Dimitar Berbatov had a great game against Fulham today, being integral to our game plan and assisting the all important second goal for Wayne Rooney before scoring himself.
After the game, Berbatov revealed he preferred setting up Rooney’s goal than he did scoring.
“I’m pleased,” said Berbatov. “It’s part of my job, to assist and to score, but if we win it doesn’t matter if I score, as long as we are champions in the end. I preferred the second goal I gave to Wayne today than scoring.”
Rooney scored his 32nd goal in 38 games in all competitions today and Berbatov backs him to score even more.
“I think Wayne can go over 40 goals,” he continued. “We have plenty of games till the season is over so I wish him luck and we’re all going to help him to go over the 40 line. I think at the moment he is the best in the world. He is still so young so he has chances to become even greater. Like I’ve told him many times, just stay healthy and he can achieve everything.”
Man Utd News 24/7
Class act. Pity his hard work for Owen’s goal in the final couldn’t count as an assist!
Lol, I can’t imagine him saying to Rooney ‘just stay healthy’. I love how he is so frank he is in interviews and comments.
Great game from Berba today, he was what we needed against a team that came with a packed defence, the control and assist for the 2nd goal was superb. Keep it up Berba and that League Trophy will be staying where it belongs.
I’m not caught in the euphoria of a good berbatov performance today but i REALLY hope it works out for this guy at United, just imagine berbatov playing twice as well as he is now next season. As for the here and now Fergie must be having second thoughts about what our frontline should look going into a crucial part of the season, and to that i say Thank you Dimitar Berbatov!!!
what a player – yes, he does not seem to be scoring as frquently, but the same can be said of rooney when ronaldo was around. its now rooney’s turn to take centre stage, but that does not mean berba is not contributing.
we need him in tight situations and the creativity and close control of his when surrounded is really unparalleled in our team. no one does it better and more consistently. he really gets of of tight situations extremely well. he delivers the unexpected, and he is really improving in terms of fitness and movement and speed. is he still smoking, i wonder?
he will get better in our team, no doubt. at spurs, he was the main man and the fulcrum, so it was different. here at Man Utd, he is not the main man. it is hard to be the main man as whoever is on form, gets the necessary support – he is learning to adapt his game to ours.
i like that he mentions how the whole team will be supporting rooney – but i think we might need to spread it around a little too – fletch shoud have finished the move early on instead of opting to centre it to rooney. but im fine wither way, its just that we should not be sidetrakced by helping rooney all the time when our other players can also finish the game or score when the opportunitiy arises.
hope the gaffer and rooney mention this to the rest
im pretty sure they will in training – let everyone be obsessed with the 42 goal, and let us concentrate on the trophies!! everything else is icing 
not exactly a trashing but dominant performance by the team! good to see vida and rio back!!
Is it only me that thinks park produce a world class performance???
Gotta agree with slim on this one. Berbatov had a class game today but Fulham at Old Trafford is not a game we should be thinking about taking anything but 3 points from. I’d love for it to work out for him, but I think performances like this against this standard of team are as good as it will get from him. Ferguson clearly sees it that way which is why he has such a terrible appearance record in the big games. We have Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and, hopefully, 5 European games to come so if he can do this sort of stuff in those games he will justify his fee and salary. Until he stops being a flat-track bully however, I still think he has been, on the whole, a failure at the club. He has had long enough. This final stretch of the season could define his future and I’m sure we all want him to replicate today’s form in the aforementioned games and cement his status as a true United player.
I’ll always support berba even if he plays badly. We should not for get that he chose United. He could have followed Tevez to shitty but he chose United. well done berba!!
I am glad people are looking at Berba in new light. I have always supported him and hope he proves his doubters wrong!
Still I can’t see him start important games what with our 451 formation.
He hasn’t complained about not starting the important games, unlike Mr Tevez but still people don’t seem to appreciate him.
The only reason why Berba never complains when he’s on the bench for the big games compared to Tevez was because Berba knows that his performances didn’t warrant a starting berth.
Tevez however,not only was a consistent performer but had every right to feel aggrieved at being left on the bench in favour of a striker who was/is nowhere as consistent as him.
@ashish
Tevez was not even close to as consistent as u make him out to be.
The fact is that like a lot of players @ united, He just did not make the Grade. Is that so difficult to understand.
SAF knew that having him in the squad, we would never have the ability to change formation based on matches and not hear loads of grumbling and moaning thereafter. Nd honestly, he was not good enough for all the attention that he wanted.
That is why, even after being offered a contract, He left to City coz the money was there and after watching their matches and his lack of mobility as a central stiker, i am convinced that he was no longer our way forward
@ashish
Please. Tevez? He might have scored a lot in his time at City, but let’s be honest, he left us. Berbatov chose us over Man City. That says a lot about the mentalities of these 2 players. Say what you will, I rather have commited players who will put club over self.
Berbatov is proving his worth. What does he need to do more? Seems to me a section of the fans want overnight sensations. I think that’s too much to ask for. What we need are a group of dedicated players, young and old who will put a shift in for the club. Not the money culture of Chelsea and Man City.
@ Ashish “The only reason why Berba never complains when he’s on the bench for the big games compared to Tevez was because Berba KNOWS THAT his performances didn’t warrant a starting berth.”
Berbatov knows does he? Thats just your asinine opinion.
That 40 yard ball from Carrick yesterday are people on here ludicrous enough to suggest that Berbatov wouldn’t have brought that down if it was one of the so called big teams? Rubbish of course he would have done. Every time Berbatov is mentioned why does someone always have to drag the argie troll into the debate. Why can’t people see that this season there is no whining from any players. Last year Tevez was constantly whining and then went to the bitters and yet people still sing his name at OT and want him back. In terms of football one has the touch of a rapist the other doesn’t. Berbatov ran his socks off yesterday and all people can do is criticise because they don’t want to be proven wrong. Those people disgust me and quite frankly are pathetic.
He was playing good football yesterday… and move liked a proper champ.. I’ve felt great about the whole team and individuals for the 1st time in this seasons… we are looking good to take the title.. next weekend beat the L’pool and.. half way through..!!
Keep the way you played, barba… we will lift the trophy together!!
@Dimitar Berbatov is king
“Berbatov is proving his worth. What does he need to do more? Seems to me a section of the fans want overnight sensations. I think that’s too much to ask for.”
I don’t think we should have expected him to be an overnight sensation, but surely it isn’t “too much to ask for” to expect him to be a sensation after a over season and a half?
