Much criticised, yet often lauded, Brazilian midfielder Anderson has truly become Manchester United’s Marmite in four years at Old Trafford. The talent to fulfil every hope; the failure of sustained application to dash every aspiration. Anderson has reached his potential on so few occasions that many have come to believe, with some justification, that United overspent when lavishing €30 million on the teenager in 2007.
Anderson’s positive start to the current campaign has not rid the player of his doubters but it certainly points to a more positive future for the 22-year-old. Indeed, with Tom Cleverley now missing for the next month his Brazilian colleague becomes United’s premier central midfielder. It is a true test of Anderson’s new value.
Both creator and destroyer, Anderson’s dynamic start to the season arguably reached a peak in United’s 5-0 destruction of Bolton Wanderers last weekend. Effervescent, creative and energetic, Anderson was almost everything hoped for from the player who dominated in games against both Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas in his opening season for the club. That the player completed 85 per cent of his passes at the Reebok – a far superior performance away from home than last season – is one statistic underlining the player’s improvement.
“He’s been tremendous, the boy,” manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Inside United ahead of the Reds’ clash with Bolton.
“He’s had a couple of long-term injuries which haven’t helped him, but in the last year or so, he’s steered clear of injury. That means he’s training every day so his fitness levels are much better. And he’s maturing so you can see the consistency in his game.”
Evidence of that new maturity came in the impressive way Anderson dictated the tempo of United’s play against Owen Coyle’s near-neighbours. The Brazilian’s ability to pass, move and pass again demonstrated all the qualities that so excited four years ago. Agility, physicality and penetration have always been part of the player’s game; now, perhaps, Anderson has added consistency to a potent mix. The player’s change of pace and energy was far too much for Bolton.
Yet, the midfielder is far from perfect. As in earlier games this season, Anderson’s passing broke down at the crucial moment on Saturday. The pass completion ratio of just 60 per cent in the final third against Bolton and two chances created for his team-mates evidence of the failing. This is a key weakness in Anderson’s armoury, especially in Cleverley’s absence. Paired with Michael Carrick or Darren Fletcher, for example, the Brazilian will be asked to take on more of United’s creative burden. History says the Brazilian will fail.
Little wonder that Ferguson warned on Tuesday against over-expectation of his young squad, including Anderson, who may well step aside in favour of both Carrick and Fletcher against Benfica in the Champions League.
“We’ve only played four games,” said Ferguson.
“The quality of our play has been superb, but it’s a young squad. Obviously there’ll be a time when their form tapers off, so I hope the experienced players will then step in and add to the great start to the season we have had. You can’t judge a team after four games. But hopefully they’ll become one our best teams.
“The season really starts when the Champions League comes around. You have games on Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday all the time. We’re coming to a period where we have a game tomorrow and then Chelsea on Sunday, then Leeds on the Tuesday and then Stoke away on the Saturday. The squad will obviously be used.”
The true test of Anderson’s new maturity will come in matches to come, not least United’s fixture with Chelsea at the weekend, which the home side is favourite to win. Anderson’s form against much criticised Chelsea stalwart Frank Lampard, along side new recruit Raul Meireles will come under severe test nonetheless.
And with hope that Anderson will become the €30 million player that Ferguson paid for there is also a warning; the player’s total failure in the 2009 Champions League final against Barcelona. That the Brazilian was overlooked in favour of 37-year-old part-time central midfielder for the 2011 final said much for the lack of influence Anderson has so often brought to bear during his 134 game Old Trafford tenure.
Ferguson must hope, as Anderson takes on a more attacking mantle over the next month, that the player can add both goals and creativity to his bow. One goal has come in five appearances this season, which admittedly is a far superior strike-rate compared to the to the six in 134 overall. Neither is the 15 assists in more than a century of games impressive either.
Yet there is also genuine hope that Ferguson’s almost limitless patience is finally paying dividends. History dictates that judgement is reserved but the player’s ability to continue improving is central to United’s success without Cleverley. In that there is a greater belief that just weeks ago.
What kind of a player is he exactly?
He’s got energy, close ball control, good dribbling skills, good pace and an occasional pass but he can’t shoot, can’t tackle and his positioning and awareness is perhaps the worst I’ve ever seen in a footballer.
He’s not suitable to be an attacking midfielder, nor a defensive one.
