Of course it makes the difference how a coach will exploit in the best way a player and his characteristics. Playing one of the most technically gifted and creative players on his team as deep lying defensive midfielder changes everything. First, he is burdened to destroy instead to create - two completely different animals. Second, changing the tasks destroys the player's mindset when this player does not have the required abilities to perform them in full. As talented as Pogba is he does not poses the characteristics to be a great defensive player.
you guys are getting lost in excuses for Pogba. Would be all in vain if he ends up leaving ...
Playing in a deeper position would affect Pogba's measurable stats (i.e. shots on/towards goal etc), it should not affect the mark he leaves on his team's overall play. Take for example Pirlo - leaving him deep freed him up to pull the strings. His personal stats suffered but everyone knew who the "engine" of that team was. And Pirlo is just one example of many where great players still find a way to leave their mark on a game, no matter a slight tactical adjustment here and there - and in Pogba's case, it's not as big a difference as you guys would like to believe it is.
Pogba is an immensely overrated player, especially in minds in this neck of the woods. He is a difference-accentuator, not a difference-maker. That is, if his team is so much better than the opponent that they'd win even without him, Pogba always finds a way to shine in those games with his often frivolous flair and fancy. That is, he accentuates an already existing difference, which is the case with virtually all games Juve plays in Serie A.
In games where Juve plays an equally good, well organized, or even better, opponent, Pogba goes missing on a regular basis. Not only does he fail to make a difference in big games like that, he usually shrivels on the field to the point of being a liability to his team.
So far, Pogba has been young enough for people to always find an excuse for his short comings as they usually do when they judge a young player for what he could do in the future. Soon, he will reach an age where he will be evaluated based on his actual production (especially lacking in big games, on the big stage) and not just on speculative projections.
As unpopular and painful as it may be, Juve would be smart to cash in Pogba now or next year at the latest, before other teams start catching on. Juve doesn't need Pogba to win Italy and he will not be the difference for them in the CL either. As talented as he may be, he lacks the mental aspect of greatness.
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