My take ...

[pommpey]

You’ve missed the point. Let’s just say if both players played equally, Berge would be scored lower (and has been when playing better).

Playing better - according to you.

Biased, much?

pommpey

 

[Houston_Blade]

You’ve missed the point. Let’s just say if both players played equally, Berge would be scored lower (and has been when playing better).

The criticism of pommpey is that he prefers Sharp to Berge?

So do I, Billy has done much more for this club and team than Sander is ever likely to. I'll give Billy some slack because he's 36 and cost £500k and is being asked to play 90 mins when he should be coming off the bench to see games out.

 

[ekke287]

Playing better - according to you.

Biased, much?

pommpey

According to knowing his role, what he offers in the role he’s playing in (not always the same thing) and judging based on that.

On multiple occasions Berge has played better than Sharp and you’ve scored him lower, last night being an example.

You’ve gone as far as using muted colours in his name but question my calling you biased.

 

[ekke287]

The criticism of pommpey is that he prefers Sharp to Berge?

So do I, Billy has done much more for this club and team than Sander is ever likely to. I'll give Billy some slack because he's 36 and cost £500k and is being asked to play 90 mins when he should be coming off the bench to see games out.

Nothing to do with preference or longevity of a player for the club, it’s about the OP rating with bias as a key factor.

 

[ancientblade]

sander is such an enigma you can see he oodles class but drifts in and out of games i still get the impression the way hes playing thats hes not that bothered about being here

 

[pommpey]

According to knowing his role, what he offers in the role he’s playing in (not always the same thing) and judging based on that.

And you're the expert on that? I see.

On multiple occasions Berge has played better than Sharp and you’ve scored him lower, last night being an example.

In your opinion. Mind you, Sharp has a role ... etc

You’ve gone as far as using muted colours in his name but question my calling you biased.

Yeah, it's cool, innit? I do it for a reason. Any guesses why? PS. I didn't do it before last nights game, so any mention of bias is a bit daft.

pommpey

 

[Balham]

I was there. I don't have the luxury of having Neil Warnock and Lee Hendrie's opinions to help me so here's how I saw it.

We started well with a couple of half chances in the first 10 minutes only to concede an absolute pub league, park football shocker. The outcome was inevitable as soon as Foderingham put the ball down with Egan standing 4 yards away: QPR shut off all the vertical passing options and Egan frankly panicked, sending a pass into the midst of three QPR players 35 yards from goal. Chair got lucky with the deflection but the damage had already been done by that point.

Everyone loves a cliché: in this case it's that the first goals is critical. QPR's confidence visibly rose after that lucky break while we looked shell-shocked. We didn't do a great deal for the rest of the half to the point that Foderingham had one of his sit downs to let the coaching staff get the outfield players in for what I can only assume was a bollocking. That didn't seem to make much difference.

Second half saw a pattern emerging: us huffing, puffing and either putting a simple pass out of play or chucking a longer pass at Sharp; QPR aiming long for Dykes (who won almost everything in the air) and trying to pick up the scraps around those contests. The ineffective Doyle was hooked for McAtee who immediately became the second United player at actually looking competent in one-on-ones with an opponent (Ndiaye, invitably, was the other). Sharp hooked a lob over the top with Dieng stranded, Ndiaye somehow came out of a 20/80 on halfway with the ball and nearly scored another of his now customary solo efforts. Berge took too long at the edge of the area. Jebbison added some urgency and created a chance out of not much but his finish lacked conviction. 5 minutes added time was signalled, the first minute was lost to Kakay getting treatment while we waited to waste another free kick then out of pretty much nowhere in the 6th added minute Stevens puts in a poor cross which is met by a worse clearance back to him and for the first time in ages we have a United player with his head up. Stevens nods the ball back to an unmarked Egan who smacks in an equaliser, aided by an inevitable deflection past Dieng.

