I'd fall off my chair and eat my hat, simultaneously, if Berba scores that amount.
Dimitar Berbatov | 2010/11 Performances
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I'd fall off my chair and eat my hat, simultaneously, if Berba scores that amount.
Yeah but Lucio isnt posting on here. He says he never doubted him. And frankly few people on here believe he's realistically going to win the thing... I mean he'd have to be better than Rooney was last season. Lets have 3 months of that before hop skipping and then jumping to conclusions.
I disagree. Berbatov has a great first touch and great volleying technique.
But with the rest his technical ability isnt close to Ronaldinho or Zidane. Although those two particular techniques can combine for great goals like against Liverpool.
Zidane technique was not superior to Berbatov's. Or Bergkamp's either. Zidane was hardly about being overly pleasing to the eyes and showy ala Berba and Ronaldinho. His genius ala Scholes was in keeping things simple and text book exact and making it look so easy in hard situations.
Well, that moment vs Wham two years ago wasn't about first touch and volleying technique.
30+ goals? No chance. I think he'll get a little over 20, maybe 25, and I'll be happy with that.
Ronaldinho was in an absolute world of his own with technique and creativity. Can't compare Berbatov to him.
Yes. That moment vs West Ham two years ago. Or the year before that at Spurs where he tried the same trick. But its every year or years and to be honest although its a great skill, its more his positional awareness thats impressive there to make sure he doesnt run out of pitch.
Zidane's technique is fantastic. That has nothing at all to do with flair. Its about accuracy and touch in any given situation with multiple parts of the body. For example his amazing left footed volley in the champions league.
Berbatov's technique is all in his right foot. He doesnt use the left too often and he certainly doesnt achieve technically brilliant things with it.
They were better than Berba as all around players, including creatively, but you can see that Berba has similar qualities that if harnessed and executed properly, are quite special.
His short range passing is great as well. He weights those passes superbly.
If the award was given out now he'd probably win the thing, hatricks vs Pool don't happen very often and that will live longer in peoples memory than any of Drogba or Maloudas goals against relegation fodder.
Made a couple of errors on Sunday. That shot about 3 minutes in was a bit too much with an onside Giggs with an easy tap in waiting. Then there was that counter attack where at the time Rooney was in an onside position and Berba chose to drag it down and run into a corner while Rooney was then played into an offside position.
he didn't have a good game but the service wasn't good as уевв
still, 30 successful passes (from 33), compared to Drogba who made only 3 successful passes against City and misplaced 7
I thought that at first as well, but in the replay you can see the defender is actually in the perfect place to cut out the pass. I'm pretty sure he was just lucky rather than good positioning, but he made it almost impossible for Berbatov to get it across to Giggs in a good position without either the defender or the keeper cutting it out.
Well no, he didn't have a bad game. Was just alluding to a couple of errors but other then that played well. Rooney had a much bigger stinker then Berba.
In saying that, its nice to see he's got his confidence up.
Wow, no comments, this thread is getting like a wanking festival 
...thinking about what was said here on him here these past years.
...thinking about what was said here on him here these past years.
I thought he had a quiet game against Bolton but then again the entire team played poorly
Wow, no comments, this thread is getting like a wanking festival
...thinking about what was said here on him here these past years.
Well, not to be the party pooper, but they'll return if he can't keep his performance up. But its nice to see this Berbatov for a change.
found this interview...apologies if posted before...
DIMITAR BERBATOV INTERVIEW
The Devil inside
By Kevin Palmer
(Archive)
September 28, 2010
* Comment
* Email
* Print
He was written off as a £30.75 million flop whose price tag was as big as his mood swings, yet Dimitar Berbatov is rapidly emerging as Manchester United's biggest asset as they look to return to the Champions League top table.
Nani, Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs
PA Photos
Dimitar Berbatov has enjoyed a return to form this season
With Wayne Rooney continuing to drown under the weight of his own self-induced stupidity, his much maligned scoring buddy looks ready to emerge as United's new talisman and is relishing his new found status in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
The Bulgarian's army of critics had penned poisonous obituaries for Berbatov after his first two seasons at Old Trafford led many to believe he lacked the temperament to deal with the demands that go with playing for the true giant of English football. That notoriously relaxed demeanour of his made Berbatov an easy target for the sceptics until he burst out of his shell in the most glorious fashion imaginable over the last month.