He’s a great player and has shown glimpses of efficacy like his control and change of pace yesterday and like his skill on the by-line before setting up a goal against West Ham last season. But for the fee and the salary he has simply not fit the bill. Yet. Like I said before, I think he still has a chance to prove his worth between now and the end of the season. But after that, surely to still lack consistency after 2 seasons is not good enough? To think that we got Valencia for nearly half as much money is barmy. Valencia has been twice as good, twice as effective and twice as important this season. It’s not Berbatov’s fault that the fee was paid for him of course, but the club pays him a hefty salary. And, that said, I don’t even think he would justify the fee we paid for Valencia yet either.
Besides Berbatov’s performance and more Rooney’s goals, I thought yesterday’s performance was impressive due to the rapid return to form of the defence. to be out for so long must be difficult for those guys but since having the Van der Sar-Vidic-Ferdinand trio back together, we’ve kept 3 clean sheets. Let’s hope it continues until they break their own record from last season.
@ Ashish,CaerdyddCoch. Berbatov needs to do more?Might Isuggest if you want to see people sweating go watch some navvies digging holes.Artistes create they dont dig holes.
@parryheid
I couldn’t care less if he sweats. I also don’t know why you’re trying to sound like Eric Cantona or something.
Show me these “holes” that Berbatov has “created” that are worth the money the club have spent on him so far and I’ll start by forgiving your inability to spell the word artist. Unless, that is, you meant to use the word “artiste” which means a person who is particularly skilled at something humorous or facetious. But I’m sure you didn’t mean to call Berbatov that.
Can’t you see that all of us appreciate Berbatov’s ability, skill and class? It’s just that he does not perform consistently enough to justify the money. I’m sure you marvel at skill montages put together on YouTube and they convince you that he is a genius, but when it comes to winning matches and earning points in a 38-game league season he just doesn’t do enough.
i think berba is bad. If he was world class he would of jumped atleast 8ft,chested the ball in mid-air, taken off both his boots and thrown it into the goals,then bicycled the ball into the top corner. lol . to all u berbahaters come on now. just give it up. stop debating
P.S. BERBA > money grabbing whore.
@caerdyddcoch
‘when it comes to WINNING MATCHES AND EARNING POINTS in a 38-game season he just doesnt do enough’ haha surely youve gotta be kidding. how many times has he scored match winning goals last season and this season? if i recall correctly plenty of times! not to mention the crucial assists he has put in.
The way he carelessly wasted chances- a very very easy header and then where was his pace when sent in one on one only to have to check back and pass to Rooney. I think I could have done a better job than 40 a day chris baird for the assist. He has once again come along to take an unwarranted slice of praise when the job was already done.
@huzi
I’m afraid I don’t recall “plenty of times” when he has won us matches with his goals or performances. I’ll happily read any recollections you may have though.
@brett1985
I have to agree. I recall one game, I think it was the Pompey game at home, where he missed a few chances (including one absolute sitter) and played pretty poorly on the whole. Then he put us 4-0 up and turned into Maradona. Not good enough for this club.
@CaerdyddCoch
I think his first season is definitely not good, but let’s face it, with a wanker Tevez has been and Ronaldo wanting the spotlight, how was he ever gonna do it? And this season, Berbatov has to contend with a knee injury, and some pretty harsh criticism that I believe is unwarranted. And when he does something good, a section of our fans say that other players could have done it better. Perhaps, but he was the one who did it.
@brett1985
Please, most news reports have stated that Rooney did most of the job, but let’s look at it this way. Berbatov is a willing part of the team. You do not hear him questioning Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to bench him in away games, even though it must be painful for a player hoping to prove himself. That to me is a sign of a player willing to work with the team for the team. Not Tevez.
Again, I hope this isn’t a false dawn, but the signs against Fulham are encouraging for a strike partnership of Rooney/Berbatov to come to fruition. And if Berbatov decides on a summer move, then I was wrong about him, but let the season come to an end before we pass our judgment.
Berbatov deserved his goal today,he is a VITAL member of the team,he can create out of nothing and will score more goals this season.Berbatov`s skill over tevez`s work rate all day long for me.
Oh fuck me the Berba debate rattles on…………………………………………………………again……………………………………………..yawn. These people STILL slagging him are clutching at straws. They now know they are getting to be proven wrong by his recent performances and may have to eat humble pie. He is fucking class and at least the people inside OT appreciated that yesterday.
He gets dumped out of the team for most big games and if people fail to comprehend the implications of this they must be blind. Say what you like, I’m glad when he’s not on the pitch. I can ‘suffer’ a belated goal from Berbatov and the crowing that ensues in the knowledge that people are desperate to ‘prove’ his worth. He’s already failed as a united player.
Nobody is denying his class, just his consistency. Nobody would watch that game yesterday and say he wasn’t awesome. But it’s Fulham home. It’s always middling sides that he does it against.
And what is with all the comparisons with Tevez? Nobody is suggesting that we had a choice between him and Tevez. I’d rather Berbatov at the club than that ungrateful whinger Tevez too. That isn’t the debate. I don’t really understand why Tevez has been brought into this discussion. It’s like saying “I’d much rather Berbatov than Djemba-Djemba”. Irrelevant.
What’s relevant is we paid a club record fee for him and pay him over £100,000 per week and he simply has not been worth that money, even in the context of the swollen market when he joined.
I used the word ‘consistency’ as the basis of one criticism for ages on this blog and when regular contributors respond to me they raise isolated examples. Whenever I made up criticisms of his big game performances and the fact he doesn’t get picked games like wolves are cited. The main criticisms about Berbatov including his lack of goals, inconsistency and being dumped to the bench have never been answered.
You would think this would be simple for people to grasp- but no. You see I want to praise Berbatov and criticise him in an honest fashion but everything he does well is elevated 10 fold- so to provide a balanced view sometimes forgettable misses have to be brought up.
If Berbatov scores a late goal and misses key chances when the match is tight- I’m going to say so. A blog article on this site could as easily start off with such criticisms but it is the natural tendency for people to be positive.
@King Eric
No one will change their opinion on Berbatov at this point. Hence the debate continues and will continue until he leaves. As you said, the important thing is that the OT crowd (as well as Fergie I may add) realise his true worth.
