Tom Cleverley | 2014/15 Performances (on loan at Aston Villa)

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Barca84

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Yeah but what players do that as their only function. Clev doesn't specialize in a defensive capacity or an attacking capacity. I can't think of any players who will be particularly valued who's only contribution is the pure recycling of possession, it's a good trait to have but it can't be what your whole game is about. Particularly as in Clevs case a lot of the times he does this a better or at least a more confident player could keep the ball but keep the momentum as well.
It's precisely what makes him so limited - his skillset is confined to short range unambitious passing. Cannot pick a pass, cannot tackle, poor ball control, cannot beat a man, cannot shoot, cannot head the ball. He's a wall and one that can't play a decent wall pass.
 

Kaos

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Nah. Should offer Kagawa as a sweetener for Hummels or Reus next year. Hernandez for Vidal maybe.
We won't sign Reus now that we have Di Maria and Vidal isn't leaving. Hummels is a possibility but I'd wager there's probably half a dozen sides that he'll probably move to instead of us at the moment.
 

red_7

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Interest from Hull, Villa, Everton and Valencia? The price should go up, at least £15m. Other clubs sell crap player for more so we should do as well.
 

Red Comet

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Yeah but what players do that as their only function. Clev doesn't specialize in a defensive capacity or an attacking capacity. I can't think of any players who will be particularly valued who's only contribution is the pure recycling of possession, it's a good trait to have but it can't be what your whole game is about. Particularly as in Clevs case a lot of the times he does this a better or at least a more confident player could keep the ball but keep the momentum as well.
I know what you are saying and I agree with you. The Cleverly that just broke through to the 1st team looks quite a player, finally looking to seize his opportunity in the 1st team after years of patiently waiting and going on loan. His linking up play was excellent, and he brought other players into the game with his quick passing especially in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Unfortunately he has regressed, and has kept regressing. He became a parody of himself, often passing purely for the sake of it, even when not under any obvious pressure from opposition players.

I would be very happy for him to make a move to a club where he gets less pressure, scrutiny, and basically be left alone to rebuild his career. A Cleverly in full flow like he did 2 years ago before the tackle from Davis could be breathtaking at times, unfortunately his time with us is over.
 

Massive Spanner

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Cleverley has loads of qualities that suit the Spanish style. I especially love when he shouts out and holds his hand up to his teammate 5 yards away to pass the ball as if he has some master plan for it, and then when we receives it he passes it backwards/side-wards another 5 yards. That's all those Spanish teams do, it's a wonder they score anything other than own goals, quite frankly.
 

matherto

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All of the criticism from the media, fans of other clubs and even us has made him quite underrated. He possesses good ability and he is still only young. I genuinely hope he gets a good move and proves a lot of people wrong. I would love to see him at Valencia, the little guy would get a lot of protection from referees over there and the the extra time on the ball would allow him to play his football to much greater effect. He was better when he played with Scholes as Scholes would have 3 midfield players pressing him and Cleverley would have 20 yards of space.
He's 25 and he possesses barely any ability whatsoever. To prove a lot of people wrong he'd have to develop hitherto unseen skills and also hitherto unseen balls. He'll never develop either.
 

Red Comet

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It's precisely what makes him so limited - his skillset is confined to short range unambitious passing. Cannot pick a pass, cannot tackle, poor ball control, cannot beat a man, cannot shoot, cannot head the ball. He's a wall and one that can't play a decent wall pass.

 

Massive Spanner

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Five minute Youtube videos, definitive proof of how good/bad a player is.

EDIT: Christ, not even five minutes, he's rubbish!
 

Bojan11

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I'm glad people actually watch games rather than crappy YouTube compilations.
 

red_7

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and then his overhit cross against Newcastle :lol:

Yes, he has some good moments but they are too rare, he is just frustrating to watch most of the time.
 

montpelier

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Blimey, they're queueing up and falling over themselves. Even Woody can't lash this up.
 
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bleedred

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Is this some kind of joke?. Why are so many clubs in for him even at that price. Surely it has to be a Windup.
 

predator

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I would love to see him in Spain. It would be interesting to say the least. If I was him I would jump at the chance to play for a Spanish club like Valencia. Its a great opportunity for him. I've always thought of Clevz as a bit of a Spanish type player as opposed to a typical English midfielder. He could do well over there imo.
 

