Manchester United Banter Archive February 16 2018

 

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16 Feb 2018 20:40:56
I think the main issue is central defence.

Once Bailly is fit we would have a better midfield infront.

Believable1 Unbelievable3

16 Feb 2018 21:04:58
No.

Having bailly back we will be less likely to concede, it doesn’t make our midfield any better.

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16 Feb 2018 21:06:47
I think the issue is that Matic looks absolutely knackered.

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16 Feb 2018 21:12:08
It might make them more confident anf comfortable knowing they wouldn't concede easy goals. It will also let the midfielders play with more freedom.

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16 Feb 2018 21:13:10
That is also true matic does look tired abd we really need new midfielders in the summer.

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16 Feb 2018 22:03:38
Issue has been cm for months .
There can't be a team in the top 10 that let's the opposition get at there cbs as much as we do .
Our attack is just the from 3 players .

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16 Feb 2018 22:36:00
Issue is the way we are asked to play and players like Young starting ahead of Shaw is another major issue and sums up the mindset.

Midfield drops too deep, is too slow to support the attack. CB's are uncomfortable on the ball. Attackers aren't on the same wave length, turn up 1 week vanish the next.

There are zero relationships forming on the pitch, (can anybody tell me about a positive partnership forming? ), every game is like a bunch of strangers rocking up. There is no pattern to the play, almost like there is no offensive plan, just purely working on defensive aspects of the game I assume (and not looking too hot at that whenever a team attacks us) .

We have the players, the manager is just not using them properly, I also don't think he is preparing them properly. We look unfit, reluctant to work off the ball, slow to react to second balls and unaware of where to be when we get into a dangerous position.

Frankly it's a shambles almost every game. You could have Roy Hodgson managing us and we would be getting the same results and performances. Tools are being used incorrectly. I appreciate we are 2nd in the league blah, blah, blah, but we haven't even left 3rd gear this season and as for enjoying the spectacle, are we even meant to enjoy watching Utd anymore it feels like it has been banned?

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17 Feb 2018 00:05:19
We have only conceded 3 goals this year.

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17 Feb 2018 00:09:00
It's about scoring goals for me and I assume most Man Utd supporters.

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17 Feb 2018 02:34:37
Does your wife beat you, Beast? If i were this unhappy i would have stopped watching United. Try it for a bit buddy.

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17 Feb 2018 06:14:23
WRD, Matic looks knackered because he played pretty much every game. Let’s give Carrick a game or 2 and give Maric a well earned rest.

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17 Feb 2018 08:44:58
In answer to Singh I think there is an element of a shaky central defence affecting midfield a little. If the midfield have to look over their shoulders and lack even a little confidence in the centre of defence it will affect their play, just like a defence with a shaky keeper, anyone who has played those positions will know that. Improve our central defence and midfield will improve as they start to face in the right direction, forwards. SAF built teams on a solid central defence, which we lack. The spine of the team isn’t strong enough yet, including midfield but midfield would be better with an improved central defence.

It will be no surprise that I disagree with Beast on most of his rather negative points, except about Shaw who should, unless carrying an injury, play ahead of Young.

The question is why there is a lack of intensity in some players, to me it looks like the 70’s and 80’s where players are choosing when to put an effort in and usually it is in the cups. SAF would move a few on to get a point over and I hope Jose does the same.

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17 Feb 2018 09:57:45
Agree Tony, hoping he gets a rest today, play Carrick or McTominay.

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16 Feb 2018 19:57:00
I will be amazed if pogba doesn't turn out to be a top class cm player .
And make some people on here look very very silly .

All this he can't play cm etc will imo loom very daft in the years to come.

Believable4 Unbelievable3

16 Feb 2018 20:10:18
Yet 3 or 4 posts down you are asking is he good enough. Usual jred just looking for a row double standards to the fore as usual. Lol hilarious. Any psychiatrist looking for schizophrenia case studys should follow your posts.

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16 Feb 2018 20:17:02
Without wishing to sound like jred's lawyer, I refer you to part of his post in the thread below that I've just read:

"Some big questions being asked off him at the moment and rightly so for a player of his ability .
I think he will answer them in time and prove a lot of people wrong"

Case closed, m'lud.

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16 Feb 2018 20:20:09
Not at all Ken I have argued for a week now he has all the talent to be a top class cm . All this he can't play cm he can only play left he needs to play next to prilo is ridiculous.
Show me a post where I have said he isn't good enough?

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16 Feb 2018 20:37:39
I agree he has all the talents to be a top class player. I’m just fed up of waiting for him to step up and deliver.

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16 Feb 2018 20:41:05
Ajh
I with you ajh would make a massive difference .
25 next month, time to put to bed all this could be talk and start doing it.

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16 Feb 2018 20:42:30
Jrec show me where i said you did. Read it properly. I said a few posts down you asked the question and made the folliwing statement

Holding midfielder? What about like Jose says a rampaging box to box?  

Maybe he just isn't good enough?

Then a few posts later at the top of this thread you say anyone questioning him will look foolish. Comical. Just as well your not a lawyer ajh you would be useless m'lud.

