Tom Cleverley - Loan Confirmed

[cdbearsfan]

I imagine Manu insisted Vlaar couldn't play so he wouldn't be cup-tied.

Oh, hang on a sec...

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Based on the fact that Vlaar has probably had more "rest" than any other player ......

I stated that its a "theory" but some things do add up. A month off. Which means he probably needs match fitness assuming he was not injured. I am sure all will become clear in the next 48 hrs ......

And a month playing in the world cup helped this rest.

The world cup finished weeks ago. There has been a full pre season since then in which he has hardly played ......

Yes, but he played until the day before it finished, which would have been July 12th, then he had a month off, taking him until four days before the season started. Then he played against Stoke.

I see what you're driving at, but I don't think it's true.

[brontebilly]

The fee is certainly excessive even with the English player tax included.
But Cleverley can be a very decent addition for us on the right side of a midfield three with Sanchez and Delph. Westwood hasn't progressed and the other options we have in midfield are nowhere near good enough. I tipped Cleverley earlier in the summer as one of the players we should go for. His confidence looks on the floor on the evidence of last weekend but he is still better than any option we have and he certainly has the potential to be a lot better.
I'm not sure any of his coaches have been sure of what kind of player he is but on the right of a midfield three I think he will be a good fit.

[silhillvilla]

Also I would not want any of our rivals in this league purchasing him.

It's ok I don't think Palace, Burnley or even QPR are interested.

[Des Little]

He must be shit if QPR aren't interested in him.

[Louzie0]

Welcome Cleverly, I like him.

Careful now Lou it's a plot to snare Vlaar from us in a swap deal!

Gosh that is dastardly!
But we won't fall for that, will we?

[tomd2103]

The fee is certainly excessive even with the English player tax included.
But Cleverley can be a very decent addition for us on the right side of a midfield three with Sanchez and Delph. Westwood hasn't progressed and the other options we have in midfield are nowhere near good enough. I tipped Cleverley earlier in the summer as one of the players we should go for. His confidence looks on the floor on the evidence of last weekend but he is still better than any option we have and he certainly has the potential to be a lot better.
I'm not sure any of his coaches have been sure of what kind of player he is but on the right of a midfield three I think he will be a good fit.

Agree BB, especially with the last sentence.  In regards to the fee, didn't we pay more for NRC and Curtis Davies a number of years ago?

[manic-road]

I hope we sign him, £8m is not that excessive considering championship players are being in deals around the£12m mark with no premier league experience.

[pauliewalnuts]

I hope we sign him, £8m is not that excessive considering championship players are being in deals around the£12m mark with no premier league experience.

Yeah, but only by idiots.

[ACVilla]

I'm the eternal pessimist when it comes to Villa but McGrath help me some of the views on Cleverly are so short sighted.

I'll reiterate, great signing, will do wonders for us, Delph, Celeverly and Sanchez, thank you very much.

[RussellC]

I don't doubt for a second that Cleverley is good enough for us. He's just not what we need at all. Especially for what is highly likely to represent a huge chunk of our budget.

We're desperate for creativity in the final 3rd, be it a proper number 10 or an out-and-out winger. Yes, we probably need reinforcements in midfield if KEA is off, but I'd honestly prefer us to spend £1m on Palacios and put the rest of the money towards solving a genuine problem.

[tomd2103]

I don't doubt for a second that Cleverley is good enough for us. He's just not what we need at all. Especially for what is highly likely to represent a huge chunk of our budget.

We're desperate for creativity in the final 3rd, be it a proper number 10 or an out-and-out winger. Yes, we probably need reinforcements in midfield if KEA is off, but I'd honestly prefer us to spend £1m on Palacios and put the rest of the money towards solving a genuine problem.

Sorry Russell, but I couldn't disagree more.  If we continue with the 4-3-3 formation then we desperately need someone like Cleverley to play alongside Sanchez and Delph.  Central midfield has been a problem for us for a number of seasons and I think the introduction of someone like that will make a big difference.  A "number 10" type would be nice though we don't really play that formation too often ( we have Cole, N'Zogbia and Grealish who can all play there to varying levels of effectiveness if needed) and I still hold hope that a wide player will also come in as well, even if on loan.   

[manic-road]

A midfield of Delph Sanchez and Cleverley  is an upgrade on last season.

[yaliekins]

I don't doubt for a second that Cleverley is good enough for us. He's just not what we need at all. Especially for what is highly likely to represent a huge chunk of our budget.

We're desperate for creativity in the final 3rd, be it a proper number 10 or an out-and-out winger. Yes, we probably need reinforcements in midfield if KEA is off, but I'd honestly prefer us to spend £1m on Palacios and put the rest of the money towards solving a genuine problem.

Came on to post exactly what you said. Absolutely spot on, all this speculation about him fitting in / how much he'll cost, it's clear that even with Benteke, our lack of a creative attacking outlet is the thing that could cost us this season. It would minimum make us more exciting to watch than replacing Westwood with a player who's confidence is rock bottom.

[pauliewalnuts]

A midfield of Delph Sanchez and Cleverley  is an upgrade on last season.

Well, yes, but it wouldn't be any more creative, which is the major problem we've got with our midfield currently.

I don't rate Cleverley much, but he probably is an upgrade on Westwood. My concern is whether that's worth spending 8m on him, when what we really need is a different type of player already.

Maybe we'll buy Cleverley, then go out and buy a really decent, proven (and as a result, not cheap) creative midfielder too, but given our financial constraints, I doubt it.