REALLY TEVEZ? REALLY? SERIOUSLY?

By: Taylor Rockwell | July 30th, 2009

Cheers to Colin for pointing this one out, but The Spoiler put up a post discussing Carlos Tevez’ love of first team football. Only the exact opposite.

When asked in an interview about his feelings regarding the plethora of strikers currently employed by Citeh, the former United player stated, “When you are at a top club with top players you understand that a big squad is needed and you won’t play every game.” Really? You realize that, do you? Cause… uh… really?

I can’t think of a player in recent memory who (for me) has gone from beloved to absolutely despised. Tevez was the epitome of everything United fans love: hard work, passion, and a love of the badge. Now? He’s essentially admitting that he’s a hired gun. I know it isn’t wise to write posts when you’re emotional, but seriously? You left one of the top clubs in Europe because you didn’t see enough of the pitch. You publicly stated your only desire was to find a team that could guarantee first team football. And then you sign for Citeh, along with 4000 other strikers? And now you’re okay with not playing all the time? Seriously?

Couple these statements with his erroneous accusations that Ferguson never spoke to him…. ever… and you start to wonder if Tevez lives his life in a tiny bubble. “I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time. The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina. It doesn’t seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club. It doesn’t seem there is a line of communication.”

Some in the football community found these comments rather harsh, especially since they pretty much contradicted everything he had been saying previously. And now he doesn’t care about first team football?

Look, I understand why he wanted to go. I don’t really disagree with his decision (plus, it affords me the opportunity to contemplate buying an Owen jersey). However, in the time since his departure, he has burned every bridge possible (adding a bit of kerosene in some places).

Nevertheless, he still feels that United fans love and appreciate him. “They were very supportive of me, and they will always be close to my heart. I hope I will get a good reception, because I am very fond of them and we had a good understanding.” My guess is that, when United meet Citeh for the first time next season (at Old Trafford on September 20th), he’ll get a “good” reception. Not exactly the warm, friendly, love fest he’s hoping for, but a reception nonetheless.

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Shazback

Tevez last season started 18 Premier League matches, 4 CL matches, 3 FA Cup matches, 5 Carling Cup matches, 2 Club World Cup matches, the Super Cup and the Charity Shield. That's 34 starts. He came on as a substitute in 11 Premier League matches, 5 CL matches and one Carling Cup match. That's 17 substitute appearances. For a grand total of 51 matches.

Berbatov last season started 25 Premier League matches, 5 CL matches and 2 FA Cup matches. That's 32 starts. He came on as a substitute in 2 PL games, 4 CL games and 1 FA Cup game. That's 7 substitute appearances. For a grand total of 39 matches.

Tevez and Berbatov both got their chances. And... Berbatov was actually better at taking his when they mattered.

Premier League scoring ratio: Tevez (2008/09): 1 goal per 372 min; Berbatov (2008/09): 1 goal per 282 min.
Champions' League scoring ratio: Tevez (2008/09): 1 goal per 326 min; Berbatov (2008/09): 1 goal per 129 min.
Domestic Cups scoring ratio: Tevez (2008/09): 1 goal per 113 min; Berbatov (2008/09): 1 goal per 210 min.

Even more damning... Man U played better when Berbatov was on the pitch. Berbatov's winning percentage: 77% in the PL, 67% in the CL and 67% in Cups. Tevez's? 72% in the PL, 42% in the CL and 60% in Cups.

I would have loved to see Tevez stay, but he wasn't unreasonably pushed out of the team last season. 2007/08 saw Man U get 87 points in the league, whilst 2008/09 saw Man U get 90 points. In 2007/08 Man U were knocked out in the QF of the FA Cup, in 2008/09 Man U got to the Semis. In 2007/08 Man U were knocked out in the second round of the League Cup, in 2008/09 Man U won the League Cup... Sure, Man U 2008/09 lost the CL final, but they won the CWC and played the Super Cup... Overall, Man U was more successful and played a lot more games.