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16 Feb 2018 20:44:50
Sorry ajh i meant noucamp. most police look at all the evidence before confirming case closed but as we know there are coppers everywhere that take shortcuts mlud.

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16 Feb 2018 20:47:57
Its sarcastic Ken .
Like I have said over and over again he is easily good enough to play cm all this he can't play cm is ridiculous and stupid .
Read down the page we both know even you can work that out .

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16 Feb 2018 21:15:11
Sarcasm often doesn't come across In writing jred. I didn't pick it up.
You have a lot less tolerance for pogba than you do lots of others who are not stepping up. But that's The nature of fans everyone has their favourites. You question pogba all the time but never martial or valencia or shaw or smalling you accept their average displays weekly and don't question them then make excuses for fellaini or the likes. You just pick your targets and then jump on everyone else when they pick on their targets
Those who think pogba won't be a top midfielder probably will look foolish but not as foolish as the folk that thought rooney would be englands and United's midfield lynch pin.

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16 Feb 2018 21:25:31
Jred, your sitting on the fence, when I read your first post on this thread, I thought the very thing Ken said. Jred I'm not right in the head but my man your in the same boat as me. Lol.

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16 Feb 2018 21:52:22
Go on then Jred I'll bite and stick my neck out. I don't think Pogba will be a success at Man Utd.

He's got the talent but I don't think he has enough of a footballing brain or enough mettle.

No doubt we will see some great moments from him and he will have the odd really good game.

However, my definition of success for him is consistantly dominating midfield whether in a two, three or on his own against all teams big and small and especially on the big occasions.

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16 Feb 2018 21:52:35
Ken
Pogba has the potential to be doing far better and at 25 should be .
People like yourself keep saying he can't do this he can't play there .
I disagree and have said so all week.

Martial has just turned 22 and will be imo a great player .
Valencia is playing to his potential.

Fellaini I can see what he brings to a team and understand why Jose would like him .
You wanted Shaw sold I thought and still think we should keep him .
You wanted martial sold and thought he would never be a top player . I think we should keep him will be a great player
Rooney? Lol sums up where your coming from .

1Some can't see past the potential talent the lad has .  
He could be 1 off the top 5 in the world

2Some big questions being asked off him at the moment and rightly so for a player of his ability .  
I think he will answer them in time and prove a lot of people wrong .

3Pogba didn't play well let's stop with the excuses and this ridiculous idea he can only play in a 3 .

4 we bought pogba because he has the ability to be the complete player .  

5 Ken I'm trying to point out this ridiculous "pogba can only play left cm " mentality .  
Sound like something one of the kids would say in our u10 team.


Thats just the last hour or so .

Is he playing great now? No
Can he be world class? I've said all week he Is easily good enough to be one of the best in the world .

While you say he is not good enough to play cm, I've argued he has everything to be a top class cm .
You don't think he has got it, fair enough . But as per I think he will prove u wrong.

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16 Feb 2018 21:59:27
Your either drunk or stupid maybe both. I've said all week he is top class. But don't expect him to do what he was doing at juve becaise he is playing in a different position. He can play anywhere but will play at his best in a system that sits him best. Lukaku could play on the wing but will be more effective as a striker.

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16 Feb 2018 22:00:45
Mancman
I agree about the part that he should be dominating cm .
I honestly think he has the talent it's the desire that is the question because the talent is there.
KDB is the best player in the league but it's the work rate and nous along side the talent that make him stand out .
That's pogba next step, I don't think you get to where he has got with out that .
Time to kick on imo only time will tell but I think and hope he proves a few wrong starting this weekend .

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16 Feb 2018 22:28:27
Ken
Neither drunk (Not yet) or stupid Ken.
As I keep saying and have done all week got everything to be a great cm .
You and many others keep saying it's the system position that's rubbish imo .
Played awful in a 3 last week been average in a 2 but has everything to be a top cm .
Just not playing well at the moment I'm sure he will prove yourself and many others wrong .

United will never set up with the same tactics or formation, which is far less important than tactics as juventus .

But pogba will still show what he is capable of .
By the way I don't want him to do what he was doing at juventus this is United and the epl and it's a different story and chapter. The lad can and should do better as he gets older and improve on what he did at juve .

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16 Feb 2018 22:47:11
It's all about context. If you read a poster's posts on a certain subject ie. Pogba - and actually read them all, rather than just seeing the poster's name and arguing the other way, you can see he's consistently said Pogba has the potential to be a great midfielder. It's easier then to spot the one sarcastic post, because it's at odds with everything else that's been said. I honestly didn't find it that difficult, but then I'm not trying to start a fight with my arch-nemesis :)

His main gripe appears to be that people are making excuses for him, especially the positional argument, rather then just admit that he's been quite underwhelming at times, and maybe that lies in his lack of desire/ application.

Anyway, jred's big enough and ugly enough to stick up for himself, so over and out.

