Outgoing? SANDER BERGE ON WAY OUT ?

[Torrix1889]

Would rather Sander stayed obviously but if he's going I hope he goes soon.....don't want him starting pre season and the first 1 or 2 games then fucking off just before the window shuts giving us no time to replace.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

You couldn't blame Berge for trying to push it through, much the way Ramsdale did with Arsenal last season.
It'd be a decent move for him.

 

[Hamandcheese]

We'll fuck about trying to get a fee we won't get then we'll let him go on loan late on with no time to replace him

Or he'll just stay and get injured again

 

[Mouth of the South]

As bad as it always is to see the better players go to Leeds, it may work out well for Utd. Phillips is going to go so they'll be (i) desperate to find a replacement and (ii) have loads of cash to spend. TBH if it meant others that could command a fee (Egan, Ndiaye, Bogle) stay and even PH had a few $ to spend, then I'd rather just lose Berge.

I just wonder where he'll play for Leeds though - if he's signed to be a one-man defensive midfield unit like Phillips is, Leeds may be in for a disappointment.. That said, I'm not convinced by him as a more advanced midfielder either. I think he'd do best as part of a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1 where he'll have plenty of options ahead of him and cover should he venture forward

 

[Sheff de party]

A group of talent ID professionals with specialist skills assessed Bellingham's current and potential ability, decided he was worth acquiring him and took the steps necessary to buy.

Likewise a similar group at SUFC assessed Berge's current ability and his ceiling in 2020 and decided to sign him. Right now his value is affected by his recent return to full fitness and the division we're in but the fact that he has 3 years left on his contract and no being under financial pressure means his fee remains high.

Groups of scouts all over Europe will have assessed Berge recently and the only reason he's not an attractive signing is because his fee is a lot higher than his value. Some clubs take those risks, but they probably don't shop in the Championship. That doesn't mean he's not a quality player. It certainly doesn't mean we should sell him for whatever we can get.

The "unproven / proven" stuff is absolute bollocks and peddled by plenty without a clue including some managers.

'Proven' is supposed to mean done it before, therefore can do it again but in reality means easy to find, usually expensive, peaked, under pressure to deliver. You don't need scouts to find proven players, any daft sod can do it and it's hard to do it well.

'Unproven' is supposed to mean something negative. Hasn't done it before so why should we believe he can do it all etc. This is where scouts make all the difference, they find tomorrow's talent while the clubs obsessed with proven players are losing money and buying shit.

With no disrespect intended, if your assessment of Berge in the Premier League is "anonymous" and your assessment of Berge in the Championship is "sometimes quite good" you're either unable to spot a player, blinded by how much he cost us in the price, or a bit of both.

It’s hardly controversial to say Berge was anonymous in the PL.

Sometimes quite good is clearly for effect, but sometimes he’s quite good, sometimes he’s great and sometimes he’s rubbish. For his ability, he’s not great anywhere near enough of the time.

Yes he had a good end to the season but unless he really wants to be here, we have to sell while we still can.

 

[Lucky1979]

Leeds are signing a midfielder from Bayern Munich for £10m so assume he will be the replacement for Phillips if they sell him

 

[ben1987]

Lazy journalism I reckon, wasn’t one of their ex players saying they should sign him other week.

Journalist has probably seen that and thought oh I know I’ll quickly knock up a story to say they’re looking at him

 

[Champagneblade]

Leeds are signing a midfielder from Bayern Munich for £10m so assume he will be the replacement for Phillips if they sell him

He's made 6 starts and been on the bench 35 times and injured the rest out if 50 games.

Spent most of his time kicking tyres. Doubt he'll be seen as Philips' replacement. He must have that Leeds quality, he can run about a lot...

I don't rate Leeds at all. They stayed up by being least worst of an abject bunch. Anyone with the abysmal GD they had really deserved to plummet.

They only squeezed through the final game when the opposition ridiculously saw themselves down to 9 men. Talk about luck!

