Deadbat
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Midfield
Gustavo Hamer He had of course won player of the year last season and despite still some frustrations with him, was the player that looked the most creative and would weigh in with goals, on top of the assists. He did seem to go missing in the bigger games (not sure we saw much of him at all in the playoffs – save one assist for the Campbell goal) and I still found him frustrating with petulant fouls and bookings on top of the creative side of his play. His weight seemed to be increasing steadily in his United tenure and he struggled to last games. I wondered how seriously he took the game and wondered if he was never going to get the most out of his undoubted ability. No top clubs took him on – was linked with Leeds and Feyenoord around the summer/August window – but he remained. He started the season poorly, like the rest of the team and looked off the pace completely apart from a wonder goal at Birmingham in the cup from the half way line, which showed his class. He did not fit in with the new systems where we had no defensive cover and tried to play with wide men either side of a striker. He picked up 5 bookings his first 7 games to be suspended by September! After he got back into the team, he gradually started to find some form. He scored his first goal of the season against Portsmouth but was still in and out as Wilder rotated him around.
When he did play, he was still racking up the assists and after he had been used in other positions, ended up back wide left. There was a period when there was talk of us being better without him and more balanced and he was not a regular in that run between November and January, when we played our best football and looked exciting. Ironically Hamer’s best form came when we dropped off. He remained the most likely to open the door and continued to be the player looking to pass the ball forward and try things. Not everything came off and still he was a liability defensively, especially when Burrows returned. There were lovely threaded assists in games against Middlesbrough and Wednesday. He had not scored many goals but found the net v Swansea, Hull and Preston – albeit from the penalty spot. I think we realised, and will realise what we are missing, if he is not in the team/moves on. He does not seem to still be in game shape which is poor and the disciplinary record is really poor – 13 bookings but has had 12 assist – the most in the division. He only had 5 goals (2 in the cup) but 16 goal contributions is still very good. I enjoy watching him play and he is someone that can do things very few in this league can. I think his actual ball retention is poor at times and can be careless doing the basics but he continues to try the hard passes and try and stretch defences.
Overall, his season has been an inferior one to last season. He has gone from being the best player in the league, to not even really being discussed in divisional teams or any of the better players over the campaign. Yet, he still is someone that if he remained would be our best player and our key man. I am torn on what we do with him. You want to keep your best players but also maximise their value. If he is not going to stay – doubt he will – we may have to move him on but then how much would we get and who would be interested, with only a year left? It might be worth hanging onto him if we can only get say like 4 or 5 million but then the flip side, that is still a lot of money that we may need to recoup with losing parachute payments. Brooks, Peck and Seriki arguable could see their value increase. Hamer won’t, due to his contract. I think if United get a reasonable offer (more than the figures I quoted above) then we sell and look to reshape. I have at times wanted more from him, because he has so much ability but the fact he is still the man who we look to for a moment of brilliance, especially, when we don’t have a clear structure how to create or score goals. That is when we will feel it next season, if he does depart and a symbol of us moving further and further away from where we need to be. What I will say, is despite the gifts he possesses, Hamer has to look after his body better and has to be more consistent. He has to reduce his bookings. I do wonder if he is a bit in a comfort zone here and maybe needs to leave to test himself more.
Grade B- (Last season B+)
Callum O’Hare His first season on the whole, had been a really positive one. Began linking well with his former teammate Hamer and showing his work rate and ability to press. He was used in that number 10 position and looked a good signing. He maybe did not maintain his form throughout the season and had a drop off – he was eventually taken out of the team and remember he was on the bench for the playoffs – but scored in both the semi final legs. Like Cooper, Burrows and Campbell, had been a good addition. Selles came in and he was used in a few different positions to start the season but we had no real structure or shape – with the midfield badly exposed. When Wilder came in, he started to find some form. He scored in our first win at Oxford and another in the first home win, v Watford. He was really consistent for a period of time, as he worked hard, got on the ball and was able to get into areas where he caused problems. Scored at Preston and against Derby at home. There was another lovely reverse ball to set up Campbell to score against Wednesday (similar to last season). We put in some impressive performances either side of Xmas and he scored more goals – home and away v Leicester and a brave one against Ipswich. I think around February time, most fans would say he was our player of the season – granted slim pickings! He had improved his output of goals and his performances had been more consistent than last season.
