Andy Mitten article about Anderson in ESPN

[12OunceEpilogue]

The comments from his admirers in this thread say it all. He's more of a clownish, cult hero than a genuinely good player, far more likely to elicit a than a .

I personally don't have any problem with him. It was his career/potential to do with as he wished, he won a good few things and we were very successful in his time here. Without question his eight years would be remembered much differently if we'd been shit, but as it is fair play Ando.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

The same can be said for Luke Shaw, who IMO, he is the new version of Anderson.
Overweight.
Has good natural ability, but doesn't take advantage of it.
Seems content to sit on the bench or not even make the match day squad.

I've given up with Shaw.

If the rumours are true and we're after Rose in the Summer I'd be happy with that.

 

[broccoli]

I think he was shaped wrongly by SAF, one of his greatest mistakes, granted they weren't many tbf.

I understand why SAF wanted him in the midfield. His acceleration and balance was quite unique in that regard a bit like prime Essien was doing at the time. The ability to burn through the first few lines of opposition pressure is invaluable but, a bit like it's happening with Pogba, it might leave very little physical and mental stamina to exert their full flamboyance further up the pitch.

Following Anderson since his debut at Porto I pictured a world class attacking mid or even winger on the making. Agility, power, easy dribble and speed, he had all the tools to be a menace from either wing but a couple years later I saw a very different Ando playing at Dragao for United. He was now a very controlled pillar in the center. Elegant and now much stronger. He provided the balance in midfield that didn't allow for us Porto to take a control of the match. The 2-2 advantage at OT turned into a 0-1 defeat at home and United advanced. I remember well Anderson was the best player on the pitch.

 

[noodlehair]

The difference between Shaw and Anderson is that Shaw has improved this season from last. The Jury is still out at this point.

With Anderson each season's positive performances seemed to be like a cameo version of the season before. Until the point it had gone from "he was really good in the few months before Christmas" to" "well he played well in that 10 minutes at home against QPR"

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I think he was shaped wrongly by SAF, one of his greatest mistakes, granted they weren't many tbf.

I understand why SAF wanted him in the midfield. His acceleration and balance was quite unique in that regard a bit like prime Essien was doing at the time. The ability to burn through the first few lines of opposition pressure is invaluable but, a bit like it's happening with Pogba, it might leave very little physical and mental stamina to exert their full flamboyance further up the pitch.

Following Anderson since his debut at Porto I pictured a world class attacking mid or even winger on the making. Agility, power, easy dribble and speed, he had all the tools to be a menace from either wing but a couple years later I saw a very different Ando playing at Dragao for United. He was now a very controlled pillar in the center. Elegant and now much stronger. He provided the balance in midfield that didn't allow for us Porto to take a control of the match. The 2-2 advantage at OT turned into a 0-1 defeat at home and United advanced. I remember well Anderson was the best player on the pitch.

I don't think his usage was any bad considering he had a very good first season for his age and maturity level coming into the premier league. He simply didn't look after himself or have the ambition to be kick on after that. Its kind of understandable considering where he came from, making it out of poverty was a big step up for him and coming to Manchester United became an achievement than a platform to further improve.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I think he was shaped wrongly by SAF, one of his greatest mistakes, granted they weren't many tbf.

I understand why SAF wanted him in the midfield. His acceleration and balance was quite unique in that regard a bit like prime Essien was doing at the time. The ability to burn through the first few lines of opposition pressure is invaluable but, a bit like it's happening with Pogba, it might leave very little physical and mental stamina to exert their full flamboyance further up the pitch.

Following Anderson since his debut at Porto I pictured a world class attacking mid or even winger on the making. Agility, power, easy dribble and speed, he had all the tools to be a menace from either wing but a couple years later I saw a very different Ando playing at Dragao for United. He was now a very controlled pillar in the center. Elegant and now much stronger. He provided the balance in midfield that didn't allow for us Porto to take a control of the match. The 2-2 advantage at OT turned into a 0-1 defeat at home and United advanced. I remember well Anderson was the best player on the pitch.

Oh he was definitely the wrong shape anyway.