He’s more of a box to box type, but currently has little end product.
Our other players are making him look good. His energy’s useful.
He’ll improve and he’s a fantastic talent but like most Brazilians this is his peak and he’ll fade out and fatten up after he turns 26.
Sir Ryan Giggs? No no no. Sir Paul Scholes say.
Way too harsh on him there pal. He is an attacking midfielder or he was at Porto and gremio where he was a success. He doesnt appear to be given the same licence to get forward when he plays for us. That said, i do believe this will be the season where he gets loads of assists and a few goals!!!! Well one can always hope 🙂
get the ball, run it out of trouble, give it to wayne
End of thread. Amen.
He’s been class
But I reckon 451 + Carrick & Fletcher regresses him and he becomes a fat infuriating useless cunt
I think this is gonna be his best season.. but he’ll never worth the 30 M. that Fergie paid for him a few years ago, anyway i don’t believe that he’s ready to carry on with all the team creativity, he isn’t that mature to lead the team from 3/4 to the goal. But i hope for the best…
Didn’t v pay 30m for both ando and nani…. Totally worth it… They are both comin of age!!!
Dozer hit the nail on the head, really hope he proves us wrong though.
Next two weeks are pivotal, with cleverley out I hope the crab-like carrick doesn’t step in and slow down the magnificent, quick football we’ve been playing so far this season. Sooner clev and welbeck get fit the better.
Still need one top class midfielder to complete the picture though.
This person is utterly clueless. A pass completion ratio of 60% in the final third? Guy, it stands to reason that the percentage will drop down the closer you get to the goal as the defences become more condensed and set. Giggs and particularly Rooney are often complete wastrels with the ball near goal, but you don’t hear people moaning about their pass completion rates in the final third of the pitch.
Timbo – thanks for the insult but this is a key stat. It is precisely because its the most difficult area of the pitch that this stat separates good players from the average. Anderson is a €30 million signing, he ought to be better. Xavi, for example, completed 95% of his passes in the Champions League final, and 88% in the final third, creating five chances.
Anderson’s is not a one match stat either: his overall pass completion rate away from home last season was 72 per cent. In the final third even worse. Here’s a player who was a fantasista as a teenager, who now can’t make a chance for his colleagues. Anyway, my overall point remains: there’s loads to be positive about in Anderson this season, but there’s also an essential truth – we should have high expectations of this player.
Dissagree with the not making chances for his colleagues statement as of the start of this season he is doing that.
Danny – chances created (not assists) 2 against Bolton, 2 against Arsenal, 1 against Spurs, 1 against West Brom
So he’s had the assist in 1/3 of the league goals this season. That’s not bad. Or is that your point?
how dare u? calling our Ed names
ffs
i’d like to see you pen brill article after article and hold down a full time job
u total ingrate
Get bummin!
this is the same dozer who thinks Rooney is shit and should be sold
Anderson is a good player and will improver a lot dozer was too harsh on him and he sounds anti-Brasilia but wait and bet yourself and see how much Anderson will contribute to the winning of trophies.he is a fantastic Brazilian
hey ed and dozer, u guys are being unfair, Dozer u not worth writing about
Fact: Anderson is playing great football. he is playing better than Cleverly also a fact.
Lets be honest part of pass completion is availility and movement of the team mates, Barca have far superior movement and it dictates that xavi will have better numbers.
The other thing is Utd do not play through the middle they play through the flanks so more assists or chances created comes from Wingers (Nani, Young etc) rather than barca which fashions thier chances through the middle with Messi and co being more focal point than Villa and Pedro.
I cant understand why you need to criticise so much..lay off and enjoy the good football.
If you are goiung to do comparison please make sure you compare apple with apples.
James, criticising people is more likely to illicit a response from people and generate a debate than saying how great things are.
Anderson needs to be given more of a licence to get forward and express himself like he was at his previous clubs, which seems to be the case so far this season. He has been shackled in the midfield for most of his time at United and so underperformed. I think he’ll have a big season this time round, as he’ll get more game time and his confidence will grow as a result.
Anderson will be fine this season and much longer. Why? He does not have Scholes blocking his path again and will play when fit. I actually think that the praise of Cleverly’s contribution like most things about English players has gone well overboard.