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16 Feb 2018 22:58:19
Pogba needs to step up and say to himself, I'm going to lead this team on the pitch, I'm going to run myself and the other players around me in to a winning mentality.
The only thing is he hasn't got the balls or the desire or the winni g mentality to do this, now pogba I hope I'm wrong but it's time you showed us mate.

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16 Feb 2018 23:18:38
Jred, I really hope he proves me wrong. As it is, the best thing would be if Jose can at least set up to get the most out of him.

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16 Feb 2018 23:20:16
99
On the money .
Leahy
That's the big question . I would like to see him cut the dancing etc out and roy kean someone .
Won't be popular this but S Gerrard was a proper box to box player . Lampard was a very good player, once pogba works out and applies that kind of application he will be special.

He really has everything.

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17 Feb 2018 00:46:48
He has it in him. He is a cm always has been but where he plays its not all about 1 player its about the patnership or trio in the middle having attributes and attitudes that compliment each other. At the moment the blend is not right.
We have lost the midfield battle in most of the top 6 sides and also against many below the top 6. So that tells you the blend is not right.

He can and will improve on lots of aspects of his game but he like all middields the blend needs to be right in order to see the best attributes of each to shine through.


I understand people saying he should be running games etc but he is not that sort of player at this point. He can become one. Scholes wasnt running games at 24 or 25. Pogba not only has to mature as a person but as a player too. But if jose gets the mix right i'd love to see a kroos/ veratti / jorghino alongside him and matic dictating the match tempo which pogbas not grest at that's the dream midfield for me.
Failing that a kante type in seri / vidal / to get about the midfield getting in peoples faces with matic doing the stuff pogbas not great at.

Pogba is more of a free soirit in mid field who can and will still be required to defend and work hard but with the right trio we won't be exposed every time he is caught out going forward like we are now. When madrid wete in their pomp over last 3 or 4 years in cl modric rightly got lots of plaudits but without kroos and casimero there he might have looked poor.
Its a team game. Our blend is not right.
Ex wingers as full backs.
Lukaku up top but no crosses or wingers to feed him his pregerred service.
A no 10 mata playing wide right.
Jessie apparantly moved into cm.
Ever changing cb's

So the blend is not right. You could argue that the blend should be right given the money spent but the fact is the blend is not right yet. We are and have become a cup team. i'm not surprised if we beat anybody even the best of teams but i'm not surprised if we lose or draw against the poorest of teams. A lot of the players we have can do it on occasion but can't do it consistently. To win cups occasionally is enough if its on the right day.

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17 Feb 2018 06:16:45
I love the debates, not sure why anyone has to start throwing insults around though, it’s usually the sign of a weak argument.

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17 Feb 2018 10:46:19
If we sign jorginho I don't see where matic fits in and I think we really need a jorginho type .
Wingers as full back seem to be the next fad but truth is Tony has again done little wrong young has played well and Shaw is pushing for a start .
At a time when there isn't that many good full backs about .
When Mata plays he doesn't play as a winger and now we have Sanchez I think his game time will be limited .

Ken
I agree we still don't loom quite right but as has been said all season a lot of that is down to the manager.
Still in the cups and second in the league which suggest we are consistent.
And let many would agree still not playing to our potential, so plenty more to come from this squad .

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17 Feb 2018 11:08:24
Bit like you do to ronnie. ajh bully boy.

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17 Feb 2018 12:01:39
This squad will lose 6 or 7 players this summer then wet will have a proper squad.

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17 Feb 2018 12:03:06
I see a less game time for martial not mata. But we will wait and see. Who else is using wingers as full backs in this new fad.

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17 Feb 2018 12:24:23
Ken
New fad on the site .
Although the like of alves r Carlos where wingers.
Lots and lots of full backs started of as wingers or attacks but simply were not good enough to play further forward .
Cole alaba evra walker alba of the top of my head .
With less emphasis on defending and more on attacking we are and imo will continue to see it more and more .

But judging a player on the position he played in the past instead of what he does on the pitch at present is a bit daft .
Bit like judging a player on what he had won instead of how he plays.

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17 Feb 2018 12:47:39
Im judging them on what they deliver weekly jred.
You may be jappy with some players contributions and deem them to be good enough but under 3 managers over 5 years they have not been close to a title challenge and finished 4th at best 6th twice 5th once and this season will be hopefully 2nd.
5 years with no title challenge is not good enough. We are improving as better players join that's what i would expect but until we get 4 or 5 new players and release 6 or 7 we will not mount a title challenge.
Its not knee jerk reaction its 3 4 or 5 seasons the players have produced terrible league campaigns.

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17 Feb 2018 13:21:54
The squad has continued to change over the years .
The likes of pogba have won nothing in a United shirt .
Jones smalling young Tony all have .

But again what a stupid way to judge s player .
This squad is nothing like moyes? Again just a stupid comment .

You just give silly opinion after silly opinion.
Never back them up or argue your point just move on to the next opinion .

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17 Feb 2018 13:29:46
This squad is a new squad for this season what happened 3,4,5 years ago with different managers players is immaterial.
It's like judging Kane on what he has won .
This season this squad is 2nd in the league and in the cups and that's what is important .
The rest is plain stupid.

