v Burnley (A) 20:15, 12/01/21 PL

[kstandhand]

Poor first 1/2 display,lacked intensity & cutting edge,2nd 1/2 much improved,however movement in front of the ball was poor all night with exception of Cavani.
Rashford,Greenwood & Martial need to really study Cavani's movement.
Eric & Pogba both played well,Matic also had a very good game without any drama.
Cavani has to start vs Liverpool he will cause their makeshift defence problems,would not be surpised if OGS goes with a back five at Anfailed.
Also the days of just being physically stronger than the opponent are dead.

[Kojak]

I’m certainly one of his critics, but thought Pogba was really good last night. I’d say it’s the type of game he goes missing in usually, but he can go missing on any given week against any given team. He’s been much better of late though. Regardless of whether it’s putting himself in the shop window that’s motivating him, it’s working for us at the moment.

Bruno had an off night, so we needed one of the other big players to turn up more than ever. And he did. Bailly also brilliant again.

Certainly one of the oddest displays of refereeing I’ve ever seen. Aside from the big incidents, the VAR stoppage in the first half took at least 6mins, but there was only 4mins of added time. Then he found a good 8mins at the end of the game. Bizarre stuff.

[Paul]

Wouldn't say Bruno had an off night. I just think others actually stepped up and took over for a change.

Pogba was very good last night. Whether that's to attract other clubs or not I dont know. As long as he does it more often until then I dont care.

Thought Shaw and Bailly were brilliant aswell.

[Kojak]

Jan 13, 2021 8:45:13 GMT Paul said:

Wouldn't say Bruno had an off night. I just think others actually stepped up and took over for a change.

Pogba was very good last night. Whether that's to attract other clubs or not I dont know. As long as he does it more often until then I dont care.

Thought Shaw and Bailly were brilliant aswell.

I don’t think Bruno was at his best, but I have to say he still worked incredibly hard. Easy to forget the work rate he’s shown because he’s been pulling really big numbers. He found some good pockets of space in the second half, we found him with the ball much quicker and allowed him to turn.

By his standards though, any game where he doesn’t drag us through it is an off night!

[bushy1987]

That felt last night like 1 of those games under fergie, a real title winning moment, it's great to be top of the league absolutely buzzing, do I think we will win the league? Probably not but I'm going to enjoy the ride it's been such a long fucking time, also we need to play the kids in Europe now fuck that competition off, I think we will get top four at the very least anyway, but full steam ahead in the league now.

Also in the summer we need to be going all out for Haaland and a CB, two huge world class players, will really help this team.

[Sméagol]

[Rustin Cohle]

www.football365.com/news/pogba-manchester-united-still-entwined-opinion

Over? Pogba and Manchester United are still entwined

SPOILER: Click to show

“I can say it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United,” said Mino Raiola. What he did not say is that when things are ‘over’ for Paul Pogba, he redoubles his efforts, narrows his focus and edges closer to becoming the world-class player that United absolutely should want to build a title-challenging team around. These are confusing times and these are mixed messages. If this is the final f*** of a fractious marriage, both parties might eventually walk away with a smile.

It may well be that United are providing little more than a shop window for Pogba – though that interpretation is unfair on an elite footballer who craves victories and silverware like any other elite footballer – but United should embrace that shop window status if it aids their return to the top table. They literally returned to the top of the actual table on Tuesday night with a 1-0 victory in Burnley; their best chance of staying there undoubtedly involves the Frenchman. If he proves himself to be worthy of a move to another super-club by this summer, it probably means that United are once again title contenders.

Pogba has been truly excellent in recent weeks, timing his improvement beautifully to coincide with Bruno Fernandes’ almost inevitable loss of rhythm after almost a year of being a one-man band. He was man of the match at Turf Moor, not just because of his excellent finish and not just because of the sumptuous pass to Anthony Martial that should have led to 2-0, but for his physicality and discipline throughout 90-plus draining minutes. The footballer derided as a luxury, fair-weather player won more aerial challenges and made more clearances than any other player on the pitch. At Burnley! He was Marouane Fellaini with the finish of Paul Scholes.

This was certainly not a night for luxury; the first half was a thankless slog, not helped by the vagaries of VAR, which took a lifetime to make the right decision about Luke Shaw but not nearly long enough to rule out a Harry Maguire ‘goal’. “Load of f***ing nonsense,” shouted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and we were inclined to agree. It was painful to watch as United were pulled down to Burnley’s level, but a half-time reminder that they are largely excellent footballers was enough to see them immeasurably improve in the second half, with Pogba at the heart of everything United did right.

This is not a great Manchester United side by any stretch of the imagination – they wobbled rather too much in defence and five goals in five games does not suggest that their attack is anything other than faltering – but it might not take a great Manchester United side to win, or at least challenge for, the title this season. Solskjaer, to his credit, has realised that even a disaffected Pogba is one of his most potent weapons in that mission. There is an alliance between the pair that can only benefit this great club and its desperate fans.

