Cleverley's ability to 'tick play over' and interchange with short passes is so so overplayed. He 'ticks' and links play about as well as your average mediocre Premier League midfielder.
Tom Cleverley | 2014/15 Performances (on loan at Aston Villa)
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It wasn't from that period of play, we were attacking the other end when LVG reacted like that if I remember rightly.
It was however after something similarly as bad from one of of our players.
If there is one thing you shouldnt be criticising him for its this. Its very clear what he is doing when he does this. He is either holding space or dragging defenders to create a passing channel. Have you ever played football apart from FM or FIFA?
Agree with this. My problem with his runs is that they lack conviction, he needs to show more authority on the field if he want to succeed. I doubt he has it in him.
That's a little funny, because he waves his hands and when he eventually gets the ball, he usually returns it to sender or makes another backpass. Cowardice is about doing all the simple stuff all the time. 9/10 situations I can predict what will he do with the ball.
Another matter is that our defenders are clearly afraid to pass the ball to Cleverley (or Fletcher) if there is opposition player 5 yards away from them. No confidence in them at all. Can’t blame them going long to be honest.
I would agree but the way he does that, the ball never, ever fallows him. Opposition players know he won’t harm them anyway so they are not really chasing him.
I don’t think it works. It feels like he knows he should be doing this, but doesn’t really know why. Could not be only his fault though.
It's not the same thing at all, as I said, he's running into a crowded space, he's not drawing anyone with him, he's running into blind areas where he is not going to receive the ball again and essentially marking himself. The opposition isn't tracking his run, they're not even following him, they're just allowing him to run into dead space where they're already covering the angles.
If this was the case don't you think one of: Fergie, Moyes or LVG would have drilled it out of him? Of course he does these runs for a reason. What happens if their midfielders advance trying to close down the man and the ball and instead a ball is played through to Cleverley?
OT - Cleverley's performance was freakin' dire against Sunderland. In the match thread I joked about how a partnership of him and Fletch (who have 6 league titles between them) would just about manage to dominate Sunderland but it was not to be. However, you'd be stupid to lay all the blame at their feat. We had 55% possession and its up to your 'big' players who were signed to give us a bit of flair and creativity to actually do something. You could be the greatest passer in the world but if nobody is moving ahead of you, what can you do? Mata, Rooney and RVP created diddly squat in the game, they hid as much as Cleverley did.
It is obvious our midfield needs a new player. You have Mata who is solely an attacking mid, you have Herrera who will aid both attack and defence and now we need a CDM who can also dictate play. If we find someone of Carrick's mould, snap him up ASAP.
The single most frustrating thing about this lad, is that he will only show for the ball when he is in acres of space. He literally jogs backwards away from the ball-carrier in order to get in tons of space, then points to his feet wanting the ball.
It's like he is under the belief that he just isn't good enough to control the ball in tight areas, which is the most annoying thing, because that is exactly what he is good at, and one of his main qualities.
I've completely given up on him at this stage. He completely lost his confidence in his ability years ago, and it is not going to return to him at United.
He needs a move to re-rejuvenate himself. Everton would be ideal.
It's like he is under the belief that he just isn't good enough to control the ball in tight areas, which is the most annoying thing, because that is exactly what he is good at, and one of his main qualities.
I've completely given up on him at this stage. He completely lost his confidence in his ability years ago, and it is not going to return to him at United.
He needs a move to re-rejuvenate himself. Everton would be ideal.
Good to know but the reaction edited in the whole vid gotta say looked quite appropriate.
Do you think Everton would be interested? They are an ambitious team chasing a top 4 spot. He was dominated by Cattermole on Sunday...I think he will end up at West Ham or Villa - he is simply not very good and, at the age of 25, still plays like a newcomer promoted from the youth team who won't take risks.
He's not a young player anymore.
To be honest not to defend cleverley, well it is in the way, you look at how VG set united up against sunderland, it aint helping anyone out. VG is playing a system that just does not suit the team, playing 3 at the back does not suit guys like smalling, our wingbacks are valencia and young, and upfront is the very static mata rooney and RVP coming back from injury. Yes cleverley was awful, but it never helps when our best hope for width is valencia and young, and no hope for getting in behind teams when there is no speed or creativity in the team
Cleverley passes it back to the defence or gives it away. They don't need to worry.
It's the mentality that's the problem. Players like him who are crumbling under the weight of expectations of this "collapse" play a big part. Sunderland pressed him, and like every time that's happened in recent times, he hides, he shirks and he becomes sloppy and full of errors. Right now, were badly in need of brave players and by that I don't mean players who will get stuck, but those who can actively take a role in helping us win games rather than trying to not feck up big time.
He is right though, he will be vilified even if he ends a game with 3 assists just for giving the ball away twice.
what? Of course he wouldn't!
Sadly we'll never have a chance to prove it.
There's no way he's good enough for to displace Barry and McCarthy. He's bottom half of the league standard, if that. An absolute coward and a conman of a player. Makes himself look busy by literally hiding away on the pitch behind opposition players so that he can have nothing to do with the ball at all.