 

[limerickcitykid]

His end product was trash. He couldn't score a goal to save his life. He was nowhere near good enough to be a #10. Its questionable if Pogba even offers enough in attack to be afforded such a luxury position let alone Anderson who's output was feck all in comparison.

 

[extincti fugax hominum]

I think he was shaped wrongly by SAF, one of his greatest mistakes, granted they weren't many tbf.

I understand why SAF wanted him in the midfield. His acceleration and balance was quite unique in that regard a bit like prime Essien was doing at the time. The ability to burn through the first few lines of opposition pressure is invaluable but, a bit like it's happening with Pogba, it might leave very little physical and mental stamina to exert their full flamboyance further up the pitch.

Following Anderson since his debut at Porto I pictured a world class attacking mid or even winger on the making. Agility, power, easy dribble and speed, he had all the tools to be a menace from either wing but a couple years later I saw a very different Ando playing at Dragao for United. He was now a very controlled pillar in the center. Elegant and now much stronger. He provided the balance in midfield that didn't allow for us Porto to take a control of the match. The 2-2 advantage at OT turned into a 0-1 defeat at home and United advanced. I remember well Anderson was the best player on the pitch.

I totally agree. Anderson won the Golden Boy for a reason. He was dubbed "the next Ronaldinho" when he was breaking through probably because of his nonchalant playing style and their common past with Gremio. His best attributes were his dribbling, acceleration, passing and technique which would make him a great attacking talent. Yet we tried to convert him to a CM which he never was. And he never realised the potential he had and worked hard to get better. Injuries didn't help either. Along with Scholes, Ando was my favourite player but unfortunately he is more of a wasted potential in our history rather than a club legend.

 

[golden_blunder]

He could run with the ball and had strength but he couldn’t pass, cross or shoot to save his life! Every pass was like a bullet from a gun

 

[VeevaVee]

This part about Fergie.
I was about to say he really knew how to get the most out of players...then I remembered who we're talking about
Still though, Ando aside, he obviously did.

I love him too. He's the god of football. I played through injuries for him, stayed on the pitch when my legs were cut. I didn't care. When I was injured, I wanted to come back as soon as possible, but he'd try and stop me. He looked after players so well. I felt that he cared for me.

And this bit is great. I think Fergie passed on that feeling of looking after each other. Must have felt like a proper family at the time. Can only imagine the buzz around the place.

Cristiano was great helping me settle. I lived with him for seven months in his house. He was so generous I didn't need to spend any money. He'd drive me to training. I was living with the best player in the world that year. What a life!

Edit: and reading more, this just confirms it. Must've been amazing to be part of..

That team was so good that nobody wanted to stop training each day. We'd get back to the dressing room and look forward to the next day. I'd get to training early, it was such fun. Every single guy trained at 100 percent, with everyone shouting.

 

[Swift Football]

We have a history of bringing attack minded centre mids and not knowing how to use them properly. Ando, Veron, kagawa, and even Kleberson to some degree.

 

[VeevaVee]

And feck me. It absolutely confirms that LVG killed off any spirit we had. There's no way they haven't both caused longer term damage after they left. We're still feeling it now.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

I think he was shaped wrongly by SAF, one of his greatest mistakes, granted they weren't many tbf.

I understand why SAF wanted him in the midfield. His acceleration and balance was quite unique in that regard a bit like prime Essien was doing at the time. The ability to burn through the first few lines of opposition pressure is invaluable but, a bit like it's happening with Pogba, it might leave very little physical and mental stamina to exert their full flamboyance further up the pitch.

Following Anderson since his debut at Porto I pictured a world class attacking mid or even winger on the making. Agility, power, easy dribble and speed, he had all the tools to be a menace from either wing but a couple years later I saw a very different Ando playing at Dragao for United. He was now a very controlled pillar in the center. Elegant and now much stronger. He provided the balance in midfield that didn't allow for us Porto to take a control of the match. The 2-2 advantage at OT turned into a 0-1 defeat at home and United advanced. I remember well Anderson was the best player on the pitch.

