EDWIN VAN DER SAR: At 39 he still proved agile, cool and dominant. No substitute for experience and the Dutchman steadied the ship superbly 8
BEN FOSTER: Had the world in his hands and he blew his opportunity. Could have been United and England No1 but error-strewn period wrecked it 5
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK: The Pole benefited from Foster's disappointing effort and produced some decent form but still not good enough to keep out Van der Sar 6
GARY NEVILLE: His illustrious Old Trafford career looked set to come to an end. Struggled with injury. Low point against Leeds in FA Cup but hit back strongly to justifiably win new deal 7
RAFAEL: Injury hit right-back position allowed him to develop. Measured progress but the young Brazilian suffered in the Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford when he looked vulnerable 7
WES BROWN: Late 2009 form won him a place for England and deservedly so but the Mancunian's susceptibility to injury reared ugly head again 6
JOHN O'SHEA: Stared season at right-back commandingly but dead leg injury playing for Ireland in November ruined his campaign 5
RIO FERDINAND: When he has played he has looked the business as one of the world's best but back and groin injuries have cost him dearly. 20 appearances is not a good return 7
NEMANJA VIDIC: Disappointing follow-up to his club Player of Year campaign in the previous term. Constant rumours of an exit. Has recaptured his solid form in the spring 7
JONNY EVANS: Started well then injury knocked him off track. When he returned he picked up decently then had some inconsistent displays 6
PATRICE EVRA: An outstanding consistent season. More appearances than anyone and during traumatic injury time for defence he was a stable factor 8
ANTONIO VALENCIA: The unassuming Ecuadorian had big boots to fill on right but his steady progress has impressed. Not a circus act but a straightforward winger. A solid start to a promising United career 7
DARREN FLETCHER: Has been the mainstay and first choice central midfield selection. The willing worker has been a dominant engine room force for the Reds 8
PAUL SCHOLES: Seven goals from 37 appearances couldn't have asked more from the veteran. Can't do it every week but he had a damn good go at it 8
DARRON GIBSON: A mini breakthrough for the Irishman. Sir Alex Ferguson has given him a few decent chances and he hasn't let him down. Provided a goal threat 6
MICHAEL CARRICK: Had a decent winter but in the spring has been criticised for too many giveaway passes and has slipped from the first choice XI 6
ANDERSON: Disappointing progress from the Brazilian. Eastlands semi-final was a let down and when he finally got back in injury wrecked it 5
JI-SUNG PARK: Cannot fault his effort and had a purple patch scoring goals against Arsenal, Milan and Liverpool but hasn't done enough to make him a regular 6
RYAN GIGGS: Not as good as he was last season but in patches the 36-year-old has justified his selection and you cannot argue with another 12-month contract 7
NANI: Typically frustrating early on but in 2010 he has been transformed. Suddenly we are seeing a dangerous more consistent winger 8
GABRIEL OBERTAN: New recruit last summer and hasn't had a great look in. Hit-and-miss but has the potential to become very useful addition 6
DIMITAR BERBATOV: Divides the Reds support. Occasionally brilliant but too often a peripheral and off-colour figure. Led line well on occasion but still an enigma 6
WAYNE ROONEY: Took up the Ronaldo-Tevez mantle fantastically and United would have been nowhere near runners-up without him and his 34 goals and inspiration. What a pity injury struck against Bayern Munich and his campaign faded 9
MICHAEL OWEN: Nine goals wasn't a bad return from 20 appearances but the gamble hasn't really paid dividends and cannot shake off his injury prone tag 6
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Not far off really. The only thing I would argue with is 'Rafael looking vulnerable against Bayern' - I thought he was fantastic, had ribery in his pocket and then had a rush of blood and showed his lack of experience. Could be the making of the lad though.
Yet another Berba-bashing column. For a guy who was given little opportunity or consistency in the first team, Berbatov did exceptionally well, particularly as he became the sacrificial lamb in Fergie's quest to shore up midfield deficiencies by using formations that placed an extra man in the engine room. All the criticism aimed at the Bulgarian should have been directed at midfielders like Carrick, whose poor play and inability to effectively link up with the forwards meant that Rooney and Berbatov (when played) had to constantly drop back for the ball rather than have it delivered to them.
