from the same of Pogba will be added to the transfer budget; in full. There are several positions that need first improvement. RW, DM and CB (ST also, but will postpone this probably since we're expected to extend Cavani's stay at Old Trafford, so no point of discussing a ST now).

If we were to get someone like Zakaria, then we'll be killing two birds with one stone as he can play DM and CB. Unless you feel we need a starting DM and CB?

.

 

[dal]

Or we could replace Matic with a DM and Pogba with Grealish.

 

[El Jefe]

If he's replaced with a DM, it has to be a playmaking one. A destroyer would be nice but I'd prefer us get a new CB in that mould, a reliable and consistent Bailly type. We need a player who is good at keeping the ball and calm receiving the ball under pressure, two things Pogba has been quite poor at.

 

[youmeletsfly]

So remove a creative player and replace him with a DM?
Why not directly buy a DM?

 

[Offside]

We need a composed player who passes accurately and is technically sound. Pogba’s passing ability is great but he’s not composed, he’s brainless and he plays like a new born fawn sometimes. If we could clone Carrick that would be great.

 

[Mickeza]

Or we could replace Matic with a DM and Pogba with Grealish.

Correct answer for me.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Or we could replace Matic with a DM and Pogba with Grealish.

The majority of Pogba's games for us are in a pivot. Therefore, as the OP stated, if we are to replace him, it needs to be with someone else who can play in a pivot. Grealish plays as a winger or attacking midfielder.

 

[TheNewEra]

Matic, Caicedo (if he signs), Fred and McTominay are enough in my opinion.

I'd rather get a RW, CM and CB this season.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

The majority of Pogba's games for us are in a pivot. Therefore, as the OP stated, if we are to replace him, it needs to be with someone else who can play in a pivot. Grealish plays as a winger or attacking midfielder.

Whether it’s DM or Winger or CM, losing Pogba means we are going to lose one of our creative player, that’s bigger lost than losing the position where he plays. You want to replace your second most creative player with another second most creative player.

 

[ATXRedDevil]

The majority of Pogba's games for us are in a pivot. Therefore, as the OP stated, if we are to replace him, it needs to be with someone else who can play in a pivot. Grealish plays as a winger or attacking midfielder.

I think the rationale is if we had a prime Kante type we could play without the pivot and get more creativity further up the pitch. If we want to play a double pivot, Fred and McToninay have proven to be a great pair there with Bruno in front. Get a proper DM and we can play with Bruno and VDB (or a new creative/attacking midfielder) in more advanced roles, given us more tactical flexibility. For as good as Fred and McToninay are in the pivot, neither is a natural option as a lone DM and matic has lost his legs to be a viable option against top teams.

 

[united for life]

If we were to get someone like Zakaria, then we'll be killing two birds with one stone as he can play DM and CB. Unless you feel we need a starting DM and CB?

.

from our defensive record this year, I don’t think we should be satisfied with the Maguire-Lindelof partnership. We need a CB who can lead the back line. Both Maguire and Lindelof are not that. So we need a CB in my view.

a DM is also a must. The only natural DM we have is Matic, his best days are behind him. We need someone in that position as well

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

I think the rationale is if we had a prime Kante type we could play without the pivot and get more creativity further up the pitch. If we want to play a double pivot, Fred and McToninay have proven to be a great pair there with Bruno in front. Get a proper DM and we can play with Bruno and VDB (or a new creative/attacking midfielder) in more advanced roles, given us more tactical flexibility. For as good as Fred and McToninay are in the pivot, neither is a natural option as a lone DM and matic has lost his legs to be a viable option against top teams.

Is VDB creativity enough to fill in Pogba’s creativity though?

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Whether it’s DM or Winger or CM, losing Pogba means we are going to lose one of our creative player, that’s bigger lost than losing the position where he plays. You want to replace your second most creative player with another second most creative player.

Replacing Pogba to me means getting in a player who will directly slot into the same position Pogba players for us, which more often than not, is CDM in a 4231. Therefore, when people mention that Grealish will replace Pogba, it just doesn't make sense.

It's like saying replacing Wan-Bissaka with Zakaria because the two of them tackle well.

Having said that, I do agree that we need creativity.

 

[Rozay]

How many of these?

