It was 7 years ago today ...

[mark1975]

If it's Baros and Berger we are talking about, I accept that Milan Baros was a bit brainless (although he did win the Golden Boot in Euro 2004). Patrik Berger was a fucking genius though. He was one of those players who it was worth the admission fee just to see in action.

He was on about Berger and Smicer, I liked Berger, I was just taking the piss a bit.

"Genius" is an odd word to describe him though, he was never anything subtle or intelligent, he was full of great drive and a ferocious shot, the sort of directness we sorely miss.

 

[Portly]

Berger did have the ability to wrong-foot defences by doing something unpredictable though. That's what raised him to genius level in my opinion.

 

[mark1975]

Berger did have the ability to wrong-foot defences by doing something unpredictable though. That's what raised him to genius level in my opinion.

And he loved playing against Chelsea 😉

 

[Portly]

Remember his nuclear-powered free kick at Old Trafford? 🙂

 

[mark1975]

Remember his nuclear-powered free kick at Old Trafford? 🙂

Yeah, and the one on the break against Arsenal, similar to Camara's. We did the same thing to them at Highbury two years on the bounce, a proper smash & grab.

 

[juniormember]

I loved Berger. Wasn't happy when he wasn't getting too much playing time towards the end.

 

[Judge Jules]

Berger was messed around badly (as were a number of other players TBF) by Uncle Roy, who had this thing about trying to change players' positions and had him starting on the right at one stage.

 

[Portly]

I always think it's a sign of a manager losing his grip when he starts playing his players in the wrong positions. Besides using Berger as a winger, which didn't suit him at all, Roy bought Jason McAteer as an attacking midfielder, and played him at right back, which in my opinion ruined a promising career.

 

[Judge Jules]

Agree on all counts. One could add Leonhardsen, who (if he's ever mentioned) tends to get stick on here, but I was pleased we signed him as he'd given us no end of trouble playing as an AM for Wimbledon. Uncle Roy promptly tried to turn him into a wide midfielder and jiggered his career as well. Even Phil "Oo me goolies" Babb looked a good player in a back four for the Republic, but floundered when Uncle Roy tried to shoehorn him into a back three, for which he was never even close to being mobile enough.

 

[manwithnoname]

Agree on all counts. One could add Leonhardsen, who (if he's ever mentioned) tends to get stick on here, but I was pleased we signed him as he'd given us no end of trouble playing as an AM for Wimbledon. Uncle Roy promptly tried to turn him into a wide midfielder and jiggered his career as well. Even Phil "Oo me goolies" Babb looked a good player in a back four for the Republic, but floundered when Uncle Roy tried to shoehorn him into a back three, for which he was never even close to being mobile enough.

Phil Babb was quick

 

[peekay]

Phil Babb was quick

He failed to stop the goal but the pace he displayed here was impressive

 

[Judge Jules]

Phil Babb was quick

That's what I'd thought when he arrived, but having to cover across for our left wing-back at times seemed to undo him completely.

Unpleasant piece of work BTW. When the Alan Kennedy tour I went on fetched up at Melwood, he and McMoneyman were the only two players who couldn't be @rsed to chat to anybody but stood to one side sneering.