Berba need to prove his worth

Kelvin

Time for Berbatov to start showing United why they bought him

You wouldn't have guessed on yesterday's performance that the Manchester United No 9 is the most expensive player in the club's illustrious history.

Dimitar Berbatov is more talented than Arsenal's centre-forward Nicklas Bendtner, a deputy for Emmanuel Adebayor, but he was nowhere near as great a threat.

Arsenal deserved their victory in a fantastic game that started like a bomb, and went on to get even better.

Despite universal admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson, I think a lot of people would have been delighted for Arsene Wenger, who has received over-the-top criticism after a sticky fortnight in a fantastic 12 years at the club.

Sir Alex won't panic even though United are slightly off the pace at the top of the table and have picked up only one point from their visits to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But I do think Berbatov has to start justifying his £31million price tag if United are to get back on top and win a third successive title.

Berbatov played too deep at Emirates Stadium and therefore wasn't a goal threat at all. He never looked like scoring and his record of one league goal in nine games for United suggests that has been a problem since he arrived from Spurs.

He doesn't look like the same player to me that thrilled us at Tottenham.

Berbatov has shown some sublime touches at times, including that fantastic turn to set up a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo against West Ham.

But a United No 9 has to provide goals as well, particularly as Sir Alex has had to leave out Carlos Tevez to accommodate him.

I watched Berbatov drop back virtually to the halfway line at times yesterday, content to get a few touches of the ball and play some simple passes. I bet Arsenal were delighted to see him so deep because he wasn't going to hurt them from there.

Berbatov is strong enough and skilful enough to hold the ball up and turn defenders where it counts - on the edge of the penalty area.

So I don't know why he didn't stay 15 yards further up the field. Funnelling back out of the danger zone was an easy option.

He spent more time facing Edwin van der Sar yesterday than Manuel Almunia, and that can't be right. It's important for the rest of United's season that he plays more like a genuine No 9.

Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo were more of a threat to Arsenal because they were brave enough to make the runs that really count, trying to get in behind defenders.

Overall, the game would compare favourably to classic league matches from any era. The fitness levels of the modern players are incredible, particularly considering they both had midweek games in the Champions League.

Arsenal's win proves it was premature to write them off. Four teams can win the Premier League season, and Arsenal are one of them.

So are United, although I have a slight doubt about their strength in depth when Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves are injured.

Anderson is going to develop into a very good player but Michael Carrick was also too deep yesterday while I'm not sure if Darren Fletcher, Ji-sung Park and Nani are quite at the very highest level to compete against a team such as Arsenal.

Sir Alex saw in Berbatov a player with the natural ability and big-game temperament to be a United legend, like Eric Cantona.

So far, though, he hasn't stepped up to the plate in the big games. He hasn't been a matchwinner when it counts. He has the talent, but until he shows it in front of goal, he will remain a worry for United.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...ought-him.html

Name Changed

I agree with the majority of it. A couple of times yesterday I noticed that apart from VDS, Berbatov was the third closest player to the United goal. Only Ferdinand and Vidic were behind him. That is a bit stupid; the whole midfield and two full backs had passed him. He needs to be in the box more. I notice that when we break fast and the balls are coming in quick from the wings, Berbatov is nowhere near the box, let alone the goal. He needs to be breaking his bollocks to get into the box.

When he has actually been in the box for us, he has scored. There is no point in him playing so deep. We do not need another midfielder. We need him in the box and that is where he will do his best work, by scoring.

I do not agree with Fletcher and Park not being good enough to face the big teams. If anything, they seem to be at their best against the bigger teams.

Escobar

He hasnt showed his brilliance on a consistent basis and drops too deep for my liking. Hope he, and many others, find soon their best form

MUFCgal

I don't want to see Berba dropping too deep so often, it's okay from time to time but I think he should say further up the pitch, just outside the opposition penalty area because that's where he will create damage and hopefully get more goals. Rooney can drop deep and collect the ball from midfield, Berba should be the man to stay further up.

Elliott

MUFCgal

My reaction too. Didn't both Fletcher and Nani score against them last season in the 4-0 thumping at OT?

Castolo

And Park in 2006

Instant Karma

Yes...lets start playing 'Blame the foreigner' game again.

