I really don't want to be going in circles BD. You asked me about the specifics of the player as relating to a barrier to his development. My view is that it doesn't matter what I see in his game, the way development works is that there are numerous other significant factors at play. Statistically speaking, it makes this phase of his development a lottery.

There are amazing talents all around the globe who at 18 look nailed-on to be top players. The reality is that only a small percentage of these top talents develop into decent footballers. This is why the club changed strategic focus from buying talented youth, to buying young players in the next phase (Courtois, De Bruyne, Pasalic, T.Hazard, Salah, Atsu, Perica, van Ginkel, even Oscar). The risk is minimised. RLC certainly has no discernable weaknesses, but that is far from a guarantee of him being anywhere near as good as Pogba.

 

To me it sounds like you simply don't know about RLC but have written him off based on the law of averages. For a start he certainly does have discernible weaknesses because he's a young player and no-one is perfect. But I agree that it's really not worth continuing this discussion simply because you don't seem to want to.

I really don't want to be going in circles BD. You asked me about the specifics of the player as relating to a barrier to his development. My view is that it doesn't matter what I see in his game, the way development works is that there are numerous other significant factors at play. Statistically speaking, it makes this phase of his development a lottery.

There are amazing talents all around the globe who at 18 look nailed-on to be top players. The reality is that only a small percentage of these top talents develop into decent footballers. This is why the club changed strategic focus from buying talented youth, to buying young players in the next phase (Courtois, De Bruyne, Pasalic, T.Hazard, Salah, Atsu, Perica, van Ginkel, even Oscar). The risk is minimised. RLC certainly has no discernable weaknesses, but that is far from a guarantee of him being anywhere near as good as Pogba.

 

Have to agree with this. The evidence is there. We could all come up with lists of young players that were going to be the next big thing. Actually, perhaps we couldn't as many of these next big things have slipped into obscurity and are long forgotten.

 

Look at our Youth Cup wins in recent seasons. None of these players have gone on to set the world alight (yet, but the clock is ticking). And the much heralded Man Utd Youth team of 2011. Pogba HAS made it but what of the others (Ravel Morrison especially looks like he will be the biggest failure when many were calling him the next Scholes).

 

I made the same mistake with McEachran. Was certain he was going to be our future No. 10. and there are loads more, we could go on and on. Patrick Roberts at Fulham is another who I would be certain of making it. But none of us have crystal balls. For whatever reason 90+% of these players just don't make it - however good they look at 17/18.

 

RLC may but he may not. Like all the others, we'll just have to wait and see.

To just reaffirm the above, they were speaking on TalkSport this morning about an article in today's Times and young footballers who end up on the scrapheap. Think I heard them say that of all the British players to sign their first professional contract at a young age, by the time they are 21, a staggering 99% have dropped out of the game. Only 1% make it??!!! I may have mis-heard and it was Alan Brazil, but even if it isn't correct, it probably isn't that far off.

 

Will have to try and read the article but it does underline just how difficult it is to make it to the top level.

I think pogba may return to utd. He will most likely go for a lot of money and for the money juve will want, we won't want to go in for him unless we use a similar player (ramires the only one) + cash as bait for him, but even still juve will likely want around 70-80 million for him. The question is, would we pay almost 100 million for a 21 year old with the potential to be one of, if not the best midfielder in his position in the future?

I'd prefer 60-70m for Pogba than 100m for Messi or Ronaldo or Bale.

£40m + Rammy + Mikel for Pogba I am reading this morning.....

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/553436/Chelsea-plan-40m-bid-Paul-Pogba-Manchester-United-Juventus

 

Rumours are back. 

 

Can't see where he would fit into the starting XI in truth, who are we going to sacrifice to accommodate him? 

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/553436/Chelsea-plan-40m-bid-Paul-Pogba-Manchester-United-Juventus

 

Rumours are back. 

 

Can't see where he would fit into the starting XI in truth, who are we going to sacrifice to accommodate him? 

 

Mikel and Ramires? Neither is in the first team on a consistent basis so you wouldn't miss out on much and the combined wages would probably cover Pogba's. Not the biggest fan on bringing him in because I think we should look inwards for young players but in terms of consolidating players who don't feature that much and having a top-class fourth midfield option then it's not the worst idea in the world.

