Matic Pogba double pivot with an AMF worked well today. I think this should be our formation against most teams. Against tougher opponents, then Pogba Matic Herrera midfield. Pogba is a box to box midfielder so he is better playing deep rather than AMF.
Good win. Lots of positives. Hope we can continue with this kind of performance.
I'm in no position to comment really, since I haven't had the chance to see any of our matches so far this season, but I've got to point this one thing out - Pogba isn't a box-to-box midfielder. He's an advanced playmaker so to speak, his speciality isn't running up and down the pitch like a race horse full of steroids.. He's best at the left side of a midfield trio with a licence to roam forward. Matić covering helps him do that.
You probably didn't watch Juve much, but he played a similar role there, and that's where he excelled. In a midfield of three, on the left side with a proper DM, so he wouldn't have to worry about defensive duties.
Him, Matić covering and Ander Herrera who's actually box-to-box is pretty good. So far as from I've understood, Mourinho has played a variation of 4231/442 with Matić being the DM, Pogba next to him on the left, Mhkitaryan almost as a supporting striker to Lukaku (the role which Griezmann would've played, if it wasn't for Atleti's transfer ban), and Lingard/Rashford/Martial (or Mata as AM) on the wings depending on whether the team is attacking or not. The formation alters quite a bit whether the team is attacking or not.
We could've really used another winger, Perisic proved out to be too expensive and Inter was like you either pay the asking price of the player we don't want to let go, or forget about it.
Willian would've been perfect, but there's no way in hell Chelsea would've given us both Matić and him lol.
I believe Matić will turn out to be as our most important signing of the summer, since we've been lacking a proper DM for a while now.
Fabinho would've been good as well, since he can cover right-back too.
Have you seen Amadou Diawara for Napoli? The guy's an absolute gem. Like Busquets on speed. His passing range is even better than Jorginho's. Another one of Napoli's "unknown to some" talented midfielders.