In the end they lucked on a season where Norwich were Norwich, Watford were never at it and Burnley let Dyche see through a tough period only to bin him when they had a run in of winnable fixtures and sold their main striker.

They have a half decent Brazilian who blows hot and cold and that's your lot. James was as big a waste as McBurnie.

They'll go down next time without sizeable reshaping.

 

[Aganarama]

He's made 6 starts and been on the bench 35 times and injured the rest out if 50 games.

Spent most of his time kicking tyres. Doubt he'll be seen as Philips' replacement. He must have that Leeds quality, he can run about a lot...

I don't rate Leeds at all. They stayed up by being least worst of an abject bunch. Anyone with the abysmal GD they had really deserved to plummet.

They only squeezed through the final game when the opposition ridiculously saw themselves down to 9 men. Talk about luck!

In the end they lucked on a season where Norwich were Norwich, Watford were never at it and Burnley let Dyche see through a tough period only to bin him when they had a run in of winnable fixtures and sold their main striker.

They have a half decent Brazilian who blows hot and cold and that's your lot. James was as big a waste as McBurnie.

They'll go down next time without sizeable reshaping.

Hope you are right!

 

[Booker4]

Lazy journalism I reckon, wasn’t one of their ex players saying they should sign him other week.

Journalist has probably seen that and thought oh I know I’ll quickly knock up a story to say they’re looking at him

It's not just some ex-player link in regard to the Sander Berge to Leeds link. It's on various "clickbait" sites and also, more credibly arguably, the Sun through Alan Nixon.

Leeds eye £20m move for Wolves flier Traore as Barca can't afford permanent deal

BUSY Leeds are eyeing Adama Traore to replace Raphinha. And Sheffield United’s Sander Berge is on the Whites’ radar with Manchester City set to swoop for midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips. Brazilia…

www.thesun.co.uk

Now some love to deride Nixon, I get that and I'd never buy the Sun but that is irrelevant of course, he's more in the know than most. I'm sure they'll be PL interest in Berge or interest from top leagues this summer. The national manager's comments will certainly have an affect and I think his agent will no doubt be advising Sander to move this summer. I can see it going the same was as Ramsdale if we play hard ball and that would be sad because Berge seems a really top lad and has never kicked up a stink and he's become a favourite for many. Ultimately it's not how he goes that is the issue it's when he goes, if he goes. We need him to go ASAP if he is to leave, having the Berge soon will obviously be important in our recruitment. But knowing football and how it works Berge will leave near the end of the window! It does seem Phillips is about to leave though, so if there is anything in the Berge to Leeds link there's probably been unofficial contact already through to the agent.

I also noticed Sander's direct quote not long ago that said:

"I have had a nice development in Sheffield United lately. I have come back where I am. We will see what the future brings.”

Is that code for my agent has told me there's interest?! Or is it that he's just saying he's enjoyed his time at United recently?! History has told us that if you have a good young player in the Championship they'll not stay for long and if a club comes in for him, I'd expect Berge to want to move. Some my say that doesn't matter it's whether a club meet our valuation, but as I say I think Berge will be very keen to move and I don't blame him if honest as he is PL class, it would be just a shame if he joined Leeds; we've seen that too many times in the past!

 

[CaptainMorgans]

It's not just some ex-player link in regard to the Sander Berge to Leeds link. It's on various "clickbait" sites and also, more credibly arguably, the Sun through Alan Nixon.

Leeds eye £20m move for Wolves flier Traore as Barca can't afford permanent deal

BUSY Leeds are eyeing Adama Traore to replace Raphinha. And Sheffield United’s Sander Berge is on the Whites’ radar with Manchester City set to swoop for midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips. Brazilia…

www.thesun.co.uk

Now some love to deride Nixon, I get that and I'd never buy the Sun but that is irrelevant of course, he's more in the know than most. I'm sure they'll be PL interest in Berge or interest from top leagues this summer. The national manager's comments will certainly have an affect and I think his agent will no doubt be advising Sander to move this summer. I can see it going the same was as Ramsdale if we play hard ball and that would be sad because Berge seems a really top lad and has never kicked up a stink and he's become a favourite for many. Ultimately it's not how he goes that is the issue it's when he goes, if he goes. We need him to go ASAP if he is to leave, having the Berge soon will obviously be important in our recruitment. But knowing football and how it works Berge will leave near the end of the window! It does seem Phillips is about to leave though, so if there is anything in the Berge to Leeds link there's probably been unofficial contact already through to the agent.

