Manchester United have big problems in the middle of the park. While they made a super signing in the winter window, in the shape of Juan Mata, David Moyes didn’t manage to bring in a conventional central midfielder to improve the pace and precision of passing in the engine room.
We have said many times that we would sooner have Mata in an attacking midfield role, next to Carrick, than see him marooned on the flanks. But far be it for us to tell the Manchester United boss how to do his job. We wouldn’t dream of it!
So with that paucity of midfielders, many were surprised that Manchester United let Anderson leave in January. Anderson, known by some (us) as The Brazilian Terry Gibson for his arguably quite portly gait, didn’t get a huge number of games under Sir Alex either.
His fitness was regularly questioned and he seemed to run out of steam by the hour mark of games. But he was still a decent player to have in the squad and many would have him in the Manchester United team ahead of the beleaguered Tom Cleverley. The Guardian recently reported on those ridiculous suggestions that the lad was overweight:
In Rio Ferdinand’s pre-season tour diary of last summer, the defender and Patrice Evra joked about Anderson’s appetite and how the left-back would deliver burgers for him to eat.
His move to Fiorentina is officially a loan but his open letter to the supporters, on leaving for Italy, seemed terminal.
“It was a pleasure and a proud to be part of this tremendous club. I will never forget my great colleagues and friends, all the amazing people that work in the club and obviously the fantastic supporters, always on my side.
“Love you all and you always be in my heart. Wish you all the best because we always be together United family. Now I have to leave because I really need to play.
We really enjoyed watching him play when he got on the park. He always seemed to give it his all and add urgency to proceedings. But, overall, he arguably failed to deliver on a consistent basis in his time at Manchester United. So it’s understandable that the boss would want to get rid of him at the end of the season. But was it such a wise move to let him go in January, with no reinforcements brought in to an area of the park which desperately needs improvement?
It’s another questionable decision and, after a decent start in Italy, Anderson may yet come back to haunt Manchester United. Albeit, via a possible trip to N-Andows.
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Robert
Feb 15, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Its good for the player to go and get games at Fiorentina coz a manager like Moyes doesnt know what do do with talented injured players look how he bought Fellain who has nothing that can help United. Moyes ouuuutttt.