Costas: My opinion is open to change but the thing is and I almost guarantee you- there are people in this topic who have debated Berbatov with me 5-10 times and through their unwillingness could not even list approximately my principle criticisms of the player. You are quite right Costas on your summary- what matters is that the fans in the ground get behind players regardless (that is not a commentary on what they say in private) and what Fergie thinks. I don’t know what your implication is there but Fergie not starting Dimitar vs Milan reinforced my view which in big games over 2 years has now been soundly established.
@brett
No implication mate. Ferguson is far from perfect, but if there’s any manager who knows how to use each player to maximum effect, it’s him. And that’s what he has done with Berbatov in recent months. Besides, he can’t swing his wang, make Berbatov disappear and bring 2 world class strikers at the club. Each game has its own backstory and you will find out that Berbatov, particulary in his first season, started plenty of “big games”. I used the tags, because in hindsight, it’s games against teams at the bottom half of the table that give you the platform to win the title.
Anyway, despite the fact that each game is different, Fergie’s preference for 4-5-1 in the tough games is pretty clear. Not entering the Berba-Tevez debate, but last season, Tevez didn’t get the nod in too many of those games ahead of Berba. Fergie just played with one striker. And that was the case against Milan. Unless Berbatov can defend or boss a midfield like Scholesy can, then he doesn’t fit in Fergie’s plans for these games. And I see that happening against Liverpool too. Can Berbatov have an impact against them. In my opinion, yes. Will playing 4-4-2 give the Liverpool midfield a chance to get a hold of the game? Possibly. So the best solution is to play 4-5-1.
The only way I can see Berbatov (or any other striker for that matter) starting next to Wayne in big games, is if United find a midfielder to compliment Fletch. Carrick can’t do that because destroying the opposition’s game is not his forte. For now, Berbatov’s role at United is that of Nani, Valencia, Park and others: How to take advantage of Rooney’s deadly instinct. That’s why his assist yesterday was more important than his goal. But we could use more back up in attack because Wayne won’t start every game and Berbatov can’t play as a single striker to similar effect.
Sorry for the long post.
@brett
Oh and we agree about the OT crowd. Despite how they feel, they are there for every player. That’s what makes us better than the fascsists.
@anirudh
To say “he left us so we don’t like him” is one thing which i have no problem but to suggust that he is not a big game player is ridicules. He scored some cricial goals against big teams like his winner at anfield, his first against chealse at OT and changed the game against arsenal at OT as a second half sub together with ando and a number of key goals like at stock, CL against porto to mention some. I think we can not compare him with berbatove. One thing is clear here though we should support a player who is playing for UNITED! i don’t care about tevez anymore. with regard to berbatove he has to prove himself by winning us games against liverpool, arsenal, chealse etc until then he is a player yet to warrant a top player at OT.
In the end I clearly see the negative a good bit more than you but your points are all rational and fairly put overall.
When we think about Berbatov- him missing the Milan matches should be headline news, a scandal, outrageous and unexpected. This ‘is’ a major player, a ‘big’ player, a ‘great’ player. Similarly the fact that Berabtov missed two easy headers and declined a one-on-one against Fulham for me is again stunning (on a smaller scale) . I continue to be ‘stunned’, ‘surprised’ and ‘alarmed’ which perversely keeps Berbatov as a talking point and keeps him relevant. Because in the end what is ‘relevant’ about a player who when the big champions league game comes along- isn’t starting? I don’t want to lose sight of what I genuinely expected of this player in the midst of praise from Ferguson which is clearly a ploy to boost his confidence.
@brett
fergie not starting him does NOT IN ANY WAY make it his fault. fergie knows that 4-5-1 is the best against big teams and its impossible unless you move rooney to the left and play berba striker but everyone knows thats never going to happen. lets hope berba plays against the scousers and prove you wrong. peace mate!
Costas – great post at 18.34 but you are wasting your time mate.
I don’t want him fail rather i want to be proven wrong. Was there any united stricker so controvertial like berbatove? May be we were lucky to have had some of the great strickers at the club and we are expecting same from berbatove and we have every right to expect.
Huzi
I try to avoid points of disagreement to an extent. I will simply state that I think Berbatov’s effort and quality aren’t doing him any favors regarding getting into that formation but I realise that is a point that encourages polarised views. What I just prefer to say is that regardless of the reasoning, he isn’t playing those types of games and it suits my assessment of the player.
King Eric
No point in getting angry with you. I do try to make the effort to explain my points- you seem to skip to the conclusion and then disagree. You seem to avoid specific points in the sense that you can’t prove chris baird isn’t a heavy smoker, or that Berbatov missed other chances. I do try to stick to the facts if you see what I mean.
Berba certainly comes across as the kind of player who doesn’t mind not scoring. For some scoring is the be all and end all of playing football but Berba doesn’t seem to care either way!
brett
him not playing is NOT his fault. (ive repeated this statement countless times).
yeah agree that berba missed. every striker misses. id actually be quite surprised if they didnt. rooney missed 1 sitter against shitty in the 2nd leg yet no one gave him stick. (not trying to take of on rooney but trying to make my point heard).
Brett’s points are totally correct.
Also, nobody is offering facts or stats or figures or examples to back up their own points about Berbatov. You’re mainly selectively picking points that attempt to discredit Brett’s argument but don’t do so successfully in any way
@bchilds
When assessing a £30m STRIKER, it is absolutely important to look at his goal return.
@huzi
Him not playing is his fault because he has not performed well enough at crucial times in order to give Ferguson to faith to pick him more regularly. It’s not just a blind decision Ferguson makes because he desperately wants to play 4-5-1. He wants to play the team and system that wins games and, in the big games, Berbatov has not done enough on the pitch and, clearly, in training to fit into neither. So he is dropped.
Costas @ 18:34: “For now, Berbatov’s role at United is that of Nani, Valencia, Park and others: How to take advantage of Rooney’s deadly instinct. That’s why his assist yesterday was more important than his goal.”
Absolutely correct. Dimitar Berbatov is a 30.75 million supporting-cast member.
Dimmy is not now – nor never has been – the MainMan.
But., to look on the bright side, it does look like SAF has figured out how to best utilize his silky skills and wonderful ball control – in the hole in a 4-4-2; not in a 4-5-1 when he is consigned to the bench.
I suppose, too, that he will have a role to play in games where the opposition parks-the-bus or where UTD are controlling possession but can’t unlock a tight, well-organized opposition.
As much as it pains me to say but brett1985 has a point. There must be a reason saf is’nt starting Berbatov in the big games, it’s not fair on the player and begs the question why did we pay 30 million for him. Brett, every sticker misses chances at least he’s getting in to the positions to miss them, all be it, the first header he should have buried.
