Sander berge

[robbiez666]

It's also worth pointing out that the players Wilder really turned around all had, more or less, something to prove. Either they'd been rejected by a side higher than us in the pyramid or they were in the twilight of their careers. The failures, really, were players brought in for big money, brought in from a lower division or brought in at the early stages of their careers.

Successes who fit the criteria:
Simon Moore: dropped down from Cardiff's bench in the league above
Jack O'Connell: dropped down from Brentford's reserves in the league above
John Fleck: moved from Coventry in the same division but had failed to hit the heights expected of him as a teenager at Rangers
Leon Clarke: bounced around the Championship and League One, was 32 when he joined for £100k from Bury
Mark Duffy: released by Birmingham in the division above having spent the previous season on loan at Burton
David McGoldrick: released by Ipswich
Daniel Lafferty: dropped down two divisions from Premier League Burnley, joining for a huge £50k
Jake Wright Snr: released by Oxford
Enda Stevens: signed on a free from Portsmouth who picked him up after he was released by Villa
Oli Norwood (promotion season edition): serially rejected by Premier League Brighton, spending the previous season on loan at Fulham in the Championship before joining us for £1.2m (plus undisclosed loan fee)

Successes (or at least not failures) who don't quite fit the criteria:
George Baldock: signed at 24 for £500k from MK Dons after we were promoted to the Championship
John Egan: signed at 25 from Brentford for a then-club record £4.2m fee
Jayden Bogle: signed at 20 for £5m from Derby
Aaron Ramsdale: signed at 23 for £12.5m (now £15m) from Bournemouth. Sold to Arsenal for a fee rising to £30m.

[Relative] failures:
Rhian Brewster: signed at 20 for £18.5m from Liverpool
Oli McBurnie: signed at 23 for £17m from Swansea (lower division)
Sander Berge: signed at 21 for £22.5m from Genk
Callum Robinson: signed at 24 for £5m from Preston (lower division)
Oli Burke: signed at 24 as a makeweight in the deal for Robinson from West Brom
Luke Freeman: signed at 27 for £4.5m from QPR (lower division)
Lys Mousset: signed at 23 for £6m from Bournemouth
Jack Robinson: signed at 26 for £500k from Forest (lower division)
Ben Osborn: signed at 24 (he turned 25 after 2 weeks with us) for £3.5m from Forest (lower division)
Max Lowe: signed at 23 for £3m from Derby (lower division)

I'd go a step further. The players we signed on the way up were almost all underperforming. Had great talent but never turned that into consistant performances. Wilder got a tune out of them. They realised their potential.

The players he signed in the EPL were young players with great talent. They needed to de developed. They were either chucked straight in or not given enough time to settle. They'd come to a club with crap training facilities and limited coaching, told to ignore everything they'd learned since childhood and expected to
play a rigid system.

 

[Rodley]

He may qualify for “pea sized heart” status at this rate.

 

[Drunk blade]

He'd be bloody brilliant at walking football with the over 50s

 

[Big.Dane.w]

He’s just a pointless player, Please won’t someone just take him off our hands he won’t pull any trees up elsewhere either, once he’s gone I doubt we’ll hear much of him again.

 

[Alan Birchenall's hair]

He’s just a pointless player, Please won’t someone just take him off our hands he won’t pull any trees up elsewhere either, once he’s gone I doubt we’ll hear much of him again.

He'll stick around on big wages until contract ends (who wouldn't?). Then he'll piss of back to Norway or Denmark etc. Or a shit club making up the numbers in Belgium like where he came from. Sort of EFL League 1 standard. But we may see him playing in the 1st round of the Europa League or summat, as his team's finished 5th in the Danish Bacon/Lurpak League.....

 

[Bell4]

He'll stick around on big wages until contract ends (who wouldn't?). Then he'll piss of back to Norway or Denmark etc. Or a shit club making up the numbers in Belgium like where he came from. Sort of EFL League 1 standard. But we may see him playing in the 1st round of the Europa League or summat, as his team's finished 5th in the Danish Bacon/Lurpak League.....

And could we please stop calling him Sandra!

I have an aunty Sandra and she's everything he isn't as a footballer

 

[mattbianco1]

A few points on Sander:

Poor yesterday but he at least ambled about in the exact space that Derby ran through to score twice after he left. The shocking nature of our collapse and the ensuing anger both seem to have magnified the disappointment in him yesterday.

