Man Utd’s penalty problem: pundits slam Pogba and Solskjaer
Paul Pogba misses from the spot again as United are held by Wolves
Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Manchester United 1
Paul Pogba cost Manchester United two points last night as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After Anthony Martial had put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, Ruben Neves levelled with a spectacular effort ten minutes after the break, his stinging shot going into the net off the crossbar and requiring VAR to conform its validity.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pogba abused
Pogba then had the chance to put United ahead when he was fouled in the Wolves area by Conor Coady on 67 minutes.
The Frenchman fluffed three Premier League spot-kicks last season but that didn’t deter him, despite the presence of Marcus Rashford, who had scored a penalty against Chelsea on the opening weekend.
Pogba struck his shot well, but Wolves keeper Rui Patricio guessed correctly, leaping low to his right to deny the United midfielder.
In a game of few chances it was a crucial miss and according to The Sun, United fans vented their anger at Pogba with “vile racist abuse and death threats on social media”.
Two takers
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was philosophical when asked about Pogba’s miss, explaining that he has no issue with Pogba and Rashford deciding which of them feels comfortable about taking the penalty.
“They are the two designated penalty takers,” he said. “The two of them are confident and good penalty takers. When there are two names there, it’s the one who is the most confident [who takes it].
“Paul has scored many before so there’s absolutely no problem. Sometimes in a game you grow in confidence, sometimes [you think] ‘I don’t want to take it today because I had a bad game’. I’ve absolutely no problem with players walking up and saying ‘this is mine’.”
That didn’t cut much ice with the pundits. Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton described it as “weak management” from Solskjær.
Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It is the job of the manager to designate. That is a huge moment. United could have won the game.
“You can’t say, ‘I’ll leave it down to the players’. I like Ole but that’s weak management.
“Rashford may have missed as well, but we’d have understood because he took the last one. He shouldn’t be allowed to make that decision himself. It wouldn’t be allowed under someone like former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.”
Kids’ stuff
Former United defender Gary Neville echoed those sentiments on Sky Sports, saying: “Why is there a debate on who takes the penalty? There should never be a debate.
“Pogba has missed four in the league since the start of last season. You’d think he has had his chance…
“This is a Manchester United penalty, this isn’t a tombola, this is not under-fives football on the playground.”
Other than Pogba’s miss, and Neves’s glorious strike, there were few talking points in the game. Martial’s goal was the only shot on target in a first half that featured only three efforts. The last time a Premier League match had so few attempts on goal in a half was 2003-04.
“The first half was a mature performance,” was Solskjaer’s interesting take on the first 45 minutes, which is more than can be said for United’s penalty arrangements.
Today’s back pages: Paul Pogba and Man Utd pay the penalty
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published