Dimitar Berbatov | 2009/10 Performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
roodboy said:
It has been a stop start season for Berba - Im not sure if he is 100% fit even at the moment. If he needs surgery then he should go and get it sorted.

Being in and out of the team does seem to be affecting his confidence - but he clearly is still capable of doing something special and that is what I want to focus on in this thread!
Click to expand...

As soon as a player gets injured or sidelined for whatever reason, people are starting to write them off. Look at Nani
He'll do fine. I am sure his injury doesn't require immediate operation if ever

On a different note. He played well today, at least not any worse than the rest. And as the rest of the team, he was more focused in the second half. No one had that good a game anyways. Rooney included
 
The issue though isn't that he never contributes (which is obviously bullshit) but that he probably contributes less than other players we could realistically acquire to replace him.
 
It's not just as easy as 'he's not playing brilliantly so we should get someone in to replace him'.

That's a waste of resources when you know you can still get so much more out of them, it just takes time. Seemingly minor factors can have a big impact.

Sir Alex has never been that ruthless and I'm glad he's not.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
:( Well thats me out of here then. :lol:
Click to expand...

lol Ole.

He didn't look particularly sharp today but, the touch and class are still there. Seemed to hobble around a few times. He's finally starting to take more shots from outside the box, it's been happening now for a few games but, a lot of start stop to him right now to get good form going but, the goal return is there.

I thought him and Rooney looked to get some decent interplay or tried some good things between them even if it didn't come off.

He'll be important for us because those touches, flicks and hold up etc for teams that sit back and defend are going to be important to unlocking defenses.
 
Myxomatosis said:
The issue though isn't that he never contributes (which is obviously bullshit) but that he probably contributes less than other players we could realistically acquire to replace him.
Click to expand...

Don't agree. He contributes in many and different ways. Less in some, more in other ways. Depending on what you look for in a player or in a team, you either see it or not
 
He did very well at the beginning of the season, looked like he was finally going to establish himself as a key part of our team. Unfortunately he picked up that injury at just the wrong time, and hasn't managed to get any consistency since then.

Only saw the last 10 minutes of the match today, so don't know how he went.
 
Brwned said:
It's not just as easy as 'he's not playing brilliantly so we should get someone in to replace him'.

That's a waste of resources when you know you can still get so much more out of them, it just takes time. Seemingly minor factors can have a big impact.

Sir Alex has never been that ruthless and I'm glad he's not.
Click to expand...

No, it's not that easy but eventually there has to come a point where you say he's a skilled player but it's just not working out, like we did with Veron which was probably the right decision in hindsight. I'd say that point is probably this summer if we don't win anything this year and the summer after if we do, assuming his form remains the same as it has been this year.

Perhaps some proper competition for his spot is what he needs to pick it up.
 
I'm not really sure how trophies will affect Berbatov's future when a lot of our success so far has been independent of his performances. I do think a decision about him needs to be made around summer time though - get him a new contract or sell him.

I'd like the former.
 
8 goals in 14 starts and 7 sub appearances isnt bad

far from dire
 
Brwned said:
I'm not really sure how trophies will affect Berbatov's future when a lot of our success so far has been independent of his performances. I do think a decision about him needs to be made around summer time though - get him a new contract or sell him.

I'd like the former.
Click to expand...

It all depends on whether his occasionally sub-standard performances are the result of this knee-problem, or whether SAF has just used that as an excuse. If he is genuinely being troubled by the knee, then I suspect he'll get it sorted over the summer and it's last chance saloon next season.

That said, I don't think his contribution this season has been particularly bad.
 
Brwned said:
I'm not really sure how trophies will affect Berbatov's future when a lot of our success so far has been independent of his performances. I do think a decision about him needs to be made around summer time though - get him a new contract or sell him.

I'd like the former.
Click to expand...

If we win trophies then there's obviously a lot less urgency to replace him. Simple as that.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
He needs to find his early season form again, that's for sure.

