The Daily Mail has Dimitar Berbatov as the 40th biggest transfer flop in the history of the Premier League, making him a bigger disaster than Reyes’ £17 million move to Arsenal in 2004, Wright-Phillips’ £21 million move to Chelsea, Pennant to Liverpool, Deco to Chelsea, and even David fucking Bellion!
I’d argue Berbatov isn’t a flop at all, let alone in the top 40 over the past, but then again, this is the paper that named our Bulgarian as one of the biggest traitors of all time for leaving Spurs for United
I think the man is quality and would argue if you don’t get Berbatov, then you don’t get football. But I suppose that is a completely subjective argument. So let me use my favourite word of the season, and looks at the FACTS.
1. Not a single player in the Premiership has assisted more goals than Berbatov.
2. He has a shooting accuracy of 56% attempts on target, which matches Ronaldo, beats Rooney’s 46% and Tevez’s 44%. He also beats Gerrard’s 43%, Torres’ 42%
3. Only Wayne Rooney has created more chances for United than Berbatov, with his 63 goalscoring opportunities provided beating Berb’s 58.
4. He is our joint top scorer in the Champions League, matching Rooney and Ronaldo’s 4 goals.
5. How many players in the Premiership can do this or this?
Premiership flop? Enjoy!
Man Utd News 24/7
I saw that yesterday and was very confused about how a player in their first season can be judged one of the biggest flops EVER
That said a lot of the decisions were poor…. I agree that Duff going to Chelsea for 20 million was a flop but Newcastle got a bargain when they signed him for 5 million.
The daily mail is a pile of shite!!!!
Berba is fucking brilliant.he is very unselfish as a striker.we will see the best of him next season.
Bigger than Bellion?Really?Boy,the ABUs are cutting loose these days aren’t they?4 points away from shutting them up!
5. How many players in the Premiership can do this or this?
1 and we have him
most players need a season to gel with the team. so calling him a flop now after 1 season is totally unfair. he has won us some vital points.
I’m tired of seeing these so called stats ! Stats do NOT make a player…the same way “facts” dont win you leagues…don’t believe me ask Rafa !
I remember a few seasons back O’Shea had a 100% goal to shots record…shall we drop Wazza and stick Sheasy up front?! I didn’t think so
Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as to call Berbatov a flop I will say that I expected to see more from him this season and anyone who can hand on heart say that he met their expectations clearly never saw him play for Spurs & I’m not even gonna go into the penalty vs Everton
On the other hand if he cud produce more moments of magic like the one we saw vs shitteh on a more regular basis I’m sure everyone will be singing a different tune. But as things stand I think such moments have come too far in between especially when you consider that he’s not exactly the type to chase up and down the pitch…which is fine, we have other players who can do that but it does mean that the other areas of your game have to make up for it
I don’t think he’s a flop, but Man U overpaid by 15m. And Reyes was far better value for money than Berbatov.
But you can’t judge a player on his transfer fee and call him a flop.Even Berbatov has admitted that the price tag was too much.Say Ronaldo goes to Real for 80 million pounds.There is no way he will ever justify that kind of money.That wouldn’t make him a flop though.
Reyes is on loan at Benfica now, great player.
Just shows the daily mail is just as bad a paper as the sun… muppets, these are probly the same gobshites that voted stevie me their player of the year? that cunt should be locked up not winning awards…
Reyes cost Arsenal £10.5m, the £17m you refer to was the maximum amount it could have reached based on success at Arsenal and international appearances. He didn’t hit any of these targets so transfer fee stayed at £10.5m.
As for Berbatov, he hasn’t had a bad season by any means and has certainly contributed a lot more than many give him credit for. With a £30m price tag though, it’s always going to be difficult to live up to the hype.
BELIEVE – Berba will score a double in the Champions League Final in La Bella Roma. The first will be a deft quick footed poke like Olegend20 in the Nou Camp 1999. Barca will then score the equaliser with Lionel MESSI showing some individual skill .The second will be a goal of such wonder that all the doubters and disbelievers will be left open-mouthed and eulogising at the magnificence that is Dimitar Berbatov. The third will be a wonder volley by Wayne Rooney from just outside the box in the last minute of time added on. How do I know ? I had the most wonderful dream last night in High definition showing just how we retain the BIG CUP.