From mid to late February, I thought he started to have less impact. Maybe he was tired or just he hit a bit of a rut, but he was not able to influence games as much. He was anonymous for a while and then he was taken out and rotated as any slim hopes of the playoffs disappeared. From being leading the press, working across the defensive lines and picking up balls to work with Brooks, Seriki, Bamford and Hamer, he became more of a peripheral figure. There were the odd flashes but not the intensity of running and closing down – or his work on the ball. Was tried on the wings a few times but that did not really work. I think he is best off a striker but then means we cannot play two out and out strikers up top and that is a quandary. If both he and Hamer play, that sometimes leaves us short in terms of physical presence and defensive cover.
Still, he has had a good season. I am not sure what his ceiling is, as he lacks the pace, consistency and maybe physical presence to go much higher than top of the Championship. To this extent, not sure we would have any interest in him and nor have I ever heard him linked with other sides? He is still here for 2 more years and someone that if he plays and is form, is someone most at this level would like.
Grade B (Last season B-)
Sydie Peck Peck had been a revelation in his first full season in the first team. After Arblaster got injured, he became a mainstay in the side and despite the likes of Tom Davies and Choudhury having spells in midfield, the best pairing was undoubtedly Peck and Souza. At Championship level, not sure we quite realised how good Souza was and what a presence he was. He made Peck and Arblaster’s life much easier. With Souza leaving, it meant we were left with Peck and a new young player Soumare with Arblaster now back. We started with an odd midfield with wide men and wide forward and Peck was given the impossible task of trying to cover the whole central midfield area. It meant we were badly exposed and outnumbered in this area. I felt sorry for Peck who did struggle to cope but even when Wilder came back, not sure he got back to his standards of the previous season. He looked quite leggy and maybe the exertion of the previous campaign (overplayed for his first full season?) was taking its toll.
Riedewald came in and gave us a steadying influence and Peck could roam more and do what he does best by being busy and moving the ball on. He started to show more of the form we saw and this was accompanied by his first goal – a penalty (which was a surprise when he took it) and then more goals came along – like buses. He got a cracker at Leicester from range and another penalty. He always seems to play well in the Sheffield Derbies and this happened in both games and he loves to win and wind them up! His overall form though still was up and down I thought. He would have a good game, followed by one where he did not really influence things. I felt he was flogged again too much but with Davies injured almost all the time, Soumare looking out of his depth much of the time and Arblaster still a long way off it – we had the lack of viable players to give him a rest. Phillips and Rothwell getting sent off did not help. He ended the season with an excellent second half (and goal) at Derby.
Peck has lots of attributes. He can get around, pass the ball, is mobile and can win tackles and you can see why some Premier League clubs (Brentford – where Andrews and Lester are – who know Peck of course) are looking as he is young and could improve. I am not sure I know what his ceiling is. He definitely will be a top end Championship to possibly lower Premier League club but there is also the flip side in asking what he is outstanding at? I do not see him getting much better if I am being honest as he lacks that one feature. He is not an imposing physical player who tackles ferociously but neither is he a technical player who runs with the ball or assists for lots of chances. He rarely scores (despite that three-goal burst). However, he is decent on the ball and not slight that he cannot battle or dig in and he is a good all-around midfielder, if not outstanding, as I have discussed. It will be interesting to see what we would command for him fee wise? 10 million seems a push but then other Championship players of a similar profile have gone for more! I would not be devastated if we got a fee like this or more but equally is he stayed; I would be fine with that. We do need to ensure we can sell players at the right time though and we have held onto players too long before too. In an ideal world, he stays and starts with a physical player alongside him but then where does the creative side come from? I am not sold on Rothwell or a Phillips return particularly. Riedewald and Peck did ok as a pair but then
we finished far nearer the bottom.
Peck’s season has been ok but it still has been a bit of a backwards step but he is so young and maybe was too much to ask him to anchor a midfield almost on his own and even with other players coming in, none proved they could consistently partner him either due to injury or fitness. Hopefully, he can come back fresh and we see some players that compliment him but as I have stated, I would not be shocked if we did cash in now with us needing funds to cover the loss of the parachute payments.
Grade C+ (Last season B)
Andre Brooks It seems Brooks has been so stop start since he burst onto the scene in the Premier League under Wilder as a central midfielder. He looked like a player with a big future but then did not quite carry on that impressive start and last season, even at a lower level, he never really established himself. Started the season well at Preston but then seemed to lose favour. He had the odd good game but also a number where he was poor. We seemed to go with Rak Sakyi more and Brooks was often used as an impact sub. There were good moments, the goals v West Brom and Watford but every time he looked like getting a run, Wilder took him out and not sure this helped him although you could question if he did enough? He ended the season in better form and scored at Bristol City in the playoffs but missed a big chance at Wembley – if that goes a few inches either side of the keeper trailing leg, we probably go up.
