Berbatov

[Foxbatt]

It is easy t blame Berba for all the ills but for people like me who kept screaming for our players to give the ball to Berba we understand why he was not such a huge success. Our midfield was Fletcher and Carrick and for English players you do not pass to a player who is being marked. For Berbatov it is not a problem to receive the ball when being marked. I think his problem was that our midfield was simply not good enough for him. He sees those openings but they do not see it and they do not pass it to him and then they do not know where to move to receive his pass.
I think it was against a European side that we needed to score and Berba created an open pass to Carrick who just had the keeper to beat and he messed it up.
If you give the ball to Berba, he would create. He always says he is more happy creating a beautiful goal for a team mate than scoring a bad goal himself.
What a player. Fergie treated him very badly at the end. He gave the slot to that prick Owen instead of Berbatov.

 

[Ekeke]

We don't need someone to run back and cover for Pogba. That sounds like something Mourinho would require. Especially against a deep defence we need creativity not a knock off Thomas Muller.

We do because Pogba is the one playing further forward than Lingard half the time. If we had Berbatov there, thats a massive hole in our midfield

 

[AfroBuffalo]

He used to have holes in his long sleeve shirts when playing that he used to put his thumbs in

 

[elmo]

He would have fitted the team much better if the team wasn't much better off playing at a faster tempo.

He would have fitted in very well during van Gaal's time with us, and his style would save us from the rest of the boring football that van Gaal's time with us had.

 

[Brwned]

The revisionism in here is really bizarre. Berbatov wasn't a top player at any point in his career, yet somehow he was both tragically misused here and also a United legend? I liked him when he was here but this is all fecking ludicrous.

 

[Trophy Room]

Great pundit.

 

[Cascarino]

Shocked to find this shitpost on the main of Redcafe. Feels like a 13 year old fan just discovered internet forums.

Are you posting in the right thread?

 

[meamth]

Shocked to find this shitpost on the main of Redcafe. Feels like a 13 year old fan just discovered internet forums.

What?

 

[iKnowNothing]

Great pundit.

What did he say?

 

[Relevated]

If I'm being honest I don't think he was every a really good player for us apart from one season where he was good on and off.

 

[meamth]

If I'm being honest I don't think he was every a really good player for us apart from one season where he was good on and off.

Still a cult favorite/hero for United fans though. That 30 million paid is for that hattrick against Liverpool. Worth every penny.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

technically one of our best ever players. The skill and audacity to pull this off:

genius

Martial should watch this video over and over again. Not because of Berbatov, but because of Ronaldo. These are the kinds of goals that Martial needs to add to his game. He needs to make those off the ball runs and score the tap ins.

As for the OP, I loved Berbatov. Not sure if there have been many cooler than him. I remember getting in a lot of arguments because we were so used to seeing Rooney and Tevez buzz all over the field while Berbatov looked like he hardly broke a sweat. The thing is though, when he played, we scored a lot of goals.

Oh, and if you want some entertainment, check out his instagram page and watch the videos of him commentating on his goals. Absolutely hilarious...

 

[United58]

Obviously a lot of humour in the interview but really interesting analysis of the mental process in playing too. Sublime technique.

 

[Foxbatt]

The season Rooney became too scorer a lot of them were assists by Valencia from the right wing. Most of it was put on a plate by Berbatov for Valencia.
Berbatov was hampered by Fletcher in midfield. I know he is a favorite of CAF but if you go back and look at the matches again you will see Fletcher was reluctant to pass many times to Berbatov because he had a man on him. But to Berbatov it doesn't matter if he has a man on him.
Berbatov was a second striker. He always says he would rather create than score goals.

 

[jem]

Martial should watch this video over and over again. Not because of Berbatov, but because of Ronaldo. These are the kinds of goals that Martial needs to add to his game. He needs to make those off the ball runs and score the tap ins.

As for the OP, I loved Berbatov. Not sure if there have been many cooler than him. I remember getting in a lot of arguments because we were so used to seeing Rooney and Tevez buzz all over the field while Berbatov looked like he hardly broke a sweat. The thing is though, when he played, we scored a lot of goals.

Oh, and if you want some entertainment, check out his instagram page and watch the videos of him commentating on his goals. Absolutely hilarious...

