Sander Berge

[RedandWhite]

I'm not worried about him, he's a new player in a new league in a new country. He's playing on the right of a 3 man midfield and is often up the pitch, that's not his game. Second half I saw alot of good stuff from him, he made 3 really well weighted passes to Baldock that Baldock didn't even need to slow down for. Not even Norwood does those. Watch next season, this guy will be amazing.

 

[scouseblade]

3 games in. The lad looks the business but you cannot start judging him after 3 games. He is bedding into a new system. Lets be fair the Belgian League is not a high standard to the Premier League so it will take time. Look at the likes of Fabinho and Keita at Liverpool, in fact, pick Henderson for that matter. Took them longer than 3 games to adapt to Liverpool system. Give him time. He will come good.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Go on then - I’ll put my early judgement down for future ridicule:-

I’d be amazed if Berge doesn’t become our most valuable player. To my eye he looks to have a scary set of talents. Height, strength, pace, touch, awareness, passing... And he seems a clever, ambitious lad who knows why he’s joined us.

Hope he settles quickly, because we’ve got some potential player here.

Ditto

 

[Bladeloyal]

That ball to baldock up the wing ,weighted to perfection
So used to seeing safe passes slightly behind players or cross field pings that i it was nice to see a simplistic but aesthetically beautiful " here you go son won't need to take a touch or anything " ball

Had class written all over it .

 

[LurkerBladeS2]

Nothing I have seen that concerns me, looks so comfortable on the ball, never flustered and has a cracking touch andweight of ball.
Yes there have been mistakes but nothing that ALL the first team have done at some time or another. Personally very excited to see him develop with the rest of the team, whether that remains as a box to box, a pivot or part of a double pivot is the only thing that remains to be seen.

 

[FMBlade1]

Thinking about this, it's what I'd call the 'Moise Kean' dilemma:

He was a very talented kid for Juventus but was raw and made mistakes and didn't quite fit into their team costing them points. Had huge potential.

Juventus changed their transfer policy to get players 'for now' so they'd continue to win trophies rather than be patient with him so shipped him off to Everton.

Kean may turn out to be a world beater, but Juventus were happy to take that chance.

--

So with Berge imho we either take short term pain for potentially long term gain by playing him, or take a hit on him by dropping him for short term success.

Not easy either way.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Thinking about this, it's what I'd call the 'Moise Kean' dilemma:

He was a very talented kid for Juventus but was raw and made mistakes and didn't quite fit into their team costing them points. Had huge potential.

Juventus changed their transfer policy to get players 'for now' so they'd continue to win trophies rather than be patient with him so shipped him off to Everton.

Kean may turn out to be a world beater, but Juventus were happy to take that chance.

--

So with Berge imho we either take short term pain for potentially long term gain by playing him, or take a hit on him by dropping him for short term success.

Not easy either way.

No pain.

 

[FMBlade1]

No pain.

Not a literal phrase but you get my point.

If him playing disjoints the team and we lose momentum and we miss out on Europe it'll feel pretty painful.

 

[CrookesBlade]

I sometimes despair at such early judgements on players, he's 22, playing in England for the first time, in a system that is alien to English players let alone a young Norwegian on his first foray into one of the big league

It's bound to take time, and believe me I'm a huge lunny fan but it's this kind of player we need to try and take us to the next level, he may not adapt, some don't, but I've seen enough to believe that he will

I would also point to our current side, barring maybe moose how many set the world alight in their first few months at the club

Is there a single one of us who can say we predicted bash, Baldock, Stevens, fleck, Norwood, lunny, mcgoldrick would have reached anywhere near the level they have after their first 10 or 15 appearances for the club??

Sharp and Basham are another couple that will know all about being written off after a slow start. Plus I remember more than a few people complaining about "that useless ginger cunt" Mark Duffy a couple of games in as he was finding his way in the number 10 role and some of the stuff he was trying wasn't always coming off.

You would think some of our fans would have learned their lesson by now.

Unfortunately some people feel the need to start slagging off big new signings as soon as possible either because they are impatient or so they can say the called it right early doors if they do turn out to not be up to scratch.

 

[FMBlade1]

Sharp and Basham are another couple that will know all about being written off after a slow start. Plus I remember more than a few people complaining about "that useless ginger cunt" Mark Duffy a couple of games in as he was finding his way in the number 10 role and some of the stuff he was trying wasn't always coming off.

You would think some of our fans would have learned their lesson by now.

