Berbatov does actually slip in most games, its bizarre. Its definately not something thats only affected him today.
Dimitar Berbatov | 2009/10 Performances
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Reminded me of how hot it was outside today when I was myself playing football
We must have hired the Wembley groundsmen.
Mmmm... I think you're reading a lot into that other time he slipped, when he was clean through on goal. I think it was against Bolton?
Anyway, the reason he slipped was because he had a boot taken off in an attempted tackle.
Aye, he actually did pretty well to keep going after losing his boot on that occasion. I think he might have slipped one or two other times recently too, although I can't really recall. It's the kind of thing that happens when things aren't going your way in front of goal though, if he regains his confidence I'd expect him to 'miraculously' become far more sure footed all of a sudden.
Mongneese in here is becoming very fluent.
I am not surprised that he gets the blame now for everything. Even when he has a good game with a lot of work and some good moments, ppl just cant see it and they never will.
BTW, I thought Macheda looked good when he came on, lively, strong, his fitness level seems to have improved as well. I wouldnt mind seeing him starting next game
BTW, I thought Macheda looked good when he came on, lively, strong, his fitness level seems to have improved as well. I wouldnt mind seeing him starting next game
Its more about people clutching at straws to justify the fact that Berba was no where near to the level needed by a striker who leads our line. I mean ok he worked hard (no where near to Rooney or Tevez level) and had some rare moments of class (a nice flick that we were lucky enough to convert into a penalty and a good header which Fletch failed to convert into a goal) but he never really tested the keeper or did some real damage to Spurs defense. I haven't lost faith in Berba yet. If United is determined to use the 4-2-2 system then Berba may yet be useful. Stating that he is not suited for the lone striker role and had proved that again yesterday.
This year we had added 3 forwards to the side and many won't be surprised to see us add another one by the end of Summer window. I don't know what you think about that, but I doubt that this is the sign of a strong forward line.
well good but iirc he sliped few times at Ewood Park too
tbh i don't think its a major problem just bit odd
Berbatov doesn't slip, It's just the pitch that can't handle his coolness.
yesterday was one of his best performances for me. I like that he visibly shows that he is making an effort to adapt and fit in with our team, improving his workrate. It was quite amusing (probably symbolic) when at the start of the game, he rolled up his sleeves.
Did well, but I still cant see us being able to use a 4-4-2 in the big games, which means Dimitar is always likely to be a backup for Rooney.
Did well, but I still cant see us being able to use a 4-4-2 in the big games, which means Dimitar is always likely to be a backup for Rooney.
You just managed to completely contradict yourself within a single sentence.
He tried hard and did well in leading the line I felt. For some bizarre reason, the real impact by Nani occurred after he started playing on the right after Valencia was subbed off imho.
The thing is, he didn't work that hard that it was a performance notable for that. Hard work is something that should be expected of a player. Because Berbatov often doesn't seem to put it in, he's then singled out for praise when he does, and that's not really right. He did ok yesterday with his work rate; not to a level he should be singled out for special praise though
And yet he looked like he couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo all afternoon. That's not a great sign to be honest, is it?
Look, I don't mind folk sticking up for him and whatnot, we all want him to be a huge success of course. But he hasn't been that, and the criticism has been fair
Sometimes football presents opportunities though, and he's got one now. Two games, and it looks like he's the most senior striker available for both. If he can produce the goods now, a lot of what's happened in the past will be glossed over. He's picked a bad time to just equal his joint worst run in front of goal of the season, but if he can end that against Sunderland, should Chelsea drop points somewhere, we're that much closer to the title, and if Berbatov makes a clear telling contribution to that, time will remember him more favourably
He made a clear telling contribution yesterday. As you well know, it's possible for a lone striker to influence a game without scoring. Berbatov left his shooting boots at home but he led the line very well, was a real handful for King/Dawson in the air and set up our crucial first goal. Good, solid performance.
For some people on here he will need to score a hat-trick to be considered as having made a "clear, telling contribution". It's ridiculous.
For some people on here he will need to score a hat-trick to be considered as having made a "clear, telling contribution". It's ridiculous.
Actually I think his comment amply describes the complete enigma that is Dimitar Berbatov.
He did well, rated a 7 overall I thought, the turn and run for the first pen was absolutely magnificent, not to mention the flick -and as he's stated before, he gets more pleasure out of creating for other players than scoring tap-ins. (If only he could adapt his game a little bit and play in conjunction with the MF, instead of off them, he could develop into the trequartista-type player all us transfer Kermits are looking for in the summer. Needless, to say this would also mean that a fully-fit Hargreaves and the Real Carrick are back for next season)
TBF, he had a couple of chances which Rooney or Owen would not exactly have been expected been nailed on to put away, but you'd think of Berba, if anyone could.
