Statistics are a funny thing.
Last season Dimitar Berbatov, despite appearing static reading his thumbed copy of War and Peace while smoking a Cuban in the centre circle, statistically ran more than virtually every other player in the team. That is what the stats say...they must mean something!!? Right?
The game at Blackburn was Manchester United and Berbatov's last chance at proving the doubters wrong. The chance of defiance. The chance to get that cat and put its ugly moggy face amongst the pigeons. What actually happened was the expected...United tired early, looked in the main thoroughly impotent, and Berba kopped all the flack as per usual. Its a script we've seen alot this year. An aging side that needs to replace some old legs. A team that lacks the world class invention of two catalysts from the last two years. And a player that to the common fan now embodies why it has all gone a bit pear shaped this last twelve months.
We all knew what Berbatov was when we bought him. He was never a runner. Never a worker. He was the cherry on the cake rather than the icing on the top. Turns out that cherry is an old dirty piece of coal which is rock hard. There has been reports about how Fergie has destroyed Berbatov. That the manager has taken a free flowing genius from Tottenham, and crippled him...but with what? Responsibility? Expectation? Well, I'm sorry Mr Berbatov..this is Manchester United. This is what our players do. they bear this burden...and they flourish for it.
The buck stops at the Bulgarians door for me. Two years of settling into the team has led to underwhelming performance after another. I have been present during the bits of magic..the over head kicks..the Cruyff turns...the mesmerising second of skill that fools not only his marker but 75,000 supporters watching on. For those moments he is a genius. BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH!
There is no witch hunt for Dimitar..far from it. But United's failure this year is equated to the failure of individuals in the team. One of those players is Michael Carrick. You could also point fingers at Anderson (pre injury), Scholes, Ben Foster (when he had a chance)and maybe even Giggs this year. But not one player can really be put on the spot MORE than Berbatov. His stats may look acceptable, but his performance level (that's the thing you actually judge with what you see using your very own eyes!) has been average at best..and you expect more than average for a £30 million footballer. Of course, the price tag isn't his fault, but as it stands if Fergie had snapped him up for £10 million it would currently look expensive. Its funny how many of his supporters still have the cheek to criticize Michael Owen when he cost the club less than a packet of crisps.
Fergie is no fool. I expect him to dispose of Berbatov in the fashion he got rid of Veron. When it doesn't work, even the Scotsman's most fiery stubbornness gets put aside for the victory of common sense. We cannot start next season relying on Berbatov to take the weight of responsibility off Rooney's young shoulders because he has proved that he is no where near worthy. Call it bandwagonesque...call it what you want. But the truth is Dimitar Berbatov is from the Garry Birtles school of MUFC strikers. (if you don't know who Garry Birtles is and his story, and you support United, you need to go Google it all now and learn a bit about your club) It's such a shame as i eulogised the day he signed from Spurs, but that is life i guess. You either achieve or fail. Sometimes it is in your hands and sometimes it is not. Dimi has had 60 games in a United shirt nearly, and we are all less convinced now than when he wore the shirt for the first time.
That means something to me.
Perspiration has to come before the inspiration. Someone should tell Berbatov that.
I wrote this article in July last year about Berbatov..he obviously didnt read it..
CLICK to read here
the guy got what he deserved for refusing to wear the shirt at spurs, also fergie got what he deserved when he hijacked the sulky bulgarian at the airport, bet he wishes now he let him talk to city, as much as i and nearly all spurs supporters hate berby for his betrayal common sense says we will have him back for a fee of................. say £5m hahahahahahaha.
ReplyDeletei love this article. reflects my thoughts (and hopefully many other united fans too). this weeks performance against blackburn must be deemed as a complete failure for him and Sir Alex should let him lose i.e sell him for good!
ReplyDeleteAn opinion on performance level is totally dependent on the person watching (I'd argue the people who boo Berbatov for having his pass cut out by a defender are different to me). Stats are evidence which are difficult to be argued with. They're not conclusive but they go a lot further than saying "I don't think he's very good".
ReplyDeleteOnly 9 players in the league have scored more goals than him this season and I think all but one or two of them are penalty takers for their club.
