Like Michael Carrick before him, I, like many reds, championed the cause of Dimitar Berbatov. Again, like Carrick, I hadn’t been overly enthusiastic about the prospect of signing him, but once he was ours, I was excited to see what he could do.
Sadly, a minority of reds, used to watching Rooney and Tevez breaking their necks to win every ball, weren’t too impressed with Berbatov’s work rate. “Lazy cunt!” a lad sat behind me would shout, every time our new signing lost the ball or made a wayward pass.
However, if you hadn’t been impressed beforehand, Berbatov’s delightful flick against West Ham had most of us swooning. What a fucking player.
I like that he’s laid back now, I enjoy seeing him take his time on the ball before playing the perfect pass. He’s a cut above, total class, and he has no intention of changing his style for anyone!
“Half the people might like me – the other half might not,” said Berbatov. “But throughout my life, I have had high expectations for myself – so I just try to make the non-believers into believers. But even when things are going great I keep telling myself I need to do more. I am a perfectionist and I set high standards. Everything I do, I want it to be perfect. I know it can’t be like that every time – but that is my aim. If it is near perfection, I suppose I am happy.”
Berbatov gets called lazy by some sections of our crowd, although as his class shines through more and more with every game, those criticisms have quietened down. Our Bulgarian insists he has no plans to start running around like a headless chicken though and will keep playing the game in the calm style he does.
“I am a relaxed guy,” he added. “I play that way and I can’t change my style. I watch games and see guys who panic on the ball – they look so nervous. I can be calm, because I sometimes know what I want to do before the ball comes to me. The boss tells me not to change anything – he gives me freedom to express my qualities.”
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Pure class this guy Berba, to his doubters I would ask them to work out how many points his goals and assists have been worth to us since Christmas……….Still doubt the man??
I always knew he was gonna come good soon, what we’ve seen only scratches the surface………..
Rooney the braveheart, Tevez the warrior, Berbatov’s our professor. He’s more like a wizard. SAF has definitely got the final jigsaw piece solved in Berbatov.
Everytime I think of Berbatov, I get more and more amazed with SAF. Comparing Berba’s and Keane’s situation at Liverpool is enough to say.
Sir Alex Ferguson, amazing.
I hope that if you check the archives you would find out that from DAY ONE I was telling the doubters that Berbatov has the best first touch in the world and is the most intelligent footballer we’ve had at United since Teddy Teddy. To those who “always knew” he would come good, he was good to start with. Still nice to have you on board.
Well i like him i think he’s pure class.
Was so wrong about berba!!! Thought “we dont need him…” 30M”
Always thought we needed a Saha MarkII minus the injuries – (though right now a similiar player would make a handy alternative point of attack in our team if we could get one on the cheap re: 2006-2007 season)
Berba can hold it up aswell but hes above and beyond in creativity for any other striker in modern day footy IMO!!! (Messi etc arent really strikers per se)
He’s almost balletic in his touch and composure – you can see him holding onto the ball to pick out the perfect pass or best option – which sometimes leaves him caught in posession.
He’ll start pulling off passes and goals as he gains momentum. He understands the team better now as they do about him.
Hope he stays injury free –
Berbatov will be ESSENTIAL in Europe – especially in those seemingly STATIC and placid matches which turn gears instantly, now hes “gelling” with the team…
Mr. Fawlty learn (do read the good Guardian blog about SAF handling players) from the master – your treatment of R. Keane is truly shocking EVEN IF it was the boards decision – cut your nose to spite your face IMO
24th May – Keane to score against the dippers!
I watched him a lot against the Toffees…. he was hard to dislodge off the ball once he had it and was surprisingly quick when a sight of goal was in the off…. different sort of player from what Man Utd fans would normally expect us to buy but his sheer class is showing through and has already conveerted my beleif that Berbatov will become anothe r
SHIT, PRESSED WRONG BUTTON…..
Berbatov will become another red legend.
yes, i have never doubted him.
after Scholer retirement he will become my favorite player.