 

[VP89]

I think we'll only get around 50m EUR with Pogba, and that won't buy a Grealish or Sancho but it can help toward the funding. Grealish, Sancho or Haaland are the only realistic marquee transfers I'd entertain (and Sancho comes last in that list).

 

[Mickeza]

The majority of Pogba's games for us are in a pivot. Therefore, as the OP stated, if we are to replace him, it needs to be with someone else who can play in a pivot. Grealish plays as a winger or attacking midfielder.

Grealish is mobile, works hard and has played as an 8 before. For a lot of games we play I think you can get away with Bruno and Grealish as 8.5s in front of a mobile DM. Grealish also offers backup to Bruno as a 10 if we play that system or also on the left...a bit like Pogba who is no longer trusted in the pivot unless we are against average/poor sides and he has Matic beside him.

 

[Random Task]

Grealish is mobile, works hard and has played as an 8 before. For a lot of games we play I think you can get away with Bruno and Grealish as 8.5s in front of a mobile DM. Grealish also offers backup to Bruno as a 10 if we play that system or also on the left...a bit like Pogba who is no longer trusted in the pivot unless we are against average/poor sides and he has Matic beside him.

I've seen enough of Rice this season to be sure he's who we need for this role.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Grealish is mobile, works hard and has played as an 8 before. For a lot of games we play I think you can get away with Bruno and Grealish as 8.5s in front of a mobile DM. Grealish also offers backup to Bruno as a 10 if we play that system or also on the left...a bit like Pogba who is no longer trusted in the pivot unless we are against average/poor sides and he has Matic beside him.

That would mean changing system and Ole is not moving away from his beloved 4231.

You only have to look at the midfielders he's targeting (Caicedo) to know where Ole wants to go and what we have seen so far this and last season. Two dynamic midfielders, thus allowing our front four and full backs (could improve on this) to cause havoc, which more often than not, they do.

Ideally, what we need is a deep-lying playmaker in the mould of Pogba to play next to Fred/McTominay.

If Grealish comes to United, I can only imagine it'll be to be our left winger which will mean moving Rashford to the right. However, it would make more sense to get Sancho as he plays on the right, meaning Rashford can stick to his favoured left side.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Replacing Pogba to me means getting in a player who will directly slot into the same position Pogba players for us, which more often than not, is CDM in a 4231. Therefore, when people mention that Grealish will replace Pogba, it just doesn't make sense.

It's like saying replacing Wan-Bissaka with Zakaria because the two of them tackle well.

Having said that, I do agree that we need creativity.

I disagree because the logic here if it’s just based on position then we have VDB who also slot the same position as Pogba since VDB can slot in double pivot, CM and AM.

What we are going to miss the most when Pogba leaves is his creativity because what opposition teams feel threat in Pogba is his creativity not his position. Him, Bruno and mata are our only creative player in the squad. When Pogba and Bruno in XI together it means we will have 2 creativity as threat. We will still maintain 2 creative players in XI with Grealish/Sancho, Bruno, Rashford and Martial front four with Fred and McTominay/Matic behind them. Zakaria is not going to give us that creativity, It makes more sense to say replacing Matic with Zakaria.

 

[Mark Pawelek]

Marcelo Brozovic from Inter is one of the best in the world at it these days. Arguably the best.
Would cost 70+ million though.

His contract expires in summer 2022. So not 70+. Surely United can get him for < £40m? He'd transform the team.

 

[Lentwood]

I could see Pogba staying now and Utd listening to offers for van der Beek instead.

I don’t think vDb is a bad player but just doesn’t seem to fit, especially if Pogba does stay

 

[davidmichael]

His contract expires in summer 2022. So not 70+. Surely United can get him for < £40m? He'd transform the team.

Would he transform us though ? You only need to look at how many Premier League flops seem to star in Serie A that it makes me never want to sign anyone from Italy, outside of Juve I don’t think there’s been a team in Serie A over the past five or so years that would get a top four place over here.

 

[Jeppers7]

We can’t replace Pogba with a pure DM because neither McT or Fred are creative enough or capable of controlling the game. So actually we need to replace both of them.

 

[ivaldo]

I could see Pogba staying now and Utd listening to offers for van der Beek instead.

I don’t think vDb is a bad player but just doesn’t seem to fit, especially if Pogba does stay

I think we might give VDB another season.

