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.