Paul Pogba / turned down United offer of 300k as “nothing”

[Thiagoal]

I think if we were to move to a genuine 4-3-3 (with a DM) then we’d see the best out of Pogba and could start controlling games against the bigger teams.

However, that would involve dropping Bruno and thus I can’t see where Pogba fits with us going forwards? When we bought him, we should have built a team around him rather than trying to get him to adapt his game to suit our system as sadly he doesn’t have the skill set to do that

 

[MadDogg]

Pogba isn't important to our first team.

Minutes with and without him in the league last season:

	Minutes	GF	GA	minutes per GF	minutes per GA
With Pogba	1897	35	26	54.2	73
Without Pogba	1523	38	18	40	84.6

McFred helps Shaw/AWB to push higher up the flanks, and give Bruno more freedom to get in and around the box.

Pogba gives you more individualistic gif-worthy moments. But Manchester United are a better team without him.

While I do think it's best for everyone if he moves on, I think it's only fair to recognise that at the beginning of the season he was still recovering from Covid and really shouldn't have been playing. That was a bad mistake by Ole, the medical staff and yes him as well. He may have felt ok on the training ground but it was very obvious he wasn't right out there.

I do agree with your last two lines though.

 

[MadDogg]

Pogba leaving would mean we need 2 MF ,1 CB and 1 RB. Not sure if we will be able to pull it off

I'd say we need 1 CB and 1 MF no matter whether he stays or goes. It's just that the type of midfielder we get should change, depending on whether they will be playing next to Pogba or if it'll be next to Fred or McTominay.

The RB and second MF would be nice to get but I wouldn't class it as a 'need'.

 

[MadDogg]

The improvement in the right wing position is the gap between Greenwood and Sancho. That gap isn't massive... and it doesn't make us title contenders. Our weakest area of the pitch is central midfield and it looks like we are losing Pogba. We have known this. If and when he goes, and it is highly likely, we will be replacing downwards as it stands. And then we have McTominay and Fred. That is not a honours-challenging midfield. But we strengthen our forward line, which is where we are at our strongest. If that makes sense.. Then this £$£!"$!£"TWRWEFQWERQWEREWFD makes sense.

It's not just a gap between the individual quality of Greenwood and Sancho. We've been absolutely crying out for a creative winger, one that will help more in the build-up and look to assist, rather than our current options who are all mostly focused on just scoring goals.

Meanwhile Pogba is difficult to even fit into our team. We really should be looking to get another midfielder no matter whether he stays or goes, and even thought that midfielder will almost certainly be less talented than Pogba they should be a better fit into how we want to play. That midfielder + Sancho should have us looking a far more solid and balanced team.

 

[Borys]

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he's gone

He's gone for sure. One of those comments where it doesn't really matter what Ole said, but what he didn't say. There is no mention about him staying.

He's not in the details of how much we're getting for Pogba.

 

[Red_toad]

Any follow his mate who used to post stuff on twatter about him? Was king Jono or something like that, a poker player who was mates with quiet a few of the youth team. He called Pogba joining from Juve well before anyone. Massive tool, but certainly in the know.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

I love Pogba but these rumours have consisted for too long. He has to go now.

 

[Idxomer]

It's not just a gap between the individual quality of Greenwood and Sancho. We've been absolutely crying out for a creative winger, one that will help more in the build-up and look to assist, rather than our current options who are all mostly focused on just scoring goals.

Meanwhile Pogba is difficult to even fit into our team. We really should be looking to get another midfielder no matter whether he stays or goes, and even thought that midfielder will almost certainly be less talented than Pogba they should be a better fit into how we want to play. That midfielder + Sancho should have us looking a far more solid and balanced team.

I don't see us controlling the midfield area under the current setup with Pogba or without him. We simply have way too many players who aren't interested to do much there. There's no midfielder in the market who is gonna give us the change you desire. I very much expect us to start with McTominay and Fred again.

I agree that Sancho might help but there's also a chance he would find himself overwhelmed on a side where he would need support from players like AWB and McTominay who are lacking in technical ability.

 

[charlenefan]

You hang out with him off the pitch do you?
It's tiring reading the tripe on hear from you lot

He will feign injury, he will down tools, he should tell his agent to shut up blah blah blah.

How many of you here will go to the companies you work for and negotiate a lower salary however good or bad people think you are.

And to be honest it's not like if Pogba doesn't get the money it goes the club to do something else, the glazers line their pocket with it.