Yeah, think Martinez still likes him after his loan spell at Wigan.
Hopefully there are bids for him.
He must be devastated considering since he was a boy he probably dreamed of being the next Paul Scholes. TC23 bigger than Brand Beckham. Even in the summer he was saying he thinks he is Louis van Gaal's type of player, last season he was talking about how his style of play would be appreciated in spain, the land of midfield gods.
I admire the optimism but he really must be gutted as I think he must be now realising he just isn't good enough but he needs to move on and work hard at a club like Villa. Who knows, when he gets his confidence back he might turn out to be a quality number 8 and make a return in a few years.
He must be devastated considering since he was a boy he probably dreamed of being the next Paul Scholes. TC23 bigger than Brand Beckham. Even in the summer he was saying he thinks he is Louis van Gaal's type of player, last season he was talking about how his style of play would be appreciated in spain, the land of midfield gods.
I admire the optimism but he really must be gutted as I think he must be now realising he just isn't good enough but he needs to move on and work hard at a club like Villa. Who knows, when he gets his confidence back he might turn out to be a quality number 8 and make a return in a few years.
Villa fans seem to think this guy has a very good record regarding Villa matters so far.
That's been chopped together. That was their reaction to a decision made by the referee.
Really disappointed how he has wasted the opportunities. His problem is more temperamental than technical and the way he has let pressure get better of him so many times, it doesn't show mentality of a player who can succeed with top club at top level. Hope he does well wherever he goes.
He needs to move on for his own good. He might not be good enough for United, but the treatment he's had has been way out of order by some of our fans. I'm not sure going to Villa is the right move for him tbh as they seem to be in for a long season.
Will be a good signing for Villa. He never developed to the level required for us unfortunately, but I got nothing against him and I hope he has a decent career.
YES Cleverley out would be the best day of the summer !
Last game played for United I should hope.
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Fellaini was out of order getting booed.
I don't think Cleverley has had anything out of order said against him unless you count the opinions of idiots on social media seriously. His performances have been poor and people quite rightly on here have questioned them.
Best news all summer, after Di Maria's signing.
I'm all for this transfer to go through. Villa is about his level.
Questioning is one thing. But he's had constant insults at him from caftards, the matchday thread is terrible when Cleverley plays, he gets stick even when he's not the player to have made the mistake! He's the easy scapegoat.
I mean look at some of the posts in here. Best news all summer? Idiots.
I was a real believer in Cleverley when he first broke through, amazing what's happened to him since. Sad too. If he goes he can't say it wasn't coming. If he ends up at Villa he'll regret not jumping at the chance to work with Martinez again when it seemed Everton were interested.
You have no question? Why? It's not exactly a legitimate source!
Ladyman wrote in his article yesterday that Cleverley could run down his contract with us.
Might well be bullshit but if we have accepted a bid, I'd be amazed if we haven't got a replacement CM already sorted.
I'll jump for joy if he does go. Started brightly, and his loan spell at Wigan was impressive. Unfortunately, whether he was found out early or he just became way too confident in himself (the TC23 may be indicating the latter), he became totally crap.
Never before have I seen such a predictable footballer. I know sayings are thrown about constantly in football regarding players, but I've never meant anything more serious when it comes to Cleverley. I could watch him play, and I'd know exactly where he'd pass to. He lacks bottle, creativity, drive, pace, goal-scoring ability and steel. He offers nothing except sideways or back passes.
I hate slating a United Youth member, but he really does annoy me. It really doesn't look as if he's trying anymore. I mentioned it before in this thread after the Sunderland game - when tracking back when Buckley had the ball, he stopped completely which allowed Buckley to cut inside with ease when he was taking on Young on the wing. I was fuming. Sunderland had a fantastic opportunity to score from it too.
Of all the deadwood, I want Cleverley to go the most. I really hope he does well at his next club, and I reckon he'll do well if it is indeed Villa.
Never before have I seen such a predictable footballer. I know sayings are thrown about constantly in football regarding players, but I've never meant anything more serious when it comes to Cleverley. I could watch him play, and I'd know exactly where he'd pass to. He lacks bottle, creativity, drive, pace, goal-scoring ability and steel. He offers nothing except sideways or back passes.
I hate slating a United Youth member, but he really does annoy me. It really doesn't look as if he's trying anymore. I mentioned it before in this thread after the Sunderland game - when tracking back when Buckley had the ball, he stopped completely which allowed Buckley to cut inside with ease when he was taking on Young on the wing. I was fuming. Sunderland had a fantastic opportunity to score from it too.
Of all the deadwood, I want Cleverley to go the most. I really hope he does well at his next club, and I reckon he'll do well if it is indeed Villa.
Hope so. Anderson to follow him out the door too.
So finally it seems like his time is up. This can only mean we have another CM lined up, maybe not a world beater, but someone whose a good enough upgrade on Tom whilst not being a stupid price.
Hope he goes. I had little hope left in him but any semblance of hope has been well and truly extinguished.
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