Berlin Blade
Large Member
I reckon Brooks' development is going well as it is, but for him to take it to the next level he needs a few starts this season. Those games have got to be very carefully picked, rather than throwing him in for the sake of it. The criteria in an ideal world would be:
- Away from home
- Against a 'lesser side'
- In a winning, confident team with good recent form
- Against a defence that looks susceptible to being run at
The Bolton game looks like it meets most of those. Throw in the fact that we have a few injuries upfront and his recent good form, I can see Wilder tweaking the system and playing Brooks and Duffy in behind Clarke. Billy can come on as Duffy's tiring and give their defenders something else to think about.
I'm not then advocating Brooks starting every week, I think it'll be horses for courses and we'll see more of him in tricky away games to ensure we control the midfield with Fleck, Coutts, Duffy and Brooks all buzzing around.
I also see Billy as a 'home' player where he'll start in the home games as we're creating more chances and generally having more of the ball and playing higher up the pitch. Sharp looks bang average when he comes deep to collect it, but a world beater when in the 6 yard box. I think he had a quiet game against Sunderland because he was having to come from deep too often and it doesn't suit his game. Now we've got The Don, he looks perfect as a partner for Bill in the home games and perfect as the target man in away games.
It's all about options, and we look to have several at the minute. Also, shout out to our back 5 today, they all looked really solid and will have been disappointed to concede the consolation late on. Lovely that we still have another back 5 in the squad that'd probably win league one. Lafferty-Heneghan-Wright-CCV-Baldock all waiting for their chance. Good time to be a Blade!
- Away from home
- Against a 'lesser side'
- In a winning, confident team with good recent form
- Against a defence that looks susceptible to being run at
The Bolton game looks like it meets most of those. Throw in the fact that we have a few injuries upfront and his recent good form, I can see Wilder tweaking the system and playing Brooks and Duffy in behind Clarke. Billy can come on as Duffy's tiring and give their defenders something else to think about.
I'm not then advocating Brooks starting every week, I think it'll be horses for courses and we'll see more of him in tricky away games to ensure we control the midfield with Fleck, Coutts, Duffy and Brooks all buzzing around.
I also see Billy as a 'home' player where he'll start in the home games as we're creating more chances and generally having more of the ball and playing higher up the pitch. Sharp looks bang average when he comes deep to collect it, but a world beater when in the 6 yard box. I think he had a quiet game against Sunderland because he was having to come from deep too often and it doesn't suit his game. Now we've got The Don, he looks perfect as a partner for Bill in the home games and perfect as the target man in away games.
It's all about options, and we look to have several at the minute. Also, shout out to our back 5 today, they all looked really solid and will have been disappointed to concede the consolation late on. Lovely that we still have another back 5 in the squad that'd probably win league one. Lafferty-Heneghan-Wright-CCV-Baldock all waiting for their chance. Good time to be a Blade!
