Tom Cleverley | 2014/15 Performances (on loan at Aston Villa)

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his level is the relegation battle but he doesn't have the stones for it. Championship title contenders is maybe his level.
 
I think Villa's performance against Shitty sums up Tom Cleverley, put in 110% and still not good enough.
 
Only caught the last 30 minutes but genuinely didn't know he was playing. In fairness, the same could have applied to all of Villa's midfield from what I saw. The first goal was bizarre. I initially thought Toure must have dribbled through a challenge or shifted the ball and got the shot away too quickly, and that it was a really good goal. On the replay though he just sort of jogged forward and casually kicked the ball into the goal when he realised no one was going to bother getting in his way.
 
Faded towards the end but I thought he did quite well until then.
 
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How dare the world class talent of Manchester City play better than Tom Cleverley in an Aston Villa. Some people need to take their agendas and do one.
 
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He was poor for their first goal, but lack of reaction from few other Villa players was embarassing too and they all could be blamed equally, altough that can't be an excuse.
 
He's mediocre in one match for them against better players when he's been fine for them previously and now he's only good enough for the Championship. Interesting.
 
Aston Villa: Tom Cleverley ready to unleash attacking threat

Villa midfielder hoping to show his attacking qualities after being restricted to defensive role against Premier League heavyweights


Tom Cleverley is looking forward to expressing himself in an advanced role for Aston Villa.

The midfielder is excited about the season ahead and wants to unleash his attacking qualities in the weeks to come.

So far this season Cleverley has been restricted to a defensive role as Villa have had to sit deep in the games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

But as the fixture list starts to relent, the on-loan Manchester United ace is hoping to showcase some of his skills with an attack-minded approach.

“I like playing in the midfield three,” said Cleverley, who lines up alongside Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph in an all-English trio.

“All my best games for Manchester United and England have tended to be in a three.

“That’s a system we play here so it suits me.

“I want to be more advanced in that three and hit both boxes.”

Cleverley admits that his poor form for United last season was partly down to the system and position he was asked to play in.

“If you looked at the games, the areas I was playing in were a little bit deeper and under different systems,” he said.

“It probably didn’t suit my game perfectly.

“I’m motivated to prove a few people wrong. And hopefully that does increase my performances.”

Manager Paul Lambert has been pleased with his dogged and disciplined displays since his arrival.

He has made more tackles than any other Villa midfielder and also has a higher success rate from his challenges.

What Cleverley has managed to do is settle in quickly to his new surroundings and instantly make an impact on the team.

Like Westwood he does the simple things well and rarely gives away possession.

This season he has an 89 per-cent passing accuracy which is higher than his fellow central midfielders – Delph and Westwood’s accuracy are both ranked at 83 per cent.

Cleverley is also better in possession on the attack and less fazed under pressure.

He has found a team-mate with 87 per-cent of his passes that are made in the opponent’s half whereas Delph (77 per cent) and Westwood (73 per cent) are slightly behind.

While his start has been impressive there is certainly more to come.

Lambert reckons he is getting better with every game and soon he will need to chip in with goals and assists to prove his worth.

Speaking recently, Cleverley revealed how he was excited about his new beginning.

The days of being criticised at United are in the past and the 25-year-old is happy in his life again.

“Last year at times it wasn’t enjoyable and you play your best football when you’re enjoying yourself,” he said.

“I certainly am enjoying myself now, so hopefully that can show for Villa on the pitch.

“I am just looking forward now. Every footballer wants the best opportunity to play and I felt like it was here at Villa.

“I don’t see this as a backward step at all.

“I see this as getting back to basics, playing every week and pushing on from here.”
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http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-tom-cleverley-ready-7911905
 
The PL runs scared.
Gives me a warm glow everythime I think and realise that we actually sold him.
 
Seems to be taking the step down in the right way. If he actually held the same opinion of himself as a lot here do he'd have given up football this summer.
 
Godfather said:
The PL runs scared.
Gives me a warm glow everythime I think and realise that we actually sold him.
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He is on loan so technically still our player. Although his contract runs out at the end of the season and he can join Villa for free.
 
Funny that Cleverz wants a more attacking role, because I personally see him more of a defensive minded player, and it's no surprise that, even with Delph in the team, Cleverley has made the most tackles and interceptions out of the Villa centre midfielders.

I do agree that he's better in a midfield three, though. Ironically, his best performance last season come against Villa, in my opinion, when himself and Giggs rotated between the holding and box to box midfielder role, and it's in one of those positions I personally feel Cleverley is suited to more than the advanced role. He's energetic, he gets stuck in and keeps the ball ticking over, with his short, quick passing. I just think he hasn't got that final pass to become the more advanced role.
 
“I want to be more advanced in that three and hit both boxes.”

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Well done Clev. I'm going to just go and read an Ander Herrera interview now to remind myself that we finally offloaded you and brought in a real midfielder.
 
