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Post by Sméagol on Nov 19, 2017 12:42:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2017 13:03:55 GMT
www.football365.com/news/f365s-early-winner-the-irreplaceable-paul-pogbaIt was a question Jose Mourinho would normally sidestep with typical media mastery: Is Paul Pogba irreplaceable for Manchester United? In the past, the Portuguese would shift the focus onto the team rather than the individual, ensuring that no one player considers themselves too important. To publicly describe one player as more crucial than the rest could be a sign of weakness – every disciple is equal in the Church of Mourinho. “No-one is irreplaceable,” he said in July 2015, discussing Chelsea’s dominant triptych of Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard. “Difficult to replace, yes. To replace one by one, it is also very difficult. Very difficult. But to replace by good time, a good structure, a good dynamic, good options, it is possible.” Yet not even Mourinho could overlook the drastic effect a returning Pogba had on an effervescent United against Newcastle on Saturday. The hosts fell behind after a quarter of an hour but a goal and an assist each from their chief orchestrator helped seal a comfortable three points. “He affects our football,” was as diplomatic a response as Mourinho could justify after the game. “We all know, myself and the fellow players, that certain players influence the levels of the team. With him we have much more creation. I am so happy.” The point was not necessarily that Pogba creates all the chances – that he is the artist while his teammates carry the canvas and palette. The Frenchman laid on as many goalscoring opportunities as Victor Lindelof against Newcastle (2), and three players had more touches. Rather, the point was that Pogba improves those around him. When he plays, United play better. Excluding the game against Basel in September when the midfielder suffered an early injury, United create 14.4 chances per game when Pogba starts, compared to 8.9 without him. When Pogba starts, an average of 8.2 players per game create those chances, compared to 5.3 when he is sidelined. Against Newcastle, United created more chances (13) in any game since they beat Crystal Palace 4-0 in September (16). United have not created fewer than 12 chances when Pogba starts, but only created 12 chances or more in three games out of 13 without him. Pogba, as Mourinho suggested, “affects” United’s football. He is the cog around which the manager has built this machine, and removing him for the last two months had an obvious impact. Ander Herrera is a capable midfielder but not good enough to fulfill such a crucial role, while Nemanja Matic looks visibly more composed when paired with his perfect partner. That Pogba was so dominant in his first match in 67 days is remarkable. While most players are eased back into first-team action after an injury, the 24-year-old took his first start in two months in stride like a pass from defence. He has now scored or assisted a Premier League goal every 71.6 minutes this season – only four players (Crouch, Aguero, Martial and Sane) can better that record. Or, to put that into context, only four forwards can better that record. Even when Pogba was substituted after 70 minutes, he filled the role of cheerleader, standing by the corner flag to celebrate Romelu Lukaku’s first goal in eight games before strolling down the tunnel, a successful day’s work to his name. United have now lost one Premier League game in which their most expensive player has started since October 2016. On a day where United won after changing their formation and swapping Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Lindelof, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, it was impossible not to view their transformation solely through the return of Pogba for Herrera. David de Gea would have a fair argument, but even Mourinho himself could not claim Pogba is not their most irreplaceable player.
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Post by Bestie on Nov 19, 2017 13:37:21 GMT
We really need to win titles and European Cups while Pogba is here. I want him to be recognised as the best central midfielder in the world, so we need to be showcasing his ability at the highest level. It's like Ruud - it's a travesty we only won a single league title with him.
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Post by GeniusCantona on Nov 19, 2017 14:58:19 GMT
Ibra did more in his 20 minute cameo as our no. 10 than Mkhi has in the past 2 months. Glue Mkhi to the bench and bring back Pereira in January to fill his role.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2017 16:48:47 GMT
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba insists that his side still have a chance of challenging for the Premier League title this season.
Pogba amassed a goal and an assist as the Red Devils returned to winning ways with a 4-1 rout of Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Despite the result, Jose Mourinho’s men still sit eight points off the early pace-setters Manchester City, but the former Juventus man believes they can be caught.