I actually think that a midfield trio of Anderson/Carrick/Fletcher is what we need for the Chelsea match and they will be fine. Carrick needs energetic people around him to thrive and those other two will do just that. The United of SAF hardly creates through the middle – his midfielders are instructed to get the ball wide when high up the field as quickly as possible and make a bee line for the box after. That is what we have been seeing a lot more this season.
By the way, who was it that said he can’t tackle? That lad wins many balls and does something with it which only one other Utd player can do: he runs with the ball through trouble and at pace.
Also, if I remember correctly at his and Nani’s signing in the summer of ’07 I thought it was £17m we paid. if that turns out to be the 30m euros in exchange rate why the need to write the big number? I mean he has just cost £500k more than Jones. Tabloid writing in my view.
Calvino – no its accurate. €30 million is what was paid for the player and announced to the Lisbon stock exchange (i.e. audited). There’s no debate, just simply a fact. It’s relevant because it negates exchange rate changes.
Unless you personally can read Portugese and have seen the relevant documents then the €30m is just another media story as far as I’m concerned and it contradicts other media stories.
But more to the point, it is highly misleading to quote the figure in euros. The exchange rate was very different then. United paid lots of Euros for him back when Euros were cheap. But the club earn their money almost entirely in pounds and what matters is how many million pounds he cost us. The answer would be £20.4 million, according to Wikipedia. So he’s a £20m footballer not £17m if you believe the story. I think he was worth the money either way.
ChrisW – I have seen the documents in a filing from FC Porto to the Lisbon stock exchange, which if you are really interested is summarised in a nicely terse statement here. Don’t know about your Portuguese but I can have a good stab at what “30 milhões de euro” means. I do actually try to do some research.
It’s really not the point though is it. He was a lot of money whether the exchange rate is 1:1 or 1:5…. and for a lot of money you hope for a lot of player. Which we may or may not get. Lots of positives but lots to improve on too.
// Don’t know about your Portuguese but I can have a good stab at what “30 milhões de euro” means //
What a cunning linguist!
cal…only a few months ago you were screaming for us to fuck anderson off….
tabloid writing in my view.
Capt, really? Seen my tag line? It’s possible cos God knows he frustrated a lot of us here. From the Charity Shield I saw what I believe must be a renewed zest about him. Knowing also that as long as he is fit he will start am sure helps a lot.
As for Tabloid writing, come on. We paid £17m for him and same for Nani. Now to make it seem grander it is written that he cost 30m euros. That is Sunday tabloid style. Supporters on the other hand can vent frustrations on a player. two different things I think.
I must disagree with this point, firstly it’s not fair to compare Anderson to Xavi, their is not a United player whose pass completion stats will compare favorably to Xavi. Also with Barca’s style of play they will often play 10-12 passes in the opposition third before playing that killer ball with 5 or 6 of these passes been 8-10 yard passes in triangles between, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro and Villa. It’s somewhat stat padding.
His running from midfield and ability to play out of trouble and sudden dynamism this season have clearly improved our midfield.
Squigs – “His running from midfield and ability to play out of trouble and sudden dynamism this season have clearly improved our midfield.”
Quite – that was the point of the article! Doesn’t mean other areas of his game aren’t open to scrutiny. He gives away the ball more than he should, especially in crucial areas.
too early to draw a conclusion on Andersen’s ability…only beginning of the season…
Some of the comments in here – mindless and stupid. why always believe what the stats say? Anderson had a reasonably good game against Arsenal from the visible eye. Did anyone whatch whilst he repeatedly put off the arsenal goalie??
He had an even better game against bolton. Ando needs games simnple. some of you guys here, are you really united fans or fans who just love to rant?
Was Frank Lampard the complete article when he moved to Chelsea? That team carried him for a few seaasons before his game started to improve.
Anderson has had a few injuries and since he has overcome them, he is now visibly starting to improve.
Give the lad a chance and stop being tired morons. we are currently top and the whole team has put in a collective effort. This weekend we are up against the Wanks from Stamford bridge. Get a life and support your team, or get off the bus and head in the other direction!
Chris W
It’s an irrelevance really, a difference of circa 5 million doesn’t differentiate on what he does on the pitch. either. If he had played on from his first excellent season, no one would query the value.
Ando is a decent player,we havent seen him play a full season to really right him off? If you saw Rooney play last season most of you would have said He aint up to scratch.Give the Lad a chance.He is a Red thru and Thru
his first season wasn’t excellent
Ando strikes me as a real confidence player — hopefully a good run of games will sort out his head once and for all, let him see that an amazing career is there for him if he wants it enough.
He’s only 23 years old, he’s had injuries, and he’s had to make a big adjustment coming from rags to riches half way across the world — his slow progress is understandable. But surely this is his last chance to step up.
Hey! I also said Young would be a big hit on the left even before we bought him.
few months ago we played him in the cl to rest others for chelsea, now its anderson being rested
a couple of points
1. cost of the player is really irrelevant. whether he cost 17mill pounds or 20mill pounds (roughly 30mill Euros back in June 07 according to XE), that’s not going to change. we paid a similar amount of money for carrick, nani, hargreaves over that 2 year period. if you want to talk about waste of money, then hargreaves is the first name that should be mentioned, but obviously he has some chronic injury issues. the kid is 23, if he plays for united for the rest of his career (10 years), no one is going to mention the money. if he gets sold next year, we’ll re-coup 10-15mill pounds. so no harm done
2. this season he has played well. run the midfield. box-to-box player, and he’s getting involved in the final third, which has been a criticism of him in the past for united (given he was supposed to be Ronaldinho Mark II when he first started his career). personally given the way he is playing, he should be the first name penciled in to start in central midfield all season. hopefully he will keep improving, and we’ll see more goals, more mazy dribbles and more incisive passing
3. to compare him to xavi is unfair. compare any midfielder of the last 50 years to xavi, and xavi’s passing statistics will shit all over them. its a different situation, different team, different style to any other in history. as squigs pointed out, the xavi-messi-iniesta triumvirate will play a zillion passes between each other before doing something risky. its the way they play
4. please dont compare ando to Fat Frank Lampard. ando will shit all over “lamps” on sunday
baggio…you claim its unfair to compare him to Xavi, but almost immediately you say Ando will shit all over Lampard, when lampard is cleaRLY A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MIDFIELDER TO aNDERSON.. AS xAVI IS…
Both clearly better than Anderson is.
mAKE YOUR MIND UP PLEASE…..
aND PLEASE BUY ME A NEW KEYBOARD TOO….FFS
Yep, he’ll stay on for 10 years and United is not a stepping stone.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1099/34/anderson-admits-he-longs-return-portugal
Regardless of how credible this article is, we all know that it’s more likely that he’ll be off if he develops into a good player. The risk of United wasting efforts are high, but there’s perhaps no other option since our midfield is still the weakest link.
You said his price wasn’t important, but then you contradict youself when you say there’s ‘no harm done’ when we sell him for £10-15m. He’ll be a flop unless we get at least 3 good years out of him. Nothing less.
“Regardless of how credible this article is, we all know that it’s more likely that he’ll be off if he develops into a good player.”
No we don’t. Only pessimistic idiots ‘know’ such things. The only clubs which are currently a step up from United are BArca and Madrid, and I don’t see them eager to sign a player like Anderson anytime soon.
I suppose you’re one of those people who think Hernandez will be off next season just because Ronaldo broke your heart and Hernandez has a Spanish sounding name too and scored a few goals. Pathetic!
Ive grown a beard waiting for Mr Anderson to move his arse,hes nothing special and never will be,5/10 everytime for me,its okay having a good game against Bolton etc,but he never does it against the TOP Euro teams, they just dont fear the lad.Why he gets praise is beyond me,another Djemba in our midst,a hit and miss player, nothin else!MUST IMPROVE, or Ship Out!
look right cockface, frank is top class, as proven by the fucking fact that when he plays, unlike our midfield, he don’t play shit, he does good midfieldy type guff and with an added 20 goals on top of said guff, we’ll be lucky to get 5 goals from our mids this year
You mean centre mids, right?
Based on performance over the last 2 seasons he is lucky to have his spot in the Chelsea team.
long may that continue
So,
More clowns have joined the debate.
Lets get back in here after the Chelsea game e.g Anderson Vs Fat frank. Lucky Cleverly aint playing.
As far as I am concered, Anderson – as long as he keeps the weight offm, will get his speed back. Its a well known fact that most brazilian ball players start taper off before 30 and I think Fergie knows this.
