The Return of Paul Pogba

By: Ivor | November 25th, 2010

Someone is being extremely naughty on the blogs, coming up with some mischief about the club “keeping mum” about a knee injury to Paul Pogba. The word from Paul McGuinness, however, is that everything is fine and that he will be making a permanent step up from the academy to the reserves in late January or February. The issue with the lad seems to have more to do with building up his strength and stamina than any kind of severe injury. Indeed Pogba seems to have been a part of the small group which accompanied Wayne Rooney to Nike headquarters in the U.S., for special training to increase endurance and muscle mass.

Most of the publicity concerning Pogba has been an abject lesson in the ugly politics and relentless greed of modern football. What people seem to forget sometimes is that he is still only seventeen and that referring to him as “the next Vieira” or “the white Giresse”–as is the hyperbolic wont of certain journos–is not necessarily what the lad wants or needs.

First spotted by Le Havre’s chief scout Franck Sale playing the game on the Darwinistic concrete courts of the projects in his home district of Sarcelles in the suburbs of northern Paris, at the age of 13, Pogba impressed him right away. Having already ‘found’ Charles N’Zogbia in the same place, these part-time basketball courts are the first place the scout visits when he arrives in the capital from Normandy, he told Goal.com.

“I was impressed by his attitude,” says Sale. “He was already like a footballer and had great game intelligence for his age.”

Sale recruited him for the well-respected Le Mans academy. One which has already had much success with N’Zogbia, Ibrahim Ba, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Lassana Diarra and Vikash Dhorasoo. Unfortunately, as often seems to be the case with young players who sign for clubs like Caen, Auxerre and Le Havre, whose bread-and-butter survival is dependent upon its academies, certain promises were made but not kept, according to Pogba’s mother in Gazette Soir.

The club’s current youth program director Frederic Lipka, who arrived at the club when Pogba was 14, saw right away that Pogba was going to be the jewel of the academy. “He was a player who was already very efficient at a very young age. The quality of his technique and his size. There were others that were also good, but the amount by which he was progressing was striking. Straight away, I thought, when he reached 17 or 18, he would be ready to step up to the top level.”

Pogba first played for France under-16s before even reaching the age of 15. Tough on the pitch, Pogba’s innate intelligence and approachability made him the coach’s favorite at both academies, so that he was soon wearing the captain’s armband for club and country. Already, agents were making illegal approaches to his mother through neighborhood intermediaries in Sarcelles. At the same time, with Arsenal, Olympique Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea and United sniffing around, Pogba’s departure was perhaps inevitable.

At this point, the whole truth becomes a matter of perception, and although Le Havre cried wolf, Pogba’s mother has seen subsequent matters in a different light than the club. From her point of view, Le Havre’s Chairman, Jean-Perre Louvel and his son Johann made ”certain promises” they did not keep. Underwhelmed by Chelsea’s scout-”He just showed up in an expensive suit, smiled and waved a roll of cash!”-Madame Pogba felt the better alternatives were offered by Arsenal and United. “I never met Monsieur Wenger, just his scouts, but Sir Alex Ferguson came to see me in my home. He did not show me cash. Instead he told me where he saw my son in five years and ten years. I was impressed.”

At any rate, after much wrangling and grandstanding to the press on the part of Monsieur Louvet, Paul Pogba’s transfer from Le Havre to Manchester United was finally resolved after an undisclosed agreement was reached following his move in July 2009.

Pogba’s one weakness in his game still seems to be stamina. His general game, however, especially his passing, tackling and shooting, are all progressing well. I first became interested in him after a friend showed me a You Tube video of his academy exploits. A little awkward when running with the ball, this tall kid has the huge hands, feet and knees of a puppy still growing and getting used to its body. Two of the goals I saw him score in academy games were thirty yard howitzers. Along with David Beckham, he clearly is the best pure shooter the club have had on their books since Bobby Charlton. With so much physical power and confidence he has clearly already adapted well to the English game. Touch wood, fingers crossed, etc.: Il est l’affaire réelle! Paula Pogba is the real deal!

