₦airaland Forum

Khaytunechi:
Right, Chelsea dominated us but Pogba particularly created chances from that deep lying position. It was the first game of the season so I can excuse our being all over the place. I'm saying, Pogba can excel here playing CM with Bruno as AM.

Things would have turned differently if Chelsea had scored. We won't remember that Pogba created chances but we would have been talking about how Chelsea midfield had free pass in the middle. We would have blamed Pogba as usual. If we allow teams to dominate us like that, we won't always be lucky. And we have been able to create chances and score goals in Pogba's absence against top teams while limiting their chances against us. Against Chelsea, they had so many chances to score against us which is bad for any team

Khaytunechi:
This same Pogba played and excelled at the CM position for France at the 2018 mundial.
IIRC, he sat as double pivot with McTom in our first game against Chelsea this season.
Pogba's problem is never that he can't play as CM, he has played there effectively a few times for us and especially for France.
Fred is decent, but there's more to midfield play than just forming activity and doing eegun ori. I hope Fred keeps improving especially in areas like accurate passes and retaining possession while being pressed.
Ole knows best, he should try whatever pairing he wants and whoever falls short should simply make way for others. Either na Pogba or na Fred.
Lastly abeg, two out of Lingard, Mata and Perreira should prepare to leave, they've given us enough, make dem give us room to add quality bodies make the team balance.

Pogba had matuidi and Kante with him in the midfield

Our first game was bad against Chelsea especially in the midfield. We were dominated and Chelsea was unlucky not to score at least 3 goals. We were all over the place in that match

ChristineC:
if I'm reading your texts clearly enough, the point you are trying to make is Pogba should be doing everything. is that it?

No
Pogba has played in various capacities in the midfield. He did well in some, while frustrating in others

Larride see your people o
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ChristineC:
many fans were swayed by opposition and media trolling because of his price tag, I wasn't one of them. that's not to say he game is flawless, yet he's been better than most and the facts don't agree with you still.

Swayed by opposition and media? We watch these matches with our eyes na. The goals and assists are what he's about. He's not the Kroos, Scholes kind of player to play in the center and keep the ball moving as swift as possible. He's better as the attacking midfielder. He should be having two other hard working midfielders behind him. Maybe he's changed but if not, the third midfielder, who ever it is, will have to put in much extra shift. There's more to a CM than goals and assists.

larride:
The first major problem is not EFCC but the judiciary. The way they hand out bail with reckless abandon. Look at all the politicians on trial and they all got bail with the same format. Form sick, go with walking stick or whatever and you get bail to travel abroad for “treatment” while adjoining the case for another 4-6 months.

When the time to start trial comes, you will start seeing different injunction against the court from left and right and you begin to ask yourself if the judiciary ain’t sabotaging the effort of cleaning the system.

If invictus obi was arrested in Nigeria, the court could have granted him bail by now and he will be walking free doing whatever he wants.

Until the judiciary is reformed, nothing will be accomplished.

I remember having this discussion with a senior colleague last year. He was adamant that the cleansing should start from the executive as they are the ones with the power. I believe if we have an upright judiciary, this country will be much better than this

ChristineC:
Pogba barely played this season so far. Pogba had top contribution the season prior. what frustrated in these scenarios?

Have you forgotten how we were always complaining about aspects of his game in that middle last season and the one before that? How we were always lamenting here almost every match day? Even opposition fans made jest of how we're trying to unlock Pogba. Surely you couldn't have forgotten

Expert17:
Pogba played well for Juventus with Marchisio and Pirlo in the midfield.

Played well with Matuidi and Kante for France.

The main reason we signed Fred was to partner Matic or any DM , creating room for Pogba to move forward

Exactly. But with the introduction of Bruno, we'll have to wait and see how the situation is managed.

Abi is this not the same Pogba you all were always insulting every game? He's now a sure bet to do better than a player that has done very well in that deep position this season, drawing praises from many quarters?

Pogba behind two midfielders or as an AM, fantastic for me. Fred doesn't come close at all. But as a double pivot, playing closer to our defense, abeg o. Unless he's ready to keep things simple

Leyqute:
That’s the role he has been playing all season - double pivot midfield.

Selection headache is not Pogba OR Fred, it’s Pogba AND Fred/McTom.

He's always been paired with Tom or Matic, maybe both at times. E get why. Remove either of these two and replace with Pogba, we may most likely not like that match

Leyqute:
Guy. Don’t disrespect Pogba.

He could have a shitty attitude and a horrible agent but the talent is there. And Fred cannot match the assists and goal chances he has created.

