A Gentle Reminder

By: Taylor Rockwell | September 24th, 2008

I listen to several different football podcasts and try to read as much about the beautiful game as possible (while trying not to get fired from my other job that actually pays me money). In the past few days I have noticed a disturbing trend in the coverage of Manchester United’s newest player, Dimitar Berbatov. So, here is a quick reminder to all United fans whose nails have been chewed to the quick listening to pundits bash the £30.75 million signing:

This man….

and this man…

ARE NOT THE SAME PLAYER!

I have yet to hear any one actually make this comparison, but as I watched Berba struggle to score (whilst helping Kalou knock one in), I kept finding myself worrying that the signing that was supposed to right the ship could be the one that puts the final hole in the hull. Visions of Deigo Forlan, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Veron, and David Bellion flashed through my brain, and I felt the unmistakable urge to bash my head against the keyboard a few times.

Then I snapped out of my overly dramatic fit and remembered a few things.

1) It has only been two games.
2) Those two games were against Liverpool and Chelsea
3) Both games were played away
4) Berbatov figured in the Liverpool match before his apparent knee knack
5) Those guys all sucked
6) Berbatov is really f-ing good

Every debut can’t be Rooney vs. Fenerbahçe. Indeed, it is much more commonly the rule rather than the exception that a new player struggles to find his place in an already established squad. Berbatov wasn’t signed as soon as last season ended. He wasn’t signed before preseason started. He wasn’t signed before the summer trip to Africa. He wasn’t signed before the start of the season. Dimitar Berbatov was signed at the last possible minute before our crosstown rivals could snatch him up.

He spent the beginning of the season a man apart at Tottenham, without any significant first team match experience. Now we expect him to suddenly come in after one of the most turbulent transfer sagas of the summer and light our squad on fire? It just isn’t going to happen. At least, not in his first two games against two of our most hated rivals (who also happen to be two of the top teams in the world). Berbatov is a world-class finisher, as has been proven countless times during his tenure in the Premier League. Even a top class player, however, is going to go through an adjustment period. But when our new number 9 does find his form (and mark my words, he will), the opposition had best look out… and Bolton, I’m glancing hungrily in your direction.