Is Tevez worth 25.5M Pounds? I don't think so. Not that I particularly think Berbatov was worth 30M either. How much was Torres? Tevez isn't going to play more matches this season (lol @ Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Benjani & Bellamy) and I doubt he'll even get as many as 18 league starts (i.e. start in half the matches), or if he does, some of them will be as a winger in a 4-3-3... At least SAF only played him as a striker.
Lee

Do we care? We lost a good squad player and that is all. Hisgoal tally, as embarrassingly low as it was, will be surpassed by Owen in ten games. How the hell five league goals equates to 25.5m I do not know. He misses a lot of chances, though he did score some important goals. Citeh are signing average to good players, and Robinho aside, have no true world class talent. Something being overlooked by everyone is the fact both Gill & SAF said they would sort his contract out at the end of the season as per the EXISTING agreement between United, CT & Joorabchian. It was they who started shouting about no offers and no contact, indicating they were paving the way for his exit.
CharlieFineman

Exactly, it's all about the Benjamins for Tevez. The only player that joined a better club is Santa Cruz, as City finished higher than Blackburn last season. His motive was to join a bigger club. As for the rest..
Ramzi

JLC21, I am not sure if the 51 games include games against amature clubs from the surrounding. As a matter of fact he was a starter in 22 games in the CL and Premier league. If Rooney comes out of the bench to be involved in 60 games he will hand his transfer request at the end of the season. Its the starting roles that the players count.

I admit that its actually a decent number of games (not satisfying but acceptable). Only if it was in normal situation.

As I mentioned above, its not only the number of games being involved in, its the overall approach that must be taken in consediration.
Evan

What I think is funny about the Tevez situation is that he ruled out a move to Liverpool because of "emotional ties". So it's not emotional to join your cross town rivals? He's a walking contradiction. SAF is right: Man city are a small club with a small mentality. Apparently that goes for Tevez as well.
JLC21

Ramzi -- There's nothing wrong with your analysis per se. In fact, you're totally right that "there is a difference between accepting rotation and being benched till get buried under the dust".

But Tevez wasn't buried. Not even close. He played in 51 games last season. 51!!! As Scott over at the Republik of Mancunia has pointed out, there is no way in hell that Tevez will play that many games for $hitty, even if they go to the finals of both the FA and League Cups.

And that doesn't even begin to do justice to the caliber of games he played in -- Champions League all the way through to the final, World Club Championship, title deciders, etc.

There's just absolutely no basis for any of his complaints. He's a highly paid mercenary, he cares much more about money than trophies, and he needs to stop spewing all these lies.
Ramzi

Taylor, this is an emotionally driven post indeed. Look I am not in a position to talk about Man utd. I kind of understand how bad it is when a player u love, leave your club to play for the direct rival (Figo?). But Lets make it straight:

There is a difference between accepting rotation and being benched till get buried under the dust. I can guarantee you that if Tevez played less than 20 games next season he will complain.

Beside, Tevez dissatisfaction started long before. You go to a club on loan bases. You put your heart on the field. You contribute effectively in winning your team a Zellion title (his contribution is unfairly underrated by the way.). Then your team pay 2659 million to bye a new forward, and claim they cant afford buying your contract. You stay one more season, where you relegate from being a starter to become a bench warmer, for no reason.

Berba is a great striker, no doubt. He wasnt flashy but effective. Yet, No one can claim that Berba-ronaldo-Rooney was more effective than having tevez instead of Berba in the previous season. If Sir Alex did a fair rotation, then no one can excuse Tevez. But that wasnt the case. So no wonder his moral collapsed so he wasnt able to perform even when he was selected. Such kind of passionate players have that fragility that you can consider as a weakness, or as a strength.

Sir Alex, for his own reasons, ignored Tevez. Refused to discuss his contract, or even to give him any positive hint about his future so he had to live in doubt for a whole season where his position at his national team was in doubt. Then when the coach transfer targets (Benzema may be?) sounded unlikely, he remembered he has a tango boy in the squad.

Even in the CL final, as a Barcelona fan the one I was mostly afraid of was Tevez. I mentioned it back then on this page if you remember. His high pressure would have cased us troubles. He deserved to play that game. Its his type. So I would blame him more if he stayed at Man Utd honestly. A winner with self dignity will not stay after all that.

But may be my opinion is emotional as well.
Adam

You crushed my innocence, Carlitos