There was nothing from what we saw from Anderson at United would make him a good attacking midfielder or winger. But, I think he could have been a #8. Especially since his best performances his first season were in a three man midfield(First leg against Roma especially).

 

[Claudio Salinas Ruiz]

The humility of Anderson, having won everything playing with the best team in England and returning to Brazil with his head held high. I love him.

 

[Sing you a song]

And that's enough is it? To smile and love United? If that was the benchmark then every one of us would deserve to play for them.

He may be a nice guy but he wasted his talent and should have been so much more. He had to be taken off in games because he wasn't fit enough to finish them, even though he was earning 30-40k a week to kick a ball around.

If it's "vile" to expect people to do their jobs with the minimum of professionalism then I'm vile as well.

Never said it was enough actually said he probably wasn't good enough for us .
Just think " feck right off " to one of our ex players is out of order .I just loved to see a player who loved playing for the club and wasnt afraid to show it and I think his gesture to run to the crowd and hand his shirt over while other " better " players couldn't be bothered showed the kind of guy he was and how much he appreciated the fans support

 

[extincti fugax hominum]

After being out-of-contract for the last 6 months, he signed for a Turkish Second Division side (Adana Demirspor) on a 3 year contract yesterday. How the mighty have fallen. From being a Golden Boy at 20 to Turkish Second Division at 30 years old. Still looks well out of shape in his interview. This guy just betrayed himself. Such an horrible professional and a wasted potential.

 

[diarm]

He's one of my footballing heroes. A man of the people, for the people.

 

[limerickcitykid]

He's an absolute joke.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Can anyone name another Champions League winner (who was hardly on the periphery of the win as well) who made such a downward spiral?

 

[AltiUn]

Can anyone name another Champions League winner (who was hardly on the periphery of the win as well) who made such a downward spiral?

It's quite something, his attitude just never came close to matching his talent, I can't believe how long we kept him at OT for. Maybe he thought once he'd joined us that he'd made it, and to be fair he was here about 8 years so he kind of did.

 

[whatwha]

Shame. But he will always be remembered for shitting on Fabregas. And for disturbing the opposition goalkeeper when we had a free kick.

 

[Lay]

Can anyone name another Champions League winner (who was hardly on the periphery of the win as well) who made such a downward spiral?

Carlos Alberto (Porto), perhaps? Scored in the 2004 final and looked fantastic throughout the CL. His career since has seen him turn out for 12 different clubs where he barely plays. Has been a free agent for over a year.

 

[Foxbatt]

Ando was a good passer of the ball as he had a lot of vision. We all forget how many times he was involved in unlocking the defence creatively. When others would try to play it safe Ando had the vision to make that pass. Welbeck's goal in the drubbing of Arsenal, Berba's magic against Westham, are a couple of those he made. Yes he can't shoot for his life but its almost impossible to dispossess him when he has the ball.
Yes he let us down by not looking after himself but he was injured so many times. When he was paired with Hargreaves our midfield was the best. He started well with Cleverly and then Cleverly got injured and then he himself and that was the end of him.

 

[diarm]

He was born in the wrong time. Had he joined United in the 80's, or even in the early years of the prem he'd have retired a bona fide legend.

He belongs in an era of the fag smoking, binge drinking men's men of yesteryear. He never stood a chance in today's uber conditioned gym ball.

Give me the days of watching Le Tissier, Maradona, Baggio, McGrath, Adams, Robson, Cantona and Ronaldo playing the beautiful game with a bit of a gut over today's walking six packs flouncing about on the floor for 90 minutes every week.

 

[iammemphis]

United great in my eyes purely for that penalty in Champions League Final. Didn’t bottle it like plenty would have done. He was also quite good for a season, maybe even two. Forever grateful Ando.

 

[Judas]

Absolutely love the lad, and he'll always be one of my favourite ever football characters.

 

[acnumber9]

Ando was a good passer of the ball as he had a lot of vision. We all forget how many times he was involved in unlocking the defence creatively. When others would try to play it safe Ando had the vision to make that pass. Welbeck's goal in the drubbing of Arsenal, Berba's magic against Westham, are a couple of those he made. Yes he can't shoot for his life but its almost impossible to dispossess him when he has the ball.
Yes he let us down by not looking after himself but he was injured so many times. When he was paired with Hargreaves our midfield was the best. He started well with Cleverly and then Cleverly got injured and then he himself and that was the end of him.

