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Ferguson fears for £17m Anderson

fred milne

By fred milne
in General Football Discussion

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fred milne

fred milne

Posted
Posted

Ferguson fears £17m recruit is a year off pace

 

 

Daniel Taylor

Friday September 28, 2007

The Guardian

 

 

Anderson, Manchester United's £17m summer recruit, may come with a big reputation and an even bigger price tag, but the Brazilian is facing a prolonged spell in the reserves after an unflattering start to life with his new club.

Sir Alex Ferguson had angry words with the entire team after Wednesday's Carling Cup defeat at home to Coventry City, but he was particularly aggrieved about Anderson's ineffectual display and is concerned at how the new arrival is struggling to make a favourable impression.

 

Ferguson made it clear from the outset that he did not expect the 19-year-old to acclimatise straight away to life in a new country and that he was signed, in effect, with the long-term intention of him taking over from Paul Scholes, who will be 33 in November. None the less, Ferguson is entitled to be dismayed that his expensive recruit has been unable to make a positive impact in his first four months at Old Trafford.

 

Anderson suffered the ignominy of being substituted at half-time in his only Premier League appearance, the 1-0 victory over Sunderland on September 1, but Ferguson expected the attacking midfielder to play an important role in the experimental and youthful side he chose against Coventry. Instead, Anderson was one of the weaker players, often off the pace and, most disappointingly for his manager, showing little desire.

 

Ferguson admitted being "flabbergasted" and "shocked" by the performance of his players after Coventry won 2-0. Even stronger words were used in the dressing room and Anderson was not spared from the harshest criticism.

 

While not singling out Anderson, United's captain for the night, John O'Shea, clearly had the Brazilian in mind when he said: "The lads know they should have done better. For some reason, the technique and ability we know these young players have just wasn't there, which was a big disappointment."

 

In mitigation, Anderson has not been helped by a pre-season hamstring injury, but it has been made clear to Ferguson that the teenager may need a longer bedding-in period than had initially been anticipated. Ferguson has told his colleagues it may be a year before the player, a full Brazil international, is ready to seriously challenge for a first-team place, an astonishing admission given the amount of money it took to sign him from Porto.

 

Anderson is having English lessons to help him adapt to life in Manchester but he did himself no favours with Ferguson when, along with Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo, he allegedly employed the services of an escort agency and became the victim of a kiss-and-tell story in the tabloids. All three players have been reprimanded and reminded of their responsibility to avoid bad publicity.

 

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2179009,00.html

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ferguson troubled by failure of youth

 

 

By Jon Culley

Published: 28 September 2007

 

 

Unwise though it probably is to read too much into one result, at least one conclusion from Manchester United's humiliating home defeat to a middling Coventry City side on Wednesday evening is unavoidable. It is that, regardless of whether there is any new golden generation on their horizon, which looks highly doubtful, United's present resources may be uncomfortably limited.

 

If the shadow line-up Sir Alex Ferguson chose to put out against Iain Dowie's Championship team was supposed to send out a positive message to the Premiership about the depth of United's squad, it failed horribly, their manager's embarrassment only compounded by the way a team of Arsenal understudies had beaten a strong Newcastle side the night before.

 

It was a miserable performance by a group of players whose talents, by their manager's admission, have been "trumpeted loudly". Words such as "shocked" and "flabbergasted" do not regularly pepper Sir Alex's post-match analyses and while, in the cynical view of United's attitude to the Carling Cup that persists even though they won it two years ago, some might wonder whether he would really lose sleep over an early exit, the emotion in his voice suggested genuine dismay.

 

The negligible impact made by Nani and Anderson will have hurt the most, given that the careful assessment by Ferguson and his scouts of the Portuguese and the Brazilian persuaded the release of a combined £35m in funds last summer.

 

At 20 and 19 respectively, the pair are hardly finished products, despite their price tags, and Nani looked as likely as anyone to rescue his team. Anderson, however, was largely anonymous. Taken off after 45 minutes of his Premier League debut against Sunderland, there is already a suspicion that he is an expensive mistake.