King's block obviously didn't help either, but I agree with Plech, really starting to feel for him, he's trying too hard to win the fans over and it's showing with his finishing. Again, he didn't exactly get the sort of chances created for him that Rooney had had the benefit of recently.
TBF, he had a couple of chances which Rooney or Owen would not exactly have been expected been nailed on to put away, but you'd think of Berba, if anyone could.
King's block obviously didn't help either, but I agree with Plech, really starting to feel for him, he's trying too hard to win the fans over and it's showing with his finishing. Again, he didn't exactly get the sort of chances created for him that Rooney had had the benefit of recently.
I have been a critic of Berbatov, but only when I thought that he wasn't really doing his job right or at least making an effort to do so.
Yesterday I thought he was good, although he faded towards the end, which was probably due to an injury.
He was playing as the lone striker, and instead of wandering all over the place as if he is Eric Cantona, he generally stayed up front. When there were crosses coming in, he was in the box. That is what we need from a lone striker, not one who wanders everywhere. Because he was in the box, he was a threat, and it made space for others. Nani's goal was a perfect example. Usually Berbatov wouldn't have been there, and Nani would have actually been closed down by a couple of defenders as a result.
I think he is being criticised unfairly because he had a good game, in my opinion.
However, I also agree with Brad -
Although I don't think he should be critisised, I don't think he should be given special praise for doing what he is supposed to do. Every footballer should make a 100% effort in every match.
The match could still be on right now and he still wouldn't have scored, so that's something he needs to improve on. He seems to be snatching at all of his shots now.
But, when playing that role as he did yesterday, he contributes to the build up when he can, he is an outlet whenever possible, and most importantly he actually gets into the box more often that not then I will be quite happy with him. He will be doing his job. As I said before, we don't need him in the deep lying central midfield position. We need him in the box, which he generally did yesterday, and as a result I felt it was a much better performance than he has done before in that role. He never looked like scoring, but if he keeps playing like that his confidence will go up and he will begin to take more chances.
Yesterday I thought he was good, although he faded towards the end, which was probably due to an injury.
He was playing as the lone striker, and instead of wandering all over the place as if he is Eric Cantona, he generally stayed up front. When there were crosses coming in, he was in the box. That is what we need from a lone striker, not one who wanders everywhere. Because he was in the box, he was a threat, and it made space for others. Nani's goal was a perfect example. Usually Berbatov wouldn't have been there, and Nani would have actually been closed down by a couple of defenders as a result.
I think he is being criticised unfairly because he had a good game, in my opinion.
However, I also agree with Brad -
Although I don't think he should be critisised, I don't think he should be given special praise for doing what he is supposed to do. Every footballer should make a 100% effort in every match.
The match could still be on right now and he still wouldn't have scored, so that's something he needs to improve on. He seems to be snatching at all of his shots now.
But, when playing that role as he did yesterday, he contributes to the build up when he can, he is an outlet whenever possible, and most importantly he actually gets into the box more often that not then I will be quite happy with him. He will be doing his job. As I said before, we don't need him in the deep lying central midfield position. We need him in the box, which he generally did yesterday, and as a result I felt it was a much better performance than he has done before in that role. He never looked like scoring, but if he keeps playing like that his confidence will go up and he will begin to take more chances.
The enigma of how he can make a telling contribution to a game yet have it wilfully ignored by the usual spazzers more like.
That's really not much of an enigma.
Why? the flick was a glimpse of class but it was difficult for such touch to result into a goal. Lets face it Evra is hardly a great scorer and Spurs defense (till then) was solid. Luckily Esotto did the big mistake of flattening Evra and it turned into a penalty.
With Berbatov anything he does that he doesn't mess up gets a mention on here and hes praised for it by the same people every week. Scholes can spray around amazing passes all game and its just expected, Berbatov makes a 5 yard pass that finds his man and you can be sure someone will comment on it and point out Berba is having a good game. Any chance he misses and theres an excuse for it, anytime he shouts at a teammate hes justified for it. Its very silly.