I also noticed Sander's direct quote not long ago that said:

"I have had a nice development in Sheffield United lately. I have come back where I am. We will see what the future brings.”

Is that code for my agent has told me there's interest?! Or is it that he's just saying he's enjoyed his time at United recently?! History has told us that if you have a good young player in the Championship they'll not stay for long and if a club comes in for him, I'd expect Berge to want to move. Some my say that doesn't matter it's whether a club meet our valuation, but as I say I think Berge will be very keen to move and I don't blame him if honest as he is PL class, it would be just a shame if he joined Leeds; we've seen that too many times in the past!

Berge wants out 100%. His Agent was at it all last Summer & now the Norwegian international manager. We just need to hope we look after ourselves in negotiations. However, with my mystic meg hat on ... we will be low balled & Berge will cause drama behind the scenes. Same as Ramsdale.

 

[Frank the tank]

We'll fuck about trying to get a fee we won't get then we'll let him go on loan late on with no time to replace him

Or he'll just stay and get injured again

 

[ben1987]

It's not just some ex-player link in regard to the Sander Berge to Leeds link. It's on various "clickbait" sites and also, more credibly arguably, the Sun through Alan Nixon.

Leeds eye £20m move for Wolves flier Traore as Barca can't afford permanent deal

BUSY Leeds are eyeing Adama Traore to replace Raphinha. And Sheffield United’s Sander Berge is on the Whites’ radar with Manchester City set to swoop for midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips. Brazilia…

www.thesun.co.uk

Now some love to deride Nixon, I get that and I'd never buy the Sun but that is irrelevant of course, he's more in the know than most. I'm sure they'll be PL interest in Berge or interest from top leagues this summer. The national manager's comments will certainly have an affect and I think his agent will no doubt be advising Sander to move this summer. I can see it going the same was as Ramsdale if we play hard ball and that would be sad because Berge seems a really top lad and has never kicked up a stink and he's become a favourite for many. Ultimately it's not how he goes that is the issue it's when he goes, if he goes. We need him to go ASAP if he is to leave, having the Berge soon will obviously be important in our recruitment. But knowing football and how it works Berge will leave near the end of the window! It does seem Phillips is about to leave though, so if there is anything in the Berge to Leeds link there's probably been unofficial contact already through to the agent.

I also noticed Sander's direct quote not long ago that said:

"I have had a nice development in Sheffield United lately. I have come back where I am. We will see what the future brings.”

Is that code for my agent has told me there's interest?! Or is it that he's just saying he's enjoyed his time at United recently?! History has told us that if you have a good young player in the Championship they'll not stay for long and if a club comes in for him, I'd expect Berge to want to move. Some my say that doesn't matter it's whether a club meet our valuation, but as I say I think Berge will be very keen to move and I don't blame him if honest as he is PL class, it would be just a shame if he joined Leeds; we've seen that too many times in the past!

Yeah but most of these sites have been breaking this story after the ex-player urged them to sign him. His agent may well also be fueling the fire.

They all jump on the bandwagon for fear of missing out. Including at times Nixon. Though he does seem to get the odd bit of good information he also posts a lot of drivel.

It takes one site to post a story and it’ll appear 100 times overnight.

They may or may not be interested in him but I doubt any of these sites have any actual credible information and I reckon a lot of it comes from them being urged to sign the monster or however it was worded.

It’s so easy for them to say told you so if it comes off or didn’t work out if it doesn’t and retain some credibility.

