Ando- remember him?
What a difference a day makes someone once sang and that’s certainly the case for two of United’s central midfielders. Last friday morning it seemed that Paul Pogba was on his way out of Old Trafford, while Anderson was edging his way back into the side after an injury plagued few months.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and Pogba is seemingly reconsidering his options while Anderson has picked up an injury that could spell the end of his season and ultimately prove to be the final nail in his United career coffin.
My feelings towards Anderson have been like those towards an alcoholic family member, at first you try and help them remembering the good times- 2008 Champions League final, the 4-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal, the partnership with Cleverley- but eventually their actions wear you down so much that you realise they need more help than you can offer and eventually you become angry at them for failing to address their problems. Following the 6-1 defeat against City that handed our noisy neighbours the title- oh er….well gave them a ‘massive’ three points anyway, I was particularly scathing in my summary of Anderson’s performance. The Brazilian seemed completely uninterested at times, allowed David Silva the sort of space you’d give to a piss riddled tramp and looked about as capable of getting to grips with the game as Kenny Daglish does of delivering a Premier League title to Anfield.
I don’t mind if players try and come up short- as Darren Fletcher sometimes does, but to not even bother is unforgivable and my patient had now ran out, it was time to move the midfielder on. The argument put forward by his supporters was that he needed Tom Cleverley alongside him, well as I explained at the time, having a player who can only play well alongside one certain other player is practically useless. Cleverley has barely played for five months so the idea that without him Anderson is of no use merely highlights the Brazilians fall from grace. As I said at the time, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane played well even alongside Kleberson and the Djembas.
Pogba meanwhile looks set to sign a new deal at United, if Sky Sports ‘sources’ are to be believed, which could see the youngster become a pivotal player in United’s midfield over the next few years. After the West Brom game Sir Alex labelled Pogba ‘a first team player’ and with Scholes and Giggs approaching their forties, the frenchman may find himself starting a lot of games next season, providing he continues to develop as he has done so far.
Of course nothing has been confirmed as yet, Anderson may well just have a niggle and Pogba could already have his heart set on Turin, but if the storers doing the rounds turn out to be true then it could be the Brazilian and not the Frenchman’s United career which has reached its end.
Anderson should miss one or two games as its only a muscle strain and Fergie doesnt want to rush him. The guy is only 22 still got 3 years or so to find his feet. Fletcher was one of the hated players by the fans at that age and look at him now.
The talents there no doubt but he needs to find consistency. Maybe we need Queiroz back, he used to get the best out of the foreigners.
Ando actually turns 24 a month today, and this is his fourth season at United, if he hasn’t found his feet by now he never will.
I’m one of his biggest fans and he has been unlucky with injuries but if he doesn’t make any sort of impact during the remainder of this season, I think Fergie may be forced to give up on him.
Frankly speaking at times i think its fergie who is the problem.Pogba needs to be given more game time anderson is over and far beyond the trial stretch,the guy is simply not good enough.
Frankly speaking I think people like you are the problem!You advocate giving some kid with a swollen head and a gready leech of an agent more game time?Then you say SAF is to blame?You need to take a hard look at yourself.Maybe it is your name in the picture as the new United manager?
greedy
Hmm…
You seem to hold Anderson responsible for the City defeat. But by the same token, why not hold Evra responsible? After all he went all out to attack for long periods of that match, ignoring his defensive duties. Or blame Evans for a rash tackle and getting red carded. Or blame the other mid fielder in that game, wasn’t it Fletcher, equally responsible as Anderson of being overrun? Rooney for not dropping deep? Vidic for not playing? It is a team sport, and particularly in that defeat, the whole team and SAF have to shoulder the blame. Everything fell apart, particularly the last 10 minutes of the match.
Also, I do hope Anderson’s injury troubles end soon. Both his carreer and United will benefit from a sustained run in the team from him. With Giggs and Scholes on their way out, Fletcher on extended medical leave, and Gibson out, we are running out of options in midfield. Jones, Park or Rooney are not the solution. There is plenty of opportunity for Anderson, Pogba, AND Eden Hazard to play along with Carrick. We can’t blame Anderson for being injured, can we?
I understand that this is a comparison between Anderson and Pogba.. not a review of who made the mistakes in the City game. Anderson has played so few games this season that games like this are the ones we can judge him on. Its not to say that he was the only bad player in that game, just highlighting his performance for the sake of the topic
“The Brazilian seemed completely uninterested at times, allowed David Silva the sort of space you’d give to a piss riddled tramp.” Now that gives me a, umm, picture and a smell. Two dimensional writing. One thing I have heard for sure, however, is that he’s not been seen out stuffing his face at ant Brazilian steak houses lately. The trouble with dumping him now is that we won’t get anything for him!
Oh my, blaming Ando for City’s lose is pathetic. Instead of supporting our players you go on to blame him for being injured! The guy is good, he’s only 22 and got so many football tricks than most of our midfield players… We still need him for our future.
Anderson is kind of like our Walcott, hes more hype than talent. i dont even understand why hes still in our squad, i was quite scepticle about Nani but he seems to be improving now and living up to his billing. Anderson however seems to be getting nowhere. The sooner he goes the better!
I would be worried if u were an advisor 2 fergie.injuries don’t mean that one is substandard.i bet u were bashing evans last year coz he was struggling with fitness issues.give the boy time.
No way, Anderson is quality and a world best on his day. He’s young , Ince and Keane weren’t World beaters straight away.
Pls give anderson time. He’s a good player. It’s unfair 2 blame him 4d city lose. I want 2 see anderson, cleverly, pogba & hazard as united future midfielders.