04 Oct 2021 01:48:38
Can an elite defensive midfielder allow us to play a 4-3-3 with Pogba and Bruno as the attacking midfielders? The club need an absolutely certain position on this question. And if the answer is no, then Pogba must be sold.
As much as I love watching Pogba play at times, such a setup is no guarantee to dominate the midfield. Not only would it still be suspect defensively, Pogba and Bruno are too similar in one critical aspect: they both give the ball away far too often, being risk-taking players. Both of them try too many ambitious passes, lose possession, and force the team into more defending.
Either Bruno or Pogba would be better off next to a midfielder who is a steadying influence, one who can read the game, keep possession, and dictate tempo.
04 Oct 2021 06:53:22
Irrespective of who we recruit, if there is no structure, there is no point signing anyone.
The coaches need to implement a proper structure. Organize the squad to attack and defend as a team.
Looking at the top sides, we are lacking in a lot of basics.
04 Oct 2021 07:57:26
TBH I am not even sure if you put an elite midfielder or even the worlds best DM in this team under the current set up it would propel us to league winning.
There are too many shortcomings in the style of football we try play, it’s slow and ponderous, that’s clearly the way we set up and look to play because it’s what we see 90% of the time that can not be coincidence.
We play a lot of side to side or back with slow and deliberate build up, which invariably comes to nothing and we lose the ball, we don’t really create lots of chances, OK we have attempts but how many times have you seen opposing goalkeepers have to play out there skin at OT this or last season.
For last few years we need this we need that, we get them and still not much changes, now the latest clamour or last few years clamour is DM, will it really make a vast difference under this set up I’m not so sure at all…… bit more solid, maybe but really much more it’s just a hope that it would free up others to move ball forward quicker but really who thinks this set up would do that anyway.
04 Oct 2021 08:13:36
not with this manager no.
the players we have now would prob do if we had a style of p[lay and they knew there jobs.
04 Oct 2021 08:31:17
I would say yes, it would allow Ole to play his preferred style, a 4-3-3 with two creative midfielders ahead of a DM. It would also allow Pogba to focus on his strengths rather than constantly looking over his shoulder. Like in the France set-up, it would bring out the best in him. But above all, it would provide a solid link between defense and attack that would allow the football to flow more freely. It could even allow the defensive line to sit a little higher up the pitch. Does it guarantee success? Not in this league with the current opposition, but it would definitely bring us one step closer to them. The issue would be what happens if said DM is injured or suspended? Back to McFred?
04 Oct 2021 08:48:57
zidaniel- i don't think pp and bf can play in the same team with the current coach. PP stifles bruno but bruno performs more consistantly imo. Pogba needs to be moved on asap and a proper dm brought in. We normally don't do loads of business in jan window but feel we need to this coming one.
04 Oct 2021 10:03:34
Bruno is the weak link in a three man midfield with Bruno, Pogba and A. N. Other because he isn't disciplined enough to play the role and he seems to have a problem with playing the simple pass to keep possession.
04 Oct 2021 10:11:06
Short answer no.
Slightly longer answer, Bruno is best suited to playing as a No.10 free of defensive responsibility and need to track back. As seen by the difference between his United displays and his Portugal performances. For Portugal he is expected to play as one of two No.8's. While Pogba is also very poor at defending and tracking back, especially tracking runners.
So playing Bruno and Pogba as No.8's would be a disaster. As it takes Bruno away from where he does his best work and Pogba doesn't have the defensive nous to play without two more defensive players covering for him. At Juventus he played along side two of Pirlo, Marchisio or Vidal. While for France he has often played with Kante and Matuidi.
The real issue is that both Pogba and Bruno excel in a similar role and both lack the all round game to play together in shared roles.
We need to stop trying to squeeze them both in to a line up. It needs to be either/ or not both.
04 Oct 2021 12:08:37
I think both Bruno and Pogba lose the ball too easily and we need someone who can own the ball and control the middle. I watched Veratti last week and he was unbelievable at keeping the ball and finding a team mate.
04 Oct 2021 13:50:29
I really don’t see the point in taking one of our best players in Bruno and moving him to somewhere he won’t be nowhere near as effective, so basically taking 15-20 goals out of the team to play him in a position, where he is not that great, because he does tend to lose the ball on occasions trying to always look forward.
I just don’t see it, I think that’s making change for change sake and don’t see an upside to it, plus he probably would say goodbye if you try to restrict his play like that.
04 Oct 2021 15:29:26
Get rid of pogba and sign a top class defensive midfielder and this team suddenly looks a lot more balanced, I’d probably add a right back as well and we wouldn’t be far off a challenge if (and it’s a big if) we played a style that suited the player’s strengths.