Paul Pogba

[Exeter Blue I am here]

You worry too much. Your concerns are valid but let's see who we actually buy. I don't think Pep will be oblivious to the unique demands of the Premier League; how he chooses to address them may not though be quite as traditional as you would like.

The non conventional makes me even twitchier than usual! ;-)

 

[Omnia Vincit Riot]

There isn't a player anywhere in the world with the unique combination of power and flair Ya Ya had up until about 2014, and comparisons with him are utterly pointless. He was both conductor and first violinist. What we should be looking at is whether Pogba can give us something we lacked last season, not whether he is a Ya Ya clone, and for me it's an emphatic yes. Height, tick, power, tick, inventiveness, tick.

We didn't just get beaten last season, we got absolutely gubbed at times. Pathetic spineless surrenders against the dippers (twice), Spurs, Stoke, Southampton and Leicester, and the same number of games again where we stank the place out yet someone managed to escape with draws and wins that we most certainly did not deserve (Swansea, Sunderland, the rags, Newcastle, West Brom). In nearly all of those games we gave away height and weight like Charlie Magri stepping into the ring against Henry Cooper, and we were bullied mentally and physically.

The Premier League is unique in nature in that champions have to be able to combine pace and flair with raw power, and ''twas ever thus. If we go into this season thinking we can come out on top with false no.9's and half a dozen midfielders measuring 5ft 9' and smaller, we will get a very rude awakening. This isn't a fearful "wet Tuesday night at Stoke" mentality, it's reality for any putative non-conformist team that doesn't have Messi and Suarez at their disposal, and we don't.

The willingness of City fans on here to dismiss players going elsewhere as being "not worth the money" and the club's they are bound for as "shit" never ceases to amaze me. Pogba is a fucking good player. Will he win United the league on his own? No. Of course he won't. Will he make a significant difference to them? Yes, I think he will. The worst rags team in living memory missed out on 4th place to us last season only on goal difference, and they were one of the form teams after Christmas. Albeit that they lost their penultimate fixture to a West Ham team fighting like their lives depended on it, there was a 30 minute period either side of half time in that game when they looked a real menace, going from 1-0 down to 2-1 up with some really slick interplay between Rashford, Martial, Rooney and Valencia down the right in particular. If they add Pogba and Ibrahimovic to the mix they will have one of the tallest and most physically intimidating squads in PL history, and with that cnut Mourinho in charge I would not be at all surprised to see them contesting the title.
City cannot afford to be complacent. We've got the best manager in the business, but the players we are being linked with concern me in terms of equating that balance of power and flair. Nolito, Stones, Zinchenko, Sane, Moreno. Stylish footballers one and all, but by contrast not the steeliest bunch in the world and they'll be going into a squad that already contains Sterling, Silva, Navas, KDB and Nasri. Just a personal opinion of course!

I completely agree with this. With the exception of KDB and Sterling, we haven't signed a single exciting, big name star since Aguero. Yet we've spent hundreds of millions, some of which was pretty much pissed up the wall on shite like Rodwell and Sinclair and Otamendi and Bony. I really feel we should be aiming higher. Pogba and Bale and Aubameyang are the players we need and should be targeting. Players who will seriously improve the first team. We're no better now than last season, and we were fucking shit for huge parts of last season. I thought the idea and ambition of the club was to be the best in the world, but right now we're not even as good as Leicester or Spurs. We need some proven stars that any other top team would desperately want. If those cunts at Trafford get Pogba I'll be fucking livid, not only because he's a brilliant player but because if they can afford him we can, and he's just what we need.

 

[Blue Maverick]

When you look at what other bang average players are going for this pre season £100 million for Pogva seems right. If lesser teams are getting bids if £32 million for their players I think pogbas valuation is about right.

 

[BlueMedic]

From watching more of him this season at Juve & now with France he currently seems more a highlight reel player (e.g. Coutinho) than a consistent game dictator (e.g. Kroos) - however his highlight reels are impressive. Think he's over rated on current ability, but his skill & potential are clear to see, if he can get to a consistently high level he'll be a bit of a monster.

