Sander Berge

[Fulwood Blade]

The goal Agana scored at Huddersfield in FA cup 3rd round was a fine example of that. Could McBurnie do that?

he can't ever if i'm honest - different type of player.

We've lost our momentum since March in a few ways.

I genuinely thought we'd benefit from the layoff - wrong!

UTB

 

[Mumbo]

How many times did Deane and Agana have to chase down long balls and make something happen? Zillions. McBurnie jogs, then jogs some more then when he gets a touch either passes it backwards or gives the ball away.

There’s long balls ......like we saw a couple of times tonight,more hopeful than method
and very poorly executed and then there‘s a method and game plan that relies practices and perfects the long ball and makes it a potent force.
I’m not sure what Mcburnie’s game is,I know what Billy‘s game is and we are not playing to his strengths which is playing the ball to feet in the box, he’s had one good chance in 180 mins of football.
I’d like to see an early 20 yard pass through the middle just to mix things up instead of obsessively and ponderously making our way down the right flank so we can try to put a cross iinto a packed penalty area with defenders that have had a haircut while they’ve been waiting for what they knew was coming.

 

[JBEblade]

In the lads defence! He’s come from the Belgian league to the most competitive league in the world, been played out of position and had a 3 month layoff without kicking a ball while he should have been getting upto speed . I can see glimpses of a classy player I just don’t know how he fits our system

 

[bromtom]

He was better today, but Lundstram just suits that side in our system.

I actually feel sorry for him, and I hope he doesn't read this site because he's playing an entirely new position and he's learning on the job in the pissing Premier League.

I thought he was poor against Villa, he was alright against Newcastle but he isn't a dynamic box to box player. I hope we change formation to get the best out of him or he has an excellent preseason because we'll be a real bump in the road for his career otherwise.

He has some great strengths though, some excellent passing, can weight a ball nicely for people to run on to, when he runs with the ball he's strong and hard to knock off it, and I thought against Newcastle his movement was more in tune with what we expect from his position.

Next season or maybe the end of this with the injuries and suspensions we've got, would love him and Norwood in the middle protecting and distributing, with Lunny and Fleck on either side and one striker.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

In the lads defence! He’s come from the Belgian league to the most competitive league in the world, been played out of position and had a 3 month layoff without kicking a ball while he should have been getting upto speed . I can see glimpses of a classy player I just don’t know how he fits our system

Do you seriously think that professional footballers didn’t kick a ball at all during lockdown?

 

[Mouth of the South]

Fairly simple really - to get the best out of him he either needs to play in Norwood's position or CW needs to change formation back to a double pivot with one/two in front. I think the former is far more likely as the latter would reduce the protection to the back three and push Fleck out of his normal position.
Until then, I'm afraid he'll continue to look like a fish out of water at RCM, just as Lundstram does until he drifts to a more central position.

 

[ATL Recs]

You don't need to buy this kind of player if your producing.....other wise what's the point of an academy

Sorry pal but your living or dreaming at times gone by
You can count on two hands how many players coming through academies step straight through to a premier league birth at their mother club hence the lower league and overseas loan system
The pressure of keeping Premier League Status ( money) sees to that It’s not a place for blooding new talent- the risk is too high ( money )

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I've held off on commenting about Berge as I've been giving him due time before forming an opinion.

No doubt there's a player in there, but at the moment I'm struggling to see why he's been picked ahead of Lundstram? Maybe there's an attitude /injury that's preventing Tufty picking JL7 but right now I can't help but feel Tufty's stubbornness is what is making the decision here.

JL7 was the poster boy of our PL campaign - what we lack in quality, we'll make up for in energy, enthusiasm and graft - and him not playing has shifted that attitude.

Maybe Chris is playing the long game and sees Berge playing ahead of Norwood (which after yesterday wouldn't be the worst idea) but right now I don't think keeping out there is doing us or him any favours...

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Do you seriously think that professional footballers didn’t kick a ball at all during lockdown?

Berge was doing shuttle runs most days in Millhouses Park from about day 3 of lockdown so they never really stopped training!

 

[Cheesebored]

Whats the difference between a Dutch player at 14 and our player nothing but coaching Ajax put a lot of money into the coaching system coach our players the English way pace and power when ever our teams go over and play these Countries at 14 we beat them when was it that a Dutch team won a Champions league

Blinkered post. Dutch players play all over Europe. Sure VVD and Wijnaldum would be happy to show you their winners medals.

 

[Danetheblade]

Whats the difference between a Dutch player at 14 and our player nothing but coaching Ajax put a lot of money into the coaching system coach our players the English way pace and power when ever our teams go over and play these Countries at 14 we beat them when was it that a Dutch team won a Champions league

I get that, but I'm not on about every English team. I'm on about us..

 

[Gimli]

It was a toss up between Berge and Norwood for the most inept performance of the season.
In an attacking sense we are so very predictable,we’ve become one trick ponies with Zero creativity the result is ’goal drought’.
If we had Deane and Agana in their pomp up front for us we still woud’nt score because there’s no service to the strikers.

Think we were watching a different game pal if you think Norwood and Berge’s performances were equally bad.

I love Norwood and he’s been fantastic since he signed but his performance yesterday (and he will know this himself) was one of the worst I’ve ever seen - Berge was far from inept, not amazing I accept that but nowhere near as bad as Norwood was yesterday.

 

[haich1889]

He looked so slow. Needs work on fitness, ball skills good.

fitness can't make a player faster.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

fitness can't make a player faster.

Of course it will. If Usain Bolt did not train and raced with a pot belly he would not be breaking 100/200m world records.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

it may be a confidence thing, but as regards passing he just seems to go for the short obvious passes sideways and backwards rather than anything more incisive and riskier to open teams up or generally create more attacking opportunities.

it’s all very lacklustre and pedestrian at the moment from all of them and he is no exception. He doesn’t seem to have found his feet yet.

