Class act still has to prove his true worth
SANDER Berge, the Sheffield United midfielder, has an image problem. Or to be more specific, a body-language problem.
Languid and nonchalant in possession, the Norwegian international often looks like he is strolling through games without a care in the world.
Nor, despite a chiselled 6ft 5ins frame more akin to an Olympic swimmer, does the 24-year-old exhibit any noticeable physical dominance.
Such apparent passivity is a source of considerable frustration to Blades supporters who, it is fair to say, expected a rather more complete player when United paid Genk a club-record £22m in January 2020.
Equally, though, there is a recognition around Bramall Lane, not least within the dressing room, that Berge’s touch, vision and technical ability is a cut above Championship level, and that his demeanour should not detract from his contribution.
“Sander is a Rolls Royce of a player,” said Blades striker Rhian Brewster. Aaron Ramsdale, now at Arsenal, called him the best footballer at the club.
Those sentiments are certainly borne out by the degree of interest when Berge was touted for sale last summer, with Arsenal offering £17.5m - considerably short of United’s £35m valuation - and Liverpool and Serie A side Napoli both lodging tentative enquiries.
Berge’s pedigree, too, is unquestionable. The grandson of former Norwegian international Ragnar Berge, his father, Swedish mother and elder brother have all played basketball at international level.
He made his professional debut for hometown club Asker at 16, subsequently starring for Valerenga and Belgian side Genk, where his performances in the Champions League attracted praise from Jurgen Klopp.
Having represented Norway at every level from Under-15, he made his senior debut in 2017 and has since won 24 caps.
Composure
Apart from his size, Berge was noted for his composure, his accurate passing and, despite a lack of acceleration, his ability to break the lines with bulldozing forward runs.
United saw off plenty of competition to land Berge, with then-manager Chris Wilder viewing the midfielder as a long-term replacement for deep-lying playmaker Ollie Norwood.
However, the impact of Covid-19, United’s wider slump in form andasuccession of hamstring injuries hampered his progress. Berge made just 15 appearances last season, missed several months of the current campaign and is yet to convince many Blades supporters of his value. Clearly, Berge is not a player who will run box-to-box and harry opponents, despite occupying a traditionally ‘defensive’ position. But as one of two deep midfielders in a 3-5-2 system against Huddersfield Town a fortnight ago, his other attributes were apparent. Out of all the players on the pitch, only defender Jack Robinson (85) made more successful passes than Berge’s 71.
The Norwegian’s pass accuracy was 91 per cent and he found a team-mate with five of his six long balls.
Continuity
Despite a tendency to slow play down with sideways passes, his contribution gave United a degree of continuity and control against a team who prey on mistakes for quick counter-attacks.
Did he look like a £22m player? Certainly not, and if somebody was to offer United a similar sum in the summer they would be hard pushed to refuse.
Berge himself would probably benefit from playing in a team that dominated the ball, and in a division less frenetic than the Championship.
But if Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom can coax consistency and fitness from Berge, and find a way to exploit his considerable ability on the ball, he retains the potential to be an instrumental figure in the Blades’ midfield.