Paul Scholes Comments on Paul Pogba After Manchester United's Loss to Feyenoord

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes urged Paul Pogba to keep things simple and said the Frenchman was "all over the place" during the Red Devils' 1-0 UEFA Europa League loss to Feyenoord on Thursday. 

Following his £89 million move back to United from Juventus in the summer, Pogba played well in his first couple of games but was ineffective in the recent Manchester derby and disappointed again in the Netherlands.

Talking on BT Sport, Scholes said he believed Pogba, 23, would eventually come good for the Red Devils but criticised the way he is currently trying to play (via Paul McNamara for MailOnline):

"

It’s been a little bit of a struggle for him so far. Tonight, again, wasn’t his best performance. I think it will come. It’s still very early days. 

I don’t really know what position he’s playing at the minute. Has he got a position? Has he been told to play where he wants?

He seems to be a little all over the place at times. I think he’s trying to do too much on the ball. 

He’s trying to beat three or four players. He's running with the ball. He should keep it simple for now.

"

He added that United "didn't buy a Lionel Messi to go and beat five players and stick it in the top corner all the time," advising Pogba to play to his strengths. 

Pogba took similar flak from Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football following the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford, with the Liverpool legend criticising the midfielder for ill discipline:

Along with Eric Bailly and David De Gea, Pogba was one of only three players retained by manager Jose Mourinho on Thursday from the starting lineup against City.

The Portuguese opted to give some fringe players a chance against Feyenoord, so Pogba started in a midfield three alongside Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera for the first time this season.

He had previously only started in a midfield two with Marouane Fellaini.

Before the beginning of the season, many speculated that Pogba would thrive best at United as part of a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 formation, including Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Based on Thursday's performance, that is not necessarily the case.

Scholes insisted that for Pogba to be most effective, he needs a controlling presence alongside him in the middle of the park. He suggested United may need to go back into the transfer market to find such a player, per BT Sport (via McNamara).

He said Michael Carrick could be the answer, while also naming Real Madrid duo Toni Kroos and Luka Modric as the ideal candidates for the job: "They still need that controlling midfielder, who can control where Paul goes and can control a game of football...a [Modric] or a [Kroos]. I think these players are available. I think Paul Pogba would be a much better player playing with these types of players."

Mourinho and United are clearly confident Pogba will come good, and it is much too early to assess whether he has been worth the huge fee paid to bring him back to Old Trafford.

During his four seasons with Juventus, the France international was often masterful, and once he finds his groove at Old Trafford, he will be a major asset to the United side.

He will have another chance to prove his worth on Sunday, when United travel to Watford, and after two disappointing performances on the bounce, Pogba will surely be desperate to show what he is capable of.