That is an excellent point. It's not hard to imagine a player pulling off that piece of skill with today's squad and the pass into the middle just rolling harmlessly through as Martial (or even Rashford) watches from outside the 6-yard box. As much as that is a criticism of Martial and Rashford, it's also further proof (as if any were needed) of Ronaldo's incredible instincts inside the area.

 

[POF]

Berbatov will always go down as one of those players that should have been amazing at United but it just didn't work out.

He seemed perfect for that role just behind Rooney and utilising the speed of Valencia, Nani and Park on the wings. He should have been the creative spark to replace Ronaldo's goals by making the attack overall more dangerous. I think Fergie saw him as a Cantona type talismanic figure.

But it never worked out that way. His best spell was as a genuine number 9 and his partnership with Rooney just didn't click.

It's one of those examples where the mentality of a player is more important than ability.

 

[nobby the legend]

If Bruno and Berbatov were from the same generation.

 

[royboy16]

If Bruno and Berbatov were from the same generation.

We'd call him Brunatov.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

The arguement of Berba upsetting the front three is false - at the time we signed Berba Fergie knew Ronaldo was leaving in a year and that he didn't want Tevez. So it was just planning ahead.

 

[Berbasbullet]

We'd call him Brunatov.

Better than Berbanes.

 

[Ekeke]

If Bruno and Berbatov were from the same generation.

They'd be trying to play the same role

 

[The holy trinity 68]

They'd be trying to play the same role

No they wouldn't. Bruno plays from midfield and moves into attacking midfield, more of a playmaker controlling the chances created, Berbatov was more of a second striker that would drop into the hole and look to create after receiving the ball from a Bruno type. That is how I see it anyway.

 

[Ekeke]

No they wouldn't. Bruno plays from midfield and moves into attacking midfield, more of a playmaker controlling the chances created, Berbatov was more of a second striker that would drop into the hole and look to create after receiving the ball from a Bruno type. That is how I see it anyway.

Both the same position behind another forward

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Both the same position behind another forward

No they aren't. An attacking midfielder is not the same as a second striker. It's like saying Pogba and McTominay play the same role because they both play in centre midfield. Bruno and Berba are nothing alike.

 

[Offside]

Find the way he is talked about now by United fans remarkable. Didn’t do enough in 08/09 and we lost Tevez because of him when Tevez was a better player. 09/10 he was a real let down, if he was anything of a half-decent back up to Rooney we’d have won the league that year. Even 10/11 he was class in the first half but completely lost his place in the second half of the season. 11/12 he was practically a reserve player.

Just shows if you ooze class like he did fans will forget the constant stick he got. I’m happy Berbatov is remembered fondly by United fans now. Such a unique player.

 

[Ekeke]

No they aren't. An attacking midfielder is not the same as a second striker. It's like saying Pogba and McTominay play the same role because they both play in centre midfield. Bruno and Berba are nothing alike.

We play a 4-2-3-1 with the central of the 3 being behind the striker same as a 2nd striker would be. Its the same

 

[Hammondo]

Both the same position behind another forward

Not really, berbatov is happy to be the only forward, they would link up well.

 

[Foxbatt]

What a classy player. I always love watch him play. He never was the CF and this is where SAF made the mistake. He was always the 2nd striker and would have been ideal to play with a real CF. He holds the ball well and create chances. He is a very good in the air and his defensive abilities is often forgotten. I remember Gary Neville talking about how SAF would task Berbatov to be the first line of defence in set pieces and corners as how good he is in defending the first ball. His first touch is amazing and the rabbit he pulled out against West Ham was brilliant. His overhead kick against Liverpool was another if his brilliant goals. He played the game at his own pace and it is very difficult to disposses him. You could give him the ball under pressure and he will hold it and pass it to a team mate.

 

[meamth]

Berbatov and Pogba has the same conundrum if we consider their time here at the club.

 

[Redfrog]

I also recall an FA Cup semi final against City where Rooney was suspended, for swearing down the camera, and Berbatov had to step up.

But he missed a couple of big chances, we lost and I don't think Fergie ever trusted him after that.

I remember that, he was so frustrating, even more so that City won the trophy after that and it was the first one for them !

SAF was fuming and you are right saying he was never trusting him after that.

