I saw the second half again and I didn't think that Pogba did much. It was actually Van De Beek's substitution that changed the game for us as James had completely faded by then. Only thing Pogba did right was not misplace simple passes that Fred was doing. Even at the death, VDB, Mata, and Bruno were on the same page in keeping the ball whereas Pogba was giving ball away.
6
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
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- Goals
- 6
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- 9
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I saw the second half again and I didn't think that Pogba did much. It was actually Van De Beek's substitution that changed the game for us as James had completely faded by then. Only thing Pogba did right was not misplace simple passes that Fred was doing. Even at the death, VDB, Mata, and Bruno were on the same page in keeping the ball whereas Pogba was giving ball away.
I really hope he does well. If we can get the best of him this season, it's good for us if we keep him, also good for us if he wants to leave (fetch bigger transfer fee).
That dumb double pivot role is not for him. At least we should try a 4-2-2-2 formation, while we don't have a credible RW and try and use both him and bruno in an attacking role.
It’s amazing how often he receives the ball with an obvious, easy, early pass available only to ignore it and slow things down instead. No surprise that our midfield seems to consistently function better without him in it.
Fred didn’t have a particularly good game and misplaced some basic passes but when he does get the pass right he plays it early. Which speeds up our play and makes us much more of a threat. Pogba’s involvement seems to slow things down more often than it speeds things up. And that’s a big problem.
And that’s not even getting into the problems he causes when the other team have the ball...
Fred didn’t have a particularly good game and misplaced some basic passes but when he does get the pass right he plays it early. Which speeds up our play and makes us much more of a threat. Pogba’s involvement seems to slow things down more often than it speeds things up. And that’s a big problem.
And that’s not even getting into the problems he causes when the other team have the ball...
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You’re actually suggesting that someone should be benched because they pulled someone’s shirt?
Thought he was crap until we were 3-1 up, then improved dramatically with the pressure off. The usual with him, he's a show pony.
Too relaxed and slows play down. Need a bit more intensty in that position. I think he should be left out the team until he is a bit more hungry to play.
You’re actually suggesting that someone should be benched because they pulled someone’s shirt?
Yes. And why is that funny?
It's a clear indicator of his play.
He's not being played in the right position, he's not suited for defensive duties.
It's not a one time thing.
He constantly gets on the wrong side of players resulting in uneccesary fouls, often in dangerous positions.
We're playing Everton soon, make a couple of dumb fouls like that, you'll see what i mean when James whips them in to Mina, Calvert-Lewin or Keane.
What i'm saying is - don't play him in the position he's just not good at.
Playing him further forward, without defensive duties is the way for him.
Sadly for him, we have better players occupying his position making him redundant.
Sad but true. (starts playing Metallica)
One thing you have to say is that Pogba is always consistently good when he comes off the bench. He always has an impact, shame he’s too expensive to actually do that to regularly.
I agree with the point of not playing him in position that is not suited to him but that’s entirely different to not playing him due to a shirt pull.
Rodri got booked within 15 mins of the game yesterday for doing the same, there will be no suggestions to drop him because if it.
He was finally used the way he should be used, as a sub against tired opposition. Advanced role, less pressure, little defensive duties.
For now he has lost the battle for attacking midfielder role with Bruno. I am not sure what will be the outcome in Pogba - VdB duel, because it's quite clear we have three players competing for same position on the pitch.
For now he has lost the battle for attacking midfielder role with Bruno. I am not sure what will be the outcome in Pogba - VdB duel, because it's quite clear we have three players competing for same position on the pitch.
He’s so slow and immobile when defending. It’s no surprise that when we play a midfield it Matic and Pogba our defence gets exposed much more. Teams are able to just run past them easily.
We definitely need one of Fred or Scott or even both in that deep midfield role.
We definitely need one of Fred or Scott or even both in that deep midfield role.
"Turned the game around". "Looked unstoppable once he came on".
Honestly, it's not even worth discussing Pogba anymore. These people that are so deluded, they deserve exactly what they're getting from our team. The standards are well and truly in the gutter these days.
Honestly, it's not even worth discussing Pogba anymore. These people that are so deluded, they deserve exactly what they're getting from our team. The standards are well and truly in the gutter these days.
Laugh all you want but the simple fact is when Fred went off and he came on we kept them pinned back in their half and ended up scoring 3 goals.
I don’t see you why you and other frequent pogba haters waste so much energy trying to tell everybody how bad he is? It’s like you score a moral victory if he doesn’t play well because you dislike him. Odd behaviour.
Agree with this. Pogba entered the game at the perfect time. Zero pressure so he could jog, trot, saunter (or whatever it is he does) across the pitch with a smile on his face and not a care in the world.
Still our best outfield player though.
A Matic replacement would they key to fixing our midfield in the summer, Partey instead of VDB would have made a lot of sense
Do you realize that two of these three goals came from counter attack and Pogba had nothing involved in all those three
?And you think before Pogba came in we didn't dominate the game? Did you actually watch the game?
Tbh I don't hate Pogba, he did ok last match, nothing noteworthy though. But saying he turned the game around is just
Pogba didnt change the game and no lets not go down this path again, dont let him fool you.
He shouldnt start because his game has too many flaws and he often plays lazy and doesnt do F all. He should be used as an impact sub. Its his best role.