Marks:

Foderingham 5 - did he handle it outside the area? I'd argue he shouldn't even have given the referee the option, it was an odd place for him to find himself

Baldock 5 - not sure he touched the ball in QPR's half after the first 25 minutes, dealt OK with Chair and Roberts overloading his wing
Ahmedhodzic 5 - looked a bit disorganised. Didn't seem sure when to attack and questionable decision making on the ball
Egan 5 - marshalled the defence well but shouldn't let the equaliser hid the fact that the opener was almost entirely his fault. He's a solid Championship defender but he's average on the ball, no matter how much we want him to be better than that
Clark 6 - best of a bad bunch at the back until he went off at half time. Seemed to pick up a knock getting a block in.
Stevens 4 - I really hope that when he leaves we remember the maurauding Enda Stevens of 2018-20 and not this version who can't keep up with his man, can't pick a pass and can't nutmeg anyone any more. Gains kudos (and half a mark, tipping him onto a 4) for that cushioned header into Egan's path

Norwood 5 - never hides and should be commended for that but QPR had done their homework (as Blackpool had at the Lane earlier this season under Critchley) and he didn't have the options. Played the last 15 minutes in a Beckenbauer role
Doyle 2 - not his day. Akin to McAtee at Luton, nothing came off so it's now down to him to rebound from this
Berge 5 - looked off the pace but took the game to QPR in the last 10. He's anonymous when out of possession

Sharp 4 - cut a frustrated figure, partly because he couldn't get into the game and partly because he missed two fairly presentable chances
Ndiaye 6 - gains a mark for that run and shot but he was often isolated against 3 or 4 Rs players.

Subs
Robinson 6 - solid if unspectacular. Seemed to revel in the boos from the Rangers fans and celebrated pointedly in their direction at full time.
McAtee 7 - playing a different game to the rest of our midfield at times: where they were heavy footed he was dancing past players for fun
Jebbison 6 - put himself about, got involved both in the football with a decent run and shot and the verbals after another bout of grappling at a set piece. Booked.
Bogle - not on long enough for a mark

Heckingbottom 5 - we don't have the flexibility to change the system when it's not working. The formation may change (3-5-2 to 5-3-2 to 4-3-2-1 yesterday) but in essence it's the same set up: get the ball to Norwood and then into the flair players.

Onto Millwall now. I was going to battle the tube and train strikes but after shelling out THIRTY FUCKING SIX pounds (plus £1 booking!) to watch that yesterday I'm not sure I can be bothered.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

He wasn't good, I'll give you that. But being as Berge decided to do his invisible man schtick, he and Norwood were the only two doing anything in midfield.

Berge should have gone for McAtee

pommpey

Afternoon pommpey ,

Heckingbottom has been reluctant to play Doyle & McAtee in a three man midfield together since their disastrous showing together against Blackpool at Bramall Lane. They left Norwood completely exposed and we got overran through the middle of the park all afternoon.

They might be fine together when we're on top, because both are brilliant with the ball.
But when the chips are down, both lack the defensive discipline to keep us competitive.

Berge was poor without the ball last night, but usually he at least takes up the right positions and makes us slightly harder to break down.

I'd have probably given everybody a 5/10 last night, except for Ndiaye (6), Norwood (6), McAtee and Jebbison (7).
Doyle (3). He was completely invisible.

 

[Big Hitter]

I was there. I don't have the luxury of having Neil Warnock and Lee Hendrie's opinions to help me so here's how I saw it.

Well I did - for about 20 minutes before turning the two prats off. How the fuck have we got those two commentating.?
Really felt for two particular players last night- Ndiaye, who battled and weaved up front against some big lads with no support, and Robinson who got a load of verbal stick from some brain-dead home fans. This was one of those games we had coming. A game when the opposition upped their game, read our game plan before we got out of the tunnel and frustrated us at every turn. Their forward line looked like world - beaters with Chair, Willock and Dykes, backed up by Roberts. They scared our defence shitless- how the fuck they didn't score more I dont know. The contrast -Dykes against Sharp - was significant. We needed a big ugly bastard up front terrorising their defence. Doyle just reminds me of Montgomery- can't tackle, can't pass can't shoot. Wes is lacking confidence now , although the booking was daft, the ball was in the area although his feet weren't, Full backs and other defenders looked like selling platers up against thoroughbreds. Egan - Pissing about at the back trying to play the ball out of the area is bollocks. . Sharp had two good chances- failed to take either. Jebbo tried hard and brought some life to the attack. Frankly this was one of our worst performances and we don't want any more like it.

 

[Gavlar]

Why isn’t Jebbison the answer ?
I realise last night is not enough to judge him on, but he looked good and scored some decent goals last season at Burton.
Give him a start at Millwall and see what he can do against an good, strong side.

