Tom Cleverley

[blueblue]

I think that a lot of supporters do not appreciate players like Cleverley and sometimes McCarthy.
I thought Cleverley was excellent, he worked hard covering in midfield and is always making himself available as an option to receive the ball. He keeps the play moving, keeps the tempo up and keeps the game simple.

As I watched us play last night all I could think of was Barcelona. not nearly on the same level, but similar in style. Constantly passing probing moving the ball around waiting for a mistake or poor positioning to open up a team.

Players need to be extremely comfortable on the ball, need good movement and need to be real team players.

 

[MartSlinger]

Considering it was his first competitive start since the injury against a decent side he performed well, great for him to get 90mins as well

 

[Zatara]

I think he's a very good player.

Next season i feel Martinez will drop Barkley back and play him next to McCarthy.

Cleverley would be competing with Barkley and Barry/Besic with McCarthy.

Otherwise he will need to go out and buy another centre midfielder soon with Osman/Gibson unloaded and Barry getting on.

must admit I'm not his biggest fan as I think we have better players than him and would rather have some of our promising youngsters as fringe players than a 65k a week Cleverly. Regardles he wears our shirt and I'm compelled to support him along with the rest of the team.

To my eyes he slotted straight into McCarthy's position last night vs Boro. What is that position ? Doesn't McCarthy play on the right side of a central midfield twosome with Barry covering the left ? Does Barry play a sole defensive midfield role with a four man midfield ahead of him where McCarthy plays right centre ?

vs Boro the right side was very congested at times, the midfield lacked balance with the left being a comparative No Mans Land.

I thought Cleverly played alright vs Boro but his contribution vs what we should be expecting from him served to highlight issues / fault with our formation.

 

[john jako]

Really dont see him as a centre mid. He should be back up for Barkleys position. He isnt hard enough ina tackle and doesnt fully commit to the challenge. Would much rather have Besic or Gibson in that position if McCarthy is injured.

With that being said he wasnt terrible tonight. He done his best and put a shift in. Just not his best position.

 

[paulbefc]

Thought he was brilliant tonight.

 

[TheOldLady]

Decent player, nothing special

Good squad player but offers very little but the basics which granted he does well

 

[Swartzy]

Massively picked up in the second half, maybe just needs few games more 2 feel comfortable in there

 

[maccavennie]

Thought he was brilliant tonight.

Absolutely agree mate, I thought he was superb. Don't think he gave the ball away once, kept the ball moving quickly, nearly scored a blinder and only tired with 10 minutes to go which is understandable as he's coming back from a couple of months out.

 

[ijjysmith]

I was very impressed. Oh if that rocket had gone in. Good save though.

 

[paulbefc]

Absolutely agree mate, I thought he was superb. Don't think he gave the ball away once, kept the ball moving quickly, nearly scored a blinder and only tired with 10 minutes to go which is understandable as he's coming back from a couple of months out.

His blind passes out to Deulofeu were just what we need. Playing the passes out to the wide men that little bit earlier and that little bit more accurately than McCarthy puts us on the front foot in attacks.

That was just one part of his game that was really good tonight. I thought him and Coleman were possibly our best two players on the night, unless I'm forgetting anyone. Lukaku was great too.

 

[maccavennie]

His blind passes out to Deulofeu were just what we need. Playing the passes out to the wide men that little bit earlier and that little bit more accurately than McCarthy puts us on the front foot in attacks.

That was just one part of his game that was really good tonight. I thought him and Coleman were possibly our best two players on the night, unless I'm forgetting anyone. Lukaku was great too.

Yep Coleman was right at it tonight and was my motm closely followed by Cleverley

 

[Jozzy]

Had a really good game tonight, neat and tidy defensively, did what he needed to do but helps out going foward a lot more than our other midfielders, a different player to our other CM's.

 

[Charlie Sweet]

That would have been some goal...

 

[chicoazul]

After tonight I can see his value in the middle. With him there our football is more fluid and he helps getting the ball forward and wide in dangerous players.

He is also more of a good mix when interchanging with Barkley between the two positions, they can swap from time to time.

Too early to start wedging him in ahead of McCarthy but we may have an alternative to two primarily defensive midfield players which Mr @Saint Domingo may enjoy.

 

[Joey66]

great simple passing and no back heel flicks - what a cracking shot too - looked better than James MaCarthy imo!