The interesting titbit to note about Tom Cleverley's overdue exit from Manchester United was that it wasn't necessarily as a result of an incoming manager - although Louis van Gaal probably did play quite a prominent role - but moreover, due to the increasing poisonous vitriol aimed at the club's scapegoat. With Man United supporters never truly taking to this England hopeful, labelling the midfielder 'average', it was he who was lambasted, criticised and castigated last term as the club slid to the worst ever Premier League standard. With boos littering his every touch at the start of this season, the writing was on the wall for the 25 year old.
''I am happy to get away from some of the negativity. Whenever you are not winning trophies at Man United, the players are going to get some stick. With me being out of contract at the end of the year, if I am honest I don't think I would play for the club again.'' - Tom Cleverley, August 2014.
Having tied up a loan deal to Aston Villa, it looks like Cleverley has escaped the nightmare of having to endure a cacophony of boos every other Saturday - that is, until he starts churning in similar performances to make Kieron Westwood look like Andrea Pirlo.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
