Pogba: We need a world class performance from him tonight

Originally Posted by Tiberian

I wouldn't be overly critical of Pogba tonight. I have been in the past when his focus and application has been questionable but I think it was mostly a tactical neutralization on Tuchel's part.

You see the failure of the Fred transfer in a game like that, we really needed someone with energy and a touch of quality and penetration in that midfield area. Matic started well to be fair but as a deep 2 he and Herrera are among the most limited midfield pairs in these knock out rounds.

I'm not really tbh.

In the past he's been complacent and selfish. Tonight I just think he generally struggled.

He shouldn't have let his frustration boil over, but if he's marked then, as you say, it frees up elsewhere and we weren't cute enough to expose that.

Unbelievable that he's taking heat. The one player who looked capable of creating anything.

Has to do it on his own in these games because most of his passing options won't take any initiative to make something happen.

There was a moment where Lingard had it in the first half near their box and just chose to play it back out wide where it came from

Not all his fault no, but tonight still showed his limitations.

Originally Posted by red in cumbria

Not all his fault no, but tonight still showed his limitations.

Yes, limitations of being surrounded by players not on his level.

It's not a co-incidence that we were dominant in Europe when we had very few weak links. This team is full of them.

Originally Posted by Ranier Wolfcastle

Unbelievable that he's taking heat. The one player who looked capable of creating anything.

Has to do it on his own in these games because most of his passing options won't take any initiative to make something happen.

There was a moment where Lingard had it in the first half near their box and just chose to play it back out wide where it came from

Shut up Raniers. I love him but he was shite. Needs to have his sense of entitlement knocked-out of him and maybe a few nights like tonight will help him learn because the best midfielder in Europe is in him somewhere. Or maybe he's just a #@&%!. We'll see.

He's a clown

Wonder how many #@&%!s would blame Pogba...maybe Mourinho had a point

£#%&!ing #@&%!s

Originally Posted by £#%&! KFC

Wonder how many #@&%!s would blame Pogba...maybe Mourinho had a point

£#%&!ing #@&%!s

Don’t think anyone has put the blame solely on him tbf?

Just that he’s supposed to be our best player by some distance and disappointed again in a big game.

They were all as bad as each other if were honest, just that we expect more from certain players because of their talent.

Originally Posted by AK14

Don’t think anyone has put the blame solely on him tbf?

Just that he’s supposed to be our best player by some distance and disappointed again in a big game.

They were all as bad as each other if were honest, just that we expect more from certain players because of their talent.

He was man marked and struggled to deal with it but there were plenty who struggled s lot more than him but whatever he does you will get @#%&!s just waiting to blame him for everything

Originally Posted by £#%&! KFC

Wonder how many #@&%!s would blame Pogba...maybe Mourinho had a point

£#%&!ing #@&%!s

It's not a case of 'blame', it's just we know he's got more in him. If we've going to beat the best teams, our best players have to play well. I think he's our best player but he wasn't tonight.

'Man-marked'. If you're that good, deal with it.

Classic Fred to go after the player that can make things happen

Never learn

That burst he did in the first half was brilliant.

With better players, he'll be our saviour

Our best player according to Ole in the post match presser

Can't criticise the guy too much. When the opposition are man-marking you that shows the fear/respect they have for him and that's also when you need the guys around you to step it up. I won't fault the effort of the others but it's clear Pogba carries the burden of creativity so what needs to be the next step is put him alongside a more gifted support cast. Would love to see Eriksen next to him.

Originally Posted by Ranier Wolfcastle

Classic Fred to go after the player that can make things happen

Never learn

Things didn't happen. It's an understandable reaction.

Originally Posted by Buck

Can't criticise the guy too much. When the opposition are man-marking you that shows the fear/respect they have for him and that's also when you need the guys around you to step it up. I won't fault the effort of the others but it's clear Pogba carries the burden of creativity so what needs to be the next step is put him alongside a more gifted support cast. Would love to see Eriksen next to him.

Spot on.

Should’ve signed Erilksen and Kante ... but that is a major part of the problem.

The more threat each player poses the less attention they can pay to individuals. They knew we had threat in 4 positions first half and defended accordingly, we were down to 2 second half. They posed a threat from 5-6 positions throughout.

We need more quality in CM, at FB and in reserve, particularly in the wide areas and creative portion of CM. Have honestly been bitching about our reluctance to sign exciting, young attacking players since 2009/10 time. 1 every now and again just isn't enough.

Originally Posted by dunk

The more threat each player poses the less attention they can pay to individuals. They knew we had threat in 4 positions first half and defended accordingly, we were down to 2 second half. They posed a threat from 5-6 positions throughout.

We need more quality in CM, at FB and in reserve, particularly in the wide areas and creative portion of CM. Have honestly been bitching about our reluctance to sign exciting, young attacking players since 2009/10 time. 1 every now and again just isn't enough.

Lingard wasn't really going to pose a threat. He received the ball in a great position to run at them near their area in the first half and instead chose to pass it back out wide

Need to have better players than him if we want to be the best again

Originally Posted by Ranier Wolfcastle

Lingard wasn't really going to pose a threat. He received the ball in a great position to run at them near their area in the first half and instead chose to pass it back out wide

Need to have better players than him if we want to be the best again

We do. He's a cracking squad player, but he shouldn't be first pick and integral to our game in a CL knockout game ffs

Originally Posted by dunk

The more threat each player poses the less attention they can pay to individuals. They knew we had threat in 4 positions first half and defended accordingly, we were down to 2 second half. They posed a threat from 5-6 positions throughout.

Is correct.

When you only have 1 real threat in midfield its far easier to nullify. One reason why that @#%&! Herrera requires upgrading seriously. It's all well and good running about like an enthusiastic #@&%! but at this level you need to be able to do damage when you get on the ball.

A quality team like PSG would be expected to suppress Pogba if there's nothing else to worry about. And that's what they did.

Big lessons from last night.