Berge

[Houston_Blade]

Genuine question, if we were buying Sander Berge how much would you be willing to pay for him ?

Why would we buy Sander from ourselves?!

 

[sitwell]

Why would we buy Sander from ourselves?!

We are the only fuckers his agent has linked him with.

 

[robbiez666]

The only person who seems to think he's a deep lying midfielder is the manager. Only when Sharp was taken off was he pushed forward and should have scored.

I think you'll find Berge wants to play that role.

And yet the manager doesn't play him as a deep lying midfielder? He's playing on the right of a midfield 3. Expected to get up and back.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

I think PH is under some pressure or instruction to play Berge as much as possible

Only thing that makes sense because time and again he's a non contributor. Bringing Basham on for him would very often be an improvement

If he's starting he needs to be part of a front 3, out of the way on the right, and used as an outlet. No good trying for this grey zone between RCM and FWD.
More often than not for weeks he's been playing deeper than ideal. It's not helped him at all. We need a reliable midfielder next to Norwood to allow him to stay forward. If that's not Doyle we probably need to sign one

But if we could sell him this month to fund 2 signings to get us up, we should probably do it, because we're not in the comfort zone the points gap suggests. A couple of reliable good championship players in a squad full of injuries is more valuable than berge IMO

 

[JackSUFC]

Disagree, mainly cos Brewster has potential (which he was showing prior to injury) he showed signs of attacking/scoring awareness, whilst Berge offers nothing that we haven't all witnessed, just glimpses of skill that evaporate into nothingness.

Berge is a better goal threat than Brewster.

 

[Drunk blade]

Disagree, mainly cos Brewster has potential (which he was showing prior to injury) he showed signs of attacking/scoring awareness, whilst Berge offers nothing that we haven't all witnessed, just glimpses of skill that evaporate into nothingness.

Don't know the stats but I'm pretty sure berge has scored a lot more than brewster despite not being a striker

 

[S64 Blade]

Don't know the stats but I'm pretty sure berge has scored a lot more than brewster despite not being a striker

Berge has scored the same amount for us this season than Rhian has the whole time he’s been here.

I do hope Brewster comes good, but I think these persistent injuries will ruin any chances of that.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Berge is a better goal threat than Brewster.

Brewsters irrelevant to the debate as he can’t stay fit

 

[JimW1889]

I'm a happy clapper, and don't really like slagging off our players, but he was absolutely anonymous yesterday and has been a lot post injury.
When he's on his game going forward he can be brilliant and change games. I really think on his day he can look like the best player in the league, but he's not been showing anything recently, and I'd say he doesn't currently deserve a starting place.

 

[blade67]

His one prolonged run of good form came when we played him in a more forward role towards the end of last season. He also was picked in a more forward role for a few games earlier this season with Norwood and Doyle playing a bit deeper. That was the run where we looked pretty unstoppable, with McBurnie also in good form.

In 3 seasons he's rarely looked good playing in a flat midfield 3. It's just not his best position.

 

[JackSUFC]

Brewsters irrelevant to the debate as he can’t stay fit

True.

My take on Berge at the minute - great on his day but he’s a ‘confidence player’ who’s struggling for form right now.

He needs to play with that freedom and belief he seemed to have during the second half of last season where he was often (literally) head and shoulders above any other midfielders on the pitch. That was when he was at his best carrying the ball forwards, gliding past players, getting in the box and on the scoresheet etc. He’s got it in him but probably needs to realise it.

His transfer fee doesn’t help his cause with the fans though. He seems to be more susceptible to criticism because of it.

Either way he’s part of a side who keep winning games and are 11 points clear of 3rd place.

 

[alcoblade]

I think you'll find Berge wants to play that role.

And yet the manager doesn't play him as a deep lying midfielder? He's playing on the right of a midfield 3. Expected to get up and back.

The advanced / right hand side role is the only position he’s demonstrated any potential.

Whatever he personally wants, he’s just not up to the deep lying job in the English game.

 

[Bell4]

I think the problem is that he is poor defensively (and we'll need every CM to be good defensively) and slow on the ball (and we'll need to counter attack quickly).

He might have class, but he needs time and possession. Two things we're unlikely to have.

He rarely puts a shift in as well, despite being shattered after 60 minutes. He did more when he first signed and was unfit/not up to British speed.

But apart from all that - he's great

 

[Bell4]

Berge is a better goal threat than Brewster.

And thats only because Brewster is out for the next two / three months

 

[Wards]

Didn't play well yesterday but fucking hell, why always the need to be slagging someone off?

 

[robbiez666]

The advanced / right hand side role is the only position he’s demonstrated any potential.

Whatever he personally wants, he’s just not up to the deep lying job in the English game.

but we need a CM. That's the way we play. If we're playing someone further forward with two sitting, then McAtee is probably a better option.

