Pat Nevin joined The Football Show on Off The Ball on Monday where he lamented the lack of impact by Paul Pogba for Manchester United once again.
In the 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Pogba conceded the penalty that led to the goal, this incident was the latest in a litany for Nevin who doesn't see how the player has so many supporters given his current form.
"Pogba gives away the penalty. I've never known a guy who has so many people making excuses for him in my life," despaired the former Chelsea winger.
Pogba not doing enough
Nevin decided to delve into the numbers to see if the stats backed up what looked apparent in Pogba's play. They don't make for impressive reading.
"Since his great start to the 2018/19 season," remarked Nevin of the French International.
"He has played 54 games and scored four goals. This is a player who is world-renowned. Two of those goals were the third in three-nil wins, one of those was in the EFL Cup.
"So not important goals, but he did score two important goals against West ham United, both penalty kicks.
"You've just got to call it out eventually, 'you are not doing enough, you are not doing anywhere near enough.'
"For a guy with that cost, that expectation, that history, that ability. If you had him in the team playing at his best, I don't think we would have a problem just now.
"He's just not doing it at the moment and if it was anyone else, he wouldn't get a sniff of a game at Manchester United just now.
"His name and his history is getting him a game and it must be very upsetting if you are another player thinking 'how am I not getting a go of this? I'm putting more effort in, I have more final product.'
"It would drive anyone mad, but it must be driving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mad because it's almost as if he's depending on Pogba to do it or he's stuffed and he's just not doing it."
Benched?
The decision to bench Pogba was seen as a complicated one previously given his reputation, but Nevin believes, it is now inevitable.
"I don't think it's that difficult a decision anymore," Nevin said.
"Ole has to look and think somebody needs to put a shift in for me.
"Whether it's van de Beek or whoever, you need people who are going to live and die for you. It's just not happening.
"I look around the rest of the team and I don't see a lack of effort in most of the rest of the team. There is a lack of leadership though yeah," conceded Nevin.
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