Berba is an exceptional talent whose gifts are largely wasted at Old Trafford.
Further, all the talk about bringing in other strikers is simply a waste of time - what's the point in bringing in more players to warm the bench beside Berba, Owen, Macheda, Wellbeck, and the kid from Mexico the team has just signed? Until midfield issues are addressed Fergie will continue to play a solitary striker in most of the games, so if the second coming of Pele were to emerge at United it would make no difference whatsoever to the formation - all that would happen is that Rooney would get dumped on to the bench beside Berbatov!
Stuart, I must say that your season's ratings are a very fair reflection. You obviously have had time to ponder them. No controversy as far as I am concerned.
I understand that the ratings you publish throughout the Season are made immediately after the games, under pressure, in order to meet time schedules? This only goes to prove that you should not have been adversely criticised throughout the season!
United 'til I die!
Anderson was at least on par with Carrick. Or maybe the right thing to say would be: Carrcik was at least as bad as Anderson. Ando did well after a horrible game at Turf Moor.
He scored his first league goal at White Hart Lane and also did well in the Champions League group phase matches. Carrick also did well in the group phase of CL.
How Obertan's contribution is rated better is for me a strange thing. I think Carrick and Anderson were more important than Obertan, even though Obertan set up the cross for Scholsey's goal at Eastlands.
I'm backing Anderson to make a major return next season and win the support of the doubters yet again. His first two years proved there's enough there to expect great things from. Carrick however. Well one can only hope. At least he's in the world cup.
FOSTER - OVERRATED 4
NEVILLE - TOO OVERRATED 3
RAFAEL - UNDERRATED 8-9
RIO - TOO OVERRATED 4
VIDIC - UNDERRATED 8
FLETCHER - OVERRATED 6
OBERTRAN - OVERRATED 6
BERBATOV- OVERRATED 5
ROONEY - OVERRATED 7
----------
So - overrated mid and strikers !!!!
next season KATENACHO,
with Evra and Rafael strikers ????
Generally agree with these ratings apart from Evra who was inspirational IMO & deserves 9. Sadly Carrick had a catastrophic end of season & was hugely to blame for going out of the CL so he gets a 4.
''RAFAEL - UNDERRATED 8-9
FLETCHER - OVERRATED 6
ROONEY - OVERRATED 7
max iv (17/05/2010 at 10:32)''
So your saying Max that Rafeal this season was better than Rooney and Fletcher?!?!? Rooney led us to second with his goalscoring charts and Fletcher this season held up our midfield!! Rafael had a huge chance this year and immaturity got the better of him (Bayern) some of your arguement is right but especially these three are ludicrous!!
Rafael 6 = showed promise but lacked experience!
Fletcher 8-9 = hardest working player in the premiership and up there as first on our team-sheet!
Rooney 9 = great goalscoring form would have been 10 if he finished the season stronger!
Max try rating players a bit better next time!
I agree about your rate, but Rafael is much young to carry the fail in Champions because his inexperience. He'll have a lot to learn and he has a great career to give us reason to be happy. But for this season the rate is well.
How can you give Ferdinand a 7 and Evans a 6? Evans has had as good a season as Ferdinand; the first goal against Liverpool for example, although he was injured was not good defending by Ferdinand and was shrugged off the ball far to easily. I think thats slightly harsh on Evans. I would tend to agree with the rest.
Pretty much agree with these ratings. Giggs was worth his 7 till he broke his arm but since coming back I would only give him a 2. I blame SAF's insistance to keep on playing him as being the main reason for for failing to win a fourth in a row. I would also deduct another 1 from Carrick.
Can't really disagree with this assessment though I would have given Evra a 9 - Player of the Season for me. I think next season we have to find a way to blood some of the outstanding youngsters coming through. King and Keane in particular should be groomed for the near future and others like Devlin and Wooton have shown promise. Also youngsters like Tom Cleverley and Danny Drinkwater will be back after outstanding seasons out on loan. Obertan and Macheda will improve.
