Tom Cleverley | 2012-14 Performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
Well, J H C touched on it above.

Take Scholes. He can find and make space where none seems to exist. He can hit amazing 50 yard passes and land them on a players toenail. He can hit a volley from 25 yards straight as an arrow. He can even dance through a bunch of defenders in the penalty area if called upon. He's got the x factor.

I don't see Cleverley doing anything that any ordinary good player couldn't do.

Well, an ordinary, reliable centre midfielder is arguably what we need! Coupled with the fact that he's got much needed mobility and speed of thought, and I think Cleverley if staying fit will help us a lot in that area.

Comparing him with Scholes is silly, but still, I'd say Cleverley's got abilities that few other british midfielders possess in the game. One-touch passing, decision making, drive, goal threat(when played as an attacking midfielder) and neat close control, probably among the best in our team. Couple that with an ability to thread incisive through balls to the forwards more often than Scholes usually do, at this age and playing deep, I'd say he's a good player in deed.
 
I can't grasp how anyone could fail to be impressed by his performances so far in this competition. He's been very good and the most promising thing about it all, for me, is that he's looked at his best in the deeper midfield role which bodes well for United.
 
I've only watched one full match with this GB side, the game last night. And I thought he was arguably the man of the match.

He's just so assured and quick in his decision making and passing, and he's not afraid to pass progressively. Plays with a swagger.
 
One thing he needs to improve is his shooting. It's so weak sometimes.
 
Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney and Welbeck will provide plenty of movement and intricate passing. Add Nani, and Valencia's directness. A lot to look forward to this coming season.
 
It always sounds good written down though. Just have to wait and see how it all clicks together.
 
I can't grasp how anyone could fail to be impressed by his performances so far in this competition. He's been very good and the most promising thing about it all, for me, is that he's looked at his best in the deeper midfield role which bodes well for United.

He was average at best in the first two games so it's easy to see why people weren't impressed.

Was excellent against Uruguay though.
 
It always sounds good written down though. Just have to wait and see how it all clicks together.

The Charity Shield last season gave us a pretty good idea. Kagawa seems like he'd be right at home playing that brand of football.

I agree with Sults, we've lots of reasons to be excited about our attacking football in the season ahead. My worry is that this wasn't a problem in the season just gone, stopping the other team from playing was though.
 
Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney and Welbeck will provide plenty of movement and intricate passing. Add Nani, and Valencia's directness. A lot to look forward to this coming season.

Indeed. I am sure that we will play some beautiful stuff this coming season.
 
The Charity Shield last season gave us a pretty good idea. Kagawa seems like he'd be right at home playing that brand of football.

I agree with Sults, we've lots of reasons to be excited about our attacking football in the season ahead. My worry is that this wasn't a problem in the season just gone, stopping the other team from playing was though.

Also, we didn't react well at all to teams pressing us high up the pitch, as Bilbao did.
 
He was average at best in the first two games so it's easy to see why people weren't impressed.

Was excellent against Uruguay though.

His performance against UAE was comfortably his best.

First game he was poor but he was playing as a second striker. It didn't work at all.
 
My worry is that this wasn't a problem in the season just gone, stopping the other team from playing was though.

In the modern game you stop the other team from playing by keeping the ball. I think that with the players we have in midfield: Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley we are more than capable of doing that.

--------Carrick-------Scholes---------
-------------Cleverley----------------
Kagawa--------------------------Nani
--------------Rooney----------------

With the front three as interchanging, that is my prefered formation for next season and yes I am quite aware that our 'best' player/winger Valencia does not start.
 
Also, we didn't react well at all to teams pressing us high up the pitch, as Bilbao did.

Sigh. This old chesnut. We didn't play well agains Bilbao, that's true. They weren't the only team that pressed us high up the pitch though.

Also worth mentioning that they were unable to stop us scoring in either fixture. Going forwards wasn't our problem.
 
Sigh. This old chesnut. We didn't play well agains Bilbao, that's true. They weren't the only team that pressed us high up the pitch though.

Also worth mentioning that they were unable to stop us scoring in either fixture. Going forwards wasn't our problem.

But we were poor defensively due to us being completely pushed on the backfoot.

