Paul Pogba

[Iain G]

The ultimate waster of football talent?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68436828

[Yorkshire HFC]

The ultimate waster of football talent?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68436828

He's a World Cup winner - played for top clubs all over Europe and won numerous leagues and cups.

I'm not sure that many people have done much more than he has.

[MWHIBBIES]

The ultimate waster of football talent?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68436828

Wouldn't make a top 10. He won a lot

Shame he's had so many injuries. A great player when fit. Man united was a dreadful move by him.

[Iain G]

He's a World Cup winner - played for top clubs all over Europe and won numerous leagues and cups.

I'm not sure that many people have done much more than he has.

Yet he could still be so much more, awful lazy attitude and lack of focus and application.

[Iain G]

Wouldn't make a top 10. He won a lot

Shame he's had so many injuries. A great player when fit. Man united was a dreadful move by him.

I was would say Man Utd were the ones making the mistake, like so many of their signings post Fergie. Signed on reputation that was so out of date.

[MWHIBBIES]

I was would say Man Utd were the ones making the mistake, like so many of their signings post Fergie. Signed on reputation that was so out of date.

Na, guy was excellent at Juventus. And his form for France remained good. It was United that were a mess. Still are.

[hibsbollah]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.

[MWHIBBIES]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.
Agreed. Guys like Souness just talked ***** about his attitude and work ethic. Exhausting outdated rubbish.

[WeeRussell]

Agreed. Guys like Souness just talked ***** about his attitude and work ethic. Exhausting outdated rubbish.

He’d have been talked about differently during his Man U days if he’d been English. I’m absolutely sure of it.

[Iain G]

He’d have been talked about differently during his Man U days if he’d been English. I’m absolutely sure of it.

Or if he has applied himself more? He is his own worst enemy, so much skill and talent without the desire.

[Baader]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.

He's underrated yep but wouldn't put him on a par with Platini or even close. MP was an absolutely phenomenal player. Three Ballon d'Ors in a row and Serie A top scorer 3 seasons running. From midfield. Incredible.

[MWHIBBIES]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.

Pogba was a very good player, but Patrick Vieira was better in terms of French midfielders.

[Bakerman]

He's underrated yep but wouldn't put him on a par with Platini or even close. MP was an absolutely phenomenal player. Three Ballon d'Ors in a row and Serie A top scorer 3 seasons running. From midfield. Incredible.

Platini was one of the best ever. Up there with Beckenbauer, although for me der Kaiser, was the ultimate supreme player. Really sad to hear that he passed away last month. But, Platini was world class, and a legend.

[Stairway 2 7]

No wonder he achieved if he was on the roids Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnson and Shoaib Akhtar were a class above too.

He like all athletes should be banned for life once caught. Its obviously widespread but examples should be shown and much more money should be put into finding these cheats. The documentary Icarus on netflix about the Russian government's cheating in sport is brill

[WeeRussell]

Platini was one of the best ever. Up there with Beckenbauer, although for me der Kaiser, was the ultimate supreme player. Really sad to hear that he passed away last month. But, Platini was world class, and a legend.

Beckenbauer played at the back though?

[Smartie]

Bad time to be at Man Utd.

Some flawed geniuses need a bit more going on around them to be at their best, whether that be a particular manager or players around them and I think he’s missed out on that there - possibly had something more suitable at Juve and for France.

[Bakerman]

Beckenbauer played at the back though?

Pele was a forward, but still up there alongside other footballing legends like Platini, and Beckenbauer as arguably the best in the world. That was the point I was making. For me Beckenbauer was the ultimate player.

[K-Zazu]

Probably just wanted an early retirement.

[Just_Jimmy]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.Correct. I watched united live almost every week when he was there. An absolute rolls Royce of a player.

He had bad games like everyone but souness was a bitter dinosaur.

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[hibsbollah]

Correct. I watched united live almost every week when he was there. An absolute rolls Royce of a player.

He had bad games like everyone but souness was a bitter dinosaur.

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I do laugh at some of the coverage of the news today. Its very heavy on the ‘flawed genius’’what a waste’ ‘imagine what he'd have been if he knuckled down’.

