Is David Moyes misusing this homegrown Manchester United star?

Tom Cleverly

Once upon a time, Tom Cleverley was viewed as the natural successor to Paul Scholes at Manchester United. Blessed with both the technical and mental attributes required in an excellent footballer, the emerging Cleverley was surrounded by predictions that he would become ‘the next big thing’ and Red Devils fans watched his every performance eagerly.

Successful loan spells at Leicester City, Watford and Wigan Athletic did nothing to reduce the hype swirling around the English midfielder, and an assist in his competitive debut against Manchester City in the 2011 Community Shield game heightened expectations for the then 20-year-old.

Now, in his third full season as a Manchester United first-team player, it is a criticism rather than praise which gnaws away at the 24-year-old. Scholes’ retirement at the end of last season was expected to create the room in which Cleverley could blossom, yet he is perpetually identified as a weak link in David Moyes’ side and it has even been said that, were it not for the Man United crest on his shirt, the midfielder would not have a place in the England squad.

Whilst Cleverley is undoubtedly a competent, assured player, something is clearly failing to click for the Man United man in a season in which he was predicted to justify the early hype which he attracted.

Part of the reason for this is the formation employed by Moyes, for it is one which Cleverley – and the type of player that he is – does not fit in to.

The midfield trio is now part of a rotated structure and there are several variations upon this arrangement of players designed to reflect a team’s overall strategy. The Red Devils currently play with a CM-CM-AM triangle which has frequently seen Michael Carrick accompany Cleverley in the central midfield pairing; these two men usually sit behind Wayne Rooney, when the Englishman is fit.

The nature of this trio means that Man United play a controlling, aggressive style of football in which they attempt to dictate the flow of a game.

Man United Starting XI

With Rooney sitting in the hole, he is the focal point for Man Utd’s attacks, the playmaker if you will, and this is reflected in the 40 chances which he has created this season.

Due to the aforementioned style of play which the CM-CM-AM trio is conducive to, one of the men in a central midfield role must act as an aggressor in attack and support Rooney so as to avoid isolating the 28-year-old and consequently make it easy for the opposition to limit the effectiveness of United’s attacks through the middle of the pitch. This is not the role for Cleverley.

With just seven chances created so far this season, it is quite evident that Cleverley cannot fulfil this role to the required standard and, whilst his dribbling skills can hurt the opposition (57% success rate this season), he does not utilise them frequently enough to make him a viable alternative option in attack to Rooney.

Consequently, the role as the more advanced of the central midfield pairing is not one which Cleverley is capable of performing in.

Tom Cleverley Chances Created (7)

The other central midfielder in this trio must compensate for his aggressive partner by sitting deeper and fulfilling a more defensive role in order to protect his back four against counter-attacks.

The balance between these two players is essential to Moyes’ whole system – if this midfielder sits too deep, he can leave a gap between himself and his central midfield comrade which prevents United from recycling possession effectively and also provide the opposition space into which they can attack; conversely, positioning himself too high up the pitch will leave the Red Devils woefully exposed in defence.

On the whole, it is the defensive aspect of this midfielder’s role which is most important; if his partner and the number ten do their jobs correctly, he should not have much to do in attack.

Instead, the player employed in this role must primarily ensure that the likes of Nemanja Vidic are properly protected from counter-attacks, a job which, whilst more fitting than the advanced playmaker role, does not suit Cleverley either.

This is evident in the amount of tackles which Cleverley has won this season – 29. When compared to the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Ramires, both who have made over 50, it is clear that Cleverley is not the type of player who should be fulfilling this role in Moyes’ squad.

Moreover, he has made just 27 interceptions this season, a thoroughly average number which does not mark the Englishman out as the midfield anchorman which is necessary in the CM-CM-AM triangle.

Tom Cleverley Defensive Actions

This is not to say that Cleverley does not have the attributes to fulfil any central midfield role; rather, that his skill-set is not one which is conducive to the formation and style of play which Moyes wants to employ.

If Manchester United played a less aggressive midfield trio – for example, a DM-CM-CM triangle – Cleverley would have a much more positive reputation than the one he has attained playing in the ill-suited system which he is currently a part of.

The Englishman’s range of passing is excellent and his average pass completion rate of 90% confirms this. Should he feature in the aforementioned midfield trio instead of Man United’s current threesome, he would be utilised to greater effect; Cleverley, with an anchorman behind him and more advanced player beside him, could perform as a deep-lying playmaker who supplies the wingers with the ball in dangerous positions whilst simultaneously offering some form of defensive cover – though not to the extent that would be demanded of him in the CM-CM-AM triangle. His passing graph against Norwich, below, offers some suggestion of how he would perform in this role.

Tom Cleverley Pass Map vs Norwich (97% Pass Accuracy)

Unfortunately for Cleverley, his style of play just does not fit in with the formation which David Moyes is employing at Man United and consequently his performances have not been of the standard which were once predicted when he emerged into the Red Devils’ first-team squad.

It is not, as many suggest, that the midfielder is a weak player who doesn’t justify his place in a team as big as the current Premier League champions; it is the fact that he is employed in a role which is unsuitable for his attributes.