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17 Feb 2018 13:44:54
*won nothing league wise *.

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17 Feb 2018 14:26:33
Its probs not worth people falling out over what is Paul pogbas best position . I find people form an opinion on the formation selected based on the players selected. Say pogba matic and Mata are picked then people think 4231 as Mata will be more advanced and support the striker more whilst being given defensive duties but if the midfield is say matic, pogba and Herrera people will say it's 433 even if say pogba is tasked with playing in advance of the other 2 and expected to get in the box and support the striker whilst having defensive duties . The player in advance of the 2 sitting seems to make up people's minds on the formation if it's a number 10 type then people say 4231 if more of an alrounder 433. City use 2 kdb and Silva in advance of the sitting player to join front 3 in a press . Liverpool may not allocate one player from the 3 to be more advanced and rotate the roll amongst the midfield.
I think you have to decide would pogba do better than Jesse or Mata as the advanced midfielder .

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17 Feb 2018 14:27:11
Nearly half the squad was there with moyes.

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17 Feb 2018 15:06:09
Just the title winners.

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17 Feb 2018 15:13:53
We have signed 19 players since moyes plus linders rash and mctom.
That season under moyes has nothing to do with this squad . it's just rubbish.
Rasford was 15 at the time of moyes, but your going on about these players not winning a title?
Why stop at moyes tho why not go back 1 more season when some of these players won a title?
After all that's how u judge a player .

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16 Feb 2018 18:58:44
There has been a lot of talk over the past couple of weeks about Paul Pogba, Pogba has played some great games for us and he has played some poor ones. Two of which have come in the last few games.

I think Pogba is unfairly assessed by most people, some can't look past his fee, some can't see past the hype and expect miracles, others haven't gotten over him leaving the club before, while the rest just hate United and want to have a pop at us and our players at every half opportunity.

I don't think this talk about his position is right, I think it's just the obvious over simplification that happens all the time in the media.

He isn't tied to one position, tied with a leash pegged into the pitch to stop him moving out of position, at least not physically.

The very nature of a midfielder means they will move around, to try and say Pogba isn't playing well because he isn't playing on the inside left area of the centre of the pitch doesn't actually make any sense.

People will point to the fact that is where he started most often for Juventus and where he played his best games for Juventus. But ask yourself this, when he was scoring goals, creating assists making great runs or carving open teams how often did he do that while standing to the left hand side of the centre circle? Not often is the answer.

The truth is he isn't being held up by the formation but by the tactics. He has played excellent games for us in a 433, a 4231, a 3421 or 343.

To understand the problem you need to understand the player, Pogba is at his best with the ball at his feet taking the game to the opposition in advanced areas. This allows him to create chances with his dribbling, vision and passing or to finish off chances with his finishing which is excellent both close or long range. In order for him to make the most of his skills he needs a far more free role, he needs to be allowed to move about and find spaces, to work out where he can hurt the opposition.

He may be big and strong but he just isn't blessed with the defensive understanding to be effective as a holding midfielder, he needs to be given freedom. This is something that goes against Mourinho's pragmatic view point. He rarely allows any player to have that sort of freedom of defensive duties, let alone someone playing in the heart of the team.

He will struggle to consistently perform to his best while he is being made to play in such a rigid system and while he is expected to attack with one eye on defending. We will see flashes, but if you want to see the best of him you need to let him of the leash.

Believable5 Unbelievable1

16 Feb 2018 19:04:19
Good pozt shappy. He is playing with an anchor round his waist.

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16 Feb 2018 19:14:54
Some can't see past the potential talent the lad has .
He could be 1 off the top 5 in the world at the moment he is not 1 if the top 5 in Manchester.
Done ok this season but nothing more.
3 goal all season is also a shocking return for a player like pogba.

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16 Feb 2018 19:43:14
Ken
That's a bit harsh on matic.

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16 Feb 2018 19:50:32
Holding midfielder? What about like Jose says a rampaging box to box?

Maybe he just isn't good enough?

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16 Feb 2018 15:01:33
Is there any truth to this mourinho and pogba business? To me it looks like mourinho has got his new contract and can use that as a safety net/ payout if things go belly up so he can say or do what he likes? i'm just guessing here and probably wrong but thought i'd ask?

Believable1 Unbelievable1

16 Feb 2018 16:17:21
If you believe everything the papers say, then we might as well call it a day. I think mourinho wants more of pogba and let's see how pogba reacts.
My opinion is pogba cannot play as cm or dm. We didn't buy him for that. Play him in front of two midfielders and he'll destroy the opposition. Let's hope mourinho comes to his senses.

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16 Feb 2018 16:41:06
Attack
He started off in that position it didn't work out .
Maybe it's not about position? Maybe he is just having a dip in form .

This position crap is nuts, it's not like he isn't allowed out his own half or all he is doing is defending .

In fact he has been subbed or dropped last few games because he hasn't been defending or playing where the manager asked him.
Modern footy is a tactical game where u need to work hard .
And with Sanchez who is a great example of this now In the team pogba has a different role .