Jonno

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He's 25 and he possesses barely any ability whatsoever. To prove a lot of people wrong he'd have to develop hitherto unseen skills and also hitherto unseen balls. He'll never develop either.
Lol... you sound a little bitter. Whilst I am not happy with his performances for United in the last year or so, I don't let it blind me. I've watched him closely at youth level then reserve level and finally in the first team and I know he possesses good ability in terms of passing and vision. He is just not showing it. I don't think he is good enough to be playing in United's strongest 11 but he is a good Premier League midfielder and has yet to hit his peak. 25 in football terms is young enough to kick-start his career elsewhere.

People were calling Ramsey useless 3 years ago. Fickle.
 

Lu Tze

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Lol... you sound a little bitter. Whilst I am not happy with his performances for United in the last year or so, I don't let it blind me. I've watched him closely at youth level then reserve level and finally in the first team and I know he possesses good ability in terms of passing and vision. He is just not showing it. I don't think he is good enough to be playing in United's strongest 11 but he is a good Premier League midfielder and has yet to hit his peak. 25 in football terms is young enough to kick-start his career elsewhere.

People were calling Ramsey useless 3 years ago. Fickle.
The "useless" Ramsey still demonstrated far more talent coming back from a crippling leg break than Cleverley has ever shown. It's not fickle to say that someone who's barely been decent for more than a year and a half (and was never that good when he was "good") is a poor player, and should be nowhere near Manchester United.
 

Pogue Mahone

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He's obviously a better player than he's shown in the last couple of seasons and miles better than he's being portrayed in this thread. Which is why we have at least two other top clubs willing to pay reasonable money for him. The footballer being described in most of the posts in this thread would be doing well to scrape a living in League 2.

I can see him doing quite well as part of a more fluent midfield unit. It's a pity he won't get that chance at United but if Van Gaal can't see a place for him in our squad then so be it. It's understandable, too, as he won't have followed the early parts of Cleverley's career when he was playing for teams that were less dysfunctional than United in the recent past.
 

Jonno

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The "useless" Ramsey still demonstrated more talent coming back from a crippling leg break than Cleverley has ever shown. It's not fickle to say that someone who's barely been decent for more than a year and a half (and was never that good when he was "good") is a poor player, and should be nowhere near Manchester United.
You don't forget how to play football after a leg break, if physically able to, he was always going to return from injury. I think it is fickle to jump on Cleverley's back when he has demonstrated good form in a United shirt in the past. Players don't lose ability. Not at 25 years of age. Let me reiterate I don't think he is good enough for United. But to say he has "barely any ability whatsoever" is a bit over the top, as is the constant criticism he receives. He's a good player out of form, with no confidence.
 

montpelier

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He's obviously a better player than he's shown in the last couple of seasons and miles better than he's being portrayed in this thread. Which is why we have at least two other top clubs willing to pay reasonable money for him. The footballer being described in most of the posts in this thread would be doing well to scrape a living in League 2.

I can see him doing quite well as part of a more fluent midfield unit. It's a pity he won't get that chance at United but if Van Gaal can't see a place for him in our squad then so be it. It's understandable, too, as he won't have followed the early parts of Cleverley's career when he was playing for teams that were less dysfunctional than United in the recent past.
That's a perfectly reasonable point, it's easier to play well in a confident well-functioning team. Or his early promise might have been initial enthusiasm at breaking through and he couldn't sustain it. Don't think it's arguable that he has deteriorated quite alarmingly. I'd be trying to convince him that a change of scene could be highly beneficial I'm afraid.
 

Anderson18

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I'm just happy we'd get anything for him. Not a great player and I can see him running down his contract, if he doesn't get his Everton move.
 

united_99

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Preventing them from recouping 8-9 million so he can sit on his arse for a year is a shithouse move.
It depends! If United are not letting him go to Everton because they see them as competition for top 4, then Cleverley has every right to refuse Villa and instead wait for a better team and especially a better manager, who also happens to know and rate him.
 

J-Stander

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It depends! If United are not letting him go to Everton because they see them as competition for top 4, then Cleverley has every right to refuse Villa and instead wait for a better team and especially a better manager, who also happens to know and rate him.
I really don't think we'd stop him going there. If it's a case of getting 8m or nothing, then we'd sell him to anyone.
 

Mali_Zeus

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As crap as he is it's not wise to sell our cms with not buying any... Sure our midfield is crap right now but if we dont bring anyone and let Cleverley and Fellaini go for instance we'll have to play januzaj and similar in those positions. I just hope we're bringing somene, carvalho, vidal or someone 3rd.
 

Barca84

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His choice. If he doesn't want to go he doesn't have to but sounds like United want him sold. Get him loaned to Villa or some such ffs just anywhere whilst he runs his contract down.
 
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