At the point he had shown immense potential but Ferguson has pointed to the fact that he was already being shopped to other clubs by the agent and, hence, he wasn’t picked to start. Why advertise the player when his agent was already Hell bent on him leaving.
He was likely wary on giving him a huge contract or exposing him to the first team to early given the way that Anderson went having arrived as one of the supposed top midfield prospects available.
I’m reading the edge of the volcano book recommended here about English football managers at the moment. It’s a good read. Having read about half of it I have been thinking that English soccer is fucked because of these guys. Chapter after chapter about one dullard type A macho character after another. They all think they’re God’s gift.
How many starts had he for Man Utd? Pogba has been a model pro with Juve, he could have easily jumped shark for more money in the past but he stayed with Juve because they appreciate him.
Pogba left for one reason - Ferguson. Purple Nose wouldn’t play him, he didn’t appreciate what he had.
He had few starts with United as a teenager as Ferguson knew that his agent was trying to move him on to avail to signing bonuses etc.
You’re blindly speculating and resorting to insulting Ferguson in order to try and frame a weak argument. This is bizarre behaviour for someone who believes that they have one of the finest sporting minds on this forum.
Your argument is the only one that is weak.
Do you really think Ferguson would let a £100m midfielder walk away over a sense of pride.
Mino Raiola has stated that it would have been of financial benefit to him if he Pogba stayed there but he told him to leave as Ferguson quite clearly did not value him, playing dumplings like Rafael in midfield, calling back Scholes from retirement, playing a finished winger in midfield etc, etc.
As Buffon said, Ferguson must have needed glasses to let Pogba walk away as it was obvious to everyone at Juventus what a star they had signed in the first few training sessions.
Ferguson got it badly wrong, he badly misjudged Pogba’s ability and potential - that’s the height of it but your laughable and blind defence of Purple Nose is hilarious and paints you as a 10 year old child who can’t take criticism of his heroes - this one being a poisonous, vindictive hun.
My defence is clearly not blind. I’ve even linked to Ferguson’s statement on it.
Ferguson won the league with those selections that you’re questioning. Ferguson didn’t let Pogba walk away, he couldn’t make a non contracted play stay at the club when he wanted to leave and he certainly wasn’t a €100m play when that deal went through.
You’re comparing apples and oranges.
Ferguson didn’t play Pogba so he walked away.
That is what happened, you trying to rewrite the facts of the matter in a blind loyalty to defend the purple nosed hun is both twee and embarrassing.
I haven’t rewritten any facts. Not a single one.
I’ve quoted an article from a broadsheet newspaper based in the UK where Ferguson deals with The subject of why Pogba left Manchester United.
You’re being obtuse.
Yes and ignoring all other sides of the argument which states different.
Pogba played a handful of minutes for Man Utd when Ferguson was playing average right backs, finished wingers and calling lads out of retirement ahead of him. Pogba left and a couple of years later he’s one of the best midfielders in the world.
It reflects extremely poorly on Ferguson.
I think you’re being naive here @Nembo_Kid. Alex Ferguson is an impeccable independent source on this topic.
The right back played once, I think in the league cup, in midfield from what I recall and Giggs and Scholes started many game in a title winning run for United.
I’m not denying for a second that allowing Pogba to have was unfortunate but it’s well documented that the relationship between Ferguson and Rinola was seriously affected during negotiations. Ferguson refused to deal with him thereafter.
So Ferguson froze out a £100m midfielder and let him leave for nothing because he didn’t like a player’s agent?
That’s good management there.
But Ferguson continuing to be a stubborn cunt doesn’t justify him being a stubborn cunt in the first place. A stubborn cunt who has a colourful history with agents.
He wasn’t £100m player. He was a member of the youth team and reserve team that had potential.
There were no guarantees he’d go on to become the player he is today.
He is a £100m pound player and clearly Ferguson got it catastrophically wrong with Pogba.
Buffon:
"Just after a few training sessions we saw how good he was, it cannot have been the same player they saw in Manchester – we thought they may be needed glasses.
"I have never seen a player who is so good at his age, he is so strong, so technically gifted, has exceptional all-round play.
“Pogba can do things only Pogba can, similar to Messi and Ronaldo. United let one of the top players in the world leave, but that has only been good news for us.”
In fairness to Ferguson he’s often got things wrong when he’s let players leave at an early age. The likes of Ben Thornley, Keith Gillespie, Lee Sharpe, Kiko Macheda and Luke Chadwick all went on to prove Ferguson wrong
Yes. He ‘is’ a £100m player now. He ‘was’ an unproven talent back then.
So what you’re saying is Ferguson got it catastrophically wrong when it came to judging Pogba’s ability. Maybe if he actually gave the lad a few games instead of playing shit full back, finished wingers, average Joes and calling lads out of retirement he might have realised that Pogba was a star.
He fucked up, there is no absolving that. It will cost United £100m in a transfer fee alone to make up for Ferguson’s huge mistake.