Tom Cleverley: Grading His Early-Season Performance for Manchester United

Continuing his progression through the Manchester United ranks, Tom Cleverley is living up to his biggest expectations yet this season.

With a club of United’s magnitude, it’s only understandable that some live to thrive amongst the pressure while others sink under the responsibilities placed upon them.

Cleverley has spent the last 12 years of his life around Old Trafford and has steadily seen his involvement with the club increase.

Following an injury-ravaged 2011-12 campaign, it’s arguably the most important season of the 23-year-old’s career as he seeks to establish himself as a player of Manchester United quality, despite having shown glimpses of such skill already.

Roughly a quarter of the way through the current term, we can reflect on the performances shown by Cleverley already, and see how his journey to fulfillment is coming along.

Everton (A), 20th August 2012

Competition: Premier League

Despite the fact that United’s Premier League campaign opened in miserable fashion, Tom Cleverley was actually one of the brighter lights in an otherwise glum performance from the visiting side.

Cleverley started the game in the same position he has played most of his season, operating from a deep-lying central position alongside the man whom he is pegged to replace, Paul Scholes.

Regardless of the 1-0 loss, the 23-year-old could take heart in the fact that he accumulated a pass completion rate of 92 percent.

This statistic is made all the more impressive when one considers that Cleverley took a staggering total of 100 touches in the 85 minutes he played, beaten only by the more efficient Scholes.

Cleverley was unlucky not to equalise for the Red Devils swiftly after Fellaini put the Toffees ahead, seeing his close-range effort cleared off the line by a Phil Jagielka block.

Although the midfielder was defensively poor at times and struggled to cope with the presence of Marouane Fellaini, Cleverley’s contributions going forward were consistent and added a great sense of fluidity to United’s game at times.

Fulham (H), 25th August 2012

Competition: Premier League

After suffering defeat on the opening day of the season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men bounced back in a big way against Fulham, largely thanks to a strong Cleverley display.

For the second match in a row, the youngster proved himself to be a vital lynchpin in the United midfield, taking the second-highest amount of touches of any player on the pitch that day.

In the 3-2 victory, Cleverley forced Mark Schwarzer into palming a shot into the path of Shinji Kagawa, earning himself an assist on the day.

Perhaps the most encouraging point for United supporters was to see how confidently Cleverley slotted into the club’s counter-attacking mentality, initiating numerous attacks off the back of heavy pressure from the Cottagers.

Southampton (A), 2nd September 2012

Competition: Premier League

A disappointing day for many Manchester United players, Tom Cleverley was no exception against Southampton and only had 60 minutes to prove his worth before being replaced by Paul Scholes.

Cleverley’s lack of experience and maturity was evidenced by the fact that Scholes proved the catalyst in United’s eventual comeback, acting as midfield maestro in place of the substituted youngster.

However, while the penetration wasn’t all there, Cleverley could take solace after finishing with a pass completion rate of 94 percent, the highest of any player to take to the field.

This game was a perfect example of why Cleverley isn’t quite ready to fill the boots of club legend Paul Scholes, but is showing signs that he could well be eventually.

Newcastle United (H), 26th September 2012

Competition: League Cup

Possibly the most impressive performance Cleverley has given in a Manchester United shirt to date, the England international showed his potential for midfield dominion in the 2-1 League Cup victory over Newcastle.

Against the Magpies, Cleverley finished with a pass completion rate of 91 percent, and was one of the most frequently involved participants on the pitch that day.

With a total tally of 107 touches, nobody from either side got to the ball more than Cleverley, showing that he does indeed have what it takes to possibly make the cut as the Reds' future midfield magician.

The 23-year-old scored the first goal of his Manchester United career with a strike from 18 yards that doubled the hosts’ tally and proved to be the eventual winner.

Nobody made more passes for Manchester United than Cleverley, and it was United’s starlet that also contributed two key passes (via WhoScored.com), keeping up with his usual duties as provider of opportunities.

CFR Cluj (A), 2nd October 2012

Competition: Champions League

Although the scoreline may not suggest it, Manchester United’s 2-1 win in Romania was a dominating trip in which the visitors’ middle three racked up an accumulated total of more than 380 touches.

Cleverley took up his spot alongside Darren Fletcher and Anderson, making three key passes in his 90 minutes appearance, second only to Wayne Rooney’s total of four.

Cluj faded massively in the second half despite playing well in the first 45 minutes, giving United little challenge.

As one would expect, Cleverley ultimately had as easy a time as any of the other Red Devils, and while he didn't have to break too much of a sweat, the youngster was impressive in his Champions League debut.

Newcastle United (A), 7th October 2012

Competition: Premier League

In his second meeting against Newcastle United this season, Cleverley again showed a touch of class and took up what is becoming a familiar position for the 23-year-old as a deep-lying playmaker.

Lining up next to Michael Carrick, Cleverley was the more creative of the pair, contributing to the cause of the 3-0 win with his second goal in Manchester United colours.

It wouldn't be absurd to suppose that Cleverley will never score a more impressive goal as long as he plays for the Red Devils, although some are of the impression that the Englishman’s 25-yard effort was only accidentally curled past Steve Harper.

Impressive in both attack as well as defence, Cleverley put in a Man of the Match performance, showing his worth as the complete midfielder against the Magpies.

Braga (H), 23rd October 2012

Competition: Champions League

With 100 touches of the ball and a pass completion rate of almost 95 percent, Tom Cleverley stuck out once more as one of Manchester United’s key performers against Braga.

After performing well against Cluj, Cleverley displayed reason to think that the youngster isn’t inundated by the pressures of Champions League football, popping in with a highly productive show of his skills.

After going 2-0 down in the first half, it was up to the 23-year-old as part of United’s engine room to ensure that the hosts came back in fantastic fashion, and come back the Red Devils did.

In the end, it was Cleverley that provided the pinpoint cross that allowed Javier Hernandez to head home and seal the victory for United, adding fuel to the argument that Cleverley was the hosts’ best player on the day.

Playing a prominent role in a classically characteristic Manchester United comeback, it’s clear that Cleverley fits into the club’s mould. This match would appear to give weight to the contention that the youngster is growing into his responsibility under Ferguson.

Chelsea (A), 28th October 2012

Competition: Premier League

Probably one of the least effective displays for the playmaker so far this season, Cleverley finished his clash with Chelsea on miserable terms compared with the standards he had set before himself already.

The pint-sized midfielder ended with a pass completion rate of just 76 percent and struggled to compete with the creative flair of Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard for the majority of the encounter.

What’s more, despite the fact that Cleverley is no giant himself, Manchester United’s academy product was well beaten in the air by Ramires, who proceeded to head home Chelsea’s second goal that drew them level with the visitors.

Cleverley was the least involved of any Manchester United player, taking just 49 touches before being substituted for Javier Hernandez two-thirds into the game.

Although Cleverley has impressed for the large majority of the campaign thus far, the midfielder failed to come up with the goods against big opposition.