Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has completed a move to Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan deal. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson had previously said that the midfielder, 21, is too good to loan out. However, Cleverley will now spend the next year at the DW Stadium under Latics manager Roberto Martinez’ guidance.
“Tom is a very exciting young player and we are delighted he his coming to us,” said Martinez.
“He can play in a number of positions and will provide us with some good new options, and add great competition to the squad.
“We have been watching him for some time and feel he is the right sort of player to join our squad; young, hungry, desperate to play for the club in the Premier League and to grow with us.”
However, the move comes as something of a surprise following Ferguson’s previous declaration that the midfielder would stay at Old Trafford this season.
“He is an exceptional young player in terms of his ability to play a variety of positions,” Ferguson said in early August.
“He is such a talent, we must keep him. He showed at Watford that he’s a goalscorer from midfield and we need that. He has outstanding qualities.”
However, Cleverley did not make the squad for United’s three Premier League fixtures to date despite performing brightly on the club’s pre-season tour to Canada, USA and Mexico. United also failed to secure another creative midfielder in the transfer window, although Anderson – 13 goals, one for United, in 155 career games – is due to return in late September.
Cleverley will join Wigan’s battle against relegation this season in preference to a move to Bolton Wanderers. While Owen Coyle was keen to bring the England Under-21 international to the Reebok, Wigan’s ability to offer Cleverley football every week appears to have been the deciding factor.
The player scored 11 goals in 33 matches for Watford last season.
Ater being bummed relentlessly by Fergie the cunt is being loaned out
Fuck about
LKHF
Martinez and Wigan are are better fit than Bolton to encourage technical development, but why didn’t United restrict the loan period to half a season, so we could get Cleverley back when Scholes inevitably starts to wane later in the season? Or is a year the minimum period now?
There goes the youth policy Fergie keeps on about!
Yet another loan season for the lad. Wouldn’t be suprised if he finally gets sick and tired of being farmed out and leaves permanantly at the end of the season.
I’m gutted for him and would have loved to see him play in our first team this season. What is happening?
Fergie is cunt, no arguments.
Why oh why does the gobshite bullshit the fans time and time again and bullshit the player.
Is the cash sitaution so bad that we are forced to loan out the yoooooooooof rather than see the little fuckers develop into beasts.
Ffs, does Fergal have that much faith is Mr Invisible, Gibson, or Mr Transparent, Carrick or Turd-u-Like, Anderson.
The “shit-three” are now safe in the knowledge that Fletcher will do all the running for them and Scholes will do all the passing. They have no competition for their place and are at least on the bench by default.
Taggart blows it once again, the ham faced, wino.
LKHF
Spot on, Dannii
I feel sorry for Cleverley n all – he said he was looking forward to training with Giggs & Scholes!
there’s no value in the market
What are you all whinging about?
He was never going to shift Scholes, the way Scholes has been playing… and if he really does have a future at United then he needs to play, and develop.
As long as Fergie stipulated that he plays in the first team regularly at Wigan, then I’m all for it. Better that he plays full time against PL oppostion to see what he can do, than sit on our bench accomplishing nothing.
Yeah, yeah, I heard you all going on about Fergies “give youth a chance” spin, and yeah, it does sound pretty hollow now… but let’s be realistic, and think about Cleverly and his future… as long as Scholes holds his place, this is the best option for the Lad.
Martinez sums it up perfectly:
“[Cleverly] is the right sort of player to join our squad; young, hungry, desperate to play for the club in the Premier League”
I would quite gladly bench Anderson, Carrick and Gibson in return for this sort of attitude.
It’s a shambles.