I hope I am wrong but since the Everton goal he has looked poor every time he has played for us. He did well in league 1 but it’s much worse than the top of the championship. I agree he should start at millwall though.

 

[BouncinBlade]

Berge - athletic???

Wow. I've read some pretty bonkers takes on these pages, but that's right up there!

Just because he's taller than the rest doesn't make him athletic. He's an athlete, which makes him athletic.

Berge - athletic???

Wow. I've read some pretty bonkers takes on these pages, but that's right up there!

From the stands he may not look athletic. Due to his lanky stature.... but I can guarantee you up close he's every bit athletic, and a great athlete at that!!

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Just because he's taller than the rest doesn't make him athletic. He's an athlete, which makes him athletic.

From the stands he may not look athletic. Due to his lanky stature.... but I can guarantee you up close he's every bit athletic, and a great athlete at that!!

Athletic would denote movement and ability to move. Up close he may be a big old unit, but that doesn't make him athletic at all. That just makes him big. By your theory a statue or an oak tree would be athletic...

Fuck me. Think I'm done. Back to the anonymity of the Meme Thread... Some reyt ones on here at the mo.

 

[Varkanoid]

Berge is so hot and cold in performance, so Marmite, so Brown sauce or Tomato sauce on Bacon butty's, Yorkshire pudding with Turkey at Xmas or not.
It also splits the fans too.

I`m starting to think we should offload him JTW and get someone more consistent in their performance but I dont think it will happen. Bogle came back from a massive long term injury and gave us a magnificent performance. Berge. Didnt. I can understand both sides.

Thanks for the review. Most people Shoutbox included had switched off. It was a great goal, it was a shocking performance. I too though Doyle was 2/10. Millwall we should play the bench and 2nd teamers. Rest the squad/give them extra training and miss the next match. Dont really care about FA Cup. We are 2nd, with points to spare. Cmon Blades we can do this 2023.

 

[VictoryBlade]

Our midfield lacks pace, drive and athleticism and is far too easily bullied. Been saying it for three seasons. As a result we have to resort to hooof and we don’t have the presence and athleticism up front to play hoof ball. So we get long periods in games where we struggle for a foothold. Luckily we’ve got Ndiaye and McAtee who can sometimes run the length of the pitch and get us a goal.

Where is Colin Bell when you need him?

 

[Constantly Optimistic...]

Thanks again for your objective, incisive and witty view.
For my sins I made the journey and met my two daughters who live in London to watch this debacle of a performance together. After braving the shit home pub, The Queens Tavern, no draught on tap, serving cans only.....we were then the attention of the menacing local "White City Massive" whilst waiting on several cancelled Ubers after the game. Great night that I won't be repeating again any time soon I hope. But I digress.....
It seemed pretty obvious that the "Rs" were shitting themselves at the start of the game. I rubbed my hands thinking here we go, 3,4, or 5 goal win, demolish Burnleh GD at the top. 5 to 10 minutes later we fizzled out and an Egan special destroyed whatever momentum we had up until then. The worst thing we could have done, we did. Allowed them space and the confidence they have lacked in weeks. Did we not learn from the game at the Lane? This is my continuing biggest worry about Hecky and Co.
Anyway, for the next 80 minutes or so we were chasing shadows, reverting to pumping the ball out of defence to our miniscule frontline and 6ft plus Mr Invisible. Terrified we'd do another Egan. It was league one mentality and tactics. Somehow we scraped a draw.
Team spirit is good, intelligent tactics are non existent most games. We lack leaders on the pitch, players with nous.

I fear we will lose our bright shining star. He spent a long time waving good bye to the fans at the end of the game.......anyone else see that? Without him, McAtee and Doyle gone at the end of the season.....WTF do we have left?
Don't get me wrong, the current league position is impressive. Almost unbelievable. But I am terrified if we go up, we will be run ragged without major investment. But ask Florist how that works?
We are in danger of fucking this up completely, Boro are moving like a steam train up the league. Burnleh looking solid and uncatchable.
But hope springs eternal, new owner, some cash splashed to strengthen, swap Berge for a midfield maestro and unleash Illi with better strike partners, the promised land still awaits us.
There, that's optimistic finally, Lol!

 

[shorehamview]

…..we just slid off the plate like a sad pie……

Stuff like this is what keeps me coming back.

Well, that and the rest of it. Cheers Pommps