Alan Shearer, come back and talk about wasted talent when YOU score in a the final to give your country the World cup :sauzee:

[VoltaireHibs]

One of the most intelligent players ive ever watched. Can pick a pass out of nowhere but for some reason certain pundits just focused on his strength and physicality. Not quite up there with Zidane but on a par with Platini imo when it comes to french midfielders. (And prime Sauzee not too far behind either). Very underrated by the MOTD crowd.

Some players just have a languid style that means folk think they're lazy. Malonga was that type, Scott Allan could look pretty relaxed as well. It's the one area where I find stats are useful, to see if they cover the yards or not.

[VoltaireHibs]

Probably just wanted an early retirement.

I don't think this is the case but there's an interesting article that could be written about players that make enough money for them and their families to live comfortably for the rest of their lives and how much hunger they have for the game thereafter. Lots of players are multi millionaires in their early twenties, imagine the temptations, with all that money, yet your stuck on a regime for the next ten years or so, an endless grind of games and discipline, week in week out. You have to really love the game to continue. I wonder how many would really like to do a Jenas and pack it in early to enjoy their new found wealth?

I'd be tempted, although as I'm over 50 I think the window of opportunity is almost closed...almost.

Be great to have a sort of secret ballot of EPL players, ask them if they really love the game or the money and if they'd leave it if they could before normal retirement age for a footballer. I think the answers may surprise a few folk.

[Since452]

Agreed. Guys like Souness just talked ***** about his attitude and work ethic. Exhausting outdated rubbish.

He may have had a point...

[ChilliEater]

Pogba? He's just a rich man's Dylan Levitt.

[Haymaker]

I don't think this is the case but there's an interesting article that could be written about players that make enough money for them and their families to live comfortably for the rest of their lives and how much hunger they have for the game thereafter. Lots of players are multi millionaires in their early twenties, imagine the temptations, with all that money, yet your stuck on a regime for the next ten years or so, an endless grind of games and discipline, week in week out. You have to really love the game to continue. I wonder how many would really like to do a Jenas and pack it in early to enjoy their new found wealth?

I'd be tempted, although as I'm over 50 I think the window of opportunity is almost closed...almost.

Be great to have a sort of secret ballot of EPL players, ask them if they really love the game or the money and if they'd leave it if they could before normal retirement age for a footballer. I think the answers may surprise a few folk.

Members of his family are also pieces of **** apparently.

[HoboHarry]

Correct. I watched united live almost every week when he was there. An absolute rolls Royce of a player.

He had bad games like everyone but souness was a bitter dinosaur.

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Much time has elapsed and I could be just stuck dwelling on fond memories, but for me he wasn't a patch on Platini, not even close. Great player that Pogba was, I don't ever recall him being described as best in the world but I do remember that of Platini and the three successive Ballon d'Or awards testify to that. Interesting that both of their careers ended in different types of disgrace.

[Dashing Bob S]

Because he ‘failed’ in the post Ferguson failure club that is Man U, he was never forgiven by the ‘British’ (English) media for not driving their darlings to glory.

The reality is that he’s a great player who has enjoyed an excellent career. This ban is tragic but it only stops him having another couple of seasons at the top.

[hibsbollah]

Much time has elapsed and I could be just stuck dwelling on fond memories, but for me he wasn't a patch on Platini, not even close. Great player that Pogba was, I don't ever recall him being described as best in the world but I do remember that of Platini and the three successive Ballon d'Or awards testify to that. Interesting that both of their careers ended in different types of disgrace.

Platini was a bit of a hero for me, formative years watching that midfield in European Championships (‘the Euros’ as were supposed to calll it now Platini, Giresse, Tigana, Fernandez). But in terms of pure talent id put Pogba on the same level. Just an opinion.

Measuring compos in historical eras are quite boring though, the main point i was making that he is massively underrated, especially if your experience of watching him, was playing with a man u project that nobody else had bought into in the building. The whole thing was doomed from the start. So folk blame the guy who cost you the most.

