Outgoing? SANDER BERGE ON WAY OUT ?

[LJBlade]

Davis is completely different. Bowler I could actually see as a replacement, assuming Sander is playing in an advanced role, being asked to beat men and get crosses in (Bowler's advantage being he's also a natural goalscorer). #Bowlersagent

Bowler is more of a winger, Berge is never ‘asked to get crosses in’.

 

[brownblade]

Bowler is more of a winger, Berge is never ‘asked to get crosses in’.

Sander does regularly get past men (on the outside) and get a cross in/cut it back. That's what I'd argue he's done most effectively.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Bowler is more of a winger, Berge is never ‘asked to get crosses in’.

There's nothing to stop us from tweaking our system slightly. If we're playing with 3 attacking players there's room for a winger.
Khadra is more of a winger than a 10 from what I've seen.

 

[LJBlade]

There's nothing to stop us from tweaking our system slightly. If we're playing with 3 attacking players there's room for a winger.
Khadra is more of a winger than a 10 from what I've seen.

I assume you didn’t see much of Khadra last season then.

 

[Sheff de party]

You can make the case for Berge being a 20m player. He's a unique talent, he has the skill/size combination I think I have only ever seen in Ibrahimovic. I think his problem is he is set on being a defensive midfielder. He's just not that good in that role. He isn't assertive enough, doesn't take control of a game, nor does he offer the defensive protection an elite level DM is expected to provide.

For him to play DM he either has to go to a team playing a double pivot which limits his options, or he is looking at a relegation battle and potentially ending up in the same situation he is currently in. He really needs to commit to the AM role and put another season of that on tape.

Skill/size combo of Zlatan is a new one.

If Berge wants to play DM anywhere at any decent level, he needs to learn how to tackle. Anyone with any pace or skill he simply cannot get near.

 

[Sheff de party]

He plays for Norway, who are ranked far lower than say, RND’s Wales.

He looked like he couldn’t cope with the premier league at the first attempt.

I don’t think they are great adverts for £20m + players.

Berge simply doesn’t have the personality to maximise his talent. He is too nice.

He doesn’t have the drive of aggression you need. Give him Billy’s personality and he’d be a top half Prem player easily.

He’s like Michael Tonge.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I assume you didn’t see much of Khadra last season then.

I saw him maybe 4/5 times. He mostly cut inside from wide positions in the games I watched.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Today's itinerary for the Blades social media team:

5pm - Announce new kit
5:05pm - Announce Sander has left for another club.

 

[Dkc]

I understood that Berge wants to switch club so all we can do is wait for acceptable offer and wish him goo luck.
I bet there is lots of players we can afford and who are making impact, which shouldn't be hard as we are now relying to: Fleck, Osborne and Norwood.

Have you got a reliable source for that?

Any of our players would want to 'switch club' if the right offer came along, but it would need to be the right club. Berge's no exception. He'd move to Man City but not to Grimsby.

Saying 'I understand Berge wants to switch clubs' implies that he's unhappy at the Lane, which I don't think is necessarily the case

 

[FinBlade]

Have you got a reliable source for that?

Any of our players would want to 'switch club' if the right offer came along, but it would need to be the right club. Berge's no exception. He'd move to Man City but not to Grimsby.

Saying 'I understand Berge wants to switch clubs' implies that he's unhappy at the Lane, which I don't think is necessarily the case

This forum is my only source, so I might have got wrong idea.

 

[LewishamBlade]

I assume you didn’t see much of Khadra last season then.

A) he definitely played more games on either flank than behind the striker last season

B) he can do both

C) that suits us and can help make us more fluid

 

[Houston_Blade]

Have you got a reliable source for that?

Any of our players would want to 'switch club' if the right offer came along, but it would need to be the right club. Berge's no exception. He'd move to Man City but not to Grimsby.

Saying 'I understand Berge wants to switch clubs' implies that he's unhappy at the Lane, which I don't think is necessarily the case

I agree, he might not be unhappy but he might also be actively looking to find another club, probably not much of a stretch to suggest that his agent has been speaking to people all summer.

He was brought into a top half PL side and is now a division below that, I assume he was aware that we hadn't always been a top half PL side and a cursory glance at our history would show him that our level is top half Championship with the odd promotion and relegation.

