Hindsight is a wonderful thing, It gives us the amazing ability to look back and consider and/or take decisions we either didn't consider or chose not to take. Picture the scene, it is 2012 and an agent contacts United representing a young, promising French midfielder whose contract we own. It is close to winding down where he gets to leave for free but we would receive a basic financial compensation fee, peanuts if we are honest. The agent asks for a weekly wage that is far above what our then manager feels comfortable with, this is the same manager who guided us to the most successful spell any British club has witnessed. A manager who brought through such young talents as Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville, Rafael de Silva amongst many others...so you can say a manager who believed in the Busby way of thinking - If you are good enough you are old enough. So Sir Alex Ferguson decides he will not allow the players representative to hold the club to ransom and decides to play hard ball, he decides not to give Pogba too many opportunities hoping the young midfielder will step into line and sign a contract the club have offered. He doesn't.
Instead Sir Alex insists on playing an ageing Ryan Giggs and even a right back (Rafael) in central midfield in a home game against Blackburn rather than allow Pogba game time, many supporters are unhappy with this stance but stand loyally by their manager, and this slap in the face via the team selection also confirms to Pogba that his future lies elsewhere. His agent rubs his hands as offer after offer comes in for the promising player...
Back to hindsight, I am sure even Sir Alex would sign the player up in a heartbeat if he could turn back the clock...who wouldn't? The lad is a genuine talent and plays in an area of the park that we have been struggling in for years...but that wasn't the first time a young talent had been touted as the next big thing and failed to deliver. Those reds who watch the youth and reserves either in person or via MUTV, will remember a certain Italian striker 'Frederico 'Kiko' Macheda, Kiko looked like he would go onto great things and along with strike partner Danny Welbeck had many of us licking our lips (No Wenger jokes please) at the prospect of what these kids could do...on their debuts both scored memorable goals that had the media's attention. Kiko went on to score in his second appearance and then faded badly like a Depay signature on a Liverpool contract when he realised United and PSG did want him and he was scrubbing his signature off in full panic mode. After the highs in playing a vital part in a title winning season finale Kiko went on to brighten the bench of some very notable Championship clubs, Danny Welbeck (though to be fair often played out of position) went on to hit an average goal to game ratio of 1in4, and when he was released by Van Gaal earlier this season many rubbed their hands at such a bargain for a young striker, and he has gone on to Arsenal where he now has a goal to game ratio of...erm...1in4. If after both of their debuts their agents demanded new contracts would we have got carried away and agreed to them if we were managers?
Philip Patrick Stephen Mulryne anyone? A young Northern Irish midfielder labelled as the next David Beckham and who looked like he could actually make the grade, he came to the media's attention when playing in our 1995 FA Youth cup winning team...Philip went on to play for Norwich, Cardiff, Leyton Orient and Kings Lynn. Hindsight.
Every club has a littering of young promising lads who people think could be able to step up and make the grade...what if managers decide to give in to agents and start paying extra money? Small clubs would struggle obviously, but at United where would it end? Pogba got a pay rise? Well then you'd have Morrision (another one tipped for the top at United at the same time) and his agent beating down the door for the same deal. Where would it end? Squad players would be unhappy that they play more games than a youth player who has yet to establish himself and yet get the same salary, so their agents demand pay raises. You'd end up with a roster of youth on staggering wages for teenagers that you can not get rid off either as smaller clubs can not afford to match their salaries...so you'd have to pay their contracts off.
Sir Alex took a stance with Pogba, one that could so easily have been proved right as well because despite the talent some players just don't make it despite having the skill and ability. Should he have played more? Damned right he should have but there again you could say the same about Morrison and that lads attitude stinks worse than a Merseyside council estate on bin day. Pogba developed at Juventus in a way I don't think he would have here, his style seems to suit Serie A and he virtually walked straight into their starting line up and he learned in training from midfield masters such as Pirlo. I genuinely don't think we would see the player we know today if he had stayed, but that is the beauty of hindsight, we all become experts when we know the outcome.