If this turns out to be our Bale situation, so be it. We tried everything. We are not to blame here.
He shouldnt start because his game has too many flaws and he often plays lazy and doesnt do F all. He should be used as an impact sub. Its his best role.
If this turns out to be our Bale situation, so be it. We tried everything. We are not to blame here.
Off to Newcastle then
they also tried this one on in the Donny thread as well, glad nobody bit on such unbridled toss.Tbh if you watched the match it's just impossible to bit on such bs
Wonder who the whipping boy will be next season when we’re 1-1 away to a Newcastle-esque team with McT & Fred bossing the midfield to a draw
Fans wanting to strip the club of quality instead of asking why the hell we’re playing this formation. Funny what a win can do.
Vive la Pogba FC.
Class on grass.
I am yet to see what qualities Pogba has over Fred and McTominay in midfield position. If you think my opinion on Pogba and our midfield is based on one win, I'd suggest to look up my posts from last season.Wonder who the whipping boy will be next season when we’re 1-1 away to a Newcastle-esque team with McT & Fred bossing the midfield to a draw
Fans wanting to strip the club of quality instead of asking why the hell we’re playing this formation. Funny what a win can do.
Vive la Pogba FC.
Class on grass.
Pogba in midfield means no balance, he needs to play high up the pitch with little defensive duties and I hope we've learned thad lesson for life.
When he plays in midfield, we lose the midfield battle. When he doesn't play, we lose creativity. Problem is, Bruno is better than him as a 10, and van de Beek is growing more and more, and pushing more and more for that starting spot.
Pogba could be world class if used right, but for me there's too many ifs and buts. I'd sell him, and look to buy a more rounded midfielder who complements McTominay/Fred/Bruno, cause it's clearly not working for Pogba.
Will we regret it? Possibly. He has a unique skill set that's pretty irreplaceable. But I also think we'll be a more balanced team in the long run. I just don't think he does enough good things on the pitch to be carried when he's not in the mood for defending. In terms of Bruno, his contribution in the attacking third allows him to make the odd mistake and poor decision.
Pogba could be world class if used right, but for me there's too many ifs and buts. I'd sell him, and look to buy a more rounded midfielder who complements McTominay/Fred/Bruno, cause it's clearly not working for Pogba.
Will we regret it? Possibly. He has a unique skill set that's pretty irreplaceable. But I also think we'll be a more balanced team in the long run. I just don't think he does enough good things on the pitch to be carried when he's not in the mood for defending. In terms of Bruno, his contribution in the attacking third allows him to make the odd mistake and poor decision.
Meh performance. He just does not work hard enough in some games and I tend to worry about our defence a bit more when he's on. Just doesn't shield them enough for a player in a double pivot even if you reckon in Fernandes tracking back to help out.
I think a lot of that is upto him too. His battle that he lost to Shelvy was all on him, and something we see all to often with him. Hes very lax on the ball as pretty much the last man, he gets pressured and loses out (and then most of the time doesnt work hard enough to recover it).
I dont know if its a case where he thinks his talent will outshine the rest whether he works hard or not.
Agreed. He hogs the ball too much and tries to look for a Hollywood pass, but more often than not thats the wrong call and it disrupts our flow when he really just should keep the ball moving
Another big issue with this is how he seems to focused on what is ahead of him instead of around him and he ends up getting mugged in a dangerous area
He's basically Steven Gerrard mk 2.
Everyone hails them as some perfect midfielder when in reality, they're both only suitable further upfront where they've minimal defensive responsibly and they're too in love with the hollywood ball which rarely pays off when a simple pass would be the better option 9/10 of the times.
But Gerrard had an amazing engine that made him more consistently effective for all his flaws. Quicker, more tenacious as well if not as gifted in ball manipulation.
This has to be down to him believing his own hype. I think he feels he's god's gift to a midfield and whenever he has the ball doing something simple isn't his first choice if there's a small chance trying to do something amazing is on. Why he doesn't realise it pretty much never happens is beyond me. He's a decent player, but he's not a team player. The sooner he starts doing the simple things better, making the quick link pass and pushing forward to receive the ball back and look to move it on at speed, the better he'll perform. He's an ego player for me and unless that ego is kept in check he'll continue to look mediocre.
Great game. Hope Zidane was watching
Helping Cavani settle in
Also Oles face
Also Oles face
That's probably the best description of Pogba I've seen. He dwells on the ball for no particular reason other than what you've described.
It's extremely frustrating because firstly it breaks momentum, and secondly his best moments come when he acts quickly. Then you can see how class he can be.
Sadly those moments are very rare, especially when he's played in deep midfield and has too much to think about.
If there was a metric of delta between talent and actual contribution to the team, he would be unquestioned number leader of the ranking in our team.
Pogba has it in him when he can be bothered, which means about 15 games a season for us.
If he really turns up to fight tomorrow and gives everything, we’ve got a fair chance against PSG. Sadly, he won’t so probably shouldn’t play.
I’d be half tempted to play him on the right, can do less damage there defensively and he can drift about offensively a bit like Mata did at the weekend.
I’d be half tempted to play him on the right, can do less damage there defensively and he can drift about offensively a bit like Mata did at the weekend.
HE SCORED TWICE ON THAT DAY!Y'all must have forgot.
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