Scholes can hold his place for 55 mins for 26 games a season, for the rest he is bullcock and the little master will get overrun.
you would much rather have Cleverely fight it out for those extra minutes and the “rabbit” UCL games
the point is that if he is THAT good throw the cunt into the deep end – maybe in combination with Scholes for some games, so he learns NOT from some shit Wigan midfielder but from the best.
in effect he has not only lost a year at United but a year in a midfield with Fletcher and Scholes
agree – if he gets no minutes, better then to go to Wigan
but the point is more fundamental one, why is this cunt not getting the minutes – is he that much shitter than Gibson, Ando or Carrick?
why is Fergus bullshitting us time and time again about youth policy?
as you say Gibson is the new Bowyer but this cunt is supposed to be the real deal; fuck Wigan, let’s get him playing straight away.
apparently fergie doesn’t actualy know his name and has been caalled him tim ssince he came back from watford
and he was also heard saying’have a good career, tim’ once the igaan loan was confirmed
Not really surprised tbh.
Another big fat Fergie lie. At least the cunt is consistent.
I’m not defending Ferguson Danni, especially since I believe he’s become Mephitical Mlacolms pet Westie… but the facts are, The Glazers desperately need United to finish top 4 at the very least… considering that the league has become even more copetetive since the Bitters inherited money, there is no margin for experimenting with youth… Fergie’s talking shit, obviously, but he will only field players that he reckons will win… that’s players that he has faith in, whether he’s right or not, he prefers Gibson, Scholes,Giggs, Carrick, Fletcher, Park… Cleverly won’t get a look in behind all those names unless he really shines, and he won’t get a chance to shine if doesn’t play… it’s our loss but Cleverlys gain… and to be honest, I’d rather see the lad go to Wigan, play a lot, play well, have a good time, and who knows, maybe we’ll get shot of the Glazers, Fergie will rediscover his loyalties, and bring Cleverly back next year… who by then should have shown his ability in the big game.
Anyway… my point is, I hope Cleverly has a great year at Wigan, cause he wouldn’t have had one at United.
fair enough Alf, it’s just so fucking frustrating when Fergus big’s up his idea of the month and then does a complete u-turn
how the fuck can we have a season of transition when actual fact it’s the same bunch of cunts who play, except one year older and with less hair
you don’t just buy youth only to loan the stock out. end of day agree that its not too cleverly to have him having a wank in reserves so if he can do a job with Wigan at least it will get him battle hardened when he is sold to Barcelona …
Who’s who in the above and why?
Sorry, Mr Invisible = Gibson; Mr Transparent = Carrick; Anderson is simple a fat sack of shit who occasionally is seen at Carrington or OT chasing a round thing called a ball.
And given that Hargo is spazed up forever, leaves Fletcher and Scholes as the only consistent and quality performers making the loan of Cleverly all the more risky and baffling.
According to the article in the link (included below), Cleverley went to see the manager and, together, they decided a loan move would be best. I get the impression that this is what Cleverley wanted. I am impressed by the confidence and maturity he displays in his quotes; he has a great attitude. I very much want for him to have a great season at Wigan before returning to the United squad next year for good.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=819747&sec=england&cc=5901&cc=5901
It is incredibly frustrating. As noted by multiple posters above, through the middle we have:
– Scholes / Fletcher – first rate, consistent performers for United in their respective roles
– Carrick – first rate, but completely out of form and sorts last season
– Anderson – flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent and poor attitude
– Gibson – passenger. A few good long range strikes
– Hargo – devastatingly, the lad is injured. I fear he is going to retire.
It is time to blood some youth, in my opinion, and really give them a good go at it.
Hang on
Fergie said “We have to look at that area of the team because we must get goals from midfield.
“Tom has got outstanding qualities as far as goalscoring is concerned, so he is going to stay.”
What changed? We didn’t sign anyone. So where will the goals come from
I guess that like many of us, Cleverley noticed the discrepancy between what Sir Alex said in regard to youth and what he actually did. Looking at Rafael sitting on the bench while O’Shea continues to get skinned at right back match after match would have been demonstration enough for him. As Cleverley said in one of his quotes: (paraphrasing) injuries might have opened up some opportunities to play, but you can’t think that way.
Agree with this which is why the time is right to get Cleverly into the first team. Like others have said I hope he plays every game for Wigan and gets battle hardened.
Great also BTW to see Wellbeck get some minutes.