Borchgrevink ( Merged )

[Jambof3tornado]

Borch will get a chance,its a long season.

[Cruyff]

Borch will be class for us if he can get fit. 

[DxB Hearts]

Milne and Halkett are now one booking away from a suspension. Findlay is two bookings away. 

Considering we've only played 9 games and you need 5 yellows to get suspended it's fair to assume McCart and Steinwender will find themselves starting at CB fairly soon. Borch will no doubt get his chance from the bench then.

 

I'm fairly convinced Borch's issue is that he can only cover RB so Steinwender is always going to take that bench spot. Having him and McCart who can properly cover the full back 4 is a great thing to have.

[Born Again Nade]

2 hours ago, DxB Hearts said:

Milne and Halkett are now one booking away from a suspension. Findlay is two bookings away. 

Considering we've only played 9 games and you need 5 yellows to get suspended it's fair to assume McCart and Steinwender will find themselves starting at CB fairly soon. Borch will no doubt get his chance from the bench then.

 

I'm fairly convinced Borch's issue is that he can only cover RB so Steinwender is always going to take that bench spot. Having him and McCart who can properly cover the full back 4 is a great thing to have.

Agreed. FM-style levels of ideal.

[jumpinjambo]

2 hours ago, DxB Hearts said:

Milne and Halkett are now one booking away from a suspension. Findlay is two bookings away. 

Considering we've only played 9 games and you need 5 yellows to get suspended it's fair to assume McCart and Steinwender will find themselves starting at CB fairly soon. Borch will no doubt get his chance from the bench then.

 

I'm fairly convinced Borch's issue is that he can only cover RB so Steinwender is always going to take that bench spot. Having him and McCart who can properly cover the full back 4 is a great thing to have.

It's 6 yellows for a 1 match suspension. 

[Dick Dastardly]

Just now, jumpinjambo said:

It's 6 yellows for a 1 match suspension. 

👍 

[Mikey1874]

Into the second half I did think we were missing a right back.

 

Interesting to see McInnes approach to changing things. Harry Milne is now the key position here. Borch has a chance if he goes back to left back. Which might be the way to accommodate Ageu too. 

 

But Milne (and McEntee) might stay where he is.

[DxB Hearts]

47 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

Into the second half I did think we were missing a right back.

 

Interesting to see McInnes approach to changing things. Harry Milne is now the key position here. Borch has a chance if he goes back to left back. Which might be the way to accommodate Ageu too. 

 

But Milne (and McEntee) might stay where he is.

Funny how people see things differently, I thought McEntee was better second half than the first.
 

When we are winning and don’t need him to go forward he looks great. It’s when we are searching forward that he leaves a bit to be desired. 
 

Could still use a clone of Milne, or even Kingsley, at RB though. Such an obvious gap even if McEntee is doing well. 

[DxB Hearts]

55 minutes ago, jumpinjambo said:

It's 6 yellows for a 1 match suspension. 

Apologies so it is, they’ve got a couple more to go then. 
 

Anyway, Borch will get his chance, either through suspension or when someone picks up a knock. 

[Lambert Simnel]

I understand McInnes not wanting to change a winning team, but RB was our weakest area yesterday. McEntee has done well, but he's not the level of RB we need. Fine for injury cover, plays his heart out, but not our permanent RB if we're serious about making the top 2.  Given we have 3 games in 6 days, I'd hope to see Borch this week, and preferably as a starter.  Give him a chance to show if he's the level of RB we need. After all, if he's a JTA suggested RB, it would be a bit daft to write him off because of a short term injury. 

[tiger Rudi]

56 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

Into the second half I did think we were missing a right back.

 

Interesting to see McInnes approach to changing things. Harry Milne is now the key position here. Borch has a chance if he goes back to left back. Which might be the way to accommodate Ageu too. 

 

But Milne (and McEntee) might stay where he is.