I will like to see what you same cronies have to say at the end of the season.
no doubt if we beat chelsea it’ll be claimed anderson has ‘dominated’ lamps just like he apparently dominated stevie and fabregas according to cal
Quote ‘As far as I am concered, Anderson – as long as he keeps the weight offm, will get his speed back. Its a well known fact that most brazilian ball players start taper off before 30 and I think Fergie knows this.
I will like to see what you same cronies have to say at the end of the season.’
That’s absoloute nonsense it’s the same Brazil who have won 5 world cups and had the likes of Cafu playing till the age of nearly 40 and covering more ground then anyone else and Roberto Carlos still playing. Your theory comes from a data set of probably around a dozen players.
Ball players such as Leonardo and Rivaldo didn’t taper off.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/sep/16/anderson-manchester-united-brazil-ferguson
Good article – and (correctly) remembers the game that he DID boss Gerrard.
ffs look at the stats for that game
it was the epitome of smash and grab
even down to the set piece winner
If I remember correctly, we signed him and Nani early in the window, long before the season started… and there was some bloke from Portugal who said, “forget Nani… Anderson was the real prize”… we all got very excited, especially after his first couple performances.
I remember thinking… fuckin hell… he had the same instinctual eye for a deadly pass as Scholes… not quite as accurate but, the promise was there, and at only 19, you knew there was a lot more to come…
Then he just turned into a lazy shite… but normally Fergie would have just said, “right, had your chance, blown it, now fuck off”… but he didn’t… he stuck with him, and maybe now, we’re starting to see why.
I’m still not completely convinced… but he finished last season on the up, and he’s started this year right where he left off.
We’ll see.
“I’m still not completely convinced… but he finished last season on the up, and he’s started this year right where he left off.”
Well said – I’m glad someone actually remembers that. If you take into account those games last season after his injury then he has a decent scoring ratio I believe. Over let’s say the last 15 games it’s about 1:3. A great return if he can continue it.
Also worth pointing out some of United’s best performances last season same with Anderson in the centre on top form with Carrick.
anderson played a blinder this afternoon…
aye like a fucking blind man
wtf – regressed back to most of his previous match performances
Fergie: “At times we played with no midfielders”
We need Clev to make Ando decent
its pathetic, all the mids need to do is keep the ball, rooney and jones will do the rest
ROONEY AND JONES
Even with 3 centre mids on the pitch – Ando, Carrick and Fletcher, we have no midfield
We’ve not really got a solid boring reliable 1-nil way of playing like we had a few years ago
Last season it didn’t matter because the home form was extraordinary
that’s exactly what I’ve been banging on about for 4 years. this overpaid, fat, gormless oaf offers 5% added value – and that for only the first 20 mins of a game. he is incredibly unfit – and his best performances have been when we are already in the lead.
he has never ever dominated a midfield, he cannot pass consistently, his so-called great engine is already fucked after 10 mins, he wanders around aimless between defence and attack and it’s just takes the piss to let carrick, fletcher, cleverly and jones to fucking cover the cunt’s arse.
carrick, fletch are limited as it is, clev and jones have there own performances to think about.
did you see how many times rooney dropped back into the left flank to help out yesterday.
18m and still a load of shit.
Jones has the makings of a proper box to box full bollocked beast of a midfielder….and centre back, and full back…
awesome
LKHF are to be thanked for making that one happen….Thank us later!!
LKHF
faffing
Anderson had his poorest game yesterday, but he’s still been much better than he’s ever been. No player can play at the highest level every single week, just like one poor performance doesn’t make a player shit. He’ll come good again. Agree with needing Cleverly alongside him, though. They bring out the best in eachother.
Cap, you’re right about Jones. He is a fucking beast of a player. Very, very exciting.
no, 4 years of dross makes a player shit.
someone explain to me how his performances over the past 4 years merits a label anything other than “average”
3 goals in 77 appearances and dumped out of the brazilian national squad since 2008 as the world passess him by.
no power, no agression, no skill, no passing, no movement, no leadership and no ambition.
an absolute passenger of a midfielder on the verge of being fraudulent.
Bollocks.He’s upped his game this season, lost weight and come out like he means to fight for his place. you’re right insofar as he hasn’t lived up to the reputation he had when he arrived, but that is due in part to being played out of position. What was it one learned fella said about him?
