He did quite well, had lots of space for his header which he missed. But its not like it was the best oppertunity we missed today. Giggs and Rooney had chances that were just as good, maybe better. Scholes saved everyone's bacon not just Berbatov's.
Dimitar Berbatov | 2009/10 Performances
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I've been saying it all along he is a great striker but not the striker we need. I am not saying that by getting rid of Berba we would solve the problem. There are far bigger problems that the Bulgarian (in fact I think that Dmitar is struggling also because of such problems). Stating that, don't tell me that I should be over the moon because a player gave two decent passes and work a bit.
He did do well when he came on today. Fair's fair. No point bashing him for the sake of it in the face of a decent 20 minute cameo.
Good for you, and I don't mean that sarcastically.
So on par with everyone bar Scholes then?
Looked like he wanted the ball, came deep a couple of times and retained possession very well in the heart of City's midfield.
I'm not trying to overstate what he did by any means though, I do like him although I do also think he won't be here by the start of next season, which will be a shame.
I'm not trying to overstate what he did by any means though, I do like him although I do also think he won't be here by the start of next season, which will be a shame.
that's a correct statement.
This!
Did decent, lets just leave it at that.
Another fair point.
This last page here brings tears to my eyes. I hope Berba gets better and more support will follow.
Just remember. Nani is in his 3rd season and he's only improved now at the end of it. Believe in him a bit more
Just remember. Nani is in his 3rd season and he's only improved now at the end of it. Believe in him a bit more
Two nice pieces of play from deep midfield, one decent header that was a good chance, thought he might have been on earlier as Rooney definitely wasn't fully fit.
Really not a fair comparison that. Given Nani was 20 odd when we signed him and not at the peak of his career.
Berbatov didn't do anything wrong today which is good.
You could see him on the touchline reading the game just like Ole used to do, so that when he came on he already knew City's weaknesses.
Although he did ok when he came on, we shouldn't start acting as if he was the reason the game turned in our favour.
Everyone was incredibly lucky Scholes took the game by the scruff of the neck, Berbatov included.
Everyone was incredibly lucky Scholes took the game by the scruff of the neck, Berbatov included.
Thought he did okay when he came on. At least he was in the box when we put crosses in.
We also shouldn't start arguing against claims which nobody has made.
are we?
Dunno? Are you?
It was a generic statement not aimed at anyone.
Although someone made the comparison to Solskjaer, not sure how he knows Berbatov read the City's defences. But in terms of impact it was nowhere near the same.
Aye, that was an odd comment.
He definitely improved our attacking football when he came on but it was nothing like an Ole cameo.
My point was that when the camera went to the bench (and to the touchline) he was one of the few players actually looking at the game intently (especially when he was warming up). That was the parallel I was drawing with Ole, they're obviously very different players.
Came on, posed a threat, looked good and did well........was invisible for the first 70 minutes though....
Looked good when he came on, very strong on the ball alot better than last week. What he needs is a really big goal to kick start things for him, I'd play him with Rooney next weekend.
well yeah that too, but he always gets in there when the midfield dominates. otherwise they always drop deep. rooney too and everyone else as well. who plays well/gets in/ when there's no service?
I don't think so, I'm pretty sure I haven't commented on his performance one way or the other!
Nah, to say it was like an Ole sub wouldn't be that close to the mark. But he had good enough moments in the less than 20 minutes he had on the pitch to say his introduction was a good one, and he did well with the time he was given. Not least holding the ball up in the middle after several minutes of City pressure, allowing us to push up the pitch ourselves and ultimately score.
Credit where credit's due, is all I'm saying, there's no need to begrudge him a little praise and support.
EDIT:
As it was his hold up play that turned the pressure back in our favour for the goal to be scored, it's arguable that he did turn the game in our favour*
*I'm not really arguing that : p
I don't think so, I'm pretty sure I haven't commented on his performance one way or the other!
Nah, to say it was like an Ole sub wouldn't be that close to the mark. But he had good enough moments in the less than 20 minutes he had on the pitch to say his introduction was a good one, and he did well with the time he was given. Not least holding the ball up in the middle after several minutes of City pressure, allowing us to push up the pitch ourselves and ultimately score.
Credit where credit's due, is all I'm saying, there's no need to begrudge him a little praise and support.