@caerdyddcoch
dont see how its his fault. hes played well in his last 5 or 6 games and even though it may be against ‘weak’ opposition, that is the only chance he is getting. fergie knows that the 5-man midfield controls the game as opposed to playing 4 midfielders and 2 strikers.
@denton davey
agreed fully mate. another bright thing is the fact that berba never complains when benched unlike some other players (ahem ahem MONEY GRABBING WHORE)
brett1985 – Get angry with me. Why would you do that? The way I see it is as Scott has mentioned he is the highest scoring second striker in the league, he assists, he creates and he makes space and pulls defenders all over the park. He has been important against teams at home who park the bus. His assist rate is decent and he is in double figures for league goals. Rooney seems to enjoy playing with him and from what I have seen in the last 4 or 5 games they are building a good relationship. I am happy with the man and his attitude is spot on. Thats the way I see it brett. Perhaps you are TOO critical. Even the abu media who revel in putting him down have praised him this morning. To all intents and purposes this is his first proper season playing with Rooney and they have done well. 42 goals between them absolutely pisses on the so called best partnership of Drogba and Anelka. I just feel mate that those who doubt him will NEVER come round regardless. He is the kind player that I enjoy paying money to see and I honestly do think that for the end of the season and into next Rooney and him will become a deadly duo.
willierednut – hello mate. As it has been said before we all know Fergie prefers 4-5-1 in big games. How do we accomodate him with Rooney in this form? As a lone striker away at Wolves he did well and was a constant pain in the arse pulling the Wolves back four all over the place.
Oh come on Brett you’re clutching at straws now. I can’t prove Baird is a heavy smoker any more than you can prove he is. Well unless you can. That is beside the point. It isn’t the fact he beat him for pace but moreover the way he pulled a 50 yard ball out the air like that. Anyway we all know Berba likes a tab!!
He is lucky we do’t have quality strickers to challenge his place in the team. immagine if he had been in the 1998-2001 team where we have the likes of cole, york solskiare, sheringham etc, he would not have a game in a month or two. Next season i hope we will add one world class stricker to partner our no10.
@king eric
spot on. some people just dont want to see the impact he has in the side even though its clearly visible. they had the opinion that hes not good enough from the time he arrived and wont change their opinion even if he does things out of the extra-ordinary (mind you he has done it a few times already)
@CaerdyddCoch
Mate, you haven’t used any sufficient statistics to make your point either. His price tag? Not his fault and it souldn’t burden him either. He is a striker? Sometimes he plays as far back as the middle of the pitch. And the fact that he does it regulary, shows that that’s what Fergie wants from him. I know that people are expecting to see the Berbatov that played at Tottenham, but it doesn’t work like that.
The only statistic I have that proves that he doesn’t play as an out and out striker, is the fact that he has 10 goals from 79 shots and Rooney has 32 goals from 213 shots. That means that Berbatov averages one goal every 7,9 shots and Wayne averages a goal every 6,7 shots.
As far as why he doesn’t start, I think I made my 4-4-2/4-5-1 point pretty clear above.
united4life – Yeah cos Teddy was really loved by the fans in his first two seasons then look what happened!
I take your point about saf starting with a 451 formation in most big games, but would you not agree it’s unfair on Berba not starting these games after the great lenghs we went to sign him. lets be clear, i think he’s a class player, just disapointed he doesn’t start more big games.
of topic but the scousers take on the mighty pompey. i reckon liverpoo will cause a major upset and win tonight.
@willierednut
It is unfair to him mate. I think that plenty of times Fergie is stuck too much on 4-5-1. But what can you do? In his first 3 months at United, he started at Anfield, at the Emirates and at Chelsea and the results weren’t that great. We played him in a 4-4-2 for the visit of Chelsea and it was a result that masked a few problems that this system has had for us the last 2 years. And then Liverpool came to OT and we haven’t played 4-4-2 in a big game since. I think the problem lies with our midfield. If someone like Hargo was fit, he would form a solid midfield duo with Fletch and allow us to play 4-4-2 in a safer manner.
So yeah, I would like to see him paly in big games more often, but it’s something that could hamper us defensively.
the problem is rooney is playing so well as a lone striker and in big games we adopt the 4-5-1 alot.i also think berbatov is finally feeling part of the club his consistency and level of play has gone up over the last 6 or so games the best is yet to come i’m sure of that
@Costas
As I pointed out, his price was not his fault; you’re right. But I think even in the context of that messed-up market at the time we bought him, he still hasn’t lived up to the price tag. I don’t think he’d have been worth it if we’d paid £16m-£20m for him so far. However, I agree that price tags are not players’ fault. His wages (i.e. his contract demands) were more his “fault” and he has not lived up to his wages. He is reportedly the highest paid player at the club on £150,000 per week. But let’s just say he is on at least £100,000 per week. He clearly has not paid the club back with his performance.
I’m afraid they are relevant statistics.
I was looking at his league stats too. Since joining us he has 19 league goals from 57 starts and 10 sub appearances. Rooney has 35 goals from the same amount of league starts and 5 less sub appearances. In addition, we all agree that Rooney’s all-round performances have far bettered Berbatov’s.
Anelka has 28 from 61; Torres 27 from 42; Drogba 26 from 48 (and that includes his time in the darkness under Scolari last year); Agbonlahor 23 from 63; Bent 30 from 61. They are all quite comfortably better ratios than Berbatov except for Agbonlahor who is only slightly better than Berbatov.
And I don’t know where this argument comes from that he creates: he has 4 assists in the league this season. Valencia has 7 and also has 5 goals from his position where he gets chalk on his boots every week. Anelka has 4 assists too this season. Drogba has 6 assists in the league in 2 less starts than Berbatov and, as I said, has that monstrous goal return. Agbonlahor even has 3 assists and he is the pacey pin-point of Villa’s attack. Even Bent and Torres, total out and out strikers, have chipped in with an assist each to compliment their high goalscoring stats. So I don’t think these figures support Berbatov being a creator as well as a scorer.
Also, how many times do we see him bring the ball down with some magical control, only to give it away?
£30m club record fee, £100,000+ per week.
The players mentioned above ALL have better goalscoring records and, on the whole, have better assist tallies as well. Anelka cost half as much as Berbatov, Drogba £6m less than Berbatov, Agbonlahor is a youth product, Torres was reportedly £20m and Bent was around £17m. Bent even plays for a bottom half club!
