Dimitar Berbatov’s campaign could be shaped by Sir Alex Ferguson’s Euro selection against Rangers.
Amazingly, the Bulgarian hasn’t played an unbroken sequence of more than four matches since his first two months as United’s £30.75m club record buy in 2008.
That first burst of eight games on the trot yielded five goals for Berbatov.
They included four Champions League goals against Aalborg and Celtic.
And his European early tally promised much.
But he ended his debut season on the bench in the Champions League final in Rome against Barcelona and last season he started just the one European match all season against CSKA Moscow in Russia in the group stage.
And his Euro influence had turned sour.
Spearhead
That has been down to the switch to the one-man spearhead and five-man midfield favoured in the Champions League by Fergie with Wayne Rooney being the lone striker.
The knock-on effect for Berbatov is that he’s not had that continuous run of matches to get his teeth into.
This season he has started all three Premier League matches and is winning over his large band of critics.
The 29-year-old has scored twice and has been an eye-catching influence on the Reds.
When the league season starts again after the Euro 2012 qualifiers he looks a nailed on starter against Everton at Goodison a week on Saturday.
But three days later United’s Champions League campaign starts against Scottish Champions Rangers at Old Trafford.
Will that two-year elusive five-matches on the bounce escape him again and fragment his impressive early start?
Ex-Reds striker Andy Ritchie is a committed Berbatov supporter and he believes a run for Dimitar could be the key.
“I have always been a Berba fan. You will never have heard criticism of him from me,” Andy told M.E.N. Sport.
“You never know what the manager has up his sleeve regarding selection and that’s how it should be.
“But from Dimitar’s perspective it would be great for him to get a few matches unbroken under his belt. There is no doubt that has to be a factor.
Cantona-esque
“You need consistency in your game and to help get that you want to be playing match after match. To have breaks thrown in, they must have a big bearing.
“At the moment you cannot see him not playing and, for his sake, I hope that continues.
“He is a class act and brings the Cantona-esque factor to United’s game that I don’t think we have had for a while – possibly since Eric’s era.
“He holds the ball up so well, sees a pass and links play. For me it is also reminiscent of Jimmy Greenhoff at Old Trafford.
“In my young days at the club Jimmy and Stuart Pearson were up front and I tried to get both of their styles in my games.
“I particularly looked up to Jimmy. His control was superb, he too could pick a pass out and he scored goals as well. I think Dimitar is very similar.”
Berbatov’s two-season Old Trafford goals statistics read 14 in his debut term and 12 last.
But Ritchie is convinced that haul is about to grow.
“I actually thought that last season Berba was very, very unlucky in front of goal,” added Andy.
“Yes some of it maybe was bad finishing but on the whole I thought he had a lot of bad luck.
“More good fortune and he would have been easily into the 20s and nobody would have been moaning about him.
“But he has been in the 20s twice in England with Spurs and I think he can reach those kind of figures again.
“I have no doubts that he is a 20-odd goal a season striker in the Premier League.
“Although Dimitar is Mr Cool personified on the outside you just wonder how much an affect coming to a club like Manchester United has had on him.
“I think the enormity of it has possibly played on his game. But I think he is through that now.
“After two seasons you have to say this is an important one for him. But I am confident the way he has started he’ll have a lot more people singing his praises this year.”
Will Berbatov be United's main man this season? Have your say.
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sensible talk from a true football man. andy is incidentally ranked in the top five of baldheaded players since records began in 1946. only sir bob nobby john metgod and wayne are higher. zidane doesnt count as he had lots of soft downy hair in the middle. think waynes hot and cold form could be down to insecurities about his locks,if he grew it like sir bob or terry nutkins i think he would be a lot more consistent and attract more birds. hope berba is not sacrificed when we play a decent team, need a system that we can play whoever the opposition, come on phelan sort it.[incidentally burnley barm is in top 25 of bald coaches in the greater manchester area since records began in 2004, the guy from irlam catholic is number1]
Berba is a class player and I'm glad we've got him in our squad. If he keeps getting starts and scoring it will build up that confidence that he seemed to be lacking in previous seasons. I've never doubted his talent for a second and agree he has had some terrible luck in front of the goal. I don't normally approve when anyone is compared to Le God because he was unique but in this instance I'll allow it.
A superb player.
So unfair how much flak he has copped from the media - especially when a player from another club/project not too far away, who commanded a record british transfer fee, has been such an unmitigated, embarrassing and expensive disaster.
Mind you, one club is interesting to the world and one club/project isn't.
Watch his shiiiiiine this season...at home and abroad..
Can't actually wait for these flippin Euro Qualifiers to be out the way..
Everton (A) Hard game and will settle for a point
Rangers (H) 3 points and a spanking for ruining OUR CITY!!
Liverpool (H) 3 points and a 3-1 win pleease!!!
LIVE THE DREAM SUPPORT THE TEAM!!!!
Berbatov is ready to roll, I have always been a fan of Berba's and even do I had issues with him near the end of last season when he failed to deliver I ahve always backed him adn hoped he would show he belongs here at the worlds biggest football club and now that time has come. Berba has been on fire and long may it continue as I can see him getting over 20 goals this season as he helps us reclaim our premier league title and maybe even win the champions league again.
the strike force of Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda and Chicharito is un-rivaled by any other in the league and will score us goals though the season as we take back our premier lge championship and there is nothing Chelsea, london FA or the referees can do about it as we are bring our title home to the 'Theatre of Dreams' Old Trafford, home of the worlds biggest,most famous and best supported locally and worldwide football club Manchester United.