Berbatov - 5 goals, 6 assists even without a pre-season in a new team
Ronaldo - 7 goals, 5 assists coming back from surgery and even without a pre-season
Rooney - 5 goals, 4 assists with a pre-season and having not played in the Euro's

When will be British media stop blaming the foreigners and question why the White Pele is not really stepping up when the team needs him ? Its the likes of Ronaldo/Tevez/Berba/Vidic who get slated when we underperform.

Feed Me

You can dress anything up with stats. I was, and still am, one of Berba's biggest advocates on the Caf, but I have been so underwhelmed by his contribution in the League (especially against the big sides).

His performance yesterday, to put it simply, was crap.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Sad but true

Ringo 07

Berbatov worries me for sure because he doesn't seem to be a fighter like Cantona was and he also is a known recluse so I am not sure if that would have a good effect on teh dressing room. I know he will have better days but he never showed real consistency at Spurs. Just touches of magic here and there so its a little worrying. The Tevez Rooney pairing seemed to be a lot more exciting at the point last year.

Instant Karma

Rooney's was worse and the fact that he was subbed off proves that even Fergie thought likewise.

And we have played 3 big games this season, scoring 3 goals. 2 of those were assists from Berba (Park against Chelsea and Tevez against Liverpool)....what did Rooney do in the big games ? Fuck all. But then again why let facts get in the way of blaming the foreigner.

RedRonaldo

Fletcher is our best midfielder this season, and he is a big game player too.
Park is one of our best player last night.
Berbatov, I think he did alright and let's just give him some more time then the goals will come.

holyland red

Berbatov scored two offside goals against Celtic and two at Aalborg...hardly an impressive stat on which we could predict his future United career.

The jury is still out on the lad- he could end up a United great or a new version of Juan Sebastian Veron in being an expensive addition to a side that didn't need fixing.

ch7

Berbatov doesn't have too many friends in the media does he. Though when I watch him play I scrutinize his every touch because he has replaced a player in Carlos Tevez who was set to have a great season after his rest in the summer.

TheRedFlag

I'm going for the latter.

In the summer I was fearful of signing him knowing full well that we didn't need him.

Looks like my fears are correct, I hope he proves me wrong but the signs are that he won't do.

Merman

Berbatov was classy before yesterday and forged a good partnership with Rooney. The media can fuck off.

holyland red

I'm not convinced either, but give the lad a chance.

Name Changed

He hasn't really been classy to be fair. But he has not been bad either. If you are saying he has been classy, would you be happy if things stayed the same so if you take yesterday for what it was, an away match against a top team?

Merman

In the liverpool game, we apparently played a 4-4-2 with Rooney on the wing.

In the chelsea game,

Instant Karma

And in the Arsenal game, Rooney was shite and had to be subbed off.

So at the end of the 3 big away games -

One shite game for Berba, one shite game for Rooney.
2 assists for Berba and fuck all for Rooney. Add to it the stupid free kick he gave away against Chelsea which lead to their goal.

Berba may not have been great but Rooney had no real end product and probably cost us the points against Chelsea

massey

Your constant accusations of the british being after foreigners is quite nauseating and stupid as you are portraying what you fear in your constant bringing up rooney shit every time ronnie or another foreign player gets mentioned.

Instant Karma

Which more or less proves the point about the media bias.

Rooney has had no end product in the 3 big games and was responsible for the free kick leading to Chelsea goal. Berba set up 2 of the 3 goals we scored against those teams. Yes, he could have played better than he did but he also played better than Rooney did. So why is he being slated when our other striker has been worse ?

LizardKing

Can people not just give the lad time? How many times have new signings been written off after a couple of months and then shoved everybody's words back down their throats?

FFS, he's played well for us. I didn't hear anyone complaining or saying he wasn't good enough when he turned that West Ham player inside out.

GDH

Stop trying to ruin this column with facts dammit!

And also, agree with Lizard King, Berbatov of course needs time. How come when Wenger says NO player is judged at Arsenal in his first 6 months, it's fine, and yet when United sign somebody they HAVE to be amazing within 5 games? Tevez was nothing special for us (aside from work rate) for his first few games last year. Anderson, Nani and Vidic all had poor starts to their careers here. Evra had a shocker on his debut, I've never seen him play half as bad as that since. And if I'm not mistaken, Ronaldo took an entire season before he put in a display that the media admitted was good. Rooney too, aside from his great debut, struggled in his first season. Rio Ferdinand was plagued by inconsistancy and stupid mistakes as he started out with us. Michael Carrick wasn't up to United's standards etc. etc. etc.