In terms of bringing in new (and expensive) recruits, I still think we need another goalscorer to take some of the pressure away from Rooney and a dominant midfield creator to replace Carrick could be key if we are to re-assert ourselves.
Good ratings - I would give Evans and Vidic an extra point - maybe Anderson as well given Gibson got 6. Maybe knock Fletcher down a point although he's been a vital player for us. Nice to see Evra and Scholes recognised for their outstandng contributions.
Rooney, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher & Nani (for 2nd part of season!!), my playersof season!!
I only ask we can get that 'other' striker next season and SHUT-UP the rentbots!!
Only 6 for Kuszczak !
What did he do wrong this season? He made saves when he supposed to.
And stop that nonsense about not being able to kick the ball well, that is an old story. He is much better at it then most of this board members at spelling his name.
I am not sure if he is the MU starting keeper caliber, but always better then Foster on a good day.
Poland has more good keepers right now then England since the WW II.
Agree with the season ratings....An acurate appraisal, can't find any faut.
Roll on next season!
Hope new signings will help us win another title
Agree with most of the ratings, except Neville's. He does not deserve a 7. He has been average at best.
Fletcher 6
Giggs 5
Rio 6
Scholes 7
Berbatov 7
[quote name=timbo59]Yet another Berba-bashing column. For a guy who was given little opportunity or consistency in the first team, Berbatov did exceptionally well, particularly as he became the sacrificial lamb in Fergie's quest to shore up midfield deficiencies by using formations that placed an extra man in the engine room. All the criticism aimed at the Bulgarian should have been directed at midfielders like Carrick, whose poor play and inability to effectively link up with the forwards meant that Rooney and Berbatov (when played) had to constantly drop back for the ball rather than have it delivered to them.
Berba is an exceptional talent whose gifts are largely wasted at Old Trafford.
Further, all the talk about bringing in other strikers is simply a waste of time - what's the point in bringing in more players to warm the bench beside Berba, Owen, Macheda, Wellbeck, and the kid from Mexico the team has just signed? Until midfield issues are addressed Fergie will continue to play a solitary striker in most of the games, so if the second coming of Pele were to emerge at United it would make no difference whatsoever to the formation - all that would happen is that Rooney would get dumped on to the bench beside Berbatov![/quote]
Excellent post.Earlier I mentioned that a solution is being sought for a problem that did not exist.
Like others, I don't agree that Rafael looked vulnerable in the Champions League quarter final. He picked up 2 stupid bookings through inexperience not vulnerability, but was probably man of the match until his early bath.
I'd go for 7.5!
Rafael is class
If this Gentleman is rating Fletcher, Shcoles, Gigs so high, it's mean Manch.United doesn't need of a creative midfielders. Do you think giving long passes to the right winger, is what they suppose to do? If they are so great, why SAF sacrifice Berbatov putting him deeper, instead further where he use to play all his carrier?
Berbatov rating same as Gibson? Carrick? Park? Obertan? M.Owen?
First 20 min. against Wolsburg(spelling) only one team was on the pitch-German.
Berbatov came on the field unlocked 3 times their defense, set up Carrick,Rooney, Valencia- none of them scored. Shall I give another examples?
The most consistent player was Valencia, and he is rated bellow Nani?
Rooney 9 , VDS , Evra , Fletcher, Valencia : all 8 Nani , Scholes , Vidic , Ferdinand , Rafael , Berbatov : 7 . Giggs , Park , Evans , Owen ,Macheda , Gibson 6 . Carrick , Oshea , Neville , Brown , Mami , Obertan 5 .
Neville the same as Valencia? Come off it. Neville was abysmal until a few appearances at the end of the season that were, at best, competent.
Valencia deservedly made the PL team of the year.
Also, Berbatov is a better player than any of our midfielders.
These are fair marks only except to say with Rooney. The lad had not
only a scoring breakout year but also rose to a level where he's being compared to the legends of the game, the Roonerator gets a 10!
Up the Reds!