Unicorns my friend.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 47
- Goals
- 16
- Assists
- 14
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Red cards
- 1
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
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International managers tend to be very stubborn when it comes to dropping people.
Very true. Not like he had many other possibilities. The one thing that could be said is that Pogba had a lot of doubters to prove wrong before the tournaments
If Mourinho was the manager, Pogba would've been on the bench and France wouldn't have won the World Cup.
But even if I don't rate Deschamps, he isn't the type of manager to put his ego above the interest of the team or to change his team because the journalists or the fans want x player on the bench.
Deschamps deserves full credit
But even if I don't rate Deschamps, he isn't the type of manager to put his ego above the interest of the team or to change his team because the journalists or the fans want x player on the bench.
Deschamps deserves full credit
I agree with this. He didn't need to be freed up in the world cup. He was very strong in a disciplined role, feeing others up. We should focus on buying specialised top quality to play in front of him, so we aren't relying on his goal/assist contribution and he can just relax and do his thing. there is too much pressure at United for him to do everything. In this WC he didn't need to. I feel we need to upgrade on Lingard at the no 10 role. Maybe even cheeky bid for Dybala.
Seems the French squad still haven’t left the dressing room!
Why would the “he can’t play in a 2 man midfield” bollox stop? Not like he played in a 2 man midfield during the WC? He showed a more disciplined side to himself but he was also bombing forward at will in a lot of games and abandoning that midfield for Kante and Matuidi to clean it up. Matuidi doing the same at times, with Pogba cleaning up.
I think Pogba can certainly play in a two but if you want him at his best then it’s in a 3.
Absolutely nonsense.If Mourinho was the manager, Pogba would've been on the bench and France wouldn't have won the World Cup.
But even if I don't rate Deschamps, he isn't the type of manager to put his ego above the interest of the team or to change his team because the journalists or the fans want x player on the bench.
Deschamps deserves full credit
Interesting comments from Jose on Pogba in some interview with ESPN.
The tweets are from Tom McDermott's Twitter and the interview is on ESPN Twitter account.
This shows that Paul's issues are due to lack of motivation, it seems. Isn't that meant to be Mourinho's thing? Being able to motivate players to even 'run through a wall' for him?Mourinho said:
The tweets are from Tom McDermott's Twitter and the interview is on ESPN Twitter account.
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Last tweets
Mourinho said:
Pogba has been great in big games apart from Spurs away, but that would make a lot of sense, he lost concentration and motivation when we have a small game coming
So looks like the relationship between him and Mourinho won’t be getting off to a great start with the whole holiday thing.
If Mourinho gets upset by Pogba not returning a few days early...that's on him.
Hopefully Pogba will return in good shape and good spirits, ready to work for the team.
Yep. He's not going to return quicker to meet a boss he doesn't get along with.
Will be interesting to see how this season develops.
At least we have options in midfield. In the case of Rashford and Lukaku, all we had is Sanchez (and Martial, but you know...)
It's not a strong relationship let's put it that way. I'd say he's entitled to complete his holiday right until the last day. We need him to be fresh and there's nothing to be rushed back for. It's not like there's a midfield crisis.
Players should not be coming back early from holiday imo. Or at least not be pressured into it.
The world cup final was just over two weeks ago. It's not just about physical rest as much as mental.
Mourinho's obsession with this and with players playing through the pain barrier annoys me.
Why ? It's not like Mourinho forced anyone to return anyway. Rashford, Jones and Lukaku did it on their own. The others aren't including Pogba, will he be angry at all of them ? Not logical.
Was just trawling through some random stats and saw that Pogba got 6 goals and 10 assists for you last season, which on paper is a fantastic return for a central midfielder. It's similar for example to Eriksen (he scored four more) who plays in a more advanced position and is one of the best in the league in his role. Especially impressive when you consider that Pogba played significantly less games. I also believe he doesn't take set pieces, which would make it an even better return? Yet Pogba seems to be one of the most heavily criticized players in the league (pretty much torn to bits every other week by pundits), which again is weird when you consider his return is good.
Do you guys think it's a case of the performances simply not matching up with the statistics? Or is he just far too heavily criticized because of the hype that came with him when he joined. Seems to me he gets attacked for bizarre nonsense like his hair cut or demeanour a lot of the time, so mostly just vague rubbish which pundits love to conjure up when they have taken a dislike to a certain player. Whenever I've watched you play he seems to be good, sometimes exceptional, of course like every player he does have his off days but again they appear to be focused on more than is fair.
