Premier League - Parker: Berbatov not new Eric

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Sep 12:25:00 2008

Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker warns against billing Dimitar Berbatov as the new Eric Cantona.

2008-2009 Manchester United Dimitar Berbatov - 0

"Moody, temperamental, enigmatic, brilliant. The comparisons between Berbatov and Cantona are easy to make. But there are just as many differences as similarities.

Cantona arrived at Old Trafford over 15 years ago, during a different era of football and it is always going to be difficult to compare players who played such a long time apart due to the ever-changing nature of the game.

And while the mercurial Frenchman arrived at an underachieving club that had not won a league title for 26 years, Berbatov signed for an outfit that has dominated the Premier League ever since Cantona provided that initial spark to win the first of 10 titles back in 1992-93.

As players too, they are different. Berbatov is more of a traditional centre forward than Cantona was and while they are both good in the air, Berbatov likes to run with the ball more.

True, both are capable of delivering moments of magic that can decide matches in the blink of an eye, but to expect Berbatov to have the same impact as Eric did 16 years ago is unfair.

That thinking will only serve to heap even more pressure on the Bulgarian who, having finally completed his dream move to Old Trafford, surely now just wants to prove himself.

I believe that being labelled as the new Eric will only hamper his progress - as it does when any player is compared to a former great.

But if he does choose to dwell on the obvious similarities for a minute, Berbatov will find he can learn a great deal from Cantona.

Like Cantona, people have pointed to the Berbatov's surly temperament as a potential stumbling block to succeeding at United. But like the Frenchman, Berbatov has the capability to turn things round at United.

Before he arrived at Old Trafford, Cantona had a reputation for being a 'difficult' character. He had had his fair share of run-ins with his previous managers but he never once got on the wrong side of Alex Ferguson.

Berbatov's surliness and regular languid displays could put him in that same 'difficult' bracket, but like Cantona, the Bulgarian can shed that image at Old Trafford.

As a club, United have the ability to instil the desire to work hard and behave well. I believe that Berbatov will succeed in doing just that under Ferguson.

He's a very good player who will only get better at United."

Eurosport

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  1. Cantona's schlong is a good two inches longer...­ even now.

    From Nina G, on Fri 19 Sep 12:14PM

  2. Parker,u dont know anything berbatov only played one­ game ,u cant just judge people

    From udham96, on Fri 19 Sep 12:11PM

  3. i swear this bellend comes out with some @#$% every­ week. does he actually think anyone gives a @#$% about­ what he thinks?

    From sgrantcfc, on Fri 19 Sep 12:11PM

  4. I can't believe Berbatov's a striker. With that­ third arm growing out of his back, he'd be the best­ goalkeeper that ever lived!

    From Kevin, on Fri 19 Sep 12:10PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Cantona was a ManU hype!! He was not popular enough in­ France (and was easily dropped from the french team)!­ Was never ever popular in Europe. Cannot dribble - ManU­ hype.

    From bosun_dele, on Fri 19 Sep 11:55AM

  6. Ian W, you couldn't be more wrong and should really­ check your facts before spouting rubbish....Cantona­ "struggled" to get in the french team?­ Don't make me laugh..He wasn't picked because­ he called Jaquet a "clown" and described­ Deschamps as a "water carrier" (who was­ french captain at the time) It was certainly nothing to­ do with his ability as a player. As for Berbatov?­ Forget it, they ain't even on the same planet.­ Berbatov would be lucky to clean Cantona's boots­ for a living.

    From stevjohn3715, on Fri 19 Sep 11:40AM

  7. Paul parker...U suck! Stop writting you have no­ talent...and who are you to judge a player after ONE­ apearance?
    You were a third hand defender who got lucky­ and played for a great team such as manchester...you­ were never any good so shut up and stop criticising­ other players

    From ZzaK, on Fri 19 Sep 11:33AM

  8. To IanW you have to remember that for the main period­ of time Ooh Aah played for United, English clubs were­ banned from Europe curtesy of the scousers...

    From andy_23w, on Fri 19 Sep 11:31AM

  9. All Mancs are gob@#$%s

    From Chris W, on Fri 19 Sep 11:29AM

  10. they have something else in common ........they are­ both gob@#$%s

    From Chris W, on Fri 19 Sep 11:29AM

  11. Even TRYING to compare Berbatov with Cantona is a waste­ of internet space. He's not even close to Cantona­ in terms of ability. Even aside from the skill­ difference Berbatov has ZERO charisma, Cantona had­ bucketloads of the stuff. And i'm not even a Utd­ fan!!

    From melaniepoynton, on Fri 19 Sep 11:23AM

  12. Why the comparisons? They are incomparable. As for the­ comments made by Kevin B aka "Kevo" B -­ broken english ... what he is stipulating in broken­ english is ... He agrees with Ty N comments and further­ says "Cantona is the man ... Berbatov (Berby) is­ still on the learning curve and has a lot to do to­ reach the status of Cantona in footballing terms but­ strenously believes Berbatov won't achieve the same­ accolade as Cantona.I am a Man U fan and

    From David Ogunnusi, on Fri 19 Sep 11:15AM

  13. In response to Ian W (19), Cantona didnt­ "struggle" to get in the French team, he was­ simply ignored by then coach Aime Jaquet as the two did­ not apparently get on very well. But its not like­ ABU's to ignore the truth when making ridiculous­ assertions based solely on your hatred of Man United.­ They always offer balanced views dont they??

    From syco291, on Fri 19 Sep 11:11AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If I was a scum fan I would be wanting more from­ Berbatov than being the new Cantana. I remember him at­ Leeds, could do some gr8 things in the league, like the­ goal against Chelsea. When in Europe did nowt. Same at­ the scum, different class in the Premier League, him­ and the goalie made the difference when they caught and­ passed Newcastle. Can't remember him doing anything­ in Europe for them. And for such a gr8 player he­ struggled to get in his national side. Hope you have­ got a class player this time

    From Happy, on Fri 19 Sep 10:50AM

  15. God there are some nutters who post on here. Ok, Paul­ Parker writes dross but what on Earth is Kelvin going­ on about?

    From Sam, on Fri 19 Sep 10:42AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Of course man-ure fans will idolise him. They gave­ club-committed Ronaldo, who's actions in no way­ over shadowed their double success this summer, a­ standing ovation whilst chomping on prawn sandwiches­ and singing occassionally but quietly in a cockney­ twang. Liverpool for the league

    From paul, on Fri 19 Sep 10:40AM

  17. He will rise like other players, give him time to­ progress, he will have to learn from other players on­ how to suit himself at Old Trafford. I believe he will­ succeed through out the season. Go Berbatov!!!! We the­ Man United fan will support you all the way.

    From kamal, on Fri 19 Sep 10:24AM

  18. great comment parker. berbatov is not cantona. how much­ does he get paid for coming out with cr@p like this?­ can i have his job please?
    next headline - Robinho is­ not Kinkladze.
    Parker is a @#$% gland.

    From lordofjapes, on Fri 19 Sep 10:02AM

  19. Better don't praise him too much, otherwise he­ becomes swell-headed and cannot even dribble the ball -­ a lot of matches (EPL) to go, we'll see about that­ !

    Rick

    From Jeremy, on Fri 19 Sep 9:48AM

  20. How the hell is the top news item, it's not even­ news it's opinion. I suppose there's no news at­ old traford so you give us old traffic. How can you­ head your page with that!

    From Diana, on Fri 19 Sep 9:46AM
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