This guy is a joke. He leaves United and still wants to try and better himself? Jesus Christ this guy is a disgrace to football. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes out and pays people to interview him!!!!~""£"$
 
Blue always red said:
This guy is a joke. He leaves United and still wants to try and better himself? Jesus Christ this guy is a disgrace to football. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes out and pays people to interview him!!!!~""£"$
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Wow, the guy goes to a new club and a local newspaper wants to interview him. A disgrace to football?. Your comments say more about you than they do about Cleverley.
The guy isnt good enough but really the hate just continues. Its as though he slagged off the Utd fans, the club, his team mates the way people continue this shite.
He is gone, get over it, I am sure you are perfectly capable of finding a different player to hate now.
 
Stack said:
Wow, the guy goes to a new club and a local newspaper wants to interview him. A disgrace to football?. Your comments say more about you than they do about Cleverley.
The guy isnt good enough but really the hate just continues. Its as though he slagged off the Utd fans, the club, his team mates the way people continue this shite.
He is gone, get over it, I am sure you are perfectly capable of finding a different player to hate now.
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I thought his post was sarcastic...
 
Stack said:
Wow, the guy goes to a new club and a local newspaper wants to interview him. A disgrace to football?. Your comments say more about you than they do about Cleverley.
The guy isnt good enough but really the hate just continues. Its as though he slagged off the Utd fans, the club, his team mates the way people continue this shite.
He is gone, get over it, I am sure you are perfectly capable of finding a different player to hate now.
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He is indeed being sarcastic. IIRC Blue always red is a fan of Cleverley like myself and because of the constant shite spouted about Cleverley from others he now makes sarcastic comments like above to mock the idiots who are serious with their shite.
 
Nothing wrong with whatever Cleverley has said here. Some people need to give him a break, the bashing of Cleverley is extremely tiresome.
 
Why is it that everytime I read an interview for Tom he's trying to make excuses for himself? I really think he just has this odd inflated image of himself as a footballer. His skills are very average and basic, that leaned on the edge of potential coming through a United academy. No it's not the system of the team, no it's not the lack of a midfield 3 holding you back from 'hitting boxes' and no you wouldn't do better in a spanish side. A good professional footballer has the technical and physical capabilities to ADAPT. Cleverley just seems like he's in serious denial. He's working hard to stay relevant though, props for that.
 
Well, you never know, he might remember back to when he didn't shit himself every time he reached the opposition's box at Watford and Leicester and start scoring a few goals.
 
KM said:
Nothing wrong with whatever Cleverley has said here. Some people need to give him a break, the bashing of Cleverley is extremely tiresome.
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Yeah, standard interview really, not sure how it has managed to annoy people.
 
Tom Cleverley could return to Manchester United after Aston Villa loan, says club's academy director Brian McClair

Manchester United academy director Brian McClair has refused to rule out Tom Cleverley making a successful return to Old Trafford when his loan spell at Aston Villa finishes.

Despite being allowed to leave the club on loan this season by new boss Louis van Gaal, McClair has suggested Cleverley could resurrect his career at United.

'You don't know what's going to happen because he's only on loan at Villa,' McClair told Manchester Evening News. 'I think he's a good player.

'He came from Bradford when he was 12. At 16 we didn't offer him a scholarship. He stayed at school and he worked as hard he possibly could, while still at school and at the end of that two-year period, because he had developed more physically, he had a professional contract.

'He's gone on from that to represent his country and to play many games in the Premier League.'
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Upon joining Villa, the 25-year-old vowed to put the negativity that marred his final season at United behind him, and prove wrong those who doubted his ability.

He said: 'You don't turn into a bad player just because someone says it on Twitter. I probably wasn't the only United player to get it last year. For as long as Man United aren't winning trophies, players will get criticised. I'm fully aware of that. I've still got a league title, 13 England caps.

'If all the players say they were high in confidence last season I think they would be lying. It wasn't just me. It was the rest of the squad too.'
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...emy-director-brian-mcclair.html#ixzz3GGxRx69c
 
He really might come back. Wouldn't this make sense as our midfield rotation next year if we're in the CL and playing this diamond we seem to be into now?

DiMaria--Herrera
------Blind------

Signing--Cleverley
------Carrick------

with Valencia, Fellaini and Anderson all gone, maybe Pereira on loan getting 30 starts playing against adults and Fletcher as depth and still around to provide a veteran presence while playing as often for Scotland in qualifying for Euro 2016 as he is with us?
 
NoPace said:
He really might come back. Wouldn't this make sense as our midfield rotation next year if we're in the CL and playing this diamond we seem to be into now?

DiMaria--Herrera
------Blind------

Signing--Cleverley
------Carrick------

with Valencia, Fellaini and Anderson all gone, maybe Pereira on loan getting 30 starts playing against adults and Fletcher as depth and still around to provide a veteran presence while playing as often for Scotland in qualifying for Euro 2016 as he is with us?
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No. It's completely nonsensical. He's a 5-6/10 midfielder on a good day. Even our backups should be 7-8/10.
 
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