Sander BERGE

[beddie]

I go back to the point that every player at our club is looking to move to bigger and better things, it’s a key motivation rather than a hindrance, in my opinion.

Agree with the above. I hope Parker can motivate Berge like I know Dyche could and sell to him the importance of playing well and being part of us getting back up, that would put him in the shop window so to speak and perhaps a big move to a top premiership team. I really believe if we can keep Berge and keep him injury free we could do it.

[IPAclaret]

Some people really struggle with the concept that it is ok to have a different opinion

Hi Elizabeth, nope I really don't struggle with the concept of having a different opinion. However I do struggle with your opinion that Berge is nothing special, because that opinion in my opinion is complete nonsense.

And I think the vast majority of Burnley fans, football pundits, professionals within the game eg managers and players and for good measure, just about anyone who's seen him play regularly would agree with me rather than you.

UTC

[boatshed bill]

Good to see some of the resident experts on here most notably Boatshed bill and Elizabeth have decided between them in their infinite wisdom that Berge wasn't all that.

Just hilarious. Played in his best position he is a top quality player and our best by far. Different class to just about any other championship player.

With him we are favourite's for a quick return. Without him we are still strong by championship standards but seriously weakened and would need expensive outlay to replace him if we are promoted making it a bit of a false economy unless the offer is to good to turn down.

Funny.
I don't recall saying he was a bad player, but I believe we'll do OK in the Championship without him if he chooses to leave.
These bottom end PL players (and he is one) are in a brilliant position, failure seems to benefit them.

[bumba]

I don’t think after a few weeks of the season and knowing he’d not been sold it’d make a jot of difference to his performances.

No player steps on to the field and wants to play badly. If he really wants a move he’d have to play well to earn it in a future window.

I go back to the point that every player at our club is looking to move to bigger and better things, it’s a key motivation rather than a hindrance, in my opinion.

I get what your saying but it does happen at all clubs when a player downstairs tools because he's missed out on a transfer unfortunately

[Stonehouse]

All the talk about Berge you would think he was world class,how many times was he on the edge of the penalty area last season and instead of playing a forward pass or having a shot did he play a conservative sideways pass? he was probably the best of a bad bunch.

[NewClaret]

All the talk about Berge you would think he was world class,how many times was he on the edge of the penalty area last season and instead of playing a forward pass or having a shot did he play a conservative sideways pass? he was probably the best of a bad bunch.

That will 1 million % been coaching. Man City do exactly the same unless they’re within a yard or so of the box and they have far better players. It’s all from of the possession football playbook.

I will say though that he was getting told to “shoot” by the crowd at 25 yards out last year. The stats on long range goals like that prove he was correct in not taking shots from that range.

[NewClaret]

Agree with the above. I hope Parker can motivate Berge like I know Dyche could and sell to him the importance of playing well and being part of us getting back up, that would put him in the shop window so to speak and perhaps a big move to a top premiership team. I really believe if we can keep Berge and keep him injury free we could do it.

I agree - I think he’s a key man if we want to go straight back up.

[Elizabeth]

Hi Elizabeth, nope I really don't struggle with the concept of having a different opinion. However I do struggle with your opinion that Berge is nothing special, because that opinion in my opinion is complete nonsense.

And I think the vast majority of Burnley fans, football pundits, professionals within the game eg managers and players and for good measure, just about anyone who's seen him play regularly would agree with me rather than you.

UTC

Good for you. Less of the resident expert attempted put down then.

[NewClaret]

I get what your saying but it does happen at all clubs when a player downstairs tools because he's missed out on a transfer unfortunately

I think it’s rare to be honest. Yes it happens but how many could we name where a player has downed tools? Not that many in the context of football and the thousands of professionals all of whom are ambitious and trying to fight their way up the pyramid.

I also think players are more accustomed and accepting to the challenges of professional football than we give them credit for.

Benson and Zaroury are good examples - treated badly last year, so many comments on here saying they’d throw their toys out and never play for us again, now looking happy as Larry.

I think a lot depends with how you deal with it. If you sit them down and tell them how valued they are, that they’re integral to your plans for next season, that they’re a guaranteed starter, but that also means you’re not willing to sell them yet, I think any reasonable person would understand and crack on.

Particularly players like Berge that have only just joined and have 3-4 years left on their contract. Trying to exercise player power could really screw them and their careers over too.

The good news is that he appears to be being really profession about things at the moment.

