Berbatov | Fulham player

To be honest, I would have understood keeping him out if it meant Owen would come on. But Owen staying on the bench the whole game just adds to the insult really.

Poor Berba.
 
Leaving Berbatov in the stands (first time this season?) rather than the bench put some additional pressure on Chicharito's shoulders, he knew there was no alternative to him and it possibly hampered his mental approach to the game. He had little service indeed, but what he did of it was an unusual mess. Let alone being caught offside 6 or 7 times

We basically reproduced the 2009 scheme except Chicharito played Cristiano Ronaldo's part. Never would we have played a 4-4-2 tonight if it weren't for him. Far too much expectations and responsibilities on one man's shoulders
 
Kelvin said:
even if he stay, he go next summer as his contract run out and it does not look like we be extending it.
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If you think Fergie will let a (then) 32 year old with the talent Berbs has go for free in 12 months you are incorrect.

He will either sign or be sold within the next 2 months
 
Just seen a bit of the post match pressie and Fergie was asked if Berbatov has played his last game for man utd. Fergie did not answer. No glare no look of disgust just a look of resignation. Appeared he was very disappointed which would confirm berbatov's rumoured sulk.

Also anyone questioning his lack of a place on the bench. Since when has berbatov ever changed a game coming off the bench?
 
Nani Nana said:
Leaving Berbatov in the stands (first time this season?) rather than the bench put some additional pressure on Chicharito's shoulders, there was no alternative to him and it possibly hampered his mental approach to the game. He had little service indeed, but what he did of it was an unusual mess. Let alone being caught offside 6 or 7 times
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Owen? Very similar role to Hernandez by playing off the shoulder of defenders. So if anything there was more preasure on him. Because there was almost a direct replacement for him
 
Nani Nana said:
Leaving Berbatov in the stands (first time this season?) rather than the bench put some additional pressure on Chicharito's shoulders, there was no alternative to him and it possibly hampered his mental approach to the game. He had little service indeed, but what he did of it was an unusual mess. Let alone being caught offside 6 or 7 times

We basically reproduced the 2009 scheme except Chicharito played Cristiano Ronaldo's part. Never would we have played a 4-4-2 tonight if it weren't for him. Far too much expectations and responsibilities on an unprepared man's shoulders
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Agreed. We badly needed someone to keep hold of the ball and retain possession, Berbatov is brilliant at that. However I wouldn't have started him but yes he should've been at bench.
 
42 euros said:
Just seen a bit of the post match pressie and Fergie was asked if Berbatov has played his last game for man utd. Fergie did not answer. No glare no look of disgust just a look of resignation. Appeared he was very disappointed which would confirm berbatov's rumoured sulk.

Also anyone questioning his lack of a place on the bench. Since when has berbatov ever changed a game coming off the bench?
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Lots will say Bolton. HTH
 
Nani Nana said:
Leaving Berbatov in the stands (first time this season?) rather than the bench put some additional pressure on Chicharito's shoulders, there was no alternative to him and it possibly hampered his mental approach to the game. He had little service indeed, but what he did of it was an unusual mess. Let alone being caught offside 6 or 7 times

We basically reproduced the 2009 scheme except Chicharito played Cristiano Ronaldo's part. Never would we have played a 4-4-2 tonight if it weren't for him. Far too much expectations and responsibilities on an unprepared man's shoulders
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it would have made sense to put Berba on instead of scholes
 
It's not even because of Berbatov's obvious qualities, but also the side effects of his non-selection on Chicharito..

Very very odd to me, a rookie mistake by Sir Alex
 
You've got the harrass the Barcelona players and not give them a moments peace to have a chance, try to nick a few tackles and intercept passes, Berbatov wouldn't have done that, and he isn't clinical enough to take a half chance that might have dropped his way.
 
Randall Flagg said:
Lots will say Bolton. HTH
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They would be right to as well.

Many might well point to the West Ham game as well were he had a very good second half and helped United win the game.

Berba's looked pretty good from the bench on a number of occasions in games when we have hold the advantage as well. Chelsea CS game being another such example.

Although I'm not a big fan of the comparison how many games has Owen changed from the bench for United? The equaliser at Bolton is one I suppose but after the City game you would be struggling to find many more. He's hardly a supersub.

But I don't go with the idea that Berbatov cannot influence a game from the bench anyway as he has shown what a top player he can be throughout the season. He's clearly a much better player than the Micheal Owen of now and there's not much of a contest between who deserved that spot more on the evidence of the season or their abilities as a player now.

I don't believe Berba's omission had any bearing on the result but I do think he deserved that spot on the bench ahead of Owen.
 
Nani Nana said:
It's not even because of Berbatov's obvious qualities, but also the side effects of his non-selection on Chicharito..

Very very odd to me, a rookie mistake by Sir Alex
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Chicharito has bail us out many times this season, yes he has a poor game today then again most of our players did too, its no shame losing to this barca side. If you think that berbatov will changed the outcome of the game for us if he had played, you be wrong....
 
His contract situation is an awkward one.

He's got 12 months left, but again I'm sure Sir Alex would rather make back some of that £30million instead of letting him go on a free. On the flip side he's 30, so he might not be worth that much in the future.

