My ideal lineup for the next season would have Rashford upfront/rotating with Mason on the right. Pogba is exclusively a left-sided playmaker, unless we sign some defensive monster like Ndidi or Casemiro.
Where should Pogba and Rashford play?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
I think the later half of this campaign has shown why a proper DM needs to be prioritised this summer. It would balance the team out so much better.
I feel like we play the double pivot for a couple of reasons and they are due to Ole not fully trusting the CB partnership and Fred or Scott to go solo in that DM role.
All the title winning teams I can think of in the last 5 - 10 years have had a proper anchor in the midfield whether it's been Fabinho, Kante or Fernandiho.
I feel like we play the double pivot for a couple of reasons and they are due to Ole not fully trusting the CB partnership and Fred or Scott to go solo in that DM role.
All the title winning teams I can think of in the last 5 - 10 years have had a proper anchor in the midfield whether it's been Fabinho, Kante or Fernandiho.
I agree to a certain extent, this is definitely what I would like to see but I think we have an issue at centre back that influences what happens in the midfield. Both of our starting centre backs play on the back foot, Maguire less so than Lindelof but both for me display this as their natural instinct. When you play with CBs who drop off and back up to the edge of their area you create space for runners, this is where a sole DM will struggle, when multiple runners start bypassing the 2 more advanced midfield players. This is why we persist with the Fred-McTominay partnership.
I'd love to see two CBs who play on the front foot and a DM signed to allow Pogba-DM-Bruno in midfield.
Its a short term issue where I think he's leaving this summer or next summer anyway. But we can't really get Rashford, Pogba and Bruno in their best positions if they're together. Greenwood on the right with Pogba and Bruno is a better balance, Rashford in for Greenwood puts him on the right where he is very hit and miss (but still capable of excellent performances). Pogba leaves us way too light in midfield when he is deeper, at least when starting. If Bruno out, Pogba as a 10 and Rashford left works great too. But generally with everyone here and fit, it'll be Pogba left, Rashford on the right with Cavani central and Bruno in behind.
Pogba plays on the left, Rashford doesnt get into the team for the strongest 11 for me unfortunately.
They're both LW for me, but Pogba can be an AM and Rashford a CF/RW, which is good as hopefully it means going forward we don't have to run Rashford/others into the ground and can rotate a bit with quality players ala City
Easy, rotation.
Pogba and Rashford can rotate. Pogba and Bruno can rotate, Rashford can play CF and if needed RW, Pogba can play CM in a 2 or a three.
If either of them have a problem with that - tough.
Pogba and Rashford can rotate. Pogba and Bruno can rotate, Rashford can play CF and if needed RW, Pogba can play CM in a 2 or a three.
If either of them have a problem with that - tough.
ManUnited
Everyone needs to earn the right to play by performing. The 4-3-3 is realistically the only way to get the best out of Pogba and Rashford but not sure it would suit Bruno.
Technically it should give us options to rest both Cavani and Bruno without seeing the drop that we often get when we bring in VDB or James ect.
If we need to rest Cavani then play Rashford up front and Pogba on the left, if we need to rest Bruno (we need to be able to do this more) then play 3 in midfield with Pogba roaming to the left and Rashford on the wing cutting inside.
There will always be plenty of games.
If we need to rest Cavani then play Rashford up front and Pogba on the left, if we need to rest Bruno (we need to be able to do this more) then play 3 in midfield with Pogba roaming to the left and Rashford on the wing cutting inside.
There will always be plenty of games.
I could be wrong on this as it has been awhile but I remember De Bruyne played many games for Wolfsburg at the right wing position. I think he has a natural inclination to roam towards the right side which meant that role at City was perfect for him. Pogba, on the other hand, prefers the left. At Juve they used him mainly at that LCM position.
Its hard to switch positions even though they are theoretically the same because once habits and skillsets are developed its even tougher to coach out of it. Its will be like asking Beckham to play left wing.
You can count on injuries so I don't think it's too much of an issue, they're both best on the left but theres plenty of games and we need to get our squad to the same numbers and quality that City have so this is a good thing
You can actually throw Martial in as a 3rd option as well
You can actually throw Martial in as a 3rd option as well
Don't know why we haven't tried the diamond at all. But yes, he shouldn't play in the midfield 2.
What happens when their form drops off or one of them gets tired. Should they still have a divine right to start every game? What if one of them gets injured? You would have said the same thing about martial last season and look at him and Cavani wiping the floor with him now. It’s the same thing with Pogba on the left making Rashfords contribution look quite one dimensional. Keep boosting the quality of the first 11 and the squad will take care of itself. Most people are just annoyed that it’ll end up taking minutes off Rashford or Greenwood (or martial last season) when the truth is if they aren’t playing with enough intensity to keep their place they should be dropped. Greenwood and Rashford have also been ineffective in too many games for us to win anything major. It looks to me like a genuine threat for their place is exactly what WE need to kick on.