One thing McEntee offers is an aerial threat. It's quite clear McInnes is using it from the keepers clearances high up on the right flank. I'd still prefer to sign a proper defender to fill that RB position tbh. Time will tell if Borch is that guy. 

[Mikey1874]

Just now, tiger Rudi said:

One thing McEntee offers is an aerial threat. It's quite clear McInnes is using it from the keepers clearances high up on the right flank. I'd still prefer to sign a proper defender to fill that RB position tbh. Time will tell if Borch is that guy. 

 

I think rather than looking at individual positions, it is about player contributions and the overall impacts.

 

So Milne right side stays and McEntee as you say overall contributions are valued by McInnes.

[briever]

Just now, Mikey1874 said:

 

I think rather than looking at individual positions, it is about player contributions and the overall impacts.

 

So Milne right side stays and McEntee as you say overall contributions are valued by McInnes.

 

I dont think Milne has been as effective on the right - why would he, he's a natural left footer.  We'd be much better balanced with him at LWB.

[BigStein]

I actually think the McEntee and Milne partnership is going quite well. Both seem to switch positions quite comfortably during matches with Milne going to right back quite often to let McEntee push forward to win headers. Both can tuck in to midfield as well and help out there when needed and it allows Kyzi to play high and wide on the left away from all the traffic. The only thing we lose of course is Milne isn't bombing forward to the same degree but Kingsley has been doing a good job of giving Kyzi the support anyway.

 

It's a bit of a lopsided team but then every great Hearts team was as well.

 

My main worry about throwing Borch (or anyone for that matter) into the first XI at the moment is that we end up losing the game. If our invincible season and 8 point gap as league leaders comes to an end who would get the brunt of the ire? The players who have contributed to a brilliant run or the player that hasn't played much and looks a bit rusty or makes a mistake?

[jamboinglasgow]

I think people just need to have patience and not make big judgements about players.

 

Just because a player is not playing doesn't mean they are not rated, especially with such a settled XI that is winning. Time will come when players will need replaced and its all about those outside the XI to take the chance when its handed to them.

[NextGenerationJambo]

4 minutes ago, jamboinglasgow said:

I think people just need to have patience and not make big judgements about players.

 

Just because a player is not playing doesn't mean they are not rated, especially with such a settled XI that is winning. Time will come when players will need replaced and its all about those outside the XI to take the chance when its handed to them.

 

100% this. Some of the assumptions made about Borchgrevink are wild. 

 

McInnes has mentioned on a few occasions how much the club have supported him in getting in the players he wants. Yes Borch, was pre-McInnes, but he literally said we don't need a RB as we have a starter in the building already and players who can cover sufficiently. If he wanted a different RB because he didn't rate Borch, we'd have got one. We are in a fortunate position that we don't need to rush anyone back from injury and they will become integrated when the time is right, remember even Braga and Kyzi weren't certain starters at the beginning. 

 

I think Borch will surprise quite a lot of people, and he will offer us much more going forward down the right, consequently providing more overall balance to the team. 

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

1 hour ago, tiger Rudi said:

One thing McEntee offers is an aerial threat. It's quite clear McInnes is using it from the keepers clearances high up on the right flank. I'd still prefer to sign a proper defender to fill that RB position tbh. Time will tell if Borch is that guy. 

yep we did it as far back as the Sunderland friendly with mcentee in midfield

 

the second goal yesterday - mcentee ariel challenge allowed the ball to go through to Milne - mcentee then gallops up the wing Milne chooses option to go inside and 20 seconds later we’re 2-1 up

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

2 hours ago, DxB Hearts said:

Funny how people see things differently, I thought McEntee was better second half than the first.
 

When we are winning and don’t need him to go forward he looks great. It’s when we are searching forward that he leaves a bit to be desired. 
 