His goal return is encouraging (which was one of his biggest criticisms last season) but he needs to get his swagger back. When he's not brimming with confidence he can look very ordinary.
Click to expand...

His best form was definetly the early part of the season, but his knee has disrupted him no end. How long is it that the knee op would keep him out for?
 
It's more a case of his own mentality than it is of his footballing ability, because on his technical ability he's certainly a Manchester United player and has all the talent to succeed here. It's almost like he has stage fright, the goal is promising though, in that he thought hard for the possession - worked himself into an angry shot - and unleashed it perfectly. He and Rooney also occasionally link up well, this can only flourish if Berbatov is played more in cohesion with Rooney. Sadly, he can't seem to string games together at the moment.

You'd expect him to get on the end of quite a few of Valencia's and Nani's crosses in honesty.
 
AdZzUtd said:
It's more a case of his own mentality than it is of his footballing ability, because on his technical ability he's certainly a Manchester United player and has all the talent to succeed here. It's almost like he has stage fright, the goal is promising though, in that he thought hard for the possession - worked himself into an angry shot - and unleashed it perfectly. He and Rooney also occasionally link up well, this can only flourish if Berbatov is played more in cohesion with Rooney. Sadly, he can't seem to string games together at the moment.

You'd expect him to get on the end of quite a few of Valencia's and Nani's crosses in honesty.
Click to expand...

The last 6 league games or so have seen the goals flow in from both strikers. The link between the two actually looks very promising indeed.

At the moment though, Rooney is probably carrying the partnership. Berbatov has been in an out of the side, which can't help. But hey, he scored.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
He needs to find his early season form again, that's for sure.

His goal return is encouraging (which was one of his biggest criticisms last season) but he needs to get his swagger back. When he's not brimming with confidence he can look very ordinary.
Click to expand...

His goal return when he as been playing of late has been very good but still he seems bereft of confidence, which is quite concerning.

What he needs is to star in a big game like Milan, but Fergie does not seem to want to play him in big games. So feck knows when his Spurs "swagger" will ever make its long overdue entrance.
 
Randall Flagg said:
His goal return when he as been playing of late has been very good but still he seems bereft of confidence, which is quite concerning.

What he needs is to star in a big game like Milan, but Fergie does not seem to want to play him in big games. So feck knows when his Spurs "swagger" will ever make its long overdue entrance.
Click to expand...

Was thinking about the Inter away game earlier. He played pretty well in that first leg last season. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we will go Rooney-Berbatov against Milan.
 
Feed Me said:
It all depends on whether his occasionally sub-standard performances are the result of this knee-problem, or whether SAF has just used that as an excuse. If he is genuinely being troubled by the knee, then I suspect he'll get it sorted over the summer and it's last chance saloon next season.

That said, I don't think his contribution this season has been particularly bad.
Click to expand...

Not at all, I think his early season form was excellent in terms of all round play, but he did't quite have the productivity.

Now his all-round play's dropped a level or two, for whatever reason, but his productivity's gotten better.

Gives me hope he'll eventually combine the two for us.

Myxomatosis said:
If we win trophies then there's obviously a lot less urgency to replace him. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

Sir Alex has always been one to build on success, that's why we bought Tevez in 07' despite some excellent football, that's why we bought Berbatov in 08' despite some excellent football.

I don't think Sir Alex is very reactionary at all, quite the opposite. He's not really one for major changes while being successful or success-less*, it's constant progressive change, constant evolution.

*I couldn't be bothered thinking of the right word, I'm that lazy.
 
He struggles with the pricetag - he's said it himself.

I don't agree with the critics that say he slows us down or affects our game. That's rubbish. Today we played 4-4-2. We had two strikers. If players don't shoot you don't score.

What he needs is a run of games and a run of goals but if he's carrying an injury then it will hamper him until the end of the season if he plays with it....

A lot of his problem is in his head. He has to stop being so hard on himself, shrug the pricetag off and enjoy himself
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Fergie played him away at Inter last season, when he had a very good game and we dicked all over them.

