Earlier I was bored and (quite randomly) entered a day dream.
I was thinking about the midfield 'crisis', what new signings could come in, how would we cope without new CM etc.
Naturally, during the latter phase, I looked to the two youth prospects who are raved about: Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison.
Pogba was playing in the City game next weekend and, of course, everyone was watching him with hugely curious and hopeful gazes.
It got me thinking, if we don't sign anyone, or indeed we do but Fergie still attempts to promote one of the youngsters, the pressure they must feel during their first few outings must be immense.
The biggest club in the world and their season could be made or broke by your performances. No time to settle, no room for error, just do what 75,000 fans believe you can do.
I myself play semi-pro, and one thing that hinders me are my nerves. It's not the expectation, or indeed the intensity or importance of the game, just the nerves I create myself when I know how good I can be.
Going into new teams I've always been a slow starter. I need to be comfortable, I need to know that everyone in the set up knows I can play brilliantly. Once I settle in, my performances improve dramatically.
If I have these issues, a young lad with 100 (maximum) people watching, who's never going to make it pro or indeed try to (I'm mature enough to realise this is but every boy's pipe dream and plan to go to Uni next year to study economics and international finance), how the _ must they feel!
I can only imagine the pressure Pogba especially (as he seems to take his football much more seriously than Ravel) must feel when he first graces the Old Trafford turf.
Can he be the Scholes part 2? Will he be another Djemba Djemba? Is he destined for mediocrity or can he set the world alight and set his name in stone as one of the best players in England for 20 or so years?
He's made the first 3 steps; getting recognised, a move to a huge club and impressing everyone (including the first team manager) at that club. But the fourth and final step is little less than impossible.
Scores and scores of promising youngsters from around the globe have tried, looked a dead-cert to bless the big stage and then faded off into the distance. Is he destined for this disappointment? He's just 16 (might be 17 now, forgive me if I'm wrong), now his moment seems to be fast approaching, now the moment he's been waiting for since he first saw Eric Cantona, Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry dabble in the magic of football is here. Can the young Frenchman mould his own destiny? Afterall, it's all on him.
No more coaches to guide him once he's there, most of his friends from the youth teams are now just faded memories and he's surrounded by 10 of the best players on the planet and expected to match them, even to stand out among them.
The kick off beckons, he's shell shocked, unsure of what to do and so he jumps around and stretches like his vastly more experienced team mates in order to fit in.
The whistle blows, Rooney passed to Berbatov who then lends the ball to Pogba from the kick off, the croud's eyes open as one, the world seems to hold it's breath for a second, the ball is inches away from playing it's part in his first touch for Manchester United...now's his time to shine...this is what he's practised countless hours for...this is why he left his home country after 15 years of praise and comfort...this is where he makes his claim...this is when he proves to the world that all his thoughts, they aren't but dreams, they are reality...this is where a 16 year old boy becomes a God among men...he better not let it slip.
Sorry for the Nike like advert there, got a tad carried away, but the pressure on people like him really does amaze me. I'm so interested to see how he handles it and pray to God that he plays in one of the testamonials or the charity shield. It really is quite hard not to expect great things from him, I hope he realises the opportunity and fulfills his great potential.
Crushing Pressure
posted on 29/7/11
You're right, but its no different to what every other player in world football goes through at some stage. If he cant handle it, he cant handle it. Though it does take some guts to up and leave your homeland at 15, and by doing as well as he has, he's already shown he has the mental strength to cope.
The only worry with Pogba IMO is that he has had the advantage of being bigger and stronger than most of his opponents - something that he'll lose when/if he moves up to the first team. He's got talent though, no doubt about it.
posted on 29/7/11
I agree, but usually other players aren't hindered with such pressure as to bring the biggest team in the world to further glory as a 16 year old.
As crazy as it sounds, Pogba could be a huge part of our team next season should we not sign another midfielder.
On the size note, while he'll lose that advantage, it's a huge benefit for him to be much bigger and stronger than his peers as it gives him a fighting chance to compete with the 'big boys' and help him avoid being bullied and kicked out of matches.
posted on 29/7/11
Good article!!
posted on 29/7/11
I dont know about next season. I reckon he would have gone on the tour if he was to play a major part.
I do expect to see a lot more of him in the coming years though. I believe he's 18 now - around the same age Fabregas and Wilshere broke through, so he should be starting to push for a place in the squad.
What people dont seem to realise though is how big the step up to the big stage really is. I point to Obertan and Bebe as examples - they've absolutely torn teams apart in the reserves but both look completely clueless in the first team.
posted on 29/7/11
Excellent article / daydream.
This touches on the point that at lot of the best players of their generations have differed from their peers not so much in skill level as in determination and hunger. Robson, Keane, to some extent Rooney are not superhumanly gifted figures, but they all have a maniacal drive to win. Then there are others who are obviously very naturally talented (Joe Cole, perhaps Lee Sharpe) whose careers and achievements haven't matched their ability.
The very best players of course have both.
posted on 29/7/11
bloodred
That's an important point about the step up. Most of us can relate to the scenario when you feel like a world-beater with silky skills at one level and then like a donkey when you play at a higher level.
Regarding Pogba, I don't know enough about his mentality to say anything. But I remember an interview with Fergie a few years back when he talked about young players often being more fearless than more mature ones. I think this is true in many cases. At 17-18 you can be quite naively optimistic, think you have the world at your feet, not really have a full awareness of the price of failure... At that age you think you're going to live forever and the age at which a footballer tends to retire seems like an eternity away. Obviously, it depends on the individual, but I think an 18 year-old making his debut can sometimes feel less pressure than a 27 year-old who has finally made it to a big club and who understands the weight of expectation on him.
...Maybe Pogba would feel less pressure than (e.g.) Ashley Young?
posted on 29/7/11
Good article and you make an interesting point but I think this is the reason why Sir Alex takes a much more relaxed approach to introducing the player to the big time using subs and CC matches for instance.
A player like Pogba will get his chance to shine eventually, whereas playing at somewhere like Wigan (no offense) a player of his ability might have been pushed into the limelight too early. It can of course go both ways, like Rooney you can shine and become a real talent or like Bellion you become like a rabbit in the headlights.
posted on 29/7/11
"like Rooney you can shine and become a real talent or like Bellion you become like a rabbit in the headlights."
I always seen bellion as a deer in the headlights, a bit like bambi on roller skates!
posted on 29/7/11
I remember when Rooney first burst onto the scene at Everton and then when he came to us, commentators would often say "it's as if he thinks he's playing in the park" Rooney's game was a lot more instinctive and uninhibited. I think with time he's become more self-conscious and this is why we now see inconsistency with his form. Somewhere along the way he's lost that uninhibited raw ability. Maybe lost isn't the right word but it's not as natural as it used to be.
posted on 30/7/11
5 stars OP for a very well written article