Producing performances and goals that have won over his fiercest critics, Berbatov's brilliant hat-trick against Liverpool earlier this month will go down in Old Trafford folklore as one of the great performances, in a fixture that means more to United fans than any other.
As he reflects on his rocky road as a United forward, Berbatov admits his initial contributions were not up to scratch as he tried to get the better of his nerves.
"I was disappointed by my own performances at the start of my time at United and I didn't need to be told I could do better," Berbatov says. "It was frustrating that I was not pleasing the supporters and playing at my best, but things have started to change and this is so exciting for me.
"There are many great players at this club and you need to show you are good enough to compete with them. It means there is some pressure and this made me nervous to start with, but I won the Premier League in my first season at United, which was not a terrible outcome for a guy who played as badly as they said I did.
"I always say scoring goals is only part of my game. Making goals for others can be a big thrill and I believe I have done this in a lot of important moments at United. As long as my manager is happy with me, he is the only one who matters.
"It took time to understand how good this team is because everyone has such great movement and it's not just about one important player. Everyone is important at United and hopefully I'm showing what I can do for this team now. It's a privilege to play for this great club and the feeling I have in front of the Old Trafford crowd is amazing.
"Things have started well for me this season, but I want to have more great days like the one against Liverpool. I went home to see my family after that game with a smile on my face, but you do not have time to sit back and think about how great that moment was. The next day was the start of a new challenge, which is how it works at United."
There has never been any doubt about the talent of this maverick striker, with his sublime touch and occasion flashes of genius making his general indifference in United colours all the more frustrating for those wanting him to shed the inconsistency that has plagued his career at the club.
"Half the people seem to think I'm a good player and the rest don't like me, but my expectations and standards are more important than what others think," says Berbatov, speaking in a typically uninspired tone as he confronts the thorny issue of his languid on-pitch demeanour.
"Maybe the critics take exception because of the way I look on the pitch, but I'm a relaxed guy and will never change. Some say I'm lazy, but my manager at United is happy with me and I have more respect for him than anyone else. Those who say I don't care don't know me. Don't just look at my face and judge me, because the way I look is not always how I feel."
Berbatov credits his United revival to a fitness regime that saw him return from the summer break in top shape, with his pre-season performances suggesting he had discovered a new drive and determination to make the most of what may have been his final season at Old Trafford if he had not found his form.
Revealing he spent his summer of inactivity running for miles to improve his physical conditioning, he now says he "feels alive" on the pitch and "no longer suffers from the fatigue that was a problem at times in the past".
Dimitar Berbatov
PA Photos
Dimitar Berbatov has called time on his international career
Berbatov's transformation may also have something to do with his decision to pull down the curtain on an international career that was often a burden he could have done without. Even though he set records galore with the national team, the criticism he attracts was never far away when he played for his country.
"I always said I wouldn't play international football when I got close to the age of 30 and my decision will not change," he says, even though new Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthaus is hopeful of persuading the national team's all-time record scorer to return to national duty.
"It was a great moment for me when I scored my 48th goal and broke Hristo Stoichkov's record with the national team last year. This was also the perfect moment for me to say that chapter had come to an end. Even though this wasn't an easy decision, it is one I am happy with.
"No matter how hard I try to perform in the Bulgaria shirt, I got insults for my performances. There were always people who were not happy with me when I played for Bulgaria, so I don't have to worry about this anymore." Happiness off the field may well be at the root of Berbatov's current burst of inspiration, with his long-term relationship with partner Elena and the arrival of daughter Dea last year giving his personal life a very different perspective.
The magnitude of fatherhood may well have helped to provide a sprinkling of perspective on his sporting woes and he now has his sights set on the biggest prize of them all. "I came to this club to win the Champions League and this is the trophy I want," he says.
The striker who has spent the last couple of years running scared of withering criticism must be relieved that his focus is, once again, on his qualities rather than his deficiencies. Class tends to rise to the top in the end.
DIMITAR BERBATOV INTERVIEW
The Devil inside
By Kevin Palmer
(Archive)
September 28, 2010
* Comment
He was written off as a £30.75 million flop whose price tag was as big as his mood swings, yet Dimitar Berbatov is rapidly emerging as Manchester United's biggest asset as they look to return to the Champions League top table.