[Torto7]

The ultimate waster of football talent?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68436828

He never had that much talent. Rode along for the ride with Pirlo, Vidal and made his name.

I'm surprised he's been done though. The whole of football/sport is rife with doping. The amount of asthma sufferers at Liverpool and the fact they can run and run.

Remember when Slippy G's hun team of well over 30's went back to back extra times in a week looking stronger and stronger as the game went on. Absolutely reeking. I see Slippy hangs around with Kinahan's cousin these days in a completely unrelated note.

[VoltaireHibs]

He never had that much talent. Rode along for the ride with Pirlo, Vidal and made his name.

I'm surprised he's been done though. The whole of football/sport is rife with doping. The amount of asthma sufferers at Liverpool and the fact they can run and run.

Remember when Slippy G's hun team of well over 30's went back to back extra times in a week looking stronger and stronger as the game went on. Absolutely reeking. I see Slippy hangs around with Kinahan's cousin these days in a completely unrelated note.

I'm a big fan of road cycling, the saying in the racing community is - A drug test isn't a drug test, it's an IQ test - basically if you're dumb enough to get caught the you deserve the punishment.

Pogba's obviously been daft. His daftness has probably ended his career.

Cycling has cleaned up it's act brilliantly. Folk still dope, but they get caught. Any sport that never catches dopers is failing that sport. Tennis needs to give itself a good shake, absolutely blatant, only women ever seem to get caught. No high profile men. The highest one of all included.

[MWHIBBIES]

He never had that much talent. Rode along for the ride with Pirlo, Vidal and made his name.

I'm surprised he's been done though. The whole of football/sport is rife with doping. The amount of asthma sufferers at Liverpool and the fact they can run and run.

Remember when Slippy G's hun team of well over 30's went back to back extra times in a week looking stronger and stronger as the game went on. Absolutely reeking. I see Slippy hangs around with Kinahan's cousin these days in a completely unrelated note.

Pirlo, Vidal and Marchisio were also excellent carrying him for France...

[Mcbizz1998]

Can’t say I’m particularly sorry to hear this. Pogba sums up for me everything that’s wrong with modern footballers. All the talent in the world but seemed more interested in his haircut and doing silly wee dances than being a footballer half the time.

Dying his hair City blue before a derby, showed he had no regard or care for the fans he was supposed to play for. Give me Ian Murray with the 0-7 every day of the week!

[B.H.F.C]

Can’t say I’m particularly sorry to hear this. Pogba sums up for me everything that’s wrong with modern footballers. All the talent in the world but seemed more interested in his haircut and doing silly wee dances than being a footballer half the time.

Dying his hair City blue before a derby, showed he had no regard or care for the fans he was supposed to play for. Give me Ian Murray with the 0-7 every day of the week!

Would agree with much of that. Acted like a dick a lot of the time and now shown to be a cheat.

[Sloop67]

Agreed. Guys like Souness just talked ***** about his attitude and work ethic. Exhausting outdated rubbish.

If you don't do it in " The Best League in The World " , the the English media will more than likely regard you as a flop

[Mcbizz1998]

If you don't do it in " The Best League in The World " , the the English media will more than likely regard you as a flop

Well, it is the best league in the world and he wasn’t exactly a success.

[Pretty Boy]

I always thought a lot of the criticism of Pogba was because when he was at his very best he was almost unplayable and when he didn't hit those heights people questioned why.

The footage of him in the changing room before the world cup final showed him as a genuine leader. He commanded that dressing room and other great players evidently respected him. The game in which Man Utd came back to win 3-2 v Man City and deny them the title for a bit longer saw him produce one of the most complete midfield performances I have ever seen in the 2nd half. He was the best player on the park by some distance and that was a pitch full of some of the best in the world. Not just the 2 goals but the way he rallies the defence as they clung on as City threw the kitchen sink at them for the last 10 minutes.

There were other games I watched him and didn't really see what he was bringing to the party. I suppose it's hard for anyone to play at their peak every week and even harder when it is in a team thrown together with no real cohesion.

A sad ending for him either way.