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Alex Gilbert - Sept 2025 still at Middlesbrough
Comments
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Did Berry offer much against Stockport? 5.7 on statbank.0
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Could be his time. Obviously a cultured player and we’ll need some real quality over the next three matches.0
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Gilbert seems more comfortable with less time and space than most of of our squad though. Seems to have the technical quality to handle tighter spacesScoham said:
No, but with how physical and aggressive they were Gilbert wouldn’t have had much time and space on the ball.Chunes said:Did Berry offer much against Stockport? 5.7 on statbank.1 -
I sometimes wonder if having a player with quality can be the difference in those games. I remember how good Claus Jensen was at getting the ball down and playing other people into the game, even against the physical sides.Scoham said:
No, but with how physical and aggressive they were Gilbert wouldn’t have had much time and space on the ball.Chunes said:Did Berry offer much against Stockport? 5.7 on statbank.1 -
Imagine how good Claus would’ve been if he had been if he’d he’d been more athletic and aggressive, though. You’re comparing Gilbert to a player a) from an era of football when some players were still smokers and could get away with it and b) who had technical attributes good enough that he probably could’ve played for a top four premier league team if he’d been a bit fitter and faster (and in fact did for half a season of so).Chunes said:
I sometimes wonder if having a player with quality can be the difference in those games. I remember how good Claus Jensen was at getting the ball down and playing other people into the game, even against the physical sides.Scoham said:
No, but with how physical and aggressive they were Gilbert wouldn’t have had much time and space on the ball.Chunes said:Did Berry offer much against Stockport? 5.7 on statbank.Gilbert did not play as well as yesterday in his previous start. Burton were not going at it 100% and that helped him get on the ball yesterday. When he did, he looked good. Everyone struggled to get into the game at Stockport partly down to the referee being inexplicably reluctant to give any free kicks that day (I remember Leaburn being pretty much strangled at one point and it being ruled legal) and it’s hard to see someone like Gilbert making much difference in those circumstances.
I do think Gilbert can have his moment still though - perhaps as this year’s Johnnie Williams coming off the bench at Wembley to help swing a tight game in our favour. It was a timely reminder to NJ that if we need a goal he might be able to change a game attackingly in a way Anderson probable would not. Or perhaps you bring them both on and leave just one of Dic or Coventry sitting deeper. That way Anderson can do Gilbert’s running and pressing for him.0 -
I might be remembering wrong, but don't think we dropped Claus for the games against Stoke, Allardyce teams, etc.. just because he wasn't up for the physical battle and barely put a tackle in. He got us playing and could come up with the moment of quality to settle those games.Exiled_Addick said:
Imagine how good Claus would’ve been if he had been if he’d he’d been more athletic and aggressive, though. You’re comparing Gilbert to a player a) from an era of football when some players were still smokers and could get away with it and b) who had technical attributes good enough that he probably could’ve played for a top four premier league team if he’d been a bit fitter and faster (and in fact did for half a season of so).Chunes said:
I sometimes wonder if having a player with quality can be the difference in those games. I remember how good Claus Jensen was at getting the ball down and playing other people into the game, even against the physical sides.Scoham said:
No, but with how physical and aggressive they were Gilbert wouldn’t have had much time and space on the ball.Chunes said:Did Berry offer much against Stockport? 5.7 on statbank.Gilbert did not play as well as yesterday in his previous start. Burton were not going at it 100% and that helped him get on the ball yesterday. When he did, he looked good. Everyone struggled to get into the game at Stockport partly down to the referee being inexplicably reluctant to give any free kicks that day (I remember Leaburn being pretty much strangled at one point and it being ruled legal) and it’s hard to see someone like Gilbert making much difference in those circumstances.
I do think Gilbert can have his moment still though - perhaps as this year’s Johnnie Williams coming off the bench at Wembley to help swing a tight game in our favour. It was a timely reminder to NJ that if we need a goal he might be able to change a game attackingly in a way Anderson probable would not. Or perhaps you bring them both on and leave just one of Dic or Coventry sitting deeper. That way Anderson can do Gilbert’s running and pressing for him.
I'm not comparing Gilbert to Claus, I'm just saying generally, in football, you have to earn the right to play, but you don't always have to try to out-physical the physical sides in every position.
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Yes, but Allardyce and Stoke didn’t have a Claus Jensen at all and under Jones were would be the equivalent of Stoke in that equation.0
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That is incredibly harsh on Berry. He does a lot of important work without the ball. He is often the one instigating or coordinating our press, does pretty well with winning flicks and headers or nudging defenders so their headers go wayward. And he gets stuck incarly burn said:
You could say exactly the same about Berry.DRAddick said:Very good player but one of those you can't rely on to do the dirty work. Not a negative but just means you need to have a team around him that means he doesn't have too.