These stats are important and they don’t mask anything. His goalscoring is poor so people say he creates. But 4 assists doesn’t sound staggering to me.
Can I just say again that I would love for him to maintain his form for the run-in. But the argument in favour of him here is warped.
And just as I was about to click send Torres put another goal in.
Jesus Christ Pompey are falling apart. Anyway.
@CaerdyddCoch
Yeah, those are better stats. But i have two objections about them, 1) Those players play as centre forwards and Berbatov doesn’t. 2) They don’t play for Man United. I am not dodging the facts, but i am a firm believer that it’s easier to deliver at other clubs when you don’t have to live in the shadow of guys like Rooney or Ronaldo. For example, Berbatov has a far better goal scoring record for Tottenham. That’s because he played higher up the pitch and the team revolved around him.
As far as his assists, I agree. He gets the odd assist, but not enough. Watching him carefully in recent games, I notice that he is behind quite a few of our goals, but he doesn’t make the final ball. He just sets up the attacks. For example, he set up Valencia’s 3 crosses for Rooney against West Ham and Villa. That’s not something to brag about. Just that he is playing a part in the game. He isn’t anonymous. We have seen bigger flops in the Premiership with his price tag,
@Costas
So is your argument that he is not the biggest flop ever? If so, then I totally agree. That said, I don’t think there have been too many that are worse. I’d say even Veron was more valuable for us than Berbatov.
For Spurs he got 27 in 63 in the league. Of course, a much better ratio. But if he wants to be a a big time club like United, he needs to step up. That is the whole argument. Neither me or brett1985 said Berbatov was shit. Just that he wasn’t good enough for United and has failed for us. If anything, pointing out that he had a better record as Spurs has backed up the argument that he has failed for United. Besides, the best players say it is even easier to play for clubs like United if you’re a forward because you get the best service in the world. Who is Bent receiving passes from? David Meyler, Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson. Berbatov may not be a out and out forward like Bent, but he is still getting service from Nani, Valencia, Giggs, Scholes and Carrick.
Saying he set-up 3 of Valencia’s crosses is nonsense and, judging by your tone in that post, you know it is. For those 3 goals, you could probably go back to Evra or Rio and say, as they made a pass earlier in the move, they were a notable part of that goal.
@costas i agree no one gives him credit for his instant control and abilty to hold the ball and get other players involved,it might not show up on the stat sheets buts its a intregal part of the build up play.
@ CaerdyddCoch
I am afraid you need to provide a link for those stats. Some of them look to be inaccurate.
You should take the minutes played under consideration, not the number of games. Also, we all know SAF played Berbatov out of position last year, so he really played at the top only from the beginning of this season and we all know he was injured for 6 weeks, as well as not featuring in the 4-5-1 formation, we play so often these days.
Also, you need to compare the players playing in the same position for their teams. Drogba and Torres should be compared and competing with Rooney for example. Berbatov is by all means a second striker. He is second choice after Wayne and he in fact plays in the hole behind Rooney.
@wayne
Does controlling the ball and playing a pass every now and then justify all the money? No.
And, as I said, how often does he bring the ball down beautifully and either:
a) lose it
b) play a misplaced pass, or
c) run into a hole and break a move down?
Quite often. But there is no stat for those either unfortunately.
@CaerdyddCoch
No, I don’t think it’s nonsense. It’s something that he does very well, but goes unnoticed and isn’t rewarded in any way. And it isn’t something to brag about, because that’s his job for us.
Again, the likes of Bent, Tevez or Agbonlahor are the main men for their clubs. Berbatov isn’t. Sunderland, City or Villa are not League 3 sides. They have very decent service for their attackers. We are not the only club obligated to have 30 goal-per-season strikers. And there’s only one player that can go for the ball every time. Last season it was Ronaldo and Rooney, this season it’s Rooney.
I realise that people don’t feel like he’s done enough for us. Personally, I am ok with what he has brought to the table. If stepping up only means scoring more goals, then I am sorry but that won’t happen. Oh and the biggest flop thing was in reference to calling him a flop and a failure. I should have put the word flop in tags.
@misterq
Well said about Berbatov’s position.
@Costas
I don’t quite understand this “main man” thing. We paid a club record fee and pay him one of the highest salaries at the club and he is a centre forward. Like I said, if he isn’t going to score, then set some goals up….but he has only set up 4.
If you’re happy for the club to spend so much money on a player who knocks a few passes to a player who crosses the ball in for others to score then I guess I have no argument that he has fulfilled all expectations.
The stats are about effectiveness. Things that he does that impact games. We could put Gibson in to play “unnoticed” passes in a move and he would do it brilliantly.
@misterq
I tried to post links to the stats but I don’t think they have gone on. They are from ESPN and the Premier League. ESPN uses Opta I believe and the League uses Actim.
I also pointed out that he has been subbed just 5 times this season in response to your comment that we should refer to minutes played not games played. Also, the numbers of appearances that I quoted in the original post were starts, not overall appearances.
I am pretty sure Drogba hasn’t had 2 less starts than Berbatov.
Berbatov very rarely loses the ball . He always find his pass too. Never gives it away. Those are some of the things I like him for.
@King Eric
To say Berbatov rarely loses the ball is quite simply not true I’m afraid.
I did try to post a correction to the starting stats. The Premier League Stats are confusing. You’re right, Berbatov has 26 starts of which 8 were as a sub. I mis-read them. Don’t know why my correction post wasn’t put on though.
there seems to be no inbetween with berba you either like him or you don’t.
@caerdyddcoch.{could you get a smaller name i’m a one fingered typer}
if you read a earlier comment i said berba has improved over the last 6 or so games,i think he’s had a problem settlling in and living up the the price tag.he didn’t ask for that sir alex thought he was worth it he also turned down bigger money to go to city,so regardless of what his paycheck is his intent is in the right place.due to rooneys explosion and his vast improvement of being the lone striker, berba is the 2nd striker and the deep guy when he plays,so yes i think its very important the role he plays.i’m sure if you check the stats over the last 6 or so games his pass % will be very good,hes also scoring on a farly regular rate.
@wayne
I fully agree his is in form. This is the best he has played for us. Which is why I was always saying I hope he can carry this through the run-in between now and the end of the season. Nothing would delight me more. But like I said, this is surely his last chance to prove himself.
