Berge today v Huddersfield

[BerksBlade]

Its one of 2 things for me:

1) His hammy still isn't 100% and he's trying to hide it
2) He doesn't want to be here

Maybe both. He did some decent things today, but there was times he could have bust a gut to get to a loose ball first and chose not to.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he had to be a bit careful after getting booked. Still think he has a tendency to nesh out of a challenge though.

 

[Roygbiv]

Its one of 2 things for me:

1) His hammy still isn't 100% and he's trying to hide it
2) He doesn't want to be here

Maybe both. He did some decent things today, but there was times he could have bust a gut to get to a loose ball first and chose not to.

Agree with the first point but not the second. I can sort of see why people think he doesn't try but it's just his style of play. People have often aimed the same accusations at Norwood

 

[bladeintheus]

His best position, for us, is higher up the field but with MGW, Ndiaye, McGoldrick….he struggles to warrant that position. Therefore, to find a space for him it’s in an position further back (or even wide) and he’s less able to affect the forward play positively. He has a the ability, has a defense splitting pass or powerful, final third run in him…it just doesn't happen enough due to the area of the field he finds himself in positionally.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

I can’t work the fucker out. He manages to combine looking occasionally class with looking a big gormy useless fucker who has no idea what he’s doing on a football pitch. Absolute enigma.

 

[Charlieblade]

The club needs a robust, hard as nails defensive midfielder. None of the current squad have those qualities.
Hourihane comes closest but he’s not our player, and like others, he will be subject to rotation. The real John Fleck could do that job, but he’s struggling for form.
Could Berge fit in as attacking midfielder on the right? Probably yes, with support from Bogle and Bash.
Playing partnerships are crucial to this side, if only they were allowed to develop naturally. We don’t have that luxury due to injuries and loss of form. Our best season in the prem was marked by the comfort and understanding of a back five that picked itself every week.
Oh for a Dean and Agana link up for Billy + 1. Berge tried to kick start MGW today, but it wasn’t to be. Norwood came on and Berge was more productive on the right, when Ollie took over at CDM.
The next two weeks will show if the manager has got it right, or form and injury will be our downfall.
Berge is a good player and I like him, but the form and position conundrum is just one of several issues the manager has to resolve.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Best midfielder on the pitch today ,he never gave the ball away 1,2,3,4

Kids a rolls Royce

Was going more for a reliable Volvo myself but he did more of what he does than he ever did before.

 

[Nedski]

His stats were pretty good yesterday. Most passes, highest pass completion on the pitch. He's definitely far more effective further up the pitch but I don't think he can come in for any real criticism for his performance. We even saw him win a couple of headers which is probably his weakest attribute.

 

[Keen Blade]

Given his physique I wish to hell he could learn to attack the ball with his head both in attacking plays and defensive. He should be a real headache for opposition defences from set pieces and a real asset to our defence when we’re on the receiving end and he just isn’t.

He's never like the physical side of the game so he certainly ain't gonna stick his gorgeous mug in where it might get hurt

 

[Keen Blade]

24 Norwegian caps at defensive centre midfield

Without the ability to tackle or challenge for a header at 6'5"

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Agree with the first point but not the second. I can sort of see why people think he doesn't try but it's just his style of play. People have often aimed the same accusations at Norwood

Difference with Norwood is that Ollie has an array of passing which drives us up the pitch. Berge on the other hand never passes the ball above shin height, seldom dribbles and his passing is horizontal. He reminds me of Lee Evans who wasn't wasteful with the ball but safety first to the point of frustration. They're similar players that play football at a similar tempo the difference being that Evans cost 750k whereas Berge cost around 25 x what Evans cost.

I thought Berge did well yesterday, I saw some stats that his passing completion was flawless and I'm pleased he had a good runout. He isn't suited to CM because defensively he's a soft touch and we saw moments yesterday where he couldn't cope with the tenacity of O'Brien. But I don't think I'd choose him ahead of MGW of Ndiaye to play an advanced position neither.