We don't know what he was sold by Wilder and the Snek when he came in but my view is that as soon as is practically possible he'll be on his way.

 

[LJBlade]

A) he definitely played more games on either flank than behind the striker last season

B) he can do both

C) that suits us and can help make us more fluid

He only played a handful of games as a left-winger last season. When played on the right it was more of a 'right of the front three' position.

We don't play with wingers and I'd never expect us to play him there so it's a fairly moot point anyway.

 

[LewishamBlade]

He only played a handful of games as a left-winger last season. When played on the right it was more of a 'right of the front three' position.

We don't play with wingers and I'd never expect us to play him there so it's a fairly moot point anyway.

Blackburn season ticket come in handy?

We finished the season with Berge and MGW supporting Billy and then NDiaye. They were pushed much further forward than being midfielders. They aren’t traditional wingers, more like a hybrid of inside forwards/number 10’s. Ideal for a player who can play both positions.

 

[LJBlade]

Blackburn season ticket come in handy?

We finished the season with Berge and MGW supporting Billy and then NDiaye. They were pushed much further forward than being midfielders. They aren’t traditional wingers, more like a hybrid of inside forwards/number 10’s. Ideal for a player who can play both positions.

About as handy as yours, I'd imagine.

Exactly, that's how I'd expect us to play this season, with Khadra in a similar role as MWG, rather than playing on the wing. That's where he played most often for Blackburn.

 

[LewishamBlade]

About as handy as yours, I'd imagine.

Exactly, that's how I'd expect us to play this season, with Khadra in a similar role as MWG, rather than playing on the wing. That's where he played most often for Blackburn.

You're the one giving us a positional breakdown of where he played all season

So would I, and I'm pretty sure that's where everyone who's mentioned it meant they'd like to see him.
Bowler could definitely play that role too.

You were just being pedantic for the sake of it.

 

[LJBlade]

You're the one giving us a positional breakdown of where he played all season

So would I, and I'm pretty sure that's where everyone who's mentioned it meant they'd like to see him.
Bowler could definitely play that role too.

You were just being pedantic for the sake of it.

It was actually you that started with that. I wasn't being pedantic because I really couldn't care less, as I said, it's a moot point. If it helps move things along I'm happy to just go ahead and agree with you. I'm not really sure which bit of my post you're disagreeing with anyway.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

No Berge in the kit launch photos

Sound the alarms!!

 

[Bladesman]

No Berge in the kit launch photos

Sound the alarms!!

Probably don't have enough shirts for all the players.

 

[Champagneblade]

Just to add to this thread, here’s a few random blokes off Transfermarkt who may or may not be able to replace Sander for no fee:

Jean-Paul Boëtius, 28 - played 33 games for Mainz last year in the German league. Has one Dutch cap. (Go on admit it, you found that last comment funny).​

Adama Traoré, 27 - no, not that one. Played in Turkey with Hatauspor (no, me neither) and once left Monaco for 14m. Malian International.​

Farid Boulaya, 29 - He’s Algerian, he played with Metz back in Ligue Un and he’s got no club. See, can even still pull out that Oasis number!​

Zakaria Labyad, 29 - Formerly a 6m signing for Ajax who he just left. Scrabble players dream. Quite possibly injury prone though without further investigation.​

Tom Rogic, 29 - former Celtic. Almost joined us once. Might be decent if kept fit.​

Pelle van Amersfoort, 26 - I can almost picture Adam Oxley shouting his name already. Dutch, played in Poland, decent scoring record. Was linked with Schalke. 78 goals and 31 assists in 298 career matches. 1m93 so perhaps closest to Sander in height too.​

Any thoughts whatsoever on the above? If only to give you respite from the Errea kit thread?