 

[Lentwood]

I think we might give VDB another season.

Yeah, don't get me wrong I don't think we'll be desperate to offload him...however, should a club offer what we paid...I think we would be very, very tempted

 

[ivaldo]

Yeah, don't get me wrong I don't think we'll be desperate to offload him...however, should a club offer what we paid...I think we would be very, very tempted

Oh agreed. If Pogba is indeed staying I wouldn't be surprised if we invested it elsewhere.

 

[TheNewEra]

United can't afford to lose Pogba honestly, he's too good of a player, very difficult to replace.

I don't trust Fred, McTominay, Matic to deliver the goods generally.

 

[VP89]

United can't afford to lose Pogba honestly, he's too good of a player, very difficult to replace.

I don't trust Fred, McTominay, Matic to deliver the goods generally.

Yes we can. We just replace in a different manner, if he wants out.

 

[Pickle85]

We just look so much more dangerous with him playing. More invention, more drive forward... we miss him badly when he's out.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I want to clarify. I made this thread when it looked certain Pogba was gone. I wasn’t suggesting he needs to be replaced. I was saying since he’s leaving, we should get a DM, as we have Bruno & Donny.

I would love it if he stayed.

 

[Brightonian]

We need a DM anyway.

If we also lost Pogba, I honestly think Grealish is the only player out there at the moment who comes close to replacing him. You don't just need a player in the very top bracket quality-wise, you also need someone with that leadership and strength of character to take the burden of being the best player on the pitch, the one who needs to make it happen.

 

[Infra-red]

I want to clarify. I made this thread when it looked certain Pogba was gone. I wasn’t suggesting he needs to be replaced. I was saying since he’s leaving, we should get a DM, as we have Bruno & Donny.

I would love it if he stayed.

Can't see any way of him staying now - he only has 15 month left on his contract and does not want to sign a new one, so it's sell this summer or lose for free next year.

In terms of a replacement, I still think Locatelli and Fabian Ruiz are the two best options - either of them alongside a decent ball winner (Tchouameni? Bentancur?) and we'd have a top level double pivot at the base of midfield, to enable Bruno (and the rest) the freedom to attack without having to constantly drop deep to collect the ball from the technically limited McFred partnership.

 

[talking robot]

Would love to see a DM while keeping Pogba. Even without bringing in a new striker, we could look creative enough to break down mid-table teams that park the bus, while still being solid enough defensively. This becomes even more attractive if you replace Lindelof with a Varane type, and mouthwatering if you replace Greenwood or Rashford with Haaland down the middle.

-------------------------GK--------------------
----WB----Lindelof-----Maguire------Shaw--
------------------------DM-------------------
---------Fernandes----Van de Beek------
Rashford-------Greenwood-------Pogba

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Would love to see a DM while keeping Pogba. Even without bringing in a new striker, we could look creative enough to break down mid-table teams that park the bus, while still being solid enough defensively. This becomes even more attractive if you replace Lindelof with a Varane type, and mouthwatering if you replace Greenwood or Rashford with Haaland down the middle.

-------------------------GK--------------------
----WB----Lindelof-----Maguire------Shaw--
------------------------DM-------------------
---------Fernandes----Van de Beek------
Rashford-------Greenwood-------Pogba

Martial is so much better than Greenwood.

 

[dinostar77]

Replacing Pogba is going to be very tough. No one else has his passing range. Personally i think you keep the DM and Pogba replacement seperate unless you can find a playmaking DM with an ability to hit those long passes during transitions. How many DMs are out there who can do that and we could afford to buy and would want to come to utd, i have no idea.

 

[JJ12]

Martial is so much better than Greenwood.

Very similar levels right now. Greenwood has far more potential.

Martial was very good that one time vs City though.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Very similar levels right now. Greenwood has far more potential.

Martial was very good that one time vs City though.

The number 9 position for United is a graveyard shift. Now that Pogba’s back hopefully that changes. Martial & Greenwood have both underperformed in front of goal but Martial’s link up, ball control, & overall football ability is just way higher right now.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Very similar levels right now. Greenwood has far more potential.

Martial was very good that one time vs City though.

Martial has very high potential during his first season with us, remember? We once thought he was future Ballon D’or winner, or something.