The man is so good, he leaves fans speechless at his ability. The way he effortlessly controls a travelling football, the elegance in the way he turns, the quick and powerful he moves with the ball and the beauty and accuracy with which he scores - Dimitar Berbatov is an unbelievable talent. I’m not a person who is ever lost for words, but Berbatov renders me in such a way. He is, put simply, brilliant. Perhaps it’s the team he plays for that enhances his aesthetic qualities. Tottenham sometimes struggle. There are no other players in the Spurs side to match Berbatov on his day. Perhaps if Berbatov was at Man Utd then he wouldn’t look as good as he does in the Spurs team. To claim this, however, is severely clutching at straws.
Berbatov’s four strikes in the disgusting glut of goals at White Hart Lane in December against Reading showed us all what we had come to realise but had doubted this season. You can say what you like about his attitude or his body language. Frankly, when he plays like this, who cares? Yes, he may want to leave to go to a bigger club. Yes, he may be a tad uncooperative. But, having watched him, can any manager in the world say they would not want him in their side? Lets look at the front two of the top four clubs in England. First up, Man Utd have Tevez and Rooney, two supremely gifted players, who I would say Berbatov is on a par with. Back those up with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the three best players in the world right now and you have a formidable strike force. Still, Berbatov would get into the Man Utd side, even if just to make up numbers. Arsenal have Adebayor and Robin van Persie. Both are good, if not great, players. Berbatov is better than both. He is also better than Shevchenko at Chelsea and Kuyt or Crouch at Liverpool. Berbatov would get into any Premier League side in a heartbeat, with the slight exception of Man Utd.
Yet, speaking as a neutral and not a Spurs fan, it would be a shame to see him leave Tottenham in January, should the predators come calling. Berbatov is a rare jewel - a world class player, outside the top four. You can argue till the end of the world that Berbatov is too good for Spurs, that he will leave to win the trophies he deserves. But, at the end of the day, not many people would want to see him strengthening the already intimidating strike forces of the big four, thus widening the gap between them and the rest of the Premier League. You just have to hope that Berbatov is not among the generation of greedy footballers who will hold a club to ransom and then leave anyway, ala Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole. These types of players are the ones who are loved by their fans and who express an affection for the club… before a better offer comes in and suddenly they ‘just can’t refuse it’. With any luck, Berbatov may realise that he is absolutely adored at Tottenham and that with his help, they could be a good side again come the end of this season or the next one.
Or he could leave. Join Man Utd and be rotated alongside their other strikers. Fade slightly as he not allowed to make the same kind of impression that he made week in week out at Tottenham. Rest assured, Berbatov’s career will not necessarily progress for the better should he join a bigger club. It could stagnate, like the fortunes of the aforementioned Michael Carrick. Carrick was never a player of Berbatov’s class, but he was at a very high level and left Spurs just as they, and he, were on the verge of possible success. Promising England star, the rock of the Tottenham midfield, Carrick was riding on the crest of a wave. A big money move to Man Utd now sees him behind the likes of Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Gareth Barry in the queue for an England place. He has faded. It may come from the fact that Utd have better midfielders than him such as Scholes, Hargreaves, Anderson, and Giggs. Carrick could have done so much at Spurs but he went for the money and it hasn’t necessarily payed off 100%. Sure there was a title win but look at him as a player. I fear for Berbatov and can only hope he isn’t receiving the same advice given to Carrick at that time.
If Berbatov is to stay at Spurs for at least the end of this season, then all credit to him. He could be a legend at Spurs, if he really wants to be and it would be a victory for the Premier League, if a team like Spurs were able to beat the top four. Berbatov’s future aside, let us all stand and admire. His performance today illustrated why he is worthy of many a standing ovation. He is a player who not only brings the crowd to their feet, he leaves them gasping with astonishment. How many players can we say do that everyday in modern football?
Berbatov’s four strikes in the disgusting glut of goals at White Hart Lane in December against Reading showed us all what we had come to realise but had doubted this season. You can say what you like about his attitude or his body language. Frankly, when he plays like this, who cares? Yes, he may want to leave to go to a bigger club. Yes, he may be a tad uncooperative. But, having watched him, can any manager in the world say they would not want him in their side? Lets look at the front two of the top four clubs in England. First up, Man Utd have Tevez and Rooney, two supremely gifted players, who I would say Berbatov is on a par with. Back those up with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the three best players in the world right now and you have a formidable strike force. Still, Berbatov would get into the Man Utd side, even if just to make up numbers. Arsenal have Adebayor and Robin van Persie. Both are good, if not great, players. Berbatov is better than both. He is also better than Shevchenko at Chelsea and Kuyt or Crouch at Liverpool. Berbatov would get into any Premier League side in a heartbeat, with the slight exception of Man Utd.
Yet, speaking as a neutral and not a Spurs fan, it would be a shame to see him leave Tottenham in January, should the predators come calling. Berbatov is a rare jewel - a world class player, outside the top four. You can argue till the end of the world that Berbatov is too good for Spurs, that he will leave to win the trophies he deserves. But, at the end of the day, not many people would want to see him strengthening the already intimidating strike forces of the big four, thus widening the gap between them and the rest of the Premier League. You just have to hope that Berbatov is not among the generation of greedy footballers who will hold a club to ransom and then leave anyway, ala Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole. These types of players are the ones who are loved by their fans and who express an affection for the club… before a better offer comes in and suddenly they ‘just can’t refuse it’. With any luck, Berbatov may realise that he is absolutely adored at Tottenham and that with his help, they could be a good side again come the end of this season or the next one.
Or he could leave. Join Man Utd and be rotated alongside their other strikers. Fade slightly as he not allowed to make the same kind of impression that he made week in week out at Tottenham. Rest assured, Berbatov’s career will not necessarily progress for the better should he join a bigger club. It could stagnate, like the fortunes of the aforementioned Michael Carrick. Carrick was never a player of Berbatov’s class, but he was at a very high level and left Spurs just as they, and he, were on the verge of possible success. Promising England star, the rock of the Tottenham midfield, Carrick was riding on the crest of a wave. A big money move to Man Utd now sees him behind the likes of Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Gareth Barry in the queue for an England place. He has faded. It may come from the fact that Utd have better midfielders than him such as Scholes, Hargreaves, Anderson, and Giggs. Carrick could have done so much at Spurs but he went for the money and it hasn’t necessarily payed off 100%. Sure there was a title win but look at him as a player. I fear for Berbatov and can only hope he isn’t receiving the same advice given to Carrick at that time.
If Berbatov is to stay at Spurs for at least the end of this season, then all credit to him. He could be a legend at Spurs, if he really wants to be and it would be a victory for the Premier League, if a team like Spurs were able to beat the top four. Berbatov’s future aside, let us all stand and admire. His performance today illustrated why he is worthy of many a standing ovation. He is a player who not only brings the crowd to their feet, he leaves them gasping with astonishment. How many players can we say do that everyday in modern football?
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