You've got to wonder if he's planning the same again. The triple substitution was interesting.
Click to expand...

Rooney, Berbatov. Who was the third player?
 
Striker10 said:
He struggles with the pricetag - he's said it himself.
Click to expand...

He does talk about it, and how the fans feel about him, quite a lot compared to most. Difficult to understand with the way he's oozed confidence on the pitch before at previous clubs.

You'd always back Sir Alex to be able to find a way to man-manage players, but some just don't have it in them.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Fergie played him away at Inter last season, when he had a very good game and we dicked all over them.

You've got to wonder if he's planning the same again. The triple substitution was interesting.
Click to expand...

Not really. We have Villa away on Wednesday so I am sure he has those 3 in mind for that game. But Milan away I will be shocked if we dont play 4-5-1
 
Randall Flagg said:
Not really. We have Villa away on Wednesday so I am sure he has those 3 in mind for that game. But Milan away I will be shocked if we dont play 4-5-1
Click to expand...

4-5-1 comes out in the big games when we're worried about getting a hold of the midfield. But I genuinely believe that we could win the midfield battle with:

Park/Giggs-Fletcher-Carrick-Nani/Valencia.
 
Though he did well today... But Portsmouth defence was shite... Remains to be seen if he can turn the goods on against a team like Milan
 
I was in hysterics when Berbatov got his goal today. The defending from Ben Haim was unbelievably poor. He didn't just back him off and give him space - it's almost as if he tried to make room for Berbatov to shoot! :lol:

Was impressed again with Berbatov today, mind. That pass to Valencia was ridiculous.
 
Brwned said:
Sir Alex has always been one to build on success, that's why we bought Tevez in 07' despite some excellent football, that's why we bought Berbatov in 08' despite some excellent football.

I don't think Sir Alex is very reactionary at all, quite the opposite. He's not really one for major changes while being successful or success-less*, it's constant progressive change, constant evolution.

*I couldn't be bothered thinking of the right word, I'm that lazy.
Click to expand...

I don't really agree with this. He obviously does continue to sign when we're winning but I think he's more likely to make big signings when we're not. Perhaps that's just me though.
 
He's scored the same number as Adebayor (admittedly who has had a break) and Anelka this year. He's doing fine goal-wise, he'll end up around the 15 mark which is fine provided Rooney makes at least 30!

His play today wasn't his very best but was good nonetheless. It only takes a couple of Rooney, Berbatov, Valencia, Nani and Fletcher (in today's case) to have a really good game to make the team play well, which is the most important thing. Team.
 
For me he is still under our expectations: two great chances and he scored once. Versus Milan you have one chance if you missed you are zero.
 
Myxomatosis said:
I don't really agree with this. He obviously does continue to sign when we're winning but I think he's more likely to make big signings when we're not. Perhaps that's just me though.
Click to expand...

Is it based on any particular seasons when big changes are needed and he's made them?

I can't think of many.

Even when he made probably the biggest change of his time here he did it by promoting from within and getting rid of Ince, Kanchelskis etc. rather than going out and buying plenty.
 
Dunno how accurate these are.. from fantasy.premierleague.com
Mins per goal in the league this season:
96mins Rooney(21 goals)
100mins Torres(12 goals)
111mins Drogba(15 goals)
119mins Defoe(15 goals)
136mins Van Persie(7 goals)
148mins Tevez(12 goals)
152mins Bent(14 goals)
155mins Berba(8 goals)
162mins Adebayor(8 goals)
209mins Anelka(8 goals)
 
The fact he's much better off than Anelka despite so many people moaning about us signing Berbatov instead of him is quite interesting.
 
Berba had a fat ass pricetag that was ciaused largely by citeh activating cheat mode as they did and having infinite transfer money. If it wasn't for that we'd probably have got him for a few mill less. He's mentioned his fee a few times - not ideal. He needs a touch of context on that, as do a few hyper-critical fans, who seem to have a very clear relationship between transfer price and ability in their heads which is not consistently born out by the real world in my opinion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.