Fact: He had nothing to do with the two mega-soft goals conceded.

I expected way more of him. So far he is a clear disappointment. Having said that, at this moment in January 2022 he is to be viewed as a recovering player not someone fully fit and near peak (or if you wanna be negative abyss) level.

In total, I think he is better than we think but worse than we hoped. And he chose not just a risky club. But the entirely wrong country.

He thought we would be his Borussia Dortmund. A stepping stone club where playing was guaranteed and he could shine in one of Europe’s top leagues.

Looking at him, he misread his own style badly. Where is that English team that plays “with quality players” but not at breakneck pace that also forces you to battle?

At a push, Norwich in the Championship.

As a player, he is not (yet, he may never be) at Prem or La Liga intensity or skill. He needed to follow Haaland into the Bundesliga.

It IS a slightly lower level, but very conducive to footballing development. They play like he needs to. Slower, less intense, but with brains and movement around him. The pin ball nature of the Championship does not make it easier for him. He needs patterns and lines, not bobbles and rabid dogs.

He needed to move to Bayer Leverkusen or Gladbach in Germany, fringe CL there. That would have ensured smooth progression from Genk and would have allowed everyone to see his further ceiling or how high it could be pushed.

We set him back two or three years minimum. And it looked such an exciting win win scenario at the time. Great manager, lovely set up on the up. Total unity with fans in all key positions. He was wanted and loved. Team on the verge of European qualification, what could possibly go wrong?

That incredible turn around is our trauma as much as his. As it stands, a cotton corona mask with his silhouette as Sander the Redeemer is probably the best summary of his monumentally sad time at this club. Something you may find on the curb and pick up to hang it up in ten years because then it will make you smile.

Considering players read this stuff, we should all try to remember these types of personal and overall contexts before making our snipes too bitter, too personal or too absolute.

PS: Last year I was occasionally accused of being Chris Wilder. I am not and wasn’t then. Equally, I am not Sander nor do I live rent free in his tracksuit pockets. Just a voice of temperance…

Fantastic post.

You've said some similar things that i've said to some of my mates. Particularly the intensity bit.

It's weird to say, but he's more suited to the PL, than the Championship. He'd thrive with better players around him, i'm sure.

 

[Balham]

Fantastic post.

You've said some similar things that i've said to some of my mates. Particularly the intensity bit.

It's weird to say, but he's more suited to the PL, than the Championship. He'd thrive with better players around him, i'm sure.

Some players are able to drag their inferior teammates up to their level through force of personality and will to win. Other players can't do that and are instead dragged down to their teammates' level. Berge is one of those. He's demonstrably better than any other midfielder we have* but he lacks the drive to influence the performance of those around him.

*I've posted the passing stats, successful dribbles and meters gained previously. He's weak in the air and his defensive positioning is questionable but in terms of progressing the ball he's streets ahead of Norwood and Hourihane.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Some players are able to drag their inferior teammates up to their level through force of personality and will to win. Other players can't do that and are instead dragged down to their teammates' level. Berge is one of those. He's demonstrably better than any other midfielder we have* but he lacks the drive to influence the performance of those around him.

*I've posted the passing stats, successful dribbles and meters gained previously. He's weak in the air and his defensive positioning is questionable but in terms of progressing the ball he's streets ahead of Norwood and Hourihane.

He's not, and probably never will be ready to be a teams best player. Not in his nature at all. But I think he'll end up having a decent top division career as a 6th or 7th best player in a decent team

 

[Camden Blade]

I was still hoping Berge would come good. But you'd expect something when you bring on a 22.5 million midfielder in a Championship game. He was weak and slow or simply disinterested. The upside is Brewster has looked better and better in his recent games. He's worth the outlay. He's young and the goals will come with the right service. Yes he'll miss a few so does every striker.

 

[Varkanoid]

I was still hoping Berge would come good. But you'd expect something when you bring on a 22.5 million midfielder in a Championship game. He was weak and slow or simply disinterested. The upside is Brewster has looked better and better in his recent games. He's worth the outlay. He's young and the goals will come with the right service. Yes he'll miss a few so does every striker.

its just a pity the rest of the team are not performing a lot better as I think that would bring Brewster on quicker. Okay we've waited months to see him coming good but there is a glimmer of hope this season.

