Anderson - is he the 'real deal'? | Retires age 31

[WeWonItTwoTimes]

He's very one footed I've noticed, which isn't ideal for a central midfield player.

I remember watching some brief highlights of a Porto v CSKA Moscow match a few years ago and thinking he was the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The moral of the story is don't judge a player on a few highlights from one match. Could still become a very good player though.

 

[Sarni]

He's a very good player with plenty of energy which is shown until he decides he's too tired to play football at some point in the game. Then he becomes a football version of John O'Shea.

He'll defiinitely become a class player, he's already a very good one. I don't think he finds the position he plays in comfortable enough, he's barely played there before he joined us but Ferguson used him there probably to make him develop some discipline that some of his counterparts never had.

 

[Mozza]

He's a very good player with plenty of energy which is shown until he decides he's too tired to play football at some point in the game. Then he becomes a football version of John O'Shea.

He'll defiinitely become a class player, he's already a very good one. I don't think he finds the position he plays in comfortable enough, he's barely played there before he joined us but Ferguson used him there probably to make him develop some discipline that some of his counterparts never had.

Nah, we had a bit of a injury crisis, O'Shea got injured half way through the first half and he had to some on as we had no other options, his first start was playing off the striker in the previous match and he was shite, he was brilliant in central midfield.

He's probably played the position more then any other in senior football since he's played more football for us then both his previous clubs combined

 

[nimic]

He's 20 years old, for fecks sake.

He'll be the best midfielder in the world, one day.

 

[Jacob]

He lacks a proper haircut

 

[tintedsepia]

I think his performance level has dropped from the middle of last season. When he joined he didn't look like that much of a player. Then he was brought on against Wigan last season and ran the show - also ran a lot of other matches for a 19 year old playing in the PL at the best team in Europe and he was running the show from CL so that we didn't miss Scholes!

Back end of the season his performance level dropped again - not hugely but noticeably.

This season he's not at the same level as the middle of last season and actually I put that down to not having had a proper pre-season and nothing else.

SAF always talks about young players not being consistent. Ronaldo wasn't, Rooney isn't, Fabregas wasn't when he first joined and he goes missing sometimes even now.

Fact is with a proper pre-season, focus on his part, and high fitness levels he can achieve a hell of a lot. Withoug pre-season he'll struggle to play 2 games in a row which is what we're seeing now.

Great prospect - he'll get there as he has the temperament to learn and grow!

Tx

 

[peterstorey]

He's 20 years old, for fecks sake.

He'll be the best midfielder in the world, one day.

He'll never be better than Fabregas.

 

[Wes]

He'll never be better than Fabregas.

...at what Fabregas does



Theres far more fight in Anderson, and That's what'll mark him out as a class act of a footballer. Fabregas on the other hand is a little bitch.

 

[peterstorey]

...at what Fabregas does



Theres far more fight in Anderson, and That's what'll mark him out as a class act of a footballer. Fabregas on the other hand is a little bitch.

Fabregas runs games so that his team wins them. Anderson does some cameos and blows up after an hour.

 

[Alex]

Fabregas hasnt been all that impressive this year pete

 

[Wes]

Fabregas runs games so that his team wins them. Anderson does some cameos and blows up after an hour.

at the minute, yes. He's only a young 'un.

I agree that Anderson will never dictate the play as well, but we've Carrick for that.

 

[peterstorey]

Fabregas hasnt been all that impressive this year pete

Bit tough if you lose the guy who ran around and did the tackling and the guy who ran at players and made the space. We're getting there.

 

[peterstorey]

at the minute, yes. He's only a young 'un.

I agree that Anderson will never dictate the play as well, but we've Carrick for that.

Carrick couldn't dictate a memo.

 

[Alex]

Bit tough if you lose the guy who ran around and did the tackling and the guy who ran at players and made the space. We're getting there.

Scholes lost Keane yet still exuded his class; agree with you about Carrick too often he doesnt impose himself on the game, which is disappointing because he is good enough he just seems to lack the tenacity

 

[Wes]

absolute bollocks!

Either of youse ever watched Carrick play ffs? He's easily one of the best passers in the league.

 

[Alex]

I understand that he is an excellent passer, but there are times where he has been somewhat marginalized by a good opposition midfield

 

[Wes]

I've seen him go toe-to-toe against the likes of Chelsea and Milan and come out the winner.