 

On the other hand, Ferguson may be equally disappointed with the lack of visible progress being made by his home-grown crop, those such as Phil Bardsley, Chris Eagles and Gerard Pique. His 13 Premier League starts for Aston Villa last season looked to have been of small benefit to Bardsley, who was taken off at half-time, while Pique struggled against the pace and desire of the double goal-scorer, Michael Mifsud.

 

Eagles and Lee Martin looked lightweight in attack while full-back Danny Simpson made a better impression than centre half Jonny Evans, who was another to see the substitutes board held up early.

 

They looked a brittle bunch, although since the era that spawned such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville – who all played when United suffered even deeper embarrassment at the hands of York City at Old Trafford in 1995 – successful graduates from Ferguson's experimental League Cup teams have been considerably outnumbered by those who have been tried and discarded.

 

More significantly, as United seek to defend the Premiership against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, they do not offer much insurance for Ferguson against injury.

 

"These boys will take some lessons from this," Ferguson said, "but they will have to learn them fast."

 

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/pr...icle3007069.ece

Rimbeux

Rimbeux

Posted
Posted

No doubt Queiroz will get the blame on Red Cafe

 

 

He simply hasn't got what Wenger has put it in place and that's getting at him. Also doesn't have this masssive squad of quality that pundits talk off without thinking when they talk of prospective winners. Clearly a few matchwinners, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and the manager, but dont believe the hype.

L19red

L19red

Posted
Posted
  Rimbeux said:
No doubt Queiroz will get the blame on Red Cafe

He simply hasn't got what Wenger has put it in place and that's getting at him. Also doesn't have this masssive squad of quality that pundits talk off without thinking when they talk of prospective winners. Clearly a few matchwinners, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and the manager, but dont believe the hype.

 

how is it hype? They are the current champions, and even if these two kids are flops, hargreaves and tevez wont be. They maybe a little weaker at the back following the loss of Heinze, but they havent gone downhill in midfield and up front.

Benitez

Benitez

Posted
Posted
  Rimbeux said:
No doubt Queiroz will get the blame on Red Cafe

He simply hasn't got what Wenger has put it in place and that's getting at him. Also doesn't have this masssive squad of quality that pundits talk off without thinking when they talk of prospective winners. Clearly a few matchwinners, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and the manager, but dont believe the hype.

 

 

you think? Mancs are league champions, Arsenal aren't. That's what matters, his leagacy will be what he's won, not whether he's managed to leave some good young talent for the next manager.

Rimbeux

Rimbeux

Posted
Posted
  L19red said:
how is it hype? They are the current champions, and even if these two kids are flops, hargreaves and tevez wont be. They maybe a little weaker at the back following the loss of Heinze, but they havent gone downhill in midfield and up front.

 

Where have I said they'd gone backwards, I just dont buy this idea they have this massive squad full of quality that they are hyped up to have by some. Dont get me wrong, I think they're a top side with some top players, but I dont think they are clearly ahead

 

 

 

  Benitez said:
you think? Mancs are league champions, Arsenal aren't. That's what matters, his leagacy will be what he's won, not whether he's managed to leave some good young talent for the next manager.

 

 

Of course, why do you think he's so pissy havcing talked them up as too good for reserve team footballl? He's seen Arsenal get far in this comp for the last few years by fielding youth teams, and he feels to the need to compete. It's a game within a game.

MFletcher

MFletcher

Posted
Posted

United's squad depth is very, very poor. Their first team has some real talent - Ronaldo etc. - but their "reserves" are really youth and utility players.

 

They're a good side, but their squad is much weaker than people seem to think.

deacon

deacon

Posted
Posted

Anderson may look poor at the moment, but he isn't a poor player. I watched Porto in a Champions League match last season and he looked awesome, he was just so strong on the ball, very direct and very skilful.

Benitez

Benitez

Posted
Posted
  Rimbeux said:
Of course, why do you think he's so pissy havcing talked them up as too good for reserve team footballl? He's seen Arsenal get far in this comp for the last few years by fielding youth teams, and he feels to the need to compete. It's a game within a game.

