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Christophe Berra backed to become top-six with Wolves
Saturday 4th September 2010, 12:05PM BST.
Christophe Berra was today backed to become a top-six Premier League player with Wolves – despite losing his international place last night.
Berra missed out on a start for Scotland as he made way for 40-year-old David Weir – who is 15 years his senior – in last night’s opening Euro 2012 qualifier goalless draw against Lithuania.
But the player who arguably knows Berra better than any other, Molineux team-mate Jody Craddock, believes his fellow centre-back can soon forget any sense of disappointment.
Craddock believes his defensive partner, who last week completed his 50th Premier League appearance for Wolves, is on his way towards establishing himself as a top performer after starting the season in his best form since his £2.3m move from Hearts in January 2009.
“Christophe has been as good as any I’ve played alongside,” said Craddock, who rooms with Berra on away trips.
“He plays for Scotland so he’s got that accolade already but I’m sure he can win many more caps.
“It’s up to him how good he becomes.
“But if people are talking about Wolves establishing themselves as a top-six club at some point over the next few years, then why can’t he be part of that?
“He’s a big, strong lad who reads the game well and wins his headers.
“He’s a young lad who’s playing regularly, doing well and working hard. Every time I’m in the gym, he’s in there with me.
“But he needs to continue doing it.”
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Top six? You mean top spot!
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Berra & Craddock have always played with total effort and commitment for Wolves.
However a change is needed at heart of the defence, too many goals and fouls are given away by them.
They are not quick enough for the Premiership.
We will struggle if no change is made.
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Top Six–
I am getting a nose bleed at the thought!!
Shadows of the days of my youth.
Up The Wolves
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David Weir Is even older than Craddock. Blimey, Berra If he’s taken you place You should think of a career change. JtH.
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sorry but berra is the weak link in defence,
good in the air but rest of his game is average.
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how has Berra made 50 premiership appearance’s wolves played 38 last year and 3 this year so the most he possibly could have played is 41
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‘Top Six side’?? Jody’s evidently taken one too many blows to the head in the Line of Duty!
They’re a decent, Old-Fashioned type pairing, though:so, good luck to ‘em.
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Sorry Old Gold but I dont quite agree with you.
Christophe has consistently improved over the past couple of years and I expect him to be confirmed as the great central defender he is as well as regaining a regular Scottish place by the end of the season….
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Jody, you are to be admired for what you offer us. However, in this instance, me ‘tinks, too many bangs on the head!
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Yeah he’s not made 50 Prem appearances! Maybe 50 for Wolves in total? That seems about right.
I remember seeing Berra against Burnley away just after we’d signed him and he looked composed and has only got better since. A few more years top flight experience and there’s no reason why he can’t play for a top half side – top 6 is maybe a bit ambitious for the mo!
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Overall we have done well defensively in the Prem and the Craddock Berra partnership has been pivitol in us not shipping many goals.In the passed we have had players in the back who could play a bit on the ball,such as Lescott and Dean Richards.That is obviously not Berra’s game and I think with many fans he suffers in comparison and will never be a favourite.To me the question is can he form a good partnership with someone other Craddock.He has previously struggled with Mancienne and Stearman.Hopefully one day he will form a good partnership with Mouyokolo.In one way he reminds me of John McAlle,he comes up for every corner but never scores.
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Wow, people need to appreciate what berra does. He is fantastic, he really is. I honestly cant believe how people can give him stick, its ridiculous. He does such a fantastic job for the team I cant believe how stupid some ‘fans’ are.
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Honestly has any1 seen an opposition player run away from Berra??
Just cos he’s a big lad doesn’t mean he’s slow!! I spoke to some1 who works closly with the wolves players and berras one of the fastest in the team!
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Perhaps we should sign Weir!
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Don’t know how people knock Craddock & Berra. Our defence was key to our survival last year and they have started brilliantly again.
Pointless shaking things up…. keep the defence as tight as it was and improve going forward (which we are). Job done.
Of course they aren’t the quickest, but how many times have you seen them caught short?
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No wonder Scotland are the laughing stock of the International football world. A Leicester City failure hasn’t got the brains to pick a player far better than a tired old has been ever was.
Come on Leichenstein, most of these jock strap emarrassments only play Sunday morning pub football.
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forgot the ‘b’
sorry
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Typically stupid comment number two.
We have not let more than one in yet this season. Perhaps we should bring Tony Adams in to tighten the gates.
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well we are 7th.
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No 18 we haven’t played anybody yet this season but have struggled at the heart of the defence,my comment covers the time since they have played together.
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No 11. Now your talking John McAlle and Frank Munro what a ‘Great Pair’ of centre halves, i think Berra is a very similar type of player to JM big strong and wins most of his headers / tackles, but just like JM couldn’t hit a Barn Door from 5yds lol. Yet Frank Munro was a class act in every department, just wish we had got him and either Jolean Lescott/Dean Richards now, wow what a pairing that would be, good to ‘Dream’ in it. UTW
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The Flying Whinger:
Ive said it before and ill say it again. Would this be the same defensive pairing that were too slow to be part of one of the best defences in the bottom half of the legue last year.
If you want to see the best defenders in the country, go support chelsea. For where we are aiming to finish theyre good enough. Just.
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22, Think you forget they had another 10 defensive players with them last season. The point I am making is to get better, which I am sure that is what all Wolves supporters want, we need a new pairing or we will pay the price against better teams.
If you are looking just for good enough, then that is all you will end up with.
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22, Like you id love us to have a better pair of centre halves than craddock and berra. Id also love Wayne Rooney. But we are only Wolves. Im fed up with players getting critisced because people expect us to have an all star team. Even if we got better, would they be good enough to handle Drogba and that lot anyway? If they were, theyd soon be gone.
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