But fuck it. Sell Berbatov, who we boo, and bring back Alan Smith. HE'S the kindof player a United fan appreciates after all. Top ten goalscorer? Give a shit. I want someone who will run around for 90 minutes. Right?
I was extremely happy when Berbatov signed for Man UTD. I believed that would make him better player and help his team win titles. So far, Berbatov may not set the world alight, but to say that he has to go after been played out of position and still getting results, I do not agree. The only player that can match Berbatov's creativity is Giggs and for sure Berba will be in the squad next year...
ReplyDeleteI have been a big, big fan of Berba's and still am. But I am bigger fan of my team, and I do not see him fitting in our style of play at all. It is a question of what options we have in terms of players coming in and how much of a loss we are willing to take. I would not want us investing 15-20 mill on an average striker to replace him. And I do not see any cheap options, Aguero, Villa, Dzeko, Suarez, Fabiano, all are very expensive buys. I would rather we bought a very good left sided midfielder and an attacking, creative central mid.
ReplyDeletedefinitely agree with elvido.am a also huge fan of this lazy Bulagarian,his silkiest first touches,moments of magic we saw against the likes of blackburn(certainly not this week),Borough,sunderland,Westham,etc.if you guys really look at the teams i referenced here you'll get a point that he failed to make this kinda audacious(yeah they really were!)flicks and touches against a quality opposition.when he need him the most he failed to deliver.not just once nor twice but many a times this season. United can't afford that when we miss a world class player due to injury at this crucial point of this season.
ReplyDeleteAs many people suggest he doesn't suit our fast pace counter attacking style.but still he's better than anyone in the team when it comes to the matter of holding that ball.even better than Wazza!We missed his this quality in certain matches this season(first leg in Bayern).when he's on that pitch he really make sure that ball is with us as much as possible.but yet again that's not the only thing we expect from £30 million United striker!of course he needs to get that balls in the back of the net. but i still have a question? Selling him to another club can solve all our problems? NO.
It won't make us stronger nor solve the problems.everyone here will admit that we really need an attacking creative midfielder who can hold the ball,pass it around well(you know who am talking about..yeah Silva,even though there is a little of chance he coming to OT)as our £16 million Carrick really making a mess of his football these days.i would keep Berba in the team to get a different kinda dimension to our game against certain type of oppositions,till we get a player someone very good on that ball,who have got a good field vision to see his team mates’ runs,.i don’t think we can expect Berba scoring like RVN did.we knew that he’s not a natural finisher like Torres or Villa when we brought him from london.we have to use him in any other way.adding another striker to partner rooney with keeping Berba in bench in certain matches and using him against certain kinda oppositions when there’s holding the ball holds high relevance will be a good ploy I believe(his price tag is so huge that I expect hundreds of oppositions I might receive with this ploy but I think it’s much better than playing him every game and booing him in an away ground!).we can afford 4 quality strikers at a time and we had that in that treble winning side in 99.gaffer used them four quite effectively. i’d like to see that again in this side next year.then again anything over £15 million from any Italian clubs(they are the ones who got interest in him anyway)we accept as he’s nearing 30 and market price will be very low for a player above 30!
definitely agree with elvido.am a also huge fan of this lazy Bulagarian,his silkiest first touches,moments of magic we saw against the likes of blackburn(certainly not this week),Borough,sunderland,Westham,etc.if you guys really look at the teams i referenced here you'll get a point that he failed to make this kinda audacious(yeah they really were!)flicks and touches against a quality opposition.when he need him the most he failed to deliver.not just once nor twice but many a times this season. United can't afford that when we miss a world class player due to injury at this crucial point of this season.
ReplyDeleteAs many people suggest he doesn't suit our fast pace counter attacking style.but still he's better than anyone in the team when it comes to the matter of holding that ball.even better than Wazza!We missed his this quality in certain matches this season(first leg in Bayern).when he's on that pitch he really make sure that ball is with us as much as possible.but yet again that's not the only thing we expect from £30 million United striker!of course he needs to get that balls in the back of the net. but i still have a question? Selling him to another club can solve all our problems? NO.
