Tom Cleverley: A professional enigma
Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley took to the press today to lament what he feels is a media witch-hunt on his performances this season.
The England international was quoted in the Mirror as stating: “”I feel I’ve been made a scapegoat a little bit. A few people in the media certainly seem to have a perception of me not doing much in the team
It’s been a tough time for Basingstoke-born Cleverley indeed. Imperious midfielders that have preceded him such as Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes have set an intimidating bar that given Cleverley’s form this season, appears incredulous that he could ever dare aspire to.
His stats this season, a campaign where he could for the first time effectively be called a ‘starter’, haven’t supported such a prestigious notion. In a season where United have struggled for the first-time in so long and at such great lengths, it’s obvious that a key area like his will come under such scrutiny.
Central-midfielders come in many different permutations. A brief and basic example would be Roy Keane’s primary vocation was to break-up play and protect his back four. He had a wider arsenal than that of course, but that’s how he was essentially employed. On the flip-side, someone like Tom Huddlestone will negate many of his defensive duties, and is utlisied as a deep-lying playmaker who can start his team going forward and dictate the tempo of a game. Both however, roamed in similar areas of the pitch.
That’s is Huddlestone’s style, owing to the attributes he is equipped with. Great teams will invariably have influences of all types in their midfield two or three such as Barcelona, who have a wonderful playmaker in Xavi, but they also have Sergio Busquets who adds the mettle and provides the balance.
Where does Tom Cleverley fit in? What does he do? What’s his best role? I think those are difficult questions to answer.
Cleverley insisted: “Don’t get me wrong, I know I can do better but people are making a big thing about how I don’t score enough goals when that is not necessarily my first job in the team.
"I watch Spanish football a lot, if they pass the ball sideways but keep possession, the fans clap them. Their attitude is that as long as you have got the ball, the other team can’t hurt you.”
United’s number 23’s statistics this season leave more questions than answers. In his 18 appearances thus far, he has managed one goal and one assist (coming in the League Cup). He’s created eight chances, has an average pass completion rate of 90% and has won only 52% of his duels either on the floor or in the air (courtesy of squawka.com).
His impressive pass completion gives some credence to the Spanish style he claims he attempts to incorporate. With Michael Carrick sitting in front of the back four though, would it really be necessary and prudent to partner him with a midfielder who carried out an extension of his role? To just keep things moving? Granted, that’s David Moyes domain and order, not Cleverley’s. Yet his comments have an air of niggling negligence. If the United machine was still rolling on like it has done years prior, then it could be serendipitous to excuse him. In other words, he could go unnoticed as a youngster finding his way, a bonus in an already successful unit. It appears the moment some responsibility has been attributed to him, his shoulders aren’t broad enough.
I don’t personally think Cleverley is a bad player. In essence, he can pick a pass and has a degree of imagination. The problem is he’s been plunged into a team the magnitude of United’s and indeed England, and he isn’t ready. It’s ok not to be Scholes, after all what are the chances the next youth product is going to be a ready-made replica, if ever?
Cleverley has had three loan spells away from the Red Devils, including one particularly fruitful spell at Watford in the Championship back in 09/10. Taking advantage of being allowed to roam behind the strikers, the then 20-year-old bagged 11 goals that term earning their player of the season award in the process. Although the next season with Wigan proved more difficult in a struggling, relegation-threatened team, he still contributed two assists and four goals, one of which was the winner against Wolves that lifted them out of the relegation zone. The difference between performing at those clubs to Manchester United however, is worlds apart.
Time will tell whether the academy graduate can become a cornerstone of the United midfield for years to come. Central to his development though would be managers at Old Trafford and England finding a role that best suits Cleverley’s qualities. They’re yet to be fully detected in his current play that’s for sure. At this juncture, he needs to find himself on the pitch, or a club with less-pressure than that of the historical giants he finds himself at.