Could still use a clone of Milne, or even Kingsley, at RB though. Such an obvious gap even if McEntee is doing well. 

yep - reality is if we are to continue improving this season and beyond some of the players currently playing out their skin will soon not be good enough

 

ageu we expect to be starting soon - some current player who has been brilliant is going to have to drop to the bench

 

mcentee has done brilliantly imo but if we can sign an ageu-level right back in January Oisin will drop to the bench

 

maybe borch is an ageu-level rb we’ll find that soon enough

 

i think Del rates borch and Craig Gordon and the player who will lose out their starting place to ageu but I reckon Del will ask for an exact clone of mcentee physically and attitude wise who is an ageu-level rb (who can also play rwb  )

 

 

[JamboGee92]

7 hours ago, briever said:

 

I dont think Milne has been as effective on the right - why would he, he's a natural left footer.  We'd be much better balanced with him at LWB.

 

But he's playing at RW, and most wingers nowadays play with their strong foot on the inside anyway. He's just not a winger for me, he's a hard working fullback. It's working so far though so I guess that's why McInnes doesn't want to change things yet. 

[Pingu]

28 minutes ago, JamboGee92 said:

 

But he's playing at RW, and most wingers nowadays play with their strong foot on the inside anyway. He's just not a winger for me, he's a hard working fullback. It's working so far though so I guess that's why McInnes doesn't want to change things yet. 

Yes, that's it. Plus we happen to have played a couple of teams who are strong down the left so doubling up with two defensively sound players on the right made sense. It's a short term solution.

[spacerjoe]

25 minutes ago, JamboGee92 said:

 

But he's playing at RW, and most wingers nowadays play with their strong foot on the inside anyway. He's just not a winger for me, he's a hard working fullback. It's working so far though so I guess that's why McInnes doesn't want to change things yet. 

5 games, 5 wins, 12 goals scored, 1 conceded.

 

And that's Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Kille and Falkirk all dispatched.

 

Why is it even that much of a talking point?

 

Seriously, though? That's a run we've probably emulated in our entire history about twice.

 

Leave the team be and let changes come when it starts to need freshened up.

[spirt of 98]

What’s the latest on this guy?

[RustyRightPeg]

4 minutes ago, spirt of 98 said:

What’s the latest on this guy?

We keep winning so he can’t get into the squads. Simple.

[spirt of 98]

1 minute ago, RustyRightPeg said:

We keep winning so he can’t get into the squads. Simple.

Suppose you are right McCart and Steinwinder are taking up 2 defensive sub slots. 

[Lovecraft]

DM correctly rewarding players for doing well.

 

They will all know someone is just waiting to come in and take their chance, which pushes performances on the park.

 

Probably the most perfect situation to be in tbh.

 

 

[Smithian]

Steinwender looks a player to me whenever he is on. Really above and beyond what you'd expect from a center half able to get forward. I wouldn't mind if he got a run of matches at RB eventually.

[tartofmidlothian]

23 minutes ago, Smithian said:

Steinwender looks a player to me whenever he is on. Really above and beyond what you'd expect from a center half able to get forward. I wouldn't mind if he got a run of matches at RB eventually.

 

Another Jamestown baller, I want to see them all come good. He's so smooth on the ball and really athletic and quick, still capable of the odd brainfart mind you.

[Born Again Nade]

16 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

Another Jamestown baller, I want to see them all come good. He's so smooth on the ball and really athletic and quick, still capable of the odd brainfart mind you.

Yeah his confidence and concentration are the minor issues, although perhaps a decent run in the team at some point will smooth that out. Technically I think he's as good as any defender in the league and looks like the sort of defender you'd see facing us in a European tie or even at the OF.

Edited October 29, 2025 by Born Again Nade

[spirt of 98]

Hope Borch is back next week! 

[JamboGee92]

Get him starting please. 

[Stendelnator]

Clearly has no future here

[Le Chat]

Has to play against Dundee.

 

It's absolutely the right game to bring him in for, as we should win comfortably and shouldn't be bothered overly defensively.

 

McEntee has done fine, but he's just winging it tbh.  We need a specialist right back playing there now. 