 

[Tony Currie]

How anyone has seen Quality, potential in him needs a trip to speck savers. Has no passion, fight, ability to unlock a defence never runs just walks around the pitch get rid of him now for what we can get because come end of season he’ll be worth nothing

unlike you many mangers have seen the quality (Klopp and Wilder to name two). Unfortunately just when a run of games has started Berge has had a niggling injury. Played as an attacking number 8 with a run of games we will see the best of Berge. He can hold the ball up, take a man on and spot a pass - three very good attributes to have.

 

[Snowflake]

Agree. Let's deal with the kamikaze players first, the ones that proactively harm us during games.

None now !!

 

[Snowflake]

I'd go a step further. The players we signed on the way up were almost all underperforming. Had great talent but never turned that into consistant performances. Wilder got a tune out of them. They realised their potential.

The players he signed in the EPL were young players with great talent. They needed to de developed. They were either chucked straight in or not given enough time to settle. They'd come to a club with crap training facilities and limited coaching, told to ignore everything they'd learned since childhood and expected to
play a rigid system.

Maybe we now have a coaching team that can get the best out of these young players

 

[Fulwood Blade]

As a club we've messed around with Berge from minute one he joined, coupled with injuries at unfortunate intervals, it hasn't been pleasant for club, fans and certainly Berge himself.

He is for me an undoubted talent and needs a little more understanding - as the greater majority of our fans have done with another young player who has also had troubles - namely Brewster.

Berge will score the winning goal on Sunday, 29th May 2022

Put it in your diary.

UTB

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The issue with Berge is context, and expectation.

• People see a unit, and expect him to physically dominate.
• People hear the other sides that were supposedly linked, and expect him to excel.
• People see the price tag that we paid, and expect him to be ready, consistent and again, dominant.

The context is that it was a huge price tag for Sheffield United to pay, but not a huge price tag for the Premier League. That money in the PL often buys you potential, not proven.

Then there's seemingly been very little acknowledgment of the fact that he moved far from home, to a totally different culture, as a nice and grounded if not gentle lad into a changing room that will have been culturally very different, and to then be almost immediately cast into lockdown and his chances to mingle, acclimatise and become one of the lads will have been significantly hampered. I really feel for the lad on that front. Then, he was faced with the expectation of being a game changer in a tough, physical league, the best league in the world - a vast step up from anywhere else he'd ever played - and all whilst played out of position.

Perhaps most crucially of all though, he's never been afforded the patience typically afforded to a young, developing player. He's similar age wise to Ramsdale and Henderson, for example - but never seems to have been given their benefit of the doubt, there's been little consideration that he's still developing and still finding his game, style, position. Maybe that's due to his stature, his price tag, his apparent maturity, his relative superstar status (as far as SUFC signings go), I don't know.

 

[blader]

I SO want(ed?) this kid to be our talisman but virtually all hope of that has dissipated now. He is SO pedestrian, takes way too many touches and provides nothing incisive of creative. Plus way too many times he was caught ball-watching when supposed to be defending.

Seems like an amazing kid/personality and may go on to be a success at another club/system/league but I just don’t see it working out for him here (in terms of escalating us as a team or him as an individual)

Thought we noticed a real difference as soon as Norwood came on.

Bloody hell Sander, I’m on your side but hurry the fuck up and move the ball quicker!!!

 

[Dkc]

I SO want(ed?) this kid to be our talisman but virtually all hope of that has dissipated now. He is SO pedestrian, takes way too many touches and provides nothing incisive of creative. Plus way too many times he was caught ball-watching when supposed to be defending.

Seems like an amazing kid/personality and may go on to be a success at another club/system/league but I just don’t see it working out for him here (in terms of escalating us as a team or him as an individual)

Thought we noticed a real difference as soon as Norwood came on.

Bloody hell Sander, I’m on your side but hurry the fuck up and move the ball quicker!!!