Also, the reason things become "old chesnuts" are obvious - there's some thruth in there. And it goes without saying that at times we really struggled last season to pass our way out of defence via midfield.
 
In the modern game you stop the other team from playing by keeping the ball. I think that with the players we have in midfield Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley we are more than capable of doing that.

--------Carrick-------Scholes---------
-------------Cleverley----------------
Kagawa--------------------------Nani
--------------Rooney----------------

With the front three as interchanging, that is my prefered formation for next season and yes I am quite aware that our 'best' player/winger Valencia does not start.

Kagawa should be played centrally IMO.

Give Scholes the day off and stick Cleverley alongside Carrick. Either that or play Kagawa ahead of Carrick and Scholes.

We've loads of options anyway. I'd like to see 4231 with Welbeck leading the line and Rooney, Kagawa and Nani behind him. I'd also like to see Kagaw and Carrick in midfield with Nani/Valencia on the wings and Rooney/Welbeck up top - when we're playing weak opposition at home. Horses for courses.
 
Well, an ordinary, reliable centre midfielder is arguably what we need! Coupled with the fact that he's got much needed mobility and speed of thought, and I think Cleverley if staying fit will help us a lot in that area.

Comparing him with Scholes is silly.

Why? Scholes is the calibre of midfielder we should aspire to.
 
In the modern game you stop the other team from playing by keeping the ball. I think that with the players we have in midfield Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley we are more than capable of doing that.

--------Carrick-------Scholes---------
-------------Cleverley----------------
Kagawa--------------------------Nani
--------------Rooney----------------

With the front three as interchanging, that is my prefered formation for next season and yes I am quite aware that our 'best' player/winger Valencia does not start.

Too many midfielders with similar qualities in that line-up.
 
In the modern game you stop the other team from playing by keeping the ball. I think that with the players we have in midfield: Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley we are more than capable of doing that.

--------Carrick-------Scholes---------
-------------Cleverley----------------
Kagawa--------------------------Nani
--------------Rooney----------------

With the front three as interchanging, that is my prefered formation for next season and yes I am quite aware that our 'best' player/winger Valencia does not start.

Playing Cleverley behind the striker is tough ask for him and it didn't work for him when he played for GB. When we have a specialist in Kagawa who can play in that position, then why not use him? Kagawa likes to drop deep to get the ball since he is a natural AM and he can be way more effective playing the #10 position behind the striker.
 
Too many midfielders with similar qualities in that line-up.

Sults, I am going to remember that comment and when the day comes that SAF plays that formation and you are dazzled and enthralled by the magic that it creates it I am going to remind you of this moment :devil:
 
Michael Carrick is the only central midfielder who's come to the club in the last 19 years that Fergie has been satisfied with.

There's been a quite a number of very good midfielders during SAF's reign. A couple of greats in Keane and Robson.

You can't be as successful as United without having a good midfiled.
 
There's been a quite a number of very good midfielders during SAF's reign. A couple of greats in Keane and Robson.

You can't be as successful as United without having a good midfiled.

Not ignore the longevity of Scholes and Keane, which made it near on impossible for anyone to force themselves in for 10+ years.
 
No it's not the same thing given it refers to players who do the basics of the game right more than others. In Cleverleys position doing the simple things well is the most important. Keeping things simple wouldn't really work for a winger or a striker.

It's the same thing in that it's a cliche trotted out for every player with little to no imagination on the ball as a way to say something nice. There are players then genuinely do keep it simple in a way that benefits the team as it keeps them ticking over and progressing, but many commentators apply it to every CM who just does nothing but get it and pass it back 5 yards without ever taking responsibility.
 
In the modern game you stop the other team from playing by keeping the ball. I think that with the players we have in midfield: Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley we are more than capable of doing that.

--------Carrick-------Scholes---------
-------------Cleverley----------------
Kagawa--------------------------Nani
--------------Rooney----------------

With the front three as interchanging, that is my prefered formation for next season and yes I am quite aware that our 'best' player/winger Valencia does not start.