Maybe he hasn't really kicked on yet as much as we would like .
Maybe playing in the epl is harder than walking the league in Italy with juve .

Some big questions being asked off him at the moment and rightly so for a player of his ability .
I think he will answer them in time and prove a lot of people wrong .

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16 Feb 2018 17:27:16
Pogba played two of his best games for us a couple of weeks ago. He has had two bad games on the trot which is normal (he has had many bad games since he signed) .

The only difference now is that Jose has started subbing or dropping him.

He could be trying to force Pogba out, he could be looking for a rift that will mean he leaves with a big payout after signing his new contract. Or more likely he feels more confident now to drop an under-performing player of Pogba's stature. Maybe he is trying to motivate him before the CL starts up again and we reach the nitty gritty of the league campaign.

Frankly I don't really care, it's all superficial nonsense. He should have been dropped or subbed many times since he re-signed for us. I'll be glad when Pogba joing Madrid and Jose joins PSG.

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16 Feb 2018 18:05:57
Why does everyone get hung upon what is said in interviews. There a complete waste of time. There worse than mp’s with all their bulls**t. They all have an agenda.

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16 Feb 2018 18:21:37
Exactly Blackpool, all that matters is what occurs on the pitch, there is no integrity or accountability anymore in the top level of the sport (or the media for that matter who are gunning for clicks) .

Pogba is talked about so much because of what he (or his PR machine) do off the pitch. His performances overall don't justify 10% of the press and general attention he receives.

I don't even listen to the post game analysis or interviews anymore if it can be helped - it's all agenda driven and attempting to appeal to those 'weak of mind'. I'm noticing statistics are becoming more and more prominent as well, you always know you are in trouble when stats are constantly being used to try and convince you what you saw isn't really what went on! When the narrative breaks down, out come the stats.

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16 Feb 2018 18:58:02
Jred. I think his form has dipped as he's playing out of position. If he's being asked to defend then we're never going to see the best of him. If he was playing in the right team with the right formation, he'll destroy the oposition.
He's rubbish at defending and tackling. So what's next, are we going to play Sanchez at centre half?
It's nonsense to say players should adapt. We're talking about a pisition that is very critical. It's what wins matches. People like John O'Shea adapted because he was being asked to play at centre back or full back and a lot of players can adapt to that. But not many attacking midfielders can play as defensive midfielders. And more crucially, not many top teams are playing with a two man midfield.
Whichever way we see it, mourinho is to blame. Pochettino will have this team playing sensational football.

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16 Feb 2018 19:24:27
Attack
I honestly couldn't disagree more . Every young player needs to do the basics right .
Every player needs to be adaptable especially midfielders .
For god sake " Paul pogba isn't good enough to play cm against Newcastle "


You would think he is being asked to stand in one place and isn't allowed to go in the opposition half .

A player needs and does play in a different position with a different tactical job every game . Some times 2 or 3 different roles during a game .
He played in a cm 3 on the left against Newcastle.
Newcastle? jono was twice as good as him.

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16 Feb 2018 14:24:59
"We played with one six and two eights. We played with [Nemanja] Matic as a six, [Jesse] Lingard on the right side of Matic and Pogba on the left side.

“Do you know which is Pogba’s preferred system? Four-three-three. Do you know Pogba’s favourite position in a 4-3-3? Eight on the left, so it’s easy and honest and objective to say Paul didn’t play well against Newcastle, but don’t let people read things that are not true.

“You are paid to read the game and explain the game. Don’t say bull****. ”jose

Good point . Pogba didn't play well let's stop with the excuses and this ridiculous idea he can only play in a 3 .
People where posting he had to play in a 3 even after he had just played in a 3?

Believable1 Unbelievable1

16 Feb 2018 14:52:40
Brilliant from Jose, should put an end to the nonsense about Pogba this week, let's move on.

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16 Feb 2018 14:57:21
The thing that worries me about that jesse lingard was meant to be playing in central midfield against newcastle.

If so it seems like a dereliction of duty as i hardly ever saw him in that position. He didn't track back enough to help matic and pogba and spent most of the game playing off lukaku.

Maybe we should playing someone on the right of a three who is actually a central midfield player, might just work.

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16 Feb 2018 15:25:44
Dsg
I thought Jess got up and down.

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16 Feb 2018 15:51:29
I can see both sides on the pogba debate.
I think his concentration and awareness is often lacking and at times he can look lazy.
He has played on the whole above average imo.
I can also see that he was playing in a different system in italy in a slower league and had nowhere near as much defencive responsibility.
He is not defencive minded that's went we see players run off him and in behind him so often. That side of his game can be improved. But if he less defencive responsibility then he would do more damage.

For jose to suggest that jessie and pogba were playing the same role on either side of matic last week is a complete lie or else jessie should have been subbed after 20 muns as he was everywhere except centre midfield in that game.
Its all about balance, do we need a different midfielder in there with himself and matic to get the best out of pogba. Kroos or veratti would be ideal jorgino plays in a simialar vein. Busy industrious players that control the tempo of the game. Happy to sit and allow others do a lot of the running.
I think with the right partner alongside him he will be devastating.
No doubt he needs to improve but he can and will.