The gaffer was really hard with mature players. I remember Carrick making a mistake leading to a City goal in the cup as well. He was nowhere to be seen for some time after that...

The fact Berba was not even on the bench in the champions League final say it all really. He was not a United player mentally wise...

 

[Buffalo Bills]

Just read the article in the opening post for the first time and it has made me look at Berbatov in a new light. Love the respect that he shows for the club and the how he describes the delight that he had in signing for us.

Like others I always had the idea that he could come across as a bit sulky, but I suppose we can be too quick to judge others who may have a different kind of personality or background. Skillwise his quality was undoubted.

Wish we could get the club spirit and winning mentality that he talks about during his time back

 

[Skills]

Find the way he is talked about now by United fans remarkable. Didn’t do enough in 08/09 and we lost Tevez because of him when Tevez was a better player. 09/10 he was a real let down, if he was anything of a half-decent back up to Rooney we’d have won the league that year. Even 10/11 he was class in the first half but completely lost his place in the second half of the season. 11/12 he was practically a reserve player.

Just shows if you ooze class like he did fans will forget the constant stick he got. I’m happy Berbatov is remembered fondly by United fans now. Such a unique player.

Or are just associated with a successful era at the club. Valencia gets shat on by our fanbase for having the misfortune of staying through our bad times, even though he was a far more influential player than him when they played here together.

 

[Offside]

Or are just associated with a successful era at the club. Valencia gets shat on by our fanbase for having the misfortune of staying through our bad times, even though he was a far more influential player than him when they played here together.

Yep great comparison.

 

[Foxbatt]

I remember that, he was so frustrating, even more so that City won the trophy after that and it was the first one for them !

SAF was fuming and you are right saying he was never trusting him after that.

The gaffer was really hard with mature players. I remember Carrick making a mistake leading to a City goal in the cup as well. He was nowhere to be seen for some time after that...

The fact Berba was not even on the bench in the champions League final say it all really. He was not a United player mentally wise...

It was one of the best game Hart played for City. He was outstanding. Berbatov in the Final would have been a much better choice than Owen.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Find the way he is talked about now by United fans remarkable. Didn’t do enough in 08/09 and we lost Tevez because of him when Tevez was a better player. 09/10 he was a real let down, if he was anything of a half-decent back up to Rooney we’d have won the league that year. Even 10/11 he was class in the first half but completely lost his place in the second half of the season. 11/12 he was practically a reserve player.

Just shows if you ooze class like he did fans will forget the constant stick he got. I’m happy Berbatov is remembered fondly by United fans now. Such a unique player.

he’s not remembered fondly by me. He’s similar to Veron (not the same position), but both came into the squad in particularly strong positions, and never fitted in, and disrupting the status quo, in a negative way.

you’ve given a good summary, and ever when he won the golden boot, he had very little competition that year and scored about half his goals in 3 games.

wonderfully talented player, but not effective when it mattered.

 

[eire-red]

I liked Berbatov, he was a really good player to have in those tight games, could pick a pass or deliver in those decisive moments.

I remember being frustrated with him plenty back then, but he brought something different to the team as opposed to Rooney and Tevez.

One thing to note is that often when Bertabov was playing, often he didn't have standout performances but we usually played plenty of good football, and scored plenty. He also had some memorable individual performances.

I'm sure if Fergie had his time back he would have preferred to keep Tevez, but maybe he sensed that Tevez wasn't the type of character he wanted at the club towards the end of his time at United? Neville alluded to that on Sky not so long ago.

All in all, a good player but perhaps didn't quite gel with the style of United at that time. I think he would have been much better here when Mourinho was in charge, for example. We were always looking for that player to unlock defences in tight games.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

Belonged in early 90s Serie A, not the Premier League

 

[Mo Caine]

an Ed Woodward signing in an era of Ferguson & Gil

 

[Pav1878]

Loved Berbatov, for me has the best touch I've seen of any player.
Fantastic to watch and graceful on the ball.

Since retiring, he is still very pro United too, which is always nice to see. Hilarious character, gotta love Berba!

 

[MancunianAngels]

Berbatov was unreal at times.

The issue with him was he came 12 months before the penny pinching started.

He should have been the focal point of the post Ronaldo/Tevez side with 3/4 world class players coming in during the summer of 09. Instead, he was often the scapegoat for our slow decline after that summer.