 

[Upton_Blade]

As bad as it always is to see the better players go to Leeds, it may work out well for Utd. Phillips is going to go so they'll be (i) desperate to find a replacement and (ii) have loads of cash to spend. TBH if it meant others that could command a fee (Egan, Ndiaye, Bogle) stay and even PH had a few $ to spend, then I'd rather just lose Berge.

I just wonder where he'll play for Leeds though - if he's signed to be a one-man defensive midfield unit like Phillips is, Leeds may be in for a disappointment.. That said, I'm not convinced by him as a more advanced midfielder either. I think he'd do best as part of a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1 where he'll have plenty of options ahead of him and cover should he venture forward

I said the exact same thing as soon as I saw him play JB.

If you stuck him in a 4231 next to a full on hod carrier then I think he'd be quite successful as he would have someone winning the ball and then covering him as he's gliding forward.

No way does he play the CDM role in any other formation. Not in this country anyway.

 

[Champagneblade]

Hope we don't let him go on the cheap IF he does go.

Phillips is a far more limited player in my opinion.

He's a better defensive midfielder than Berge and if that is what Man City want, then good for them. But as an all-round midfielder, Berge has got far more tools in his locker.

Phillips is living off a decent tournament alongside the far more rounded Declan Rice, when England got to the Euro Final.

He's played 52 PL matches, has 1 goal and 3 assists out of 234 senior games. His team finished 9th like us and should have gone down in a season he was frequently injured (like us and like Berge season two).

Before that he was the dirty bastard who should have been sent off foul a terrible tackle on Baldock when we doubled them, winning 2-1 at Elland Road. He's been sent off 4 times. 14 goals, 13 assists in 234 senior games, most of which were second tier. Phillips is already 26. He's 23 international caps, one assist and no European experience.

On the other hand, Berge has played 223 games, never been sent off, has 15 goals and 11 assists. His PL record is 2 goals and 2 assists in 29 games. Berge is just 24 and has represented his country 30 times with 1 goals and 1 assist and has 22 games in Europe, 6 in the Champions League.

I'm hugely biased of course. But I don't even see Phillips as worth more than Berge. I can appreciate what Phillips brings to the team, he's a water carrier, a grubber. But he's not a high value or highly skilled player. If it wasn't City, teams would be looking at 30m not 50m.

Personally you don't get better than teams by selling them your better players. If Leeds sell Phillips, who is intricate to how THEY play and difficult for THEM to replace, I'd not be inclined to help them. Id be more inclined to say our intention is to leapfrog back over you and now you've sold an important player for you, this gives us a chance to swap places with you. Now jog on.

If you think your place is in the Premier League then you have to act like it. In prior year's we've been far too keen to adjust to our new surroundings once relegated. I'd rather we keep players and decide to not hang around, even if that means no perm deals and a few key loans.

If he went to a top 8 team, maybe but let's not forget Leeds are a rival. We've now found Berge's best position in our formation as part of a front three. Keep him, keep him fit, add even just 3 very good loans and we go up.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Hope we don't let him go on the cheap IF he does go.

Phillips is a far more limited player in my opinion.

He's a better defensive midfielder than Berge and if that is what Man City want, then good for them. But as an all-round midfielder, Berge has got far more tools in his locker.

Phillips is living off a decent tournament alongside the far more rounded Declan Rice, when England got to the Euro Final.

He's played 52 PL matches, has 1 goal and 3 assists out of 234 senior games. His team finished 9th like us and should have gone down in a season he was frequently injured (like us and like Berge season two).

Before that he was the dirty bastard who should have been sent off foul a terrible tackle on Baldock when we doubled them, winning 2-1 at Elland Road. He's been sent off 4 times. 14 goals, 13 assists in 234 senior games, most of which were second tier. Phillips is already 26. He's 23 international caps, one assist and no European experience.