We can’t say it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United just yet. But if this is the beginning of the end, it could yet be glorious.

[kstandhand]

Jan 13, 2021 9:56:01 GMT Rustin Cohle said:

www.football365.com/news/pogba-manchester-united-still-entwined-opinion

Over? Pogba and Manchester United are still entwined

SPOILER: Click to show

“I can say it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United,” said Mino Raiola. What he did not say is that when things are ‘over’ for Paul Pogba, he redoubles his efforts, narrows his focus and edges closer to becoming the world-class player that United absolutely should want to build a title-challenging team around. These are confusing times and these are mixed messages. If this is the final f*** of a fractious marriage, both parties might eventually walk away with a smile.

It may well be that United are providing little more than a shop window for Pogba – though that interpretation is unfair on an elite footballer who craves victories and silverware like any other elite footballer – but United should embrace that shop window status if it aids their return to the top table. They literally returned to the top of the actual table on Tuesday night with a 1-0 victory in Burnley; their best chance of staying there undoubtedly involves the Frenchman. If he proves himself to be worthy of a move to another super-club by this summer, it probably means that United are once again title contenders.

Pogba has been truly excellent in recent weeks, timing his improvement beautifully to coincide with Bruno Fernandes’ almost inevitable loss of rhythm after almost a year of being a one-man band. He was man of the match at Turf Moor, not just because of his excellent finish and not just because of the sumptuous pass to Anthony Martial that should have led to 2-0, but for his physicality and discipline throughout 90-plus draining minutes. The footballer derided as a luxury, fair-weather player won more aerial challenges and made more clearances than any other player on the pitch. At Burnley! He was Marouane Fellaini with the finish of Paul Scholes.

This was certainly not a night for luxury; the first half was a thankless slog, not helped by the vagaries of VAR, which took a lifetime to make the right decision about Luke Shaw but not nearly long enough to rule out a Harry Maguire ‘goal’. “Load of f***ing nonsense,” shouted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and we were inclined to agree. It was painful to watch as United were pulled down to Burnley’s level, but a half-time reminder that they are largely excellent footballers was enough to see them immeasurably improve in the second half, with Pogba at the heart of everything United did right.

This is not a great Manchester United side by any stretch of the imagination – they wobbled rather too much in defence and five goals in five games does not suggest that their attack is anything other than faltering – but it might not take a great Manchester United side to win, or at least challenge for, the title this season. Solskjaer, to his credit, has realised that even a disaffected Pogba is one of his most potent weapons in that mission. There is an alliance between the pair that can only benefit this great club and its desperate fans.

We can’t say it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United just yet. But if this is the beginning of the end, it could yet be glorious.

100% will not be with us next despite whatever happens in the league.

[johnboy14]

Jan 13, 2021 10:06:10 GMT kstandhand said:

Jan 13, 2021 9:56:01 GMT Rustin Cohle said:

www.football365.com/news/pogba-manchester-united-still-entwined-opinion

100% will not be with us next despite whatever happens in the league.

I still believe it's best to sell him when the opportunity presents itself in the summer. He played well last night but let's be honest, that won't last and him signing another mega bucks contract would make me sick. If we somehow manage to finish this season with a trophy, it's best to end this relationship on that note.

[ratbag]

That was a game that we would have lost or drawn in the past...so often we get a chance to do something and we screw it up but not last night...

If we can beat the scouse then we might just have a chance this season...

Not really expecting too much but if we do win that game, it is perfectly possible that, given how weird the season has been so far, we could go on and do a Leicester...

You know, everyone expecting us to fail at some stage but we just keep on dragging out results...

[mightyez]

I won’t focus on what could have been with pogba.
Best I can hope for is he keeps up his form and leads us to a title, ultimately that means we get good wad in the summer for him as I would expect PSG, real and Juve to get the cheque books out.

No new contracts!!

[kstandhand]

Jan 13, 2021 11:32:48 GMT johnboy14 said:

Jan 13, 2021 10:06:10 GMT kstandhand said:

100% will not be with us next despite whatever happens in the league.

I still believe it's best to sell him when the opportunity presents itself in the summer. He played well last night but let's be honest, that won't last and him signing another mega bucks contract would make me sick. If we somehow manage to finish this season with a trophy, it's best to end this relationship on that note.

I agree especially as he is probably getting more chance than his consistency & agents comments deserve.
Woodward also has to sell before he can buy this summer,so he is certain to leave for that reason alone.

[oscared]

Its one thing Pogba playing well against Burnley lets see how he does against the scouse he`s supposed to be world class and isn't playing to the levels he should be all of the time

[Deleted]

[GeniusCantona]

Bruno gets a pass even if he was far from him best. Pogba has stepped up and earned his place in the starting 11 but has to show up in big moments. We all fondly remember his performance in the 3-2 comeback win at the ethiad but that honestly is one of the few Pogba moments that stick out. If he wants to salvage what little is left of his reputation and good will from the supporters then we need many more of these MOTM performances.