 

[SufcBilly]

Just to add to this thread, here’s a few random blokes off Transfermarkt who may or may not be able to replace Sander for no fee:

Jean-Paul Boëtius, 28 - played 33 games for Mainz last year in the German league. Has one Dutch cap. (Go on admit it, you found that last comment funny).​

Adama Traoré, 27 - no, not that one. Played in Turkey with Hatauspor (no, me neither) and once left Monaco for 14m. Malian International.​

Farid Boulaya, 29 - He’s Algerian, he played with Metz back in Ligue Un and he’s got no club. See, can even still pull out that Oasis number!​

Zakaria Labyad, 29 - Formerly a 6m signing for Ajax who he just left. Scrabble players dream. Quite possibly injury prone though without further investigation.​

Tom Rogic, 29 - former Celtic. Almost joined us once. Might be decent if kept fit.​

Pelle van Amersfoort, 26 - I can almost picture Adam Oxley shouting his name already. Dutch, played in Poland, decent scoring record. Was linked with Schalke. 78 goals and 31 assists in 298 career matches. 1m93 so perhaps closest to Sander in height too.​

Any thoughts whatsoever on the above? If only to give you respite from the Errea kit thread?

didnt traore sign for Hull? or did that not get done

 

[Westran]

Scenes when Berge isn't in the squad later

 

[alcoblade]

I agree, he might not be unhappy but he might also be actively looking to find another club, probably not much of a stretch to suggest that his agent has been speaking to people all summer.

He was brought into a top half PL side and is now a division below that, I assume he was aware that we hadn't always been a top half PL side and a cursory glance at our history would show him that our level is top half Championship with the odd promotion and relegation.

We don't know what he was sold by Wilder and the Snek when he came in but my view is that as soon as is practically possible he'll be on his way.

He (and his agent) should also realise that he was a significant part in use getting relegated - another big transfer signing that failed.

The reason he's still with us is that the footballing world saw that he couldn't (currently?) cut it in the top flight, so his actual value has significantly fallen away from what we've paid / still expect.

To a degree you can't blame him for wanting away, but to another degree you could argue he's actually found his level, and it's his job to prove he can excel at it.

In a less competitive country, or one where the game's played at a slower pace, he might well make it in the top league right now.

To be fair to him, his attitude seems spot on and he's not moaning publicly, and his body language seems positive.

 

[Liaminho9]

No Berge in the kit launch photos

Sound the alarms!!

Somebody read this and made him go put a shirt on.

 

[Lucky1979]

He (and his agent) should also realise that he was a significant part in use getting relegated - another big transfer signing that failed.

By tearing his hamstring? I really don’t think that was part of his plans. He was also playing well before that injury as well fwiw.

We got relegated because we spent nearly £45m on two players that we didn’t really need and failed to address not having a LCB and creative player. Not because SB got injured. We didn’t need a £20m keeper (that had a history of getting relegated) or £23m striker that our glorious leader didn’t even bother to play

 

[alcoblade]

By tearing his hamstring? I really don’t think that was part of his plans. He was also playing well before that injury as well fwiw.

We got relegated because we spent nearly £45m on two players that we didn’t really need and failed to address not having a LCB and creative player. Not because SB got injured. We didn’t need a £20m keeper (that had a history of getting relegated) or £23m striker that our glorious leader didn’t even bother to play

There were lost of other culprits, agreed.

But I for one, and many others I'd argue, would not agree that Berge performed well in the premier league prior to his injury.

Added to that, he was fairy anonymous in the championship until he was pushed further forward.

So he's done very little to suggest he can cut it in the premier league (just yet?), and the lack of offers suggest those more informed that us agree with that.

(As an aside, the "glorious leader" didn't play the striker because he was totally shite when given the opportunity).

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Somebody read this and made him go put a shirt on.

Looks a really nice shirt.
I think the Errea logo would have looked better with a bit of black edge trimming to tie in with the rest of the kit.
Other than that it's a beauty. Really like the shorts too.
For a first effort they've done a cracking job. Way better than Adidas' first attempt.

I'm not a shirt buyer, but it's the first since the bouncing day massacre top that has tempted me.

 

[SufcBilly]

Somebody read this and made him go put a shirt on.

shag

 

[Champagneblade]

didnt traore sign for Hull? or did that not get done

Don't believe he's there presently.

 

[ThatJa]

Don't believe he's there presently.

Adama Traore has suffered a significant setback just days into his Hull City career. The ink was barely dry on his MKM Stadium contract when the midfielder picked up a serious hamstring injury in training at the Tigers' training base in Cottingham.

Hull Live understands that the Malian international is expected to be out of action until after Christmas and will now require surgery to repair the tear in his hamstring, dealing a blow to his hopes of hitting the ground running in English football.