Some Related Man United Posts:The return of Rooney (vs Wigan)The Return of Davide PetrucciPaul Stretford: The Devil Will Collect His Due Part 2Paul Stretford: The Devil Will Collect His Due Part 1Chivas de Guadalajara 3 – Manchester United 2 : Match Highlights

Category: Manchester United Tags: Manchester United
« Hard fought win at Ibrox (vs Rangers) | Home | blog comments powered by Disqus
Follow Us

           


England vs France liveblog! Previewing England Vs France, and Where We Stand England Squad Announced for the Friendly more news...
Search The Offside

 





Related Links

Manchester United TicketsManchester United JerseysManchester United BettingHotels near Old TraffordChicharitoFantasy Premier LeagueStretty Ender BlogMore Man United Links
Categories

Carling CupCarlos TevezChampions LeagueChicharitoCL PreviewCristiano RonaldoEnglandEnglish Premier LeagueFA CupFC UnitedFlashbacksinjuriesinjuryInternationalsLeague CupLoan DealsMan Utd RamblingsManchester Unitedmatch previewMatch ReportsNaniNews OpinionOld TraffordPlayers CommentsPremiershippreviewRio FerdinandRyan GiggsSir Alex FergusonTeam NewsTransfer SpeculationUnited BusinessUnited FansUnited FutureUnited ImagesUnited LegendsUnited YoungstersVideo BitsWayne Rooney


Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email manutd[at]theoffside[dot]com

LATEST COMMENTS

Hard fought win at Ibrox (vs Rangers)
ahmad_h: hopefully rooney's return will make things a lot easier for us, we need the old rooney back befo ... [read more] Hard fought win at Ibrox (vs Rangers)
elvido: Evans has gone backwards, needs to get his mojo back. Carrick thankfully seems to have found his. Be ... [read more] Giving thanks
Shaun Lim: no. gonna be evans and smalling probably The return of Rooney (vs Wigan)
ahmad_h: i agree with every word you say, but the fact that we haven't lost any game so far is really rai ... [read more] Giving thanks
Thunderstruck66: I would also be thankful for a re-energized Dimitar Berbatov. Although he slowed down a bit recentl ... [read more] Giving thanks
barcadonia: is vidic starting against rangers? The Return of Davide Petrucci
loveunited: welcome back kids... Giving thanks
Evan: I'd like to give thanks to Sir Alex, and all the things he has done for this wonderful football ... [read more] The return of Rooney (vs Wigan)
Shaun: winning matters more than anything else at the end of the day. i think as fans though, we do care to ... [read more] Giving thanks
Omeid: I would also like to give thanks to Danny Welbeck having 3 goals and 1 assist while on loan at Sunde ... [read more]
Archives

Select Archive Month November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006

 About The Offside | Advertise on The Offside | Privacy Policy


Top Content: England National Team Blog | Bebe at Man United | Chicharito Signs for United | Federico Macheda | Manchester United 2011 Home Shirt

Related information: Premier League Kits | England Shirts | Chelsea FC | Man City Blog | Liverpool FC | England Travel Guide | International Flights to London | Guide to Manchester's Chinatown | Champions League Prize Money

© BootsnAll Travel Network - All rights reserved
EuropeEngland: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League One England: League Two FranceGermanyGreeceHollandItalyPolandPortugalRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyAfricaEgyptTunisiaAustraliaSouth AmericaArgentinaBrazilColombia North AmericaMexicoMLSNPSLUSLWomen's SoccerCup CompetitionsChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueCopa LibertadoresCopa SudamericanaPlayersDidier DrogbaLionel MessiMesut OzilArjen RobbenCristiano RonaldoLigue 1 ProspectsSoccer Betting  |  World Cup 2010
Plan Your Soccer Travels  |  Soccer TicketsClose X  Home    World    Europe    English Premier League     Manchester United   StoreTravelScores England: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League OneEngland: League TwoEngland: ConferenceFranceGermanyGreeceHollandItaly PolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyUkraineChampions League  |  Europa LeagueClose X Podcast Powered by podPress (v8.8)