[RuudTom83]

Pundits and fans seem to struggle appreciating the midfielders that don't have one main standout qualitie.

Carrick and Fletcher had similar problems and it took those players years to be fully appreciated.

Listening to Sky Sports it is like Fooball can only be broken down into two categories...does he score goals, or does he tackle?? erm Paul doesn't seem to fit into a box so let's just talk about his transfer fee!

 

[ti vu]

Pundits and fans seem to struggle appreciating the midfielders that don't have one main standout qualitie.

Carrick and Fletcher had similar problems and it took those players years to be fully appreciated.

Listening to Sky Sports it is like Fooball can only be broken down into two categories...does he score goals, or does he tackle?? erm Paul doesn't seem to fit into a box so let's just talk about his transfer fee!

It's not that his quality is not standout, it's not appealing to this punditry culture. His range of passing is great. His long range passing with purpose is very good. He's strong, skillkul in tight area. Sealed the ball well & composed under pressure. All at high level. He's inexperienced and not yet make the best out of his ability but no way overall poor or average.

 

[Lennon7]

Oh. Apologize for that. But still part of what I stated in previous post still holds some truth. Other teams often sit deep & often hoof long to bypass our midfield so there is not so much chasing like this instance against a team who play with the ball on the ground in counter attacking style.

Nah, something that's annoyed me at times this season is the lack of work rate. You see player's heads drop at times if they lose the ball or don't get the pass they want. Mkhi and Martial have probably been like this the most, that's why I don't think we'll see them start as much for the rest of the prem campaign.

 

[UnitedForever147]

I thought Valencia was quick but who's the Chelsea player nearest him giving Valencia a few yards start?

 

[Earthquake]

I thought Valencia was quick but who's the Chelsea player nearest him giving Valencia a few yards start?

Pedro.

EDIT: Possibly the most interesting part of the gif, Chelsea were so ineffective that Young decided to man mark Darmian.

 

[BigDunc9]

Even when the rest of the team was great i thought he was underwhelming.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Went into hiding again. I'm not surprised. He was possibly the worst player in red yesterday.

He was absolutely outstanding yesterday.

Completed more passes on his own than the whole of Chelsea's midfield put together. More complete passes than anyone on the pitch. Herrera will get all of the credit for doing all of the noticeable running in our midfield, but Pogba was different class in terms of ticking our play over. Such a good player.

@Freak

 

[Escobar]

He had a very good game and his distribution was top notch. He lost the ball a couple of times where you thought it was unnecessary but he settled in well. His form is pointing upwards and I hope he has a strong finish now

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Played well on Sunday.

Easily his best "big game" performance. Break his goalscoring drought and I think we'll see the confidence flooding back to him

 

[podurban2]

@Freak

 

[Cassidy]

Played well on Sunday.

Easily his best "big game" performance. Break his goalscoring drought and I think we'll see the confidence flooding back to him

Was better vs Spurs for me

 

[OldTrevil]

Which has been the case a lot this season when it comes to Pogba. To what extent does on argue whether it is bad luck or just wrong decision making? He is a great player and I would not swap him for any other midfielder in the world but that doesn't mean he should be exempt from criticism. Overall he had a good game which is all that matters, he is improving. No point trying to argue with you over this, we differ in opinion. He had other options and choose the wrong one and that is my final view on it, shared by a few other posters.

Of course he isn't exempt from criticism, no player is. The bad decision making/over complicating line is thrown at him too easily nowadays, that's my main contention. Fair enough we disagree on whether he did it that time.

 

[Delano]

Pogba has all the tools to be an elite player. But he needs to learn when to release the ball.

So many times this season we have been on a breakaway with Pogba on the ball and instead of releasing a winger, he'll hold the ball up and try a trick.

He needs to learn from players like Iniesta or Zidane, players who did skills for a reason, not because they can. An attempted megs against Chelsea just being one example of a needless attempt at a trick.

If he simplifies his game he will be a far better TEAM player. Until then he will be a frustrating individual player who performs to his level a handful of times during a season.

 

[Irrational.]

Does a great Mancunian accent:

 

[Sterling Archer]

The sheer presence of a Pogba makes him be the primary man to account for, which allows for others to have a bit more freedom and not be under the same attention as Pogba. At Juve, you had to pick your poison between Pogba, Pirlo, Marchiso, Vidal. Pogba had that freedom, which he really isn't allowed anymore and he's adjusting.

A lot of the vitriol being spouted about Pogba seems to forget this. It's not really possible to be at your best in every match when you are pressed by two or three players. Even players like Iniesta, Pirlo (or Hazard..) have these games in which they just can't create an influence in spite of the excellent midfield foils. On so many occasions in games in which top teams are pitted against each other you see how effective it can be to 'cutoff the supply' per say. In the Chelsea match, it seemed that Pogba's instruction was to draw more players in and free up Ander and Fellaini. It was a less glamorous role for Pogba but I thought he did quite well.

I can't stop watching that. We simply outran their counterattack. So many people motoring back!

