Mettle Mickey (Mikael Silvestre)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	Mikael Silvestre
Date:	11/03/01 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Outstanding pace, good attacking wise

Disadvantages: Lapses of concentration

Liverpool’s search for someone to fill their problem left-back position seemed to be over when they opened negotiations with Inter Milan for their promising young French defender Mikael Silvestre in August 2000. Before the deal could be completed, however, Manchester United stepped in, and, offered the chance to play in his favoured position of central defence, he chose to sign for the English champions instead.

By a quirk of fate, his debut for United came against Liverpool, at Anfield of all places. Although signed as a central defender, he played his first match at left-back, ironically the position that Liverpool wanted him for. Silvestre put in an assured performance in a match United won 3-2 (also notable for the debut of Italian keeper Massimo Taibi).

Silvestre quickly became the first choice partner for Jaap Stam in United’s defence, keeping the more experienced Henning Berg out of the team. When Silvestre put in a few shaky performances, he was heavily criticised, with everyone seeming to want to jump on the bandwagon saying that Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement in signing him was questionable. The main problem was his frequent lapses in concentration, with Stam in particular needing to cover for his young defensive partner.

This season, Silvestre has looked far more at home in the full back position, where his natural pace and attacking instincts can be used most effectively. At present he is the first choice left-back for United, having ousted the long serving Denis Irwin.

Silvestre’s concentration, which seemed to desert him at times last year is now much improved, and he has been one of the stars in a defence which boasts the fewest goals conceded in the Premiership. What tends to be overlooked is that he is one of the youngest players in the United first team.

Silvestre has recently made his debut for the all-conquering French national team. In 1996, he was a member of the team
that won the European Under 21 Championship. Surely now he merits a full time place in the French senior squad.

I think the criticism of Silvestre’s performances last season were well over the top. Remember all those people who laughed when Sir Alex paid a record fee for a defender when signing Stam? Well, Stam proved the doubters wrong, just as Silvestre is doing now.

Summary: