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Christophe Berra


The Merse

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Still seems to be struggling in my opinion.

 

He just doesn’t move comfortably at all since that injury. Hoped the break might’ve helped but I genuinely worry that he’s never going to return to the player from the season before last.

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Hope he’ll just recapture his form again. He did struggle with a few things though. Short summer break won’t have helped though.

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Just now, The Merse said:

Still seems to be struggling in my opinion.

 

He just doesn’t move comfortably at all since that injury. Hoped the break might’ve helped but I genuinely worry that he’s never going to return to the player from the season before last.

Totally agree.

 

Shame as he is a top player but that injury has had a massive impact on his game. Looks a lot more Shakey at the back. Halkett is a great backup on the bench 

 

 

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tartofmidlothian

I think the question is, how long until Halkett replaces him? A lot depends on Souttar's future as well. Is it too much to hope he might stick around and be captain for the rest of his career once Berra goes?

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Ibrahim Tall

Berra’s ‘done’ for me, don’t like saying it but it’s true. His legs have gone completely and he’s constantly making simple errors that he wasn’t making a year ago.

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Will still be good for derbies and the like i.e. games that the ball will probably be in the air a lot and Berra can clear any danger . Halkett should be playing with Souttar for me, it’s our future partnership and would rather just build it from here.

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Yeah looks like he is struggling, think we need to see Halkett in there. 

Shame as he is  a legend but we need better in there. 

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Igglepiggle

I didn't actually think he played badly tonight, though it's clear his best days are behind him. Will be interesting to see how we phase Halkett into the team for him (assuming we keep hold of Souttar). 

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2 minutes ago, Mort said:

Will still be good for derbies and the like i.e. games that the ball will probably be in the air a lot and Berra can clear any danger . Halkett should be playing with Souttar for me, it’s our future partnership and would rather just build it from here.

Berra simply just does not lose an aerial challenge.  It remains to be seen if Halkett can equal that.

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Hungry hippo
1 minute ago, Igglepiggle said:

I didn't actually think he played badly tonight, though it's clear his best days are behind him. Will be interesting to see how we phase Halkett into the team for him (assuming we keep hold of Souttar). 

 

I agree. He's obviously beyond his peak but is still an asset. 

 

If we released him teams like Aberdeen would be all over him.

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2 minutes ago, JamboAl said:

Berra simply just does not lose an aerial challenge.  It remains to be seen if Halkett can equal that.

True. It’s a shame he can’t header all his passes as he is awful with the ball placed at his feet haha.

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Mr Elwood P
14 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

I think the question is, how long until Halkett replaces him? A lot depends on Souttar's future as well. Is it too much to hope he might stick around and be captain for the rest of his career once Berra goes?

 

Halkett is 24 and played one season in the Scottish Premiership. He’s been nowhere near one of the worst Scotland squads ever. Berra will play 30+ games this season.

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Guest ToqueJambo

He's not helped by his lumbering gait but we'll need his experience, not to mention his heiders! He can play a role in developing Halkett to take over as well. I'm very comfortable about our options at CB this year.

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Mr Elwood P

The current chat about Berra is very reminiscent of the chat about Naismith during his initial loan spell. Folk are gonna be shown up big time.

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Just now, Homme said:

Probably best forming an opinion after more than one competitive match. 

He’s been poor since he returned from injury so it has been a sustained period. That’s a good 6/7 months now. His errors are beginning to cost us more sadly. 

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20 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

I think the question is, how long until Halkett replaces him? A lot depends on Souttar's future as well. Is it too much to hope he might stick around and be captain for the rest of his career once Berra goes?

Next capt is either Soutar or Halkett. 

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1 minute ago, Mort said:

He’s been poor since he returned from injury so it has been a sustained period. That’s a good 6/7 months now. His errors are beginning to cost us more sadly. 

 

Clean slate for a new season, as it should be with all players. 

 

The stats posted above don't lie. He's our captain and a very high performing one at that. 

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WheatfieldWarrior
6 minutes ago, The Merse said:

Still seems to be struggling in my opinion.

 

He just doesn’t move comfortably at all since that injury. Hoped the break might’ve helped but I genuinely worry that he’s never going to return to the player from the season before last.

 

I thought Berra did fine tonight. Some people are just looking for a stick to beat him with these days.

 

It would good to see what Halkett can do, but I'll wait until I see him play in maroon first before I start comparing him to Berra and Souttar. 

 

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8 minutes ago, Hungry hippo said:

 

I agree. He's obviously beyond his peak but is still an asset. 

 

If we released him teams like Aberdeen would be all over him.

We are never going to release him. Coaching position next 

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6 minutes ago, Barack said:

He'd have to go some if he did. I never even mentioned Berra's aerial ability, as it's the part of his game that will always be rock solid.

 

 

20190712_233840.jpg

Same percentage of aimless forward passes as well 

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tartofmidlothian

I wonder how much of its psychological after the injury, and how much that long contract was all about Levein boosting his confidence.

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Just now, tartofmidlothian said:

I wonder how much of its psychological after the injury, and how much that long contract was all about Levein boosting his confidence.

 

It looks physical to me.

 

He doesn’t move freely at all, he just looks awkward.

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Hungry hippo
17 minutes ago, soonbe110 said:

We are never going to release him. Coaching position next 

 

I know. Was just making the point that our competitors would love to have him.

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Jambof3tornado

I thought a few if his passes to hickey were a bit slow in getting there meaning the youngster was under pressure right away.

 

Thought our captain did ok but you do worry when someone runs at him.

