I'm not sure about the comparisons with Gibson. I would've thought Cleverley was better with the ball and had better technique. He doesn't look out of place in the starting line up unlike Gibson. Just looked up his playing statistics and he's only started 23 premier league matches for us in his entire career. I see a significant upside in him if he had remain injury free. He could certainly influence matches more, but how many players do that when they're still as inexperienced as he is. I think the main concern for Cleverley is getting games and staying free from injuries. Signing a top midfielder though undoubtedly good for the team, would hinder Cleverley's development. He really needs to be playing regularly at 24.
Tom Cleverley | 2012-14 Performances
- Thread starter Bebe
- Start date
- Status
I remember a time when people were asking what Carrick offers the team, he ended up winning everyone around. Cleverley has the attributes, he just needs to exert himself more and take control of games. He's got the ability but he just needs the confidence to take it up to the next couple of levels.
Cleverley is unselfish and quite intelligent but he didn't had luck with the injuries in very important time, where his talent should explode to get him on another level.
The good thing is, he clearly looks like he was solidly preparing himself for cooperation with Carrick and there's still good chance for him to step up to the highest game, as an all round midfielder.
This season may define him how much he can still progress and with proper player management from Moyes, he should succeed.
The good thing is, he clearly looks like he was solidly preparing himself for cooperation with Carrick and there's still good chance for him to step up to the highest game, as an all round midfielder.
This season may define him how much he can still progress and with proper player management from Moyes, he should succeed.
He looked great in that semi-final tie against Schalke. Not that anyone around here really thought even then he'd end up in our first XI.
Any gif of that through ball to Walcott?
Actually, more than a gif it'd be good to get a compilation of his performance against Scotland tonight. At times, especially in that 15 minute period around his assist Cleverley looked something like his true self again its just a shame he never had his shooting boots on. If Clev could learn to hit the ball even half as good as the likes of Lampard, Gerrard or Scholesy then he would could become quite the player.
Felt like him and Welbeck were never far away from the things England did right this evening, great performances by the pair of them.
Shame Roy still thinks Cleverley is an AM. We'd have been better off with him ticking things over next to Hollywood and Wilshere up at the business end, I think. Cleverley doesn't really take the risks needed behind the striker, and Wilshere was taking a few too many to play as deep as he did in the first half today (although it's worth saying that usually he's good there too).
Still, decent run-out for Tom. Nice assist.
Anyone would have, to be honest. It was embarrassingly one-sided.
Still, decent run-out for Tom. Nice assist.
Anyone would have, to be honest. It was embarrassingly one-sided.
not really relevant to tonights performance but goals are still something that I think he'll add to his game over the next season or two. As a young player he'd a decent record for us (albeit preseason games etc). He definitely has it in his locker.
My take on him is he's still playing within himself somewhat. Not a Hollywood passer of the pass. Keeps it plain and simple. Doesn't excite the masses but that's fine, the less pressure the better in a way.
He's a bit like Welbeck in many regards actually. Both have "it" in their lockers to step up but mentally they need a bit more.
Hopefully people have the patience
My take on him is he's still playing within himself somewhat. Not a Hollywood passer of the pass. Keeps it plain and simple. Doesn't excite the masses but that's fine, the less pressure the better in a way.
He's a bit like Welbeck in many regards actually. Both have "it" in their lockers to step up but mentally they need a bit more.
Hopefully people have the patience
Clev can easily do the AM job and he has done quite nicely in games but people get so lost in their own weird theories they cant see the wood for the trees.
Or... Wilshere is clearly better suited to it than Cleverley. Given that he's the one who currently plays that position for his club.
But people get so lost in their own weird theories about how people get so lost in their own weird theories they cant see the wood for the trees that they can't see the wood for the trees.
Fixed
And again.
Tom is a lot better than Gibbo, he is a useful player to have in our squad and is neat and tidy. Better useful than useless.
It's not like anyone has a choice. he is almost by default our second best midfielder due to our (lack of) activity over recent years.
Maybe just maybe he's also in that position on merit?