Worry about the like of Phil Jones taken money for nothing.

The guy came out last season and said he'd rather keep quiet and just play football and does what he did.

If you don't like him as a player fine but just stop with the BS making up nonsense to make yourselves feel better

WTF are you on about? Go to bed you're talking shit

 

[royboy16]

I just hope we can get money for him and he doesn’t walk on a free again.

 

[GueRed]

Imagine if we let him go on a free again

 

[MadDogg]

I don't see us controlling the midfield area under the current setup with Pogba or without him. We simply have way too many players who aren't interested to do much there. There's no midfielder in the market who is gonna give us the change you desire. I very much expect us to start with McTominay and Fred again.

I agree that Sancho might help but there's also a chance he would find himself overwhelmed on a side where he would need support from players like AWB and McTominay who are lacking in technical ability.

We won't control the midfield in the way teams who are set up to focus on doing that will, but that doesn't mean we can't improve significantly. That should be our goal. A midfield that is just as solid defensively as what McFred is but with superior control and ability when we have the ball. It really shouldn't be that hard to get that.

 

[jesperjaap]

I know its only a section of fans....but that PSG banner says a lot to me. He has had it throughout his career too. A fair section of Juventus fans werent worried about him going and were very happy with the fee, a large section of our fans are not convinced by him and now a section of PSG fans.....fans from his own country where he is supposedly a god for his country dont want him to move there.

It ISNT just fans beign fickle here. For all of his obvious abilities and qualities and moments of magic and some excellent performances.....he has always been a devisive player for the opinions of fans and pundits.

Five years here and we are still talking about how to fit him in the side, how to build the side around him, his best position, not having the right players around him.....this isnt even adding the off pitch circus that surrounds him......yet some still think he is the best midfielder in the world and we should be paying him wages of £80-100m in wages to stay here for the next 4/5 years at which point his value will be far less than it is now....for me its an absolute no brainer to sell him and look at one or two replacements for a better balanced midfield

 

[Valar Morghulis]

A lot of people on here say "I love him but... *insert reasons why he should be sold* "

I absolutely don't love him. Wanted him to feck off to whoever would take him when he made those comments in Japan during the 2019 transfer window. Yes he's got great footballing ability but his time hasn't worked out for either party and it needs to come to an end now.

Bin him off to PSG for whatever they'll give us for him and move on.

Sign a decent CDM, and a good CM and we will be a much better team for it. Functionality over raw ability every day of the week for me.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

As i said earlier in this thread

He ended up being deployed on the left in the last part of the season, and he didnt set the world on fire from there

He isnt indispensable on the center of the field, and he isnt indespensable on the left. So yeah, goodbye

He's not indispensable or irreplaceable however the standard of technical ability we have in midfield is extremely low, and hence, we'd be absolutely mental not to realise that he needs replacing. I have worries - us giving him a big fat contract but never getting the best out of him, and us selling him and continuing with the jolly trio of Fred, Mctominay and VDB. "lightning" up OT.

 

[pratyush_utd]

I'd say we need 1 CB and 1 MF no matter whether he stays or goes. It's just that the type of midfielder we get should change, depending on whether they will be playing next to Pogba or if it'll be next to Fred or McTominay.

The RB and second MF would be nice to get but I wouldn't class it as a 'need'.

RB is definitely needed. AWB has no backup and last season every opposition team targeted his weakness. People will be amazed to see the transformation if we buy a proper attacking RB who is comfortable on the ball.

 

[Cecc07]

Just sold him already, I'm tired of the drama that surrounds him. Overrated player, never worked at United. He is a failure at United unfortunately. Years of excuses for him. Sell him and bye someone who can dictate the tempo of the game.

 

[Ranchero]

I thought your talking about how much of an improvement Sancho is over Greenwood on the right?

I want Pogba to stay mate, been one of his biggest defenders on here. Imo will be a big step backwards if we lose him.

Not only is he the only deeper lying midfield player who can play the ball forwards but he also takes some of the creative burden away from Bruno.

You watch the pressure that will be lumped on Bruno, regardless of the added creativity of Sancho, the absence of Pogba will pile more pressure on Bruno.

I agree. But does Pogba have any desire to be at United?

 

[Ranchero]

Reading this, you couldn’t see football more d differently to me.