Mikel and Ramires? Neither is in the first team on a consistent basis so you wouldn't miss out on much and the combined wages would probably cover Pogba's. Not the biggest fan on bringing him in because I think we should look inwards for young players but in terms of consolidating players who don't feature that much and having a top-class fourth midfield option then it's not the worst idea in the world.

If we did manage to pull of one of these mystical swap deals, and mikel+rambo+cash for Pogba happened. It would open up an extra squad place for ake, chalobah, or rlc.

So it could actually be a good thing in terms of the youngsters getting more opportunities.

I'd take pogba in a heart beat. The tactical advantage of having pogba would be fantastic, he's improving all the time and when he starts to grab games by the scruff of the neck on a regular basis, he will be the best midfielder in the world.

Don't know why I'm getting excited though, he will probably end up as modrics replacement at Real.

Mikel and Ramires? Neither is in the first team on a consistent basis so you wouldn't miss out on much and the combined wages would probably cover Pogba's. Not the biggest fan on bringing him in because I think we should look inwards for young players but in terms of consolidating players who don't feature that much and having a top-class fourth midfield option then it's not the worst idea in the world.

 

I just mean in the sense of who would we drop to give Pogba playing time, you don't spend upwards of £40m if you're not intending on playing them most weeks. 

 

The obvious player to miss out would be Oscar with Fabregas pushing up to play in the number 10 role with Pogba partnering Matic but seeing as Oscar is having a good season and just signed a 5 year extension I don't know if I see that happening. 

 

You need the likes of Ramires and Mikel in your squad who aren't expecting to play every game every week. 

 

I don't know, this just feel like a fantasy football rumour to me. 

I don't like fabregas puushing up in to oscar's role. You can see it affects are pressing game, oscar gives players very little time on the ball. Fabregas does a bit better in next to matic where he has more time to work. 

 

Of course Pogba is a great player who would benefit any team

I'd love us to sign Pogba. I think that our strength in depth isn't particularly amazing. After all, not many would argue about our best eleven. Maybe a small debate about which two fullbacks are best but the rest of the 11 picks itself. And Jose seems to agree looking at the limited rotation and subs used. So to add a couple of players that would leave us debating who should be starting would really lift us. I should've said outfield ten because what we need is a little bit more of our goalkeeper situation. You can't put a Rizzler paper between their abilities.

If Chelsea will sign him I will be the most happiest man ever.

And there's the added bonus that if he did sign and was brilliant for us that United would feel sick.

I just mean in the sense of who would we drop to give Pogba playing time, you don't spend upwards of £40m if you're not intending on playing them most weeks. 

 

The obvious player to miss out would be Oscar with Fabregas pushing up to play in the number 10 role with Pogba partnering Matic but seeing as Oscar is having a good season and just signed a 5 year extension I don't know if I see that happening. 

 

You need the likes of Ramires and Mikel in your squad who aren't expecting to play every game every week. 

 

I don't know, this just feel like a fantasy football rumour to me. 

 

Exactly. I said as much a couple of pages back. You can only fit so many good players into one team.  

But doesn't having a clear best eleven reduce the competition? When you know that you are the only option, you can afford to have a few off days because there's no one good enough to take your place. And if injury or suspension hits, it'd be great not to weaken the team. Obviously you can't have the worlds top two players in every position but there's no harm in having two top players competing for one or two key positions is there? And it likely offers more strong formation change options.

 

I'd rather invest in a couple of top quality players above the eleven and use youth players to fill the places of fringe senior players like Salah that cost 11 million and never play anyway.

If true we need to get him. He is young and has the potential to be the best in his position, and has already shown he is a top quality player.

I think it would be a travesty if we let him go to somewhere like utd if there's a high possibility we can get him.

I just mean in the sense of who would we drop to give Pogba playing time, you don't spend upwards of £40m if you're not intending on playing them most weeks.

The obvious player to miss out would be Oscar with Fabregas pushing up to play in the number 10 role with Pogba partnering Matic but seeing as Oscar is having a good season and just signed a 5 year extension I don't know if I see that happening.

You need the likes of Ramires and Mikel in your squad who aren't expecting to play every game every week.

