GARY Neville is convinced Dimitar Berbatov can fire United to another Premier League title.
The United captain believes Berbatov is beginning to show why Sir Alex Ferguson was prepared to spend £30.75m to sign him from Tottenham.
The Bulgarian struck an injury time winner against Bolton on Saturday, which saw United move to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season.
And after Ferguson this week tipped his record signing to prove his worth in the title run-in, Neville is also certain Berbatov can prove United's talisman as they go for an unprecedented quadruple this season.
"Dimitar's performances in the last couple of weeks have been really impressive," said Neville. "He is starting to look fantastic in certain games and now he is winning us matches.
"In five games on the trot now, he has had an influence at big moments. That is what you want from your forwards."
Berbatov created Carlos Tevez' late winner against Stoke on Boxing Day and then scored the only goal of the game to see off Middlesbrough last month.
He was on target in the 3-0 win against Chelsea last week and also played a part in the build up to Wayne Rooney's first-minute strike against Wigan last Wednesday.
His impressive form is at last seeing him shake off unwanted comparisons with Juan Sebastien Veron, who proved such a big money flop at Old Trafford.
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Even Ferguson admitted this week that the striker was beginning to feel the weight of expectation over the size of his transfer fee.
"When you pay a lot of money for a player he inevitably comes under close scrutiny," he said. "It happened to Juan Sebastien Veron and Rio Ferdinand, and Dimitar has also suffered from the impatience of people when a new guy makes a big move.
"He has settled very well and I have the feeling that we are about to see the best of Berbatov."
That has certainly proved the case in recent weeks with United piling the pressure on title rivals Liverpool and Chelsea.
And Neville insists he is not surprised by the way United have eaten up the gap to move to the top of the table.
"We obviously had games in hand but they have to be converted into points," he said. "We were buoyed by the fact teams did not pull away from us while we were in Japan, since when we have got through some difficult games.
"It is really important to win matches when you are not at your absolute best. But no-one is running away with themselves. The hard work is still to do.
"Momentum is important but there are four months left yet. The biggest games are still to come.
"But considering the difficult start, with all those away games, and the travelling, we are happy with the position we are in."
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Gary "Manchester United" Neville... YOU ARE SPOT ON MATE, (as Sir Alex says "He brings something different up front") Rooney and Tevez each have plenty qualitys, both of them have incredible workrates too.... but Berbatov is slick, if you get my drift!!!
Berbas starting to show his class, But what about johnny Evans, been very impressive of late, see why they let Pique go, Rio Who!
Bit like playing with 10 men until he scores or makes a goal.All ofthis so called methodical play from United is hindering the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo. Have the coaching methods changed this season? If so,bring bak the old swashbuckling United.Far more entertaining!
David the Red, Toronto
you wouldnt be commenting on citys blog unless you were wound up. You're obviously irked by city's wealth and its hilarious. Keep on losing your rag you rag. Great entertainment!
"GARY Neville is convinced Dimitar Berbatov can fire United to another Premier League title."
Roy Keane said the same just before the start of the season.
Anybody else a fan of Wigan's Valencia? He would give us the option of playing Ronny upfront or more left wing work until Tosik gets up to speed. No way Wigan can hold on to him or Palascios. I'm a big fan of Berb and I'm convinced Fergie has another winner. What has happened to Anderson and Nani?
Berbatov is rubbish.
just because he has played the major part in winning the last 12 points, so what.
He should run about more, throw himself into reckless challenges, sneer and snarl at everything in sight.
1-0 v Stoke cross for winner.
3-0 v Chelsea two flick on's, one goal
1-0 v Wigan great pass put Ronaldo away for cross.
1-0 v Bolton goal.
Top draw quality, just the kind I like to see wearing th ebadge I love.
Always look on the bright side.
If we lose Tevez at the end of the season, has anyone thought about Didier Drogba? the blokes a bit of a tool but an awesome spearhead when his heart is in it. highly unlikely but just a thought
Your having a laff -
Whats his goal ratio - 3 in 15 or something like that -
Hes pathetic...tell you what though - swap him for vassel and think yourselves lucky -
We dont need Vass now cos were about to spend 107 million - yes thats right 107 for 1 player ... then the rest to follow...