* Scholes
If i could play in the style of any player in the entire universe i would play like berba. Love it or hate it he makes football seem like a doss and yet performs the impossible. He seems a bit happy go lucky with the way he plays but thats mint.
Take his dribbling for example. If you look like your walking yet no defenders is able to tackle you or even stop you going where you want then your doing something very very special.
I agree with Bruce earlier on, I tell you If I had ever found myself in that pox ridden hole called London I would have gone to white heart lane to watch this fella!………To me it was a no brainer for Fergie.
hart
He has the best first touch in the league. His brain is faster than every player at his experience level.
He has attitude without coming across like a poser…
Great player, great signing and at a great age to reach his peak at Old Trafford!
how much of a legend
for whoever he played for is
Teddy Sheringham
the man has a football mind that is unreal
he could turn a game on its head in seconds with a wonderful goal
a quick reaction shot
or a fine pass
he was also a player who came to united at an age where he knew how the game worked
but he hadnt peaked yet
Teddy Sheringham is a football legend and any team would love to have a player like him at there team
he played exactly the same way Berbatov does
klauq Said,
February 2nd, 2009 @19:37
Rooney the braveheart, Tevez the warrior, Berbatov’s our professor.
I disagree. Tevez the dog would be more appropriate
An absolute joy to watch. So calm under pressure then bursts into life. Berba and Carrick (if not already) are going to play a huge part in our season. I can’t believe people were slating him but then not everyone can appreciate class.
On a side issue have Spurs and the dippers no shame? Spurs “buying back” a third player in as many weeks and a great bit of business by the rat eaters. Buy Keane for 20 million, never utilise him then sell him back to the spuds 6 months later at a loss. Unbelievable. Who the fuck have the dippers got in to replace him? I take it nobody. Thats ok though as if the ladyboy Torres gets injured again which is highly likely they have the lethal striker that is N Gog to replace him. Another quality decision by fat Rafa. He really is amusing . Why are all the other top 3 teams (inc Arse) all losing the plot? It is classic! The vermin fans have even been saying that Keanes “attitude is a fucking disgrace”. What do they really expect? Clueless classless clowns.
I have to confess at the start of the season I had my doubts as to whether berba would fit into our system but how wrong could I have been. Over the past few weeks I have been enjoying scoffing humble and long may it continue. The man is class and he will be key to our success this season. SAF is god and Berba is one of his prophets!!!! Viva united!!!!!
I got it wrong Said,
February 3rd, 2009 @0:56
I have to confess at the start of the season I had my doubts as to whether berba would fit into our system but how wrong could I have been. Over the past few weeks I have been enjoying scoffing humble and long may it continue. The man is class and he will be key to our success this season. SAF is god and Berba is one of his prophets!!!! Viva united!!!!!
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I couldnt have put it any better myself!!!
The way Berba play lately remind me of Cantona. I hope Berba can continue his perfomance all season and score some important goals. We all remember how Cantona goals after 9 months hiatus bring the title to Old Trafford.
bebratov is a fantastic player with good finishing, an amazing pass and an even better first touch, but i cant watch him without getting frustrated. it is great that he is cool, calm and composed on the ball but he really needs to lift his work rate when united are not in possesion. i dont expect him to be like rooney or tevez, but it would be nice if he at least put in an effort. watching a game a couple of months ago, i remember an opposition player recieving and then running with the ball about 1 metre from where berbatov is standing and all he did was watch, the thought of perhaps making a tackle not crossing his mind. he is a great player and a good buy (all be it overpriced IMO) but i really think he is too lazy and should try a bit harder. apart from that, he is a great player with the ball at his feet
At first I think its a 50/50 buy from SAF..Cuz in my opinion,I thought he bought berbatov for the goal scoring,so that we wouldn’t reli have to rely on Ronaldo to score for us..But at recent games,berbatov has come good..Oni tyme will tell whether he is a good buy,he is a genius class act of a striker but still he has much to improve..He may not be Get as many goal as VanNistelrooy when he was here or Andy Cole or even Ole,but he will score us the important goals that are tight..And if Ronaldo can come good to his form like 06/07 season,assisting berbatov for the goal..Then it be good buy for us..
