Tom Cleverley - Loan Confirmed

[LeeB]

I don't rate him. He's another average non creative sideways passing midfielder. A poor mans carrick as referred to a few pages back by someone else.

You don't rate him?  You hadn't mentioned it.

Just backing up my argument on the pros and cons of cleverley. I will leave it there. If he signs I wish him well . I just think the money should be spent elsewhere on better quality.

You didn't mention any pros that I remember.  Like his 89% pass completion from last season.  You just bemoaned his lack of the intangible quality of "creativity".  Creativity basically means finding space on the pitch where you can hurt the opposition.  This comes from multiple things and requires movement, passing and dribbling.  Whether you think a team managed by Lambert can be good at these things is another matter, but if we signed Cleverley I reckon he'd be the best passer in our side but Andreas Iniesta couldn't find defence splitting passes for a static forward line.  Creativity comes from the whole team, not one player. 

Thank you for putting into words my exasperation at seeing that term 'creativity' chucked around like we should just go and pluck it off the shelf.

[Ryu]

I don't rate him. He's another average non creative sideways passing midfielder. A poor mans carrick as referred to a few pages back by someone else.

You don't rate him?  You hadn't mentioned it.

Just backing up my argument on the pros and cons of cleverley. I will leave it there. If he signs I wish him well . I just think the money should be spent elsewhere on better quality.

You didn't mention any pros that I remember.  Like his 89% pass completion from last season.  You just bemoaned his lack of the intangible quality of "creativity".  Creativity basically means finding space on the pitch where you can hurt the opposition.  This comes from multiple things and requires movement, passing and dribbling.  Whether you think a team managed by Lambert can be good at these things is another matter, but if we signed Cleverley I reckon he'd be the best passer in our side but Andreas Iniesta couldn't find defence splitting passes for a static forward line.  Creativity comes from the whole team, not one player. 

Thank you for putting into words my exasperation at seeing that term 'creativity' chucked around like we should just go and pluck it off the shelf.

Definitely the most nonsensical player attribute in Football Manager.  I think 'vision' is what people mean by it, the ability to see a pass.  Nobody can create a clever pass out of nothing without a run off the ball.

[nigel]

As for him having nothing to offer, I refer back to the link that was posted several pages back.

Villa 2-0 up and coasting.
Almost 3-0.
Cleverly on.
Stops us playing and plays a lead roll in their 2-3 win.

Yes, that was one game, but he's a non fancy player who will go unnoticed, always seemed to play well when on loan at Wigan, too.
And, Fergie appeared to like him which, in fairness, is high praise.

[JPartington]

Still surprised at much of the antipathy here. We seem to be going round in circles, but just to give the wheel another push, I think, if we can convince him to sign/match his salary demands, it will be a real coup. He is a good player, at a good age, and has just been picked as the latest scapegoat by the laddish banter sites. He will certainly improve us and give us some good depth of quality.

I agree that the acquisition of a creative, dangerous wide player is a pressing need (I like the idea of 3 energetic midfielders but complemented with better quality in those wide forward roles than we already have). However, these types of players don't grow on trees either. Decent players like Cleverley aren't available for us to snap up too often these days, especially with the club's current reputation for malaise. On the fee point, how angry would everyone be if we sold Delph for 7/8 million now. It's tough to argue that Delph should be in an entirely different bracket. 

On the 'will he sign point', really pleased that we've had a solid start in the league and there are good news stories like Sanchez and Fox around. Otherwise we would probably have no chance.

I'd be very disappointed if we missed out him now, although I imagine it will be Monday if at all as he just keeps his options open. Fingers crossed.

[PaulWinch again]

I think he'd be a good signing if he joined.

[Risso]

After the rubbish we've signed recently such as Tonev, Luna and Sylla, I can't believe anybody would moan about somebody coming from Man U, even if they aren't exactly at the top of their game.

[JPartington]

I reckon that Everton/Spurs would be interested if they weren't already packed full of midfielders. Newcastle seem to have already done much of their business, and obviously he isn't French.

Circumstances (such as Man United desperately buying new players in order to stop the rot and thus inevitably having to move their squad players on) have presented a good opportunity which looks to have been swiftly acted on by the club, and for which I feel some kudos should be given. We can obviously back ourselves to land a player over the bottom half clubs with the ground, prestige, fan base, training ground, general set up etc, but that certainly isn't a given and, if we are successful, I would put it down to the speed at which we appear to have acted.

[PaulWinch again]

After the rubbish we've signed recently such as Tonev, Luna and Sylla, I can't believe anybody would moan about somebody coming from Man U, even if they aren't exactly at the top of their game.

Agreed and whatever people think of him he's an international in his mid 20's and he's comfortably good enough for mid table.

[Villafirst]

To cut to the chase: Have Manure accepted our bid, if so, are we in talks?

[Ryu]

To cut to the chase: Have Manure accepted our bid, if so, are we in talks?

According to the papers yes.  But somewhere also said Hull had had a bid accepted to.

[supertom]

I suspect Tom might give it another day before his decision, in the hope a better club than ourselves or Hull come in for him with a serious offer. Ultimately I reckon he'll be stretching the shirt by tomorrow evening. Probably after the match is done with.

[Toronto Villa]

Herd as good or even better than Cleverley. You really do read some nonsense on here at times.

[silhillvilla]

Valencia bid accepted also

[supertom]

Valencia bid accepted also

What sort of state are they in these days?
To be honest I think he'd probably stay in the Premiership at this stage.

[Villafirst]

Was he in a locked room when he met Keano in B'ham?