Anderson was very good today. Again in a midfield two up against a midfield three and he was still the man on top. In the first half half an hour he was unplayable and even after that he continued to hold his own and find his man with his passes as well as showing no hesitancy in putting the foot in. Very good, much better than he did at the Hawthorns in January for sure and more evidence of his growing stature.
Anderson
- Thread starter Kaos
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Good again today, a little worried about how well they shield the back 4 when playing with Cleverley but good today, seems to have learned to keep it simple and use his footwork to get him out of tight situations.
He rarely gets any these days. I think thats 2 matches in a row where he's outshone Cleverely who's received more praise, which is maybe understandable as he's virtually new to the team.
That little run he did midway in the first half was amazing, we need a gif of that 
Agree with that. Anderson needs to take the responsibility to be the deeper one. He can still go on his runs with the ball though to speed our play up, it's great to watch seeing him run through midfields with ease
This is the problem. He has moments where he forgets to pick up midfield runners like he did with Scharner today.
For now it has to be Anderson or Cleverley not and Cleverley (unless we play a 3 man midfield).
Good game. Would have liked to see him get more invovled in our attacks though. BUt alongside Cleverley he is the one further behind.
His off the ball movement could be better though.
His off the ball movement could be better though.
That little run he did midway in the first half was amazing, we need a gif of that
When he ot out of one of Bamsola's tight situations, I know it was incredible. I thought his cross field passing was also fantastic today.
Impressive, especially away from home on the opening day of the season.
He hardly wasted a ball. Was great to see. Another 90 minutes under his belt and a burgeoning understanding with Cleverley.
Did very well today and his fitness levels (the thing most people critizised him for) seems to be good
Whoscored has Anderson down as 96% and Cleverley as 92%, with 57 and 61 passes respectively. Either way, good stuff on the ball. Still felt a bit ropey with them off the ball though, for the last 10 minutes we dropped deep and tried to block them out and yet they bypassed our midfield over and over again - they've still got work to do on their game positionally in these situations. When we're on the front foot and we're pressing high, they're pretty effective. And that's something that we couldn't really say last season in most away games, so it's a start.
if he doesn't get injured, this guy will be our main man in CM! him and cleverly seem to have a great understanding, only problem is that they looked a bit suspect defensively but against a top team, i would have no problem seeing a midfield of him, Clev and Carrick! would work really well IMO!
Yeah I think its something that over time they can iron out on the training field with clearer instructions on who holds in certain situations and who drives on.
Turning into a complete midfielder. Really happy so far with his progress in pre season and these 2 games.
I don't think we were that ropey. We were reasonably comfortable. If we had of got that second goal, it would have been much more comfortable but the goal gave them hope. I think apart from one lapse where De Gea had to pull off a decent save from their lad breaking through, they offered little threat apart from set pieces. They didn't really get in behind up. When you think about the ages in the squad it was a great performance and when you look at the central pairing with Rooney offering his services, it's a very young pair. Perhaps at times, one will have to sacrifice their game to an extent to get the right balance but it'll come.
i don't ever see him as the main man, but important...yes.
Who is in our midfield tbf. It's not impossible.
I don't like to see Anderson held back in a DM or holding type player. I prefer him pushed forward as an AM myself. But as ever at United sometimes you're required to do a job slightly different to your normal one, like Smalling today.
Would be a bit Kamikaze letting Cleverley and Anderson push forward but you just feel that's where Anderson would be best.
Would be a bit Kamikaze letting Cleverley and Anderson push forward but you just feel that's where Anderson would be best.
Anderson and Cleverley as a tandem gives us great mobility and progressive passing from midfield, but at times we missed an anchor. It will be interesting to see if Fergie goes with them as a two very often and hopes they learn to cover the back 4 more between them, or if they will mainly play together when we use 4-3-3.
He seems to have a few steps of added pace to previous seasons.
Where do these stats come from?
I have a look at the Guardian Chalkboards, which tell me he did indeed complete 55/59 passes.
Cleverley had 58/64
Cleverley had 58/64
Yes i noticed that today he was able to walk briskly..
There was one run yesterday that was just pure porn. Picked up in our half, ran it up to their 18 yard box.
Cock was out
Cock was out
I'll be posting that among other nice moves in HD today.
Like most of you I'm pleased with how Anderson has started the season and this was a good AWAY performance which was the most shocking part of it!
Is this the result of a proper pre-season?
He played well yesterday but am I the only one who thinks Cleverley is actually the better dribbler and links up better in the final 3rd? The problem at times is that they were both making surging runs and leaving gaps behind them, which the full backs were having to cut in very narrow to stop.
They need to sort out who has what responsibility but I'm sure they will in time. I don't think either of them are strong enough defensively to play bigger teams together.
Still, very promising.
They need to sort out who has what responsibility but I'm sure they will in time. I don't think either of them are strong enough defensively to play bigger teams together.
Still, very promising.
Is this the result of a proper pre-season?
Plus coming off the back of his best ever season IMO.
It's looking good.
You wont see them in big games, but as for games where the other team usually sits back, they are a good choice with their drive and creativity
Well I've no doubt we'll see Anderson in a 3 man midfield, along with Carrick and <insert new midfielder here>/Giggs/Fletcher. But not Cleverley, yet.
I suggested a couple of weeks ago that Anderson could succeed as a holding midfielder for us. I think it is a role he can learn because he certainly has the attributes. A couple of people completely disagreed with me.
But surely this is what Fergie has in mind for him this season.
But surely this is what Fergie has in mind for him this season.
Depends how you define a holding midfielder though. A player like Hargreaves? No. A player like Carrick? Maybe.
it would be limiting the lad though I think, despite being an option. He'll be more of a (hate this term) box-to-box I reckon.
I don't think he'll ever be the playmaker we all assumed we bought him as though.
I think he can be a skillfull version of Diarra who can pick a pass
So.. nothing like Diarra except skin color?
Anderson has now been paired with Cleverley in midfield twice, and it seems that Ando is played in the deeper role. I'm not sure if that makes him a skillful Diarra, a holding midfielder or box-to-box, and I don't really care. I'm more concerned with whether such a midfield pairing would work, which ever way they decide to distribute the defensive and offensive work.
What they have going for them is mobility and willingness to put in a shift. Not perfect yet, but Ando clearly can play a deeper role and still do well. In time, they will learn to coordinate better, and do their jobs more economically. I was impressed with him against West Brom, but let's see how he does against Spurs and Arsenal (if he gets to play).
What they have going for them is mobility and willingness to put in a shift. Not perfect yet, but Ando clearly can play a deeper role and still do well. In time, they will learn to coordinate better, and do their jobs more economically. I was impressed with him against West Brom, but let's see how he does against Spurs and Arsenal (if he gets to play).
I really hope we keep Cleverley and Anderson in against Spurs. Maybe just replace Welbeck with Carrick. A formation I think which would do really well.
This would be ideal imo.
Young---------Rooney---------Nani
------Anderson--------Cleverley----
---------------Carrick--------------
Evra---Evans/Jones--Smalling--Fabio
Looks great on paper.
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