“Anderson started off as the new Ronaldinho but he’s changed his style of play completely. He’s learned to mark. He’s bulked up. He’s more direct. But he seems to have forgotten his talent and creative gifts.”
I’d prefer him to be that creative force rather than the central midfield Fergie has tried to turn him into at the expense of his trickery.
“no power, no agression, no skill, no passing, no movement”
That’s just wrong. He has all of those in spades, and we’re just beginning to see him use them properly. He’ll be an important player this season. You just wait. Mind you, some people just need a scapegoat, see also Cal and Berbatov/Scholes/Giggs, so maybe you will refuse to accept that even when it does happen.
fletcher is just as bad, he forces whoevers playing next to him to be the defensive one because his positioning is so wank, even scholes was having to play as the holder last year because of it
we were lucky as fuck to beat chelsea with these two shitehouses
at least he fucking makes an attempt to run after the leather round thing and make a challenge – how many times did the Chavs dance through Anderson’s side of midfield. Are Carrick and Fletcher great – no way – but at least they can defend and hold onto the ball – but Anderson is TRULY diabolical.
you twats think that a few runs into the box makes him great, a mazy run, killer incisive passing, splitting defences – get the fuck out of here. Evans made one cross field pass yesterday that was worthy of Anderson’s total contribution to the game.
people bang on about his engine, Jones and Massiveling, now that’s a fucking engine – also old cunt, King Kong Evra, was still running like a madman at the end.
no wonder the cunt was dropped by taggart. bring on a reserve or even Gibshite, this is intolerable. unfit, overpaid, lazy, clueless and workshy.
We’ve been waiting for four years. How much longer you going to kid yourself? How much longer should our reserves who have been patiently waiting put up with this fraud?
The other player who turned up with him is clearly one of the world’s elite and developing as fast as CR if not faster, the other has been dropped from his national squad – never been able to hold a consistent place in the team for four years, never dominated a carling cup game let alone an EPL game, scored a massive return of an AVERAGE OF ONE GOAL PER SEASON, yet
he has all those talents in “spades”. he may have talent but you still don;t get that he has no application. he is a thick twat. he cannot apply himself to put that athletic body and skill set into use. he doesn’t care – that is the difference between him and nani.
anderson does not give a fuck, he is not hungry, he has no ambition, he wants cash and burgers. end of. enough is enough, others like cleverly need that chance.
look at Ramires yesterday busting his bollocks end to end – that is the kind of Brazilian player we should have.
ramirez probably does not ahev the talent of Ando but he has HUNGER.
FFS a 36 year old Cafu at Milan has more spirit and anger thatn that work shy jobsworth.
i repeat – a disgrace of a man!
Utter rubbish. I’m not even going to respond to what is basically a set of assumptions on your part with no basis in fact. You’re also refusing to see the good things Anderson did yesterday, including a 50 yard pass out to Young that shit all over Evan’s to Nani. Granted, he needs the right player alongside him to shine, but so do most players. No one can do it all on their own.
And Nani developing faster than Ronaldo? Tosh. He’s been here four years, too, and is still a brainless cunt half the time. One amazing goal and all his fucking about, holding onto the ball when he should just release it, shooting high wide and handsome from 30 yards out when a pass is the better option, and shocking set piece taking is forgiven. When Ronaldo was the same age he was one of the best players in the world. Nani was awesome yesterday, but he still frustrates as much as he exhilarates. You need to take your fucking blinkers off, mate. You’re beginning to sound like Calvino.
I think you should stick your assumptions up your arse because the stats show that Nani is level pegging with Ronaldo and in fact is better than him in assists – year-on-year comparison, i.e., shut up. The point remains the same, Nani has accelerated far and beyond what that little sumo wrestler has done.
Next, the stats show that Ando has been dropped for being shit from his own national squad, a squad he was in since he was 17, and not been in for 3 years. Also, Taggart hauled off your golden boy after it was clear he had nothing to offer midway through the second half.
The stats also show that he is averaging 1 goal in 4 seasons, for an attacking midfielder, that is a disgrace.