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16 Feb 2018 15:54:52
Watch it again jred he was ahead of pogba and matic 80 or even 90% of the time.
I thought jessie was decent in the 1st half i'm not having a go at him but he was not playing the same role as pogba on the other side of matic.

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16 Feb 2018 15:58:56
Lingard also got pulled off after an hour, probably because he wasn't being effective either.

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16 Feb 2018 16:21:04
We really lack options. I'm expecting 2 signings in the summer.

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16 Feb 2018 16:21:31
GDS. I disagree. I don't think mourinho is brilliant. He just told them it was a lie. Fair enough.
But mourinho will be brilliant when he has our team which has cost in excess of half a billion quid playing like a team that wants to win matches. I don't see anything brilliant happening at present.

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16 Feb 2018 16:25:10
Bit harsh that on jessie probably only played 2 or 3 games in centre midfield in his life😀😀😀.

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16 Feb 2018 16:26:13
I don't need to watch it again I said it during and after the match .
inders was a ahead and behind pogba which wasn't hard.
Pogba had the least amount of sprints and runs forward at half time according to the commentators . That from a cm?
Neville called it after about 10 minutes can't belive people are still struggling with that fact it was a 3 cm with pogba playing supposedly his best position.
All 3 where poor to average to be honest .
But cm has been an issue for months now

Bloke had a stinker and his part in the goal was criminal .
But he is a far better playing so let's stop with the silly excuses and more on .

I also think matic could be a big issue to slow using the ball imo need a good play maker in there to set our temp . our tempo is far to slow not surprised we are looking at a jorginho type .
I even thought Carrick done it well when he come on.

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16 Feb 2018 16:38:05
We played crap and got beat it wasn't the first time in our illustrious history and it won't be the last .

Jose presser was very good and I'm looking forward to tomorrow a heavy victory I predict.

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16 Feb 2018 16:43:20
Deano
Some times you just play crap .
What's with al the ex excuses.

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16 Feb 2018 17:06:17
I think Matic is knackered which isn’t helping. He started brilliantly but looks a bit ponderous right now, I hope he gets a rest this week.

GDS nailed it further down the page and summarised what many of us have been talking about: the payers are good enough, they just need to show it.

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16 Feb 2018 17:46:37
Dunno jred maybe my glasses aren't as fergie tinted as others the amount of games like the Newcastle one we lost I have seen I couldn't even put a number on there's been loads and historically we now go on another long unbeaten run .

We can't be that bad surely don't we have either the 1st or 2nd best defensive record in the league? .

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect them all it's just that my opinion is we are moving forward and the world isn't ending just yet.

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16 Feb 2018 19:25:48
Deano
Defo and a lot more to come imo.

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16 Feb 2018 19:40:32
Ajh
I would play Carrick before matic . we have zero control in cm .
I know the ed said we wanted jorginho in the summer and it's no surprise.

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16 Feb 2018 19:47:44
I find Jose's comments very worrying because if Lingard was supposed to be playing on the right and Pogba on the left of a midfield 3 then this clearly didn't happen or I'm blind. Both were all over the pitch and basically did what they wanted! Both got subbed!

Take a look at Pogba's heat map against Everton at Godison Park where he clearly played to the left of a midfield 3 (with Herrera on the right) then compare that to his heat map against Newcastle and for gods sake somebody show it to Jose!

If these were Jose's instructions they clearly paid no attention.

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16 Feb 2018 19:48:32
Dean i should point out I totaly agree with you
We had a bad day it happens, not the first it won't be the last .

It's like pogba, he had a bad day tell me a player that hasn't. But it's stupid excuse after even stupid excuse .
Meant to be a great player? People arguing he isn't good enough to play cm?

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16 Feb 2018 20:06:26
Danny
Maybe they weren't Jose instructions so he subbed him .
Bit like the spurs game .

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16 Feb 2018 21:48:52
Pogba needs to step up I agree but people going on like he isn't a good player is madness there's quite a few with a point to prove atm Inc the manager and imo they will were nowhere near as bad as some make out.

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16 Feb 2018 21:52:17
Oh and I'm personally of the opinion that great footballers can play anywhere so a slight change in position should not hamper his performance as much as it does .

As I said earlier there needs to be greater application from the lad .

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16 Feb 2018 22:18:51
Absoultley deano.

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16 Feb 2018 22:48:57
José tends to like the big, powerful midfielders. I like Jesse, but I think he's too lightweight to play centre midfield. He either plays at 10, or cuts in from the right.

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17 Feb 2018 00:03:30
Agreed Stevie there is no way Jesse Is an orthodox midfielder.

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16 Feb 2018 06:13:29
Interesting rumour this morning, Real ready to move for Pogba. Could be paper trash talk of course but if they did and the money was big, would you sell? Clearly the boy has talent but he has yet to dominate a game or deliver on his potential. Is that down to him, the Manager, or a combination of both.