As for a Blue Neville - well he would say that wouldnt he ..cos we all know hes a blue at heart....
Did I mention were the richest club on this planet ...silly me.. must not rub it in...why you ask..?
Cos your in 800 mill of debt...a ha ha h ah h ah /
ha ha h ah h ah ha ha h ah h ah
ha ha h ah h ah ha ha h ah h ah ha ha h ah h ah
control myself !! ok ..
Nuff said
Col Ontario
Anderson and Nani are suffering from second seasonitus, teams work them out and its up to them to improve, if they do not they will be shipped out. Mind you in Nani`s case he as not had the same opportunities this year like he had last year, but maybe thats because hes not doing it in training.
I agree Valencia a decent player and would be ideal when Ronny goes to Madrid in the summer, I think all the travelling to south america puts SAF off a little bit i think he finds it frustrating not knowing when thye are coming back
If he's so hot you won't be needed Tevez then will you, hand him over, his mate Zabaletta is missing him
Were any of you Berties around the last time city won a trophy?
Have you any special plans for your upcoming 33rd anniversary?
Just think, Berbatov will win more trophies this season than city have won since 1976. Buy your way out of that one!
great finish, when he gets in that 18 yard box hes a threat, does so much work with the ball and rarely loses it and hes started runnung and looks fitter.hes a class act and im glad we bought him.
You had me worried for a moment there, Sally. Anyone with any concerns about Berbatov, take the time to read the thoughts of the great Sir Bobby Charlton - a man who knows a thing or two about the striker's art:
"He (Berbatov) realises where he is now and it's big. You can eat, sleep and breathe this place when you're on that pitch. He potentially can be one of the great, great players. He has a touch and an awareness that are fantastic. He keeps people away from him so they don't interfere with his plan. He'll try impossible balls. The general run-of-the-mill pass isn't difficult. But he's a step further on. He works for you. You don't have to think. I'd have enjoyed playing with him, but I'd have been arguing with him. A lot. If you've got people running backward and forward and you're responsible [for them having to do it] it's not right. But he's learned. You're not allowed many mistakes, and you can't be casual. You can't be casual. I've criticised him, inside myself, and thought that for the money we paid for him we ought to be getting a little bit more. But you can see now where he's going."
"Berbatov is a one-off. First of all I was very critical of him, to myself, thinking, 'Look at that. As soon as he loses the ball he stops running and starts walking, as if to say "somebody else'll do it".' And I thought, 'He must be a good player if he can afford to do that'. It's been gradual. In these last few games I've understood his really great skill, his awareness, and his physical strength at holding people off. Not only that, when he passes he always makes it easy for you. He always gives it perfectly. Everything is so, so precise. Add to that, he's got his control and when he gets round the goal he wants to score. I've changed my mind since I first saw him. He's a massive talent. Really. And he's in the right place. If he can perform on a regular basis he's in the right place here because it's just what the fans here like and the people at Man United expect. He's frustrating sometimes. Instinctively I think if I've lost the ball I want to chase after it. I want to make up for the mistake I've made. Maybe like George Best you've got to accept him for what he is. Cantona had that arrogance. But he did his fair share of the work. I'd never complain about Cantona in that respect. He was sensational, and he had an influence. Given that bit of time and space that Berbatov seems to be finding now, he'll get better and better."
Bobby and Berba: class acts, both.
Berbatov is no Kaka thats for sure ,but in my opinion he adds another dimension to United.Any player coming into the Premiership from overseas needs some time to adjust .Evra ,Vidic,Jo, prime examples.The introduction of Kaka to City could be a good thing in some respect .It would guarantee full attendances at Eastlands,something that happens only rarely .He could be a role model for young players if he is as saintly as stated.On the other hand it could be a disaster. He will be a marked man just because of the price tag.No Champions League football until City finish in top 4 ,and if they did next season,as it aint going to happen this time around,then it would 2010-2011 season before Kaka graced the European scene for City.He is already UEFA CUP-TIED.The boo boys at City would have a field day if his performances fell off ,like for example Elano ,Dunne .City will draw the dislike, Chelsea,and United have had because of their respective spending on players ,and city will lose the "homely club"tag .Mark Hughes would almost have to guarantee success without doubt.Is it a price worth paying?Maybe,or maybe not .City fans crave success , a trophy being a distant memory,so who can blame them if a galactico like Kaka joins the Blues?
