After being named the joint top scorer in the Premiership last season with 20 goals, you may have thought that Dimitar Berbatov should have cemented his place in the United side for next season.
But with the emergence of Javier Hernandez and the shock omission of Berbatov from the Champions League final, what does the future hold for the Bulgarian at Old Trafford?
After his best season in a United shirt, which included some excellent performances, including the hat-trick against Liverpool and the 5 goals in the 7-1 rout of Blackburn, it looked like the Bulgarian had found his stride in the team, after two years of inconsistency an since he joined United from Spurs in 2008.
Last season for Berbatov was a season of two halves. In the first part, the 30 year old could do no wrong, but in the second half and the “business” end of the season, he was nowhere to be seen, having been supplanted by Hernandez, who was busy flourishing and forming a deadly partnership with Wayne Rooney.
There is no doubting Berbatov’s quality; I think he is an excellent player, and one of the most technically gifted players at the club. His overhead kick against Liverpool summed him up for me, and proved that he can perform the spectacular, just like Eric Cantona back in the day.
The problem often raised with Berbatov is that he doesn’t fit in with United’s style of play. We all know that the Bulgarian prefers to play deep as a second striker, the same position as Rooney operates in.
The reason that Rooney and Chicarito work so well is that the Mexican is an out-and-out striker and a poacher, whereas Rooney and Berbatov seem to clash and can never play well at the same time, it’s always one or the other, as when Berbatov was performing well and scoring goals in the first half of the season, Rooney was struggling, and vice-versa at the end of the season.
The only reason the speculation around Berbatov’s future is surfacing is because of his surprise omission from the Champions League final. While it probably didn’t make any difference, as United would likely not have beaten Barcelona even if Berbatov had featured, seeing as he failed to score in the Champions League last season, it didn’t say much about Sir Alex’s faith in the striker to completely omit him from the squad.
Today, a number of clubs have been linked with a move for Berbatov, with PSG reported to be making a £10 million bid, and Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan are rumoured to be interested in the Bulgarian, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Berbatov’s agent has said that the striker has no intention to leave United, saying the striker wants to sign a new deal. Emil Dantchev said,
“After we speak to Manchester United, we will know more but now he is very happy to be a Manchester United player.”
There are arguments for and against Berbatov remaining at Old Trafford. Firstly, Berbatov is arguably now United’s most technically gifted player after the retirement of Paul Scholes and if he is happy to be third choice striker behind Rooney and Chicarito, there is no reason to sell as 20-goal a season strikers are hard to come by. It wouldn’t make sense unless United have a ready-made replacement in mind.
The problem with the Berbatov situation is that he only has a year left on his contract. United still haven’t exercised the option to extend his contract and no talks have taken place over a new deal. Berbatov is 30 now, and if United don’t intend to offer the Bulgarian a new contract, is it worth cashing in now and recouping some money instead of letting him walk away for nothing next summer?
Obviously United will not be able to recoup the £30.75 million they spent on Berbatov three years ago, as no team will want to pay that much for a player of his age but to lose him for the quoted £10m fee would make any possible sale even worse.
If we were to sell him something closer to £15 million would be preferable but even then what player of similar quality would they be able to sign for that amount?
The established strikers with Champions League experience, the likes of David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o would cost much more than £15 million, as would up-and-coming talents like Neymar and Romelu Lukaku. United will want someone to come in and contribute right away if they sell Berbatov, and with other areas of the team needing strengthening, it’s unlikely that they would want to spend a fortune on another striker that may not even start for the side.
Even though it looks like Berbatov will have to be content with backing up Rooney and Hernandez next season, I think he can play an important role for United next season. Berbatov’s ability to produce moments of magic and the spectacular make him a valuable asset, and I think United should do their utmost to try and keep the Bulgarian at Old Trafford beyond next season.
What do you think – should United offer Berbatov a new contract or sell him this summer?
The deadly Rooney Hernandez partnership?
In the 8 matches they playerd together in the league Man Utd scored 7 goals. In the last 6 league games they started together we scored 5 goals and got 8 points. Not my idea of deadly. It’s a myth we’ve been fed and as Utd fans it sounds good so we’ve gobbled it up and run with it.
Rooney came back to form around the time Hernandez broke into the side. With our best player back to form we should have been a better side right? Well in Hernandez’s time as a starter we were 1 match from choking a 15 point lead over Chelsea. Maybe that part is pure co-incidence, the stats above aren’t though, they’re more tangible, they’re facts.
Oh and the very first line: ‘named top scorer’. You’re named something if there’s a choice, he was top scorer so he got it. So yeah it’s a shame as I thought the rest of the article was quality but that being the very first line is what stuck in my head.
#teamberbatov
Deadly in the sense that the seem to work extremely well together this whole move towards stat based analysis is bloody annoying. Rooney has admitted he loves playing with Hernandez so regardless of the stats you’re posting their partnership is one that will be around.
Had someone say Cleverley is better than Modric because Clev had 4 goals and 4 assists compared to Modric’s 2 goals and 4 assist. Stats don’t always paint the full picture as you probably already know.
For Hernandez they do. As this article rightly says he’s the poacher, a goalscorer, so I think it’s fair to judge him by stats. He’s allergic to assists so it’s entirely fair in fact. You could argue him making a run freeing space for Rooney/Nani/Valencia to score is his assist which is fair enough. The midfielder stats which you mention obviously need to be taken with a big pinch of salt as there is far more involved to being a midfielder than a striker.
