Berba- will we regret it if he leaves?
Ask yourself which player at Old Trafford is the most naturally gifted? Wayne Rooney? Probably. Javier Hernandez? Possibly. Nani? Arguably.
Yet I’d argue that the most naturally gifted man, the one that can do things with a football no other United player could is the one player that often finds himself dropped in favour of more ‘reliable’ stars.
Dimitar Berbatov is one player who can leave you breathless one minute and furious the next. The Bulgarian haa the ability to win a game almost single-handedly, yet also play his part in a poor result with wateful possesion or squandered chances.
Yet this maverick, a player that often performs the sort of skills mere mortals can’t even attempt o na FIFA 12, is usually the first to find himself jettisoned from the side following a poor result.
The two all draw to Benfica will no doubt be apportioned, however slightly, to Berbatov for missing a golden chance to put the game beyond doubt, a fact that may see Sir Alex decide to give him a ‘rest’ for the visit of Newcastle.
Berbatov is highly unlikely to start against Alan Pardew’s men as he seems to be persona non grata when it comes to Premier Leagues games this season he’s featured in just five, four of them as a substitute while managing just over an hour in the other one.
Berbatov’s record of no goals or assists is hardly surprising given the amount of time he’s been on the pitch.
The worst thing any striker can contend with, other than the loss of a limb, or gential herpes, is not being given a decent run, especially when he’s a player, as Berbatov is, that can take one or two games to get going.
Last season, Berbatov stepped up to the plate and delivered when United really needed him. There’s no doubt in my mind that were it not for the former Spurs man, the Reds would now be on equal titles with the rat munchers from down the M62.
Yet despite a goal laden season, where he finished top scorer, there are still those that criticise the striker for his inconsistency and somewhat ‘languid’ style. Even on Tuesday when he returned to the side with a goal, people were quick to point out the fact he hadn’t scored in the Champions League since the bin dippers were still in it, or that he missed other decent chances.
Last season, I wrote an article claiming that as the Bulgarian had gone ten games wothout a gola following his hat-trick against the giro chasers, it was time for him to step up. Que a record equalling five goals in the next game against Blackburn. A game where Wayne Rooney and Anderson actually received most of the plaudits!
Berbatov may not be everyone’s cup of tea and the rumours he’s on his way out of United soon, still persist, but I for one think he deserves the chance to starts against Newcastle, and the game after that.
When Eric Cantona or Cristiano Ronaldo had a bad game, they were still picked for the next one, when Berbatov has an average game, he’s lucky if he sees the pitch for the rest of the month!
Whether or not Rooney’s fit or he’s deployed in a midfield role, I’d like to see Berbatov given at least a half decent run in the forthcoming fixtures, which are all very winnable, to show that last season wasn’t a flash in the pan from a player capable of flashes of genius.
i couldn’t agree with you more
Name one thing that Dimitar Berbatov can do with a ball that Wayne Rooney can’t? Absolute nonsense! He’s massively over rated for doing a decent piece of control once every 5 mins. The problem is he is not a prolific goalscorer, in terms of nicking goals in the 6 yards box, as he has lazy movement in the box, nor is he a creater, in terms of getting on the ball from deep, spraying the ball wide, as he flitters in and out of games too much with his lack of workrate. Good player, not good enough for Utd. Simple as that.
I would have agreed two years ago but Berbatov is now a disinterested spectator who should be got rid of immediately.
What chance do Chicharito and Welbeck have to develop if they are sat on the bench watching “Weary Willie”!
I always love your analysis but i disagree totally on this occasion. Berba has given United fans more grief than any other united player . To compare Berba to cantona or Ronaldo is ridiculous . . . . . Berba is a good player but not a United type of player.
Hahaha…clutching at straws? Berba is a talented player but Utd’s problems are much deeper. Somehow SAF embarked on yet another long season with Cleverley as midfield man? Without a right back? Why buy another winger when you have 2 good ones ( 3 if grandad Giggs included)? And play Evans the terrible in defence whose main target is to offer opposition good chances each time? SAF is not the same and with all due respect, a lot of it, he should have stepped aside earlier. This season will end nothing . I mean not counting Mickey Mouse Cup of course…..Utd should forget about CL and buy a few decent guys in January to salvage something. European Cup-tied should not mean anything to Utd.
john your a knob, clearly support city or something, and tbh when i saw the title to this article i thought to myself ravel morrison, every1 has said the most naturally talented player to come thru the ranks since scholes, and since he plays midfield the on position were lacking a spark in, why not give him a chance, surely he will sort out his off field problems then for sure he needs a taste of first team glory
the guy is delivering at his own pace and thats not working for a team always expected to win titles,it becomes a nightmare for a manager.
but of recent Utd’s form has dipped and thats not ‘coz of berbatov but simply the boys have gone to sleep and nobody to wake them up. Just wish fergie was 20 yrs younger these kids would have seen dust. Ask Stam,Beckham and Van Nistelrooy!!
please please please mr ferguson offload zis bag of s…
Reckon you’re right. Give Berbatov an hour and then bring on the Mexican kid. Chicharito scores regularly but he’s less than useless at linking up play, or even receiving the ball unless he has a goal scoring chance immediately. So why not give Berba anhour to do his stroppy worst? He is capable of so much, though it’s unfortunate that he and Rooney have never understood each other’s game. Mind, Rooney doesn’t really understand anything other than himself at the end of the day, except when he just can’t misunderstand it’s so blindingly obvious.
don’t get me wrong, I love Rooney in all his galloping madness and technical mayhem. Then I watch a guy like Fletcher and wonder just what has he been practising the last ten, fifteen years. The guy has problems controlling the ball, don’t even think about a quick first time pass and go. Carrick has been stung into making a few forward passes recently, bless him…but you can see it really kills him to do it.
I really would laugh, but watching United the last month or so has become such a painful experience after the wild excitement of the first month of the season. It’s enough to see the team sheet before a game, and you go ‘oh, shit…another hour and a half of torture!’ Of course, I watch and shout and my son runs for cover as expletives fill the air, but how long can this bad luck keep on. Cleverley out, Anderson out, and even Welbeck out – the lads come on so much this year it’s unbelievable. He was such a donkey half the time even at Sunderland, but of late…wow!
Oh, where was I? Ah, yes. Give Berba a chance!!
Eric or ronny would only have the odd poor game – berb does it with much regularity.