“The season is very long, of course,” Pogba told BBC Sport when asked if Man United still had a chance of winning the Premier League this year. “If I don’t believe that, I’d stop playing.
“If I don’t believe we can still win the league, I better stop. I’ll leave my boots and stop playing football cause I’m a believer we keep fighting.”
The Frenchman went on to talk about Romelu Lukaku, a man who Pogba believes is the best striker in the Premier League.
“I come back and Romelu scores again? I like that,” Pogba added.
“We’ve got a lot of good players, a lot of talented players. We have to trust each other.
“Romelu is the best striker in the Premier League. We know his quality. We know everything. We don’t worry about him.
“And at the end, we see the result.”
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Post by stonecarver2 on Nov 19, 2017 18:02:46 GMT
What a difference Pogba makes.....simply awesome.
We now have a very real chance at chasing down the berties.
Exciting stuff to have him and Zlatan back.
Delighted 😎👍
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Post by _ on Nov 20, 2017 12:09:55 GMT
We're going to have to go on one hell of a run now until the end of the year just to keep this title open.
One chink of light is Stones is now out for at least 2 months and Kompany looked shit on Saturday. He should have been sent off the shit ref bottled it (WANKER!) moments like that can change a season literally. It should have been 10 men and Kompany, Otamendi and Stones were all off. They have been clear of any major injury problems till now and we have players back.
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Post by On a break on Nov 20, 2017 13:04:00 GMT
We're going to have to go on one hell of a run now until the end of the year just to keep this title open. One chink of light is Stones is now out for at least 2 months and Kompany looked shit on Saturday. He should have been sent off the shit ref bottled it (WANKER!) moments like that can change a season literally. It should have been 10 men and Kompany, Otamendi and Stones were all off. They have been clear of any major injury problems till now and we have players back. Dead right Kompany should have been sent off that was a shocker |
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Post by Rustin Cohle on Nov 20, 2017 13:36:24 GMT
Kompany is probably one of the most overrated players in the history of the PL. I’m not sure he has had a good season since 11/12, and when he does play he’s often rash, playing too high up and more than once has been lucky to not see red.
Stones will be a big miss for them. He has been very good this year. If there was a PL ‘most improved’ award he would sadly be all over it atm.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2017 13:54:09 GMT
Kompany is probably one of the most overrated players in the history of the PL. I’m not sure he has had a good season since 11/12, and when he does play he’s often rash, playing too high up and more than once has been lucky to not see red. Stones will be a big miss for them. He has been very good this year. If there was a PL ‘most improved’ award he would sadly be all over it atm. Yup, unfortunately Stones is starting to live up to the promise. I'd love Kompany to be declared fit for every game, only to be nobbled 30 mins in. He's a different colour Phil Jones |
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Post by Bestie on Nov 20, 2017 15:13:31 GMT
Kompany is probably one of the most overrated players in the history of the PL. I’m not sure he has had a good season since 11/12, and when he does play he’s often rash, playing too high up and more than once has been lucky to not see red. Stones will be a big miss for them. He has been very good this year. If there was a PL ‘most improved’ award he would sadly be all over it atm. Yup, unfortunately Stones is starting to live up to the promise. I'd love Kompany to be declared fit for every game, only to be nobbled 30 mins in. He's a different colour Phil Jones Racist. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2017 15:15:08 GMT
Yup, unfortunately Stones is starting to live up to the promise. I'd love Kompany to be declared fit for every game, only to be nobbled 30 mins in. He's a different colour Phil Jones Racist. Foreigner. |
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Post by Bestie on Nov 20, 2017 15:30:45 GMT
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Post by _ on Nov 20, 2017 18:46:15 GMT
Kompany is probably one of the most overrated players in the history of the PL. I’m not sure he has had a good season since 11/12, and when he does play he’s often rash, playing too high up and more than once has been lucky to not see red. Stones will be a big miss for them. He has been very good this year. If there was a PL ‘most improved’ award he would sadly be all over it atm. I think Kompany was a very good player and experienced. He's just not very mobile any more and very prone to injuries |
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Post by _ on Nov 20, 2017 18:47:20 GMT
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