Think that has more to do with him just being significantly better than our other options than anything else.
Chances are the win % ratio would be much better with any striker we've bought that cost £30m.
And then there's the limited amount of big games he's started which makes the stats slightly more favourable.
I mean, I'm glad to have him in the team but that stat that you continually bring up isn't the be all and end all.
Personally I think stats like possession(which has improved a lot since his signing) is more relevant because it's something he's directly contributing to that everyone can see.
Fully agree here, the question wasn't whether he has contributed as much as a 30m striker should/would have contributed(which he hasn't IMO) but whether we were successful
despite having him in our squad. I see things roughly as Meulensteen sees them:
DIMITAR Berbatov has been singled out as the player to take Manchester United to "another level" - but the mercurial Bulgarian continues to split opinion at Old Trafford.
One of Sir Alex Ferguson's most trusted confidants, first team coach Rene Meulensteen, is convinced Berbatov can become a United legend - if he can get on the same wavelength as his teammates.
The debate about the £30.75m striker rages on a season-and-a-half since he was signed from Tottenham on a dramatic transfer deadline day in September last year. But with just four goals in 18 appearances this season there can be little argument that United are yet to get their money's worth.
Against Wolves on Tuesday night, he took his current sparse run to one goal in his last eight appearances at club level, even if some of those have been as a substitute.
But the question marks surrounding Berbatov are not so much what has gone, but what is still to come from a man who Ferguson fought so doggedly to sign.
His detractors argue that his work rate is simply not good enough; that too often his languid style breaks down promising attacks and that his strike rate nothing like what is expected of a top class, international forward.
His supporters, however, claim he has a rare ability to unlock defences. That he is one of the most technically gifted players in the Premier League - and that his inconsistent performances for United are a result of his team-mates not being on his wavelength and therefore unable to capitalise on his vision.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between - but at a time when United appear to be hitting their free-scoring best, Berbatov has been conspicuous by his absence.
Berbatov admitted this week that the size of his club record price-tag had weighed heavily on his shoulders. And the Manchester Evening News' message boards are constantly filled with debate as to whether he is up to the task of being a United star.
But Meulensteen insists he has all the attributes to not only succeed at Old Trafford, but lead United back to the summit of European football.
"I can understand fans' point of view," said the man who played a pivotal role in Cristiano Ronaldo's development at United. "But the manager brought him here for obvious reasons.
United tempo
"I like him as a player. I've always said to him that that he can take United to a different level than most other players can. What he needs to understand is that United is a high-energy team that wants to play with tempo - attractive, forward-playing football.
"It is a combination of marrying the two things together."
Ferguson admitted in the summer that he had not used Berbatov correctly in his first season at United, insisting he would play him further forward this term.
There have been few signs of that working this season with Berbatov actually scoring six goals in his first 18 appearances last year, two better off than he is now.
Meulensteen's comments are further evidence that United are struggling to incorporate his style into their play, but the Dutch coach insists he can live up to his lofty reputation.
"Berbatov has certain qualities like drifting into spaces and cutting in the ball and not everyone appreciates the quality he can produce," he said. "I think he still knows there is another level or a couple of other levels still to come.
"Everyone is looking forward to that because if we see the best of Berbatov then I don't think we are going to lose many games."