Unfortunately some people feel the need to start slagging off big new signings as soon as possible either because they are impatient or so they can say the called it right early doors if they do turn out to not be up to scratch.

No one is slagging him off or even writing him off as far as I can see, certainly not me.

All I am saying, and plenty others have agreed judging by this thread, that FOR THE TIME BEING it is best that he doesn't start games. There's a respectable debate to be had to the contrary of course which is more than welcome.

 

[VonBrysonsExpress]

Hi, long time voyeur and addict of all the forums pages but first time poster so please go easy on me (or not as I know the deal)....I've seen reference to Sander being Oli Norwood's long term replacement which makes sense as we now seem to be ramping up the long term plans and bringing in younger talent to build for the future (wow how good it feels to write that about utd). One view I haven't seen expressed is how Sander offers us options along with Oli & not as a straight replacement. A few games this season, especially Liverpool away, teams have stifled Oli by close marking and thats had a massive impact on our ability to play and dictate games as we would expect. Now I'm not saying Oli is one dimensional but from brief views of Sander he brings something different to what we'd expect from Oli, an ability to make space for himself, take the ball with him and run at people and a physicality which makes it harder for other midfields to combat. I'd hope to see both playing for utd for some time in similar positions. We're evolving and perhaps Knill and Wilder have seen a way we can throw teams by mixing things up in the middle. Just a thought....

 

[DronnieBlade]

Hi, long time voyeur and addict of all the forums pages but first time poster so please go easy on me (or not as I know the deal)....I've seen reference to Sander being Oli Norwood's long term replacement which makes sense as we now seem to be ramping up the long term plans and bringing in younger talent to build for the future (wow how good it feels to write that about utd). One view I haven't seen expressed is how Sander offers us options along with Oli & not as a straight replacement. A few games this season, especially Liverpool away, teams have stifled Oli by close marking and thats had a massive impact on our ability to play and dictate games as we would expect. Now I'm not saying Oli is one dimensional but from brief views of Sander he brings something different to what we'd expect from Oli, an ability to make space for himself, take the ball with him and run at people and a physicality which makes it harder for other midfields to combat. I'd hope to see both playing for utd for some time in similar positions. We're evolving and perhaps Knill and Wilder have seen a way we can throw teams by mixing things up in the middle. Just a thought....

Progressively, we will find the average height of our side increase going forwards.

Berge is a significant step in this direction.

UTB

 

[Nick Jansky]

No one is slagging him off or even writing him off as far as I can see, certainly not me.

All I am saying, and plenty others have agreed judging by this thread, that FOR THE TIME BEING it is best that he doesn't start games. There's a respectable debate to be had to the contrary of course which is more than welcome.

To be fair, you have a long track record of calling it wrong.
I imagine that he is being picked, and will continue to be picked, because he represents our future.

 

[FMBlade1]

To be fair, you have a long track record of calling it wrong.
I imagine that he is being picked, and will continue to be picked, because he represents our future.

Ooh making it personal now! I was right, unfortunately, about predicting Woodburn Holmes and Freeman wouldn't be a success here. On the other hand I backed our summer recruitment overwhelmingly.

As I've already said my record is mixed, I thought we'd messed up promotion last year when we drew to Villa and that back in August said this season we wouldn't make the step up in particular with Lunny struggling who ironically I'd prefer to have in the team now instead of Berge.

It is a forum after all....

 

[benn5712]

Berge is hard to knock off the ball, like TC.
Ghosts into scoring positions, like Martin Peters did. Isn't given the ball.
Bergen Blade has it about right.
SB is going to be a legend for us.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Ooh making it personal now! I was right, unfortunately, about predicting Woodburn Holmes and Freeman wouldn't be a success here. On the other hand I backed our summer recruitment overwhelmingly.

As I've already said my record is mixed, I thought we'd messed up promotion last year when we drew to Villa and that back in August said this season we wouldn't make the step up in particular with Lunny struggling who ironically I'd prefer to have in the team now instead of Berge.

It is a forum after all....

I’m hoping the club isn’t just looking at this season in isolation and that is why Berge was bought & is playing. He’s a massive upgrade on Lunny. He will drag us up to another level along with the next couple of signings. I love Lunny, but he certainly doesn’t represent our future.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Not good enough yet, stop fucking about, play Lunny and give Richario a cameo from the bench, if he can play next to mousett then we could be very dangerous upfront next season.
And as for Mcburnie, £20m, really!?, he looked pathetic today, he should be in the Olympics for some of his dives!, needs to buck his ideas up for me.
Didzy didn't look arsed when he came on, Mousett would've been the better choice, he was about to come on and Wilder pulled him back, error.