It won't make us stronger nor solve the problems.everyone here will admit that we really need an attacking creative midfielder who can hold the ball,pass it around well(you know who am talking about..yeah Silva,even though there is a little of chance he coming to OT)as our £16 million Carrick really making a mess of his football these days.i would keep Berba in the team to get a different kinda dimension to our game against certain type of oppositions,till we get a player someone very good on that ball,who have got a good field vision to see his team mates’ runs,.i don’t think we can expect Berba scoring like RVN did.we knew that he’s not a natural finisher like Torres or Villa when we brought him from london.we have to use him in any other way.adding another striker to partner rooney with keeping Berba in bench in certain matches and using him against certain kinda oppositions when there’s holding the ball holds high relevance will be a good ploy I believe(his price tag is so huge that I expect hundreds of oppositions I might receive with this ploy but I think it’s much better than playing him every game and booing him in an away ground!).we can afford 4 quality strikers at a time and we had that in that treble winning side in 99.gaffer used them four quite effectively. i’d like to see that again in this side next year.then again anything over £15 million from any Italian clubs(they are the ones who got interest in him anyway)we accept as he’s nearing 30 and market price will be very low for a player above 30!
I think Sir Alex got rid of the wrong man at the end of last Season, that is plain to see. Tevez would have been the one who could have won the game for us in the absence of Wayne Rooney. As for Berbatov, he played one of his best games for United against Wolves but then went back into hibernation. To me he's a shirker not a worker! You need 110% effort from your players week in week out. Why should they choose when they perform or not. Either shape up Berba or pack your bags and leave.
ReplyDeleteBerbatov isn't played out of position. He has the freedom to roam around trying to get involved, but when he plays a blinding pass (which he doesn't do often enough) to a winger, he stands and watches.
ReplyDeleteWhen Rooney does the same thing, he busts a gut to get into the box to finish the move, or at least drag a defender out of the way to create space.
Berbatov is supposed to be a striker, yet he seems to have no hunger to score goals, and that's why £35m looks like such a waste. I've lost count of the number of times Berbatov has played in Valencia or Nani, and then stand still.
I expect him to be at OT next season purely because I don't think we have any money to buy anyone and if we put him up for sale we'd be lucky to get £15m. I also don't expect him to do anything next season to change the minds of those supporters who've already had enough.
Prrig just summed it all up in that comment...good stuff
ReplyDeletespot on 100%
It's a very harsh article, but sadly I agree with most of it, the truth is Berbatov hasn't connected with the team in over 2 years at Old Trafford, I've tried to be sympathetic but the team comes first.
ReplyDeletethe truth of the matter is dimitar berbatov will still be here next season like it or not.
ReplyDeleteP.S. very good article aswell i think this voiced quite a few utd fans views of the naughtulent bulgarian
If the stats are true, then Berbatov has mastered the art of appearing nonchalant.
ReplyDeleteOr there is a conspiracy against Berbatov.
Every time the camera catches a glimpse of him, he is doing nothing...
I guess he is probably catching his breath from all the running?
Soccer WAGs
http://bestsexymom.com
Haha love that 1st pic, had an article similar to your title on WDKF some days ago lol...
ReplyDeleteComing to yours, the sonner Berbaflop leaves the better, or else if he's willing to sit on the bench and play more like an attacking midfielder when Scholes or anyone else is fatigued so be it
look mr ! i love dimitar berbatov. he's a genius when it comes to the beautiful game and far surpasses most premiere league players. there are few futballers out there who could possible hope to conjure the sheer works of magic he can ! rooney may be good but he has his faults. sure he runs all the time...but he isn't without flaw. and with dimitar berbatov as his partner up top on the field wayne rooney's flaws are covered. berbatov has his flaws such as a quite blatant opposition to running, but he has rooney to do that. the fact is that dimitar berbatov scores goals and he does it with style . he's just the player manchester united needed. he's calm and always appears ready for what ever challenge comes his way. there are few players that have that sort of self composure. so keep your opinions to yourself since they're obviously misconstrue.
ReplyDelete