Player Tom Cleverley

[Super-Villan]

He can't sign a pre-contract with us - or any other English club - in January. He could with other clubs in Europe though.

[srsmithusa]

I spoke to a United ST holder at length just now, will type it up tomorrow.

Thanks for the informative update

[MikeMcKenna]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11071474/Tom-Cleverleys-agent-tests-patience-of-Aston-Villa-and-Manchester-United-as-deal-goes-to-the-wire.html

Interesting read

Bloody agents, money grabbing B@#tards!

This story is way more believable than the one Sky are reporting, in all fairness.

Where agents are concerned, they're strictly interested in one thing...and that is what lines their pockets.

His agent Simon Kennedy seems like he has all his eggs in one basket with TC and funnily enough employs TC's Dad; Andrew. After a fall out with his previous partner in April this year they put their agency into administration and he has now set up this one with among other Michael Ricketts. Reads like a who's who of hangers on and I wouldn't be surprised if their only major client is TC. Bunch of leeches.

http://www.pinnaclesel.com/our-people.html

Edited September 3, 2014 by MikeMcKenna

[Dodgyknees]

I'm tired, this isn't perfect.

 

Previous to this I had already spoken to Phil for a good 40 minutes, so I apologise if there is no flow.

 

D: Do you mind if I ask you about Tom Cleverley?

 

P: No, not at all, fire away.

 

D: What do you make of his time at United? I’ve seen him play (on TV) on a number of occasions, he has never looked impressive. What are your thoughts?

 

P: Difficult question, let me get one thing straight. When Tom burst onto the scene we all thought we had the next big thing, the new wonder kid. His drive, his delivery on the ball, his tremendous hard work, it was exciting for us fans.

 

What happened to Tom is hard for me to say, he has never kicked on like we expected him to and has gone a bit stale. There is a player in there though, a really good player, can you manager find him?

 

D: What will he add to the team?

 

P: You were one of the easiest teams for us last year!

 

D: Don’t remind me…

 

P: He will help you control the game a little more, but it’s hard for me to say what he will do as I don’t really know what Villa are like 99% of the time!

 

D: Neither do we!

 

P: First thing you need to do is get his confidence up, the second thing you need to do is get him in more advanced positions. He has had to sit back (at United), mainly thanks to the way we force so many players into attacking positions. Get him in positions where he can play his own game and he will thrive.

 

D: His own game?

 

P: Yes, controlling the game. The sort of things players like Wilshere get praise for, but Tom gets slaughtered.

 

D: What are his attributes other than controlling the game?

 

P: Anything on the ball, such as passing, keep-ball, although now I say that, his passing isn’t the best of what he can do, but it’s good enough. I think he will love trying to forge a partnership with Delph, I think that could work with Delph in the deeper role.

 

D: Delph is actually more attacking, dribbles a lot, lacks a killer pass.

 

P: Arh… well, put Tom in front of him and get the passes in quickly, they could run riot! Maybe this will be the future England midfield?

 

D: Well we (Villa) do have a great tradition of providing England players!

 

P: Great club, deserves better.

 

D: What did you think when you heard Villa had made a bid?

 

P: Firstly I was glad, not because I don’t rate him, but because I can’t see it working for him at United now. Secondly, I was sad because as I said before, Tom was going to be the next big thing for us. When I heard it was £8m I was shocked as he only has one year left, a good deal for us.

 

D: And your thoughts on the loan?

 

P: It’s all a bit of a mess, I think he was badly advised.

 

D: It certainly made for an interesting transfer window for us Villa fans.

 

P: I’m sure it did. Don’t get me wrong, when I say I was shocked (at the 8m), it wasn’t because I don’t value him highly, but because he doesn’t have long to run. If he lives up to what he can be, he will be worth double the money, you will see.

 

D: I hope so. It would be fantastic if he can find himself at Villa, maybe become the next Platt?

 

P: Aye, that’d be a good one for you!

