The sway of opinion between Manchester United fans when it comes to their Brazilian midfielder Anderson is something to behold. There are some who view him as the future of their midfield whilst others seem to posit him as a liability.
Whether you rate him or hate him, I think it’s fair to say that his Manchester United career is in the balance. All the ability in the world means nothing if he can’t stay fit and avoid injury – something that he’s struggled with this season. But is he a player that Sir Alex Ferguson should continue to persevere with?
That’s no easy question to answer. Consider when he first arrived at Old Trafford back in the 2006-07 season. Arriving at the same time as Nani (who has managed to step up in the way that Anderson is yet to do) the two new signings came with a lot of fanfare.
Anderson had earned himself the ‘next Ronaldinho’ tagline and had a reputation as a dynamic midfielder who would chip in with goals and was handy with set-pieces. Unfortunately, as time has gone on these elements of his game have diminished and it’s become tougher to determine what he offers this United side.
Nowadays when he does get a game he looks like a shadow of the player he was supposed to become. He can’t seem to pick out other team-mates, he doesn’t set people up and he certainly doesn’t score goals. This in combination with his lack of fitness means that he’s unable to ever play 90 minutes for United and equally unable to get a run of games together.
It’s obvious that he needs more game time so he can attempt to find his best form, but I’d argue there are deeper underlying issues here. Before he moved to United he tended to play behind the striker and handle most of the playmaking duties.
After his arrival he was expected to adopt a completely different style of play and make a career as a box-to-box midfielder. Nothing I’ve seen during his time at Old Trafford suggests that he has the ability to make this switch. Anderson is expected to cover more ground than he’s capable, tackle and intercept and he’s just not up to it.
If United do keep a hold of him in the summer, I hope they give him a bit more creative license. Experiment with his position in the early rounds of the Carling Cup/FA Cup and see if he has something to offer. At the moment it feels unfair to judge him when United aren’t really adapting to his strengths.
So I guess the question is: do United offer him this last chance or look to move on?
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Sell HIM! How exactly is that a conundrum?!
what utter nonesense, prior to injury (admittedly this is frustrating)he had been on the scoresheet. Also, he can pass and he can run forward with the ball at pace, his problem is not ability, but confidence and game time. He is a very capable footballer, but I too would like him further up the park
Only cm we have in the team who can carry the ball forward through the team. Think gr should be given more time, he started the season really well and then yet again got injured. I’ve no doubt with a decent run in the team he would turn into the player I know he can be, but will he ever get over the injury issue?
I think he should be loaned out. If he goes to a team that will use him in in his preferred position and he gets to play consistently, he’ll definitely get better and hopefully, find his feet.
I agree he has yet to live up to expectations – allthou he had good games too. His best period in the Unitedshirt has to be the start of this season when United were awesome with him and Cleverley in midfield. Giggs used to pick up injuries for fun earlier in his carrier, so maybe a change for Anderson can make his injuries go away?
I think we are in need of a faster ballwinning player than Carrick and that player might be Anderson – IF he is free from injuries that is.
Pogba might also do that role later – when or if he signs for us. Just buying someone to try to better ourselves I think will be wrong. For the “holding/defensive” role, of we are to buy anyone, I want have Javi Martinez or noone.
Attackers/wingers we have plenty of.
Ok, Europe was bad this year, but we are still top of the league and its not like we need a whole new team.