I think he's got to be the player in the league most unfairly criticized for stuff not related to his performances. It's really odd.
Do you guys think it's a case of the performances simply not matching up with the statistics? Or is he just far too heavily criticized because of the hype that came with him when he joined. Seems to me he gets attacked for bizarre nonsense like his hair cut or demeanour a lot of the time, so mostly just vague rubbish which pundits love to conjure up when they have taken a dislike to a certain player. Whenever I've watched you play he seems to be good, sometimes exceptional, of course like every player he does have his off days but again they appear to be focused on more than is fair.
I think he's got to be the player in the league most unfairly criticized for stuff not related to his performances. It's really odd.
It's not just Jose but aye, annoys me too.
On Talksport yesterday they were interviewing a reporter who had written an article about players breaching contract and returning early.
The journo said that per PFA rules, every player is entitled to 5 weeks holiday per year and must take 3 weeks together, no excuses. This, apparently, is written into every players contract and is non-negotiable. They discussed that, for the vast majority of players, they will have most summers off and are therefore able to take the three weeks together in the summer without incident. However, many who were at the latter stages of the World Cup now need to take the three week break right into the start of the season, as per this rule. It's not just United, as Loftus Cheek and others have returned early too, but the journo ended by saying pressuring players to return for their teams just because the manager wants them back is selfish and ultimately wrong. Sure, some players will do it no questions asked, but any player who exercises their right to their time off should absolutely not be lambasted for doing so, considering it is their right. Players like Rashford and Jones will end up breaching their own contract to return to the team and while this is their decision, it seems like it may lead to issues down the road between the PFA and the clubs, as the PFA are looking after the players welfare.
Finally, they made the point that other leagues start later than the premier league, and also have a winter break. So other leagues seem to be doing much more to ensure the welfare of the players, while the lads here are brought back, start really early, have no winter break and end up playing consistently all the way through to May.
It's a very long and enduring season, so if Pogba wants time off for another week or so before he returns to training, he is perfectly entitled to do so.
This. Jesse's also not back yet. Rashford ran a lot less than Lingard and Pogba at the World Cup. Isn't it also just three days of difference? Maybe I missed something and Jose has said something new? If not, then it's just moaning for the sake of it.
Good post. I absolutely think that due to the way he arrived from Juve and because of his character, he takes an awful lot of unnecessary flak.
He's unfairly criticised. Every thing he does is analysed under a microscope. He was one of the best midfielders in the league last year across all stats.
People don't like that he's expressive and likes to change his hairstyle. Also the price tag, it's ridiculously unfair. With the way he performed in the WC i'm hoping that he wont get as much criticism because he's proved himself on the biggest stage and he's still only 25.
Why would he be pissed at Pogba for not coming back off holiday?
He's partying with Fellaini, Mou's pet... He probably gave Fellaini permission
He's partying with Fellaini, Mou's pet... He probably gave Fellaini permission
Said in the dedicated thread on the topic, but I categorically think Jose is in the wrong/our of order on this one. As a United fan, I’m desperate to see Pogba back too, for the selfish reason that I much prefer to watch us play with him than without him. But from where I’m sat, Jose appears to be trying to pressure his players, or at least question their character for deciding to take a full holiday.
As for the actual football discussion, I also agree that the micro analysts are brainwashing many as to his season. It is not his good ‘spells’ that were an anomaly/infrequent - it was the poor spells.
As for the actual football discussion, I also agree that the micro analysts are brainwashing many as to his season. It is not his good ‘spells’ that were an anomaly/infrequent - it was the poor spells.
Seems that way. I think you're right that it's a combination of the huge fee, and a few miserable old pundits just taking a dislike to his personality, which is completely unfair and they should be reminded that they're meant to be professionals and not hold agendas against players based on how they like their haircuts. It's honestly irritating to me even as a rival fan when you watch Pogba play and you're thinking he's had a decent game, then Souness immediately targets him even if other players have been far worse.
