Today I have put my soapbox down, stacked my hobby horse on top, now I’m ready to ride. Strap in as it’s an arduous journey.
If Pogba has an ability level of 75, compared to the other average midfielder whose level is say, 70, then we appreciate he’s a better player than most.
If he performs at 71 one week, 75 another week, 81 the next, and even 99 when he performs 4 assists in one game, then how do we feel about that?
Genuine question? Glass half full, or not?
Because I will say, well done on your 71s, if that is your worse day, and for Pogba, he always scores a 71, minimum.
I certainly won’t expect 81, or indeed 99 from him every week, just because he can. That would be crazy, wouldn’t it?
Don Draper’s Dandruff made a great point about no player in history performing to an elite level every game. That includes Ronaldinho, Messi, Pele, both Ronaldos, Zidane, Vidic, Schmeichel, Cantona and even Mark Hughes. And Andy Cole, Yorke and Giggs, to boot. <no pun intended>.
So why do some expect Pogba to play at his absolute maximum, every week, all match, it’s just not feasible.
Detractors, over to you.
Hobby Horses and Soapboxes.
posted on 22/8/21
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree he is much better further forward, and can be great.
But we see what we see and have our opinions.
I believe I've seen games where he was lackadaisical, giving the ball away, creating little.
You have seen them differently.
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No I haven seen them moments, hugely frustrating in the strive for perfection.
The fact we expect perfection from this guy, well I do anyway, tells me a lot.
posted on 22/8/21
Have*
posted on 22/8/21
the other thing i'd say is that there is this myth of "5 years and we still don't know his best position", when in fact we ought to have known his best position before buying him, because it has never changed (hint: it's not sat deep in a midfield two).
but for some reason we've moved him around the pitch, and also given him a constantly changing cast of fellow midfielders - he's played in a 2, a 3, a diamond, and a more forward position, alongside fellaini/carrick/herrera/matic/fred/mctominay and others, with no real consistency from his colleagues - carrick was getting on, herrera had established himself and was then allowed to leave, matic's legs were questionable before he even joined us, fred had a diabolical first season when he was practically unselectable, and mctominay took time to adjust to the senior team.
he's never had a fixed role in a fixed team, whereas someone like bruno came into a defined slot (a free-roaming no.10) from day one, in fact it was a role created before we even had anyone to fill it (hence the 6 months of lingard/pereira as our no.10). and he has played 99% of his united career in that one position.
lindelof and maguire have played together how many times in 2 seasons? and in 5 seasons, what midfield formation containing pogba has been used the most?
i don't know the answers, but you can see my point.
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree he is much better further forward, and can be great.
But we see what we see and have our opinions.
I believe I've seen games where he was lackadaisical, giving the ball away, creating little.
You have seen them differently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No I haven seen them moments, hugely frustrating in the strive for perfection.
The fact we expect perfection from this guy, well I do anyway, tells me a lot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You say games, but you mean moments right?
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 15 seconds ago
the other thing i'd say is that there is this myth of "5 years and we still don't know his best position", when in fact we ought to have known his best position before buying him, because it has never changed (hint: it's not sat deep in a midfield two).
but for some reason we've moved him around the pitch, and also given him a constantly changing cast of fellow midfielders - he's played in a 2, a 3, a diamond, and a more forward position, alongside fellaini/carrick/herrera/matic/fred/mctominay and others, with no real consistency from his colleagues - carrick was getting on, herrera had established himself and was then allowed to leave, matic's legs were questionable before he even joined us, fred had a diabolical first season when he was practically unselectable, and mctominay took time to adjust to the senior team.
he's never had a fixed role in a fixed team, whereas someone like bruno came into a defined slot (a free-roaming no.10) from day one, in fact it was a role created before we even had anyone to fill it (hence the 6 months of lingard/pereira as our no.10). and he has played 99% of his united career in that one position.
lindelof and maguire have played together how many times in 2 seasons? and in 5 seasons, what midfield formation containing pogba has been used the most?
i don't know the answers, but you can see my point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate echo chamber scenarios, but also like talking to likeminded people. It’s like a midfield trio, need that perfect balance.
Now if I’m building a team, having a fcking ballet dancing, basket ball dunking, Ronaldinho-with-steroids perfo who can do tricks that make the prostitution ring of Cincinnati sit up, then I’m having him s stge diamond tipped insertion.
Need the foundation behind him.
I’d go Verratti and Kante.
posted on 22/8/21
As the*
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree he is much better further forward, and can be great.
But we see what we see and have our opinions.
I believe I've seen games where he was lackadaisical, giving the ball away, creating little.
You have seen them differently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No I haven seen them moments, hugely frustrating in the strive for perfection.
The fact we expect perfection from this guy, well I do anyway, tells me a lot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You say games, but you mean moments right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is key because in the games you say he’s been inefficient, he’s also produced moments of magic, raising his performance level.
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
having a fcking ballet dancing, basket ball dunking, Ronaldinho-with-steroids perfo who can do tricks that make the prostitution ring of Cincinnati sit up
----------------------------------------------------------------------
interesting, this is exactly how i described him to my daughter yesterday
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree he is much better further forward, and can be great.
But we see what we see and have our opinions.
I believe I've seen games where he was lackadaisical, giving the ball away, creating little.
You have seen them differently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No I haven seen them moments, hugely frustrating in the strive for perfection.
The fact we expect perfection from this guy, well I do anyway, tells me a lot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You say games, but you mean moments right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is key because in the games you say he’s been inefficient, he’s also produced moments of magic, raising his performance level.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He couldn’t see that. He was too busy admiring the fighting spirit of McT.
posted on 22/8/21
comment by Rooney-the-GOAT (U4135)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Shinjury list (U1700)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 1 minute ago
I agree he is much better further forward, and can be great.
But we see what we see and have our opinions.
I believe I've seen games where he was lackadaisical, giving the ball away, creating little.
You have seen them differently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No I haven seen them moments, hugely frustrating in the strive for perfection.
The fact we expect perfection from this guy, well I do anyway, tells me a lot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You say games, but you mean moments right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is key because in the games you say he’s been inefficient, he’s also produced moments of magic, raising his performance level.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He couldn’t see that. He was too busy admiring the fighting spirit of McT.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Was I?