The thing is even when Pogba came back he did his usual thing of being very good for 4-5 games and then drifting slowly back into playing whatever sport he's invented in his own head rather than the football match that was going on around him. I still think the only position that really suits Pogba is the one Bruno plays in, and even in the small amount of games after lockdown we became a bit too obsessed with the idea of them both needing to be on the pitch together, even when we were no longer getting anything near the best out of either.
I found the VDB signing a little strange as it suggests Ole sees Pogba as a more holding player. I''d have put Mctominay, Fred and Matic down for that role and had Pogba to either play alongside one against teams that sit off, or to ease the load on Fernandes in other games. I presume VDB has been brought in to do the later which lleaves Pogba playing further back. VDB is a good player but it confuses me as to what the plan is. That said it is still a big improvement on having to play Lingard or Pereira and hope they do something other than foul people.
Fred's had some really good games this season. Away at Liverpool and City, in the Europa League semi. He was good consistently as well once he was playing regularly. Whenever he is in and out of the team he doesn't look like nearly the same player to me. He loses his rhythm. McTominay as well took a month or so to get going last season but was very good once he did. Since he's been in and out he doesn't look nearly as effective either. Matic meanwhile definitely can't cope with two games a week. He also struggles with the pace when he's even slightly off form. So if we did get rid of one of the two we'd need to sign someone, which just seems completely pointless when in other areas of the pitch for example we are one injury away from Phil Jones coming on and getting injured and having to go off again, or another dose of the Eric Bailly fullback experiment.