Nani, Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs
PA Photos
Dimitar Berbatov has enjoyed a return to form this season
With Wayne Rooney continuing to drown under the weight of his own self-induced stupidity, his much maligned scoring buddy looks ready to emerge as United's new talisman and is relishing his new found status in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
The Bulgarian's army of critics had penned poisonous obituaries for Berbatov after his first two seasons at Old Trafford led many to believe he lacked the temperament to deal with the demands that go with playing for the true giant of English football. That notoriously relaxed demeanour of his made Berbatov an easy target for the sceptics until he burst out of his shell in the most glorious fashion imaginable over the last month.
Producing performances and goals that have won over his fiercest critics, Berbatov's brilliant hat-trick against Liverpool earlier this month will go down in Old Trafford folklore as one of the great performances, in a fixture that means more to United fans than any other.
As he reflects on his rocky road as a United forward, Berbatov admits his initial contributions were not up to scratch as he tried to get the better of his nerves.
"I was disappointed by my own performances at the start of my time at United and I didn't need to be told I could do better," Berbatov says. "It was frustrating that I was not pleasing the supporters and playing at my best, but things have started to change and this is so exciting for me.
"There are many great players at this club and you need to show you are good enough to compete with them. It means there is some pressure and this made me nervous to start with, but I won the Premier League in my first season at United, which was not a terrible outcome for a guy who played as badly as they said I did.
"I always say scoring goals is only part of my game. Making goals for others can be a big thrill and I believe I have done this in a lot of important moments at United. As long as my manager is happy with me, he is the only one who matters.
"It took time to understand how good this team is because everyone has such great movement and it's not just about one important player. Everyone is important at United and hopefully I'm showing what I can do for this team now. It's a privilege to play for this great club and the feeling I have in front of the Old Trafford crowd is amazing.
"Things have started well for me this season, but I want to have more great days like the one against Liverpool. I went home to see my family after that game with a smile on my face, but you do not have time to sit back and think about how great that moment was. The next day was the start of a new challenge, which is how it works at United."
There has never been any doubt about the talent of this maverick striker, with his sublime touch and occasion flashes of genius making his general indifference in United colours all the more frustrating for those wanting him to shed the inconsistency that has plagued his career at the club.
"Half the people seem to think I'm a good player and the rest don't like me, but my expectations and standards are more important than what others think," says Berbatov, speaking in a typically uninspired tone as he confronts the thorny issue of his languid on-pitch demeanour.
"Maybe the critics take exception because of the way I look on the pitch, but I'm a relaxed guy and will never change. Some say I'm lazy, but my manager at United is happy with me and I have more respect for him than anyone else. Those who say I don't care don't know me. Don't just look at my face and judge me, because the way I look is not always how I feel."
Berbatov credits his United revival to a fitness regime that saw him return from the summer break in top shape, with his pre-season performances suggesting he had discovered a new drive and determination to make the most of what may have been his final season at Old Trafford if he had not found his form.
Revealing he spent his summer of inactivity running for miles to improve his physical conditioning, he now says he "feels alive" on the pitch and "no longer suffers from the fatigue that was a problem at times in the past".
Dimitar Berbatov
PA Photos
Dimitar Berbatov has called time on his international career
Berbatov's transformation may also have something to do with his decision to pull down the curtain on an international career that was often a burden he could have done without. Even though he set records galore with the national team, the criticism he attracts was never far away when he played for his country.
"I always said I wouldn't play international football when I got close to the age of 30 and my decision will not change," he says, even though new Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthaus is hopeful of persuading the national team's all-time record scorer to return to national duty.
"It was a great moment for me when I scored my 48th goal and broke Hristo Stoichkov's record with the national team last year. This was also the perfect moment for me to say that chapter had come to an end. Even though this wasn't an easy decision, it is one I am happy with.
"No matter how hard I try to perform in the Bulgaria shirt, I got insults for my performances. There were always people who were not happy with me when I played for Bulgaria, so I don't have to worry about this anymore." Happiness off the field may well be at the root of Berbatov's current burst of inspiration, with his long-term relationship with partner Elena and the arrival of daughter Dea last year giving his personal life a very different perspective.
