Tom Cleverley - Loan Confirmed

[tomd2103]

I see Leicester have signed Esteban Cambiasso.

That's a pretty impressive signing.

Have a quick flick back through the transfer speculation thread and look at some of the comments when it was suggested that we might be in for him. 

[passitsideways]

I honestly have no idea what to make of him as a player. Going off what I've seen and from a couple of Youtube match comps, he seems to do have a couple of positive traits: in that he's tenacious, and that he does well at making himself available for a pass and then can quickly move it on to someone, and move to receive it again. But apart from that, everything else comes and goes. He doesn't realy play penetrative throughballs (or even decent forward passes to the feet of someone further up the pitch) or good diagonals out to the wing, he can't beat a man, not a good crosser, can't shoot from distance, doesn't get into the box for goalscoring opportunities, and has neither the defensive instincts or physical presence for a defensive midfielder.

But even with that short list of strengths and long list of shortcomings, he might still be of tremendous use to us, simply because his movement is good enough to receive a short pass in space, and then have enough time to play another short pass to the centre forward. Having that means we don't need Delph to beat two defenders before being able to pass it to a striker, and it means that Westwood doesn't have to attempt a difficult pass from deep in midfield to play a striker in or to find a wide player in space.

Still, 8 million is a ridiculous price to pay for someone like Cleverley with one year left on his contract. I'd be very happy to get him for 3-5 million, because he's an improvement for our team, and is still fairly young and there could theoretically still get a little better in some other areas; but if we do have the ability to spend 8 million, I'd rather much just blow it on contract extensions for the usual suspects.

[Matt Collins]

He wouldn't have come. But wasn't Matthieu valbuena available for £8m this summer?

It does very much suggest we'll be sticking to the 433 / 4231 with cleverley in the position Richardson / cole have been playing in. And does suggest westwood's place very much under threat

[ozzjim]

Unless we go with a genuine diamond and play all 4, with 2 centre forwards.

[Mister E]

Critics seem to forget that RedNose and other respected managers have pretty consistently selected him to do the boring stuff of midfield.
TC's public image is awful: he ain't as bad as that but he probably is not of international quality either.
What did Hull pay for Snodgrass and Livermore? - 6-7m? TC at £7-8m is where the market is, it seems.

[nigel]

An interesting read on the 'My Old Man Said' forum. Worth a read.
Can't put link as I'm on phone

[martin o`who??]

I would definitely give the lad a fair crack of the whip, but the suggested fee is typical of the over-inflated price for English players.

[andyh]

I'd rather be reading that Delph has signed a new contract, than that we are about to sign Cleverley.

[Ron Manager]

I see Leicester have signed Esteban Cambiasso.

That's a pretty impressive signing.

It is from a name standpoint. Can he still do it and will it be what's needed to keep them up? Will be interesting to see how he does.

Roberto Manchini didnt come up to expectations when he was there.

[Goldie.7]

What's it with the e's on here..... Clarke....Cleverly

[Dr Butler]

An interesting read on the 'My Old Man Said' forum. Worth a read.
Can't put link as I'm on phone

Hi Nigel, I'm not sure we are allowed to post on links from other sites but I will put it here and if the mods are not happy I will remove it.

UTV
The Doc

http://www.myoldmansaid.com/united-viewpoint-aston-villa-target-tom-cleverley/

[Lastfootstamper]

Unless we go with a genuine diamond and play all 4, with 2 centre forwards.

Yes, please.

[Lastfootstamper]

An interesting read on the 'My Old Man Said' forum. Worth a read.
Can't put link as I'm on phone

Hi Nigel, I'm not sure we are allowed to post on links from other sites but I will put it here and if the mods are not happy I will remove it. :)

UTV
The Doc

http://www.myoldmansaid.com/united-viewpoint-aston-villa-target-tom-cleverley/

So, he does that "moving off the ball" thing I've heard about? Never catch on......

[DBTW]

If Cleverley signs I think we have a pretty strong starting 11 of

                                Guzan

Hutton         Senderos     Vlaar        Cissokho

                              Sanchez

            Cleverley                       Delph

N'Zogbia                                            Agbonlahor

                              Benteke


To me, that is a top ten side

[lovejoy]

I'd rather be reading that Delph has signed a new contract, than that we are about to sign Cleverley.

I agree why can't we spend the £8m on Delph and Vlaar re-signing?
Also these comparisons to Xabi Alonso are p!ssing me off - he's 32 and will be on massive wages, not a like for like comparison at all.