[bumba]

I think it’s rare to be honest. Yes it happens but how many could we name where a player has downed tools? Not that many in the context of football and the thousands of professionals all of whom are ambitious and trying to fight their way up the pyramid.

I also think players are more accustomed and accepting to the challenges of professional football than we give them credit for.

Benson and Zaroury are good examples - treated badly last year, so many comments on here saying they’d throw their toys out and never play for us again, now looking happy as Larry.

I think a lot depends with how you deal with it. If you sit them down and tell them how valued they are, that they’re integral to your plans for next season, that they’re a guaranteed starter, but that also means you’re not willing to sell them yet, I think any reasonable person would understand and crack on.

Particularly players like Berge that have only just joined and have 3-4 years left on their contract. Trying to exercise player power could really screw them and their careers over too.

The good news is that he appears to be being really profession about things at the moment.

I can't for one minute believe that Benson and Zaroury would have been as happy as you say if VK was still at the club, it's a completely different situation. They wasn't unhappy at relegation they was unhappy at treatment by their ex manager.
I hope Berge stays professional and we keep hold of him but I fear he's already taken that season in the championship with Sheff Utd, with his quality we couldn't begrudge him wanting to leave for a top level league.
A quick Google brought up this sulking XI https://www.givemesport.com/players-who ... -transfer/

[burnmark]

He’s travelled to Spain

[BleedingClaret]

Agree with this.

It’s so often overlooked how much money we make by getting promoted. It’s a guaranteed £200m or whatever. £25m
pales in to insignificance. We’ve got to give ourselves the best possible chance of getting up and Berge is crucial for that.

Without, admittedly, the proper actual factual knowledge of our financial situation, my instinct is that whoever we sell now and for how much, if we don’t get promoted before the end of the parachute payments our financial model doesn’t work, and the income from player sales will simply be to service debt.

[Stevie Morgan]

Funny.
I don't recall saying he was a bad player, but I believe we'll do OK in the Championship without him if he chooses to leave.
These bottom end PL players (and he is one) are in a brilliant position, failure seems to benefit them.

"Doing ok" unless you mean promotion, isn't really enough tho in our current circs. He could be the difference maker. FWIW I still think he'll go sadly.

[NewClaret]

I can't for one minute believe that Benson and Zaroury would have been as happy as you say if VK was still at the club, it's a completely different situation. They wasn't unhappy at relegation they was unhappy at treatment by their ex manager.
I hope Berge stays professional and we keep hold of him but I fear he's already taken that season in the championship with Sheff Utd, with his quality we couldn't begrudge him wanting to leave for a top level league.
A quick Google brought up this sulking XI https://www.givemesport.com/players-who ... -transfer/

Perhaps not, but a couple of points about Benson & Zaroury - they’ve never expressed any bad attitude publicly so we’re kind of guessing as to their feelings and in Zaroury’s case, I’d say after an underwhelming loan at Hull, he’d likely be happy to be back in the fold here.

All clubs have players rumoured to be unhappy. Most recently we had the Gibson saga and Vydra was always rumoured to be unhappy at playing time, I’d say it’s the nature of competitive dressing rooms. But overall (and generally across all clubs, I think the vast, vast majority of players do what Benson and Zaroury have done - crack on with it and remain professional).

My only point here is that I think the player power theory is overplayed by fans and that very few refuse to play or lower their levels after the window has shut. I think every single player (bar those at a few elite clubs competing for the Champions League) want to progress and move on if opportunities present themselves, but get their heads down and carry on when it doesn’t happen for whatever reason. I also don’t think it’s a good look for them - could easily ruin their reputation and put clubs off future moves - and quite risky when they have 3/4 years left on their contracts as many of our better players have.

What I do think is important is that these guys are managed well, things are explained to them, they’re made to feel valued and compromises are met. So for instance, in Berge’s case maybe it’s that we agree he can move on if we’re promoted next season when replacing him would be easier.

I agree with your point about Berge maybe feeling he’d done his ‘loyalty season’ with Sheff U and I’m sure that’s a factor for him & his agent but also think from our perspective there’s a reasonable argument that he’s one year in to a four year deal and the risk of relegation was known when he signed that, so they can’t really expect us to feel any differently than Sheff U did.

[ClaretTony]

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fener ... der-berge/

He said reliable sources

[Big Vinny K]

These bottom end PL players (and he is one) are in a brilliant position, failure seems to benefit them.

