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Player Lucas Bergvall

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It’s so obvious as well. Frank has had a brain fart with this one.

This is a 19 year old who can mix it up physically with the likes of Joelinton in the middle of the park and he’s being shoehorned into a 10 that vacates the middle of the park

Only because Frank has no one else available to rotate with Xavi. Whether or not Barry knows that, I’m not sure. I bet this experiment ends the day Madders or Kulu return.
 
It’s so obvious as well. Frank has had a brain fart with this one.

This is a 19 year old who can mix it up physically with the likes of Joelinton in the middle of the park and he’s being shoehorned into a 10 that vacates the middle of the park
Only because Frank has no one else available to rotate with Xavi. Whether or not Barry knows that, I’m not sure. I bet this experiment ends the day Madders or Kulu return.

I don't think it's as black and white as that.

I think Frank has welcomed the chance to settle in with a more industrious/combative midfield; rather than using a typical 6/8/10 man blend (also see him dragging his feet about playing Xavi at #10). Whether it be Sarr or Berg playing a 'false' 10 role; rather than expected to provide vertical and diagonal creativity, they're more tasked with the freedom to run their asses off accross the breadth of the pitch, whist still being expected to support the double pivot when required.

If (Berg or Sarr) was legit being played as a trad. #10, we ought to have seen a JP/Sarr/Berg trio before now.
 
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Only because Frank has no one else available to rotate with Xavi. Whether or not Barry knows that, I’m not sure. I bet this experiment ends the day Madders or Kulu return.
I don't think it's as black and white as that.

I think Frank has welcomed the chance to settle in with a more industrious/combative midfield; rather than using a typical 6/8/10 man blend in midfield (also see him dragging his feet about playing Xavi at #10). Whether it be Sarr or Berg playing a 'false' 10 role; rather than expected to provide vertical and diagonal creativity, they're more tasked with the freedom to run their asses off accross the breadth of the pitch, whist still being expected to support the double pivot when required.


If (Berg or Sarr) was legit being played as a trad. #10, we ought to have seen a JP/Sarr/Berg trio before now.

Bergvall had quotes before a EL game saying he’s been developing into more of a 10.
 
It’s definitely not his first instinct to take up those positions
It's probably not, but I think what's being missed here is his education.

Bergvall is a technically excellent Footballer, with a skillset that can be applied to virtually any midfield position, but he needs to learn about the requirements for each position to fully develop his all round game.

At 19 it's not remotely clear where his absolute best position will be at elite level, he's only just started his education. You don't limit a player with his ability by essentially "typecasting" him into one specific role, you give him opportunities in different ones to hone his abilities and understanding of the midfield role.

I saw an earlier post talking about how he could develop into that Lampard type role, so giving him the opportunity to understand the 10 role will play a large part in his education and make him a much better midfielder.

I do feel that there's far too much emphasis on shoehorning players into specific roles in midfield. When you have a player like him, who appears to have every attribute you could ask for in a midfielder, both defensively and offensively, you don't pigeonhole them, you give them opportunities to develop every part of their skillset, not limit them.

Jol understood this with Lennon, when he persisted with playing him on the left for a season, it certainly helped Lennon.

TF is giving both Bergvall and Sarr the opportunities to elevate their games which, to my mind, is excellent coaching. With the kind of education they are both getting, we could feasibly end up with two of the best midfielders in World Football, whatever end of the pitch they start from.
 
It's probably not, but I think what's being missed here is his education.

Bergvall is a technically excellent Footballer, with a skillset that can be applied to virtually any midfield position, but he needs to learn about the requirements for each position to fully develop his all round game.

At 19 it's not remotely clear where his absolute best position will be at elite level, he's only just started his education. You don't limit a player with his ability by essentially "typecasting" him into one specific role, you give him opportunities in different ones to hone his abilities and understanding of the midfield role.

I saw an earlier post talking about how he could develop into that Lampard type role, so giving him the opportunity to understand the 10 role will play a large part in his education and make him a much better midfielder.

I do feel that there's far too much emphasis on shoehorning players into specific roles in midfield. When you have a player like him, who appears to have every attribute you could ask for in a midfielder, both defensively and offensively, you don't pigeonhole them, you give them opportunities to develop every part of their skillset, not limit them.

Jol understood this with Lennon, when he persisted with playing him on the left for a season, it certainly helped Lennon.