[Gordon_1874]

3 hours ago, spirt of 98 said:

What’s the latest on this guy?

At this stage he's moved into the same sort of mythical creature realm as Neiuwenhof 

[stevie1874]

Beginning to think he’s maybe not fancied by the boss. Not even making the bench ( if he’s fit) when his position is our weakest. 

[Captain Sausage]

I'd be pretty surprised if he's not recalled for Saturday. McEntee has been outstanding filling in at RB and has deserved his place, but last night he was very, very poor.

 

Because of McEntee at RB, McInnes keeps Milne ahead of him to provide more defensive cover. Both guys played really poorly last night. Surely time to see a Borchgrevink Kerjota combo on the right.

 

RB and RW are the only two positions where we only have one natural player for each in the squad. I think we'll see both from the start against Dundee.

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

yep - borch straight in from the start v Dundee - not taking them lightly but this was always the game to re-introduce borch

 

we had 4 big strong match-fit guys last night in defence who got rag-dolled like under-19 players at times - chucking in a less than match fit borch might have been even worse and had the hind-sight experts questioning why you’d throw a slightly-less robust rusty player in against those monsters

 

with guys like kabore and ageu pushing for starting places it’s feeling like the current team is  on the verge of evolving into something else - hopefully something better without too much disturbance as it happens

 

 

[tartofmidlothian]

3 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

I'd be pretty surprised if he's not recalled for Saturday. McEntee has been outstanding filling in at RB and has deserved his place, but last night he was very, very poor.

 

Because of McEntee at RB, McInnes keeps Milne ahead of him to provide more defensive cover. Both guys played really poorly last night. Surely time to see a Borchgrevink Kerjota combo on the right.

 

RB and RW are the only two positions where we only have one natural player for each in the squad. I think we'll see both from the start against Dundee.

 

I agree with this. Borchgrevink looked as promising as Braga or Kyzi in the early games. Kerjota's defensive abilities are unknown but the Hibs game showed us his crosses from the right are every bit as good as Kyzi's from the left.

 

Failing that, if McInnes is wary of gambling on untried guys while the rest of the team's ticking over perfectly, get Steinwender in at RB. I like McEntee a lot but him and Milne on the right sometimes feels stopgap, even though it's worked in the biggest games of the season.

[Robbo-Jambo]

If McInnes doesn't rate Borch we need to get into the transfer window in January and get a proper right back.

[tartofmidlothian]

1 minute ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

If McInnes doesn't rate Borch we need to get into the transfer window in January and get a proper right back.

 

He was saying the other week how he sees him as our main RB until January at least. I can only imagine he hasn't wanted to drop McEntee when he's been doing a decent job there.

[Robbo-Jambo]

1 minute ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

He was saying the other week how he sees him as our main RB until January at least. I can only imagine he hasn't wanted to drop McEntee when he's been doing a decent job there.

Decent yeah, but surely Borch was brought into be our first choice RB yet he can't even get on the bench.

[tartofmidlothian]

2 minutes ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

Decent yeah, but surely Borch was brought into be our first choice RB yet he can't even get on the bench.

 

No disagreement that I want to see Borch playing, although a few decent players have missed the bench here and there recently, I don't think it means they're out of favour in a squad this size.

[Doc Rob]

7 hours ago, stevie1874 said:

Beginning to think he’s maybe not fancied by the boss. Not even making the bench ( if he’s fit) when his position is our weakest. 

It’s already been said, but the fact that he doesn’t get on the bench may simply be that he only covers the one position, whereas Steinwender can cover RB as well as CB.

 

Doesn’t explain why we are persisting with McEntee at RB, unless that is simply not changing a winning team. If he’s fit, I’d want him to start on Saturday.

[RustyRightPeg]

34 minutes ago, Robbo-Jambo said:

Decent yeah, but surely Borch was brought into be our first choice RB yet he can't even get on the bench.

Who drops off the bench over the last 6 games if you’re putting him on there?

