About a month from now, one of the most expensive footballers in the world – not just the Premier League – will depart English football for a second and likely final time.
He is one of the most naturally talented midfielders of his generation and, unlike some players over the decades who really have been overrated, this Frenchman certainly does have the ability to back up both his price tag and reputation.
However, that is where the story of a world-class footballer ends because this is a tale of player who has world-class skills yet is anything but a world-class talent.
Because for all of the rare moments of brilliance, there have been ten times more of underachievement and body language which portrays a ‘laissez faire’ attitude.
Sure, Paul Labile Pogba has honours to his name with both Juventus and Manchester United, not to mention a World Cup with France in 2018 – of course, if you are part of good or very good teams during your career, there is always a chance you will end up with some silverware.
But when he leaves United for the second time on a free transfer in June, few associated with Old Trafford (apart from the money men disturbed by a lack of profit following his £89 million recruitment in 2016) will shed a tear.
Actually, his final two performances in a United shirt summed his wider contribution up perfectly.
On Easter Saturday against Norwich City he was jeered off by his own supporters with shouts of ‘f*** off’ ringing in his ears.
Three days later, he lasted eight minutes against Liverpool at Anfield by which time his team were 1-0 down and it was clear he simply didn’t have the heart for the fight.
His previous appearance against the same opponents earlier this term, incidentally, lasted 15 minutes, before he was sent off for a reckless lunge, unable to hide his frustration at the fact he needed to add perspiration to his so-called inspiration if he was to make a positive impact.
Back to the Norwich game and how did this player, who supposedly gives his all and loves the club, react?
Well, after a section of United fans let it be known they had had enough and told him — with some industrial language — that they would like him gone, Pogba merely cupped his ears and gestured for further negative reaction from a fanbase resigned to seeing him leave on a free transfer this summer.
The truth hurts, one suspects!
Let me repeat, this is not a player who, like so many before him in the English game, has been built up and over-hyped.
For Pogba always had ability to match, never better displayed than on the very opening weekend of this season when he was responsible for four assists in United’s 5-1 trouncing of Leeds.
Yet therein lies a prime example.
After setting up five goals in his first two games of the campaign, he only managed another four all season!
He lost the ball too often, his defensive positioning was poor, his lack of urgency at times was staggering and, when the going got tough, he so often went missing and lacked tenacity.
Yes, at times Pogba lost possession partly due to his desire to make things happen – creative players are naturally risk-takers – but it was also symptomatic of carelessness.
In fact, it was best summed up the excoriating verdict recently given to many of the United team by former captain Roy Keane – who knows what would have happened to Pogba if he had been a team-mate of the Irishman – when he described the mindset and culture as supine.
For Pogba was so often passive, so often second to almost every ball. That’s not poor technique or poor coaching, that’s lack of effort, hunger, fight. That’s embarrassing. That’s inexcusable.
And sure enough, as the final third of the season petered out for him and his club, Pogba gave the impression of someone protecting what little reputation he had left before moving somewhere new – either giving the ball away or strolling aimlessly around the pitch (when he wasn’t out injured, that is!).
Away from the game, he also didn’t help himself at times and his actions and jaunts off the pitch angered some but, in many ways, are irrelevant.
For, with a few exceptions, he simply did not deliver when it mattered and, as I outlined at the start, his pronounced failures in so many big matches should be a case of sadness, not scorn.
In summary, his lack of Premier League 2022 highlights, indeed his lack of many highlights during what should have been the prime years of his career, are no-one’s fault but his own.
I read an article earlier this month from a Times journalist which stated Pogba was never given the platform at Old Trafford to display regular moments of beauty grace or artistic expression.
That with a little care, he could have flourished.
With the greatest of respect to a fellow journalist, the age of delusion is not dead.
I want to end this article on a positive note and put forward the credentials of my man of the season.
Step forward Brentford manager Thomas Frank.
Having achieved top-flight status for the first time in 74 years, the Bees were meant to be immediately relegated. Instead, they finished 13th.
In large, that was down to the tactical acumen and motivational skills of their manager who pulled off a masterstroke by bringing Christian Eriksen to the club in January.
The Bees could not have made a better start to life in the Premier League, showing the pedigree that made them such an entertaining side on their journey.
Super-smart micro-management on a tiny budget with the game-changing capture of Eriksen ultimately ensured safety was secured with relative ease – and none of the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds predicted that.
While Norwich and Watford sunk without a trace after winning promotion Frank performed wonders to keep Brentford up. Bravo.
Premier League 2021/22 – over and out.
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