TF is giving both Bergvall and Sarr the opportunities to elevate their games which, to my mind, is excellent coaching. With the kind of education they are both getting, we could feasibly end up with two of the best midfielders in World Football, whatever end of the pitch they start from.

Fair points.

But this is pro ball and there are definitely technical requirements and physical profiles better suited to specific roles

Your point about young players understanding multiple roles before settling on one is definitely true. Bergvall learning where an advanced CM needs to be will help him when he has to find passes to them. It’s the same reason I think Grays experience at FB and CB will help him with his CM role.

But physically and technically, Bergvall is much more suited to playing the box to box role in MF.
 
Fair points.

But this is pro ball and there are definitely technical requirements and physical profiles better suited to specific roles

Your point about young players understanding multiple roles before settling on one is definitely true. Bergvall learning where an advanced CM needs to be will help him when he has to find passes to them. It’s the same reason I think Grays experience at FB and CB will help him with his CM role.

But physically and technically, Bergvall is much more suited to playing the box to box role in MF.
I don't disagree, as I think he'll end up as an 8, with his ability to pick a pass, his physicality, technicality and his ability to get into the right places around the box.

Personally I think that he's being coached exactly how he should be to maximise all of the strings he has in his bow, and there are a lot of them.

I honestly believe he'll end up at the top of the pile, as he comes across as one of those rare players that has the lot, including the mentality and drive to just keep improving.

That's why I've been quite vocal about how much I love our recruitment recently. As much as many would have us buy players that are ready for the now, there's nothing quite like seeing us take raw talent and turn it into World Class quality.

Him and Sarr, in particular, are what I see as true midfielders. Not a 6, or an 8, or a 10, but proper midfielders who are comfortable in any of those 3 positions. Then add in the engines they both have, and you have elite midfielders that are rare in the game today.
 
Not a biggy shit happens :D

He's not going to forget that though... Hope the guys take the mickey out of him in a good way, so he doesn't dwell on and can look back and laugh at it.
Hopefully he will never miss like that again, so im glad it has happenned in Sweden game and not in PL (sorry Sweden fans!)
Had shades of Gazza Euro '96 v Germany (although at least Bergwall GOT to the ball!)

I've only just seen it, yes, he tried to get a clean contact, but it bobbles and he treads on the ball...

Looks a bad mistake, but nut as bad as Online would have you believe....
From reading some of the clickbait reactions, I honestly thought he'd burst into a kids Birthday party with a gun and shat on the Cake!
 
Had shades of Gazza Euro '96 v Germany (although at least Bergwall GOT to the ball!)

I've only just seen it, yes, he tried to get a clean contact, but it bobbles and he treads on the ball...

Looks a bad mistake, but nut as bad as Online would have you believe....
From reading some of the clickbait reactions, I honestly thought he'd burst into a kids Birthday party with a gun and shat on the Cake!
Had shades of Gazza Euro '96 v Germany (although at least Bergwall GOT to the ball!)

I've only just seen it, yes, he tried to get a clean contact, but it bobbles and he treads on the ball...

Looks a bad mistake, but nut as bad as Online would have you believe....
From reading some of the clickbait reactions, I honestly thought he'd burst into a kids Birthday party with a gun and shat on the Cake!
Everything is a storm in a teacup these days.
 
It's probably not, but I think what's being missed here is his education.

Bergvall is a technically excellent Footballer, with a skillset that can be applied to virtually any midfield position, but he needs to learn about the requirements for each position to fully develop his all round game.

At 19 it's not remotely clear where his absolute best position will be at elite level, he's only just started his education. You don't limit a player with his ability by essentially "typecasting" him into one specific role, you give him opportunities in different ones to hone his abilities and understanding of the midfield role.

I saw an earlier post talking about how he could develop into that Lampard type role, so giving him the opportunity to understand the 10 role will play a large part in his education and make him a much better midfielder.

I do feel that there's far too much emphasis on shoehorning players into specific roles in midfield. When you have a player like him, who appears to have every attribute you could ask for in a midfielder, both defensively and offensively, you don't pigeonhole them, you give them opportunities to develop every part of their skillset, not limit them.

Jol understood this with Lennon, when he persisted with playing him on the left for a season, it certainly helped Lennon.

TF is giving both Bergvall and Sarr the opportunities to elevate their games which, to my mind, is excellent coaching. With the kind of education they are both getting, we could feasibly end up with two of the best midfielders in World Football, whatever end of the pitch they start from.
Steven Gerrard style all action midfielder. That is what he should aim to become.
 
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