Interesting comments from Carragher here who echoes my point about Fellaini being relatively blameless for Saturday...
Jamie Carragher has further criticised Paul Pogba’s performance in Manchester United’s Manchester derby defeat.
United slipped to a 2-1 loss at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday, with Pogba playing the full 90 minutes.
The world’s most expensive player was unable to affect the scoreline however, and Carragher hit out at his poor positional discipline after the game.
"I don’t think it was so much that Pep Guardiola got it massively right than Jose Mourinho got it tactically wrong," Carragher said.
“He wasn’t helped by the performance of his players – he subbed two at half-time – but specifically the performance of Paul Pogba.
“For a central midfielder in a game of that magnitude, I think for the first 40 minutes it was one of the most ill-disciplined performances you will see.
“The only way to describe it was like watching the best player in the schoolyard that runs where he wants and does what he wants.
“Five minutes into a Manchester derby, when you know the centre of the pitch is so important to stopping Man City, he finds himself in a left-wing role trying to receive the ball.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I felt so sorry for Fellaini. He was left on his own in the centre of the pitch and there was so much space.
“Pogba has cost what he has cost and he has done what he has done, he’s not a kid. He is 23. You find yourself looking at situations where Man Utd are leaving acres of space in the most important part of the pitch against a Pep Guardiola team.
“His job, when you are playing in a two in midfield, is to be disciplined, especially against Silva and De Bruyne. It is either he has got it wrong or Mourinho has given him licence to do what he wants and that is wrong."
I have to say even though Pogba showed some nice forward surges and tricks he was a bit undisciplined. Like Carragher says, you feel sorry for Felaini being led alone in the middle. Once Herrera was added to the midfield we started looking more solid as Herrera brought some discipline that Pogba lacked.
Smart words from Carragher...
posted on 13/9/16
Stopped reading after his first sentence. Jose got tactically schooled in the first 20 minutes, end of. Give it a rest Robb.
posted on 13/9/16
Robb spends the last two days defending Pogba, telling me I am wrong, then posts an article blaming him.
posted on 13/9/16
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 58 minutes ago
It's mental that Rooney still gets a game for United. Fergie was right all along.
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He may have been about Pogba too
posted on 13/9/16
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 9 minutes ago
Robb spends the last two days defending Pogba, telling me I am wrong, then posts an article blaming him.
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Have I? Pogba is a great signing and he can play in a midfield two. But on Saturday he played badly and wasn't disciplined enough. He'll improve
posted on 13/9/16
I think it's pretty obvious that we need to adapt to a 4-3-3 to accommodate Pogba in a more advanced role like the one he fulfilled at Juventus. To spend a world record fee on a player and then not build your team around him is ridiculous unless you have Ronaldo or Messi in your team.
Key to this would be dropping Rooney, so it's unlikely to happen.
posted on 13/9/16
"He'll improve"
I'm glad you have such confidence in him improving the defensive side of his game.
He hasn't done it well for club or country.
posted on 13/9/16
Pogba is a great signing and he can play in a midfield two.
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Why have we spent £90m to play him in a midfield two, when he has looked like one of the best in the world for the last few years at the tip of a midfield 3, whilst looking unrecognizable in a negative way when playing for France in a midfield 2?
We can't get away with playing him in a midfield 2 in the big games, which are the games we need him to be at his best. We can get away with playing him in a midfield 2 against the likes of Hull and Bournemouth, but I'm not convinced those are the games that will determine the title this season.
posted on 13/9/16
Pogba doesn't play 'at the tip of a midfield 3'. He's mostly played on the left of a 3 man centre midfield.
But I agree we're not getting the best from him in his current role.
posted on 13/9/16
Pogba was atrocious. It was his price tag that stopped him being subbed. Haven't seen a performance that bad since Southampton were tricked into thinking George Weah's cousin was joining them
posted on 13/9/16
comment by Ledley's knee surgeon; Football Manager legend. (U20121)
posted 5 minutes ago
Pogba was atrocious. It was his price tag that stopped him being subbed. Haven't seen a performance that bad since Southampton were tricked into thinking George Weah's cousin was joining them
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genuine lolled at that. I can just picture Souness on the sideline, get duped.
Back to the comment, come on!!??! (Good put down though)