@CaerdyddCoch
Has he played as a centre forward for us? Rarely is my answer. We bought a player who would bring something different to our attacks. That can be goals, assists, hold up play or flicks. And in that sense, I think he has done that when called upon. But I realise that there are games where he isn’t needed.
The main man thign is simple. Drogba is Chelsea’s main man. He is their centre forward and most of the time they are looking to pick him out. Same for Tevez and City. Same for Berbatov at Spurs. Berbatov at Man United is a supportive striker and he is not the player our attacks are built around. That’s Rooney.
And I really don’t care about what he cost. It doesn’t make him less of a player and it didn’t come out of my pocket. His price tag is something that David Gill has to think about because it was the second time in 2 years that Daniel Levy got the best of him like that.
It is a shame we all can never agree about Berbatov but it is the end of the day now and I just hope that Berbatov does well between now and the end of the season contrary to my expectations.
@brett
I know what you mean brett, but it would be quite boring if we agreed on everything.
Honestly, I am happy that as United fans we have these types of worries compared to what the likes of Liverpool have to worry about. On the football side of things anyway.
even there are people considering that berbatov is a flop are not the striker you are adore so much (anelka, drogba, bent, agbonlahor, torres), you just need to remember one thing: he played for united & united win last season. if you go on with statistic about anelka & drogba, u are a chelsea guy. but if u going on with bent, agbonlahor & torres, i ask you one thing: where are they now?
1. torres is in the europa league & trailing for 4th place ( we need to kill them next match)
2. bent in the bottom half of the league (does he ever played in european games? i mean as a club)
3. we see what happen to aston villa lost in play off to rapid wien
we can say that we could by this n that as a good striker but in the end is not individuals but a team that are really important. why we try to say berbatov aren’t good since we never hear rooney who played along with him never say anything n always praise.
@CaerdyddCoch
The stats you provided about goals/assist ration are biased to Berbatov. You compared Berbatov to their main striker, which should be what Rooney is to us. I’d like you to dig out the goal/assist ratio of each of the other clubs’ second striker.
Chelsea – Anelka
Liverpool – Ngog
Arsenal – Bentner
Aston Villa – Carew
City – Adebayor
Tottenham – Crouch
etc
Gathered we all agree his price tag is not his fault, so it should not be put into context when comparing to the other support strikers, that would be fair to all. Take a good look at that list, if you ignore the price tag, who would you want as support/cover for Rooney instead of Berbatov?
And how about this list of second strikers?
Milan – Huntelaar
Inter – Bartoli
Real Madrid – Benzema
Barcelona – Henry
Bayern – Toni
Bordeaux – Jussie
Have I got you thinking enough now?
Marq – Nice one mate. I think he will find that Berbatov IS indeed the highest scorer of all those players listed.
Berbatov has only 4 assists this season, last season he had 9. What gives? This is in less games but I’m not quite sure I understand why assists would be used to describe what Berbatov does well. This is only a point directed at those who use assists as the crutch upon which to base their thoughts because you insisted this was what I was to judge him upon! From Jan 27th to March 14th he did not get any assists! From August 29th til December 15th no assists. He has got assists against Wigan Athletic (a), Wolverhampton (h), Hull City (h), Fulham (h).
Berbatov has 10 goals this season. last season he had 9. What gives? He has scored more goals in less games than last year. Key goals in matches we won were against Stoke, Blackburn and Burnley. He has scored against Wigan (a), Sunderland (h), Hull (a), Wigan(h), Portsmouth(h), Everton (a) and Fulham (h) to less effect. Although I did not ask for more goals, I saw it as a potential area of improvement but this appears to be clearly at the expense of assists. He seems to tide himself over with late goals in comfortable wins against mediocre opposition. His goals seem to have convinced some that he is proving his credits wrong those same people having dismissed goals as unimportant to him.
In conclusion- having researched these points- I’d just like to reaffirm my belief that just like against Blackburn anything Berbatov does which is good is appropriated for the purpose of trying to ‘prove’ Berbatov is a success. This is stoking debates about him and is unfair on the player.
Correction: Meant to say Fulham in the last paragraph- not Blackburn.
brett1985 – No offence mate but lets just put it to bed eh? You will never agree on Berbatov but I find it bizarre that you are one of a very small minority who doesn’t think Berbatov played well on Sunday. All the fans I talk to, all the fans who called Micky Thomas after the game, all the fans who call post match phone ins , all the muppets on MEN site, all the abu media and most on here thought he was excellent but of course we all must be the “non-thinking” sort.
King Eric:
I don’t care what you think quite honestly. For example I explained the term non thinking to you and you’ve just turned round and taken it out of context. I’m wasting my time with you.
if man utd go for benzema will rooney score more or we hv more goals? we saw how huntelaar play didn’t we?
brett – You quite clearly do “care” what I say otherwise you wouldn’t feel the need to respond to me everytime. We will agree to disagree .
@marq
Would you consider any of the players you mentioned to be good enough for United? Other than Anelka, I wouldn’t. Actually, I would consider Benzema good enough, but he isn’t their second striker; he’s a sub. Have you been watching them play at all, or did you just look at a squad list and choose a player? They have been playing Higuain up top recently. Who is his “second striker”? Or “support striker”? A certain Cristiano Ronaldo. Even when Benzema plays, he is the lead striker with Ronaldo floating around. So be my guest and compare Ronaldo or Anelka with Berbatov if you really want to put his performances to a real test. If you’re happy, along with King Eric it seems, for him to just be better than John Carew or Luca Toni though, that’s fine: you win.
So are we going to compare Berbatov with players we already know aren’t good enough for this club? Seems a bit self-fulfilling for your own argument. I compared Berbatov to players who he is meant to be on the same level as and a couple who he is meant to be better than.
@Zalee
You seem to be saying that, as long as the team is succeeding, we shouldn’t mind having players who underachieve. If you want to be at a club that carries deadwood, then United isn’t for you. Also, your suggestion that we are Chelsea fans because we compare Berbatov’s stats to those of Anelka or Drogba is very strange. I don’t even understand what you mean by that.
@King Eric
AGAIN, I am not, and I don’t think brett1985 is, saying that Berbatov didn’t play well against Fulham. We’re saying that only doing the business against the teams that brett1985 mentioned is not good enough.
@CaerdyddCoch
So Berbatov is not good enough for you, and so are every other player in that list, so who do you want for cover for Rooney? Some fantasy player in your mind? If not, answer this question, and I will agree with you if it is valid. Who to replace Berbatov?
