Given that the odds on us signing a CM this summer are somewhere between slim and none we should concentrate on a CM who actually plays for the club and could be on the verge of breaking through to the first team.
After a tough start at United due to some niggling injuries, he's beginning to emerge as a player of great hope and seems to have a much better attitude than Morrison and Pogba. I thought he was very good against Shanghai and was disappointed to see him substituted with so much time remaining on Wednesday. He has a great shot on him, is intelligent on the ball and can pass the ball all over the pitch so has all the attributes needed to become a top player.
While I agree that we need a top class CM, it would seem that Sir Alex is deadset on sticking with the ones we've got and if that's the case i'm excited to see Petrucci emerge this season in the league cup and hopefully be ready to play in the bigger matches in 2013/2014.
Davide Petrucci
posted on 27/7/12
RR
I don't disagree with a lot of your points but Scholes went from nothing to pretty much every game last season.
This year he's getting a proper pre-season and will have his games more spread out so you could argue he'll be fresher this season.
posted on 27/7/12
I don't disagree with a lot of your points but Scholes went from nothing to pretty much every game last season.
This year he's getting a proper pre-season and will have his games more spread out so you could argue he'll be fresher this season.
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I doubt it. If I remember correctly, Scholes never carried this kind of form into the 09/10 season, and was good for the first 2 or so months of 10/11 before he seemed to wear out.
Scholes' 60 min cameos last season were great, we wouldnt have got as close as we did without him. But I feel that people expecting the same from him for the whole of the upcoming season could be in for a bit of a surprise.
posted on 27/7/12
Good article, funrob.
Petrucci has all the ingredients in his locker to be a top midfielder and most importantly, from his interviews, he wants to stay at United and fight for his place but he is also humble enough to admit that he is not quite there yet.
Whilst not signing a CM is something that flabbergasts me daily, perhaps this might be one of the big reasons.
I just dont buy the Ando and Clev are able/fit/ready etc - i watched Clev yesterday and let's hope it was a one-off game he was distinctly below average.
posted on 27/7/12
funrob
True, time will tell regarding Scholes.
Last summer most felt we needed to strengthen in midfield but on paper we had the existing players (minus Scholes) + Fletcher and Park as possibilities, and Giggs off the back of some good performances towards the end of the previous season (compared with some terrible ones this season).
As I see it, the only we way look stronger as it stands is if Petrucci (and Powell) are set to be more trusted (and to deserve that trust) than Pogba. That's something I don't think we'll be able to judge until next summer.
posted on 27/7/12
RC
Cleverley wasn't impressive yesterday but perhaps it isn't fair to judge him on what was essentially the same as a first pre-season game. A lot of our established players were fairly anonymous against South African club sides. Cleverley was arguably playing at a similar level of physical preparation against a far more serious athletic test.
posted on 27/7/12
I thought Clevz was good. Kept possession well for the most part.
What did he do that was so awful?
posted on 27/7/12
@bloodred,
I agree mate, Scholes is my all-time favourite player and to imagine him getting to Janurary and realising he is not up to par and retiring would be an awful way to go.
posted on 27/7/12
i watched Clev yesterday and let's hope it was a one-off game he was distinctly below average.
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Messi would look below average in his 2nd game back after countless months in the injury room... Then being thrown in a team he has never played with.
posted on 27/7/12
Ji Sung Park's Cousin
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Hence i said i 'hope it was a one-off game'. I like Clevs and hope he comes through but i am not one of those who view him as the answer to our problems. Not even close!
posted on 27/7/12
I've nothing against giving Petrucci a shot in PL but he needs to be given games and not just the odd CC game.