Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Comment: Ando must buck up
ANDERSON has been given an Old Trafford reprieve - but the Brazilian may have just four months to grasp it with both hands. And if the 21-year-old South American wants to know how to become flavour of the month again, then a chat with his United buddy Nani might not be a bad idea. Anderson is currently walking a tightrope at the Reds but, with the club having turned down a loan request from Lyon, it seems Sir Alex Ferguson has not completely lost patience. However, if it was a case of `three strikes and you are out', he is just one barney with the boss away from becoming an ex-United player. The midfielder has reportedly had two clashes with Fergie already this season. That's not good for your future if you harbour ambitions of a long Old Trafford career. Back in August Anderson was in a mood because he was left out of United's Wembley XI for the Community Shield against Chelsea. He was subsequently overlooked for the opening game of the season against Birmingham City. However, he knuckled down to the task in hand and reserve boss Ole Solskjaer praised the South American's attitude when he began his efforts to rebuild his status with the second string. It won him a quick recall and he hit a form high around late autumn. But he has struggled to maintain his impact as a central midfield powerhouse and last week reports emerged that he had missed training as he was in a strop for being left out of the Hull match following a disappointing showing in the Carling Cup semi-final at Eastlands against City. Fergie refused to explain why he omitted the Brazilian against Hull and in the return leg against the Blues, claiming: "It doesn't matter." The fact the Reds manager kept quiet suggests there is something the matter, but it will be kept private. He said Anderson would be in the squad at the Emirates last weekend, but then didn't include him in the 17 on duty against Arsenal. That was particularly telling considering Anderson, who arrived from Porto for £18m in 2007, built his early United reputation on the back of outplaying the Gunners' Cesc Fabregas. Another impressive display at Anfield in his debut season against Steven Gerrard promised much and won him an army of United admirers. But that band is dwindling, as is the hope that Anderson might wipe the spectre of failed Brazilian midfielder Kleberson off Fergie's transfer debit column. Fergie once hailed the youngster as Paul Scholes' successor. That is now very much in the balance. Scholes' sublime array of passing is not something that has been displayed by Anderson. He remains more an aggressive, spoiling engine room weapon - though that job is being done more impressively, more consistently and for the full 90 minutes by Darren Fletcher. But Nani has proved that you can rejuvenate your United stock from a very low point. Fergie says the United players all want Nani in the team, but that would not have been a claim shared by the majority of the Reds support up until recently. Nani was viewed as a candidate for a loan or move away from Old Trafford and would have been inked, like the aforementioned Kleberson, on Fergie's transfer flop list. But he has turned it around and Anderson, having been told he won't be allowed some French leave, must now prove he can do the same, or suffer the consequences.
