Tom Cleverley loan watch

[SteveD]

Cleverley has always worked hard and was never afraid to try things while some hId. But under the Lambert 'system' it was like having a sports car but only being allowed to drive it in a car park. He now has more movement around him with other players to link up with, and as a team it's more positive looking.

[tomd2103]

I hope we are able to keep Cleverley. Played really well again yesterday. He works hard and connects the play well. He's developing a good relationship with Delph too.

Agree and on this form, getting him on a free would be a great bit of business.

[tomd2103]

Under Lambert he looked as a pub player, but he is very improved in the last few games. He could form a good pair with Delph, defensive central midfielder Cleverley, box to box midfielder Delph. We need a third figure in the midfield with more pace and quality than Sanchez, that apart from 2 or 3 games in which was outstanding seems to play for the opponents for the quantity of balls that he loses.

Agree.  Cleverley and Delph are doing well, we just need a quality player who can sit in behind them who can pick out the passes.  Westwood is good on the ball, but doesn't really have the athleticism or physicality, whereas Sanchez is the opposite really.  We probably need an upgrade on those two to move us forward.

[Matt Collins]

I thought he started off quite well but then tailed off badly, especially as he was often playing wide left or wide right which isn't his position

We'd be mad not to take him on a free. But I'm not sure we were ever his first choice and I'm not sure his experiences on the pitch or with the fans will have made him want to stay. Perhaps he fancies staying in the NW or with Martinez but the rumours of going to Everton have been consistently strong

[aev]

I thought a fee had been agreed at the start of the season long loan (£8m)?

[Tony Erdington]

Under Lambert he looked as a pub player, but he is very improved in the last few games. He could form a good pair with Delph, defensive central midfielder Cleverley, box to box midfielder Delph. We need a third figure in the midfield with more pace and quality than Sanchez, that apart from 2 or 3 games in which was outstanding seems to play for the opponents for the quantity of balls that he loses.

Agree.  Cleverley and Delph are doing well, we just need a quality player who can sit in behind them who can pick out the passes.  Westwood is good on the ball, but doesn't really have the athleticism or physicality, whereas Sanchez is the opposite really.  We probably need an upgrade on those two to move us forward.

Agreed, go get Oxlaid -Chamerlain that midfield would be a top 4

[Malandro]

I imagine Sherwood is really knarked about the Gardner loan to Forest.

[supertom]

I thought a fee had been agreed at the start of the season long loan (£8m)?

Apparently so. We can't of course be sure. That fee was put in place in case we made the deal permanent in Jan.

I think a bit of ambition is in order for the summer. Regardless of who is in charge. Our main competitor for his signiture will be Everton. They're not reknowned for huge wages, so I think we should be able to compete with them on that front. The question will be whether TC thinks we're moving in a good direction, and also whether or not Evertons season was merely a blip.

[Malandro]

I'd imagine if we sign him, we will still have to make a significant payment to Utd. Its pretty stupid loaning a player out for the last year of his contract otherwise.

[DrGonzo]

They can't demand money for a product that doesn't belong to them.

[PaulWinch again]

He's been very good of late and I'd like him to stay, but I think he'll go to Everton.

[Matt Collins]

Everton are renowned for big wages. That's why they've been able to get barry, lukaku and retain others like baines, fellaini for longer than we held on to our best players

I just hope we can finish the season with sufficient form to encourage him to stay. I doubt there are many other free transfers on offer who we could get that are as good as he's been of late

[peter w]

Not forgetting Eto'o also.

[Malandro]

They can't demand money for a product that doesn't belong to them.

I'm sure they could have written something into the loan agreement that states if we sign him on a free transfer after the loan expires, we have to compensate them.

[not3bad]

I thought a fee had been agreed at the start of the season long loan (£8m)?

Apparently so. We can't of course be sure. That fee was put in place in case we made the deal permanent in Jan.

I think a bit of ambition is in order for the summer. Regardless of who is in charge. Our main competitor for his signiture will be Everton. They're not reknowned for huge wages, so I think we should be able to compete with them on that front. The question will be whether TC thinks we're moving in a good direction, and also whether or not Evertons season was merely a blip.

And also whether we get taken over, and by whom.