English midfielder Bryan Robson spent 13 years dominating the
midfield for Manchester United. He was signed from midlands side
West Bromwich Albion for a then British record fee of £1,500,000 in
October 1981, stating that his motivations were medals.
He claimed two league titles, four FA Cups, a League Cup, a
European Cup Winners' Cup, a European Super Cup, and even won a
double in his final season as a Red Devil.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has recently stated
that he thought nobody believed he could replace a legend like
Bryan Robson (who received 90 international caps), but then Roy
Keane, who was bought from Nottingham Forest, emerged into the
first team and went on to captain United to multiple
trophies.
Similarly, in Roy Keane's absence, Ferguson again said that
replacing the Republic of Ireland international would have been
mission impossible, but now Anderson is emerging as the heir to the
central midfield throne.
Midfield Evolution
Ferguson also stated that Robson and Keane were different midfield
players, just like Anderson again has a contrasting style, but
insisted that this is how a midfield evolves.
Robson, though, believes that Anderson has some way to go before he
can achieve what he and Keane did with the club.
"He's got a lot of attributes - lots of energy, but he's still
learning and has a bit to go," Robson explained in the
Manchester Evening News.
"He can be erratic with his passing and I'd like to see him score
more goals. But he's got lots of qualities and the energy to get
box to box.
"One of his best qualities is that he's not daunted by anything,"
Robson said, referring to Anderson's big-game mentality.
"Everybody talks about the flair of Brazilians, but the thing I
noticed about them the first time I ever played against them was
their mental toughness. Nothing fazes them, they just love
playing."