WE WANT OUR TITLE BACK.
Finally Berba is playing up to his transfer fee. More of the same please.
Queiroz found guilty of disrupting drug testing. Must have got the idea from Ferdinand! - No wonder he is never fit. Certainly not fit to be England captain
everyones quaking in there boots.
This will be Berbatovs year and he will shine!! He has already scored 2 goals in 3 matches so I am expecting more fireworks from him in the next match against Everton and then again when Utd play Rangers.
As the citeh lumps say he is no way a Berba folp just class
Berba can do sumthing great this term.
He is the man, his quality will be clear for everyone this season.
BELIEVE
there's no news.
next week we'll see articles on Carrick, Park and Rooney, who will probably be unable to score tomorrow due to no service again from MU hating midfielders.
he did not get a single good chance at the WC. I think he doesn't care about England.
All players need to be fed confidence, especially forwards. Berbatov is a fine player
but he needs the fans to follow the team and management by supporting him.
Too much negative bashing of the lad, I don't see why. Rooney just went 13 games
without scoring and no one was bashing him! In England it seems fans just believe any
rubbish written in the papers. The papers wouldn't exist if they didn't print rubbish,
actual news doesn't capture folks imaginations like in the old days, hence Berbatov
stories and ridiculous speculation. As evidenced this year, Berbatov is a great United
player, he passes beautifully, nice movement, assists and goals, can't beat that!
Up the Reds!
Cantona-esque?? thats disrespectful to Eric, this guy is good but nowhere near Le god.
Queiroz has had a six month ban for impending anti-dope tests. Was he on something when he reccomended Baby?
I am delighted that he has started the season so well, as I have championed his cause from the off. The comparison with Cantona was as unfair as Nani's to Ronaldo.
Cantona was a footballing icon for us reds, rivalled only by Best. That his arrival triggered the rebirth of our success, added to his inimitable presence, ensured him a legendary status that few, if any, players will ever again enjoy. And Ronaldo was a phenomenom for us in footballing terms, a player beyond the realms of most mortals, placing unfair pressure on Nani.
Nonetheless, Berbatov's talent is supreme, and his ability DESERVES a stage such as OT. As long as he continues to grow in form and confidence, we have on our hands one of the most gifted footballers in the world.
Paul, Whalley Range
berba is very deceptive..he,s actually slower than he looks
Home to Rangers I imagine he'll start with both Berbatov and Rooney up top. Away to Everton may be the game he misses out on, but i dont think SAF will leave him out when he's in good form. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal, he gets the chances in games but doesnt take them, he was 'lashing' at a lot last season, I expect with increased confidence we'll see this change and hopefully witness a few more goals like Saturday.
Jimmy Greenoff was a class act, a legend at OT. I loved the guy who can forget his winning goal against the scousers at Googison Park in 1979. The celebration was unforgettable. I still get shivers down my spine when I think about it. Berba can also scale those heights. Berba, Cantona and Greenoff. It's why we pay our money!
Excellent and well thought out comments from a true football man and a committed Red.
DB has found his feet at last. We need to evolve a system of play around a guy who can play like him. He is an enigma for sure, that's what I like about him! He is an unconventional football player. We have always done well when we have accommodated such talent. It is time for SAF to solve this puzzle. Personally I don't want to see 4-5-1 as a main tactic in games. There are certain teams we play when that is good sense. There are lots of teams where 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 are better options tactically.
It is important that we are able to vary our style of play in games. DB gives us more options and more unpredictability. Teams get wise to a system and know how to play it.
Germany taught us that lesson in the World Cup. DB gives us more creativity and less predictability. He seems to have had a rethink about his game in the off season. He has added some industry to his artistry. I hope that continues. It was a justifiable criticism last season.
We only named 24 players in the Premier League squad and one of those is Hargreaves.
By January we should know if he is going to make a comeback or not. So potentially that leaves us with two places to fill in the January Sales. We may get better options on players at less inflated values, than we would in the Summer Madness. Hopefully we can buy some replacements for certain players then, and have a few months to play them into the side. That sounds like Sir Alex to me.
word coming from portugal saying that Bebe scored a hat-trick in mondays training session with the U21's and impressed his team mates with his imagination and ability, including 3rd goal where with his back from goal sitting on the floor from a challenge Bebe dinked the ball up with his right foot and fired it into the far corner gaining applause from his team mates. listening to people who knows Bebe, seeing some footage and reading on him, it is safe to say we have a star here (www.redforcerising.net).
my opinon on berbatov has been well documented on this site the player is pure class he stands alone in a average united squad as regards a player who like cantona can take your breath away if the blinkered morons who abuse him could see further than his work rate they would see a world class genius along ronaldo cantona and yes even veron not able to make it in the pace of the premier league does not mean you are a bad player forlan robben reyes prime examples give him a chance before we make anothe stupid mistake and loes him
At the time of the signing ,and the city interest in the player who wanted him also,hes been labelled a flop constantly.Not so in my opinion .a League title whilst on the Reds books,and not always a regular in the team.He is a class player ,and this season could be the real deal for Berba.Now when you think of real flops lets consider Robinho,Santa Cruz,Jo,for instance ,nearly £70 million splashed out by our less than illustrious neighbours on these guys and nothing to show so far for the outlay.