Paul Pogba is being wasted at Manchester United

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Manchester United’s new season campaign has began with three Premier League games played. In those three games we have seen just how inconsistent we can be picking up 4 points from a possible 9 with a win against Chelsea, a draw at Wolves and a humiliation at home to Crystal Palace. This season Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has deployed Paul Pogba in a deep lying role, similar to a quaterback in American football. However, as Manchester United’s main problem this season has coming from a lack of creativity, Paul Pogba is being wasted at Manchester United.

Last season Paul Pogba was statistically United’s best player, leading his team mates in terms of goals and assists, granted a large sum of his goals came from penalties but the Frenchman was able to show what he’s truly capable of. An inform Pogba is a Pogba that is to the envy of all Europe in terms of his midfield ability. I would even go as far as to say Paul Pogba was the best midfielder in the world during the 18/19 season.

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The World Cup winner was so pivotal to our season last year, as he was able to express himself offensively playing beautiful through balls to Rashford like he did at Wembley against Spurs and also do his shift defensively. I personally believe this ‘freedom’ Pogba had was because he was set up on the left in a midfield three, with the likes of Herrera and Nemaja Matic providing defensive support, allowing him to get into attacking areas. The ‘shackles’ that Pogba was supposedly burdened with under Jose Mourinho’s system were well and truly off.

This season Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has stuck with the same midfield of Scott Mctominay and Paul Pogba sitting in a deep double pivot. Paul Pogba has not looked out of place in his new role and has continued to perform well. In the first two opening fixtures no player in the Premier League had won possesion back more for their team than Paul Pogba.

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While there is no doubt the 26-year-old can efficiently fit the deep role, Manchester United are now lacking in terms of creativity. With the impetus to make things happen in the final third now on the likes of Lingard, this season Manchester United this season have created 3 big chances and have had just 10 shots on target. Just to put that in perspective, our next opponents Southampton have created 8 big chances and have equalled our 10 shots on target. In comparison to Manchester City, they have created 11 big chances and 24 shots on target. All in the first 3 games, a statistic that is not good reading for United.

With Manchester United not signing a midfielder with that natural creative spark in the summer, it seems almost ludocrous to play our most creative player deeper, which is why we are wasting Paul Pogba. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did say in the embargoed section of his press conference that “when we get to September and October, we’ll definitely see Angel [Gomes]”. With our creative statistics not too dissiamilar to a team facing relegation I’m sure I speak for every Manchester United fan when I say, “we need Angel Gomes in the team sooner rather than later”.