Manchester United player ratings - ESPN Soccernet
By Richard Jolly
With another term coming to end, and a summer holiday dominated by the World Cup fast approaching, it seems an appropriate time to deliver those all-important report cards for the Premier League elite.
So which players excelled themselves, and which were left fearing the hairdryer treatment on a weekly basis? Soccernet's team of writers deliver their marks out of ten.
Wayne Rooney - 9.5. Apart from getting injured at a rather inconvenient moment, he could do no wrong. Scored 34 goals and, at times, seemed more significant than that haul indicated. Led the line with bullish determination, sometimes without sufficient support, and became the talisman of the side. Nothing symbolised his new-found ruthlessness quite like his return in the air, scoring more headed goals in a month than he had in the rest of his career. It was a brilliant response to the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Patrice Evra - 8. One error in the Allianz Arena, leading to Ivica Olic's goal, aside, he had an almost flawless campaign. Evra's consistency goes unremarked these days; it is simply taken for granted. It extended, vitally, to his fitness in a season when all other defenders fell by the wayside. It was a sign of the Frenchman's status at Old Trafford that he captained United at times, including in the Carling Cup final.
Darren Fletcher - 8. The most improved player in the Premier League last season merely maintained his standards. But that, in turn, elevated his reputation; last year was no one-off. Influential displays against Arsenal, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool cemented his standing as a big-game player.
Paul Scholes - 8. To think that Sir Alex Ferguson had to talk him out of retirement. Scholes had a superlative second half of the season, delivering crucial goals - two against Manchester City alone - and showing that few can pass the ball with such accuracy or penetration. He still can't tackle, but he still can play.
Antonio Valencia - 7.5. An encouraging first year at Old Trafford. Ignore the obvious Ronaldo comparisons and Valencia showed himself to be a highly accomplished right winger. Sheer speed, accurate delivery and considerable consistency made him a fine signing.
Nani - 7.5. Initially a cause of exasperation and then one of encouragement. He began badly, vanished, seemingly for good, mid-season and returned to finish the year terrifically well. Vital end-of-season goals, against Tottenham and Sunderland, and some hugely impressive displays in crucial games against Arsenal and Bayern Munich suggested a player finally turning potential into potent performances.
Ryan Giggs - 7. He still has the turn of pace and influence of a younger man. Started the season well, with a trio of outstanding displays against Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, and, after a mid-season dip in form, ended it excellently; witness the nerveless penalties against Spurs. Like Paul Scholes, certainly merits his new one-year deal.
Edwin van der Sar - 7. His appearances were limited by injury and his wife's illness, but Van der Sar's 21 games brought 12 clean sheets, some fine saves and the reminder that he is a marked improvement on Tomasz Kuszczak and Ben Foster. Turns 40 this year, but there were few signs of decline.
Nemanja Vidic - 6.5. The United Players' Player of the Year in 2009 couldn't retain his title. Vidic was uncharacteristically uncertain in autumn, picking up his now habitual red card against Fernando Torres, and was among the umpteen absentees in December. But the final ten weeks of the campaign brought a return to his redoubtable best.
Jonny Evans - 6. Reasonable rather than remarkable. He didn't have the impact of the previous campaign but being Rio Ferdinand's deputy seems a guarantee of fairly regular first-team football. A new contract means he should be United's future, but Evans doesn't always impose himself now and tends to look more comfortable with Nemanja Vidic alongside him.
Darron Gibson - 6. Featured more often, but not quite a breakthrough year. Five goals from 12 starts is testament to Gibson's shooting power, but even with Owen Hargreaves missing for all bar 36 seconds of the season and Anderson often unavailable, he didn't force himself into the starting XI too often. And when he did, he was often back on the bench soon.
Gary Neville - 6. Fared better than many feared against Ronaldinho and Craig Bellamy but his supposed renaissance was rather exaggerated, as Florent Malouda showed, and some of Sir Alex Ferguson's more flowing tributes rather unnecessary. But with John O'Shea and Wes Brown often injured, he figured more than might have been predicted and probably deserved a new contract. Just.
Wes Brown - 5.5. A frustrating, stop-start season which, like many in his career, was disrupted by injuries. Called "the best natural defender in the country" by Sir Alex Ferguson, he is nonetheless the fourth-choice centre back and, seemingly, in a four-horse race for the right back spot.
John O'Shea - 5.5. Captained United in their opening league game against Birmingham but, in another unusual development, sat out most of the season. The thigh injury incurred on international duty in November was the most serious of his United career. A first choice last season, it may have reduced him to the rank of odd-job man again.
Park Ji-sung - 5.5. The scorer of United's final goal of the season, the South Korean's only other strikes came in the marquee games against Arsenal, AC Milan and Liverpool. It marked a golden two-month spell in an otherwise undistinguished campaign for a player who reiterated his usefulness on the big stage but, by being ineffectual at the start and end of the year, was still overtaken by Nani and Antonio Valencia.
Dimitar Berbatov - 5. The great enigma managed some delightful touches and a goal every other league start, but failed to score in Europe or against a side in the top seven. Consigned to the bench against most of the more demanding opponents and selected from the start against the lesser sides, he remains more of a problem than a solution.
Rafael da Silva - 5. A year that will probably be remembered for his red card against Bayern Munich. Like the dismissal, that is a shame for Rafael, whose sense of adventure means he can offer much, but a greater sense of judgment is required.
Rio Ferdinand - 5. Chronic back and calf problems limited him to just 12 league starts but, in an awful autumn, his form was as much of a concern as his fitness. Got the England captaincy by default, but the last couple of months have shown glimpses why he and Nemanja Vidic came to be regarded as the finest defensive partnership in the Premier League.
Michael Owen - 5. A season of three highs - against Manchester City, Wolfsburg and Aston Villa - in an otherwise demoralising campaign, where excellent finishes were sandwiched by mediocrity and anonymity. The fact he started so few league games - just five - told a tale in itself. Only really looks a back-up now.
Anderson 4.5. It can be easy to forget Anderson ended last season as an integral part of the midfield. This year has contained a cruciate knee ligament injury, a reported falling-out with Sir Alex Ferguson and too few influential displays. A belated first United goal, at Tottenham, may be the only highlight.
Michael Carrick - 4.5. Started slowly, as has become his tradition, but ended terribly, which has not. Obviously lost Sir Alex Ferguson's trust as well as his place after erring in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. Never seemed more important than when he was bringing a stately elegance to his time as an emergency centre back, but seems to have regressed as a midfielder.
Ben Foster - 3. An abject year. He could have been first choice for Manchester United and England; instead, Foster ranks well behind Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak at Old Trafford now after he made a series of mistakes in his run in the team. Will leave this summer.