On the other hand, Berge has played 223 games, never been sent off, has 15 goals and 11 assists. His PL record is 2 goals and 2 assists in 29 games. Berge is just 24 and has represented his country 30 times with 1 goals and 1 assist and has 22 games in Europe, 6 in the Champions League.

I'm hugely biased of course. But I don't even see Phillips as worth more than Berge. I can appreciate what Phillips brings to the team, he's a water carrier, a grubber. But he's not a high value or highly skilled player. If it wasn't City, teams would be looking at 30m not 50m.

Personally you don't get better than teams by selling them your better players. If Leeds sell Phillips, who is intricate to how THEY play and difficult for THEM to replace, I'd not be inclined to help them. Id be more inclined to say our intention is to leapfrog back over you and now you've sold an important player for you, this gives us a chance to swap places with you. Now jog on.

If you think your place is in the Premier League then you have to act like it. In prior year's we've been far too keen to adjust to our new surroundings once relegated. I'd rather we keep players and decide to not hang around, even if that means no perm deals and a few key loans.

If he went to a top 8 team, maybe but let's not forget Leeds are a rival. We've now found Berge's best position in our formation as part of a front three. Keep him, keep him fit, add even just 3 very good loans and we go up.

Agree with you ! We have seen in the last few months a side to his game which Hecki deserves credit for finding .
Dont even think he new he had it (Berg). Really that makes him worth more as attacking players usually are worth more than midfield players.
The Prince is not Mccabe and won't be panicking into selling him.
With him in the team this coming season would improve our chances of promotion dramatically!.

He may go if any offer we get is acceptable to the club! as I say the prince will not sell unless we get the right offer.
I think he would be immense in the championship this season can we keep him please!!
Prince ??

 

[bertieblade]

Ideally We should keep him until the next transfer window to see how we do and then allow him to move if we do not feature, this will not only give us a better chance bu should also increase his value as I expect him to improve and some teams will also be looking for players to replace those injured or burnt out in the World Cup

 

[de g.]

It'd be a decent move for him.

Not sure it would. Leeds fans are fickle and over-emotional, and if they have a bad start then the overpriced Norwegian from Sheffield United who replaced Kalvin 'LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS' Phillips is going to be in for a season of scapegoating.

(An entertaining game to play btw: tell a Leeds fan that Kalvin Phillips is just a shit Ollie Norwood without the passing range, then stand back and watch the fireworks!)

 

[metalblade]

To be reyt Kalvin Phillips is just a clogger Sander Berge is no replacement for that type of player Leeds would be in for a real shock if that's how it worked out.

 

[Hamandcheese]

Has he gone yet

 

[robbiez666]

Hope we don't let him go on the cheap IF he does go.

Phillips is a far more limited player in my opinion.

He's a better defensive midfielder than Berge and if that is what Man City want, then good for them. But as an all-round midfielder, Berge has got far more tools in his locker.

Phillips is living off a decent tournament alongside the far more rounded Declan Rice, when England got to the Euro Final.

He's played 52 PL matches, has 1 goal and 3 assists out of 234 senior games. His team finished 9th like us and should have gone down in a season he was frequently injured (like us and like Berge season two).

Before that he was the dirty bastard who should have been sent off foul a terrible tackle on Baldock when we doubled them, winning 2-1 at Elland Road. He's been sent off 4 times. 14 goals, 13 assists in 234 senior games, most of which were second tier. Phillips is already 26. He's 23 international caps, one assist and no European experience.

On the other hand, Berge has played 223 games, never been sent off, has 15 goals and 11 assists. His PL record is 2 goals and 2 assists in 29 games. Berge is just 24 and has represented his country 30 times with 1 goals and 1 assist and has 22 games in Europe, 6 in the Champions League.

I'm hugely biased of course. But I don't even see Phillips as worth more than Berge. I can appreciate what Phillips brings to the team, he's a water carrier, a grubber. But he's not a high value or highly skilled player. If it wasn't City, teams would be looking at 30m not 50m.