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100%. It is weird how often I see how we shouldn't buy this player because then this other player won't get to play every game but then complain that Bruno and Rashford play every match. We need more quality and competition breeds excellence so the added competition should make everyone improve. Our flexibility of options in attacking positions with Rashford/Sancho/Martial/Pogba/Bruno/Greenwood and Cavani in those front 4 positions would be fantastic.
Rashford's the better player. Not by a huge amount. But, overall, he is.
When one's on form and the other's off form, the one who's doing better should get the left sided role. That's been Pogba for a couple of weeks now. I doubt it's going to be for long, though, judging by what we've seen from him since 2016.
When one's on form and the other's off form, the one who's doing better should get the left sided role. That's been Pogba for a couple of weeks now. I doubt it's going to be for long, though, judging by what we've seen from him since 2016.
I'm really curious to see what team Ole's gonna go with for the Europa League final. I think some of the best performances we've had this year were against Spurs and Roma where Pogba (on the left)/Cavani/Bruno linked really well together, so I wouldn't be surprised if we go with that and Rashy is moved to the right. But then again, Rashford is so much better on the left and when he plays there, he often makes those incredible runs (like against Granada away) which offer us a very direct way to score.
It's a good problem to have to be honest...
It's a good problem to have to be honest...
I'd like to see Pogba in a midfield 3 with Bruno and a top class CDM.
Buy Grealish to play on the left and Rashford can compete for a place in the front 3 with Martial, Greenwood and Amad.
Buy Grealish to play on the left and Rashford can compete for a place in the front 3 with Martial, Greenwood and Amad.
Pogba starts on the left for me..
Fred- Mct remain the midfield..
Fred- Mct remain the midfield..
Pogba + Cavani > Rashford and Cavani
I agree, at this rate Rashford is benched.
I think it's the only position Pogba can play at his best!
Anywhere else and he is not the same. So if he signs a new contract then I'd let him have that position from here on out. If he doesn't re-sign then the question/problem isn't a question/problem.
Rashford will have to focus more on a CF position.
The one to lose out is Martial tbh, he really is at the bottom of the pecking order now behind these two plus Cavani/Greenwood. If Sancho comes in then I would expect Pogba or Martial to leave (but that's for another thread)
Anywhere else and he is not the same. So if he signs a new contract then I'd let him have that position from here on out. If he doesn't re-sign then the question/problem isn't a question/problem.
Rashford will have to focus more on a CF position.
The one to lose out is Martial tbh, he really is at the bottom of the pecking order now behind these two plus Cavani/Greenwood. If Sancho comes in then I would expect Pogba or Martial to leave (but that's for another thread)
Aye that could work, but we'd suffer for the lack of presence in the box.
Well, something's gotta give.
Cavani has nearly as many g/a as Rashford in 1000 less minutes with no fuss and hes 10 years older. No walking around or not working. Simple effective direct pass and move football with pressing and work rate.This is what happens when you put an injured Rashford on a pedestal. You forget what an effective and balanced team performance looks like over supporting an individual player
Depends entirely on whether we get Sancho. When Pogbas missing in the lineup our creative play goes downhill fast as the opposition can focus on shutting down Bruno and that halts most of our attacks. But with Pogba in the team it forces the opponent into shutting down both Pogba and Bruno and thats significantly harder. With Sancho in the team that opens up yet another avenue and allows us to rotate Pogba a bit more.
Also as a reminder, given how well we've been doing in cup games with Ole we tend to have close to 60 games a season, thats more than enough games to rotate Pogba/Rashford. Also gives us the option of rotating when one is out of form. Likewise the same scenario would occur with Sancho/Greenwood. We need more options on the bench to bring on so if one player is having a bad game we have quality to bring on and effect the game.
But as of right now, Pogba/Bruno have the nod over Bruno/Rashford.
Also as a reminder, given how well we've been doing in cup games with Ole we tend to have close to 60 games a season, thats more than enough games to rotate Pogba/Rashford. Also gives us the option of rotating when one is out of form. Likewise the same scenario would occur with Sancho/Greenwood. We need more options on the bench to bring on so if one player is having a bad game we have quality to bring on and effect the game.
But as of right now, Pogba/Bruno have the nod over Bruno/Rashford.
I’d like to see Pogba and Bruno in midfield supported by a proper DM. Could this work?