Just to make it clear, i wasn't trying to compare Gibson and Cleverley, i was just trying to gauge peoples views on the two players. Cleverley is 24 and Gibson is 25, just as Fellaini is 25, and in my opinion the latter are at a higher level currently ability wise. I think that Cleverley will be a better player than Gibson though if he gets a good solid season under his belt. He showed flashes last night that he can be a quality player but he was also out of the game at times.
My opinion is skewed by that fact that Gibson is always one of the first names on the team sheet and is akin to Carrick for us in terms of being the first CM on the team sheet and you can sense the difference in the team when they don't play. If Cleverley was at a lower club then he'd probably be starting most games though and he will be starting them this season for you too if you don't manage/decide to sign anyone.
My opinion is skewed by that fact that Gibson is always one of the first names on the team sheet and is akin to Carrick for us in terms of being the first CM on the team sheet and you can sense the difference in the team when they don't play. If Cleverley was at a lower club then he'd probably be starting most games though and he will be starting them this season for you too if you don't manage/decide to sign anyone.
If you think that Gibson is currently a better player than Cleverley you're miles off.
I'm afraid that's just because you watch Gibbo for Everton week-in week-out. If Cleverley had his job for you guys, you'd see the gulf in quality.
I'd say that Cleverley has more flashes in quality but Gibson is a more consistent and influential player for us. Anyway, I'll agree to disagree as i think Cleverley will end up being the better player anyway!
Remember Carrick used to be criticised for playing too conservatively and frequently passing backwards or sideways. Then he started playing with more drive and changed that perception.
Well I think that's starting to apply to Cleverley now. He came on the scene as a quick, incisive passer who created opportunities. As he's playing deeper these days he isn't doing a lot of that right now. I feel he needs to rediscover some of that in his game because aiming to be neat and tidy isn't giving him a strong case to start games. Especially when he's losing possession a bit too cheaply.
Well I think that's starting to apply to Cleverley now. He came on the scene as a quick, incisive passer who created opportunities. As he's playing deeper these days he isn't doing a lot of that right now. I feel he needs to rediscover some of that in his game because aiming to be neat and tidy isn't giving him a strong case to start games. Especially when he's losing possession a bit too cheaply.
Not been too great this half, hopefully him, with a few of the lads pick it up in the 2nd! Still, 2-0! 
I don't think his passing it too much of an issue, his positioning is a little more worrying.
I find he has a habit of playing himself into trouble rather than just doing the simple things well.
He messed up quite a lot easy passes today, I hope for an improvement in the second half
He's had the odd nice touch but has given the ball away far too much.
Not the greatest player but decent squad player came through the reserves and will be a good servant to us not my favourite player but some need to get of his back its the first half of the season for Christ sake and we are up 2-0.
The slightly worrying thing about him is that he hasn't improved that much if at all in the last three years.
Yeah that's definitely his most problematic area. If he was someone we could rely on to be in a good position and keep things ticking that would be fine but he often gets himself to far from Carrick and doesn't track very well. Tbf though to him today think he's suffered from Giggs/Welbeck swapping on his side but neither tracking as well as they should be.
Needs to come out of his shell. He keeps playing these backward passes even under no pressure. Anderson came on and did more than he did in the entire game.
It seems to me like he makes virtually no impact on games. He's got decent short passing, pretty good work rate but he doesn't really do much to warrant a place in the team. He doesn't try anything special, he just passes it on right away. For me at least, a Manchester United player needs to have more about him then just decent at most things but without particularly excelling at anything. He's shite defensively too and gets caught out of position all the time.
He was ok today but a bit meh.
Difficult game for him today. Hes a far better player than that.
Better yes but far better ?
He was extremely sluggish today. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt and blaming the Scotland game.
He looked very rusty and was poor throughout.
He can play better, needs to play between the lines more and less passes back to defence. Seems to lack confidence at times to turn with the ball and penetrate.
Give him some time, he will grow into the role. What he is doing now is not much different to what Carrick used to do next to Scholes - just pass it to Scholes and let him do the distribution. He is understandably playing it safe but as the season progresses and as he improves his positional sense along the way we will witness a much better and adventurous player.
- Status