And all that for 20m? Superb. Four years of shit, four years of sloppy, cowardly and fraudulent performances – and again, he goes lost against the big boys. It was almost as bad as when he was utterly wanked on (as The Times reported, he was seen shouting to the touchline for help after Torres scored) by his team mate Lucas when the Vermin battered us at OT a few seasons ago. Beaten in midfield by Lucas, now that really is the pits.
He’s not my golden boy, you prick, and I have already said he didn’t play well yesterday. I’m not saying he’s an amazing player – yet. I’m saying you’re being unduly harsh on him, and he is not as bad as you are suggesting. You’re a typical United ‘fan’ who, instead of sitting back and enjoying the football we’re playing this season, has to have something to bitch and moan about and thus singles out a player to use as a scapegoat. And for what?
He hasn’t been played as an attacking midfielder, so your point re goals is moot. He’s been out with two serious injuries and has played 20 games a season on average. How much were people saying Nani needed a run in the side two seasons ago? Look at him now, playing with confidence and able to change games. Sometimes. Anderson has never had that luxury.
I just fucking hate it when people can’t just get behind the team, and have to have a player they single out for being ‘shit’. We’ve had Fletcher, Berbs, Gibson and now Anderson. Gibson, granted, is terrible, but still. It’s fucking pathetic, when we have won 5 straight games at the beginning of this season, and 18 at home on the bounce, a new record, that players are being singled out for being, in the eyes of fans, who as we are all aware know basically fuck all about football, for being shit.
No way, I think the opposite is true. Fletch definitely has his limitations, but one of things he does have going for him is that he’s got a good sense of positioning and the team’s tactics. The reason Fletch was the “roaming” midfielder and Scholes the holding one is because Scholes could barely run any more. One reason Fletch looks worse than he does, is because he’s not really an attacking mid, but was asked to play that role too much over the past two seasons, because unlike Carrick, Scholes, Gibshite, and Fat Ando, he actually had the amazing ability to move himself physically across the pitch at a respectable speed. When Fletch is able to play more of a holding role, he looks a much better and more useful player.
reddread,
why do you think you needed to bring me into this? I am not amused at all and I just might start to treat your posts like I do to at least two others on here.
I believe strongly that the manager took off Anderson because he wanted to counter the height of Chelsea at set-pieces. He did not play exceptionally well yesterday but he was not bad. I had hoped that we would have played a trio of him and Fletcher and carrick so that he can be further afield. He is going to have a stormer of a season this. Am sure of it. He has started well, played well in five games – a continuation of the back end of last season – so he will only get better.
Oh well I’m convinced, Nani is better than Ronaldo. FFS.
Ha! Because of your track record of sometimes singling players out for criticism, sometimes unfounded. Nothing personal, mate. Please don’t disregard my posts like you do other lesser Ranters. Glad we agree on Ando, though.
who elses posts do you disregard
obviously alf goes without saying
I like Fletcher, I like Anderson, I used to be a big supporter of Carrick (for 2 seasons justifiably), but It isn’t good enough that these 3 lads are what our hopes are laid on.
Cleverley may be the answer (i think not at the moment..however still deserves a run in the 1st team), but the fact is for god knows how many fucking seasons we have not added sufficient quality to our midfield, knowing full well that Scholes was gonna go sooner rather than later.
This is not Andersons fault Danni, and all he can do is play his best when called upon..and tbf he has done that this season consistently, and yesterday, even though it was his worst game of this season thus far, still wasn’t as bad as some of the shite bollockless bollocks we have been given over the past few years from our midfield.
Overly harsh on him Danni, let’s judge him at the end of the season…no scratch that…lets judge Fergie at the end of the season for failing to improve our weakest area sufficiently enough once again…..We all know it’s to do with the Glazers, and as a result Anderson will have to play…..along with the young lad Cleverley
As good as things are currently, its a fucking long season and a lot sterner tests ahead…..do we have enough in the middle??/ nope, i dont think we do
LKHF
faffing
Get a bollock will you buddy.
Well if you took the time to look at the stats, as explained on Sky Sports yesterday; at the same point in their United career Nani is above where Ronaldo was at this point. FACT.
Nani among the world’s elite, you must be joking. Still a long way off.
This is comparing Nani with the 18 year old Ronaldo, who people wanted out of Old Trafford for his diving antics, no end product and getting Rooney sent of in a poxy international game.
We signed Nani at the age of 21 while Ronaldo was signed at the age of 18, Nani would want to be scoring more as he started off 3 years older.