3 teams have to go down every single season - so guess you could call that failure.
But another way of looking at it is if you are good player even if your team gets relegated you are still a good player.

Ross Barkley had a great season last year. His reward for playing so well is that he has now signed for a team who are in the Champions League this year.

I was surprised when we signed someone as good as Berge. Always thought he was Sheffield United’s best player by some distance. He was our best player last season by some distance too and it’s no surprise that other teams are interested in signing him. Hopefully he stays but I can’t see it personally. Would not be surprised at all if he included a clause in his contract with a price he is allowed to leave at - as we did with Cornet. If you were in his position you would.

[NewClaret]

Without, admittedly, the proper actual factual knowledge of our financial situation, my instinct is that whoever we sell now and for how much, if we don’t get promoted before the end of the parachute payments our financial model doesn’t work, and the income from player sales will simply be to service debt.

I have no idea, really.

Assuming you’re right though, I’d say it’s even more vital we hold on to our best players this summer and get back up!

[Vino blanco]

Quite simply, he is one player I would love to keep for the coming season. His class and skills would be massive for us in the Championship.

[BleedingClaret]

I have no idea, really.

Assuming you’re right though, I’d say it’s even more vital we hold on to our best players this summer and get back up!

Basically that’s what I’m getting at, selling one of your best 16 players now can only make sense if it avoids administration, FFP default or inability to be liquid enough to meet financial obligations throughout the coming season.
If these are not an imminent threat then the only sensible option, if the best interests of the club is your plan, is to keep your best players and therefore the best chance of returning to the Premier league Honey pot or financial meltdown is likely in the mid term unless you get lucky
But if you have a no liability exit plan then……

[BleedingClaret]

Quite simply, he is one player I would love to keep for the coming season. His class and skills would be massive for us in the Championship.

Also he’s still maturing
He looked like a Dad playing with his Sons last year. With Odebert at 19 for example but he started the season at 25 which would often be the youngest player in a starting 11
He was often the 3rd or 4th oldest

[Woodleyclaret]

If it's Sander or. Wilson to be sold imo it's Sander

[123EasyasBFC]

If it's Sander or. Wilson to be sold imo it's Sander

You’d sell Berge over Odobert? Surely not

[Woodleyclaret]

Odobert will be worth a serious amount of money after what I believe will be a stellar season .
I would be gutted if we sell Wilson before we have gained from his talents. I like Sander but North of £20 m would be a good sum less is another Burnley giveaway.

[equinox]

As we've seen down the years (don't get me wrong we've had some decent midfielders the last 10 years or so, but) players like Berge are very difficult to come across.

Make him Captain, put a huge bonus in place for promotion, do whatever it takes to keep him.

[BigGaz]

We're within 2 weeks of the season starting now.

I hope we start telling people coming in for our leading lights to get ficked and that they've had long enough to prepare and submit a bid the closer it gets.

[Safron]

We're within 2 weeks of the season starting now.

I hope we start telling people coming in for our leading lights to get ficked and that they've had long enough to prepare and submit a bid the closer it gets.

Didn't we sign sander a week before the season started from Sheffield?

[NewClaret]

Odobert will be worth a serious amount of money after what I believe will be a stellar season .
I would be gutted if we sell Wilson before we have gained from his talents. I like Sander but North of £20 m would be a good sum less is another Burnley giveaway.

I agree in part.

The real test of our ability to get good at this model is not to take the first bid, even if players/agents want us to, and to sell at the optimum time for the optimum money.

I think we’ve fallen short on that with Muric already, not helped by Kompany’s reluctance to play him. He did us dirty there. Had he been number one all season I think we’d have been looking at much bigger money.

Anyway, with Odobert and Trafford we should hang on and sell when they’re in the most demand. If Palace can get €60m or whatever it is for Olise & Leeds £35m for Gray, we should be looking at big money for some of our players when they hit the right age/experience mix.

I disagree about Berge, £20m may seem a lot and I agree he’s not going to be one of those who sell for huge money like some of our younger players could, but going up is worth £200m & he’s one of the experienced players in the camp that has got won promotion from the division before. We need to keep key men like him for different reasons.

[mybloodisclaret]

Still no actual links then?

[BigGaz]

Im told there was something in the Fener links but the price they want to buy him for is a long way removed from what we want. Also was intimated that if he does go he thinks he can do better and would prefer to stay in 'Western' Europe.