Gotta go as I have to be at the bookies and place my bet.
See you in Rome for the Victory.
I get so angry when people say that he slows down our attack.. when has Berbatov just held up the ball on a counter attack, just to use time? WHEN? Maybe he doesnt run as fast as Ronaldo, but he gives brilliant passes or holds up the ball until people are coming after from midfield.
without berbatov we would have been behind both liverpool and chelsea this season. he’s got a numberous of assists and key passes to goals. And he’s scored some crucial goals as well!
Luke – Whilst I agree stats can be twisted (like the O’Shea one, because he’d only had 5 shots on goal), these stats aren’t. Berbatov has had 43 shots this season (2 fewer than Tevez).
What do we care what anybody else thinks?
We know the ABU’s hate United so what?
We do the talking on the pitch.
We’ll get a proper pre-season out of Berbatov, learn how to work together then make assumptions.
Berba is a top striker, he touch is out of the world and surely we cannot judge him soley on 3/4 of a season, I thought he signed a four uear contract.
The biggest flop of all time is people parting with 20p to pay for the tripe that is the daily mail.
Scott, I know what you mean when you talk about his touch and his passing. If we’re prepared to give Nani 3 years to settle, how can we slate Berba. The ball he pulled down at the weekend is a case in point. Tevez owes him for that. Bigtime.
He is truly an outstanding footballer, he is calmy, brainy on the pitch, unselfish.so what do u want more?
Funny how flop journalists are calling footballers flops isn’t it?
Hi, you Mancunian bastards. I agree that Berbatov is quality, but the issue is whether he’s worth the 30 million and whether it was effectively spent, especially considering you already have Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo. We would want Berbatov too, but not at that price.
Ya costas ur right, they envy him coz he brings different quality to manchester united and the scare us to death
I don’t mean to call you bastards bastards, by the way. Think it’s a good site. I pop in once in a while, always well written, good comments. Just can’t think about Man Utd supporters in terms other than bastards. Bastards.
Watching that clip he reminds me of a Van Nist/Cantona cross breed. Such a good first touch though, that goal he set up against City for Tevez, anyone whos played football will know how hard it is to bring down a ball thats been booted 60 foot in the air…
Absolutely, the city defender watching him as if their is no way to control such a ball like that , but instead he brilliantly gave it to Tevez .that was so amazing
I ended up here because Reyes/Arsenal was mentioned in the article above and I use NewsNow as my lifewire. But I comment foremost to say: “I agree with the writer. If you don’t get Berbatov you don’t get football.”
The man can play, period. And even after a horrible defeat I am still fan enough to say he is a joy to watch if he has his magic spell. The video said it all. Shame on The Daily Mail. Although I can hardly call Reyes a success.
A football fan.
(Just to point out I am a Chelsea fan) I do not think Berbatov is a flop, rather unlucky actually. And a traitor? Anyone who leaves sp*ds should be hailed as a genius! The only reason I am posting is to point out that our dearly beloved Lampard leads the assists chart in the EPL with 10 to Berbatovs (and Van Persie’s and Ireland’s) 9. Sorry to be so depressing. Good luck for Rome!
Max – Berbatov made it 10 against City.
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html
Bebartov has been the biggest disappointment by far this season and to say you don’t get football if you don’t like Berbatov is ridiculous. We are Manchester United, one of the most attacking-minded teams in the world, and he’s one of our centerforwards. He has scored nine goals. NINE goals. Less than such fantastic players as Niki Bendtner, Amr Zaki, Peter Crouch, and Mattew Taylor. He has even scored less than the woeful Adebayor, a player that Arsenal fans are trying their hardest to kick out of their club. For the money we spent on Berbatov we could have gotten Benzema and still have cash left. SAF:s worst signing ever!
That boy Neville,” SAF:s worst signing ever!”
That is a pathetic statement.
