I think a few of you need to cut him a bit of slack. New club, punishing training regime, unique system. On top of that, we’ve been attempting to adapt him into a new position. I also think he’s received more criticism than his actual input has warranted from the games I’ve seen this season. Classic example being people coming away from Millwall saying they couldn’t remember a single thing he did all game, when he’d had an important part in Besic’s opening goal. I think people are seeing a player struggling to properly adapt to the role he’s been asked to do, and are just leaping to the lazy criticism of him being “lazy”.
Think I’m giving him too much slack? Maybe bear in mind McBurnie’s comments in today’s Athletic:
“I am running an extra 2km every game,” the Leeds-born striker says. “That might not seem a lot but it is a lot. I feel so much fitter here. The last five times I have started, I did 11km each game. Part of that is down to my role in the team. At Swansea, I was given a free role to do what I wanted. Told to run where I wanted to run, whereas here it is different.
“I’ll be honest and say it took me a few months to adjust to how we play. But the fans stuck by me. They have been unbelievable. Especially at the start, when I was having a tough time and not playing like I can.”
I think people should be a bit more patient. Plenty gave McBurnie way more flack than he deserved earlier in the season, and he’s now settled in really well to the team.
Depending on what sort of system players have played in before, I bet that for a new player coming in it must be tougher to adjust to our way of doing things than it might be in most other clubs that have a less innovative and more orthodox approach.
All the above should be very much be considered when assessing Berge’s introduction to us – as it may very well take a similar adjustment period.