And to those who think performing against smaller teams are not good enough? Let me ask you 1 question, maybe 2. How did we win the league last year? And how in the world is Arsenal where they are now this season despite be totally outclassed by us and Chelsea?
brett – You quite clearly do “care” what I say otherwise you wouldn’t feel the need to respond to me everytime. We will agree to disagree .
—-
Care about what? The fact that you go around misrepresenting points that I have the courtesy of explaining to you. I care enough to tell you what an asshole you are. Yes.
CaerdyddCoch
Good points again. The fact that N’Gog has an inferior record to Berbatov does not really speak volumes to me at all.
Costas has been right and a few of us know it but don’t know why. There are entrenched views on this subject matter. It is why the goalposts keep moving like I said in my post above.
The way I have looked at Berbatov consistently is to say that his 8 starts from a possible 19 in big matches and solitary goal have made me bitterly disappointed. Is there one person on here who with a straight face could say that they would have regarded that return as adequate the day we signed the player.
Dishonesty pervades peoples viewpoints, cart before the horse, looking for a conclusion before a finding a reason. My points are largely fact based you see but I get constant disagreement. People don’t dispute the individual points. If anyone wants to start by explaining to me that Chris Baird is anything other than a heavy smoker. Otherwise the constant disagreements are just sour grapes.
@Marq
You continue to just come down on the wrong side of any argument. This shows you are pretty much running out of justification for your opinion. Who said winning against small teams wasn’t important???? Do you think I am saying that we should only care about beating the top teams? No. What I said was that a player on his wages who cost as much as he did should not only be performing against the lesser team, but also against the big teams; just like all of the other first teamers. Van der Sar, Vidic, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Valencia, Carrick…..these guys always put in ruthless shifts against the likes of Blackburn, Portsmouth and Fulham, but they also pull their fingers out and deliver top class performances against Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan etc. I think you clearly understand my argument but you are just trying to find ways around it.
Is it really asking for a “fantasy” player when we say we should have better than Berbatov? For the money we spent on him? We could have bought many players. But then, I am not paid to make these decisions. Rather, I pay to judge the decisions. And if you really want an answer, personally I would have suggested any of the following: Benzema, Djeko, Fabiano, Falcao, Di Natale. Not all “gettable”, but all better than Berbatov. I also think Jovetic would be able to play further forward, in the position Berbatov plays, and perform better.
“So Berbatov is not good enough for you, and so are every other player in that list, so who do you want for cover for Rooney?”
DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT!?! The whole point is he shouldn’t be cover for Rooney!! A £30m should be performing along the same lines as Rooney, not be a bench-warming backup!
brett – Resorting to childish name calling. Grow up .
CaerdyddCoch – Thats just it though, brett DOES think Berbatov was shit against Fulham.
Brett you are clutching at straws with this “heavy smoker” line. As I said last night I can’t prove he smokes anymore than you can prove he DOES. Thats besides the point anyway I know plenty of smokers who over ten yards are quick, they just cannot sustain it. Anyway there were two defenders. God how ridiculous has this got that we are talking smoker or non smoker?
@King Eric
You misunderstood a word I used and when this was explained to you, you just carried on misrepresenting my views because it suited you and dragged the issue from one topic to another. Caring about your opinion and simply letting you run loose at my expense are two different things.
Benzema (Madrid badge kisser), Dzeko(Milan fan), Fabiano(Forlan scored more than him) , Falcao (fragile), Di Natale(who) all better than Berbatov, thats your logic? I cease my case. Here we have a guy who loves United, who doesnt grumble at being on the bench, and if the team plays better with Rooney alone up front, is it his fault? No, its the management’s fault. And you think bringing in a partner, any partner will help Rooney and the team be better? You should apply for the manager’s job, smart guy
No point arguing with you anymore if you think they are better than Berbatov. You yourself said that the money is not Berbatov’s fault, but you keep highlighting it? Who’s going down the wrong side? We are at the tail end of the season, and you people, instead of supporting the team & players, you find fault with them, some fans you people are. We are better off without you. What we have now, we throw our support behind. Any changes will be highlighted in the summer period. So please stop the negatives and support the team you should, or are you a Chelsea or Arsenal fan in disguise?
Brett you talk about me dragging it from one topic to the next but I put in one of my posts last night the reasons why I like Berbatov at United and that’s as far as it goes for me. I am still waiting for you to back up your claim that Baird is a “heavy smoker”?
@mar
Yes, I’m a Chelsea fan. That’s why I care so much about improving United.
I said the transfer fee wasn’t his fault so much, but his wages are as they were HIS contract demands. So yes, money is relevant.
Also, I really, REALLY want to respond to your “criticisms” of the players I mentioned:
Benzema (Madrid badge kisser) – Well, Rooney kissed the Everton badge.
Dzeko (Milan fan) – So? Rooney supports Everton. Berbatov supports Newcastle. Cristiano Ronaldo supported Madrid. Paul Scholes supports Oldham.
Fabiano (Forlan scored more than him) – Don’t really understand the argument. Forlan won the Golden Boot on 08/09, so does that mean no strikers are any good? And this season Fabiano has scored one more than Forlan. So what exactly are you talking about?
Di Natale (who?) – Um…..he’s the top scorer in Italy. Good knowledge.
I also loved your dramatic, “I cease my case” comment. You can’t just say that for dramatic effect and expect everyone to accept you are right. You’ve made a terrible case against what me and brett1985 have been saying.
Also, how many times have I pointed out that I hope Berbatov plays as well as he has been recently for the rest of the season? None of you, apparently quite blind, fans are any more behind him than me. I’d love to see him prove me wrong and score in all the big games and put in match winning performances at key times. But for now, he’s failed.
Quick correction as I was misinformed:
Luis Fabiano has indeed scored less than Forlan this season…..One less goal…..in 15 fewer appearances.
My mistake has actually made my argument even stronger.
of course i know who Di Natale is, yes putting a man into a position where Rooney now play in, will help Rooney score 40 goals, smart. Sir Alex is retiring soon, go apply like i said. Did Berbatov demanded that money? No, Levy did, City put in an offer, and he left them for dead, United put a contract in front of him, and he signed it. Maybe you are jealous he gets offered such amounts so you pick on him, but the fact is that comparing him to other players in the list i put up before, I know who I want in my team.