Would've loved him here, but don't think missing him is a huge blow currently; however if he did end up at a rival PL I think that spells bad news for the future. Hopefully he stays at Juve, if not then Spain would be the least worrying transfer.

 

[Ric]

I completely agree with this. With the exception of KDB and Sterling, we haven't signed a single exciting, big name star since Aguero. Yet we've spent hundreds of millions, some of which was pretty much pissed up the wall on shite like Rodwell and Sinclair and Otamendi and Bony. I really feel we should be aiming higher. Pogba and Bale and Aubameyang are the players we need and should be targeting. Players who will seriously improve the first team. We're no better now than last season, and we were fucking shit for huge parts of last season. I thought the idea and ambition of the club was to be the best in the world, but right now we're not even as good as Leicester or Spurs. We need some proven stars that any other top team would desperately want. If those cunts at Trafford get Pogba I'll be fucking livid, not only because he's a brilliant player but because if they can afford him we can, and he's just what we need.

Bale is unattainable, so there's literally no point in targeting him. He'll sign a long term deal with Madrid before the season starts. You can't criticise us for that. Pogba and Aubameyang are different, I'll give you that. We're still working to a budget though. The squad needs a lot of work, so it's up to Guardiola and Begiristain to apportion funds accordingly. Can't really judge the window in the first week of July.

 

[the_game_161]

Pogba wants Spain and would take less money to go there, but suddenly there's no interest. Why?



I can't see how we are looking at £100million for Stones/Sane on the one hand yet aren't interested in ponying up for Pogba.

The money to get Pep the team he wants is there, just Pogba isn't part of his plans. That he's not worth north of £80million is another issue entirely.

Don't think it's the transfer fee that's an issue its the wages

 

[OB1]

The non conventional makes me even twitchier than usual! ;-)

At least you will be happy when we splash fifty mill on the man-mountain of a centre back that is John Stones.

 

[Dax777]

Stuff him...thiago is ready made for pep's systems, and is far more likely.

Thiago and Kroos would make for a dynamite window.

If we get Thiago and Kroos I'll shit myself in public. Even though I have questions about both, ones effort and the others health. Together they'll be 3much :)

A Midfield 3 of Thiago, Kroos, Gundogan will control possession infinitely. Unfortunately neither Thiago nor Kroos show enough high pressure interest for my liking.

 

[Ric]

If United get him then you have to say it's a very good signing for them, in that he'll improve them considerably. Whether or not signing a player for £85m when he left you for nothing less than 5 years ago represents good business is another matter altogether. Still hoping that he joins Madrid, of course.

 

[bluegonads]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

 

[DybalasTatoo]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

for who?

 

[Chevelle]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

Really? With who? I would be shocked if United get him. A club that rejected him and has no champions league. Where is the ambition or self-respect??

Would say a bunch about him if he signed with the rags.. Real I could understand though.

 

[ojeme]

Or maybe united were the only club willing to go all the way towards signing him. He probably preferred a couple other clubs who were in turn not willing to get him at all cost. Not too hard to imagine I guess

Really? With who? I would be shocked if United get him. A club that rejected him and has no champions league. Where is the ambition or self-respect??

Would say a bunch about him if he signed with the rags.. Real I could understand though.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

At least you will be happy when we splash fifty mill on the man-mountain of a centre back that is John Stones.

I'd be quite happy with Stones if I thought he was going to have a physically imposing partner (and leader) like Vinny alongside him. Stones paired with either Mangala or Otamendi however, is a recipe for utter fucking disaster. If we're buying Stones then and we can't rely on VK to be fit, then we really need to buy an animal to partner him (NB - Denayer isn't remotely good enough). This is part of my beef though - we're buying nothing but silk drawers, without having a good old fashioned pair of Y fronts in place to provide balance

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

Nothing like a worthwhile post.......

 

[blueinsa]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

For who?

 

[Jacob Smith]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

Could you be a little bit more vague?

 

[manimanc]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

 

[the_game_161]

just been told he may have signed this evening.

Lol sure and messi is going to sign for Real Madrid

 

[Blue warrior]

If he goes there it's all about ££££ no CL the club that got shut of him, that's the problem with these cunts they are a money making machine and can splash ridiculous amounts!