How important is it that we keep Berge now!

[Snake]

With Fleck now long term injured and McAtee showing that he isn't going to hit he ground running, it is now imperative that we keep Berge. Last week I would have said that it was important that we kept him, but now - if we have any ambitions at all of getting out of this division - I think that we must keep hold of him.

Looks like the curse of the freak fuckin injuries is hitting us again

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Patrick?

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

Not sure about Berger but I'd like to keep Berge.

 

[Scarebus]

Gerhard?

 

[Snake]

hahaha quick edit

All credibility gone ............. that's it, fuck it, I'm off to Hillsborough.

 

[Cheesebored]

With Fleck now long term injured and McAtee showing that he isn't going to hit he ground running, it is now imperative that we keep Berger. Last week I would have said that it was important that we kept him, but now - if we have any ambitions at all of getting out of this division - I think that we must keep hold of him.

Looks like the curse of the freak fuckin injuries is hitting us again

If you're talking about Berge he's unplayable on his day but that day doesn't come round often enough, especially away from home. If we could guarantee reinvestment in the team I wouldn't lose any sleep over him leaving. Seems a likeable character but doesn't do enough regularly enough, especially in his deeper lying midfield role.

 

[Sheff de party]

Did nothing yesterday as is common. Very good player when it’s sunny at Bramall Lane. Invisible a fair bit of the time.

Still can’t believe how many think he’s too good for the championship. If he was £3m, under six foot and English, no one outside the Blades would have even heard of him.

 

[100% part time blade]

If you're talking about Berge he's unplayable on his day but that day doesn't come round often enough, especially away from home. If we could guarantee reinvestment in the team I wouldn't lose any sleep over him leaving. Seems a likeable character but doesn't do enough regularly enough, especially in his deeper lying midfield role.

I’ve admired Berge from day 1, and probably actually said that at times he’s “unplayable”, but the more I watch him, the more areas of his game that I think are lacking stand out: obviously nobody’s perfect, and he’s a very good player, but it does seem as an opposition you can actually ‘play him’ out of the game.

In general …

Berge will:
-control the ball brilliantly for a big man
-run powerfully with the ball
-go past a man on his right side
-play neat short passes well
-put in a cross
-turn around on his right foot and go backwards if nothing looks on
-take the ball to the right to dribble out of trouble
-score with a good shot, a strong lunge in the box, even sometimes an unlikely header
-easily outmuscle (and often outpace) a defender who tries to stand him up, or tries to pressure him away from goal, or tries to run with him.
-track back into a defensive area and get goal-side near an opposition player with the ball (but not actually do much once there)

Berge will not

• use his left foot
• cut inside
• play a hopeful ball when in a bit of trouble
• go past an opponent on the left side
• hit a long diagonal (or anything else really) when a short pass is on
• dive and cheat
• actually pressure an opponent who has the ball
• actually block a pass
• bring any aggression or guile to go with his size to bully opponents into mistakes
• win many headers

I wonder if knowing his limitations (so right-sided, so keen to play the short-pass or dribble down the right etc.) it’s possible to predict him and then defend him. As a defender, don’t try to run with him and avoid ‘going to ground’ as convention would say: instead, predict exactly where he’s running, time the tackle, send him tumbling and come out with the ball. Show him some aggression and he’s unlikely to either respond in kind, or make a show of it to ‘win’ dead-ball situations and get the defender booked etc.

I still think he’s great. I love having him in the side and watching him play.
I think whether he has a fantastic game or an anonymous one though maybe down to how opposition sides decide to go up against him rather than his form or attitude wobbling from game to game. Because he can be a bit predictable. And therefore playable.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Selling Berge would be yet another United transfer own goal, and fuck me, we’ve had a shed load of those over the years.

Not one of them has turned out well

 

[ATL Recs]

With Fleck now long term injured and McAtee showing that he isn't going to hit he ground running, it is now imperative that we keep Berge. Last week I would have said that it was important that we kept him, but now - if we have any ambitions at all of getting out of this division - I think that we must keep hold of him.

Looks like the curse of the freak fuckin injuries is hitting us again

The only Freak is our managers training preparation methods look at the injury mess he made at his previous

 

[William Large]

If you're talking about Berge he's unplayable on his day but that day doesn't come round often enough, especially away from home. If we could guarantee reinvestment in the team I wouldn't lose any sleep over him leaving. Seems a likeable character but doesn't do enough regularly enough, especially in his deeper lying midfield role.

Sadly I think that’s a fairly accurate summary of his career at Utd to date.
Seems like a really good guy, no doubt he is really talented and on his day (in this league) unplayable.
Unfortunately it seems like he turns it on against lesser teams at the lane in favourable conditions and circumstances.
I would love to see him get a grip on games where we are up against it. I know he’s not the Roy Keane type but he does disappear at times.
If we were to get his release clause and we are able to reinvest even half of that back in a replacement who will give us a more all round, regular performance then I would take it.

As this unlikely then I hope we keep him and he ups his game.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

The only Freak is our managers training preparation methods look at the injury mess he made at his previous

Yes, an opponent tackling him hard and fracturing his leg is heckies fault.