He certainly dictates the play in games, how you can't agree over that is just ridiculous.

 

[peterstorey]

I think Carrick is very effective and was a key part of you winning the league, I don't underestimate his defensive capability of being in the right place nor his passing ability - but with all the stuff in his locker he should really step up and impose himself on games - but he just can't do it.

 

[Mozza]

I think Carrick is very effective and was a key part of you winning the league, I don't underestimate his defensive capability of being in the right place nor his passing ability - but with all the stuff in his locker he should really step up and impose himself on games - but he just can't do it.

We had the majority of possession and played higher up the pitch then your lot on your patch, our midfield controlled the game, he can't do more then that to give the forwards a platform to win.

 

[Wes]

I think Carrick is very effective and was a key part of you winning the league, I don't underestimate his defensive capability of being in the right place nor his passing ability - but with all the stuff in his locker he should really step up and impose himself on games - but he just can't do it.

obviously I agree to an extent

I disagree that he doesn't dictate play for us

 

[peterstorey]

We had the majority of possession and played higher up the pitch then your lot on your patch, our midfield controlled the game, he can't do more then that to give the forwards a platform to win.

You're not still rambling on about Saturday in stat-prat mode? You had more possession because we were two up and you had a have-a-go-hero half an hour. Anderson was good for 25 minutes and Carrick was poor being peripheral for much of the time and arguably should have gone off for the foul on Diaby (borderline red) and the yellow on Almunia (actually not a card in my book).

 

[The Hairdryer]

He'll never be better than Fabregas.

Stupid statement really. You don't know how their careers will pan out.

Look at Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Kluivert for example. Same age. At 21/22 you couldn't compare the two. Kluivert was on another level. Scoring goals week in week for Barca, forming a formidible partnership with Rivaldo whilst Ruud Van Nistelrooy was at SC Heerenveen and scoring at an average rate for a striker and not really destined for greater things.

If you claimed back then that Ruud Van Nistelrooy would be the better player, you'd be laughed out of the room. Now if you claimed Kluivert is the better player you'd be laughed out of the room even quicker.

Some players start their careers with a bang and then fizzle out and others start slowly and then reach their peak after the age of 25.

Even Zinedine Zidane wasn't that highy rated at Bordeaux in his early 20's.

 

[UBERScholes]

Think he's a fantastic prospect. At the moment his game isn't perfect and needs some development, but clearly he'll become a beast of a player. Very strong attitude it seems, when we signed him he was still recovering from a broken leg, had only been in Europe for a year and began playing in a role no one expected of him (iirc even Sir Alex said he was surprised at the kind of responsibility he could give Anderson on the pitch).

I think the goalscoring will come. Like Fabregas showed when he was a youngster that he could tuck them away, still he has had his lean spells at Arsenal. Hopefully though his positioning and passing improves the most, will always be other players around to score goals.

Delighted we have him

 

[Mozza]

You're not still rambling on about Saturday in stat-prat mode? You had more possession because we were two up and you had a have-a-go-hero half an hour. Anderson was good for 25 minutes and Carrick was poor being peripheral for much of the time and arguably should have gone off for the foul on Diaby (borderline red) and the yellow on Almunia (actually not a card in my book).

We were better then you in both halves

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

I rate this kid very highly. We have seen brilliance from him and some shit performances as well. This will happen to such a young player who DOESNT get a decent run of games. feck this will happen to any player. Last year we struggled with injuries and Anderson stepped up big time and did wonders for a 19 year old kid. But the Olympics and Fletcher's brilliance and Carrick's return stopped him from getting a good run in which is vital to a player's confidence. When Scholes returns it may even me harder for him to get some games which is a real shame.
When he gets his games, he will get his confidence and his identity as a footballer.

 

[marcus agrippa]

in two or three years' time, this thread will look ridiculous.

also, storey, Fabregas had a stinker on Saturday. a stinker. never seen him give away the ball that often before. just gritted my teeth through the game again, so i'd say the memory's quite fresh.

loved how Anderson dominated him in every challenge. that boy'll be some player.

 

[Yianni]

Out of interest, Jopub, if you were to pick 3 central midfielders from world football under the age of 23, who'd you pick?

Decent question that.