If we buy Sancho, against low blocks, we could see Pogba in a double pivot, and Rashford on the left. But in the big games, its Pogba on the left, Sancho on the right and Rashford on the bench. If we don't buy Sancho, then i could see Ole continuing to play Rashford as a RW...
If Martial, Pogba & Cavani are as fit as Bruno and can stay away from injury and capable to play week in week out then we don't need to worry about upgrading our squad depth.
The problem is that those three are not on Bruno's level fitness means we need to have a better alternative than James and much more suitable alternative for our system than VDB. Whether it's signing cheaper version Raphinha or add extra 25m-30m to sign Sancho or putting full faith on Daillo next season, in my opinion James & VDB have shown us this season that they are not capable to be the alternative to replace our regular players especially when our regulars are unfit, tired & injured.
Ideally, I would like to see Sancho comes in while we sell James & VDB who one is not good enough while the other one doesn't suit to our system. Whichever way we do it, in my opinion we need to have more reliable option than James, VDB & Mata.
4-3-3
Pogba left midfield, new proper DM, Fred/McTominay/De Beek/Garner on the right
Bruno, Cavani and Rashford up front
New CB so we dont feel the need to play 2 DMs all the time
Pogba left midfield, new proper DM, Fred/McTominay/De Beek/Garner on the right
Bruno, Cavani and Rashford up front
New CB so we dont feel the need to play 2 DMs all the time
Rotate them, but with Pogba as the no.1
both, but pogba on left and give rashford time to adapt to the right often. playing pogba on the left is too good an opportunity to get big performances from him, while we can focus in the summer on upgrading our double pivot without worrying about signing players to 'unlock pogba'
Pogba can also play in Bruno´s position, so no worries about game time for Rashford. And there will be injuries. In current form, Rashford should start on the bench.
The general view I get is whether a poster wants Rice, Ndidi or Bissouma they all think Pogba can play alongside them to provide the creativity side of the double pivot, my hope is Ole realizes it won't work, when Pogba plays there for France it's a different set-up and I think when Pogba needs to play in it for 6 games in a month for a tournament he can keep his concentration, a 60 game club season is totally different, he wants to play in attack, I'm beating the comparison to death but people need to realize he's more Gullit than Yaya Toure. If Rice is signed then he's our Rodri/Ndidi/Kante/Fabinho, but in those cases their partners are Gundogan/Tielemans/Kovacic/Thiago or Wijnaldum.....look at the mobility and quick ground coverage of those #8's and the key differences are obvious to me. Pogba is best off the left in attack, Rashford can compete with him, Mason and Cavani/Martial for any of the attacking slots.
I like Pogba on the left. It will also make Rashford work on his "off the ball" movement. From the left, Rashford tries to do too much on his own. I'd like to see him making that far post run more often when playing from the right when he doesn't have the ball, and taking his man wide and at pace when he does have the ball. The big test will be when we play Liverpool. Pogba will have to work hard to track the runs of TAA...
This really is an issue and anyone downplaying it is ignoring all the evidence. It doesn't seem possible at least with the current formation to maximise both of their strengths.
The first question that needs to be asked is are we stronger with Rashford on the left and Pogba in midfield or with Rashford on the right and Pogba on the left. I really don't know, havent seen enough of the latter to give a definite answer.
Ole has a problem on his hands as both are extremely important to how we perform. Perhaps he needs another formation change to get the best out of both. Seeing Rashford on the right isn't the best use of his skills at all but neither is Pogba in a deep midfield position. The diamond is still a solution but unfortunately we don't pass the ball well enough as a team to play it successfully.
The first question that needs to be asked is are we stronger with Rashford on the left and Pogba in midfield or with Rashford on the right and Pogba on the left. I really don't know, havent seen enough of the latter to give a definite answer.
Ole has a problem on his hands as both are extremely important to how we perform. Perhaps he needs another formation change to get the best out of both. Seeing Rashford on the right isn't the best use of his skills at all but neither is Pogba in a deep midfield position. The diamond is still a solution but unfortunately we don't pass the ball well enough as a team to play it successfully.
That´s what he did for Sporting, wasn´t it? I remember when we signed him, people with good knowledge of him as a player argued he was a nr. 8 first and foremost, but a 10. Not sure though, that Pogba and Fernandes playing together in a 4-3-3 would give us the right balance. Fernandes is not Herrera. Defensively, this setup give me a bit of chill.
Rashford - Cavani - Sancho
Pogba - Rice - Fernandes
I´d rather stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation.
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Bruno on the right wing? Not sure about that.
If we buy a good enough defensive midfielder we could play 4-3-3 with Pogba and Bruno in midfield but I don't know if there is a defensive midfielder who could balance that out. Against weaker teams that formation could be useable.