Beverleyred
Well-known member
According to the commentator on the MFC website highlights, it was Sepp Van den Berg that made that last ditch tackle!
Rav van den Berg
- Thread starter Red n White Dreamer
- Start date
Jedi boro
Well-known member
His tackling is so precise almost surgical.
alanmoodysdog
Well-known member
best young prospect I have seen since Willie Maddren who would have been world class if it wasnt for his knee injury
Chappy112
Well-known member
He is going to make us a fortune. Crazy how mature he is for 19 years old, he is the best teenage centre back I've seen here but when I think about it we probably haven't seen that many of those? And for good reason, centre backs don't usually get regular game time until they're in their 20s which shows how good he is.
Wheater wasn't playing regularly until he was 20, same for Gibson and he's better than both of them were at that point already.
Wheater wasn't playing regularly until he was 20, same for Gibson and he's better than both of them were at that point already.
S7DiscoDown
Well-known member
Stunning tackle. Also brilliant reading of the game
Mad to think he's only 19. I'm still not sure how we ended up with him. It's clear to see why he was wanted around Europe.
I doubt even he could have expected to play so many games. You don't see many teenagers starting every week at CB. Scary to think how good he could be in his early - mid 20s.
We will have real issues holding onto him. Hopefully another year or two. I think its too early for a move to a prem side. Clearly he'd develop under better coaches and team mates. Yet his game time would be restricted. I've no doubt many prem sides have had him watched.
It's going to turnout to be terrific business. Although I imagine his former club could have a hefty sell on clause?
Mad to think he's only 19. I'm still not sure how we ended up with him. It's clear to see why he was wanted around Europe.
I doubt even he could have expected to play so many games. You don't see many teenagers starting every week at CB. Scary to think how good he could be in his early - mid 20s.
We will have real issues holding onto him. Hopefully another year or two. I think its too early for a move to a prem side. Clearly he'd develop under better coaches and team mates. Yet his game time would be restricted. I've no doubt many prem sides have had him watched.
It's going to turnout to be terrific business. Although I imagine his former club could have a hefty sell on clause?
Chappy112
Well-known member
I think he is mature enough to give us another season, he could have gone straight to one of the big clubs but came here for a reason. If we don't go up next season then I'm sure he could leave with all of our blessings.
Ex Footy Legs
Well-known member
Watch again, it was excellent indeed but I think there was someone covering the goal
Rav has developed so much throughout the season and looks uber confident and assured. Turning into a gem!
He’s such a brave lad as well !
BoroMart
Well-known member
Yes it would be weird to leave right now after already turning the big clubs down.
I’m sure his ambition will be to play for a big champs league team, his quickest route to first choice is to play next season with us and get promoted then a year keeping us in the prem. then move to a massive club.
festa5
Well-known member
Don't forget he wasn't a regular at his previous club (due to age no doubt) so I'm assuming his plan was something like:
year 1: establish himself in the starting 11
Year 2: prove himself as a key player in the side
Year 3: dependent on how it's gone, step up a level and establish himself in a top league (hopefully that'll be with us).
I'm pretty confident he'll he here next season. He's amazing for a 19 year old, but he's still finding his feet and learning the game. He moves this summer and he's not guaranteed to start at a prem club.
Obviously money talks and the rest of it, but he seems to place quite a priority on his career development and being able to play. Not the type to take the money for a place in the reserves you'd think.
year 1: establish himself in the starting 11
Year 2: prove himself as a key player in the side
Year 3: dependent on how it's gone, step up a level and establish himself in a top league (hopefully that'll be with us).
I'm pretty confident he'll he here next season. He's amazing for a 19 year old, but he's still finding his feet and learning the game. He moves this summer and he's not guaranteed to start at a prem club.
Obviously money talks and the rest of it, but he seems to place quite a priority on his career development and being able to play. Not the type to take the money for a place in the reserves you'd think.
BoroMart
Well-known member
He had only started 4 league games at his first club!
£200,000 apparently. Someone did us a massive favour there. He is so, so good. Reminds me of seeing Vincent Kompany for Antwerp in UEFA Cup. Stood out a mile. Rav is the same, although only played a few games against Premier League teams. If we can keep him for 3 years, hopefully get promoted, he might fancy a season or 2 in the Premier League with us. I hope he has a fantastic career.
As a little side note after a home game this season, cannot remember which one. He came back out at the end to pick up his bandage. He then spent 5 minutes or so chatting and giving a hug to a couple of Boro fans. What a lovely fella.
Anton_Berg
Well-known member
As above, it's depressing how people have so readily accepted that he will go to market before we see the finished article.
Chutney
Well-known member
With the best will in the world, he's unlikely to become the finished article if he stays with us.
Doesn't mean we shouldn't hope for at least a couple more seasons out of him.
dooderooni
Well-known member
I've said it enough to become boring, but we need to see some benefit on the pitch from anyone we develop before we consider selling them.
Money in the bank at this level goes towards keeping the club going, but the best way to inject finance into the club is by getting promoted. We need to start keeping our talented players together so they improve our on pitch fortunes.
Money in the bank at this level goes towards keeping the club going, but the best way to inject finance into the club is by getting promoted. We need to start keeping our talented players together so they improve our on pitch fortunes.
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
Branthwaite is well ahead of Van den Berg in terms of development and experience. He’s had a season at Blackburn, one at PSV and now one at Everton. He looks like a top-drawer defender in the making.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
Absolutely, there's a ceiling for him whilst with Boro and a championship team and he'll need to leave to step up to another level.
Anton_Berg
Well-known member
It might happen. If sold, he is likely to disappear until he's 21 or older.
To be fair Wheater was trying displace Southgate and Ugo and even Riggot was a back up to them. He still got a few matches at 19 and was a regular at 20! Much harder to break into a PL team rather than a Championship team.
Rav is quality and it has probably been a good move for him to come to Boro. I think we'll get another season out of hik but at 20-21 if the interest is there I'm sure he'll want to play top level
Sergio
Well-known member
For me Lenihan and Rav have to start next season if we're playing 2 at the back. I'd quite like a 3 with Fry added. We could probably do with keeping McNair as cover but looks unlikely. I just hope Lenihan gets back to his best, hopefully he gets a few games at the end of the season to get a little bit of match practice in before an important pre-season for him. Its a nasty one to come back from. Although our season is basically all but over due to injuries and other factors, its actually been a blessing in terms of Rav coming out of it. My guess is Carrick said he'd give him game time but I dont think he would have expected this much due to the injuries. One positive out of a disappointing season