Spot on, Scott. Total class.
Only issue I have with berb is that he slows play down at times, as does CR7 with his step-overs. We used to hit teams on the counter with breakneck speed and it was v. effective, now if the ball lands at Berb or CR7′s feet we get a slow down in play where the runners are essentially out of play as they’re pushing the back-line and need the ball released quickly.
That being said, he offers a different dimension to our play which can be equally effective. When counter attacking we should probably utilize certain players who are effective in the tactic (Rooney/Tevez/Evra/Park/Scholes/ Giggs) / when probing static defenses let Berb/Carrick/Ando/CR7 work their magic.
Perceptive comment Jig. Me, I love Berba, always have. Check the record.
Berba oozes class. He does occasionally give the ball away as with any other player but if you watch i never see him get tackled. His footwork is incredible as defenders really cannot touch him and it really is a joy to watch. I believe that he was bought as the perfect spoil for Rooney. When Rooney hit his scoring patch earlier this season Berba was at the heart of it (when people were still scrutinising him) and when Rooney comes back just watch how he celebrates when Berba sets up a goal for him. Rooney loves him because he knows that with Berba about he is a better player and I thoroughly believe when these two get going again by the end of the season there will have been a few teams who have taken an almighty battering by these two single-handedly. Throw Tevez into the mix (I pray we keep him and if the Glaziers dont want to shell out we should sort out some kind of Tevez fundraiser to raise the 32 odd mill – shudnt be too hard right?? hehe) and we really have got three of the best strikers in the world all destined to become red legends!!!
Good point Jig. maybe he will learn to vary it more in the future. My concern so far is that he doen’t seem in much of a hurry to get on the end of things once he’s laid it off outside the box. His goal ratio is certianly picking up though!!
jammar the Red: “and we really have got three of the best strikers in the world all destined to become red legends!!!” I have to disagree, you are forgetting Kuyt, Babel and N Gog!
Reading the above I can’t believe that some people STILL have reservations about him.
Benzema > Tevez. Fact.
Mankey: Disagree completely, don’t want Benzema at United. Sign Carlos up. Nuff said.
I’ve never been a devoted supporter of any club. I became a Tottenham fan when Berbatov went to White Heart Lane and for two years I was enjoying the football I was watching there. It happened so many times Berba was actually dragging his team off the troubles and scoring and assisting for important goals that despite not being a leader he was a key part of any success of Tottenham’s. There was a time I’ve said to myself that he needed a bigger stage to perform and to show the abilities he possesses. I was so happy that Sir Alex Ferguson has seen what I saw as a fan and eventually secured Berba’ service. Yes, the beginning was slow, but there was something I’ve noticed and Berba has said himself yesterday – he was let to be himself and not pushed to change his style of play. Keane in LiverTool had a big problem with it and lost his form, starter place(even the bench one) and has come back to where he belongs – Tottenham. That won’t happen to Berba. Why? Because he is on the right place, with the right manager and with the right team mates. I admire and respect Tevez as a player, but for me Berbatov is far more effective with a big reflection on the game with his first touch, pass, vision, goalscoring and assisting abilities. That’s why he’ll be a first choice as a striker in any important and a must win game. So, soon many doubters will change their mind and I believe that Berba would become our top scorer if Ronaldo, Tevez and Nani stop being so selfish in front of the goal. It’s not a matter of who is a better player, is about a better team, better play and better results. And it would be no surprise for me, with the quality in depth we have, we’ll three, four or, please God, even five cups in the bag at the end of the season. As you have noticed probably, I’ve said above few times “We”. Well, to finish where I started – all I understood looking back at the past three years is that I’m a No Football Team fan(still have great respect for Tottenham) – I’m a Berba’ fan and I’m happy that he is a Man UTD player. This is the place where he belongs and he’ll be forever known as one of the All Time Greatest when a time to retire comes.And I truly believe in his words “We’ll crush anyone!”…