By Chris Wright
“I missed the bus Guv, honest!”
The Sun is reporting today that Anderson may have put his long-term future at Manchester United in jeopardy after failing to report to training yesterday. The midfielder allegedly ducked the Monday session as he was still in a funk after facing the hairdryer following his sub par display against Man City in the Carling Cup and being subsequently left out of the squad against Hull City on Saturday.
The former Porto man has been struggling for starts of late and United are now ready to cut their losses on the floundering Brazilian.
The 20 year old arrived at Old Trafford in May of 2007, in a deal worth £18 million, but has continually failed to live up to his inflated price tag. He has only managed a solitary goal in two-and-a-bit years at the club and is attracting increasing levels of criticism from sections of the United support.
Although Anderson’s work rate in not under scrutiny – he covers some serious turf during games – his overall effectiveness is. He cannot shoot convincingly with either foot, has no range of passing to speak of and can be reckless in the tackle.
Although Anderson is still young, and therefore should have scope for improvement, I don’t think he’ll ever be an £18 million man (he must go down as yet another expensive Ferguson flop so far) and Sir Alex may be wise to cash in on him now whilst he has an excuse and before the Brazilian’s stock falls any further.