Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber
Thus says Kemo
Ball distrubition/circulation has never been creativity. The two can never be conflated. United has ba circulates in Matic, Fred and Mc Tominay. Yet it had next to no impact on our creativity. It's not by coincidence.I guess my definition of creative player and yours are different. To me, a distributor is not a creative player, just ensuring ball movement to the creatives.
His defensive game is of no relevance to the issue at hand. Namely having 2 creative players on the center of midfieldI concede that City has multiple creative players, and have the great fortune of having KDB, who is both creative and defensively sound.
Liverpool are the only elite side that has no creative players. Their gegen pressing system is the creator, with the fullbacks as their biggest distribution channel.I’m trying to figure out who is the creative midfielder in the Liverpool side...
Even a Chelsea posses Kovavcic and Jorginho as proper deep play makers rather than mere circulators. With the likes of Barkley or Mount operating ahead of them. If they had a more clinical attack, they'd be rooting trans to shreds a a result.Chelsea? Mason Mount and then Kante/Kovacic and Jorginho (both distributors).
Tielemans is a creative like Pogba.Leicester, Maddison, then Ndidi and Tielemans, both distributors.
Arsenal operate with Xhaka deep and Ozil aheadArsenal, with Guendouzi and Torreira as distributors. Ceballos and Ozil...
Dortmund though play similar football to Liverpool. With a less Workman like set of midfielders.If you’ve watched Dortmund, you’ll see they use a midfield 3 of Delaney, Witsel and Brandt. Sancho is their main creator, and the midfield tries to distribute to Sancho and Hazard. Witsel is particularly excellent in this role in my opinion.
United play nothing like Liverpool or Dortmund. We have always been at our best with a creative midfielder like Robson, Scholes or Carrick right in the heart of our midfield. Even in a more defensive role like Ince, Keane and lastly Carrick all occupied. With a second striker/number 10 like Cantona operating ahead of them. With the wingers as the outlet for stretching teams and in the CR7 years adding regular goals....
Since Fergie left we have suffered badly because we no longer have that. This season alone Matic, Fred and Mctominay have been in fine form as circulators. But creatively we were dire without a Pogba type. Till we added a Bruno. Now just think the difference having both would make.
I'm convinced people are conflating assisting with play making. Playmaking that runs creativity has NEVER left the heart of midfield. Infact these days unless you operate like a Liverpool it is all the more crucial due to pressing.My point is that much of the creativity to unlock defenses has moved out to the wings.
People have this idea Pogba can't hack it defensively in a 2 man pivot because they constantly over look the fact he has had to consistently abandon his pivot partner to force creativity for United further upfield. Due to being the sole creative presence down the center for years. Causing tactical issues in the center of the pitch. Which at one time forced us to shift to a 4 -3-3- which exposed the dearth of having once creative central player all the more . Which in turn has exposed our dearth of a right winger.Secondly, since quick counter attacking and the high press has entered the game, you need at least two high work rate, disciplined midfielders who can support a high press as well as have the defensive awareness to break up quick counter attackers and get back quickly to defend. That’s not really what Pogba is good at.
With a player like Bruno around, It's is less likely to happen. Besides with a Bruno around I don't see the issue: Bruno can comfortable operate deeper with Pogba as the 10 instead.
If we add a Sancho to that we'd be finally a properly balanced side with a two flank threat. For even a Mere James' being around had improved our two flank threat just this season.
Above all my point is simple. If a Pogba goes, he should be replaced with a similar player, not a wide player. Preferably one comfortable as pivot player. United need and Keane or Veron ( Witsel/Partey, Fabian Ruiz or Thiago Alcantara type if you will) if he leaves. Not a Fabinho type. Then and only then would we be able to unlock the full benefit of adding a Sancho.