It’s very easy to forget something that didn’t happen. He passed the ball like he’d loaded it into a cannon first.

 

[Beagle]

what a bizarre statement. Because I'm questioning Anderson's attitude it somehow means I'm questioning SAF's too? Bugger off.

Suffer attitude issues meaning tolerating them. As in SAF didn't suffer fools.

 

[Pyro19]

The state of this forum when an EX United player is recounting all the GOOD times he had at the club and our supporters cannot wait to jump down his throat and call him useless.

The man has only said GOOD things about the club and yet people are on here calling him a clown and a joke despite him doing something that 99% of the keyboard warriors will never achieve in their lives.

How to spread negativity on a harmless / feelgood article about anderson and his life - by Redcafe.

 

[Macern]

He was my favourite player. Had several Anderson 8 shirts. Really miss him . And don’t forget lads, he attacked the space.

 

[Jagga7]

The state of this forum when an EX United player is recounting all the GOOD times he had at the club and our supporters cannot wait to jump down his throat and call him useless.

The man has only said GOOD things about the club and yet people are on here calling him a clown and a joke despite him doing something that 99% of the keyboard warriors will never achieve in their lives.

How to spread negativity on a harmless / feelgood article about anderson and his life - by Redcafe.

You guys got rekt. Damn keyboard warriors who won't amount to nothing!

 

[simonhch]

He was born in the wrong time. Had he joined United in the 80's, or even in the early years of the prem he'd have retired a bona fide legend.

He belongs in an era of the fag smoking, binge drinking men's men of yesteryear. He never stood a chance in today's uber conditioned gym ball.

Give me the days of watching Le Tissier, Maradona, Baggio, McGrath, Adams, Robson, Cantona and Ronaldo playing the beautiful game with a bit of a gut over today's walking six packs flouncing about on the floor for 90 minutes every week.

This is my new favourite post.

 

[kidbob]

Maybe just maybe the guy was only human. For all we know the constant injuries took it's toll on him mentally and he got to the point where it became too much for him. He put in some damn good performances for us at times and was a seriously good talent who but for his knees being fecked could have reached an incredibly high level. There haven't been many youngsters at the club lately with the raw abilities he had in my opinion. Can't see Fergie keeping him around if he had obvious attitude issues, I mean he got rid of a model professional like Beckham for becoming a 'celebrity'.

I remember him having a good run of form and then playing brilliantly for 30 minutes against Reading (scored a screamer that game) then he got injured and the lad looked absolutely devastated. He just could never get any run of games without his body breaking down on him.

 

[Xeno]

Ando Cleverley midfield 2 vs City.
Bossed it.

 

[Macern]

Ando Cleverley midfield 2 vs City.
Bossed it.

They were really really good for like half a season. Unbelievable really, Anderson and Tom Cleverley.

 

[Revan]

They were really really good for like half a season. Unbelievable really, Anderson and Tom Cleverley.

Not really. Cleverley got injured in the fourth game of EPL. And Ando soon after it. It was Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs carrying our midfield in the first half of the season, and in the second half Scholesy returned.

They essentially did nothing after the Chelsea match.

 

[Maciej]

I loved how he attacked the space for us.

It doesn't change the fact that he was fat, stupid and always injured. Apart from a few games in his first two seasons and 11/12. He was a joke, couldn't learn English, couldn't eat better. There aren't many Brazilians who finish their careers on a high.

 

[VivaObertan]

Love him!

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

He wasn't as bad as most were will tell you.

He did disappoint later in his United career and for a Brazilian player that could dribble, he had the worst shooting technique I've seen.

 

[yumtum]

He should have never moved here, for all his gifts, Fergie never used a pure 10, and trying to play Ando in a midfield 2 was always going to end one way.

Obviously Anderson failing was in no fault of SAF, chances are he'd have found a pie recipe somewhere regardless.