Ignore the blah, blah, blah - the Paul Pogba thread

The tabloids, when Sanchez's signing was announced, tried to push that story (all of them too, almost on cue). Still believe it's BS: he'll get what's coming to him (especially with an agent like Raiola) and I certainly would like to believe that he's aware that pouting is not the way to get it done.
Something is not right with him at the moment though: that much is clear. He didn't look like a happy camper at all after he got subbed off yesterday...

 

Dark clouds gathering in regards to Jose and Pogba's relationship?

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-pogba-manchester-united-boss-12028344

Guess it all depends whether one believes Castles is a viable source of info or not.

 

Paul Pogba regrets moving back to Manchester United and dreams of Real Madrid rescuing him. (Source: L’Equipe) pic.twitter.com/zcTd83UEhd

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 15, 2018

 

Losing Pogba would be a death sentence for us. We've had some high profile failures lately and if the guy we've invested most in jumps ship, other potential players are going to remember that and avoid coming here.

 

Pogba, status and influence wise, is not like KDB, Lukaku or Salah (when they were at Chelsea at least). And surely, if it comes down to Woodward having to make a choice between Pogba and Mourinho, I think it should be clear as to who gets the ax. Pogba's commercial value alone makes him invaluable to us. Woodward is fully aware of this too.
Let's really hope it does not go there though: last thing that is needed at this point.

 

Probably just media bs but it could be true. I'm sure when he came back he wasn't expecting to be in a team loaded with offensive players but are told to be defensive for 90% of a match

 

Pogba is determined to work his issues with United, despite claiming regret he did not join Real.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/02/15/paul-pogba-determined-work-man-utd-issues-despite-claims-regrets/

The English press must be rubbing their hands with glee right now, with United, Jose and the team's biggest star at the centre of the story at the moment...

 

👀 pic.twitter.com/9Se3kIYQ2q

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 15, 2018

 

Despite claims he regrets not joining Real. Big difference.

 

"The battle for Pogba's heart and mind has begun."

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united/paul-pogba-mourinho-latest-updates-relationship-heart-mind-a8212276.html

As mentioned, they (the English press) must be absolutely loving this. Whether they are ABU or not, one thing is for sure: they know the public will eat up this kind of stuff, which of course, is good for the bottom line.
Here's hoping this can be nipped in the bud and put to bed one way or another. And in relatively short order.

 

I wish we could have him at Barca !!

I'd be happy to trade Rakitic and Rafinha and even Gomes ( who needs to rebuild his career somewhere ) ...

 

Mourinho's stay at United rests on how he deals with the Pogba situation.

www.goal.com/en/news/pogba-no-longer-seen-as-untouchable-and-mourinhos-man-utd/1hhyiw7ath3os1az6ujpg19340


Side note, the position and comments from Raiola who is said to be "baffled" by suggestions that Pogba would entertain a move to Real are pretty interesting. He either knows who butters has been buttering his bread recently,or it obviously could be all BS on his part and just a ploy for more money.
It bears repeating that nothing should ever be ruled out with (especially because of his greed). Don't trust anything that comes out of his mouth...

 

Rumors about Pogba leaving are lies - Mourinho

www.bbc.com/sport/football/43088555

Step one, the obvious and expected one tbh, has been done with Jose unequivocally slapping down talk about Pogba leaving.
Now he needs to back those words with action and concede that, for the time being at least, he needs to abandon the 4-2-3-1 setup and play Pogba to his strengths. If for no other reason to help him regain his confidence.
With 3 huge games coming up, he's vital for any hopes of success and as his manager, Mourinho has to help him when he's going thru a bad patch. A confident and in form Pogba usually translates into a good United as a whole. Simple.

 

we were not playing 4-2-3-1!! this is very long winded but i can somewhat understand mourinho's frustration with people saying that pogba was played out of position against newcastle. lingard ws clearly the RCM and not the no. 10, in front of pogba. the avg position maps are there for everyone to see, this is maddening!

 

So Lingard's positioning screwed Pogba and he was occupying the forward positions.

 

If Jose continues to waste Pogba we might as well send him to Real Madrid.

A certain type of player must sacrifice his limited gifts for the greater good of the squad. Pogba is not such a type of player. Paul Pogba is no Nicky Butt. Pogba is an audacious talent who's one of the most physically gifted athletes I've ever seen on a football pitch. To box him in the way Mourinho has, as though he were Nicky Butt, is madness.

I'm not on the #JoseOut bandwagon as some are here, but if Mourinho wastes a player as gifted as Pogba (and Martial now, it appears, although it's only been three games) then I'll have to take a fresh look at the case for #JoseOut. Or at least just get rid of Pogba and bring in a hard working Nicky Butt type of player who will serve as the cog in the wheel that Mourinho seems to want from Pogba.

We've got two cup games coming up. Let's see how Mourinho deploys Pogba. If he keeps the shackles on him, what a waste.

 

If he says so (not going to call him a liar) then fine but one way or another, it really did not look like we were lined up in a 4-3-3. Now whether Pogba was disregarding instructions and trying to do too much or that he was actually doing what he was told, in sitting deeper, who knows?
Fact of the matter remains that when Pogba does play in a free role on the left side of a 3 men midfield (as was the case vs Everton for instance), it's not hard to see the difference with what we've seen vs Newcastle, with little or none of the drive to create for others upfront, wreak havoc in Newcastle's defense and was playing often way too deep to really have the offensive influence expected of him anyway.
I have also mentioned that while it's all well and good to play Lingard in midfield with Matic and Pogba, there will be situations where he will simply not be a good fit. And that's why I have been calling for the 3rd midfield in particular to be juggled and rotated, depending on the opponent and circumstances between Lingard, Herrera, Fellani and McTominay (would add Mata as an option personally, but Jose will probably never consider him there unfortunately).
The bottom line remains, if we were actually setup in a 4-3-3 vs Newcastle, it's a surprise to me. And evidently, it did not work at all as expected either.

 

Real Madrid are NOT interested in signing Paul Pogba this summer despite reports suggesting he's one of their main targets. (Source: @GuillemBalague) pic.twitter.com/W35jwEtcgS

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 16, 2018

 

@Ashur @Sofabloke Just look at the players' position map yourselves: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1...-2017-2018-Newcastle-United-Manchester-United.

Look, I don't care about Mourinho and I have no desire to "defend" him but this is just insanity. Pogba was not playing in a double pivot with Matic against Newcastle. The argument that he was "restricted" falls completely flat when you realize that he was level with Lingard with Matic way, way behind between the two CBs.

This is getting ridiculous - are we seriously going to argue against Mourinho on his own instructions? Now, you could say that Lingard is not the right partner for him in midfield but it's just not true to say that he was in a double pivot. He had a bad game and he may have been injured, it happens.

 

As I said in my previous post, if Jose claims he did not setup the team in a double pivot, then so be it. What we saw on the pitch, simply does not match with what he said. Whether it's his fault or his instructions were not followed, I can't comment on but it does not change what transpired.
Besides, my issue with Jose does not rest on tactical choices alone. You can set up the team perfectly, but if you don't have the right pieces or if players are not physically up to carrying out their tasks, then what's the point.
Matic, as it's been mentioned again and again and again, is playing way too much with little or no respite. Is it some big surprise then if his performance level continues to drop?
It only matters to me so much what formation the team is set up in: the players used, especially when you consider the circumstances of the day (oppo and in game situations), matter just as much and Jose has been mediocre there as well, if we're being honest.