Manchester United's center forward Dimitar Berbatov has received some severe criticism for not being clinical in front of goal, and producing more goals, but people must realize that he offers more to the cause than just goals.
Sir Alex Ferguson was a long-time admirer of the Bulgarian before his big-money move to United on the final day last summer’s transfer window, and was seen as his missing puzzle piece.
The £30.75 million signing arrived from Tottenham because he wanted to play for a big club that competes every year for team honors.
Unjust
Berbatov was always going to be at the center of criticism, because the supporters felt that they already had a dynamic duo up top with Wayne Rooney and the since-departed Carlos Tevez.
But those two players were too similar for Sir Alex’s liking, and he thought that he needed something different, and Berbatov was his missing puzzle piece.
Both Tevez and Rooney like to drop deep, and be involved in winning the ball back, so playing the two of them together forced United to be without a target man.
When a player comes to one of the biggest clubs in the World he is going to feel the pressure – especially when he has the biggest price tag in their history.
The Bulgarian captain did not endure the best of seasons in his debut season, but he still contributed 14 goals and nine assists.
Should he have scored more goals last season? Of course, but he also does a things that do not show up in the stats columns, or noticed by most supporters or critics. The opposers saw that his contribution was too insignificant for a player who boasts the largest price tag in United’s history, and really it cannot be argued.
The footballing society is goal driven, and if a player does not score goals, he is seen as useless and worthless.
If the English Premier League kept stats like Major League Soccer does, Berbatov would have had at least double the amount of assists.
Goalden
Berbatov is more than just goals - he is the link up man between defense and attack, which is something that have not had since the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Before his arrival, United were forced to start their attack from the back, because neither Rooney nor Tevez were able to hold up the ball for the midfielders to join in.
A lot of critics think that he does not work hard, because he does not trackback as much as he should, but that is not why Sir Alex splashed the cash for him. Ferguson wants him to remain up top, and be the linking player for him.
But it’s also foolish to think that he does not come back and defend. He had to crucial defensive-clearing headers against Stoke City over the weekend. Against a team like Stoke, it was imperative for him to be back there because of their height.
Berbatov has one of the finest first touches in football, and rarely gives the ball away, and he will surely play his part in United’s success this season, and prove to the Old Trafford faithful that he is Manchester United quality.
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