Anyone who is a regular watcher of the English Premier League highlights show will have noticed something in the last couple of weeks.
There is a gangly, sharp-featured and distantly familiar Bulgarian performing wizardry with the football.
Dimitar Berbatov is back. How sweet it is.
When Manchester United signed Berbatov on deadline day back in 2008 it seemed a perfect match. Sure, £30 million seemed a lot, but this was no plodder.
Berbatov was a rare type. This was a player who, in his first year in England, was voted fans’ player of the year, and in his second year did it again.
This was a player who reminded some of Eric Cantona – an elegant touch with exquisite flair, wrapped up in a brooding personality. Berbatov moving to Manchester United just made sense.
But it didn’t quite work out. There’s no question that Berbatov had his moments. Think of his first game, where he twisted and turned down the by-line at Anfield and delivered a cut back for Carlos Tevez, all within the first half hour of his Manchester United career.
Think of his hat-trick against the same opponents two years later, including that magnificent overhead kick. You might even think of his five goals against Blackburn Rovers, on one of the rare days when Berbatov was United’s main man.
However, chances are that you’ll also think of the bad days. The penalty miss in the FA Cup shootout comes to mind, where many were left wondering if the ball had merely been blown off the spot by a strong gust of wind.
You may remember the day that Berbatov led the line against Blackburn Rovers, deputising for the injured Wayne Rooney in the closing weeks of the 2009/10 season, and couldn’t find a way to get United home. The 0-0 draw that day was arguably the terminal blow to their title chances that season.
Being left out of the squad entirely for the Champions League final a year later was the terminal blow to Berbatov’s confidence, and his standing in the United pecking order.
But now, after another frustrating season on the United bench (and beyond), Berbatov has finally packed up and gone elsewhere. Where United and Berbatov seemed a perfect match, Fulham and Berbatov might actually be one.
Simply, he can be the main man again, the star of the show. Dimitar Berbatov is many things, but a support player he is not.
There are few more pleasing sights in football then Dimitar Berbatov in top form. His dazzling skills and silky dexterity could make him the star of the Fulham show, and if they do, it will be a show well worth watching.
k77sujith
Guest
Berba is quite under-rated as a player. He might just prove to be a hit at Fulham..pure class. Thanks.
David
Guest
Berbatov was extremely unlucky that Carlos Quiroz left the season he joined United. I do not think his saga would have gone this way if Quiroz was around. Unfortunately for Berbatov the British media and fans do not like a player like Berbatov who brings the joy and artistry of football. They like players who puts in a "good shift". That means running non stop for 90 mins and making a nuisance of oneself to ones team mates as well as the opposition. Berbatov is the opposite. He is not the one to run after a lost cause. He will not chase a ball unless he knows he has a good chance of getting it. What is the point of running after a ball and then reaching it just as it goes into touch? With a plodder like Mike Phelan as assistant manager I am amazed that United even came second. As for the Blackburn game M Campbell is very conveniently forgetting that Berbatov put Antonio Valencia through with a brilliant pass with only the keeper to beat and without any defenders around yet Valencia missed that sitter. So to blame Berbatov for that draw is ridiculous. Yes it is Fulham's gain and EPL's gain that he stayed in EPL. I sincerely hopes that he puts United to the sword when they play at Craven Cottage later in the season. If Fulham can get another quality midfield player or two and another class defender, Berbatov would be a handful to any team. If he gets the ball, he would hold it and create chances for others. It is for others to give him the ball and be ready to receive it from him. One of the best technical players in the World right now.
Stevo
Guest
This guy is a joy to watch. Fantastic skills, elegant movement but seemingly too flawed for SAF's liking. Watching Dimitar reminds me a lot of our very own Mark Viduka.