If the money was silly should we cash in? The problem with that is that he may go on and become the dominating player we believe is in there somewhere, and replacing him will cost a fortune too. For me, I’d seriously consider it though.

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16 Feb 2018 06:56:16
If we keep cashing in, we'll never actually have a team that wins anything.

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16 Feb 2018 07:09:24
AJH money will always be good for Pogba be it now or 5 yrs time. Consideration is “can we make him understand his potential and work with Sanchez and become THE FUTURE CAPTAIN in next or season after that. I really think he will be a dominating and right team captain. We are in the process or getting the right team in place and feel next season should be great to watch. Pogba is the right formula for us in the long term but Sanchez is to help get us back to winning in the short term. The team must understand what Jose is help ManUtd do.
That said in the games of course It would help if Jose let lose the players to enjoy playing but of course have a fundamental structure. We should trying to win whatever silverware left if we can but most importantly seal the 2nd position in PL. That’s my humble opinion.
To answer your question we should try to keep Pogba but if the money is too good and can sell and buy a great cheaper option then so be it. NOBODY IS INDISPENSABLE.

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16 Feb 2018 08:21:54
I'm not convinced he will ever become what we all hope he could be. I think I've seen enough to think it's all just wishful thinking.

He's not particularly young and I actually don't think he's actually all that. Sure, he has some good moments and he's capable of moments of great vision and skill. However, I don't think he has the football brain and more importantly the heart to be a top player.

The idea that an elite midfielder can't play in a midfield two is beyond silly. It's like the premise for a Monty Pythan sketch or something.

I've run out of patience with almost and nearly players at OT; we've had too many in the last few years. Pogba's had his trial and he failed.

I'd be happy taking the money for Pogba and using it to buy three excellent quality replacements such as Savic, Weigl and Jorginho for example.

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16 Feb 2018 08:22:35
Give him a break . The guys one of ours loves Utd and is getting paid what he thinks he should . Played in his best position is the best in world football😆😆.

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16 Feb 2018 08:38:31
No because i doubt the club would find an adequate replacement.

We have 3.5 midfielders due to matic, fellaini, herrera, carrick and mctominay being pretty much half midfielders because of a lack of ability or age.

It would seem strange to get rid of our best midfielder when we are so light in the area.

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16 Feb 2018 08:52:26
The question should be if Pogba wants to go to Real.

Then their nothing we can do. The power in the player these days. As long we try and get a similar price to Coutinho. I would accept that.

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16 Feb 2018 08:55:49
Maybe there's a few reasons pogba and utd don't look quite right. Jm duznt seem to fancy Herrera or lindelehoff and prefers Sanchez on the left . We then get smalling at CB, a two man midfield which pogba struggled with and martial moved from where he's done his damage. For me it looks fixable 433 martial left, Sanchez right. Pogba to the left and slightly advanced with a liscence as 2 midfielders behind him . Then no excuses if pogba duznt do the business Jesse steps in . I am a big pogba fan and when he's on it looks fantastic and I think Sanchez would be good left or right .

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16 Feb 2018 09:13:38
It’s easy to slate Pogba but look at the performances without him.

He s a very talented player JM needs to sort his tactics out to get the best out of him.

People haven’t criticise Martial playing poorly in for 2 games on right wing, same for Pogba. Play him in his best position and he will shine.

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16 Feb 2018 09:36:17
First he should be allowed to play in his favoured position. it's like buying Lukaku and ask him to play left back as he is left footer. that's what happening regularly since lot many seasons.

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16 Feb 2018 10:17:29
No chance in hell we should consider selling him. We are going back in circles if we do.

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16 Feb 2018 10:21:54
The question isn't Pogba or no one. It's whether we can use the cash to buy better alternatives to build a team with. Midfielders who can play in midfield would be a good start.

I've nothing against Pogba but I'd just like some players who can get on the pitch and do the business without all the BS and the excuses.

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16 Feb 2018 11:50:26
The Pogba debate rages on.

It's slightly curious to me that we're even talking about this.

When he was out injured everybody wanted him back in the team as a matter of urgency. Didn't we recently go 36 or 37 games unbeaten when he was in the team?

I think this should be a very simple problem to solve.

At OT against teams outside the top 6 there is no reason why Pogba can't play in a midfield 2 and still play his natural game. In those games we should have enough possession and dominance to accommodate his attacking instincts.

I think in the big games against the top 6 (home and away) maybe even in certain games away from OT we should play an extra midfielder or even a back three just to provide the team with more protection and balance for when Pogba invariably vacates the midfield and runs ahead of the ball.

It can be no coincidence that his best two performances against the big 6, Chelsea (last season) and Arsenal this year came playing in front of a back 3. In the big games we just need some extra cover for when he goes forward to plug the gap.

Yes you can ask him to do a more disciplined role in the big games but that wouldn't be playing to his strengths. If that's what you want then why not buy a player that can fulfil that role much better than Pogba can?

