Ole playing Pogba as a DLP is sheer idiocy

[Sandikan]

Should have bought a CDM as replacement for Matic and another midfielder, instead of blowing £80m on Maguire. There is no defense that can be sorted without an inexistent midfield to protect it.

But they always say you build a team from the back.
We've at least started that with 2 quality defenders.

 

[manunited1919]

But they always say you build a team from the back.
We've at least started that with 2 quality defenders.

I agree with 2 quality defenders. But we were in dire our need of 2 proven midfielders, while the defense was Ok once AWB was brought in. Yes, Maguire is an improvement, but if it came at the cost of leaving our midfield completely depleted then we have made a mistake once again. Just as it is a mistake not replacing Lukaku.

 

[tomaldinho1]

It's a coward's move for me - Pogba is probably our best midfielder in every position but he's so handicapped sitting deep. I'm convinced he's most at home as a modern 10 but is stereotyped because he's tall, strong, fast etc as a CM who is always compared to Viera or Toure. Putting him alongside McT is theoretically safer because he can play there and it's an extra body but he's not great, aside from the odd times he gets on the ball and has good options ahead of him for a long pass. It's worth pointing out his long range passing is probably worse than is made out on here, it's just we remember the good ones and forget the awful ones - like the left foot shank last game that ended up going out for a GK and broke down our attack.

I get it would be a risk to play McT alone as a DM or even Matic (if fit) but we're playing shockingly and it can't really get much worse. Next game is City and you can guarantee they'll find ways to score if we just sit off them and play as we have done so far.

 

[Foxbatt]

Of course it is sheer idiocy. We desperately needed two midfield players, at least one world class midfield player to replace Matic and of course we needed someone better than McTominay too. Then we needed someone much better than Lingard. The defence would have been alright if we had a good midfield as Smalling and Lindelof can survive this season together. Smalling is not as bad as some people make him out to be and yes we needed an upgrade on him but not at the expense of our midfield.

 

[manunited1919]

Of course it is sheer idiocy. We desperately needed two midfield players, at least one world class midfield player to replace Matic and of course we needed someone better than McTominay too. Then we needed someone much better than Lingard. The defence would have been alright if we had a good midfield as Smalling and Lindelof can survive this season together. Smalling is not as bad as some people make him out to be and yes we needed an upgrade on him but not at the expense of our midfield.

Exactly. We also needed to replace Lukaku, as we can’t rely on Rashford & Martial, and run the risk of burning out Greenwood if we place the goal scoring burden on him.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Sheer idiocy is not replacing Herrera.

Ole playing Pogba deeper is needs must.

Agreed. Ole doesn’t have much choice unless Fred comes good.

If you are discouraged by play up till now, wait until we go against a top side without Ander to man-mark and harass the opposition.

 

[Son]

We paid around £60 million on a CM last summer who we can’t trust not to make a mistake hence why Pogba is in his position.

I doubt Fred will ever come good. He should be hitting his peak years now. He’s not even close to it. Total waste of funds when considering Tielemans etc was probs available for half that...

 

[GenZRed]

Why did we not sign a midfielder that can actually pass in the summer?

 

[kouroux]

Agreed. Ole doesn’t have much choice unless Fred comes good.

If you are discouraged by play up till now, wait until we go against a top side without Ander to man-mark and harass the opposition.

Fred playing like a player worth his fee would solve so many problems in midfield but the fecker cannot even get into the squad. Not investing in midfield was pure lunacy this summer

 

[AgentP]

Seems like because he does it for France but problem is we don't have a Kante.

This. Pogba playing as a DLP is not the problem. The fact that we don't have Kante or for that matter any of the attacking quality of the French squad is why we are in this situation. Our players are simply not good enough. So no matter where Pogba plays, he's not going to suddenly start delivering 8/10 performances every game. Pogba himself has also not done himself justice and needs to do better in the role that the manager has assigned him. For example, he can't lose the ball three times in 30 seconds like he did against Southampton when playing in such a deep position.

 

[yorkiered]

when is fosu-mensah due back from injury? would try him in the holding role behind pogba & scot

 

[HowieC]

This. Pogba playing as a DLP is not the problem. The fact that we don't have Kante or for that matter any of the attacking quality of the French squad is why we are in this situation. Our players are simply not good enough. So no matter where Pogba plays, he's not going to suddenly start delivering 8/10 performances every game. Pogba himself has also not done himself justice and needs to do better in the role that the manager has assigned him. For example, he can't lose the ball three times in 30 seconds like he did against Southampton when playing in such a deep position.

Agreed.
He is needed for ball advancement, but requires an energetic holder next to him.

 

[jackal&hyde]

No it's not. If we play him further forward we will have to then play with 2 DMs in Mctominay and Matic and then talk about tumescent football.

We dominated the games very much and we concede relatively few chances, the problem is/was out nr. 10s were terrible at offering creativity.

The only way IMO to play Pogba higher up the pitch and retain the ability to move the ball forward to avoid static poor football is if Fred comes good. Until then, we need Pogba where he is and Lingard/Mata to reach some level of form.