Obertan is hungry for more

November 27, 2009

GABRIEL Obertan is hoping for a Carling Cup hair of the dog to cure a European hangover.

The 20-year-old French winger emerged from United's Champions League disappointment with more satisfaction than most.

Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in his next generation wasn't rewarded against Besiktas as the young Reds flopped 1-0.

But once again £3m Obertan's raw contribution stood out.

His chance could come again next Tuesday night with the League Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Fergie kept faith with his kids all the way to Wembley and success in the final against Spurs last season. He is likely to be forced to stiffen the youthful ranks against Harry Redknapp's free-scoring side but Obertan looks set to get a reprieve.

"The Carling Cup is a good opportunity for players who haven't played much and I hope I can take it if I play next week against Tottenham," said Gabriel.

"It was a disappointing night against Besiktas. I really wanted to put in a good performance. I wanted to score and to lay on an assist and be efficient.

"I think I will have another chance and I will take it. I just want to be in the squad every game. Even a few minutes on the pitch is a bonus.

"I want to do more. I have not scored yet. I have not made an assist. I have put in some good performances but they've only been short appearances when I came on as a substitute. I want to do more than that. I think I could do more. That's what I am wishing for. I want to score and lay on goals. That is my target."

Obertan was an unknown arrival from Bordeaux during the summer and spent four months after joining the Reds overcoming a back injury.

Now he's closing in on full fitness.

"I don't think I am fully match fit yet. I worked hard for four months and did weights and running. I think I will be 100 per cent very soon," he said.

"I just need some more match rhythm. The more I play the more that will come. I just want some minutes to play."

Inevitably, being a right winger with a few tricks in his locker Obertan has drawn comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the French youngster dismisses that extra pressure.

"I am not Ronaldo's successor. I just try to be Gabriel Obertan," he added.

"There is no comparison for now. I have only been here for six months and I cannot do what he did in that time."

| Submit Comments | Comments (32) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Gilly, Belgium (27/11/2009 at 10:30)

Well done young man !

Bill Wirral (27/11/2009 at 10:47)

We want more too. Fantastic talent and great potential. At 20 years of age he is already showing what others of the same age and older have not got. An abundance of skill ability and class. I am sorry to say this but some of the other youngsters just haven't got it at all. Good players they may be but once the comparisons have been made with the class of 92 and other outstanding players that have emerged over the years they are long overdue their move on time.

Scholsey passed me the ball..., England (27/11/2009 at 10:48)

He looks ok.

palomablanca, manchester (27/11/2009 at 11:01)

Gabriel will grow & mature into one of the Premier Leagues shining lights , So long as we don't expect a quick fix,And please don't compare him to CR7,He is Gabriel Obertan

RedHeart (27/11/2009 at 11:05)

Great potential. Hope he continues to develop. Good on you lad.

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (27/11/2009 at 11:08)

Probably hungry for human flesh.

Have you seen the original version of The Hills Have Eyes?

stevi, france (27/11/2009 at 11:21)

He is saying the right things and he looks like he has the protential but still a long way to go........its still work in progress at the moment.

Ronaldo 7, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 11:24)

Obertan will be a star! I'm sure of it. He was the one shining light in Wednesday's disappointing game, and I for one have been excited by his performances so far. I wish him all the luck, and I really hope he hits the heights of a certain bloke from Portugal! Saying that Ronny, i'm missing you a lot. You don't often get to watch the world's best player week in week out, but we did with Ronaldo, and he has left a massive gap where he was. For once I don't really criticise SAF for not replacing him, because in my opinion it is impossible to replace Ronaldo. There isn't another player that comes close. But Obertan is raw and he has all the tallent in the world. If any player can make it to Ronny's level it will be Obertan, and with SAF's help I have no doubt he will reach such heights and success. Good luck my friend, i'm behind you all the way!

david allen (27/11/2009 at 12:12)

But will he be as good as Park!!!!!!!????????

DonR (27/11/2009 at 12:58)

seems pretty good but wednesday showed a couple of obvious weaknesses. despite his pace he has a lack of movement off the ball. also when he loses the ball he tends to throw his eyes to heaven rather than work back for the ball. this is clearly what he needs to work on as his technique and balance on the ball are superb.

bobbydazzler (27/11/2009 at 13:05)

he has ability but he has something sadly lacking in some of our other younger players awareness and he usually makes the right decision something that they need drumming in the others.

Bill Wirral (27/11/2009 at 13:35)

Awareness bobbyd is a nutural gift which separates the good and the very good and I agree this lad has that too.

DonR; I dont think there is much to worry about at the moment after all he has only just started and is already way ahead of some others.

Rounders@united, Budapest (27/11/2009 at 13:37)

he will be the surprise of the new year..he cannot replace ronaldo just because ronaldo is ronaldo and nobody can be like him

Southern Red (27/11/2009 at 14:03)

I almost agreed with boddydazzler 13:05 until I read his comment again and realised I didn’t fully understand what he was trying to say.

My view on Obertan is that he makes the right decision more often than Park, Nani or Welbeck. He is quick, a good crosser and skilful dribbler. When he puts his head down and runs at opponents he has the look of Giggs about him (no, I’m not comparing them, just noted certain similarities!).

Judging from his comments above, it sounds as though he has a sensible attitude. Early days but shows promise.

