Let's take a look at the three positions Paul Pogba has played the most in his career and which one suits him the best:
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There is no doubt that Paul Pogba is one of the world’s most talented midfielders. However, whether the French midfielder has been able to translate his potential into consistent performances remains debatable. At an young age, Pogba left Manchester United to join Serie A giants Juventus. He got what he wanted – regular game time and a platform where he could show the world his full potential. United were impressed to a level that they bought him back in the summer of 2016. However, the midfielder has struggled to showcase his full potential so far at Old Trafford. With his contract set to expire this summer, it is hard to imagine him staying in Manchester for next season. It is not clear why the transfer has not worked for Pogba at United. Some have suggested that his continual positional switching is one of the factors behind his inconsistent performances.
Let’s take a look at the three positions Pogba has played the most in his career and which one suits him the most:
Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used to deploy Pogba of the left side of a midfield four to allow the Red Devils to gain control of the middle part of the pitch. This allowed Ole to play Fred and Scott Mctominay as deep-lying midfielders and Bruno Fernandes on the right flank or as a No.10. While this set-up has worked in some matches, it has failed miserably in others.
Playing on the flanks requires Pogba to track back a lot to assist the left-back, which has often been his biggest weakness. He has been criticised repeatedly by experts and former players for not doing enough in helping his team defensively. Knowing his weakness, it is a gamble to play him on the left. Besides, Pogba is more influential in the centre of the pitch and can be marked out easily on the flanks, thereby preventing him from creating an impact on the match.
Conclusion: Not suited
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The position Pogba has played the most at Old Trafford is being a part of a double pivot. He has often been played alongside a holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation by former manager Ole and his predecessor Jose Mourinho. There are clear benefits and disadvantages of playing him in one of the two holding midfield roles.
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— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) March 12, 2022
On the plus side, Pogba can receive a lot of balls from defence and will be given the freedom to dictate the play. He becomes a lot more effective while playing in the central areas. His ability to make important late runs in the opposing penalty box can be an added advantage.
However, Pogba’s defensive discipline has cost the team a lot in the past. The two holding positions in this formation are one of the most key areas on the pitch. Pogba has been often criticised by experts for not tracking back nor providing cover to his midfield partner, leaving United exposed to multiple counter-attacking situations when they lose the ball.
Conclusion: A big gamble
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This is the position Pogba has often played for the French national team. France won the 2018 World Cup largely sporting a 4-3-3 formation. Pogba was part of the three-man midfield. Not just in that World Cup, but in several competitions, Pogba has thrived while playing in a midfield three. He has also played in a similar role for Juventus at the start of his career.
The main reason it has worked for him is largely due to the two defensive-minded players France or Juventus used to deploy alongside Pogba. It allowed him to move freely and be a roaming playmaker. Pogba can also get away without defending much, thanks to the two defensive midfielders alongside him.
For obvious reasons, this has not been possible at Manchester United. That has largely been due to Bruno Fernandes’ impressive form. Ever since joining United in January 2020, Fernandes has been regularly creating and scoring goals for the club, making him the first name on the teamsheet. But Fernandes also has the same defensive weakness as Pogba. Hence, it will be suicidal for any manager to play both Pogba and Fernandes in a midfield three against top Premier League teams. This has been one of the reasons for Pogba being constantly thrown around in different positions on the pitch for United.
Conclusion: Most suitable position
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