That's just bollocks though Pogue, which doesn't befit your quality as a poster. Patronising bollocks too, people are more than capable of praising a goalless performance it if was very good. The issue with Berbatov is that too often, it's a goalless performance, which wasn't that good. Yesterday was ok. He had a decent game in general, even if goal scoring wise he was utter toss
At one point, it seemed he was doing much better in front of goal this season. Last he scored 14 goals overall in 43 games (36 starts). This season he's got 12 goals overall in 41 games (27 starts). Any striker that scores at such a slender rate, especially a big club, will get added focus on them. When there are other issues regarding work rate or effort, perceived or real, that adds even further focus. And obviously when the manager plays him up front as a solitary striker... you get the picture
It has become that, I agree
But you can understand why. We all desperately want our players to play to their best, and some see supporting the player as praising them beyond question, even on an internet forum on a non match day
But it does tend to distort debates on his performance
I would say picking the ball up near the half-way line and creating a situation which leads to a nailed on penalty fits the definition of doing "real damage to Spurs defense"
And yes, Spurs were defensively solid. That's why Arsenal and Chelsea found it so difficult to score against them. Even more so, seeing as Ledley King was able to start, for once. Which puts Berbatov's overall performance into perspective.
12 PL goals in 22 PL starts. Not bad at all.
I'll agree to disagree on his performance yesterday and the role a lone striker plays for his team. Bit odd you see it so differently but there you go.
The flick would have probably lead to nowhere if Spurs defender didn't flattened Evra down. So as I stated above it was a piece of art but we were lucky that it turned into a penalty. He also gave a good header which Fletcher failed to score but that is all what Berba did. He failed to give a shot on goal and he failed to do some real damage to Spurs defense.
Now its true that his workrate was above his norm. There again it was nowhere near to what Tevez/Rooney do/used to do and at par to what we expect our players to do. If you're impressed by some workrate, 2 assist and no shot on goal then I respect your decision. I expect better from a 30m rated 'world class' striker.
That's just not true.
He's a gimp, to be fair.
on less serious note....you no how crap at shooting Evra is, right?
but i think he has point there- if Evra hadn't been brought down and had a chance to take a shot and put it wide / Gomes saved it etc it would have been another fancy flick by Bebratov. Sometimes they do pay off though
Ah so now we totally disregard any games played apart from the PL and any games he came as a sub. That's pretty non biased isn't it?
To be fair, Evra could have squared it to Scholes who was totally unmarked in the box. Would have been a great goal
Uh... No?
PL goals are the yard-stick on which we should judge all our strikers. I mean, obviously. As for ignoring substitute appearances, I think that's fair enough.
Its interesting that you are using as yard stick the only competition that Berba had been able to score in. In fact all his 12 goals came in the EPL. The truth is that Berba had started 27 games in which he was able to score just 12 goals. Nearly all his goals came against weak opposition (Wigan (2), Portsmouth (1), Stoke (1), Sunderland (1), Blackburn (1), Hull (1), Burnley (1) and Bolton (2)). The only solid defense he scored a goal against was Everton. In crucial games he was either sent on the bench or was as prolific as VDS.
It was a tough call. Spurs defense was solid up till that point and we were not incisive. The penalty was a blessing in disguise and a big mistake from Spurs part.
So you where absolutely sure that Evra would have converted that chance into goal? How many goals had Evra scored this year? How many assists had he given?
Sure it is expected, but its also what ppl here critisized the most. Now he's doing it better, yet they still see all black. Not saying he was immense, but he was a lot better than before and certainly doesnt deserve critisism for that game or gets blamed
What have any of those questions got to do with what I said?
I've said that
The flick would have probably lead to nowhere if Spurs defender didn't flattened Evra down.
And you said that its not true.
I just asked how many assists and goals had been made by Evra since you were certain that something would have happened out from that flick.
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BTW you did rated ALL starts back in 2009. So what had changed since then?
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Thank God that you're a traditionalist that prefer strikers to be goal-scorers. No wonder why you're 100% behind Berba.
Exactly. It's all a bit stupid really.
Yesterday was a solid 6 or 7 out of 10 performance. Didn't score but did everything else asked of him as a lone striker, a position that everyone knows does not come naturally to him. Anyone who dares point out he had a decent game gets slagged off for clutching at straws and desperately looking for positives. Berbatov himself gets slagged off over performances in previous games, that have nothing to do with how he did against Spurs.
At the end of the day, a United player who has got a lot of stick in recent weeks put in a decent shift against a quality side (with two central defenders who are bang on form) having a great run of form including recently beating two of the best teams in the league. That should be reason enough to be pleased and praise his performance. A goal or two would have been great but there's not a lot more we can ask and only an idiot would use failure to score as reason enough to criticise the performance of striker playing up top on his own, in any single game.
feck it though, the lines were drawn ages ago. From certain posters the best he can expect is grudging praise when he's a candidate for MOTM. Anything else is reason enough to wheel out the same old agendas. That's the way this place rolls.
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