My point is that you don’t seem to understand the fact that our team plays better in a formation 4-5-1, and that is no fault of Berbatov, you can put Zidane and Pele in there and we might struggle because this era is about flooding the midfield, taking 1 man out of there and you lose 1/2 the battle already, so much knowledge, you don’t understand the game, so i don’t want to waste my breath on you anymore
Btw, Rooney did kissed Everton’s badge, but he also said he loves United. Not the same can be said about Benzema, and you actually prefer such players in our team as against players who love United? *Clap* *Clap* Comparing Rooney to Benzema just shows what kind of fan you are, go support your chelsea and cry over their exit
@CaerdyddCoch
Well, there are definitely players better than Berbatov out in this world. So? We now have Berbatov in our team, not anyone you have listed. And in recent weeks he has been putting in a shift for us. Say what you will about paying to judge decisions, I say that I believe in the gaffer on how he wants to use Berbatov.
And in summer, let’s see what the gaffer decides to do with Berbatov. That will be saying a lot, whether he keeps Berbatov or lets him go.
@marq
Levy didn’t decide Berbatov’s contract demands; Berbatov and his agent did. You don’t get given a contract to sign like you seem to suggest. Otherwise United would put Mido-sized contracts in front of everyone and they’d sign. Berbatov’s contract demands were, allegedly, to be the highest paid player at the club. Whether or not that is true I don’t know, but he is definitely on over £100,000 a week and HE DEMANDED THAT IN ORDER TO SIGN A CONTRACT. Levy demanded the transfer fee, but I have said that I don’t blame Berbatov for that. Though I do still believe a £30m+ transfer fee is relevant.
I don’t actually believe that you would prefer Berbatov to Benzema or Anelka. I think you’re just saying that to be stubborn in your argument.
The point about whether or not we need to play 4-5-1 is not really valid. I agree we play better with 4-5-1 but that’s not to say we couldn’t play any better with the correct personnel. We play best at 4-5-1 with the personnel available to us. And 4-5-1 doesn’t include Berbatov because he does not do enough to make a different system work. We can also not prove whether or not Benzema or Anelka would be good enough to make a tweaked system work, but I believe they are better players than Berbatov and their pace would improve the team more than Berbatov could. They can also be relied upon to put the ball in the net given the opportunity.
“Btw, Rooney did kissed Everton’s badge, but he also said he loves United.”
Wonderful back-tracking on a totally dead argument. What if Benzema joined, scored 40 and said he loved United? Rooney didn’t love United when he was playing for Everton, did he. I don’t even know why I am arguing such a ridiculous point but I feel obligated not to let you off with such idiocy.
Yes, I’m a Chelsea fan. I was crying over their exit.
@Dimitar Berbatov is King
I AGREE!! Let’s see how he performs between now and the end of the season! I support him when he is in our team. When Berbatov is running in on goal, I’m not thinking, “Miss, miss, please miss!!”, I’m willing him on to bang it in. I would absolutely LOVE if he continues his form through the rest of the season. Mainly because it will aid our trophy challenges, but also because he is a class player, has amazing talent and, also, seems a decent guy as well. I am just arguing about his form up until now and I do believe that, unless he does put in the same shifts that he has been putting in between now and the end of the season, he has not done enough.
Anelka and Benzema aren’t better than Berbatov, not remotely. Anelka is a bottler mate and Benzema has done fuck all at any level to warrant a comment like that. Hasn’t even got the balls to fight it out at the Fascists.
Wow, starting to call names? How low can you get to win your argument? All right, you win, Berbatov is crap, Benzema is king, and Terry is a saint. You win
So wait, because a certain user doesn’t think the sun shines out of Berbatov’s orfice and critiqued him, he’s now a Chelsea fan?
@Marq: what does the club the players you listed support and what they did(badge kissing et al) have to do with anything? You’re seriously telling me if we had a chance to sign Torres for a sensible fee, you’d turn him down because he’s said he loves Liverpool and all that? Okay…
@marq
Where did I call you a name?
And it’s good to see you didn’t respond to anything I said.
@OTRed
Thank you! I made an argument based totally on statistics and maintained that I personally want Berbatov to shine as I think he is a class player and a good guy.
I thought that was quite an intelligent way to critique someone!
@OTRed
It was just a punt directed at his suggestive quote “Yes, I’m a Chelsea fan”
Yes I don’t want someone with a tatoo of “You’ll never walk alone” playing for us, and I believe alot of us have the same feeling.
@CaerdyddCoch
” I don’t even know why I am arguing such a ridiculous point but I feel obligated not to let you off with such idiocy. ”
Yes I am an idiot, I am naive in the way i support the team, the players and the manager. I am not going to be pre-occupied trying to win an argument here, i only wish for my team to win. Yes we all wish Berbatov would score us 40 goals, but it is not going to happen due to many circumstances, and one of that factor he is not going to do that is all the stick he is getting, so why are you becoming one of the factor holding him back? That is what I am pissed off about.
Yes he may not be the best player out there, but he is definitely amongst the best w/o the bagguage of dreaming about some other club or grumbling about being on the bench. If you people cannot see the beauty of such a player, I have no idea want else you all want. I have no qalms about the manager spend 30m for someone to win us games against smaller teams, because those are the games that win you the championship, and yet, alot of you bang on about “Oh, its just Fulham” Utter disrespect for smaller teams.
I am not asking you lot to start praising Berbatov to the heavens like you would to some players whom you might not have even seen playing regular, but please cut him some stick and stop banging on his price tag. Its like a glass of water being 1/2 full, I am thankful to have this 1/2 glass of water to drink whilst you keep banging on where is the other 1/2 and refuse to drink it until it is completely full. The fact is, this 1/2 glass of water has played an important albeit unspectacular role to putting us where we are, and for that, I am glad and I will drink it, and after that I am filled whilst you are still there thirsty, waiting for someday that the glass will fill up
Saying your comments are idiotic is not to call you an idiot. In case you weren’t aware of how the language works.
You’re absolutely right. We will keep banging on to make the glass totally full. That’s what United is all about. And as I keep saying, it’s not just the £30m transfer fee, but also his wage demands.
As for your other comment, if you won’t want Torres at this club because he has a Liverpool tattoo, that is ridiculous. Like I said before, Rooney was die-hard Everton before. Scholes is a lifelong Oldham fan. Berbatov used to love Shearer and Newcastle when they were out main contenders. Your logic is totally twisted and inconsistent.
I don’t want Torres, it is not ridiculous. It is a fact, period.
Considering you weren’t aware of who Di Natale was until you looked him up, it doesn’t shock me that you can’t see the beneft of having Torres in any team in the world.