Duncan, London (27/11/2009 at 14:52)

BD it can only be good for Welbeck to have someone like Obertan showing that awareness. He is young enough to learn and improve. Don't be writing the youngsters so soon. I thought you'd learnt your lesson;)

Middleton Red , Manchester (27/11/2009 at 15:18)

From what i've seen off him he looks like he good become a good player, looking forward to seeing more of him play.

bobbydazzler (27/11/2009 at 15:25)

my grammar is obviously not up to much and i apologise for that. what i was trying to say was that if the simple pass is on obertan will know it take it and then deliver it well. whereas some of the others don't see it and when they do deliver it badly. to me that inate ability that he posseses is something that sets him apart.

bobbydazzler (27/11/2009 at 15:27)

duncan

i was not criticising the kid ( wellbeck)i think he has the makings of a good un, i would like to see the kids brought in in 2's at the most an blood them with some of our senior players . imho it was crazy to throw so many kids in at the deep end.

DonR (27/11/2009 at 16:25)

bobbyd you're correct about not throwing too many kids on their own. however last wednesday we had neville, brown, vidic and park - not to mention foster who is 26 (i think). brown and vidic did quite well but neville was poor (in fact his inclusion meant rafael was pushed into an unnatural position for him) and park gives very little in an attacking capacity. so if anything we would have been better with fewer senior players!! also for those criticising welbeck - yes i agree his decision making isn't the best right now but this lad has something special.

DUB RED, CLONDALKIN (27/11/2009 at 17:09)

From the glimpses ive seen so far i would be happy to let Nani go and throw Obertan in.T&C has defended Nani for a long time and i agreed with him when he said Nani is always close to doing something special but it does not come off for him the effort is there.But i think the most hardened Nani fan can still fight his corner what frustrates me more is we bring this french lad no one has heard of with no real experience and straight away he looks like he can settle into the side creates a good understanding with his teamates Evra especially.

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (27/11/2009 at 17:10)

i hope Belliobertan makes it at Utd, god we need someone but i just don't see it. i've nailed my colours to the mast & so stand by them. It's just my opinion.

He looks ok at the moment, promising even but i find it amazing that some folk are so convinced he's the new mesiah, based on a few sub performances & 90 mins in the worst TEAM performance for a long time.

Fact is, nobody knows if he'll make it or not. What i do know is he's at one of the biggest 5 clubs in the world, where the best is demanded/expected !!

btw, i wonder if sigourney Weaver is his agent ? ;)

boyfromburrenway, exile czech republic (27/11/2009 at 17:46)

Looks promising so far.few times last weekend he had acres of space behind the full back and laid it off when i thought we were going to see that famed speed.hope he doesnt get too hyped and crash. gibson for me looks slow and clumsy , welbeck is a mixed bag and macheda looks to have a bit of an attitude problem looks a right moody git- hes really got to take his chances- can see macheda or gibson getting loaned out.

cant be arsed to mention Park ever again... on second thought park is still park. more miss than hit but a real trier.

Will from ireland, Midlands (27/11/2009 at 18:28)

Looks promising, but the one reservation I have about Obertan is a lack of composure on the final ball, whether a shot or a cross.

The first time he played for us he snatched at a shot inside the box when he had more time, and I've noticed the same thing with his crosses. For instance, in the dying minutes on Wednesday night, after leaving his marker for dead on the right, he lashed his cross against the first defender, when he had time to look up and pick someone out.

He seems an intelligent bloke though, and very self-critical, so he's probably aware of his weaknesses and willing to work on them.

tooth&claw, manchester (27/11/2009 at 19:20)

DUB RED, CLONDALKIN, Obertan was well known to some of us. He was a hot property when assigned to PSG and Clairefontaine. He has starred at youth tournaments and in youth internationals. He was fast-tracked to break in to the French senior squad as cover for Henry. All that happened since is that he signed for Bordeaux and shortly after breaking into the side he got his injury, which manifested itself as a persistent calf problem but was actually his back. Several misdiagnoses later SAF picks him up at a fraction of his worth as a pet challenge (SAF likes difficult players) and lo and behold our medics spot the problem immediately in the medical. Three months rehabilitation and he's pushing for a first team place at the best club in the world. Something he probably would have already achieved had we been successful in signing him in his pre-Bordeaux days. He's certainly not an unknown quantity to the United management; just to the majority of fans.

On Nani, maybe United is too big a club for him. Maybe he doesn't have the right mentality. Only those who work with him on a daily basis will know for sure.

At a slight tangent, I'm expecting a bit of a clearout by the end of the season to make more room for a special crop of kids coming through. I could see Nani and maybe even Anderson being caught in that. I think we have such a strong pipeline that, if we win the league, SAF may just dismantle the side and rebuild based on youth as his final hurrah! I think within a couple of years we may well be talking about Welbeck, King, Petrucci, Pogba, McGinty, Obertan, Morrison, Fornasier, Hussain, Massacci, Cleverley, Eikram, Norwood and Zieler forming the basis of the first team squad with the best of what we currently have like Rooney, Evans, Foster, the twins, Fletcher and Carrick, etc.

DUB RED, CLONDALKIN (27/11/2009 at 21:01)

T&C agree totally about the clearout for me Nani Gibson are 2 i dont believe will ever make the grade at OT.Scholes Giggs and Neville VDS have limited game time left so the door is open for a lot of the young lads you have mentioned.Hopefully Diouf and the young Serb and Brazilian CH coming in January can add to that mix as well the future is certinally bright.Anderson i think will get a new contract we have seen some potential and might just do enough to justify another 4 years the main worry is recouping the large investments made on himself and Nani.SAF has a nack of being able to build a player up and Gibson is a prime example without really doing anything he is a international player with CL experience rumours on this side of the waters are Villa are preparing a 5 million pound bid in january as O Neill looks to offload Reo Coker which would be a great deal for United.

()

Report

Manchester United