He's a shirker. Doesn't want the responsibility of the ball. The centre backs pass him the ball, urging him to turn on it and move us forward, yet he always passes it immediately back to them. Doesn't want the responsibility. Nothing player.
Tom Cleverley | 2012-14 Performances
- Thread starter Bebe
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He was decent tonight. Didn't really offer much going forward but he was competent in possession and broke up the play well at times.
Very good off the ball tonight, okay on it, especially in the second half.
He had a good game. Was probably our best passer. Kept it neat, simple and consistent.
One poster in the match day thread blamed Cleverley for a back pass that Carrick made. Sure you arent getting Cleverely confused with Smalling when you watch the game?. You appear to have trouble recognizing faces...
I think that was a fine performance tbh. Can't expect much more from your squad players which essentially is what Cleverley is or should be soon.
I thought he was busy and a constant pain in the arse, was a really decent effort
I'm quite sure thanks. Not sure what that one poster in the match day thread has to do with me. You appear to have trouble spotting a good performance.
I don't think he was particularly good, but not particularly poor either.. just, Cleverley.
Typical hard-working performance from him where he got around the pitch picking up the ball but doing very little with it. If we played with 3 midfielders in the middle, perhaps he could get away with it.
Typical hard-working performance from him where he got around the pitch picking up the ball but doing very little with it. If we played with 3 midfielders in the middle, perhaps he could get away with it.
Still could have been braver in possession but back-tackled and intercepted for fun all night. Concentration was excellent throughout.
United fans often wonder what part of the game does Cleverley actually excel at. Well for me its obvious from his performance tonight; he reads the game fantastically. Not sure whether that alone is enough to make him a top class midfielder but it does give him a chance of improving into one as its a great skill to have.
United fans often wonder what part of the game does Cleverley actually excel at. Well for me its obvious from his performance tonight; he reads the game fantastically. Not sure whether that alone is enough to make him a top class midfielder but it does give him a chance of improving into one as its a great skill to have.
Worked well defensively. Him and Carrick protected the defence well. Going forward he gave us nothing.
Defensively he was very good. Broke up a few Arsenal attacks and was in the right place at the right time a few times. Attacking wise he threw away a lot of our attacks with his slow play, along with Valencia.
That performance deserves a run of games now.
He did actually try and get forward. Made a lot of decent runs from deep. Might have got more joy against a weaker team.
Best defensive effort from him I can remember.
He did actually try and get forward. Made a lot of decent runs from deep. Might have got more joy against a weaker team.
Best defensive effort from him I can remember.
You have to take into account both sides. Defensively he did a fine job next to Carrick. Between the two of them it was like night and day from the previous match when the midfield duo werent taking any defensive responsibility. Cleverley and Carrick did that today. Could have been better, we arent talking about makelele in his prime or something but a very honest good job protecting the backline.
The other side is that on the ball he was incredibly average.
Overall enough to say he should be starting the next game
The other side is that on the ball he was incredibly average.
Overall enough to say he should be starting the next game
There was never any sort of movement ahead of him, hell even Rooney/Mata resorted to hoofing the ball up the field because we were playing so deep
Amazing. I saw you comment on that one incident in the matchday thread. Beggars belief that you're now extrapolating from that to his performance for the whole game. It happened once FFS.
Better 2nd half and showed glimpses of an effective CM. Not a great performance but better than anything we've seen in a long time.
I thought he played well tonight, especially as it looks like we are trying to convert him into more of a defensive role. The lad used to play in more of the number 10 position so he's adapting his game slowly and looked solid at breaking the play up and keeping the possession ticking over.
He didn't set the world alight sure but no one else did either so using him as a scapegoat when we had Mata, Rooney and RVP on the pitch in the offensive positions is harsh.
He didn't set the world alight sure but no one else did either so using him as a scapegoat when we had Mata, Rooney and RVP on the pitch in the offensive positions is harsh.
There were times in the first half where he and Valencia were in space on the right, with two Arsenal players around them. They just waited for the Arsenal players to apply some pressure on them and they consequently lost the ball.
It happens loads in every game he plays. Or have you never seen Cleverley play? It's all he ever does. Shirks responsibility.
Did well defensively which was pleasing. Gave us a bit more mobility than we're used to seeing in midfield.
For a player who's confidence is at rock bottom, hopefully tonight will give him a bit of encouragement.
For a player who's confidence is at rock bottom, hopefully tonight will give him a bit of encouragement.
Look we all know that Cleverley is a limited player, if he hasnt got someone he can do quick one twos with he often plays the safe option but tonight i didnt think he was that bad when you look at what he had in front of him - virtually no movement what-so-ever
thought he was better without the ball tonight. Showed a bit more heart. Encouraging
That wasn't his job!!! If we had Fellaini he would have done the same flipping thing. There's a reason we play through the wings... our midfielder two are told to stick and distribute.
I think there was another performance earlier in the season that suggested he could play the Carrick role of being the more responsible defensively of the midfield 2. This is another one... Sort of.
I'd agree with this. I'm very impressed with his defensive performance though. I didn't think he had it in him.
I thought he was our best player today.
Shrugged off the ball by Jack Wilshere.
Was ok tonight. Good off the ball but average with it i thought.
Same here.
Hold on. Are we not just discussing tonight's game?
Nice to see many of those who criticise Cleverley on a regular basis now having him among their top 3 for MOTM thread. Gives me a bit more belief that many posters who do criticise one day will praise Cleverley when he does play well.
Did ok tonight but he needs to improve his offensive skills.
I don't know I thought a lot of his play was recovery. Our players closing the space well against them and then Clev nicking in for the tackle. I think you still definitely needed Carrick properly sitting. What Clev showed for me though is that he can do a job when given a more disciplined role and it's something I've felt for a long time. Whether or not he's got the quality to be a first team regular is one thing but he's certainly a good squad player but he needs to put in better defensive displays like this more often. If he did that than with Carrick we would have a decent base to work off. Too often in games that are meant to be "easier" he looses his positional discipline/is allowed to drift and it leads to problems as it doesn't add offensively but certainly takes away defensively.
you summed it up nicely...i thought he did his job well todayCleverley just can't win.
He did well tonight
Was very good given the circumstances. Arguably one of his best performances of the season.
I have to say this in every related thread. The front four were poor for most of the night (well mainly the front two actually) and that in turn makes the impact of the midfield seem less good when in fact in the second half both Carrick and Cleverley moved the ball well.
I have to say this in every related thread. The front four were poor for most of the night (well mainly the front two actually) and that in turn makes the impact of the midfield seem less good when in fact in the second half both Carrick and Cleverley moved the ball well.
I'm not, don't know about you though. He is far from a confident individual on the pitch, this means he doesn't want to try anything that isn't simple. He is scared to do anything flash in case he makes an error and does not like to have responsibility of the ball where everyone is looking at him. Being confident in your own ability is a massive part of football at the level he is at and it is about being self confident in your football ability and yourself as a person and he doesn't have any. He commits lots of rash fouls because he is angry and annoyed at himself that he has this lack of confidence.
I just think the enormity of the club is too much for him to play here. He would maybe flourish at a lower PL club where the expectation is not so high and he can relax in his own mind because he doesn't have the mentality to play here.
Oh so he must have had a poor game then?
He mopped up the loose ball well, played the simple pass and admittedly could have contributed a bit more offensively but we had more than enough attacking talent on the pitch to not really need him breaking from his defensive role. Weird to see people saying he was shit in the match thread.
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