Good player, calm with the ball and has an eye for a splitting pass but he's probably more suited to the tempo and milder physicality of La Liga or Serie A.

 

[Brownieblade]

He is just at the wrong club and in the wrong league to be frank

What we paid for him was for us the equivalent of a top 6 prem team spending over a hundred million on some expensive striker so naturally fans have expectations

what we paid for him was for a lot of prem teams relatively cheap, we took the risk and he took the risk because we offered him the chance to play regularly and he got the chance to get games and try and adapt quicker, other teams likely would have bedded him in over time

Berge is the type of player who when he is playing well you don’t notice most of the time because that’s what he is good at, in the prem league with other teams him playing well whilst costing 35million is cheap and good business for many clubs

In a championship team where ability is second or 3rd in the list of attributes wanted by majority of fans and when you cost a fee that your fan base never saw before and May never see again etc then what your good at won’t be valued as much

 

[blade too long]

hes had injuries and too long on the bench to be at full tilt
there is improvement in his passing of late
hes definitely no trevor hockey in the tackling section of his game but hes not that style of player
yes its taken a long time to start to look the part but hes got talents we can utilise as he gets more match fit
think we will see a more productive version oh him as he plays more

 

[Yogi]

As others have said he receives and recycles the ball well almost always passing to his own player no matter the distance. The difference between him and Norwood is he doesn’t play those long floaty diagonal Hollywood defence splitting balls so it isn’t as obvious.

He also carries the ball very well when fit but it’s worth remembering he’s missed almost a full year of football now and has had his hamstring go pop twice in that time it’s bound to be on his mind and that will take a while to get the confidence in his legs back.

What he isn’t is a ball winning midfielder he’s not going to spend the whole 90 minutes rattling around for the ball in midfield it’s just not how he plays. Given his size as well were he to do so I think he’d get penalised almost every time as it just invites smaller players to throw themselves theatrically to the ground.

What he does well has value as he retains the ball well and when fit moves us up the pitch. Have we found a style and combination of players that really suits him probably not. Will we do so? I don’t think we will as with how we’re playing under hecky it’s all about getting the ball up the pitch quickly and then playing around the opponents box with the wingbacks and creative midfielder and strikers. I think a fully fit Berge could advance us up the pitch consistently with his running ability but then so can most of the midfielders at the club one way or another.

 

[blade too long]

its no wonder it was a poor game with all that sand and blood on the pitch

 

[Kev Gee]

I would say hammy above wanting away. If he wants away then the best thing to do is be his best self

This. The best way for Sander Berge to get his move would be to play to the best of his ability and get the scouts watching. Help get us into the play offs and promotion. Win win for both parties.

 

[spongebobblade]

he did the simple things quite well that's it ....sideways and backwards..most of the time ...
No tackles no defence splitting passes no taking players on ...
Want really for 23 million
He should be ripping this division a new arse hole

To make a defence splitting pass you need players making intelligent runs. Berge was continually looking up for runners/movement but we didn’t have any. Some of that has to go down to Huddersfield defending in numbers and being well organised. Granted he has the ability to take players on (though not when he’s playing the deep lying midfielder like Norwood) but he’s learning this side of the game still. The problem is that too many look at the price tag before the player. He’s still only 23 so has time on his side.

 

[Speedracer]

Yesterday I got the impression that he was playing well within himself & also to instruction from Hecky. I do think he is fit, but he has been out for a long time & being fit & match fit are two different things, plus he has a languid style that some see as not trying. It was noticeable that he didn't make even one of his long runs carrying the ball, & us up the pitch, so he was told to sit deeper & hold our shape IMO.
We all know he can do a lot more, & I think he will, but him completing 90 mins was good to see & will help his confidence in his body holding out for a full game, as well as the coaching staff knowing he can be pushed harder.
He is a waste playing deep, for me he needs to get up the pitch & drive at the opposition & influence things more, he is well capable of that.