That boy Neville, u r unfair !! I think Berbatov has one of the best vision on the pitch , he is talented .the point is that his style dont suit neither Tevez nor Ronaldo , he is more or less playing like rooney but at least he is so mature to act as an assist forward and i bet anyone , he is doing that very well.why u people always complaining
Lampard has the most assists this season, not berbatov. Other then that I agree he’s not a flop. He just needs a full preseason to prove it.
Fuck off with this Benzema shite! Sick of hearing about him. No offence.
Brilliant, brilliant player.
As a Spurs fan, I still have my doubts as to whether he is a “Utd player”
i.e if you want hard work and defending from the front you ain’t never gonna get it, though he did attempt a tackle against City
However, as how he made Tevez goal proves, he is world class, he has skill in spades, vision and ability.
I miss him and despite the fact we made you bleed for him hes worth every penny.
What determines a flop or not?
Berba cost 30m. You can say unless he is the premier league top scorer this season he is a flop. Or you can say if United win the League and ECL then he has been value for money.
Stats prove little. Denilson has some of the best OPTA stats of any player this season, but he is cack.
Besides, the 30m spent on Berba is an investment over a period of 4 or 5 years.
Drogba was deemed a flop, then a world class striker, then a flop, then a world class striker.
Now Nani and Anderson for 30m… that’s another story!
that boy neville- slightly harsh on berbatov there! yes, he cost too much, but that dont make him a flop. i,d rather overpay for a player i wanted than to get someone like huntelaar for 10 mill cheaper who i didnt really want.
for those that say hes a flop, would u still be saying this if he cost us 15 or 20 mill?
im With king eric on benzema too, why do we want to sign players who have made it clear they would rather be in sunny spain?
Adebayor woefull?his record almost works out at a goal every other game and i think you will find he has out performed berba at spuds and at utd.
Berba is a very good player though and will propbably have a better season nx yr – but like i tell most arsenal fans adebayor record is comparable to all the strikers in the top 4 but he gets the most stick from his own fans.
oh on reyes as a flop for 10 mill he came and won lg medal, fa cup and cl runners up medal in 3 yrs and in spain he won a lg title with real. although now he is a bum a benfica
Berbatov = Genius touches!
Daily Mail = most expensive toilet paper in the world.
no one’s calling berba crap, he clearly isnt, but cmon. anyone can see hes not suited to our style and pace of play. but a few neat tricks and ure all lapping up like starved puppies.
Cant believe these idiots calling Berbatov a flop. How often do you see teams struggle to attack or get their strikers in the game?
That will never happen to United as long as Berbatov is playing. Our team is so threatening with him in attack.
A player – who’s played 30 matches or so for a team that’s crowned World Champions, won the Carling Cup, tops the Premier League and has qualified for the Champions League final – is not a fucking flop
Those ABUs were probably expecting 40 goals from Berba and double the assist he has so far in his first season if they think he’s a flop.
@That boy Neville:
By trying to compare Berbatov with the likes of Adebayor based on goals scored you just proved that you dont understand football – you dont understand what Berbatov brings to the team at least.
Berbatov is unique and Im happy to have him at United and Im sure he’ll get even better next season.
keep the balls on the ground and believe in next season! I’m sure he can even turn out to become a key player in the attacking line for us. To call a player with his elegance and feeling for the ball a flop is just crap. Just remember how he took the ball before he passed it to tev in the derby last weekend. hes just class!
i’m going to say it again!
“if you can control the ball like berbatov you don’t have to chase after it like tevez.”
@ cap, spot on.