Statistically he's been fantastic, you're right. Obviously stats aren't everything and can often be misleading, but when a player who doesn't take set pieces (I don't think?) and is racking up that amount of goals and assists, he's obviously doing something right on the pitch. Feel like people expected him to come in and be the Messi of central midfield which is obviously entirely unfair. If I could take any CM from the Premier League and sign them for Spurs, it would probably be one of Pogba, Kante or De Bruyne, so from my perspective he's undeniably up there. His fee wasn't even that much when you consider how the transfer market looks right now, if you wanted to sign a player of his quality today you'd easily be looking in the 100m+ zone.
Players are entitled to take every last second of their holiday, especially Pogba who actually had proper celebrating to do unlike the other players.
Young and Fellaini are still on holiday also.
What did Mourinho do? He said he would like to have some of the players back. Some did, some will, some won't. Don't see anything scandalous here.
I don't see the problem in JM asking players to come back early from holidays,he obviously thinks we have a lot of work to do still with the disruption of a world cup and to get his team ready for the new season.
I see it as a positive that he wants to try win the league as he is under pressure this season and wants his team ready.
I see it as a positive that he wants to try win the league as he is under pressure this season and wants his team ready.
He’s repeatedly said, in public, that he would love if some players come back early to help the team. It has naturally invited a public conversation on whether players should be doing this. He’s championed others for ‘putting the team first’. It’s all very sly and implicit, but basically, he’s engineering a discussion where those who don’t return early now look like they a letting their team down as opposed to taking an entitled break.
He started with Young, who seemingly didn’t bite, saying he hopes he will decide to come back early and help the team. If that’s what he hoped, why not ring Young and ask him? He will know where Young stands on it then. But now, doing it at a press conference now means if he doesn’t return early, it’s because he denied his manager’s wish. It’s unfair. He should call his players and ask if he wants, and if they say no, then tough, no need to invite everyone into the conversation.
Independent of you and I thinking it was wrong or right for him to act like that, I think it's a bit premature to bump this thread by randomly stating that the relationship between Mourinho and Pogba won't be getting any better. As if Mourinho asked specifically for Pogba to return early and then criticized him after he didn't. Seems like stirring shit without a reason.
People were saying that there were huge issues between Pogba and Mourinho all last season. I remember it was huge news before I think the Liverpool game. Then Jose is getting interviewed and Pogba makes a beeline to give him a hug and celebrate the win. For some reason still nobody has let up with this shit.
Shaw is another one that was apparently on Jose's hate list, and that looks like it's complete bollocks too. Those completely buying into this sort of stuff are all mugs, basically. You're letting the press lead you a merry fecking dance at the detriment of your own club you absolute clowns.
Shaw is another one that was apparently on Jose's hate list, and that looks like it's complete bollocks too. Those completely buying into this sort of stuff are all mugs, basically. You're letting the press lead you a merry fecking dance at the detriment of your own club you absolute clowns.
Yea, I agree with bumping the thread as there hasn’t been a specific Pogba-related incident or comment. He has spoken more generally, as an I, about players coming or not coming back early. I don’t think it’s a conversation for a public forum.
The reason he takes the criticism despite the stats you're mentioning comes down to the fact that he is being asked to do everything at once. Asked to be the creative force from deep but also directly influence games with goals and assists.
Pogba at United has to assist or score for people to acknowledge he had a good game. He had plenty of games where he played to his normal level as a CM but it goes unnoticed because we don't have the same quality that France had.
I think Mourinho's comments were aimed more at the likes of Jones and Rashford who barely played. Pogba and some of the others played every minute of every game.
A sensible post from a Spurs fan, how refreshing!
Pogba was the only United player in the final and also won it (so some crazy celebrations). It's understandeable that he comes back 2-3 days after everyone else.
@SquishyMcSquish even on here people were raving about him (and rightly so) in the first half of the season. He fell out with Mourinho, which coincided with a slight drop in form and him being benched — and then Mourinho played the press and the fans like a fiddle. I mean I regularly saw Pogba being included in the Worst/Dissapointing XIs and his season being rated as a terrible one!
Not to say that Mourinho's criticism was baseless — Pogba was a bit lazy in the defensive phase, but the whole stunt with McTominay was way over the top.
Not to say that Mourinho's criticism was baseless — Pogba was a bit lazy in the defensive phase, but the whole stunt with McTominay was way over the top.
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