 

[Mercedes]

I get that, but I'm not on about every English team. I'm on about us..

So am I

 

[Danetheblade]

So am I

So. To answer the question about why our academy will never ever be the same (or better) than Ajax... They have stature. Period. They literally are a conveyor belt of young talent. We wouldn't be able to match that purely based on their position. I don't think we've ever played their academy team, but if we did I'd stick my neck out and say we'd get utterly destroyed. Funds come into it too. We could probably build a state of the art facility. But if we don't have the talent coming through, it's kinda wasted.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

it may be a confidence thing, but as regards passing he just seems to go for the short obvious passes sideways and backwards rather than anything more incisive and riskier to open teams up or generally create more attacking opportunities.

it’s all very lacklustre and pedestrian at the moment from all of them and he is no exception. He doesn’t seem to have found his feet yet.

Funny you should talk about him passing sideways but I did think he reminds me of Ray "the crab" Wilkins. Genuinely think he would thrive in the middle protecting the defence.

 

[Jon Bon II]

He reminds me of Greg Halford without the added bonus of the long throw-ins.

It's alright people banging on that he's played in the Champions League but that was with Genk FFS, not the likes of Inter, Real or Liverpool. How far did Genk progress in the CL?

San Marino's goalie is an international but I wouldn't be very chuffed if we blew a boat load of cash to sign him.

 

[BarryBigtime]

The chap joined in January. Breaking in to an already established team. Playing in a tactic which is both nuanced and complex. Give him this half the season. Judge him in the next.

I remember Vidic's first half season at Man Utd. He too was a January signing. He too failed to play well in his first half season. That's the best comparison I can think of.

I'd be very surprised if Knill and Wilder, who went to watch him overseas a number of times, missed or overlooked any data points (attributes both technical and mental). There's no doubt Berge is playing in a role which is asking something different of him. Also, being stuck in lockdown away from family in foreign lands must have sucked - although I acknowledge he wasn't meeting expectations before this.

 

[Mercedes]

So. To answer the question about why our academy will never ever be the same (or better) than Ajax... They have stature. Period. They literally are a conveyor belt of young talent. We wouldn't be able to match that purely based on their position. I don't think we've ever played their academy team, but if we did I'd stick my neck out and say we'd get utterly destroyed. Funds come into it too. We could probably build a state of the art facility. But if we don't have the talent coming through, it's kinda wasted.

Just look who's coaching the Ajax academy

 

[Danetheblade]

Just look who's coaching the Ajax academy

But that doesn't really matter much. Look at the talent (natural) they attract. This is down to the record that Ajax have not only in turning kids into absolute world beaters, but the first teams records too.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Berge what is his preferred position ?

If its Norwoods position,why did we sign him,he is an expensive understudy if that is the case,and even worse when he is played in square peg position just to have him in the team.

Now is the time that Wilder should show some forthought regarding Berge,drop Norwood and play Berge and see what he can do,i want to know how he does,it is ideal now,we are safe in the Prem,get experimenting Wilder its the best time.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

People need to remember that the lad has only just turned to 22.

He's miles ahead of where many other players were at that age.

John Fleck was washed up playing for a shit Coventry team in League One when he was 22.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Yesterday one the best managers in the game picked him in the first X1, ahead of lundstram.
I’ve learnt my lesson over the last 3 n a half years n when Wilder sees something in a player, you reserve judgement.

I’ll reserve mine till halfway through next season, especially when it comes to a 22 year old who’s previously shone in the Champions League and is currently being played out of position.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

fitness can't make a player faster.

It can.actually

 

[CentralQuay]

He reminds me of Greg Halford without the added bonus of the long throw-ins.

It's alright people banging on that he's played in the Champions League but that was with Genk FFS, not the likes of Inter, Real or Liverpool. How far did Genk progress in the CL?

San Marino's goalie is an international but I wouldn't be very chuffed if we blew a boat load of cash to sign him.

Since 2011.....
De Bruyne, Koulibaly, Milinkovic-Savic, Leon Bailey, Courtois, Malinovskyi, Wilfred Ndidi, Castagne.....And they're just the ones playing at the very top level of the best leagues.
Not including the likes of Benteke, Samatta, Trossard, Colley, Kabasele etc.


How many players have Sheffield United developed into Champions League players in that time, besides Kyle Walker?

Genk are one of the top development clubs in Europe.

 

[Mercedes]

But that doesn't really matter much. Look at the talent (natural) they attract. This is down to the record that Ajax have not only in turning kids into absolute world beaters, but the first teams records too.

Blinkered post. Dutch players play all over Europe. Sure VVD and Wijnaldum would be happy to show you their winners medals.

Why's it Blinkered Maybe Gerrard,Paul Scholes, John Terry,Ryan Giggs to to mention a few could show Wijnaldum there's I'm sure they came through our system you must enlighten me when was the last time a Dutch team won the champions league

 

[Mercedes]

Since 2011.....
De Bruyne, Koulibaly, Milinkovic-Savic, Leon Bailey, Courtois, Malinovskyi, Wilfred Ndidi, Castagne.....And they're just the ones playing at the very top level of the best leagues.
Not including the likes of Benteke, Samatta, Trossard, Colley, Kabasele etc.


How many players have Sheffield United developed into Champions League players in that time, besides Kyle Walker?

Genk are one of the top development clubs in Europe.

So whats stopping us

 

[CentralQuay]

So whats stopping us

You wouldn't have a youth team if you discarded players the way Berge is being after such a short space of time.

That's what is probably stopping you.