@ dre, “anyone can see hes not suited to our style and pace of play.” actually, it’s the exact opposite. he is perfectly suited for our style and pace of play because he provides a different style and a calmness, a calmness that cannot be seen in rooney or ronaldo. when berba receives a ball with a counter attack in progress, he HOLDS THE BALL UP (please watch 2nd half vs. spurs) and allows rooney and ronaldo to use their PACE and get into better position to receive one of his sublime passes. counter-attacking with pace does not merely involve running like a maniac down the pitch. berba understands this and it is only a matter of time before he proves well worth the fee, i already think he is.
also, you cannot try to compare the transfer fees from now with past ones. 30 million is today’s inflated transfer fee… it is all relative to the time (not to mention relative to that c*nt levy). we have footballers making close to 150,000 a week and we are going to say a one time 30 million fee for one of the most quality players in the world isn’t worth it? i beg to differ.
also, has anyone noticed what complete sh*t keane is without berba? wait til rooney/ronaldo and berbatov have a full season and preseason together. next year will show all the naysayers.
sanj : Keane was made to look a top draw striker by Berba & that’s why FSW bought him, lol
I don’t know how our own supporters can continue to harp about how Berbatov kills our style. Sure he doesn’t break at the speed of Rooney/Ronaldo/Park. But, if people have been paying attention to what happens to teams that play ONE STYLE, they’ll see they are going to end up trophyless. Look at Arsenal, slick passing to death style that can kill a lot of teams but, take that away from them for a day and they are lost, they don’t know what to do. Same thing happened with Barca against Chelsea, they kept playing just one way and in the end got lucky to get a shot on target.
Berbatov brings a presence and style to the front line that gives other teams something completely to consider. His vision and control lets players of pace excel even more. When things get heated and out of control, he brings calmness and forethough often required.
As others have said, next season will be a true measure of how well he works with the squad. The experience the team has got playing along side him and him with them, couple that with a pre-season of integrating that knowledge and only a better understanding will develop, of which United will reap the benefits.
When berba is on the ball its like everyone is in slow motion and he can do what he wants with the ball. That ability is special in its self
Not a flop but surely not what United fans expected. Stats as said above can lie, look at who his champions league goals are against. The video renders your argument useless. Yes some lovely touches and nice finishes but he also just strolls around looking un-flustered at how little he is doing, Berba turns it on when he wants but for 30 million is that good enough.
I’ve said it all season: Berba’s the business. Even my prediction has come true that we’d get to see him smile more when he’s settled in and feels he’s accepted in the dressing room by all the medal winners around him. Look at that moment when a grinning Rooney jumps on his back as they celebrate a goal. People underestimate how tough it must be to come to a club like United where there are players who have won the Premiership anything up to ten times, not to mention Champions Lge and FA Cup medals etc etc. You must have massive self-belief, or a certain type of strong-minded humility to enter that arena. If you look at the things Berba says, it’s often couched in terms of admiration for what his team-mates have won, and how he wants to emulate them and be a genuine part of United. For me, and I suspect for him, part of the appeal of sport is being part of something bigger than yourself and it’s clear he wants to be a genuine part of United. I imagine Berba takes more notice of what Giggs, Scholes, Rooney, Rio, Gary Neville and even John O’Shea think of him (not to mention Fergie), than the Daily Mail. Always bear in mind, The Mail was a huge admirer of Hitler in the 30s, you it’s maybe best not to trust their judgment ALL the time.
Berbatov’s moments of “sublime skill” are, indeed, sublime but, alas, they have been too few and far between. His game has lacked consistency and his positioning has been puzzling. But he has shined when Ronaldo plays as the spearhead of the attack and Rooney is played on the wing. THEN Berbatov really gets to control the game from “the hole”. It’s odd that it has taken SAF almost the entire season to see that this re-fit of the players gets the most out of all three.
OF course it’s not a flop, but we overpayed his price. He’s is quality, but not 32 million one. That’s my opinion, but I’m happy we got him, even I would prefer Benzema for that price and keep Tevez, for what it matters.
He’s obviously not a flop, but this is the Daily Mail we’re talking about, not even worth paying one iota of attention to.
Although this:
“I think the man is quality and would argue if you don’t get Berbatov, then you don’t get football.”
… is arguably even more awful than anything they print.
@ shimo, please post more often. thank you.
Wait a minute… all of you saying the most horrible things about the daily mail are completely wrong. The daily has one good use…To Wipe Your Arse With.hahah. Give Berbatov more time. And just because you love Tevez doesn’t mean you have to hate Berba and vice versa. For what its worth I think they meant to call him a “fop” because of his fancy hair and stylish clothing. And I must admit they boy does have style and flair…On The Pitch !