The magnitude of fatherhood may well have helped to provide a sprinkling of perspective on his sporting woes and he now has his sights set on the biggest prize of them all. "I came to this club to win the Champions League and this is the trophy I want," he says.
The striker who has spent the last couple of years running scared of withering criticism must be relieved that his focus is, once again, on his qualities rather than his deficiencies. Class tends to rise to the top in the end.
Had pretty much zero service tonight so wasn't involved an awful lot but still managed to create himself two goalscoring opportunities. Difficult to say he had a good game per se, but worth noting that when the time came he was on his toes and ready to make something happen. I'm liking the 2010/11 Berbatov very much.
Thats true. Was not as influential but that was expected considerign he was playing alone upfront. His pace seems to have improved and he seems to be winning more headers this season.
Considering the form he is in right now, He should have probably scored in that one - on - one situation that he so brilliantly created for himself.
We struggled with him alone up front, went to 2 strikers and looked like we might win. Then we did win. Play him in a 2. We have some strikers in form to play next to him, there's no reason not to.
Yes there is. A very good reason, as we saw last night. The defensive solidity you get in a 451.
That was standard away tactics in Europe last night. We looked no less threatening with Berbatov up front on his own than we've seen in a whole bunch of games with Rooney up top. Sticking an extra striker on for the last 15 minutes meant we could take advantage of a tired defence and nick the game with a late goal.
Bizarre that anyone could watch that game and think Fergie got his formation/tactics wrong.
That was standard away tactics in Europe last night. We looked no less threatening with Berbatov up front on his own than we've seen in a whole bunch of games with Rooney up top. Sticking an extra striker on for the last 15 minutes meant we could take advantage of a tired defence and nick the game with a late goal.
Bizarre that anyone could watch that game and think Fergie got his formation/tactics wrong.
He did and thats why we were shite until he changed it. They got their tactics wrong too.
We let them off and didnt put their weak defence under pressure. We wouldnt have had to worry about defending as much if we'd have got a couple of goals at the other end, and we'd have done so with some pace next to Berbatov to get in behind their high line.
We made them look better than they are by not playing to our own strengths or being much of a threat in the final third, where their weakness is. As such it was a tight game.
You don't take into account several facts: 1) we have been very vulnerable at the back this season, 2) that was the first big game for Rafael and Rio for months, 3) that was the first big game for Carrick and Anderson since their injuries, 4) Park isn't in good form.
Given all these circumstances, and our bad record in Spain, it would have been too risky to play 4-4-2.
You dont take into account several facts : 1) Valencia have been very very vulnerable at the back for 3 seasons since they let Roberto Ayala go. They have extremely average defenders and they are often exposed by nobodies, purely because they play a high line and constantly cock up the offside trap.
2) Their best player is injured (Banega), and their best ball carrier too (Joaquin)
3) This was both Tino Costa and Roberto Soldado's 3rd starts for Valencia. New players needing to adjust. We of course had no such problem with no big new signings to bed in
4) Miguel, Chori Dominguez, Maduro arent in good form
5) A large amount of their team dont have champions league experience. They sold 4 of their best and most experienced players in the summer.
We showed fear like we were playing the best team in la liga. But they're only top of the league because they've only faced one decent team so far in Ateltico Madrid at home, and they only got a point. Sir Alex even talked about the possibility of Valencia winning the champions league. He must have been really impressed from his one game watching them, against Atletico last week. I wasnt.
We conceded 7 goals against Fulham, Everton and Bolton but we shouldn't have feared Valencia. Well, I don't think you are right.
I think Berbatov needs to stop or otherwise at least cut down on his constant moaning on the bench. He has started well but games like last night when you need the service but not getting it, don't take it out on team mates as whenever a ball went astray he was moaning.
You watch a team every week and you see the patterns of how they keep conceeding and losing points. And the team's limitations. Valencia's weaknesses are quite a few and quite severe in some cases.
The main ones all being in defence as Valencia have refused to pay more than a few pennies on buying defenders for the past 3 seasons. Even Cesar came on a free, even though he's been excellent for them. Point is money wasnt spent.
Mathieu free. Maduro was bought as a midfielder but wasnt good enough so moved into defence. Navarro was on loan at Mallorca for 2 seasons, before last season. Miguel is a catastrophe and suffering depression. Or he was mid-way through last season.
