Dimitar Berbatov: Worst Signing Ever? or Player on the Verge of Greatness?

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

It would be fair to say that since Dimitar Berbatov's £30.75 million pound move to Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur, that he has not set the world alight.

Before heading to Old Trafford, Berbatov's goal-scoring was formidable to say the least. At international level he had scored 41 goals in 67 games, and with Spurs he had converted 46 goals in 102 games over two seasons, a brilliant record with almost a goal every two games.

That record has dulled somewhat since his move to the Red Devils though. In a little over one season at the club, Berbatov has returned only 17 goals from 54 games between Premiership and European action, a record of 1:3.

Many United fans would argue that the Bulgarian international had to endure being played out of position for the most part in his first season, but the truth of the matter is that he was almost exclusively used as the upper-most forward in Ferguson's schemes while Rooney, Ronaldo, and lest we forget Carlos Tevez did the main rotating.

Red Devils fans have only seen glimpses of his undoubted ability in a red shirt, most notably a superb turn against West Ham last season. The fact that such instances have to be dredged up is a sure sign that the Bulgarian is not firing on all cylinders.

But while he is more than capable of the sublime, he can also contribute his fair share of lazy blunders, like his poor penalty against Everton in the FA Cup Semi-final last season, that cost United a chance at a historic quadruple.

So what is the problem with Berbatov?

Well according to himself, nothing at all.

"You know," he says, "when someone has great qualities sometimes they don't have to put much effort into things. Sometimes the things I do look effortless but it's not like that. It's very difficult, but because of my style of play I make it look easy."

Berbatov is described like this on Manchester United's official website.

"Dimitar Berbatov is a classy and complete centre-forward, pairing the ability to ruthlessly and regularly find the net inside the box with an aptitude to create moments of sheer magic outside it.

"Sir Alex likes players with plenty of charisma in the way they play, and the Bulgarian’s languid style is instantly recognisable on the field. It’s also an approach that has drawn comparisons with former United talisman Eric Cantona."

Typical spiel that you would find about any player on their teams website, but it is one that some Manchester United fans fervently believe.

For a start, Berbatov is nowhere near being a complete centre-forward, for that you only have to look across other teams in the Premiership. Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and even Wayne Rooney, are far more complete players than the ex-Spurs player, with Torres in particular being one of the greatest if not the greatest exponent of forward play in the world today.

What Berbatov does have over these players is a creative side that verges on genius. His ability to pick out a seemingly impossible pass from nowhere gives him an edge over his "lone striker" rivals in that he is slightly more versatile.

That versatility is what made Alex Ferguson move for him in the first place, but when push came to shove, Berbatov proved to be versatile in only two positions instead of the three or four that his new manager had hoped.

With a distinct lack of pace over long or short distances, Berbatov is instantly redundant out wide, so in playing to his strengths, Ferguson plays him as a direct centre-forward or just off it.

Conventional wisdom would say that Manchester United had a phenomenal season last year, being pipped at the post on their historic journey for four trophies. And it was, but they had to carry an unhappy Ronaldo and a misfiring Berbatov through many matches, often leaving the team with only nine outfield players trying.

Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez were direct contrasts to each other last season, in more ways than one.

One player worked his guts out every week in trying to secure a new contract, to the extent that Manchester United's fans even turned against their manager for a few brief moments when they called for him to sign the Argentinian.

Meanwhile, Berbatov seemed happy to have finally arrived at one of the worlds great clubs, and forgot that the real hard work was only starting.

Tevez was not alone in the way he approached the game at Old Trafford. Alex Ferguson has had many players like him who subscribe to the basic fundamentals of the game.

Players like Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, and John O'Shea, these players have only one agenda when they step onto a pitch and that's to win the ball, and the game in that order.

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