 

 

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CloustonHMFC

Berra should be on the bench for cover, great servant and will be good to have around the team but time to move toward Souttar and Halkett pairing. We should also give Souttar the captains armband too. Nothing against Christoph but he shouldn’t be a regular starter and will still command enough respect around the club that he doesn’t need it. 

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Theme From Sparta F.C.

He was limping in the last 5-10 mins tonight. And certainly isn't as mobile as he was 12 months ago.

Although his best days may be over, his influence as Captain is still very important to the team.

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rudi must stay

Halkett will be in the defence regularly and will have displaced Berra by the end of the season

 

100% sure of it

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Holyrood_Hearts
52 minutes ago, Who_put_the_ball_in... said:

Think he should take the Hughes role and let Halkett partner Souter in a back 4.

Totally agree.  

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I think Levein (if he hasn't already) needs to send Berra to a specialist. As others have said, he's not been quite right. I'd rather lose him to January to allow him to get fixed up and fully match fit than plod along with this current situation.

 

It was a massive injury for him, so I wonder what that has actually done to him post recovery. i.e is it psychological? Is any pace he had gone? Can he no longer stretch? 

 

Feel for him, pre-injury I could have seen him captaining us to 36+, now? I honestly don't know. Fingers crossed he gets back to his old self, not a better defender in Scotland.

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1 hour ago, JamboAl said:

Berra simply just does not lose an aerial challenge.  It remains to be seen if Halkett can equal that.

 

100%

some folk writing him off are way off the mark imo

guys a colossus in defence

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44 minutes ago, rudi must stay said:

Halkett will be in the defence regularly and will have displaced Berra by the end of the season

 

100% sure of it

What are the lottery numbers for tonight?

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24 minutes ago, 1971fozzy said:

 

100%

some folk writing him off are way off the mark imo

guys a colossus in defence

Doesn't have the pace he used to have .

Correct but he was pacy  , probably still pacier than most CHs .

Doesn't lose aerial battles . Will be an important player , this season at least

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Mr Elwood P
37 minutes ago, 1971fozzy said:

 

100%

some folk writing him off are way off the mark imo

guys a colossus in defence

 

19 minutes ago, Gambo said:

Strong management required 're a player who signed a nice contract last season.

 

Is Halkett ever going to play in the EPL, English Championship or get any number of caps for Scotland?  Folk wanting to replace Berra with a lad who has played one Premiership season with Livingston are beyond ridicule! 

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The reality is that he is 34 now and imminently he will lose pace in his game. Agree with those that have said he does seem to be struggling since he came back from injury. Hopefully it’s just temporary and he can loosen up a bit. It’s still to early on in the season for me, in respect of thinking that it’s downhill from here.

 

just need to see how it goes. He will need to improve in the current sense or I can see halkeet taking his position. 

 

He is Mr Hearts and we need his type in the dressing room. Fingers crossed he does improve but it’s one I really don’t know how it will pan out. Hopefully for the better 

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Hate to say it, but I get the fear when the ball goes near Berra if the ball isn't in the air.

 

It's looking quite clear that Halkett is his replacement.

 

 

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We will all know a lot more by the end of September.  I would bet though that has total respect from every player.

 

If he proves to be defensive cover we will be very lucky to have him.

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Jambo, Goodbye

Was in no man's land for the first cup final goal we conceded,  and then again yesterday,  he ran back into no man's land,  giving Shankland a free header. Maybe he's unable to concentrate the way he used to?

 

There's no point being good at winning aerial battles if he's going to gift free headers to the opposition.  

 

Hopefully he gets himself sorted out. A Berra on form is one of the best CB's in the league. 

Edited by Jambo, Goodbye
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IveSeenTheLight
4 hours ago, Hungry hippo said:

 

I know. Was just making the point that our competitors would love to have him.

 

Sorry to say but we wouldn’t.

Halkett yes, Berra no.

Surprised you didn’t play with Halkett last night

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I don't know if he has fully recovered. I don't suppose the weather helped but, as others have said he seemed to be grimacing a lot. He also had a couple of niggly digs at Dundee Utd players, which isn't like him. 

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I thought he looked fine, personally. Better than he looked post-injury last season.

 

I'm sure Halkett will have a role to play this year as he's simply too good a player to have on the bench.

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rick witter
7 hours ago, ToqueJambo said:

He's not helped by his lumbering gait but we'll need his experience, not to mention his heiders! He can play a role in developing Halkett to take over as well. I'm very comfortable about our options at CB this year.

Yet we seem to continually make individual errors or leave ourselves wide open at the back. 

We also concede goals in every game we play in. 

Glad your very comfortable with that as I’m certainly not. 

You would think with Levein being such a good central defender in his day he would have them slit more well drilled than they are. 

Was a shambles at times last night and that was only Dundee Utd. 

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Berra not at the races, looked very dodgy at times, especially at their goal, may need time out, imo.

Halkett too good to be sitting on the bench, thought Levein might've played him last night, be interesting to see what Levein does after that, (team selection) in the remaining league cup fixtures.

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Dallas Green

He wins so many headers, he is a real asset to the team. His experience is very important too. As long as he gives the ball to Souttar or even Hickey rather than hoof it aimlessly up the park I'd keep him in the team.

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Watch their goal again from last night. They chipped it straight to Berra who then just passed it straight back to them, then he ran into no man's land instead of picking up Shankland. If he had dealt with the ball when it was passed to him, then no goal. Berra is a great defender but is looking slower and clumsier when in possession and with players running at him. Still a big part to play but think he will only play about half our games this season.

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