I am the proud owner of a shiny red long-sleeve Champions League Anderson jersey. I make it a point to slip his name into pretty much every post I write for this blog (I was forced to valiantly defend him in the comments section upon first mention). I excitedly talk him up to anyone who will listen, and even to those who are generally uninterested, frequently citing this brilliantly titled article. I nervously anticipate every teamsheet, hoping that he will start. I make gleeful high-pitched noises when I watch him work his magic on the pitch. My mind begins to spin when I think about the sheer potential. He is my proverbial boy.
I also spend the day after United matches scouring the internet for articles, player ratings and any other tidbits on the Brazilian wunderkind. So instead of going on about how I think he is going to blossom into one of the world's finest, I'll let others do the talking. From professional pundits to pint-swilling punters, a collection of some of my favorite comments in the wake of United's mauling of Arsenal on Saturday are after the jump. And judging from the accompanying photograph, young Anderson is flattered.
This boy is the genuine big thing. Very strong (remember him holding off Toure for almost a minute at the corner flag?), incredibly gifted technically (brought the ball out of impossible situations and created space), very quick and a great reader of the game. Fantastic, brilliant, if the coaching team do not screw up something badly he will end up as one of the very finest players of the world. Player Rating: 9
The Brazilian's power and workrate with Fletcher helped win midfield battle hands down. Player Rating: 9
In an impressive midfield unit, Anderson stood out as the brightest talent on show. Fizzed throughout the game and is fast becoming undroppable. If only he had a Brazilian goal scorer's touch. Player Rating: 8.5
On a bright, clear, frosty Saturday here, a 19-year-old Brazilian, known simply as Anderson, orchestrated an extraordinary 4-0 Manchester United victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup. Anderson has been coming to the boil for quite some time. The folks in Porto Alegre have talked about him since he was five, and they began calling him "the new Ronaldinho" at 15. United paid the price of a Goya masterpiece to get him, but, if his health is blessed and his heart and mind remain committed, he will more than earn the club that sum in the coming decade.
Though the man with dreadlocks didn't figure in the scoresheet, Anderson scorched every blade of the hallowed Old Trafford grass with energy, vision and enterprise.
Anderson, once again outplayed Fabregas. Would anyone swap them? I dont think so.*
In two years time, Anderson will be the best player on the planet.
Anderson with his workrate, surging runs, touch and vision made a massive impact on Uniteds midfield performance. The way he grabs the game, and speeds up the ball-movement is superb.
Special mention for Anderson though. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this boy is going to be a genuine superstar.
Anderson proved today that it is a highly creative player and I hope that Sir Ferguson has seen it. Sir Ferguson, Anderson is not defender. Let him create.
Outstanding performance from Anderson - would've given him a 10. What a buy he's proving to be.
You would need a wrecking ball to get him off the ball. Plays a good early pass, how many times did he play a great ball through to Rooney. Skipped away from a few of the Arsenal players like they were nothing.
Anderson kept Fabregas off balance throughout.
Anderson was imperious. Still only 19 and he absolutely bossed the midfield, was my man of the match. After a bit of a slow start, I've hardly seen him put a foot wrong since, and were I in Fergie's shoes, I'd have to think long and hard before reinstating Scholesy to the starting line-up. The prospect of how much better he is going to get is mouth-watering. Consider how ineffectual Ronaldo was in his first season (don't argue - all frills, no substance), and then look at how quickly Anderson has adapted. I remember scoffing at the hype when we signed him that he was 'the new Ronaldinho'. Obviously not there yet, but 2 years from now, he'll be in the top 5 in the world, mark my words.
Anderson is better on the ball than Scholes, he can dribble better, he can shield the ball better, he can move the ball better. He has better technique. He is faster. His passing is just as good and his tackling and disrupting is better. He just needs the games to grow.
Given Anderson's age, if he continues in this vein, I wonder how much he will be worth when a Real Madrid aspiring President a few years down the line decides that his electoral vision is based around bringing Anderson to spain for 200m??
As someone mentioned, he has no right foot, but his armoury of footballing weapons is immense of one so young. Would not be the obvious thing to catch my eye, but his aggression and sheer appetite for winning duels is truly eyecatching. For a role, he only started playing this season in his first season in the bruising English Premier league.
Anderson would gradually develop into Mr. Midfield of United and would remain for years to come. We've unearthed another Robbo.
Anderson scares me - who knows where his best position is, but he probably has the talent to play anywhere apart from keeper.
The beauty of Anderson appears to be his flexibility. I see him more as an Edgar Davids, perhaps even going further back to a softer, faster version of someone horrible like Souness. Bit of steel and touch of class as well. If Hargreaves and Carrick aren´t available, or even if you want another midfielder to hold with them, Anderson seems like he can do the lot. Even wide left if necessary. For me, Roy Keane was possibly United´s greatest ever right back when he played there for a spell mid 93/94, and Anderson can manage that or the wing easily. What a dream of a player for a manager.
Anderson's potential is massive. He can do things on a pitch that Scholes has never done and probably never will do, as well as being able to do a lot of things that Scholes can do. The fact that he is 19, in his 1st season in England and has not been a regular starter just make his performances all the more incredible.
But I don't want to take away from the outstanding display by Anderson. This guy is really going to be something special. He has that seemly simple, but all too rare, ability to turn and explode from midfield. The only thing missing from his game at the moment is goal scoring... but that'll come.
...Anderson, who ran riot...**
* An absolute gem for wind-up purposes.
** A gracious concession from fellow contributor 433.
3 hours ago
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