Manchester United: Pogba and the number 7

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Paul Pogba of Manchester United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on March 11, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The saga comes to a close then. After months of dilly-dallying, Paul Pogba is gone now for certain. ‘Pogba signed for Juventus a long time ago as far as we’re aware,’ said Sir Alex Fergusson.

‘(It) is disappointing. I don’t think he showed us any respect at all so, to be honest,’ he said and continued, ‘I’m quite happy that if they carry on that way, they’re probably better doing it away from us.’

Now, I wrote this a while ago and nothing in the time between then and now has convinced me to change my mind. I still believe that Pogba is making a very very stupid mistake. I mean, if you can’t or rather, don’t want to learn from the likes of Scholes and Giggs, and if you think you are ready to be a first team regular at Man United this soon, then your head is indeed in the wrong place.

I think that being around the likes of Pirlo will certainly help the lad but moving to Italy is never an easy thing for a young footballer. The culture is so much different than the culture in England. Italy is a whole lot more Italian-centric. That might appear a stupid thing to say but it is the truth. Adjusting to the Italian way of thinking requires a great deal of maturity and most of all, patience. Clearly, Pogba has neither.

I mean, Juventus are the champions of Italy and have just gone an entire season unbeaten. They have a fantastically well setlled team and I do not think Pogba is going to force himself into the first team any time soon. Well, not for the next season anyway. So it is indeed going to be bench football for him. Be ready for it, lad. And be ready to lament leaving Man United. It was too soon. It really was. I do not really remember Sir Alex trying this hard to keep hold of one so young and one so openly dismissive of authority.

I can easily envision him becoming another journeyman in European football but for the sake of the kid, I hope he does make it at Juventus. He has talent, no doubt. We live and we die by the choices we make. Let’s hope his footballing career lives and not dies by this choice he has made. All the best, Paul Pogba.

Which brings us to the number 7. Michael Owen is gone. Kagawa does not want it. He wants an identity of his own which I think is just being stupid but well, that is his choice. So the proud owner of the number 7 next season is last year’s Player of the season, Antonio Valencia. Rio tweeted about it.

I texted my friend about this and he replied, ‘has Fergie completely lost it?! He is too quiet for a number 7, man!’ Heh! I see where he is coming from but the thing is that Kagawa was indeed offered the number 7 and he declined. If you were Sir Alex and if Antonio Valencia came knocking on your door and said, ‘Hey boss! Player of the season here. I was wondering if I could have the number 7 this season?’

You got to admit, he does have a strong case there. In true Russel Peters style, Sir Alex must’ve said, ‘Take it and go.’ OK. Of course he did not imitate Russel Peters but the exchange must’ve been something along those lines. There are some players who thrive under pressure and some who wilt under it.

Valencia looks to be one of those who just shrugs his shoulders and gets on with the game. Perhaps he is a bit too quiet and too less flamboyant to be a number 7. Or perhaps a quiet number 7 is what we need.

Come to think of it, a quiet number 7 would be a welcome change from Hollywood number 7, golden balls number 7, the first, second and third best players in the world number 7 and a more-on-twitter-than-on-the-pitch number 7. Just saying.

P.S Oh! And Mr. Fryers, sign that damn contract already, man. Fabio is out on loan too. You’ll get your chances.