It is never a good sign for a football player when his haircut is a cause for discussion in social media more than his performances on the pitch. It is safe to say that Paul Pogba's start to his Manchester United career was ordinary at best, at least when considering the hype that surrounded him prior to his arrival.
One can't exactly blame the media either – few headlines out there inspire as much awe as: ‘The most expensive transfer in the history of football’.
But having overcome a difficult few months, Pogba's undeniable talent has finally begun to shine through. In a midfield trio, flanked by Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera, he seems a completely different prospect to his ponderous ill-disciplined version of August.
Having similar traits to his familiar Juventus midfield duo of Pirlo and Marchisio, this system has unleashed Pogba to run the course of the game unrestrained by defensive or positional responsibilities. The Frenchman has embraced all the freedom he has been granted on the pitch, and apart from the rare off-day against Liverpool, he has looked the real deal, of late.
Here, we examine 5 reasons why Pogba is on course to become the best central midfielder in the Premier League for years to come.
#1 Versatility
While Pogba seems most at home in a midfield trio with teammates to cover for him, there is a case to argue that his offensive quality warrants a starting position higher up the pitch. He can even form part of a deeper midfield duo, so long as he is partnered with a disciplined and tactically astute partner.
While versatility in football has proven to be a curse as often as it has to be a boon, one cannot dispute the importance of playing multiple positions as a young player to develop defensive nous and tactical awareness.
While a 27-year-old Pogba would prefer to have locked down a position for himself on the pitch, his initial Manchester United years present him the perfect opportunity to try out multiple positions and develop his all round game on the way to becoming the best.
#2 Influence of Jose Mourinho
It is quite reassuring for a player when the manager reiterates faith in his abilities at every possible opportunity. Jose Mourinho has publicly backed Pogba as the best midfielder in the world, and backed up his words by changing his system to get the best out of the Frenchman.
Even though they fell out eventually, Eden Hazard's insights into Mourinho's contributions towards his success during the 2014-15 season were pretty revealing. Under the Portuguese manager, the Chelsea winger developed the tactical side of his game; getting better at isolating defenders in one-on-one situations and contributing immensely to defending as a unit.
Pogba, therefore, has found himself under Mourinho's guidance at the best possible time; often criticised for a lack of tactical awareness and positional discipline, perhaps no other coach in the world can instil these traits in him better.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager has indicated his willingness to build a team around Pogba, even in the early stages of his Manchester United career, and his presence on the touchline can work wonders for a talented young player.
#3 Style of play
While La Liga and Bundesliga fans appreciate the subtle yet sublime gameplay of the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Premier League fans have always had a soft spot for the footballing equivalent of a superman – someone who can tackle, pass, press, head, score and be all over the pitch at once. Patrick Viera and Roy Keane dominated a certain era, and passed the mantle on to Gerrard and Scholes.
Pogba, in a similar vein, could be the PL's favourite midfielder of his generation – the sight of his sweetly struck half volleys rattling the roof of the net could form a part of several youtube compilations over the next decade.
Throw in a lack of discipline and a penchant for the audacious, and the prospective future Manchester United captain seems set to provide a great deal of entertainment on his way to becoming the best.
#4 Mentorship
Michael Carrick, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney – just a glance around the Manchester United dressing room, and one can find a number of role models and mentors who can help shape Pogba's career.
Ibrahimovic's advice to take things easy and enjoy football has already had an effect on the way Pogba expresses himself on the pitch and the Swedish ace, in turn, has appreciated Pogba's willingness to listen, work hard and improve.
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have often attributed a great deal of their success to the mentorship of Gary McAllister and Gianfranco Zola respectively, and it is clear that Pogba is in the right environment to keep his head down, strive hard and harness all the talent at his disposal.
#5 Age
When told the tale of a player who left Manchester United, joined Juventus, won multiple Serie A titles and reached the Champions League final, and finally returned to Manchester, one could be forgiven for thinking the player in question would at the very least be nearing his thirties.
Pogba's astonishing success and accomplishments have come about at a bewilderingly young age – 23, and the Frenchman has his best years far ahead of him.
At a position on the pitch where retaining a calm wise head can be a real advantage, Pogba has plenty of years to rack up the experience to go with his style. When the years set in, and the rush of adrenaline slows down a bit, expect Paul Pogba version 2.0 – fewer long balls and 40-yard shots perhaps, but more late runs into the box, more interceptions and cleverer passes.
Oh, and the hairstyles may get a bit less flashy as well.