Basically what I think is the partnership is hugely over-hyped. I think it’s the best one we have (who’s to argue with Sir Alex?) but I think it will become great, not it is already great. Hernandez is so loveable it seems to be everything he does or involved with is brilliant, he’s involved in this partnership so it must therefore be brilliant.
Admit it though that stat took you by surprise 😉
Oh and the point is fair i believe ‘being named top scorer’ doesn’t sound write imo. Petty – yes, insignificant – maybe, right to comment in a comments section? – yes
*right
Take it as a compliment, it’s because I rate this site and it’s writers so highly that I notice when something doesn’t look right.
I agree at a second look it may seem a bit off.
The stat didn’t take me by surprise at all, I have eyes and watch the two and perhaps even closer than most as I am looked at to give a proper account following games as the editor of the site.
I understand what you’re saying about everything Hernandez does being looked on favourably but I look at goals as well as chemistry. The partnership is new but already showing signs it can be fruitful. Whilst Hernandez benefits from Rooney playing behind him, Rooney too benefits from having Hernandez.
Hernandez’s movement frees up space for Rooney, allows him to work and thus Rooney can do what he needs. In the game against Chelsea at the Bridge, people said that Hernandez didn’t do anything but his movement gave Chelsea fits was part of the reason Rooney was allowed space to score his goal and why he (Hernandez) was fouled so much.
Striker partnerships are becoming rarer, so now this one has popped up understandably it is being raved over. Me I’d rather accept it than pick holes.
i think he should stay he slow but sure and can do better at man in future
berba must say.
It think the decision should be left to berba. He is a world class striker. Its true he does not have the pace that rooney and hernandez or even owen have, but he knows how to get around defenders and score. His main problem is consistency, yes he scored 20 goals, but 8 of them came in 2 games, what about the other 36 games??? When he plays against other top teams he tends to choke and his form drops. ( the liverpool game being an exception) Bottom line, even with all the criticisim, he has remained faithful to man u and it should be his decision to stay or go. Either way i appreciate his services.
What about the other 36 games you ask?, he was benched most of the second half of the season and not even he could score from the bench, in my opinion had Ferguson stuck with him he would have hit 30-35 goals plus the other things like skill, vision and holding up play when needed that he brings, this is the craziest decision if he goes I for one thought several of Fergusons decisions in CL final were awful leaving Berba in tears in the dressing room being the worst Berba full of class Ferguson devoid of any
Staggering mistake to even think of letting him go. Our squad is full of mediocre players and to lose Berba would be a sin. I feel Ferguson wants rid, not a football reason cant be if he is keeping Owen and bringing back Diouf, Macheda, Wellbeck none of whom could lace Berbas boots, got to be a personal thing which wouldnt surprise me with Ferguson, I feel the fact that we have brought in a defender and a winger and left CM unchanged and probably will lose one of our most gifted players in Berba that questions need to be asked of the management, Every dog has its day I think Ferguson has had his and now he is making some terrible decisions
“Every dog has its day I think Ferguson has had his and now he is making some terrible decisions.”
Jesus H Christ, this is a man that just won his 12th league title at United?
Some people have short memories.
From the beginning Ferguson’s approach has been all wrong regarding Berbatov. Why pay £30 million for a player and then try to go against his nature and force him to play a style that doesn’t fit him. When you pay that much, you’re essentially making him the center of your team. Ferguson should have found a compromised that adjusted Utd’s approach to fit Berbatov’s game.
Not only did that not happen, but on top of that, in his first season at Utd, they weren’t even sending the ball his way. Sometimes there would be 4 or 5 passes right in front of the box and and not one of them would be directed Berbatov’s way. I would just be sitting there screaming at my TV in frustration.
Especially when Rooney wasn’t on the field, Utd’s game should have revolved around Berbatov. Instead, they seemed to deliberately exclude him; and never tried an approach that was suited to his style of play.
In the beginning, it was a dream signing for me, but shortly after and definitely now, I wish he had never left Tottenham.
how can you score from a bench?
SAF has personel problem with berbatov,if you dont
want to play him,let him go.to much skil,best passing partner with rooney,together they score
40-45 goals.but chico,emty net specialist,obertan,
owens,bebe,and a young new players we dont finish
in atop 3.he can help for 2 more year,make rooney
a top score again. M.U. forever
BERBA SHOULD NOT LEAVE UNITED!
he is a important member to the squad, we wouldnt have won the premiership without his 21 goals.
United need experience players in the park too many youngesters.
Fergie u need to make a big signing if u are to do anything in Europe!!!
Berba should’nt be let go! with scholsy retirement, let fergie play him as an attacking mid.He is rich in holding the ball and accurate with his passes.moreover, they can swop positions with rooney.The problem with Man u is that, SAF is running out technical ideas of how to organize his team.He should look bring in a young techically gifted assistant like rijkard to work with him. I nolonger envy SAF.
Berbatov must stay. Every team needs depth and Man U need it if they have to defend the league. There are injuries and loss of form and besides Ferguson rotates his players. He works with a pool number of good players, all who can instantly deliver if others cant play. I expect Bebartov to even improve on what he did last season