Gilbert is class on the ball but doesn’t offer as much as Berry does without it. That’s why he hasn’t been able to get in the team7 -
I think the big difference between them is goal scoring. Although I do like Gilbert.SteveACS said:Gilbert's biggest weakness is his physicality...
Doesn't win many tackles, and never jumps to win a header. Considering how tall he is, a major weakness in his game.
Quite a bit behind Berry for a starting berth, IMO.0 -
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There were plenty of pre-son friendlyesque pull outs from both teams yesterday.stoneroses19 said:Cant argue with the quality of his passing. I am concerned how generally weak he seems though and pulled out of a couple of winnable challenges in second half yesterday. Get away with that against Burton who were generally poor at finishing, could be different situation in play offs though.1 -
I like him. Have him train with TC’s brother to put on some muscle and he might be a revelation.4
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a good good footballer - can 'handle' a football, no problem, pick a pass, first touch is good, awareness is good and his set pieces are great - just shows however that what you can do with a football is only part of what counts coz he's probably a better 'baller' than 90% of our squad - however, ,modern day football is so much about what you do off the ball and how physical you are and that is clearly why he isn't in anybody's first team plans atm - i like him but can see why he's struggling to nail down a first team spot. Terry Taylor was similar but neither are gonna fit into a nathan jones team3
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Would prefer him off the bench in the advance role over Anderson everyday1
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Agree that Berry offers so much off the ball as well as when he has possession. He also sees and grabs the shooting chances outside the box to very good effect. But he may have been carrying an injury for some time as his recent performances have seen him purring for around 25 minutes of a game and then fading away a bit as the game progresses.NabySarr said:
That is incredibly harsh on Berry. He does a lot of important work without the ball. He is often the one instigating or coordinating our press, does pretty well with winning flicks and headers or nudging defenders so their headers go wayward. And he gets stuck incarly burn said:
You could say exactly the same about Berry.DRAddick said:Very good player but one of those you can't rely on to do the dirty work. Not a negative but just means you need to have a team around him that means he doesn't have too.
Gilbert is class on the ball but doesn’t offer as much as Berry does without it. That’s why he hasn’t been able to get in the team
What Gilbert does offer is a point of difference in midfield. Whilst we have runners and chasers a plenty, Gilbert provides finesse in his passing. He made three first half through passes on Saturday which were a different class. Agree he needs to bulk up like TC, and his shooting hasn't hit a target as yet, but his passing game could prove a potent weapon in the games to come, particularly (fingers crossed) on a Wembley playing surface.4 -
And his dead balls (apart from one errant game) are far superior to anyone in the squad.3
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Not convinced by him.5
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“See you next season”…had / have a feeling that would be the case after seeing him in box park yesterday.fenaddick said:1 -
Can’t work out if he’s just saying that because Middlesbrough are also Championship or he’s hoping to still be here. Didn’t see him in Boxpark so no clues from me theredrawnablank said:
“See you next season”…had / have a feeling that would be the case after seeing him in box park yesterday.fenaddick said:4 -
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He means when we play Boro 🤣7
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I mean we'll probably see him anyway regardless as I think he'll either be on the fringes of the Boro squad next season, or in our squad again, or another lower champ team will get him in on loan.2
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I’d gladly have him back. My Boro supporting mate said he’s never really done it for them, but I’ve been impressed.
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I wouldn’t mind him staying personally. I think NJ could improve him and he certainly has a game5
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Hmmm…I’m not sure. Would really depend on the terms of the deal, not sure I would want to use much of our finite resources on signing him.The Red Robin said:I’d gladly have him back. My Boro supporting mate said he’s never really done it for them, but I’ve been impressed.
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I doubt he is on Nathan's shopping list, BUT you never can tell1
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I wonder if Boro would loan him again
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Been important when Berry was injured. Not quite at Berry's level reading the game and goal scoring threat, but at a different stage in his career and a slightly different player. Sure the recruitment team will sort out their targets, but part of a winning team. A good loan IMO, and stepped up when needed.12
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I haven't seen a replay but was his block at the Orient free kick ok .... commentator said he'd like to look at it again0
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It looked like it struck his right upper arm, which wasn't down by his side. It was inside the box and had it gone to VAR, I don't see how a pen couldn't have been given. Fortunately only one Orient player seemed to make a half hearted appeal and the game moved on quickly.dicktracey said:I haven't seen a replay but was his block at the Orient free kick ok .... commentator said he'd like to look at it again1