 

 

I really don't think he cares that much. The youth of Arsenal is overstated anyway, hyped beyond all reason. And I'm sure most invlolved with arsenal, especially the fans, would give up on having a leauge cup side that wins 3 or 4 games a season, to having a team who'll win the European Cup or the league again. Ferguson may well wish the depth of youth at the club was better, but if thats the case, his worry shouldn't be Arsenal - but as to why he felt the need to spend 17 million on one player just to try and strengthen it.

Ostrich Man

Ostrich Man

Posted
Posted

hopefully wont take the full year....expected more from what ive seen so far from him especially for 17 mill, but its at the end of his career at UTD that ill judge him a failure or a success...not three or four matches in.

Rimbeux

Rimbeux

Posted
Posted
  Benitez said:
I really don't think he cares that much. The youth of Arsenal is overstated anyway, hyped beyond all reason. And I'm sure most invlolved with arsenal, especially the fans, would give up on having a leauge cup side that wins 3 or 4 games a season, to having a team who'll win the European Cup or the league again. Ferguson may well wish the depth of youth at the club was better, but if thats the case, his worry shouldn't be Arsenal - but as to why he felt the need to spend 17 million on one player just to try and strengthen it.

 

 

I dont think it's an either or situation, but that's not what you're saying, and of course the big trophies are what ultimately count. However there's no doubt Ferguson's been trying to show his youth set up is at least the equal, just listen to him pre match. Yes it's not what's going to decide the title this season, but they're all looking for rank here and there which is why Fergie got so pissy, you've even got Jol saying his kids are better.

 

How much does he care? I think a lot, because the root of it are his probably rightful issues with the academy system, preventing him operating as he sees fit, and that coupled with the idea that someone else may have got around the restrictions to better effect doesn't sit well with him.

Bigal

Bigal

Posted
Posted
  Ostrich Man said:
hopefully wont take the full year....expected more from what ive seen so far from him especially for 17 mill, but its at the end of his career at UTD that ill judge him a failure or a success...not three or four matches in.

 

what about his warm up?

mick

mick

Posted
Posted

This seems nothing more than Ferguson giving him a bit of a boot up the ar$e for being a lazy ****

 

People can talk all they want about their lack of depth but they are the champs......

 

I wonder are they on the decline as people have been saying for the last 3 years or was it just the fact that Chelsea were so good the two years they won the championshio OR was it just wishful thinking...................?

Guest Kaizer

Guest Kaizer

Posted
Posted
  deacon said:
Anderson may look poor at the moment, but he isn't a poor player. I watched Porto in a Champions League match last season and he looked awesome, he was just so strong on the ball, very direct and very skilful.

 

This must have been before he got injured then and was almost out for the entire season last season.

 

I have seen a few young players over the years getting bad injuries and using some time to get back on track, I think its only natural at this age.

 

I would not write Anderson off, but I have never bought into the hype in the first place, much because of the reason above, remember he has only played 18 league matches for Porto and for me it was madness to pay what they did for him.

Herbie von Smalls

Herbie von Smalls

Posted
Posted
  MFletcher said:
United's squad depth is very, very poor. Their first team has some real talent - Ronaldo etc. - but their "reserves" are really youth and utility players.

 

They're a good side, but their squad is much weaker than people seem to think.

true that. thought the same last season. i think they were very fortunate on the injury front and the title race would've been very different if they'd not had the rub of the green.

Guest Lennon

Guest Lennon

Posted
Posted

Another with that special "c***" factor about him. What is it with manc players and that.

Guest Lennon

Guest Lennon

Posted
Posted

Nani just looks like he's trying to be Ronaldo without the talent.

Owen1978

Owen1978

Posted
Posted
  anny road said:
my mate John is a ST holder there...good lad...knows his s***

 

he says he doesnt even look like a championship player

 

sorry but you gotta laugh, most championship players cant pass 6 yards, cant control a ball, sh*te control and tend to hoof the ball! dont see that in anderson

Guest Lennon

Guest Lennon

Posted
Posted
  Owen1978 said:
most championship players cant pass 6 yards, cant control a ball, sh*te control and tend to hoof the ball!

 

That's even more laughable.

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