Not as a CM. Pogba will be pushed back because of Bruno. I would have been carried away if I didn't remember that this is the same Pogba that has frustrated us here for over two years

Leyqute:
We can always rotate Fred and McTom for that position. There will be enough games for everybody

Nah Fred can't play there. He's not built for that role. He should battle it with Pogba

Leyqute:
The difference is clear to see.

Defense splitting passes. Pogba
Long ball- Pogba
Aerial passes-Pogba
Throughballs-Pogba
Short passes and buildup play - Fred

I had to go as far back as 3 years ago to compare Pogba's stats with Fred's stats this season before I could see any meaningful difference. This is Fred's second season in United and he has shown tremendous improvement. Can't say the same for Pogba

Playing Fred as the dm may be dangerous. Tom would have been better there but his passing is not great. Matic is our best bet there but then he will need Tom or Fred beside him

I've been hoping for Pogba to play as the AM, stripped of defensive roles, where losing the ball cannot post immediate threat to our defense. However with Bruno here, he will need to make some major adjustments to his game. Is he the kind of person that can willingly do that? He's only spoken of in good light when he score goals and give assists. He needs to play more in the opposition half, close to their post

Leyqute:
Pogba beats Fred in all the stats you stated apart from the last 3, which are defensive stats.

By some clear distance? Or you're talking about the 1.7 - 1.1, 0.3-0.2 stats?

Expert17:
You have to choose one, better defensive play (Fred) or better attacking play (Pogba).

And don't forget the best way to defend is by attacking.

There has to be a balance. We also expect our full backs to attack to right?

And I listed as many passing attributes there as possible, so it's not just the defensive aspect of the role I was looking at

Expert17:
Against big teams, ...he played well

@ Anfield.

I think he played against Chelsea too can't remember

I go with dutch reds

GloryIsaac:
Matic is effective against slow teams.. especially the defensive ones.

It’ll be Bruno-Pogba-McTom. Except Ole wants a diamond which I doubt.

Matic was solid against City na

Expert17:
Delete this post.

So you want to compare Fred and Pogba?

It's like using tackles, blocks and interception to rate David Silva, Juan Mata, Ozil, Bernando Silva, Bruno Fernandes etc

We are talking about their roles as CM not when they have permissions to play as the AM. If Pogba will be playing as an AM then I have no problem with that. But as CM, there are plenty questions.

What are the things you expect from a CM?

Oasis007:
Skills-wise all, maybe Passion-wise Fred and Co have an Edge.

I'm not interested in the drimbling ability of a central midfielder
Look at the attributes below and show me how Pogba has been clearly or far above Fred in the last 2-3 years
Key passes
Average passes
Pass succes percentage
Crosses
Long balls
Through balls
Tackles
Interceptions
Blocks

Then include the passion and tell me your conclusion

handelex:
Pogba can't do that, he's not that type of player.

Hopefully we won't be back to insulting Pogba here very soon

Oasis007:
It's not hype, the Gap is indeed clear. You can't compare Bruno and Pogba with any of Midfielders Bro.

Which of their attributes are you looking at?

GloryIsaac:
I don’t think so. However, I expect him to play very well because of the link-up with Bruno.

Whoever that makes up the 3-man midfield will need to cover ground very well.

I feel we still need Matic in that DM but he'll need the work rate of Fred to do well. Tom is solid though I still have questions about his abilities and decisions when with the ball

afrodoc2:
Of course generally speaking that should be the case. I am just trying to show the clear gap in talent level between those 2 and the rest. Only lack of fitness or effort will make either Pogba or Bruno long term bench players.

The gap isn't that clear. I'm not buying the hype

Expert17:
With Pogba and Fernandes in the starting 11, the only player that can join the midfield is either Matic or Mc Tominay.

Except we are playing a weak opponent, that is when Fred will start with those 2 superstars.

True.

But superstars? Ok o

Oasis007:
Fred has proven himself. I won't leave him out of starting XI, if I'm charge. I'll rather play play him along with Pogba and Bruno.

Defensively he has improved a lot. He's a Runner, energetic, more like a B2B Midfielder. He has paid his Dues, thus he has earned my Respect.

I'll gradually introduce Pogba to the line up for me

GloryIsaac:
It’s because of Pogba.

He looks very much likely to come on for Pogba in most games..

I just hope is able to put in that work rate Fred was putting in

afrodoc2:
Make una chill. The only names in that midfield that may be guaranteed with everyone fit are Pogba and Bruno. Fred, McTominay, Matic are the ones that have to prove themselves.

Even those two will have to prove themselves too. I don't think they should be guaranteed a position on the field if there are better performers on the bench.

izzou:
[color=royalblue]What we are hearing now, Ibime saw it months ago

Ibime has risen to the position of Otem.

[/color]

Yeah ibims dey see road