Date: 27th October 2011 at 3:32am
Written by:

Anderson and Jonny Evans

Evans shows Ando what went wrong for him in the derby

The return of Tom Cleverley to the United side has been treated with almost the same, relief/euphoria as a certain Frenchman’s re-introduction to the team following a suspension over 15 years ago, by some Reds.

It’s no coincidence that since Cleverley’s been missing United have failed to produce one decent performance over 90 minutes- perhaps with the exception of Leeds.

Now he’s back in the starting XI the United youngster has a world of expectation on his shoulders, mainly thanks to the complete failure of any of the other central midfielders to step up and be counted during his absence. Sunday’s derby game was a case in point where we saw Darren Fletcher and Anderson, fail to get to grips with a rampant City midfield. Although Fletcher did grab a goal and was much better- or should that be less dreadful- than his midfield partner, he hardly covered himself in glory.

Part of the reason for Cleverley’s return being so long-awaited is that many believe it will help a certain Luis de Abreu Oliveira regain his form.

For the past six weeks Anderson’s performances have gone from disappointing, to worrying, to frankly shocking as he seems to totally out of his depth at times. There’s no denying he was on top form when Cleverley was alongside him and the logical thinking his he’ll regain his mojo now the youngster’s back.

While I certainly hope this is the case, I’m not about to start banking on it just yet. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from Anderson in the past, followed by periods of mediocrity and there seems something desperately wrong with having a midfielder who can only perform alongside one other particular player. Paul Scholes looked good even alongside Kleberson- ditto Roy Keane, and I remember many years ago, Paul Ince putting in man of the match performances whether it was Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Brian McClair or even Neil Webb who was alongside him.

If Cleverley were to get injured does that mean we may as well count Anderson out for the same length of time as well?

Aristotle once wrote ‘one swallow does not make a Summer’ and six poor games for United does not mean the end of your time at Old Trafford, it should however mean that you desperately need to improve if you’ve any chance of being part of the first team.

Cleverley’s return may well be the last chance saloon for Anderson, as if he fails to regain his form alongside the diminutive youngster he could find himself back on the fringes of the squad and maybe even the exit door. That may sound melodramatic, but let’s face facts, Anderson has yet to truly prove he’s a United player. People may scream “HE’S JUST HITTING A BIT OF BAD FORM!” but let me ask you, when since his arrival has he put together a string of really impressive games?

Last season was a case in point as we saw him rampant against Blackburn, then completely anonymous for his next few games. He’s been at Old Trafford now for almost five years and has yet to prove himself, it looked like he had done at the start of this season, but he flattered to decieve.

It’s amazing when you compare the United careers of Anderson and say Michael Carrick, Anderson is arguably by far the most popular. Yet it’s the former Spurs man, who’s been more consistent over the last few seasons. Anderson is probably liked more due to his impressive first season- albeit in fits and starts, which culminated in him strolling up in the Luzhniki and smashing home his penalty with all the confidence of you’d expect from a young Brazilian. There’s also the flashes of brilliance he shows, in that first season the 4-0 against Arsenal, Anderson gained all the plaudits for his ‘look one way pass the other’ trick, yet Carrick’s pass for Nani’s goal was superb and Darren Fletcher grabbed a brace.

Michael carrick seems to have become something of a forgotten man for Sir Alex in the big games of late, being left out of the starting line-up at Anfield- in what was a defensive minded midfield- and out of the squad altogether for the derby. I’m not a massive Carrick fan, nor am I one of his detractors, it may be hard to believe but I think he does a good job, but isn’t a natural defensive midfielder and is somewhat wasted there. For me Carrick’s best season at Old Trafford was his first where he was encouraged to get forward more and revelled in that freedom.

Carrick isn’t nearly as bad as some Reds believe, nor is he as great as others claim, he’s a top class player that isn’t quite at the same level as some of the world’s very best midfielders- a similar comment that could be levelled at Anderson, Fletcher, or even Ji Sung Park.

Of that list, it’s probably only Anderson who has yet to fully show what he’s capable of on any consistent level and the question is can United afford to wait and see if he’ll come good, should his poor form continue?

With City already five points clear, United don’t need to be dropping further behind our noisier than ever neighbours. I hate to say it, but if we’re still asking ‘what happened to the Anderson from the beginning of the season’ come Christmas time, then the January tranfer window may not be a one-way affair.

Am I wrong to claim Anderson is on borrowed time? Has he done enough to show he’s here to stay? Or is four years long enough of waiting for him to find consistent form? Feel free to comment suggest or abuse below:

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35 responses to “Has This Midfielder Become A Luxury United Can No Longer Afford?”

  1. bruce thomas says:

    I hope the story of the next transfer window is BUY! BUY! BUY! And bye bye bye.

  2. SoccerLimey says:

    Anderson, Fletcher and Park have fallen way behind the comfort level as far as I’m concerned. Anderson is the least talented Brazilian player I’ve seen in years and his passing is atrocious. Fletcher and Park are just in there to provide energy for the most and that is simply not good enough.

    I know we need to phase out Giggs but he’s a better fit with Cleverley in that central role with Nani and Young both out wide.

  3. amn says:

    United have only 2 midfilders fletcher and cleverly the likes of Anderson carrick gibson oh he cant een worth to wear united shirt pls let them sold for 2 million to any club they need these 3 uselass midfliders alon side owen Pogba or morrison ll be by fare best from those three

  4. Adrian says:

    Its important to understand that different midfielder will compliment one another. In the early season, when cleverly and anderson played. They like the one two passes and running forward. But with Fletcher and Carrick.. its usually side to side or back to defender, which is why whenver they play the tempo slows down…

  5. Lexxy says:

    What is killing me about Ando is that he has no specific talent. Cant shoot, cant score, too slow, too fat, cant tackle, and he cant even pass the ball without giving it away. Rubbish and a joke of a player IMHO

  6. Blue Tony says:

    I think Utds midfield is brill. I wouldn’t touch it

  7. jishinc says:

    I’m tired of the sneijder charade. the Guy is past his prime. give Ando a chance. he looks good with players who have an attacking instinct and are mobile like cleverly unlike say carrick or Fletcher. speaking of Fletcher, the Guy is so clumsy and awkward. I prefer carrick at the moment.

  8. Motorna Ulja says:

    He is young, he has to adapt to English game, he has to learn the language…

    BLA BLA BLA

    FLETCHER AND ANDERSON ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR TOTTENHAM LET ALONE FOR UNITED.

    It’s not coincidence we are playing like shit since Fletcher come back from injury.

    We have TWO players in the heart of the midfield who can not dribbling, passing, crossing….

    We have to put Pogba and Cleverley in the team and next season we will have two respectable midfielders.

    And what is more disappointing, Rooney will spend his best years alongside mediocre like Fletcher and will never fulfill his potential.

  9. John Tring says:

    Clearly SAF has vision problem. He can’t see that Evans is an idiot and Berba is a class act who can easily play in central midfield, million times better than Carrick or Fletcher or Cleverley. Why Berba+Ando is not tried out?

  10. emmy says:

    ando is lite yrs beter dan carrick and fletcher,wonder wat those 2 still doin at utd.ando is not naturally a central midfielder like xavi.utd problems is fergie and his setiments for english players wu frankly speaking not talented except 4 rooney.imagine Evans a utd player wat a shame