Valencia invested in strikers to replace Villa and Silva, and bolstered the midfield with a couple of signings there. They continue to ignore their weakness at the back and try and build a champions league defence on a shoestring. We should have pulled that shoestring so it came untied, but we didnt put any pressure on it till the last 20 minutes of the game. If we'd done it in the first 20 minutes we'd have been comfortable.
He really wasn’t in the game last night. Not his fault, as there was no service. But I laughed at some of the ratings in the ratings thread. He is getting 7’s dished out all over the shop. How can you give someone a 7 when he barely affected the game one bit, even though it was through no fault of his own but the fact is his input deserved nowhere near a 7.
The caf is deluded at times
The caf is deluded at times
ekeke,
we got our tactics spot on last night, considering our leaky defence and stuttering form a 1-0 away win in europe to a team top of la liga is perfect, no risk, no thrills, 3 points in the bag, whats wrong in that?
There was plenty of risk leaving it till the last 20 minutes and asking 2 youngsters to come off the bench and turn the game around. He made good subs for sure.
He deserved 7 because he was very good on the ball when he received it. He was involved in the few good attacks before our goal. Had he scored from the chance he created for himself in the second half, he would have been MotM.
Imagine Messi playing for a crap team and touching the ball only 2-3 times for the whole game. Would you give him 3 because he had no service and barely touched the ball the whole game? Of course not because "3" means "plainly crap" or similar. "5" means "poor" and Berbatov was far from poor last night.
Playing the role of lone front man is never easy. The player is usually on the periphery of most things and will not get involved much as it's not his role to do so other than to let the opposition leave at least 2 men back.
Berba was decent in the role but it's not a role that suits him.
Berba was decent in the role but it's not a role that suits him.
Well implying a rating anything below 5 or 6 would mean he was crap, wouldn't it? And the simple truth is he wasn't. He was probably our best performer, along with Rafael, Rio and Nani.
Berbatov was probably the only one from our midfield onwards who didn't constantly give the ball away, especially in the first half.
I understand what you mean though, but if Berbatov deserved anything less then a 7, then only 2 of our players deserved a 7 or above - Rafael and Rio who I thought were both outstanding.
I don't think that the role doesn't "suit" him, even though I agree that the lone front man role should be occupied preferably by someone with a bit more pace etc. But if we had someone more creative on the left providing service to the forward, I think given the chance Berbatov could have easily done something against that back 2 as they didn't look like anything special.
I thought Berbatov did well last night and if you consider that our midfield didn't provide him with 1 ounce of service at all last night - imagine if that individual run and shot had gone in under Cesar then it would have capped off probably a perfect display of being a lone striker with absolutely no service.
Berba movement this season has been far better he has been moving all across the front line and working the channels.
SAF played a very defensive lineup part of it forced due to injuries and part of it tactical.
Park was very poor. Carrick looked understandably rusty. Fletcher was all action. Anderson looked fat but did ok.
Nani was hit and miss.
Berba did the best out of meagre chances. As to his hysterionics it really depends on the team whether its counter productive or not. On some teams wild gesticulating got the message across on other teams I played it was not the done thing so hard to say whetehr his moaning was the right or wrong way to get the message across.
SAF played a very defensive lineup part of it forced due to injuries and part of it tactical.
Park was very poor. Carrick looked understandably rusty. Fletcher was all action. Anderson looked fat but did ok.
Nani was hit and miss.
Berba did the best out of meagre chances. As to his hysterionics it really depends on the team whether its counter productive or not. On some teams wild gesticulating got the message across on other teams I played it was not the done thing so hard to say whetehr his moaning was the right or wrong way to get the message across.
He's taking alot more shots on, he's very confidence
berbatov was back to his lethargic worst last night...he had a shit game and he was crap at bolton too....why oh why cant he just find a level of consistency that most top players can???
Do you ever post anything other than nonsense?
There was nothing wrong with his performance last night, he was secluded up top, had no service so he had to keep coming deep to get the ball. Made 2 chances for himself, the 2nd one after a glorious first touch and run, and was very unlucky Cesar made such a good safe.
Absolutely nothing wrong with him last night, just because he's not scoring a fecking hat-trick.
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