Hahah I was just doing the same thing. Pogba then Valencia. Great to see the desire.

Pundits and fans seem to struggle appreciating the midfielders that don't have one main standout qualitie.

Carrick and Fletcher had similar problems and it took those players years to be fully appreciated.

It's like a virus. The scapegoating spreads and reaches intolerable heights. Then a sudden overhyping and heaping of praise about finally becoming the player everyone expected. It's as if there's no sensible middle ground where a player can grow with experience naturally and progress as he should. It has to be crowning heights and rock bottoms.

Not just pundits either. The level of annoyance on here* with Fletcher at 23/24 years was pretty high. Give it a few years and it's cries about how we would have beaten Barcelona with him in the side. I wonder if it will be similar with Lingard (Feel free to correct the ages if I'm wrong but that's how i remember it)

*I'm a newbie but I've been lurking on the cafe for, oof, idk maybe a decade maybe more tmi disclaimer: I remember it was around the time I got my first credit card and immediately one of the first things I did was try a porn subscription...the ignorance of youth sigh

 

[UnitedForever147]

Even when the rest of the team was great i thought he was underwhelming.

Glad I'm not on my own with that view

 

[Adam-Utd]

Even when the rest of the team was great i thought he was underwhelming.

He still did hang onto the ball a little too long at times, but it was by no means a bad performance at all. He just needs to get that balance right of playing quick snappy 1 touch passes, or carrying the ball and shielding it.

Did his defensive job perfectly though which is usually the stick people beat him with.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Does a great Mancunian accent:

That's a very good impression ​

 

[shield]

Strangely, I felt that the other two in the midfield (Herrera and Fellaini) upped their level so much (in the last match), it was somewhat similar to the Juventus midfield where Pogba did not have to do a lot of heavy lifting. For once, there seemed to be method in what was going out there in that midfield, and everyone in the team seemed to know and execute their role perfectly and this helped Pogba with his game.

Think he is just too young to be asked to take care of a dysfunctional midfield all by himself at the moment. Think for the time being at least, like next year, we will have to add some quality to the midfield to help Pogba shine (and we need him to shine because he is very talented). Towards the end of next year or so, we may start seeing him fully grasp the midfield responsibility by the scruff.

 

[Ibi Dreams]

Does a great Mancunian accent:

His natural speaking accent is actually a bit Mancunian anyway since he spent so much time there as a youngster

 

[rpg]

He seem a very likeable guy and really hope he do well for us. His defensive works is not up to standard this season and playing 2 in midfield for most games doesnt help him as it exposes his lack of defensive strength. And he hasnt showed he got enough flair and creativity to play as a top team no. 10.

Dwelling too much on the ball ,always lookout for Zlatan for through ball instead of other teammate are some elements he need to adjust in his game. His style of play are impressive sometimes and erratic at other times which is more fitting for a widemen rather than a midfield who should be solid at all times.

 

[Robertd0803]

Pedro.

EDIT: Possibly the most interesting part of the gif, Chelsea were so ineffective that Young decided to man mark Darmian.

brilliant.

 

[zlatan_ish]

He's had some brilliant games and some bad ones. He's struggled in the big games which has led some to think he's been poor all season which isn't true. He's mostly been good.

His finishing is fecking awful though. No composure whatsoever.

Been ok. Good in parts. Was pretty good till December. Lost it a bit in recent past and big games. Seems to be a lot more restricted, presumably under instructions which is a shame. Poor with finishing, but that's not his primary job. Lacks support and needs to improve in certain areas. Have plenty of time for him though.

Thanks lads.

 

[Rado_N]

Holy shit that pass was insane.

@GifLord?

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

What a fecking pass.

 

[Paxi]

What a pass! Inch perfect.

 

[LargePea]

Magical pass...almost got me teary-eyed.

 

[el3mel]

What a through that's . This guy is amazing.

He appears to be improving his defensive roles as well.

 

[The_Midfielder]

what a pass

 

[mu4c_20le]

The class was always there.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

On fire.

 

[SirAF]

What a mother fecking pass

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Great ball to Rashford. Superb vision.

 

[Tiber]

With just a little more luck he could already have a bucketful of goals this season

 

[podurban2]

Poggy

 

[Bubz27]

Not a goal or an assist though, so he's still shite.

Sarcasm, for those who need it pointed out.

 

[SirAF]

Not a goal or an assist though, so he's still shite.

Sarcasm, for those who need it pointed out.

2nd assist

 

[IrishRedDevil]

He's starting to really shine and his defensive contribution and tracking back is greatly improving.

He's going to be a beast when he fully settles into the team/league.

Pogba vs. Premier League CMs 2016/17:
Most chances created (54)
Most dribbles (71)
Most duels won (184)
Most passes completed (1,726)

 

[GifLord]

Holy shit that pass was insane.

@GifLord?

 

[M Bison]

We're jumping the gun here, great pass aside, he's given it away far too much and not imposed himself on the game enough.