I guess we can rule out any change of heart from Trevor Francis... http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/Team_News/0,1562,16,00.html#514992
It's simple; Francis just doesn't like Berhalter or his style of play--and until Berhalter agrees to a move away from the club, he'll be in the Palace reserves.
Re: Re: Berhalter skippers C Palace reserves Agreed. I don't think GB's presence would make much of a difference, but I think it's symptomatic of Francis' antediluvian attitude towards football...
With regard to the predicted gloomy future of Berhalter at CP, I just want to point out that he might have been one of the last players to rejoin the squad, thus explaining (I hope) why he may have to work with the reserves before he gets his first team action. I can wish, can I?
Berhalter's not that good and his agent makes pretty outrageous demands for money in many cases. He's also an EU player and if he was all that bigger teams would come in for him IMHO. However, this Francis guy is a git.
I thought he had a below average WC. Worked hard, though, and almost had that equalizer against Germany.
I meant to add that that's relevant to me because it probably hurt his chances to be called up from the reserves.
Compared to the other CP players at the cup, I think his play stands up pretty well. Berhalter may not be world class, but his cup proved he's good enough to start in the first division.
I honestly don't see his WC as "below average". I'd give it an average rating at WORST. He and Pope combined to help shut down both Mexico and Germany for the majority of both games in the middle. Its important to remember the German goal wasn't scored by Berhalter's mark and, despite the fact everyone still wants to say Friedel is world class, it was right at him and certainly stoppable, not easy, granted, but also not an impossible save. But I digress, Berhalter had a fine cup in my mind, I fail to see how Breen's was better then his other then for a goal against Saudi Arabia, which, with all due respect, isn't much to brag about. Berhalter deserves a shot somewhere, but realistically because he screwed up that transfer he had setup he may never get it. But I doubt he'll complain about collecting checks from CP
Berhalter was a rock in comparison to Agoos at the WC, and I feel he earned at least a fresh start in a new footballing enviornment. He will never be a top class centreback, but he has certainly proven himself capable of playing a role in our national team and the ability to start at the level of the english first division.
Looks like GB will play with the reserves again tonight against Whyteleafe. http://cpfc.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10323~246795,00.html
I don't know if this irony was intentional or not, but it was widely reported that Berhalter is the only World Cup player in Palace's history. Even if you think Berhalter was below average, the notion that a "below average" player on a friggin' World Cup semifinalist can't find a place in a mediocre First Div. side tells you much, much more about the management of said side, than it does about Berhalter or his abilities. Yeah, I know, I haven't seen Gregg's competitors for time at Palace play. But, please, this is Crystal Palace...how good can their central defenders be?