Its a tough one - do we squeeze one more year out of service then let him go on a free? Or do we sell him for a respectable amount now before his value seriously depreciates.
 
Berbatov was written off by Ferguson long ago if you ask me. If he can get a fee for him, great, if not, he can play a subs role next season and leave thereafter. I am guessing he'll go somewhere for about 8m.
 
Kelvin said:
Chicharito has bail us out many times this season, yes he has a poor game today then again most of our players did too, its no shame losing to this barca side. If you think that berbatov will changed the outcome of the game for us if he had played, you be wrong....
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I'm not saying Berba should have played, just that his presence on the bench would have made Chicharito feel a bit safer and secure, knowing that at least if he messed it up there was an alternative on the bench. With Owen the only striker on the bench, Chicharito basically understood all the expectations were on him to perform tonight
 
I don't know who will be the more pissed off...Berbatov not making the bench or ickle Mickey Owen getting the nod and then not getting the chance he was on the bench for.
 
Nani Nana said:
I'm not saying Berba should have played, just that his presence on the bench would have made Chicharito feel a bit safer and secure, knowing that at least if he messed it up there was an alternative on the bench. With Owen the only striker on the bench, Chicharito basically understood all the expectations were on him to perform tonight
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Thats just a load of nonsense really...
 
It seems to me the 1-3 vs Liverpool was when Fergie gave up on the Berba / Rooney strike force.
 
Dans said:
Berbatov was written off by Ferguson long ago if you ask me. If he can get a fee for him, great, if not, he can play a subs role next season and leave thereafter. I am guessing he'll go somewhere for about 8m.
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If we can get anything over £10million for him that I'd feel inclined to accept. Not because I want him out, but because its the only way we'd make some cash from him. Anything less and I'd rather just get an extra year's service out of him and let him go for free.
 
VoetbalWizard said:
owen should've been thrown on. might as well as use all your subs.
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That said, I am not sure I agree that Owen was a better choice of sub than Berbatov. If things aren't going to plan, then replacing like (ish) for like isn't the answer if you ask me.
 
Berbatov has scored what, 2 goals since February? Not scored in the Champions League since his second game in the competition. He looked like he could have played all night and not scored against Blackpool a week ago, missed a couple of great chances against City in that Cup Semi.

Its silly to think he should have a guranteed spot on the bench just because he had a good first half to the season, and given his style of play I don't think he would have had much of an impact against this Barcelona team any way.
 
I don't care about Berbatov....I'm hurting more than he is at the moment, it's a squad game and he's been poor since February.
 
Ole'sbodyguard said:
They would be right to as well.

Many might well point to the West Ham game as well were he had a very good second half and helped United win the game.

Berba's looked pretty good from the bench on a number of occasions in games when we have hold the advantage as well. Chelsea CS game being another such example.

Although I'm not a big fan of the comparison how many games has Owen changed from the bench for United? The equaliser at Bolton is one I suppose but after the City game you would be struggling to find many more. He's hardly a supersub.

But I don't go with the idea that Berbatov cannot influence a game from the bench anyway as he has shown what a top player he can be throughout the season. He's clearly a much better player than the Micheal Owen of now and there's not much of a contest between who deserved that spot more on the evidence of the season or their abilities as a player now.

I don't believe Berba's omission had any bearing on the result but I do think he deserved that spot on the bench ahead of Owen.
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Quite

I do think Berbatov's absence was more to do with his contract situation than footballing reasons.
 
Sultan said:
Quite

I do think Berbatov's absence was more to do with his contract situation than footballing reasons.
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Owen's contract situation is hardly sorted though, is it?

I think it's simply because SAF had a game plan and he figured that it involved Hernandez running himself into the ground, with Owen as a direct semi-like-for-like replacement. That's all there is to it.
 
After tonight it leaves the question

Does Fergie cash in now?
 
Btw I just noticed Fergie claimed he hadn't left and was in the dressing room afterwards.
 
Brophs said:
Btw I just noticed Fergie claimed he hadn't left and was in the dressing room afterwards.
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To be fair, do you think we'd ever see Fergie saying he fecked off? Thats not really his style of management. He's always protected his players no matter how stupid or ignorant they have been.

I think if Berba is looking for a pay rise, we will part ways. It's not hard to find a striker that can score goals against cannon fodder and the odd one against a top premier league team, but you can't pay somebody 100k a week + to sit on the bench in big games or not get picked at all.
 
JayWalker said:
Why? We couldnt touch the ball in the middle, where we lost it. Doesnt matter who was upfront. Berba or Hernandez.
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I didn't mean to sub Hernandez. In the last minutes Barca dropped back and we were closer to goal. Scholesy played deep. Berba would have played behind Hernandez, and see much more of ball, much like in 08-09. It was an option is what I'm saying
 
holdsteady said:
He should be sold if he walked out.

This is coming from one of his biggest fans.
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This...feck him. O'Shea played most of our games at right back and he didn't even make the bench, you don't see him leaving the stadium.
 
who started this rumor about him leaving the stadium? Is this even true? The media loves to make shit like this up
 
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