 

[alcoblade]

but we need a CM. That's the way we play. If we're playing someone further forward with two sitting, then McAtee is probably a better option.

Isn’t that what Norwood generally does, with two more advanced either side?

 

[robbiez666]

Isn’t that what Norwood generally does, with two more advanced either side?

Norwood plays deep. All 3 play in midfield. Berge and McAtee seem to take turns in getting forward but they need to cover their wingback as well. It's essentially a flexible flat 3.

 

[Nightsweats]

I think you'll find Berge wants to play that role.

And yet the manager doesn't play him as a deep lying midfielder? He's playing on the right of a midfield 3. Expected to get up and back.

See post #244. Saves me repeating myself.

 

[Brownieblade]

No fucker on here, including myself, knows what Berge is being asked to do each game by Hecky or which role Berge sees himself as his best role etc etc

Reality is Hecky keeps picking him so clearly he is doing good enough, even when he has a bad game

Sure that might annoy the Harry/Warnock/Blackwell disciples of how United should always play but it it what it is right now

Why quite a large section of our fan base want to bury the kid every game I can’t fathom but as with above, is what it is

 

[1066blade]

Don't know the stats but I'm pretty sure berge has scored a lot more than brewster despite not being a striker

What, from minutes played?

 

[Danny_Blade]

I don't know how serious the injury to NDiaye is but if he's out for the next few matches then maybe we could try Berge more advanced, he's proving too much of a liability playing as an out and out midfielder in the flat 3 at the moment.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Yesterday was the first worrying game for me. A week off, games in his legs (a benefit of overplaying him over Christmas) meant that I expected more. There were extenuating reasons for the other bad games, or period in games since the injury comeback. I hope we see the August-September back end of last season Berge soon as that coincided with our best football imo

On another note, I have no idea why he's getting moved to the left. Totally pointless.

 

[Luke1993]

I'm a happy clapper, and don't really like slagging off our players, but he was absolutely anonymous yesterday and has been a lot post injury.
When he's on his game going forward he can be brilliant and change games. I really think on his day he can look like the best player in the league, but he's not been showing anything recently, and I'd say he doesn't currently deserve a starting place.

Who would you play instead of him? Because Doyle has been honking since the WC restart.

 

[Tezza1889]

Who would you play instead of him? Because Doyle has been honking since the WC restart.

Was it Doyle that crossed the ball for the third goal?

 

[Luke1993]

Was it Doyle that crossed the ball for the third goal?

I think so yeah

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

Are we possibly looking at this from the wrong angle?
Is the problem that we are still very lopsided, our right hand side is so much stronger than our left.
I know McAtee and Lowe combined for our first but we had pulled their back line over to our right before switching the play. We then never created much down our left for the rest of the game.
Berge and McAtee kept swopping positions but it doesn't work when they play on what is the wrong side for them.
It is noticeable that Berge plays much better when Doyle comes on. Is it our weak left hand side that forces Berge to play more central rather slightly wider, which is where he always looks more threatening.

 

[bertieblade]

At the end of the match we had
osborn
robinson
lowe
berge
doyle

playing little passes to each other by their corner flag, I would say that was pretty strong in numbers but not as creative as the two, Bogle and Anel on the other side

 

[ancientblade]

I think PH is under some pressure or instruction to play Berge as much as possible

Only thing that makes sense because time and again he's a non contributor. Bringing Basham on for him would very often be an improvement

If he's starting he needs to be part of a front 3, out of the way on the right, and used as an outlet. No good trying for this grey zone between RCM and FWD.
More often than not for weeks he's been playing deeper than ideal. It's not helped him at all. We need a reliable midfielder next to Norwood to allow him to stay forward. If that's not Doyle we probably need to sign one

But if we could sell him this month to fund 2 signings to get us up, we should probably do it, because we're not in the comfort zone the points gap suggests. A couple of reliable good championship players in a squad full of injuries is more valuable than berge IMO

excellent post im afraid ive given up on berge now he wants away not interested at all yesterday obvious he was trying to avoid injury any club bidding 15m and we should snatch their hands off

 

[Grappler]

Not sure if it is a confidence thing or a fitness thing, but we all know that when he is "on it", Sander is one of the best, if not the best, in this league (and I include Illiman in that), he is much better when playing in an attacking position, he is bigger than any other player on the pitch and when he wants to, he glides past players and with his stride length, he is approaching the opposition box before you know it. He has goals in him, we have seen this.

Something is not right and maybe he is not match fit, and knows it, and doesn't want to risk further injury.

Whatever it is, to have someone with so much natural talent, being marked lowest, in a team that didn't perform well (despite the score line), something is wrong.