Personally I think Greenwood has filled in that role as best he can but there’s a reason AWB has to be a beast defensively and why he’s so limited with options going forward. All I’ll say is I think it is highly likely Sancho balances our team out and we start to see a shift away from our attacks predominantly being built down the left. This will help everyone, makes us harder to predict and, crucially, just having a player who positionally knows the role (Greenwood is a striker and grew up mainly playing as a striker) will be telling when we play the deep defensive lower league teams.

CM is our area with the most depth and quality - Pogba, Bruno, Fred, Matic, McT, VdB…we’ve chosen to play a defensive pair and to play without a focus on offensive possession, that doesn’t mean we’re weak there. I want Ole to ditch the double pívot but, unless he does, what’s the point of a specialist DM who can sit alone? We’ve had Pogba for years and he ended up being shunted to LW…VdB doesn’t even play. It’s not a lack of quality it’s a conscious choice to play a limited but effective style.

Yes we do think differently if you think we in any way compare to the top teams in the Prem in central midfield. Just looking at Chelsea alone. Who would you have..McTominay and Fred or Jorginho and Kante.

I know the answer that would be echoed far and wide.

 

[horsechoker]

If he's going let's get this done and use whatever we make from it to bring in someone who fits the way we intend to play.

Hugely talented player but never quite lived up to the hype around him. He was supposed to be the chosen one but he came into a turbulent United and he too much of a square peg in a round hole.

I've described the fans relationship with him on here as a toxic relationship. Everything Pogba does brings out rage from some posters.

I don't want to say Pogba is blameless here but circumstances haven't helped.

If this does happen the best thing will be getting rid of the cancer that is Raiola. Never again do I want to see him represent a United player and that includes Haaland

 

[tomaldinho1]

Yes we do think differently if you think we in any way compare to the top teams in the Prem in central midfield. Just looking at Chelsea alone. Who would you have..McTominay and Fred or Jorginho and Kante.

I know the answer that would be echoed far and wide.

An answer that ignores my point entirely. Bravo.

 

[choccy77]

I hate to be THAT guy, but Bruno has been largely irrelevant for us for a period of time now. Masked by a penalty here and there.
Is that all it would take for you lot to say Pogba has been great? A penalty here and there?

Dude, the guy has literally played none stop for us since joining.

A lot of that is because Pogba has been either injured or just ineffective so we have relied on him so much.

 

[Pavl3n]

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he's gone

I'm more inclined to believe that Ole's trying to convince him to stay. A little like the comments he made re Cavani after rumours of Edinson being ready to go to Boca surfaced.

 

[peridigm]

Imagine if we let him go on a free again

Imagine if we give him a huge contract and ridiculous wages and he continues to be hot/cold.

 

[BFernandes]

Imagine if we give him a huge contract and ridiculous wages and he continues to be hot/cold/cold/cold/hot/cold/cold/cold/cold/hot/cold/cold

Fixed.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Pogba isn't important to our first team.

Minutes with and without him in the league last season:

	Minutes	GF	GA	minutes per GF	minutes per GA
With Pogba	1897	35	26	54.2	73
Without Pogba	1523	38	18	40	84.6

McFred helps Shaw/AWB to push higher up the flanks, and give Bruno more freedom to get in and around the box.

Pogba gives you more individualistic gif-worthy moments. But Manchester United are a better team without him.

Stats don't always show the big picture...

When you put it that way.....

With Fred starting
Played: 47
Won: 27
Drawn: 10
Lost: 10

Goals per game: 1.82
Goals against per game: 0.85

Points per game: 1.93
Win rate: 57.4%
Loss rate: 21.3%

Without Fred starting
Played: 26
Won: 13
Drawn: 7
Lost: 6

Goals per game: 1.96
Goals against per game: 1.07

Points per game: 1.76
Win rate: 50%
Loss rate: 23.1%

https://www.planetfootball.com/quic...s-record-with-and-without-fred-since-2019-20/

 

[Dante]

Stats don't always show the big picture...

When you put it that way.....

With Fred starting
Played: 47
Won: 27
Drawn: 10
Lost: 10

Goals per game: 1.82
Goals against per game: 0.85

Points per game: 1.93
Win rate: 57.4%
Loss rate: 21.3%

Without Fred starting
Played: 26
Won: 13
Drawn: 7
Lost: 6

Goals per game: 1.96
Goals against per game: 1.07

Points per game: 1.76
Win rate: 50%
Loss rate: 23.1%

https://www.planetfootball.com/quic...s-record-with-and-without-fred-since-2019-20/

Your stats gloss over the detail because there'll be games when Fred has played a part but not a significant amount. And if he's come on for 1 minute at the end of a match, that will count one way or another for whatever argument you want to push.