Don’t drink and post

 

[FMBlade1]

I’m hoping the club isn’t just looking at this season in isolation and that is why Berge was bought & is playing. He’s a massive upgrade on Lunny. He will drag us up to another level along with the next couple of signings. I love Lunny, but he certainly doesn’t represent our future.

Fair enough, you're entitled to your prediction and opinion as much as I am to mine.

Interesting point about this season 'in isolation'. I'd agree if we were bumbling around in mid-table like Southampton (who definitely won't go down or make Europe) however we are fighting for a European place and if having Berge in the team puts that at risk then imho it's not a risk worth taking.

Europe without Berge developing is more important long term than no Europe with Berge developing, if indeed his development is guaranteed which nothing ever is in football.

Now hopefully I'm wrong that he does develop/adapt quickly and we get a European place as well and we'll all be celebrating.

 

[essexblade73]

If you know your football you can see Berge is a proper player. Like the planks who kept saying Lundstram was shite, when you could quite clearly see he isn't, there are plenty who have no idea.

 

[FMBlade1]

If you know your football you can see Berge is a proper player. Like the planks who kept saying Lundstram was shite, when you could quite clearly see he isn't.

No-one is doubting he is a proper footballer.

Some are just saying he shouldn't be starting for us at this present time. There is a difference.

 

[Digs blade]

If you know your football you can see Berge is a proper player. Like the planks who kept saying Lundstram was shite, when you could quite clearly see he isn't, there are plenty who have no idea.

Berge will be a fantastic addition for us. I’m convinced of that. Maybe not such an impact this season but beyond that

 

[essexblade73]

No-one is doubting he is a proper footballer.

Some are just saying he shouldn't be starting for us at this present time. There is a difference.

The same people who will cry when anyone who replaces him has a bad game, begging for Berge to be starting and saying (insert name) is shite.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Europe without Berge developing is more important long term than no Europe with Berge developing,

This is where we disagree. We have avoided relegation, which was the aim of this season, nothing more. Now we look to the next few seasons, which Sander Berge will be a huge part of if we are looking to progress. So we are bedding him in in a safe, relegation free environment.

 

[FMBlade1]

This is where we disagree. We have avoided relegation, which was the aim of this season, nothing more. Now we look to the next few seasons, which Sander Berge will be a huge part of if we are looking to progress. So we are bedding him in in a safe, relegation free environment.

Europe would raise our stature in the footballing world astronomically and increase sponsorship and revenue as well as enabling us to attract more players that will put us in great stead for the future, as well as giving us fans some more pride and experiences.

Though not if we bow out in the Europa League qualifying rounds to Ludogrets like Hull did.

Weighing it up, respectfully agree to disagree with you but we'll see!

 

[Nick Jansky]

Europe would raise our stature in the footballing world astronomically and increase sponsorship and revenue as well as enabling us to attract more players that will put us in great stead for the future, as well as giving us fans some more pride and experiences.

Though not if we bow out in the Europa League qualifying rounds to Ludogrets like Hull did.

Weighing it up, respectfully agree to disagree with you but we'll see!

I think you will be disappointed this season, but every chance next & future seasons. We will continue to progress, Berge & Retsos are part of that.

Sorry I was a bit of an arse earlier. It’s because I’m a bit of an arse, unfortunately. Needlessly argumentative. As you say, we will see.

 

[FMBlade1]

I think you will be disappointed this season, but every chance next & future seasons. We will continue to progress, Berge & Retsos are part of that.

Sorry I was a bit of an arse earlier. It’s because I’m a bit of an arse, unfortunately. Needlessly argumentative. As you say, we will see.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

No argument from me at all, Sander is going to be one hell of a player and we’ve mortgaged the farm to get him - he’s only been here for three games ffs.

Experts, my arse

 

[Eza Blade]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned on here as I am idle as fuck and can’t be arsed to read all the posts but.......he’s as tall as a centre half,can play football with his feet, likes a tackle and will overlap nicely.....could he replace the irreplaceable

 

[Cheesebored]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned on here as I am idle as fuck and can’t be arsed to read all the posts but.......he’s as tall as a centre half,can play football with his feet, likes a tackle and will overlap nicely.....could he replace the irreplaceable

No because he heads it like he's 4'3". Norwood role in 2 years.

 

[BigBed]

Don’t drink and post

Stand by everything in that post.