Devil may care
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Left wing, same as he played all season at Wigan, and he looks pretty comfortable there even if he mostly cuts back to cross with his right.Where did he play when he came on?
Left wing, same as he played all season at Wigan, and he looks pretty comfortable there even if he mostly cuts back to cross with his right.Where did he play when he came on?
Does Ineista drink Frog juice??Tom just needs to drink some frog juice and bob's your uncle.
Our first Euro U21 game is next Sunday agaisnt Spain.Feck. Missed it. When's the next game?
Tom Cleverley wants to save Manchester United cash put aside for replacing Paul Scholes.
Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson is planning major surgery on his midfield following the retirement of Scholes and Owen Hargreaves' release.
Aston Villa's £15m England winger-cum-forward Ashley Young is set to be imported as part of the strategy and United fans are hoping that the stellar signing of Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder comes off.
But 21-year-old Cleverley is aiming to build a case for his name to be in the frame.
The midfielder begins England Under 21s European Championship bid in Denmark against Spain and, after a successful season on loan at Wigan, hopes to remind Fergie that he can cut it in the competitive jungle of the Reds engine room next season.
“Paul Scholes' boots are very big ones to fill,” Tom told M.E.N Sport.
“He's been a winner and a great player. Any team is going to miss a player of that ability. But as always somebody has to step up. You hope that given the chance you can, along with everyone else, give something so he is not missed as much.
“I hope I can put my case forward and save the club some money. Wigan have helped me and I feel I am ready to tackle the job at United.
“I have spoken to the manager. We have had two or three discussions. They were good chats and he will be speaking to me again after the European Championships.
“I know United will be buying players this summer. The reality is that United are the biggest club in the world so they are going to be interested in the best.
“They will be linked with players and they will buy top players. You grow up at the club knowing that will be the case. That is part of the challenge.
“But we all know the manager promotes young home grown players so you have to show you are good enough. After the experiences at Wigan I know what it takes now at Premier League level. I want to be part of the manager's plans.”
In a bid to improve his Old Trafford portfolio Cleverley was a keen student at Wembley when United were taken apart by Barcelona in the Champions League final.
“As a United player and fan it wasn't a great experience at Wembley but as part of my education it was a massive lesson for me,” added Tom.
“From my point of view to study at close quarters Messi, Xavi and Iniesta was invaluable. Messi is wonderful but I think I can model my game on Xavi and Iniesta and also Pedro.
“The movement from those guys is incredible. They are not massive physically but they stay on the ball. They shield it so well. They used their body brilliantly.
“I need to get that into my game. My upper body strength has to be better but it is not all about working out in the gym it is also about how you use your body.
“They also out think opponents and that is something else I need to learn from them.
“Hopefully picking up those bits and bobs plus all the experience I will get at the European Championships will mean I will be a better player and ready for the challenge at United.”
Ive always been of the opinion that hes wasted out wide. He cuts in more often than not, and doesnt really have pace.I know very little about him tbh and only ever seen him play wide left, does he genuinely have what it takes to make it as a centre midfielder for us or is he destined to be another Jones, Eagles, Richardson?
I'd say he'll be given the same opportunity that Gibson did, which gives him at least another couple of years to nail down a place. He's definitely made a bigger impression on loan than Gibson did at the same age.Hopefully he'll be given a proper chance to impress. He's 21 so it's almost now or never really in terms of making it at United.
What gives you the impression he will be a big success at United ?I personally think he is going to be a big success at United. I'm suprised more people don't see it.
I would argue Gibson's ability to score contributed more to his tenure here than his actual performances. (He's highly inconsistent still)I'd say he'll be given the same opportunity that Gibson did, which gives him at least another couple of years to nail down a place. He's definitely made a bigger impression on loan than Gibson did at the same age.
Well Cleverley has scored more goals/game than Gibson did during his time out on loan, so the same could apply.I would argue Gibson's ability to score contributed more to his tenure here than his actual performances. (He's highly inconsistent still)
I think he looks a very classy player. Looks intelligent on the ball and appears to have good vision and the ability to make a pass.What gives you the impression he will be a big success at United ?
I thought he was the new Park Ji Sung. Make your mind up Tommo.
I play in a summer 7 aside team and there is a guy called Tom in the team, he is a good bloke.What gives you the impression he will be a big success at United ?
I think he's been used as a wide player when he's been loaned out mostly because of his physique but last summer on the US tour Fergie used him down the middle. Still remember this:I really like the look of Cleverley, think he needs to be given some chances next season (and i am sure he will) and hopefully will be next years Hernandez.
That said, I still think we need to buy in at least one quality midfielder, probably two, we cannot rely PURELY on youth for that at the moment.
Quick question though - is Cleverley's best position regarded as being central or wide?
time will tell. He might end up a very good central midfielder, who knows? However, I doubt he's another jones, eagles or richardson. I think he's a very good player.I know very little about him tbh and only ever seen him play wide left, does he genuinely have what it takes to make it as a centre midfielder for us or is he destined to be another Jones, Eagles, Richardson?
I thought he was the new Park Ji Sung. Make your mind up Tommo.
TBF, that shows he's got the grasp of the fundamentals required, and I can't fault him for that. He's targeted specific strengths and areas to work on to get to that level and IMO that's good to see in a young player.In a bid to improve his Old Trafford portfolio Cleverley was a keen student at Wembley when United were taken apart by Barcelona in the Champions League final.
“As a United player and fan it wasn't a great experience at Wembley but as part of my education it was a massive lesson for me,” added Tom.
“From my point of view to study at close quarters Messi, Xavi and Iniesta was invaluable. Messi is wonderful but I think I can model my game on Xavi and Iniesta and also Pedro.
“The movement from those guys is incredible. They are not massive physically but they stay on the ball. They shield it so well. They used their body brilliantly.
“I need to get that into my game. My upper body strength has to be better but it is not all about working out in the gym it is also about how you use your body.
“They also out think opponents and that is something else I need to learn from them....."
It's annoying now and will become more annoying when the tabloids realise it as well.Clever lad this Cleverly... (see what I did there?)
I think tonight's Euro U21s game against Spain shows where Cleverley feels he should be playing. When he came off the wing and inside of his own accord Cleverley was able to get on the ball against Spain and started to have an impact almost creating a goal for Sturridge.I think hes smart enough to play across the midfield. He cut in a lot for Wigan from the left and contributed to a few good goals last season. It looks like he prefers CM but I wouldnt mind us starting him on the left next season in a few games. But id like to see him get a few games as CM in pre-season.
The only people who think Cleverley plays best as a central midfielder are those who have seen very little of him. He is similar to Park, a player who will start out wide but will drift inside. He does not possess the physique or tactical awareness to play centrally in a two-man midfield.