 

P: (cont) And I have great respect for Villa, such a good club. You’ve been stripped bare by an owner who has no idea, it’s not right. I’ve been watching football for near 50 years and Villa have always been one of the greats, you always will be. Keep the faith fella.

 

D: Phil, it has been tremendous chatting to you. Good luck for the rest of the season.

P: Aye, you too.

Edited September 3, 2014 by dodgyknees

[ozvillafan]

I'm sorry, Dodgy - but who is Phil?

[Dodgyknees]

I'm sorry, Dodgy - but who is Phil?

 

Sorry, he's a season ticket holder at United. Has been for a long time. I spoke to him about United spending zillions and asked about Cleverley.

[8pints]

I wonder if we will play Cleverley in an attacking role?

 

I know he is not supposed to be that type of player but Richardson was used a lot as a left back and wanted to play an attacking role and Lambert has let him. I just wonder if we'll see the same with Cleverley?

 

And I know it's only one fan here but still his thoughts are to push Cleverley forward.

Straight out of their door and through ours, I know, I know. Not a rude joke

 

I think he was used in more of an attacking role when on loan to Watford a while ago and had a scoring record of 11 goals in 33 games, so a ratio of 1 in 3 when pushed further forward, so that's possibly promising.

 

 

Excluding the goalkeeper, I think Lambert sees his team in three sections, -

 

Defence - Support - Threat

 

I think he does try to mix it up a little bit and expects them to all do their bit in each area but I think this would be a simplified way of looking at his tactics and why he sets us up in a 4-3-3 type formation.

 

This is why I wonder if when all are fit he might revert to what would be listed as 3-5-2 but basically have -

 

LCB SW RCB

DM

For Defence

 

LWB CM RWB

For Support

 

And

 

AM

LS RS

As his threat

 

I think, following the set up of positions I've mentioned

Guzan

Vlaar

Senderos

Okore

Sanchez

Hutton

         

Westwood

         

Cissokho

Delph

Benteke

Kozak

 

But simplified

 

Guzan

Senderos

Vlaar

Okore

Hutton

Delph

Sanchez

Westwood

Cissokho

Benteke

Kozak

 

Is what Lambert sees as his strongest line-up.

 

I think he may very well use Cleverley, Richardson and Bacuna as utility type midfielders.

 

N'zogbia, Cole and Grealish as creative options.

 

Keep Baker as what Lambert sees as a versatile defensive sub, in the sense he plays him in the centre and as full back

 

And ultimately give Weimann and Agbonlahor the feeling they need to compete for a place.

 

I think Weimann, N'Zogbia and Agbonlahor had been given a kick up the arse for the Hull game which is what they needed and fair enough they went for it.

 

This type of set-up creates competition for places in all the areas as well I think, and, if the performances are there, the names I've put in the first team, may be replaced by those I've written about in each specific area.

Edited September 3, 2014 by 8pints

[Dodgyknees]

I worry about a lack of width though, maybe I am just old fashioned?

Or maybe that team will allow width, but revert to the above to make us hard to mark?

[snowychap]

It looks pencil thin.

[Dodgyknees]

It looks like a plane, is it MH370?

[8pints]

I was editing whilst you two were bitchin'

[Dodgyknees]

Now a dwarf Christmas tree.

[8pints]

Now a dwarf Christmas tree.

 

Just trust me, I took Chimp XI to the semi-finals of the SIFF World Cup and won the unofficial third place play-off.

[KSV]

I honestly cant wait to see him play. It might take him a while.. but i think a new environment will do him great. He was playing well the year they won the league.. but Moyes negative style didnt suit the way he played.. (every player under Mcleish here!). Man Utd fans treated him harshly... i think expected too much and he lost confidence. Give him a bit of a free role n a team with players around his age where he would be more happy.. gain some confidence and really fire at VP.

 

This could be one of Lamberts best signings IMO. Or we could look back in 6-12 months and laugh at my post! 