Expectation is killing the lad. We all want a potent attacking, threat capable of playing killer passes, driving the team forward, making assists and scoring goals but at the same time we want a powerful, destructive, tenacious player making tackles and winning the ball back. Pogba is capable of both but the emphasis should be on his attacking abilities.

The real question for me is for what purpose did we buy Pogba? If we wanted a defensive holding midfield then we bought the wrong player. If we wanted a powerful, athletic, creative force then give him that platform and let him flourish.

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16 Feb 2018 11:53:35
Before the last 2 away games Pogba had gone 35 premier league games unbeaten, that’s some high standards you are setting if he’s failed the test.

People on here are so quick to judge when a player has a bad game, in my opinion Pogba has been good this season, not spectacular but there are signs that could come. More often than not when Pogba plays united play well, let’s get behind him instead of writing him off, there’s a reason he is being linked to Madrid for £120m and it’s not because he’s useless is it?

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16 Feb 2018 12:01:31
I agree with all the above. Bad if we lose Pogba. Again I still think he has a great future here. But we all know that if he doesn’t want to stay it’s worse.
I think we are going to be challenging the PL next season. But if Pogba want to go then we may not have much choice but to capitalize on it. I like him lot but no point caging a tiger. Jose needs to get him playing in the position that will get us the title.

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16 Feb 2018 13:02:42
If it's true that pogba can't play in a 4231 like people keep saying should we not buy a player who can?

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16 Feb 2018 14:08:14
Danny we bought pogba because he has the ability to be the complete player .
Has he got the desire to make it to the very top?

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16 Feb 2018 14:29:39
Buy someone? Should we not just support the players we have and then blame the manager when he can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

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16 Feb 2018 14:44:35
My point is, and I made it last month, when do we stop banging on about how good he could be and judge him on what we see. He’s ok, he’s had some games where he’s played well but he’s nowhere near delivering what we thought we were going to get. As Jose has said today, he’s just played in his preferred position and he was poor. Hopefully this public debate will spur him on but I haven’t sensed a burning desire to work hard and fulfil potential. Maybe that’s the social media nonsense but we are heading towards the end of season 2 and I’m still waiting to see what all the fuss was about.

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16 Feb 2018 14:54:04
100% Ken I'm trying to point out this ridiculous "pogba can only play left cm " mentality .
Sound like something one of the kids would say in our u10 team.

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16 Feb 2018 15:07:54
People go on about us needing star quality etc we have it in pogba but ajh is right he just hasn't reached that level .
Keep reading we need a cm well we wouldn't need one as much if pogba was tearing it up .

It's why there is so much more potential to come this squad.

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16 Feb 2018 16:11:32
With any luck we will have a squad to be deliver next season. Get 6 or 7 players out of the squad 4 new players in and promote a couple we should be there or there abouts.
But 6 or 7 just about 30% of this squad need to be gone by next season. i'm pretty sure they will be.
Darmian blind smalling jones rojo fellaini carrick young herrera. 6 or 7 of these will be gone. A few decent players but they are either at the end of their careers or not contributing enough. Personally i'd like herrera and Jones to stay but i wouldn't think twice about releasing the rest. They are squad players i'd rather see those squad places given to mctominay tuanzabe tfm. Jeez fellaini blind carrick and rojo have only started a couple of league games each surely tuanzebe or mctominay wouldn't do any worse in those couple of games.

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16 Feb 2018 16:28:01
Tony. Pogba is not a DM nor is he a CM. We bought him because he's probably the best attacking midfielder around. Yet mourinho insists on playing him out of position. There are players who can adapt to certain positions. But pogba looks completely out of sorts in the position he's being asked to play. He's not the most mobile and always looks awkward and doesn't know how to tackle or defend. So why play him in positions where he has to do all these things?
Mourinho has shown how far behind he is in terms of tactics and man management. His best days are well behind him. In my opinion, we're flogging a dead horse. And I was one of the ones who wanted mourinho at United.

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16 Feb 2018 16:46:02
If they have only started a couple of games them not being here will make little difference .

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16 Feb 2018 17:24:18
But it does jred. A huge difference. They are getting paid and you can only have so many players. We regularly have 4 players starting that should be squad players so demote them to being back ups get rid of our current back up players and promote a few youth. Much Better use of our resources and will enable us to move forward.

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16 Feb 2018 19:31:55
Ken our resources are fine we are paying Sanchez a kings ransom as well as ibra . We are not short of a bob or two
We are moving forward .
You want to get rid of fellaini Jose wants to keep him.
Is it about Jose opinion or yours?

We regularly have players that don't even make the squad.
We will do far better to get the players we have playing well .

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16 Feb 2018 19:38:27
Fellaini is out Injured can't remember the last time we played blind but if we sell them we will be better?

We should maybe buy some more top players like Miki ibra and lindelof guaranteed to come in and play great.

Far more concerned with the form of pogba and matic than the the form of blind and the wig .

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Review Of The Day 16th February 2018

16 Feb 2018 05:29:42
{Ed's Note - Tris Burke has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 16th February 2018

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