I didn't think he dwelled on the ball or lost possession more than anyone else today. Agree Norwood made a difference and probably should have started. Berge had a great shot saved too (Fleck's was even better)

 

[robbiez666]

He's too flat footed. Expects to receive the ball and have time to stop, look around and then decide what to do. He didn't get done for pace for the booking, he just had no anticipation of where the lad was or what he'd do. As a midfielder you need to be on your toes and aware of what's around you before you receive the ball.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

I' don't doubt a Rolls Royce can be magic on the open road and worth every penny, but if the rest of the team plays cross country you've got a problem, unless it's a Land Rover that is
unfortunately I think we've bought the wrong one......

 

[alcoblade]

The issue with Berge is context, and expectation.

• People see a unit, and expect him to physically dominate.
• People hear the other sides that were supposedly linked, and expect him to excel.
• People see the price tag that we paid, and expect him to be ready, consistent and again, dominant.

The context is that it was a huge price tag for Sheffield United to pay, but not a huge price tag for the Premier League. That money in the PL often buys you potential, not proven.

Then there's seemingly been very little acknowledgment of the fact that he moved far from home, to a totally different culture, as a nice and grounded if not gentle lad into a changing room that will have been culturally very different, and to then be almost immediately cast into lockdown and his chances to mingle, acclimatise and become one of the lads will have been significantly hampered. I really feel for the lad on that front. Then, he was faced with the expectation of being a game changer in a tough, physical league, the best league in the world - a vast step up from anywhere else he'd ever played - and all whilst played out of position.

Perhaps most crucially of all though, he's never been afforded the patience typically afforded to a young, developing player. He's similar age wise to Ramsdale and Henderson, for example - but never seems to have been given their benefit of the doubt, there's been little consideration that he's still developing and still finding his game, style, position. Maybe that's due to his stature, his price tag, his apparent maturity, his relative superstar status (as far as SUFC signings go), I don't know.

My word Kozzy, you’ve created a whole new Berge bingo game there;

Long way from home
Too nice
Still developing
Still finding his game
Too much expectation
Lockdown
Different culture

I think the penny is dropping elsewhere, that he’s perhaps just a bang average second division footballer.

 

[Bladesman]

My word Kozzy, you’ve created a whole new Berge bingo game there;

Long way from home
Too nice
Still developing
Still finding his game
Too much expectation
Lockdown
Different culture

I think the penny is dropping elsewhere, that he’s perhaps just a bang average second division footballer.

I just don't think he is suited to the game in the UK.

He probably is too nice and he doesn't seem aggressive enough. He isn't changing anytime soon.

 

[RWE]

Such a shame for a huge unit to be so poor in the air, I don’t see him as a sitting QB like Norwood either, thought he was better in a driving role at the start of the season. However, I’d prefer to keep Hourihane and Norwood as the 2 midfielders with MGW and Ndiaye behind a striker.

 

[Stretch]

He's ok going forward but has no defensive qualities whatsoever.

Play him as an attacking mid or don't bother.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

The people who slag Berge off generally know nothing about football and are the ones who sit at the back of the KOP and shout at Egan because he didn’t gerrrrritttttt forward after 2 seconds

He was quality today didn’t lose the ball once or give it away unlike Norwood who did after 1 minute which led to there penalty appeal ( I think)

He is far far far better than Norwood but Norwood can play a 20 yard pass fizzed across the ground even though it’s just a simple ball and that isn’t saying Norwood is poor because he isn’t he is very good

If he plays in the QB role like today then he won’t go forward because he can’t it isn’t his job to do so if he is playing there his job is to get the ball and play it sideways to the wings and back up all the attacks which he does

Not to forget the lad hasn’t had a run of games in 12 months since he tore his hamstring of his leg

If people slag him off or don’t appreciate him then we don’t deserve decent players and should just play Basham there

 

[dc_blade]

I've been very critical of him recently but I thought he had a decent game today. Passed the ball pretty well, moved us up the pitch, helped set the tempo. Created a pretty good opportunity for Fleck near the end. Made one important defensive header that I can remember.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

He's ok going forward but has no defensive qualities whatsoever.

Play him as an attacking mid or don't bother.

He made a couple of crucial defensive interceptions today.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

He’s not a bad player, he’s a cowardly player

Possibly more cowardly to call someone cowardly under guise of a pseudonym…

 

[Micky Narker]

Either Berge starts further forward or not at all, even then I'd rather see N'Diaye and MGW supporting Sharp. Norwood and Hourihane need to start next game in the middle of the park.