Seriously, give players time. He's been an employee of Manchester United for 2 months, I doubt people would be judged quite so harshly in any other career.

Nick 0208 Ldn

As opposed to your regular "blame the Brit/Englishman routine"?

It's only natural for the media to focus in on a new signing and particularly one where the outlay was so great and the saga so prolonged.

Berbatov will hopefully find his feet and blend with the team to a better degree given time.

However there are matches where it seems apparent that he is a destabilising or negative element. Individually he has yes left his mark but with his arrival the wider unit of eleven players are functioning less effectively when compared to last year.

Granted the erratic nature of our back five has contributed too.

We're like a spluttering engine for the time being though let's trust not for much longer.

All these factions on the Caf, silly.

Pogue Mahone

Good post.

In fact that's the second excellent post of yours I've read today.

I like the cut of your jib

Mr Darcy

Berbatov played well. I think it is Ronaldo who is fucking us. Seems to be playing especially shit. I say sell the cunt, he can't really be this out of form. Or maybe I'm just imagining it.

LizardKing

He's our top scorer this season you fucking gimp.

Utd heap

D you have learning difficulties?

Serious question, i've seen your posts.

RapidRed

are you on a deliberate wind up since yesterday or are you genuinely retarded?

EricaNo7

i thought ronaldo looked very committed yesterday - it doesn't help that he's fouled every time he gets the ball tho

kf

This is true but in yesterday's game Berbatov was just having a crap game and offering no goal threat at all. It happens. I was amazed when SAF took Rooney off, he was at least getting in goal scoring positions and missing. Apart from the offside goal early doors, Berbatov never looked like scoring, he was never in a position to do so.

Amazing game but all in all poor defending and not taking our chances has cost us.

BahamaRed

Berb needs to get rid of his cloak of invisibility. It's not working.

Ekeke

Because we didnt buy Rooney to be "Berbatov's perfect partner".

We bought Berbatov to be "Rooney's perfect partner"

He plainly isnt. Berbatov has provided us with more of the same of what we already had, so far.

Rooney has contributed in many big games for United over the years.

Brwned

You can see why we bought more of the same though, with us winning the double last year.

Ekeke

Because Wenger doesnt post on here? What does Wenger's thoughts on his own new signings (which tend to be kids or players with little pedigree) have to do with our players?

He was rubbish. Because we had no other stiker available so he was forced to play out of position and lead the line, with no striker support. All he had was Giggs playing off him. We've seen the Giggs and Tevez combination 6-8 times now and its been shite every single time.

Anderson wasnt playing in the first team. He was worn out. Nani scored a few great goals in pre-season so looked the business straight away. They are both young players who had never played in this country though, so nothing at all like the circumstances of Berbatov's move.

Ronaldo was special from his first game coming on as a sub against Bolton and changing the match, leading us to victory.

Rooney was very good in his first season. We're still talking about young players here though, not a 27 year old.

Carrick wasnt up to United standards? Good lord.

What do other careers have to do with being a manchester united footballer who is supposed to be in the prime years of said career, having be signed from another English club for £32 million?

Ekeke

so we should expect the treble this year then since we invested heavily in more of the same?

On the flip side you could say we had no need to buy more of the same, given that we won the double without it...

Brwned

Nope, we should expect to be able to compete as well as we did last season, given the circumstances it was always going to be difficult to sustain any sort of major success as winning the league for the third time in a row is rarely done and winning the Champions League in consecutive seasons has never been done.

We didn't buy the exact same though, Berbatov and Tevez are very different players. They play in the same position but in different ways, so it does give us more options. Whether it gave us a wide enough range of options is debatable but you can see why SAF chose Berbatov, even if you don't agree, right?

Pogue Mahone

Strange that you should even have to explain this.

Bearing in mind how much trouble we would have been in, last season, if Rooney and Tevez had picked up a long-term injury, I would say buying more of the same makes perfect sense.