If you want to try and be so clever, lets compare the last 100 games Ronaldo has played 78 goals in his last 100 appearances while Nani has 19.
Nani is potentially very good but no Ronaldo.
Tbf rons in the top five teenagers I’ve seen at utd, with whiteside rooney giggs and jones
agreed
Well I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that Ronaldo was younger than Nani at the same points in their career. Anyway, it’s just one of those things were stats are misleading — I think Nani has become an excellent player, but surely you only have to watch the two to see that Ronaldo is in a different class.
Fuck, you’ve cut me deep there.
how old was sharpe when we signed him
Squigs,
we did not sign Nani as a 21 yr old. He was 19. Sharpe was 17 when he arrived from Torquay.
Agree completely, I think Jones may be a bit premature, (Although I have never seen a player look like a Manchester United player from day 1)
Nani was and is a good prospect, but to go from not making the starting line up for a European cup final to among the world’s elite in 6 games is a bit much.
I expected it. We’re wasting our time on that useless footballer – apparently he’s was the next Ronaldinho.
How?
Smalling is a better goalscorer than he is. Anderson used to be a forward in Porto right?
He’s a talent but in the wrong league. At least. If there is any chance of Anderson doing well in his career then it’s abroad. But I’d expect him to bottle it anyway. The signs are there. He doesn’t even know the language yet – apparently. It’s okay if he was playing well etc. but every day he looks like a new signing playing his first game for the club!
I’d rather have Gibson over this guy. Not exaggerating. He offers more. Anderson is the bigger talent but Gibson offers more.
Sir Ryan Giggs? No no no. Sir Paul Scholes say.
What but What does Gibson offer?
I’m not a big fan of Anderson, but Gibson?
Come on Mate… that’s just stupid.
According to danni, half a season a ago Nani was shit,didn’t even have control over his own movement etc etc now he’s better than Ronaldo.ffs. Now its time to pick on Anderson isn’t it. He wasn’t as bad as ppl are making him out to be. If he has an injury free run in the team I’m pretty sure he’ll come good.
FFS Dozer…whats fucking wrong with you? Apart from getting Ashley Young spot on (which tbf i did say we should buy him 3 years or so ago) you aint half spouting some bollocks lately..
Come on mate, you are better than this..Gibson over Anderson?? FFS, i’d rather you accept temporary insanity and move on, or you will get put in a room for a day and forced to converse with Spike, that nob Herbie, and loads of other “top reds”
FFS Dozer, you give us indian brothers a bad name…Myself, Danni, Sukhy and Sheesh are all embarrassed
Gibson isn’t great but I think he’s been harshly treated by our fans – especially the fans in the stadium. We’ve always managed to find scapegoats, from Silvestre, O’Shea, Richardson, Gibson and now Carrick when clearly Carrick is the better footballer (than Anderson and perhaps Fletcher).
Gibson isn’t as bad as some of you make him out to be. He’s come up with some great goals and his champions league performance against Schalke was brilliant.
Sir Ryan Giggs? No no no. Sir Paul Scholes say.
If you saw him playing for Wolves or Sunderland, you would not look twice. The fact he play for United doesn’t take away from the fact that apart from his shooting ability he is not a premier league footballer.
Wow Squigs!!! That was harsh. I like Gibson. I really do and I believe that if he was not such a lazy individual – like O’Shea was before him – he would have progressed further than he has now. He really has the talent but not the application needed to perform for a behemoth of a football club like United and in an unforgiving league that is the premier league.
Cal – not sure that Gibson is necessarily lazy, I just think he is not as athletic as some other players. Not naturally quick and that stands out in the Premier League.
He’d do well in another Premier League side, and potentially elsewhere in Europe where the game is a little slower and less physical.
sunderland wanted to sign gibson, and then signed craig gardner instead, what does that say…
Gibson is on stratospheric wages by virtue of being at United, and Sunderland weren’t willing to lavish the same amounts on a distinctly average midfielder?
and then signed someone of a similar ability, who does the same job of ploughing long rangers at goal, but has excess weight
Anderson has hit back at critics on his Instagram account calling him fat with a cracking one liner of “Im not fat… Im sex”
http://thepeoplesperson.com/anderson-im-not-fat-im-sex/