Edited September 3, 2014 by KSV

[nobler]

Cleverley does strike me as a (weird term) huge confidence player. I think it's really, really important that now he's here we stick with him. He's going to be rusty, he's going to misplace passes and although I'm not over the moon with the signing in general, there is obviously a very talented player in there and who knows, if the crowd don't groan during every sideways pass and bits of sloppy play he could thrive here under a very different type of pressure that he had at United. 

Edited September 3, 2014 by nobler

[8pints]

This could be one of Lamberts best signings IMO. Or we could look back in 6-12 months and laugh at my post! 

 

Don't worry, I get the feeling they'll be busy laughing at mine.

[KSV]

 

This could be one of Lamberts best signings IMO. Or we could look back in 6-12 months and laugh at my post! 

 

Don't worry, I get the feeling they'll be busy laughing at mine.

 

At least we just haven't jumped on the bandwagon and hated him.. We stuck our opinion on the line.. one way or another..

 

i guess we haven't seen him play for England as much as the English fans.. I always thought he was a good player.. just because it hasnt worked out for him there does not mean hes no good. Liverpool fans even made videos of Cissohko being poor yet hes amazing for us.

 

I just can see Cleverley fitting in to our style of play.. he likes to play short quick passes (go well with Westwood and Delph) he sprays a few long balls into channels (Gabby and Wiemann) and he will link up well with the big man when he returns. He works hard and presses well (something Lambert likes). He is basically a better version than what KEA was. I dont expect him to score 10 goals and have 10 assists.. that will depend on his role.. but i think it will be a positive move for him.

 

Time will tell

[maqroll]

I wonder if we will play Cleverley in an attacking role?

 

I know he is not supposed to be that type of player but Richardson was used a lot as a left back and wanted to play an attacking role and Lambert has let him. I just wonder if we'll see the same with Cleverley?

 

And I know it's only one fan here but still his thoughts are to push Cleverley forward.

Straight out of their door and through ours, I know, I know. Not a rude joke

 

I think he was used in more of an attacking role when on loan to Watford a while ago and had a scoring record of 11 goals in 33 games, so a ratio of 1 in 3 when pushed further forward, so that's possibly promising.

 

 

Excluding the goalkeeper, I think Lambert sees his team in three sections, -

 

Defence - Support - Threat

 

I think he does try to mix it up a little bit and expects them to all do their bit in each area but I think this would be a simplified way of looking at his tactics and why he sets us up in a 4-3-3 type formation.

 

This is why I wonder if when all are fit he might revert to what would be listed as 3-5-2 but basically have -

 

LCB SW RCB

DM

For Defence

 

LWB CM RWB

For Support

 

And

 

AM

LS RS

As his threat

 

I think, following the set up of positions I've mentioned

Guzan

Vlaar

Senderos

Okore

Sanchez

Hutton

         

Westwood

         

Cissokho

Delph

Benteke

Kozak

 

But simplified

 

Guzan

Senderos

Vlaar

Okore

Hutton

Delph

Sanchez

Westwood

Cissokho

Benteke

Kozak

 

Is what Lambert sees as his strongest line-up.

 

I think he may very well use Cleverley, Richardson and Bacuna as utility type midfielders.

 

N'zogbia, Cole and Grealish as creative options.

 

Keep Baker as what Lambert sees as a versatile defensive sub, in the sense he plays him in the centre and as full back

 

And ultimately give Weimann and Agbonlahor the feeling they need to compete for a place.

 

I think Weimann, N'Zogbia and Agbonlahor had been given a kick up the arse for the Hull game which is what they needed and fair enough they went for it.

 

This type of set-up creates competition for places in all the areas as well I think, and, if the performances are there, the names I've put in the first team, may be replaced by those I've written about in each specific area.

The top one looks like a Christmas tree with Guzan as the angel.

[8pints]

[maqroll]

I hope we play Clevs   in an attacking role, he seems to have an attacking instinct and the consensus is that he was misused at Man United by playing a holding role.