His passing combination with Shaw is the most surprising thing of all. Despite playing less minutes than most of the squad it just goes to show how important an attacking LB is to getting the best from Pogba. It baffles me to see Young still getting starts over Shaw really. The 3 man midfield is obviously the way to go but we've already known this for a long time so it's nothing new.Some good stuff from Sky
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ilemma-for-jose-mourinho-at-manchester-united
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 6
- Assists
- 16
- Yellow cards
- 5
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
The combo with Shaw is obviousSome good stuff from Sky
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ilemma-for-jose-mourinho-at-manchester-united
Shaw helps Pogba play better with his well-timed overlapping runs and 'right' supporting positioning.Zlatan and Mata are so obvious, Carrick is unexpectedly that high, Martial that high as he is the closest to him.
But the one with Lingard is surprising, thought should have been higher.
Good article and stats by Sky Sports.Below is some of his defense contributions, slight drop as expected.
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Also goes to show no matter how impressive Matic is, Carrick is an entirely different level as a deep lying midfielder.
Ibra missed so many sitters Pogba served on a plate last season. Watching Pogba's last season highlights is like watching a Lingard/ibra missed sitter compilation. Having Lukaku and Martial in this year's team is part of why his assist tally is high this yearSome good stuff from Sky
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ilemma-for-jose-mourinho-at-manchester-united
Also aways believed Shaw has the best link up down the left. Young being right footed just isn't a natural at linking up down that flank. Also can't alleviate pressure on his left sided partners with supporting runs. I'd even say he's overrated as a leftback. End product once every 6 games isn't worth gimping our attack
Not many players seem to get Pogba's movement, bar Carrick who can pick Pogba out more effectively. Pogba doesn't have good chemistry with Matic unfortunately, their passing play combo together feels off for a top team midfield partnership. Sadly Carrick's retiring.
How was the combination between Pirlo and Pogba at Juve?
The interplay at Juve was in general quite good because they flooded the midfield almost all the time and operated at a much more patient pace. We can't compare the counter attacking system United play with what they do.
Ofcourse, Carrick's passing was on another level.
You mean the combination between Pirlo and Vidal/Marchisio...
Pogba played more with his LB ( Evra/Sandro ) because he's more a LM than a CM
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Crystal Palace 2:3 Man Utd
Second half he was brilliant. Makes his first half even more difficult to understand.
First half was disgusting.
Became much much better in second half like rest of the team.
Became much much better in second half like rest of the team.
He's half the player when he's asked to keep it simple. He seems to lose concentration too easily because of it.
Weird how he was awful first half in a three and better second half in a two...
Almost like he might actually be culpable for his own performances and this 'OMFG Pogba can't be expected to do anything like a professional football unless he's playing in one ridiculously specific position' nonsense is just that.
Almost like he might actually be culpable for his own performances and this 'OMFG Pogba can't be expected to do anything like a professional football unless he's playing in one ridiculously specific position' nonsense is just that.
Much better in the 2nd half. But was horrible in the first half.
Second half he was Pogba we all love and like to see.
And it was in a notorious midfield 2 too.
And it was in a notorious midfield 2 too.
Much better in the 2nd where we actually tried to attack in their half instead of just sending it forward constantly. Poor first half though along with the rest of them.
Awful first half. Just didn't look interested.
Second half a lot better. Got on the ball and starting play. Played some nice passes in between lines and went for some runs.
Need better from him, though.
Second half a lot better. Got on the ball and starting play. Played some nice passes in between lines and went for some runs.
Need better from him, though.
Having more movement off of him and options ahead of him helped.
Bailed out by the result. Better in second half, but that’s not much considering he was awful in the first one. Has to do better.
First half he looked like he just got out of bed.
Second half he got his eyes back.
Second half he got his eyes back.
Bewildering performance in the first half when he was just not interested in covering ground! Second half was much better just like the whole team.