EDIT:
As it was his hold up play that turned the pressure back in our favour for the goal to be scored, it's arguable that he did turn the game in our favour*
*I'm not really arguing that : p
nice post
are some people here so blinded by hate for berba that they would begrudge him that?
Doing 'alright' for 20 minutes in one game is not enough to discount his overall incompatibility with our well shaped system over two years.
He - and we - should move on.
He - and we - should move on.
It hasn't really been a well shaped system over the past 2 years though has it, it changes on a weekly basis and falls apart when Rooney gets injured.
nice post
are some people here so blinded by hate for berba that they would begrudge him that?
He's not reading. He's not a little chick. He doesnt need to be mollycoddled on the internet.
And if he was or did need any of those things, then that would be half the problem. Even if he was here reading these posts, he should have the attitude not to care or to use it as fuel to prove people wrong. I don't see why there's a need to be so overprotective.
The more matches he plays like today's, the more he proves himself in different ways (goal scoring off the bench, a goal in a big match and so on) the more support he'll garner. Trouble is time is running out in more ways than one.
Its a situation a 29 year old shouldnt really be in, still needing to prove themself as a top player if they are going to be one, still needing to prove they are good enough for a top club and can handle all the responsibilities of being a starter in one of those sides. But thats how it is because we took the decision to spend a lot of money on a "premiership proven" striker who was 27 years of age. When you do that the player is either an immediate success, hence the big fee, or that player has a lot to do to prove themself in a short space of time. Finding their place in the squad as an average backup isnt going to be good enough. The expectations were set high when the money was agreed. Both the fee and the contract which promises him high wages. And he agreed to all of that when he signed.
Even if the worst comes to the worst from his point of view and he isnt here next season, he'll have a medal or two to show for his time at the club. A player who hasnt really delivered or proven he's a top class player couldnt have too many complaints about that.
I hear people saying it's his style that's causing all the noise from the supporters which is untrue. It might be for some, but it's the lack of GOALS for me. It has to be.
The lack of goals. That is Berbatovs biggest failing. This seasons been an improvement but 12 goals.........12..........He's a great player but he needs to score more. He has the ability to. He did for spurs. What reason is there to suddenly lose the ability to get 20+ a season?
His general play has improved this season and he is sharp BUT he needs more goals.
The lack of goals. That is Berbatovs biggest failing. This seasons been an improvement but 12 goals.........12..........He's a great player but he needs to score more. He has the ability to. He did for spurs. What reason is there to suddenly lose the ability to get 20+ a season?
His general play has improved this season and he is sharp BUT he needs more goals.
Pretty obvious really. The fact he's only started 21 games.
12 league goals in 21 league starts is a decent return. Citing lack of goals as his biggest failing this season makes no sense.
It has suffered because of having Berbatov as our main strike alternative.
It is obvious to anyone that SAF now favours a 451 or a 433, with the 442 only really being used against the minnows.
And it is obvious, even to the most ardent Berba fan, that he does not fit this vision, at all.
We need a player who can partner and deputize Wayne Rooney, this is a fact that has become painfully apparent during the business end of this season. Berbatov is not that player.
Correct.
I'm surprised either side of the argument is finding much ammo in today's cameo, I do wonder if he should have been on sooner though, Rooney was mostly at walking pace in the second half.
12 goals is fine... If a bunch of them were in the big matches and a couple after coming off the bench.
12 goals against easy teams, 0 off the bench in 2 seasons at United and 1 goal in plenty of involvement against the big sides in those 2 seasons is just not enough. It still leaves question marks and areas where he hasnt been good enough.
Even though really 12 goals is fine from 30 league starts. Its just that he's only reliable in certain kinds of matches where other much lesser players could score a similar amount of goals. It's simply too much of a comprimise on what we thought we were getting for the £31 million and making him one of the highest paid players at the club. A luxury. And one we probably wouldnt miss too much.
One more thing I forgot to mention. 0 goals in the champions league this season. Its all entirely unconvincing.
Agreed, he's a luxary really, a very expensive one at that, integral to our side?, no, not even close.
A partner and deputy for Rooney in one player? Do they sell them at the moon on a stick store? In a 442 Rooney needs a player that wont steal the limelight and just lets him play, the polar opposite of being his deputy. Berbatov is the best I've seen next to Rooney in that short spell this year when Carrick wasn't rubbish. He was up to about 8 in 10 starts before the squad started to tire.
That's wrong.
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