Mine specifically talk about the minutes when Pogba is and isn't on the pitch. The numbers are laid bare.

 

[roseguy64]

He's gone for sure. One of those comments where it doesn't really matter what Ole said, but what he didn't say. There is no mention about him staying.

He's not in the details of how much we're getting for Pogba.

See the full quotes here.

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

See the full quotes here.

Even the full quotes does not seem very convincing. Ole says at the end "Need to see what happens". This is not very encouraging, normally before selling players he is always saying part of the plans or will prove his doubters wrong, or like a new signing etc.

I am disappointed at Pogba, seeing as we have already signed Sancho and reportedly close to signing Varane, this is one time where, I feel we have a proper team with world class players all over the pitch. In fact we would have the best Defence in the league and closer to best attack with Cavani, Sancho, Pogba/Rashford and Bruno in the front four.

Although our midfield is weak compared to others, but if we can hold on and then quickly hit them with the players we have, I don't think i would be scared against any side with the quality we will have now, so to leave at this time, It would be anti-climatic of Pogba, because if we keep Pogba, we would be serious challengers for every competition we enter into.

 

[Juanuzayne]

Your stats gloss over the detail because there'll be games when Fred has played a part but not a significant amount. And if he's come on for 1 minute at the end of a match, that will count one way or another for whatever argument you want to push.

Mine specifically talk about the minutes when Pogba is and isn't on the pitch. The numbers are laid bare.

Frankly, all of these stats are pointless. Neither factors in difficulty of opposition. Pogba could be in for games against elite teams, hence the win rate being lower. He could be on the bench against relegation level teams and our win rate would still be reasonably high against those teams.

 

[Dante]

Frankly, all of these stats are pointless. Neither factors in difficulty of opposition. Pogba could be in for games against elite teams, hence the win rate being lower. He could be on the bench against relegation level teams and our win rate would still be reasonably high against those teams.

McFred played more often against the top 6 teams. Ole got scared off Pogba and Matic in midfield after we lost 6-1 to Tottenham.

 

[crossy1686]

There is no way at the end of July the club and Pogba still don't know what's going to happen this season regarding his contract. Everyone's acting coy which suggests he's looking for a new club

 

[SATA]

Do we think he will be still at the club for the first league game against Leeds and starting in it? Or his arse will already be in Paris and we have his replacement by then?

 

[crossy1686]

Do we think he will be still at the club for the first league game against Leeds and starting in it? Or his arse will already be in Paris and we have his replacement by then?

Hopefully the latter

 

[edcunited1878]

Pogba was "shoehorned" into playing CM with McTominay in a cup final because Fred was injured and could not start. The club wants him to stay, but he's also not the end all, be all for this team to take the next step.

It takes an entire squad and unless you're a Cristiano, Messi, Neymar, etc....you can't be a passenger....especially if you're part of a central midfield two with two CBs behind you.

During big games throughout the 2nd half of the season, Pogba was inserted on the left wing/forward to accommodate McTominay and Fred...that pairing is the best functioning midfield, even if Pogba has more talent than those two combined.

 

[croadyman]

Convinced its now becoming a case of

Pogba leaves - target a DLP type player like Saul/Neves

Pogba stays - target a DM like Rice/Ndidi

 

[meamth]

Convinced its now becoming a case of

Pogba leaves - target a DLP type player like Saul/Neves

Pogba stays - target a DM like Rice/Ndidi

Saul is not a DLP.

 

[croadyman]

Saul is not a DLP.

I didn't think so either but not sure what else to put him under

 

[meamth]

I didn't think so either but not sure what else to put him under

he was supposed to be like Modric type, but lately he has been woeful. Losing the ball easily and physically weak.

 

[Highfather_24]

During big games throughout the 2nd half of the season, Pogba was inserted on the left wing/forward to accommodate McTominay and Fred...that pairing is the best functioning midfield, even if Pogba has more talent than those two combined.

Weird take.

Not all midfielders are great at defending, doesnt make them a passenger. Its not about talent either. Would you say "McFred is a more balanced midfield, although Juan Mata has more talent than those two combined". Its not a question of talent, its a question of position. You shouldnt play an attacking midfielder in a midfield 2. You cannot play players like Grealish, Isco, Pogba, Bruno in a midfield 2 and then be surprised that its not working. And that natural CMs like McT and Fred, give the team more balance.

Its not a question of workrate or effort, its just a square peg/round hole situation.