Guess this is why Mourinho plays a 4231, with Pogba deep in the so called 'smaller' games and puts him in a three in the 'tougher' games.
Did it with Fabregas, and wants to do the same with Pogba.
He can play there, but someone needs to work on his positional play. When to get forward, when to hold, etc.
Appalling first half. Hollywood passes that gave the ball away on a few occasions (including for their goal) and even simple 5 yard passes he was missing with.
Better second half, but still didn't think he was all that great to be honest.
Better second half, but still didn't think he was all that great to be honest.
An embarrassment in the first half. Just go look at his heatmap. It's what you'd expect of Darmian. Camped out at the halfway line like a shit LB.
Second half was at least average. Still shocking tracking at times though.
Second half was at least average. Still shocking tracking at times though.
I think he plays like a kid and that's not a compliment. No maturity to his play at all.
He's in stinking form right now, you really can't depend on him. I'm dreading what sort of Pogba will show up against Liverpool after his nightmare against them last season in the same fixture.
He's in stinking form right now, you really can't depend on him. I'm dreading what sort of Pogba will show up against Liverpool after his nightmare against them last season in the same fixture.
That should be the plan.
Really was good in 2nd, dictated play, made forward runs, made things happen, was all over the pitch.
Sure, but doesn't excuse how utterly diabolical he was in the first.
Horrible first half but managed to rise his game a bit for the second. Should be better.
So playing him advanced, with less defensive responsibilities makes him worse and he plays better in a midfield 2 
? Like @Pogue Mahone said it time and time again, the issue with him has never been about positioning.
? Like @Pogue Mahone said it time and time again, the issue with him has never been about positioning.If that's the case, we probably need a new 10.
Yes, all his mentality, and all those who make excuses for him based on positioning are feeding that problem. His attitude and focus in the first half was a disgrace, supposed to be leader of the team and he comes out like that and shows so little respect to the opposition. Very lucky to not be subbed at HT, but to be fair he came out and was much improved, more responsible in his play.So playing him advanced, with less defensive responsibilities makes him worse and he plays better in a midfield 2
Shows the problem of building a team around Pogba when he has these massive swings in performance.
I don't get the negativity about the first half - as so often, I feel like having watched a different game.
His task was quite clearly to collect the ball deep and bring it into the final third. He did that well (bar a few imprecise passes), playing almost 60 passes in that half alone. He was vital for United's fluidity and tried some stuff on top, which didn't really come off.
My main criticism would be that he was too passive tracking back, he could have obstructed Townsend for his goal shot, for example. He was more alert afterwards, but still.
His task was quite clearly to collect the ball deep and bring it into the final third. He did that well (bar a few imprecise passes), playing almost 60 passes in that half alone. He was vital for United's fluidity and tried some stuff on top, which didn't really come off.
My main criticism would be that he was too passive tracking back, he could have obstructed Townsend for his goal shot, for example. He was more alert afterwards, but still.
We've had more than enough evidence to know that now it's pointless to do that. He should be part of the team like a "normal" player. He ain't cut out to be the main man.
Pogba kept it simple and kept the ball moving constantly in the second half which was great to see after an abysmal first half.
He was terrible in the first, but I like that he keeps going. Great in the second. Really within arms reach to be unplayable he is, just that little bit missing.
Which is why threads like "who should we buy to give Pogba freedom?" are pointless. He can't be the key figure, not decisive enough in the final third, and why Mourinho is desperate for him to adapt to a more orthodox midfield role.
Was he cold or something first half? Better second half. Come on Paul, some consistency.
Good. I thought that i am the only one who think that
Very lazy in the first half, looked to playing in a strop, much better in the second half.
Yup, he was given his choice to be the top dog. Sanchez coming has obviously affected his ego too, it's not a bad thing to realize that your role can be just as efficient in a less dominant manner. The best midfielders are the ones who keep things simple and let others do the damage.
Drunk first half, very good second half.
- Status