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Saturday, December 21, 03:56:40pm

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• Wait until Berge gets more confident and is given licence to run at defences, which he isn't doing yet..He will be a star.... (NT) -- GA, Monday, December 09, 05:52:23pm (ool-18b90125.dyn.optonline.net/24.185.1.37)
  • This is what I think happens when he has Lukic with him. He started his days in Belgium as a defensive midfielder, getting in the Champions League "futures" team one year, then in England became more advanced. With someone like Lukic there, who is incredible at covering for his teammates (vs Arsenal he was like an advanced sweeper he was so often just there when needed) he can take some risks. Similarly, Lukic also can do the same. (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 12:55:25am (NoHost/172.58.139.245)
    • It’s Tete tucking into midfield that allows them both to advance when they have the opportunity - as big a factor of Berge settling in IMO. That’s why we knots the midfield battle first half v Brighton with Castange IMO (NT) -- ASPT, Tuesday, December 10, 03:50:46am (NoHost/45.248.78.29)
      • That's a really interesting point. I'm going to look out for that in the next match. One thing that has been striking to me re Tete is that this year he's having significantly fewer assists than the last time he was the No. 1. I figured it was just not having Mitro to cross to, but maybe he's playing a different role now? (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 04:01:52am (h200-210-66-13.lh.com.tw/210.66.13.200)
        • I know how this sounds - and Palhinha was my favourite player for the last 2 seasons, but he was positionally ill-disciplined. By covering every blade of grass, you will leave spaces that your team mates have to cover. Losing him hurt my heart but in hindsight we are more drilled and regimented IMO - and a big part of that is how Tete tucks in so Robbo / Iwobi / Berge / Lukic can push on. (NT) -- ASPT, Tuesday, December 10, 04:17:03am (NoHost/45.248.78.29)
          • We're definitely better. I'm not sure its him being positionally ill-disciplined, as I doubt Marco would allow that to exist for so long. I suspect he was given license to roam and destroy much like a defensive No. 10. But everyone has had to up their game defensively without him, and we are very clearly better on the ball with Berge/Lukic or both, meaning the opposition has the ball less. So its a net positive The Tete thing is really intriguing. I need to look out for that. (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 04:23:41am (h200-210-66-13.lh.com.tw/210.66.13.200)
            • We conceded a lot of posession on Sunday against an Arsenal side that wasn't too different to the side we beat 2 - 1 last season, with far more attacking purpose. Last season, main players like: Rice, Saka, Saliba, Odegaard, Raya all played in the Arsenal side. Palhinha's contribution was significant that game if my memory serves me right. One could argue that it has taken 2 players this season, to do the job of Jao last season. Think we missed Cairney too on Sunday. (NT) -- Juana Aorta, Tuesday, December 10, 08:11:29am (217-155-46-35.dsl.in-addr.zen.co.uk/217.155.46.35)
              • For me the key difference was that our victory last season, however well-earned was against an Arsenal giving one of their worst performances of the season. Notwithstanding their lack of a cutting edge on Sunday their overall display was much better. (NT) -- Bexhill Beast, Tuesday, December 10, 09:45:37am (host86-171-237-150.range86-171.btcentralplus.com/86.171.237.150)
                • If it was their worst performance (I'd argue that was at home to West Ham), then could that not be due to the way Fulham played? (NT) -- Juana Aorta, Tuesday, December 10, 11:53:39am (217-155-46-35.dsl.in-addr.zen.co.uk/217.155.46.35)
              • We had similar possession: 34% vs 39%. Pal was good but not spectacular, even a bit subdued with just 2 tackles! That match was significant because it was during the period we shifted to two inside forwards with Cairney left centre and Andreas (Iwobi vs Arsenal) right centre. And it was one of Cairneys best performances in that time, in contrast to ESR, his replacements, performance. We also had BDR doing his thing, with the additional killer instinct he brought vs what we have now. (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 11:05:26am (175-183-84-143.adsl.dynamic.seed.net.tw/175.183.84.143)
                • I can't argue with the Cairney vs ESR point. The latter player flatters to decieve. All this stuff about making the right decision to leave Arsenal. I'm not sure he has made Fulham his home yet. As for stats of the 2 games. Acc to the BBC stats: 23/24 - 4 shots on target, total 15 shots, 5 corners, 6 blocked shots, 20 touches in box. 24- 25: 2 shots on target, 2 shots in total, 0 corners, 3 touches in box, 0 blocked shots. I came out of the game feeling relieved but a bit disappointed on Sunday. (NT) -- Juana Aorta, Tuesday, December 10, 12:00:39pm (217-155-46-35.dsl.in-addr.zen.co.uk/217.155.46.35)
                  • Yes me too. I agree with you above that they probably played poorly because we made them. I think the Cairney/ESR thing and extra firepower with BDR were the key factors. ESR is doing well I think, but he's not imposing himself on games and I wonder whether he ever will. He doesn't seem to have that cocksure arrogance, which Cairney absolutely has. He seems fragile. He reminds me a bit of Gazza, both in how he plays and his mental fragility (though food, not booze the crutch) (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 12:12:20pm (175-183-84-143.adsl.dynamic.seed.net.tw/175.183.84.143)
              • People underestimate playing couple of days earlier, with a busy period coming up. The play was always to sit deep, leave no space for saka behind and counter. We’d have run out of steam if we’d gone hard & pressed too much, players need to be preserved, so easy to pick up injuries and collapse late in games if we go full tilt every match, was smart management to hold back, there’s a lot of games to be played, tactical adjustments are needed for physical as well as oppo reasons. (NT) -- Henry1879, Tuesday, December 10, 12:37:47pm (croy-26-b2-v4wan-167127-cust1611.vm24.cable.virginm.net/82.38.22.76)
                • Can't discount that as a contributing factor. (NT) -- Juana Aorta, Tuesday, December 10, 01:55:41pm (217-155-46-35.dsl.in-addr.zen.co.uk/217.155.46.35)

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• The "Silva effect" is interesting. As a man-manager he's capable of helping a player realize his potential. But there's also the team building: the stability, clearly defined plans, group captains, and ever better players. We've reached a moment where the chances of any given signing succeeding seem to have greatly increased. A bit like the fabled Liverpool "boot room". For Berge, he's no longer the best player on losing teams. It has to help. (NT) -- eganonoa, Tuesday, December 10, 03:56:39am (h200-210-66-13.lh.com.tw/210.66.13.200)

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• The Earth is covered by 70% of water ….the remaining 30% is covered by Berge (NT) -- From FOF, Tuesday, December 10, 08:43:01am (2e409fa8.skybroadband.com/46.64.159.168)

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• I agree, thought we’d signed the wrong type of CM and needed a sitting type a la Andre (who I still think would be a good player for us, just bad circumstances at wolves), thought Berge was a marauding break into box type who although a good player would drift out of games and not be defensively great. Turns out our manager and recruitment team know a bit about football and he’s another quality signing. (NT) -- Henry1879, Tuesday, December 10, 08:57:29am (croy-26-b2-v4wan-167127-cust1611.vm24.cable.virginm.net/82.38.22.76)