[Chimp]

4 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

I'd be pretty surprised if he's not recalled for Saturday. McEntee has been outstanding filling in at RB and has deserved his place, but last night he was very, very poor.

 

Because of McEntee at RB, McInnes keeps Milne ahead of him to provide more defensive cover. Both guys played really poorly last night. Surely time to see a Borchgrevink Kerjota combo on the right.

 

RB and RW are the only two positions where we only have one natural player for each in the squad. I think we'll see both from the start against Dundee.

 

Bit of a stretch that. He's been decent cover but never looks fully comfortable at RB imo. 

[Born Again Nade]

12 minutes ago, Chimp said:

 

Bit of a stretch that. He's been decent cover but never looks fully comfortable at RB imo. 

I know right. He always tries his best but he's not a right back or a wide player in general. Hardly a controversial take is it?

This place is so wild. Extreme positivity, extreme negativity... Not a huge amount of reality at times. 

Players in natural positions please vs the majority of the league. We have moaned for years about square pegs in round holes. I just really do not get it.  Yes we have been winning but performances weren't all that v Celtic. Last night it came to roost a little. Schwolow (and VAR - but I missed this)  to thank for kickback not being in absolute meltdown due to a proper scudding.

Edited October 30, 2025 by Born Again Nade

[davemclaren]

5 minutes ago, Born Again Nade said:

I know right. He always tries his best but he's not a right back or a wide player in general. Hardly a controversial take is it?

This place is so wild. Extreme positivity, extreme negativity... Not a huge amount of reality at times. 

Players in natural positions please vs the majority of the league. We have moaned for years about square pegs in round holes. I just really do not get it.  Yes we have been winning but performances weren't all that v Celtic. Last night it came to roost a little. Schwolow to thank for kickback not being in absolute meltdown due to a proper scudding.

Best player for the job please would be my mantra...while accepting that it's the best team for the match that we need to put out so some compromises are likely needed. 

[Born Again Nade]

2 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

Best player for the job please would be my mantra...while accepting that it's the best team for the match that we need to put out so some compromises are likely needed. 

Yeah fair. I'm just not sure out of position players are the answer the majority of the time. Clearly the double full back plan has worked well against strong teams. not so sure about persevering with McEntee if we have fit, available, natural full back.

Edited October 30, 2025 by Born Again Nade

[davemclaren]

1 minute ago, Born Again Nade said:

Yeah fair. I'm just not sure out of position players are the answer the majority of the time. Clearly the double full back plan has worked well against strong teams. not so sure about persevering with McEntee if we have fit, available, natural full back.

I think if Borch doesn't appear in a squad soon then we can expect a new RB for xmas. 

[Born Again Nade]

5 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

I think if Borch doesn't appear in a squad soon then we can expect a new RB for xmas. 

Yup, I believe as much has been intimated off the record. To have another natural there to compete with/rotate with Borch would be the ideal.

Fingers crossed. I'm not ripping McEntee at all btw. Love him.

 

[Chimp]

24 minutes ago, Born Again Nade said:

I know right. He always tries his best but he's not a right back or a wide player in general. Hardly a controversial take is it?

This place is so wild. Extreme positivity, extreme negativity... Not a huge amount of reality at times. 

Players in natural positions please vs the majority of the league. We have moaned for years about square pegs in round holes. I just really do not get it.  Yes we have been winning but performances weren't all that v Celtic. Last night it came to roost a little. Schwolow (and VAR - but I missed this)  to thank for kickback not being in absolute meltdown due to a proper scudding.

 

Yeah, just because you've been in a winning team doesn't always mean you've been outstanding.

 

McEntee and Milne have done well to fill in, but I'd rather a player in those positions who'd excel there not just do a decent job as cover. That would allow us to be even better than what we were, even if we did win the game. That could be the difference between turning some of these draws into wins, or doing it even more convincingly. 

Edited October 30, 2025 by Chimp