ChaosRed. Sums it up exactly. I honestly love to watch him play.
Why do you criticize Bera for not beeing more selfish in front of goal ? Why don’t you criticize Fergie for not giving indications to the player to play in that exact way ? he plays what Fergie wants him to play. end of.
Thats why i think no one can get the ball off him, he alters time…
And the silky passes¬!!! i just absolutely love the way he kicks the ball, and how it slides across the grass, Everything he does is art and beautiful
They just don’t get it. We didn’t buy him for goals, although the 32mil was abit desperate at the last minute, but he has done wonders with his link up plays and holding skill. Where would our goals come from without anybody stringing up our plays?
In words of a crazy ass lunatic, “Why are you reading this? The Daily Mail is a disgrace, a fucking disgrace!”
Yea, he didn’t score 42 goals. He’s a flop, definitely
Jokes aside, I think the biggest flop is that newspaper!
Piers Morgan writes about football for the daily mail….does any more need to be said?
Daily Mail a flop? Surely not, more of a plop.
Berbatov’s contribution has been poor this season, as have his performances. 4 goals in Europe, yea…against Celtic and Aalborg! If Fergie really trusted his man he would have started at least one of those semi final legs against Arsenal, and just look at the results without him in those 2 games.
Berba not starting in semis has nothing to do with trust but, goes back to option of how to approach the game tactically. Ferguson set us up to be a thorn in Arsenal’s singular style in the first leg, which Tevez provided and still had the pace to attack them. In the return leg we were setup for defending and counter-attacking. So in those two games the type of player Berba is, he didn’t fit in from the start. But, guess what had the game called for a change in approach, Fergie would have had that on the bench.
I am sure for 30 mil, we all want the player starting every game and fit into every game but, thats not why he was bought – he was to provide us a different facet from what we had the year before. The Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo trio did very well then but, even still you could see how when we had sicknote Saha, a different type of player, how we were able to change up things and overcome teams. We overpaid for him but, Berba is class and fits into the team very well. If you want singular style of playing, then I propose one of the clubs that isn’t going to win a trophy this season.
Those options is why I hope we keep Tevez because it makes us that much stronger but, Tevez needs to understand that part. Every footballer wants to start every game but, if he wants to be a part of legendary team, then Tevez will have to sacrafice that need, tell his agent, sod all with the money and let me be at a club where I’ll make history for years to come.
Berbatov is a talent, he just needs some time to adapt, next year i think he will be in top form!
Berbatov is a Cantona-esque player. Surely the same sulky, arrogance and intelligence are instantly recognizable.
Man U have not seen a player like Berbatov since King Eric and hence the thoughts of a flop.
He is not a flop, Man U just need to surround him with players to win the ball, get in the box and Dimi will pick them out.
That balletic piroutte he executed against Portsmouth left me with my mouth opened!
Flawed, flawed logic.
Assists are so overrated. They should rename it ‘last person to pass the ball.’
And for all his accuracy rate and misleading shit like that, he has gone missing in too many games, missed crucial chances in too many big games, and in the Champions League hasn’t impressed at all.
Joint top scorer with Ronaldo and Rooney? Yeh, cos he scored from two piss-easy chances that were practically empty goals! And the other two were so unimportant and forgettable that I can’t even remember them.
Denying he’s been a flop this season is like saying that Veron was a huge success at United—they’re both delusional.
What’s important, though, is that things are looking up. Barbie put in a good performance yesterday against Wigan, and hopefully will become more integrated into the team by next season. No need to sell him yet.
In my opinion, Tevez is still more effective, more creative, and more inspirational than Barbie though.
Hez not a flop.. But watching him play makes you think hez on the pitch only not to lose the ball
Johnson
Spot on!
Flop?!? Ha-ha… If Berbatov is not a success, why SAF is still using him?!? Ask yourself
fur-gay-son is a bitch but berbatov is brilliant
the daily mail editor should flush his head in the commod