I can only think of Anderson and Fabregas but that's only because I watch the premier league.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

...at what Fabregas does



Theres far more fight in Anderson, and That's what'll mark him out as a class act of a footballer. Fabregas on the other hand is a little bitch.

Hi Wes, I like football, do you?

If you do I suggest you watch some games sometimes.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Stupid statement really. You don't know how their careers will pan out.

Look at Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Kluivert for example. Same age. At 21/22 you couldn't compare the two. Kluivert was on another level. Scoring goals week in week for Barca, forming a formidible partnership with Rivaldo whilst Ruud Van Nistelrooy was at SC Heerenveen and scoring at an average rate for a striker and not really destined for greater things.

If you claimed back then that Ruud Van Nistelrooy would be the better player, you'd be laughed out of the room. Now if you claimed Kluivert is the better player you'd be laughed out of the room even quicker.

Some players start their careers with a bang and then fizzle out and others start slowly and then reach their peak after the age of 25.

Even Zinedine Zidane wasn't that highy rated at Bordeaux in his early 20's.

Good points.

But Kluivert was obviously a major head-case. Whereas it's quite obvious that Fabregas and Anderson are not.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

We were better then you in both halves

Like feck you were.

You started off better in the first 10 minutes, and finished the first half better after we dominated the middle. Second half was back and forth, with us having the better run of it for the most part with a few small purple patches for United throughout.

You must've been watching a different game. Because I've watched this one twice + certain patches over again.

 

[The Hairdryer]

Like feck you were.

You started off better in the first 10 minutes, and finished the first half better after we dominated the middle. Second half was back and forth, with us having the better run of it for the most part with a few small purple patches for United throughout.

You must've been watching a different game. Because I've watched this one twice + certain patches over again.

Arsenal were better the better team on the day. Don't really care what the statistics say. The scoreline says it all. We were wasteful and Arsenal had more cut and thrust about them.

We were chasing shadows as some points.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

He'll never be better than Fabregas.

I reckon he will. Its not impossible considering the amount of talent he has. Xavi and Iniesta are already better than Fabregas.

 

[Alex]

Xavi always was, thats why Barca let the one who loves to cry go. I think he has all the potential to be better, if Anderson starts chipping in with goals there wont be anything missing in his games imo

 

[Galactic]

The only department that he hasnt shown any real potential in is scoring. Not the biggest problem for a midfielder in a team which has many other goalscoring midfielders.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

I reckon he will. Its not impossible considering the amount of talent he has. Xavi and Iniesta are already better than Fabregas.

... 'are already better than.'

You do realise they've been around longer than Fabregas, and are both years older... No?

And Iniesta's certainly not better than Fabregas in the first place, whilst Xavi's only really hit his heights over the last season.

You idiot.

 

[FranklyVulgar]

... 'are already better than.'

You do realise they've been around longer than Fabregas, and are both years older... No?

And Iniesta's certainly not better than Fabregas in the first place, whilst Xavi's only really hit his heights over the last season.

You idiot.

Iniesta has been sensational for Barca recently. Different type of player, Iniesta can play anywhere in midfield and has been first choice on the left of the front 3 (ahead of Henry).

Xavi has been brilliant for years, anyone remember that performance against England a few years ago (overshadowed by racism).

Anyway, i have a fear for Anderson. He has such a round/fat face i worry that maybe he'll just become a ball....

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Yeah Xavi's been very good for years, but he's hit these new heights over the last season.

 

[Ceks]

Fabregas > Anderson

Always will be. At the moment, Anderson has no greater role than if somebody like Alan Smith was still playing in midfield for you.

You've either got it, or you don't.

Fabregas has got it, just look how many assists he gets.

 

[FranklyVulgar]

Well in the season they won la liga and the champions league he was brilliant.

Last season although the team was poor he chipped in with alot of goals and this season (after the euros) he has been sensational.

I'm afraid that Fabregas will probably be his successor at Barca in the years to come cesc's mullet.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Well in the season they won la liga and the champions league he was brilliant.

Last season although the team was poor he chipped in with alot of goals and this season (after the euros) he has been sensational.

I'm afraid that Fabregas will probably be his successor at Barca in the years to come cesc's mullet.

Yeah, I'm resigned to the fact it will eventually happen at some stage. We just have to get the most out of Fabregas whilst we can.

(Also for the record don't think I was taking anything away from Iniesta there, I was probably the first on this site to sing his praises, honestly!)