PAUL POGBA spoke in the run up to this game of the ‘beauty’ of playing behind the Fab Four. The form of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes has been something to behold. Something any deep lying midfielder would want to see in front of them. There was a time when Pogba […]
PAUL POGBA spoke in the run up to this game of the ‘beauty’ of playing behind the Fab Four.
The form of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes has been something to behold.
Something any deep lying midfielder would want to see in front of them.
There was a time when Pogba returned to Old Trafford when those around him included Maroune Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Morgan Schneiderlin.
There was Ander Herrera too, great bloke but never deserving of the acclaim he generously received from the Old Trafford crowd.
Ahead of him Wayne Rooney was on the wane, Anthony Martial could not repeat his first season exploits, Marcus Rashford was just developing etc.
Basically it was not the side he is now part of.
The players that have remained are now better.
The ones that have gone would not get back in the side.
The main one who has arrived in Bruno Fernandes, scorer from the spot with the first against Villa in the 3-0 thumping, has drawn the fans’ adoration.
Basically Pogba is no longer the main man, nor is he the one upon whose shoulders the weight of expectation is heaving down on.
He could perform in a Juventus side that dominated Serie A but could not lift a United side desperate for help to head back to the top of the Premier League.
Yet maybe now the environment is perfect for him.
When he came back Pogba felt he had to do everything because of the club record, and then world record, price tag he had on him of £89million.
He wanted to dribble when an easy pass was the better option. He wanted to hit a 30-yard screamer whenever the goal came into sight.
To be fair to him he would also put balls through for players who did not read what he was going to do.
Passes that would have found Juventus players but not United players back then who were not thinking one step ahead.
So perhaps a better team will see a better Pogba. One who just does his job. And one who can find the back of the net – like he did with an assist from Fernandes in the 58th minute at Villa Park.
That was his first since April of last year.
He does not have to be the sole hero but more a part of what is turning into a very good team.
If that means Mason Greenwood gets the headlines again as he did at Villa Park then fine.
Still Pogba can be part of a United outfit that climbs back to the top of English football in the next two years.
If he can be, then after all, it will have been worthwhile.
