14 Mar 2018 18:08:28
I'm not going to even comment on last night as I'm still unable to process our flat display. I'm trying not to have a knee jerk reaction as Sevilla on their day can be dangerous, I believe they scored plenty vs Liverpool in the same comp for example but enough of that, what I want ask Ed's and fellow players, what is up with Paul Pogba? Has he downed tools, is he just young and inconsistent? Some shocking performances of late.
{Ed001's Note - that is how he has always played. The problem is that most people only see the highlights, those flashes of superlative skill that he does show on a regular basis, without realising that they are interspersed between long periods of ineffectiveness. Without a partner to do the graft alongside him, he is being caught out.}
14 Mar 2018 18:45:19
Great point ed001,
I look at him now and he has bulked up considerably. He has lost a yard of pace and lost most of his nimbleness as a result. His confidence is very low and his play has been poor. I would get him out of the gym and let him spend those hours out on three pitch with a bag of balls.
I believe him and sanchez in particular suffer from the lack of movement around them. Players without options are so easy to get tight to and close down. We hand over possession every 10 seconds because the player recieving the ball is static and then nobody moves for him.
Some of that is tactics and some of it is down to the players.
Mata is our only attacker that can look after the ball all the others lose it continually. Lukaku is improving in that regard but is still a bit hit n miss.
{Ed001's Note - personally I would get them all playing some small sided games on small, tight pitches. Maybe the old 6 v 4 game Cruyff used to get his players playing. That will bring back quick feet and allow him to regain confidence in his ability.}
14 Mar 2018 19:14:45
Thanks for your views Ed. It’s a very frustrating United team to watch all round atm, we are like a nearly team, can’t quite click for more than short periods.
All I see from Pogba atm is the Rooney Hollywood pass, McTom has come in, kept it simple and looked the part, sometimes it’s not all about the star name but the lesser lights that make a team tick.
{Ed001's Note - it is always about the lesser lights imo. You need some people to do the donkey work or the flair players can't shine. I don't see how it is a nearly team, it is doing exactly what Jose wants. Defend deep and lump it up to the big man to bring others into play on a quick counter. That is his way when it is the big games, as he believes passing teams are susceptible to long ball tactics and struggle to break down tight packed defences.}
14 Mar 2018 19:33:45
Ed001
thats on the money United are second in the league doing what Jose does .
Last night was shocking but I can't criticise United in the league it's Jose doing what he does I'm not sure what people expected or expect next season .
As for pogba it's still about potential he was never juve best player people bought the hype .
Has all the attributes really has but has he got the desire .
I honestly think he has bags of talent in fact he has got to where he is with out fully pushing himself .
But to get to the very top it's not just talent it's as much about mentality and he still hasn't proved he has that.
{Ed001's Note - at times Pogba can be breathtaking, but it is not even a 90 minute thing with him, it is a few seconds here and there during a game. He is a playground player, someone who is more interested in his style and looking good than what he achieves. Man Utd must be like a scene from White Men Can't Jump, as Jose is the Woody Harrelson character, who just wants to win, no matter how ugly, while Pogba is like Wesley Snipes' character and is all about looking good first, winning second.
You need a hard runner alongside Pogba, someone to wake him up the way Vidal used to. He ran much more with Vidal because it is inspiring when your team-mate is charging about, you up your game to compete because otherwise he is the one that looks good to the fans and Pogba needs to be the one who looks good.}
14 Mar 2018 20:39:25
It's frustrating because he has the talents and the physical attributes to be outstanding .
He has been asked to be the main man at United but I'm not sure it's in his character.
Hopefully he learns from this downturn and comes out the other side.
Problem is it might be a lot easier to move brand pogba on .
{Ed001's Note - it might also be a lot better if he has not understood the work ethic required to make it at the top level yet.}
14 Mar 2018 20:44:23
Nice analogy Ed I like that!
{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, though I think we are showing our age in even knowing that film!}
15 Mar 2018 08:50:03
No doubts we are improved on where we was under LVG, 6th to 2nd, won 2 trophies, could win another this year, I still don’t see us playing to the best of our ability atm though which maybe a good sign, I’m sure Jose will continue and we will see improvements and I’m glad, I want Jose to finish the job through.
What I mean about not quite clicking is we seem to nearly complete a good move, nearly make that final pass, nearly beat that last Man, but it never quite happens often enough so maybe the extra 10% will fall into place naturally.
We are such an odd team, to play how we did vs Liverpool then how we did against Sevilla, maybe that’s a sign we are not quite at the level required yet or are young and inconsistent, again I’m sure another year will see bigger strides, always next year eh lads ahem x.
15 Mar 2018 12:23:33
Ed001 - sadly agree with pogba comments but find it a heap distasteful that another player is needed t wake him up!
He is not the only one as I find the team in general (way they play) devoid of energy and movement. Surely JM isn't blind and can see the top teams movement and the way that players drop in if one goes forward or out of position. Think it was Dixon who summed it up, that we have the individuals but they don't play as a team.
{Ed001's Note - I am sure he is not blind to the problems, the big question is whether he is capable of fixing them or not?}
15 Mar 2018 13:54:33
The problem is Jose and the only way he can fix it is to leave.