I don't know, this just feel like a fantasy football rumour to me.

Oscar and Willian offer a similar style really so the two of them should be in rotation. It would be great to be able to rest Matic or Fabregas or Hazard and not have a major drop in quality.

£40m + Rammy + Mikel for Pogba I am reading this morning.....

 

This is pretty much the only instance in which I'd be content to see Mikel leave, we get Paul Pogba and Mikel goes off to heed his natural calling to become Andrea Pirlo's natural successor. Also Ramires would probably be a complete menace in Serie A.

I wouldn't sell Ramires, he is a fantastic squad player, we will see that again this season just you wait, he will play his role.

 

Mikel almost definitely but selling Mikel will not bring funds for buying Pogba absolutely no way.

 

The rules aren't entirely accurate, we don't need to exactly sell as much as we buy but if we do buy Pogba which I'm guessing is on the Di Mara and Suarez landmark then we will most certainly not be able to buy anyone else that transfer window, unless we do indeed sell a few.

Oscar and Willian offer a similar style really so the two of them should be in rotation. It would be great to be able to rest Matic or Fabregas or Hazard and not have a major drop in quality.

 

So if we sign Pogba how does that help us to rest/rotate Hazard?

 

Both Matic and Fabregas have sat out only about 5 or 6 games between them all season so far and I'm just struggling to see how you can sign someone of the caliber and profile of Pogba and give him and the existing players enough game time to keep them all happy. 

 

I do understand the argument of having more top quality players but I just don't see how it would realistically work. 

I wouldn't sell Ramires, he is a fantastic squad player, we will see that again this season just you wait, he will play his role.

 

Mikel almost definitely but selling Mikel will not bring funds for buying Pogba absolutely no way.

 

The rules aren't entirely accurate, we don't need to exactly sell as much as we buy but if we do buy Pogba which I'm guessing is on the Di Mara and Suarez landmark then we will most certainly not be able to buy anyone else that transfer window, unless we do indeed sell a few.

 

Pogba is infinitely better than Ramires.

So if we sign Pogba how does that help us to rest/rotate Hazard?

Both Matic and Fabregas have sat out only about 5 or 6 games between them all season so far and I'm just struggling to see how you can sign someone of the caliber and profile of Pogba and give him and the existing players enough game time to keep them all happy.

I do understand the argument of having more top quality players but I just don't see how it would realistically work.

Having pogba who is better defensively than mikel and offensively than ramires, would allow us to be tactically more flexible. If you take the liverpool game for example, having pogba instead of Mikel would have given us better control of the midfield, and we could have switched from possession football, to counter attack without changing personnel.

Pogba, matic, and fabregas battling for 2 positions would be fine, I'm sure all 3 would get a massive amount of game time, he and fabregas can both play further forward, pogba has also played on the right at juve, and it's horses for courses at the end of the day.

I don't think ramires has been particularly good since di matter was here, and if he and mikel were to sacrificed for Pogba, i'd be more than happy. I think pogba will be one of the finest footballers of his generation, and just like I thought we should do anything to sign hazard, I think he falls into that bracket of 'sign if possible'.

Having pogba who is better defensively than mikel and offensively than ramires, would allow us to be tactically more flexible. If you take the liverpool game for example, having pogba instead of Mikel would have given us better control of the midfield, and we could have switched from possession football, to counter attack without changing personnel.

Pogba, matic, and fabregas battling for 2 positions would be fine, I'm sure all 3 would get a massive amount of game time, he and fabregas can both play further forward, pogba has also played on the right at juve, and it's horses for courses at the end of the day.

I don't think ramires has been particularly good since di matter was here, and if he and mikel were to sacrificed for Pogba, i'd be more than happy. I think pogba will be one of the finest footballers of his generation, and just like I thought we should do anything to sign hazard, I think he falls into that bracket of 'sign if possible'.

 

Don't think he's better than Mikel defensively but he's certainly better at anything else. Agree with the rest though.

Having pogba who is better defensively than mikel and offensively than ramires, would allow us to be tactically more flexible. If you take the liverpool game for example, having pogba instead of Mikel would have given us better control of the midfield, and we could have switched from possession football, to counter attack without changing personnel.

 

 

^^ This + 100