Tom Cleverley | 2012-14 Performances

[Forevergiggs]

Looks like Powell is coming on, and as happy as I am to see that, what the feck does Cleverley have to do to get to play in the league?

Wait till midweek.

 

[gza the genius]

Wait till midweek.

He's 23 years old, surely he's capable of playing more than one game a week.

 

[#07]

He's 23 years old, surely he's capable of playing more than one game a week.

Really is hard to explain why both Tom and Ando aren't starting. Van Persie and Rooney start virtually every game they are fit. They don't seem to need resting. Why does Tom?

 

[Nate Dogg]

Why doesn't Fergie pick him...is it cuz he's from Bradford?

 

[Brightonian]

Even more Not Allowed than Not Allowed.

 

[Brightonian]

Through balls are, by definition, incredibly risky and almost never 'on'. They are high risk-high reward passes, so if you were playing the percentages, as Cleverly does, you would never try them out. And I think you have it the wrong way round, through balls are even more important against highly organised teams because they open up gaps and give the opponent an extra dimension to think about, whereas Cleverly style percentage play is better against less organised defences that will break their lines and not protect zones as effectively so keeping the ball allows you to be more methodical.

Not saying that Cleverly can't produce through balls, but he definitely hasn't done so as yet.

Good point. Reading mine again, I'd modify it slightly: he does do through-balls, but he waits for them to be more 'on' than someone like Anderson. For me it boils down to this: in his short career with us, he's played quite a few nice through-balls, and also made a habit of almost never losing the ball. I'd rather have a player who leans in that direction than one who leans in the other. It certainly suits modern football more than a hollywood Gerrard type. And as I said, if he can get a run of games in the team, his confidence will go up and he'll lean towards being more risk-taking, and produce more through-balls and similar moments of creativity.

 

[TheBest]

I am sure he will start against westham

 

[DevilRed]

I hope he gets to play in midweek. We need someone who brings energy in our midfield as we seem to be lacking this. At least you can count on him to close down quickly and put pressure on the opposition midfield. Him and Anderson are easily our two most aggressive central midfielders.

 

[RedSky]

Why doesn't Fergie pick him...is it cuz he's from Bradford?

I imagine its because Ferguson is aware of the amount of football Clev has played this season and is trying to rest him a bit more. He's played almost 500min of International football this Season alone.

 

[Ash_G]

Yeah and apparently fletch has played over a 1000 mins of football and this is a guy with an illness he's managing. Clev should have the energy to play most games with the occasional break. Atm he's not playing enough of the tougher games which we need him to both to build up a partnership and also so he's got a good fit in the team when the tough games start coming up.

 

[December_16]

About to sign a five-year deal, according to something I just read. Wunderbar.

 

[scream]

I thought he signed a new deal last season.

 

[Will Absolute]

About to sign a five-year deal, according to something I just read. Wunderbar.

Fergie softened him up by leaving him on the bench.

"Don't think we can't do without you, sunshine..."

 

[Top]

He's been quite below par so far this match. If this is how he's performed in training, then I can understand why he hasn't been playing more.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Think he's been alright, not sure why he's so advanced tonight, seems to be playing higher than Rooney.

 

[Carl]

Like Anderson he doesn't look too comfortable in this system. Anderson has forced himself on the game more than Cleverley though.

 

[Platato]

He's been quite below par so far this match. If this is how he's performed in training, then I can understand why he hasn't been playing more.

Almost like he's hiding. Strange from him.

 

[Randall Flagg]

anderson taking his chance, Clev not so much.

Can do better.

 

[SkeppyRed]

I think hes been good. His sharp one touch passing improves our tempo and flow, his first touch has been great, he keeps the ball well in tight areas and his movement is very intelligent.

Agree he hasn't looked comfortable out wide left though, but he looks good when he has come inside. He is better at finding the angles and space in behind their midfield than Rooney is, so he keeps finding himself where Rooney should be.

 

[Carl]

I think hes been good. His sharp one touch passing improves our tempo and flow, his first touch has been great, he keeps the ball well in tight areas and his movement is very intelligent.

Agree he hasn't looked comfortable out wide left though, but he looks good when he has come inside. He is better at finding the angles and space in behind their midfield than Rooney is, so he keeps finding himself where Rooney should be.

Good? You need to raise your standards. The only player that had a good half is Rafael.

That said, we're doing OK against an awkward side so I'm not complaining.

 

[gza the genius]

While he hasn't been too good, I still prefer him to Scholes and Giggs.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Good? You need to raise your standards. The only player that had a good half is Rafael.

That said, we're doing OK against an awkward side so I'm not complaining.

My stream is wank but Anderson's pixels seemed to be playing well.

 

[Carl]

My stream is wank but Anderson's pixels seemed to be playing well.

He's probably been our 2nd best player but he's still only been alright IMO.

 

[Ekeke]

He had a great start but faded badly

 

[#07]

He had a great start but faded badly

Very badly.

 

[Escobar]

Bit out of form which is a shame, we need him

 

[Platato]

Very badly.

Indeed. Usually he goes mental when he gives a bad pass away. After passing the ball away with Evra his intended target, no reaction from him. He'll see better days with more game time.

 

[Fergus' son]

I think we can now understand why he isn't just being picked automatically, like many people seem to think he should.

 

[KM]

Bit out of form which is a shame, we need him

He was probably our best player against Galatasaray. He needs a run of games. Was pretty bad today though. Was overhitting his passes consistently.

 

[Ainu]

I think we can now understand why he isn't just being picked automatically, like many people seem to think he should.

Pick out his worst game of the season to make a point. Fantastic debating skillz.

 

[Fergus' son]

Pick out his worst game of the season to make a point. Fantastic debating skillz.

It's basically the same point that Top made, if he isn't looking like he is in the best of form then SAF is going to manage his appearances accordingly.


Also, 'skills'.

 

[Carl]

It's basically the same point that Top made, if he isn't looking like he is in the best of form then SAF is going to manage his appearances accordingly.


Also, 'skills'.

Not if you're koool.

 

[gza the genius]

Like I said before, I'd still rather see him than Giggs and Scholes. And what's the point of putting Young on for him if you're just going to stick Young on the left anyway. I would've liked to see him finish out the game. Oh well, hopefully he gets another chance this weekend.

 

[Brightonian]

Thought he was decent, myself. Didn't stand out like Ando, but that's the whole point of their partnership. Cleverley engineers the tempo, the movement, keeps everything fluid, keeps an eye on the defensive side of things. Then Anderson gets to do what he does best - drive forward and make things happen on the ball.

 

[Liam147]

I was quite disappointed with him to be honest. His passing seemed a bit wasteful, and he might have been knocked a bit by getting dropped. But I do like him in the team. Although he plays the easy pass, he undeniably speeds our play up.

 

[gza the genius]

Great to see Jones was preferred to Cleverley, really encouraging for our attacking play in the next couple games now that our only other attack minded midfielder is injured.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Jones can head the fecking ball, simple as.

 

[Godfather]

What the feck was that? Putting Jones ahead of Clev in there? Honestly?

 

[ricky-romeo]

i wonder how he felt when jones was preferred to him to replace ando. no wonder someone like pogba was pissed enough. the only good thing is that clev is a united player through and trough. he needs to start next weekend imo.

 

[kouroux]

He would have felt even weirder seeing Jones play as an AM, a position where he is ultimately a much better play