As for Berbatov,he will be an asset this season for United. is it mere coincidence that they are now at the Premiership summit with the Bulgarian playing for the Reds.
United:Team of choice for the majority of mancunians,
18/01/2009 at 20:22
In the words of Jim Royle.... My arse
@ Blue boy - When you can develop some literacy get back to us. Trying to read your material is almost as painful as watching your side play. For example, you continually made the mistake of putting in 'your' in place of 'you're'. You obviously don't know the difference, but try looking it up and learn something. You do City no favors when you hop on to forums and give them the reputation of having supporters with an IQ of 50.
United, team of choice, yet another Utd fan obsessed with City, how sad you are. A lot of you seem to think that most City fans are bothered about winning or not winning trophys. Its more of a social thing, for the ones that go anyway and some are even glad that City are out of the cups becase they can't afford to keep spending money that they haven't got.
If we get knocked out of the UEFA CUP in Denmark, part of me will be relieved because I won't have to spend more money going to Istanbul etc.
So most of us couldn't give a toss if its another 33 years as long as we keep turning up and having a talk and a laugh etc and I sugest that you stick to what you know best, clapping TV screens in pubs, ha, ha ,ha,ha,ha.
Berbatov is pure class! A good team player, brilliant
first tough control, good
finisher. To look at his play in just the last 5 months and make negative
comments as ones posted here
is not fair. Look at what
the man has done in the last
couple of years and what he's
poised to do in the next couple of years, then you'll
appreciate his quality. This
season he's not excelled, but
he has played well. Certainly his season so far
is better than Ronaldo's,
Drogba's, Ronaldinho's and
others, yet no one is wrting
these guys off. Give Berba
a chance, be patient and you
will see.
Up the Reds!
I'm absolutely sure Berbatov will become one of our most important players for years and he's pure class. Sir Alex said something very interesting the other day about Dimi. It's not only Berbatov who's got to get used to the team, the team has got to get used to Berbatov. Look at all those flicks and genius touches and imagine the day the players around starts running a little bit earlier, cause the expect the unexpected to happen when Berbatov get's the ball.
God, when will you dopey Blues learn. The Abu Dhabi guys have loaned you the money. It's not a gift. You are already £350m in debt and rising. Now that ADNOC are selling petrol at a loss I'm insisting on filling up the Merc with Abu Dhabi petrol rather than the normal Kuwaiti stuff. Every time I fill up it's another day closer to the demise of the second or third best team with Manchester in their name.
Berbatov is a waste of 30 million. Slow and brings nothing new. How many times was he slow in reacting to passes made by ronaldo? So he poaches a goal for us and everyone thinks he is great. I would rather keep Tevez than this guy. 4 goals from 30 starts says it all. And why oh why is Oshea still with us?????
A waste of money, you must be joking. Its not just goals he is bring but vital assists too. He's going to be a star for us.
Estatic that he is scoring goals now and his touch is tremendous, but from watching him play for spurs where he totally ran the show and scored more goals and actually had shots he has been quite disapointing so far for us.
Two assists against chelsea, try two mistimed headers, and the cross at stoke was a shot, so he's hardly been setting up tons of goals since he's joined our attack has been pathetic,30 million for a striker who doesn't shoot, as the commentators stated it was the first thing he'd done of note in the game, not good enough. I've watched games this season with him playing and he's not had one shot all game.
I am delighted at last that more and more fans are realizing the input to our Team that Berba gives. For the doubters - I will accept your apologies at Season's end! It was superb to be amongst our away fans at Bolton, the singing and encouragement to Berba and his Team mates was excellent, and we were rewarded at the end! Come on the rest of you United Fans -shout and encourage the lads, lay off moaning, we are top of the Premiership, be TRUE SUPPORTERS!!!