Personally you don't get better than teams by selling them your better players. If Leeds sell Phillips, who is intricate to how THEY play and difficult for THEM to replace, I'd not be inclined to help them. Id be more inclined to say our intention is to leapfrog back over you and now you've sold an important player for you, this gives us a chance to swap places with you. Now jog on.

If you think your place is in the Premier League then you have to act like it. In prior year's we've been far too keen to adjust to our new surroundings once relegated. I'd rather we keep players and decide to not hang around, even if that means no perm deals and a few key loans.

If he went to a top 8 team, maybe but let's not forget Leeds are a rival. We've now found Berge's best position in our formation as part of a front three. Keep him, keep him fit, add even just 3 very good loans and we go up.

But City want a DCM and Phillips is both English and reliability good in that position. It's a good signing for them. A very low risk one. A bit of bite in a team full of goalscoring midfielders.

 

[AgaMonkey]

But City want a DCM and Phillips is both English and reliability good in that position. It's a good signing for them. A very low risk one. A bit of bite in a team full of goalscoring midfielders.

And a lot cheaper than Declan Rice

 

[Luke1993]

They've just signed Roca from Bayern, he's not really a tackling midfielder either, if Leeds' midfield was berge and Roca they would get massively overrun, both good footballers but neither the most athletic, especially defensively. Can't see them replacing Phillips with berge personally.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Toronto Blade]

He will leave on deadline day, leaving it too late to get a decent replacement. Not to worry they will spend the cash in the January window.

 

[Champagneblade]

I can’t help but feel the season depends on Sander.

If he stays, we play him as a 10 or on the right of a front three and we’ll be a difficult proposition.

If he goes, then better it happens sooner than later so we can be in for the likes of Twine.

 

[Mouth of the South]

There's a real onus on Berge's agent to generate interest in his client which leads to realistic offers materializing. Until that happens Utd's transfer activity is likely to remain limited. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later (I'm struggling to see a scenario where he's still with Utd after the window closes unless Utd play really hardball and don't budge from their valuation) or we'll see more tantrums on here where players (some of whom may indeed be targets) go elsewhere due to Utd's inability to act.

 

[jt64]

I don't rate Leeds at all. They stayed up by being least worst of an abject bunch. Anyone with the abysmal GD they had really deserved to plummet.

You do realise they conceded 20 against the only two good (relatively) teams in the league? If they decided to be a bunch of cowards and play for damage limitation and matched Burnley's results, they'd only have 5 goal difference worse than them.

 

[Champagneblade]

You do realise they conceded 20 against the only two good (relatively) teams in the league? If they decided to be a bunch of cowards and play for damage limitation and matched Burnley's results, they'd only have 5 goal difference worse than them.

Burnley finished on -19
Leeds finished on -37

Leeds had -20 with 4 whoppings vs Liverpool and City. So without those they would have had -17. Burnley as you say had a 7 goal deficit so would have been -12.

I agree with your methodology and I kind of get your point but there is still an element of "if my Auntie had balls she'd be my Uncle!"

What I'm saying is generally the teams that go down are those with the worst goal difference.

Leeds were especially lucky and undeserving. In one spell, they got a soft pen at home to Palace and equally a totally unjust draw at Brighton. Had those two results gone against them they'd have gone down. Even the last game they were spozzy. They were going to lose to Brentford who through one I'll-judged shirt removal and an untimely injury left them facing 10 men. That's just massive fortune.

Hopefully they get what they deserve next time around.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Stay / leave. I don't think it'll really make any difference to us.

We're not good enough to get promoted, or bad enough to get relegated... with or without Berge.
Of course, we're better with him than without him, but we don't have the funds to compete at the top of the divison & push for promotion, so we may as well consign ourselves to midtable (or whatever) now and just sell him for as much as possible.

We might get to spend 25% of the fee on a replacement and the other 75% can go towards paying off the outstanding balance on the wasted McBurnie / Brewster / Mousset fees that are clearly still crippling us.

It's a depressing outlook, but the tone of Heckingbottom's interview yesterday told me everything about what we have in store.