I prefer

-------Carrick-----Cleverley

Valencia---- Kagawa---------Nani

--------------Rooney
 
Cleverley mightnt become a top player to the level of Scholes but at worst he will be a great addition to the squad if he stay relatively injury free. Look at what the likes of Oshea,Brown,Butt,Park etc have done for us over the years. Squad players who have come in and done a job. If we had him last season he would have been a big help given Fletcher and Andersons problems. Scholes and Carrick done great for us from January onwards but the benefits of having a player like Cleverley as a squad player are obvious.

Anyway I think Cleverley can become a very good player but probably not on a level with Scholes.
 
Let's see Clev's get a decent run in the side before we really compare him to Paul Scholes, Paul Scholes wasn't a MF general when he was 23 yet, come on lads !

Hope Cleverly can get fit, get a decent run in the side and hopefully turn into a top quality player. I think he has the attributes but he hasn't had the luck yet.
 
Cleverley has the all the attributes to be a better player than an average midfielder, he's already shown that in glimpses. He just needs to add the consistency which will come with a long run of games.

He has great technique and awareness on the pitch. His decision making is excellent for a young player and his ability to find space and time on the ball is good but can be improved further still. Another asset he has is the ability to change the tempo when in possession, he can change pace quickly and players like this are always exciting to watch. Kagawa is similar in this respect but Carrick doesnt really do this but we know his assets lie elsewhere.

It has been great watching him play for GB so far, as we can learn more about him because when he plays for United he is surrounded by quality and its easier to look good but for GB he has been forced to take more responsibility in several areas of his game and he has grown in confidence and in fitness from match to match so far. It should really give him a platform for a great season granted he stays fit.
 
I think he's one of the best of our midfielders when it comes to taking the ball under pressure and allow us to play ourselves out from defence.

Also as someone else said he's great at driving up the tempo of our passing game if needed. Very mature on the ball.
 
I think he's one of the best of our midfielders when it comes to taking the ball under pressure and allow us to play ourselves out from defence.

Also as someone else said he's great at driving up the tempo of our passing game if needed. Very mature on the ball.

Yeah im impressed with his passing when he is closed down quickly. He is excellent at making a pass even when he is under considerable pressure.
 
Yeah im impressed with his passing when he is closed down quickly. He is excellent at making a pass even when he is under considerable pressure.

He's got quick feet and great awareness, and the precision in his short passing is very good.

He's always got a purpose in his first touch, really good player to watch when on song.
 
If Tom can eventually become something between Carrick and Scholes in terms of quality I will be more than happy. Even Carrick's level would be good enough to aspire to.

I rate him, and I think he proves me and many others right most of the time he plays.
 
If Tom can eventually become something between Carrick and Scholes in terms of quality I will be more than happy. Even Carrick's level would be good enough to aspire to.

I rate him, and I think he proves me and many others right most of the time he plays.

Michael Carrick is without doubt one of the top 5 CM's in the league. Anything resembling his quality over the years, and Cleverley would have done fantastically.
 
He's definitely looking sharper, stronger and consistent this tournament.

Hope he gets a decent run of games for us, think he'll be able to make a big difference with Scholes/Carrick with him. (That's if we choose to play a midfield 2)

Less of this 'image' shit and more knuckling down and playing.

When has his off the field stuff negatively affected how he's played?
 
It's the same thing in that it's a cliche trotted out for every player with little to no imagination on the ball as a way to say something nice. There are players then genuinely do keep it simple in a way that benefits the team as it keeps them ticking over and progressing, but many commentators apply it to every CM who just does nothing but get it and pass it back 5 yards without ever taking responsibility.

In fairness I think the point being made wasn't that the saying isn't cliche but that in Cleverleys case the words neat and tidy describe more than just dawdling. Cleverley can hit great long passes he made Sturridge's assist against UAE doing so, in fact had he not put all his weight on his ankle against Everton doing so we might not have lost him at a crucial time last season. The point is, and I'm sure you agree, he has very good decision making. If there's nothing on Cleverley doesn't Hollywood pass it into the advertising boards he keeps it short and simple.

In many ways Cleverley's not an exceptional player. He's technically very good but certainly not Thiago Alcantara good, for example. However what makes him so valuable is his ability to do the right thing at the right time.
 
Michael Carrick is without doubt one of the top 5 CM's in the league. Anything resembling his quality over the years, and Cleverley would have done fantastically.

That's why I said it would be good enough, even by high expectations.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.