This season, as he turned 22, I thought he has to really establish himself as a first team regular. We brought in Barry, but you expected he would be on the left with Hamer maybe, if we went down him playing there. Down the right, with JRS and Brereton Diaz going back, you thought this was the chance for Brooks to make himself a regular. It did not quite go that way as players were rotated in and out and the defeats piled up. Wilder returned and you wondered what might happen as Brooks had maybe not quite be in his favour last season. He did end up getting into the side and after scoring at Preston, he slowly started to flourish. He was starting to show more than the predictable go inside and we saw him use both feet more and try and be more direct. Suddenly, he was going at full backs and looked powerful and aggressive. We saw a range of skills and either side of Xmas, he became out best player in my opinion, in this period. Against Stoke he was superb and built an excellent relationship with Seriki. There were a number of home games where he became our main outlet and suddenly, it seemed like he had clicked. He scored 4 in 5 in January and recall him being phenomenal at Millwall and got a late winner at Portsmouth. Was teasing Wednesday at times I in the derby win and you wondered if bigger clubs would now start being linked with him. He looked like the type of player that Premier League clubs would court. Pace, dribbling, goals and a good size. He was finally realising his ability that we all knew he had and being much more consistent. Had a bit of a drop towards the end of the season and then got an injury which means he would be out till pre season. He can be pleased with his overall improvements and move to bring more consistent.
Despite this, I felt Wilder was overly harsh on him at times but maybe he wanted to push him even more. I also thought that he was harshly taken out, when he needed to keep playing. He maybe did not quite keep the standards up of before as we dipped at the end of the season but I also thought that he remained one of our most dangerous players and one that could find moments that others could not. We have had a disappointing season but Brooks has taken big steps forward. He still has to take another step in terms of being able to do it every week and not have those spells where he cannot maintain it. Needs to be a 7/10 and with some 8/10 rather than an 8/10 and then 5/10. I really like Brooks and hope he can remain here. He has been one of the few who can come out of this season with real credit and their reputation enhanced.
Weirdly, I have not seen lots of clubs linked but he has of course started playing for Jamaica although the fact the Reggae Boys did not qualify for the World Cup, at least might not put him in the shop window. If we can keep him and Seriki around and they both can push on and be consistent starters every week, then we have one part of the team sorted, especially when we have a lot to address potentially. I hope Wilder’s public comments on him are with love but I worry that their relationship is not quite where it needs to be – why he kept playing Chong and taking him out so much was bewildering. However, Wilder must know what an asset he can be and surely will only get better? Looking forward to seeing him hopefully take his next step.
Grade B (Last season C)
Oliver Arblaster After his previous season was ended after the injury in the Sheffield Derby in November of 2024; it seemed like there were real fears about his career. He was supposed to be back for pre-season but there was talk of setbacks and even another operation – which the player himself denied. The season began and still he was not close to a comeback but slowly he began to start to train and you thought after a few u21 games he may be drip fed into the action. I was quite surprised after so long out, he was put on the bench for the Stoke game and then he ended up starting against Norwich. He looked quite rusty in this game but lasted an hour. He played at WBA off the bench but again the pace seemed a bit much for him but did start against Birmingham and did ok from what I recall. I thought he was struggling with the pace and intensity of the game and seemed to lack that sharpness. You kind of expected that but he could not take the ball on the half turn and come out of tight spots like he did before but hoped he would rediscover this. He did get involved in a goal against Leicester with a lovely ball and we saw the odd flashes but he rarely started after Xmas. When he did, I thought the midfield got overrun – recall games at Southampton and against Boro where we got overrun in midfield as he and Peck really struggled with the dynamism and pace of the opponents
I thought we maybe overplayed him at first, as we had injuries and lack of options but then after he struggled was taken out but then ironically when I wanted him to get more games time to increase his match sharpness and get somewhere near what we had seen before, he did not play much. There were more midfield options available of course but he ended up being a bit part player and did not leave the bench in a few games too. Nice for him to be part of the Sheffield derby double. I have to say that overall, whilst I expected him to take time, I have been concerned at what I have seen. He might get stronger over the summer with these mythical pre-seasons we keep hearing about for players but I worry that he has been back playing now for 6 months and not sure we have seen many improvements even small. He does not look much different to that player who found it all a bit quick and physical when he came back against Norwich. I worry how much the injury has taken out of him. He was never that fast but now seems to get run past quite easily and he was always quite slight – not that he was weak but his ability was getting on the ball, turning and linking the play. He was a clever player that read things – whether it was intercepting play or getting into space and then turning with the ball. We have not seen this and in all the game he has played – whether starting or from the bench – I have felt he has struggled to make much impact at all.
Of course, recently we found out he will be a Dad with his partner being Wilder’s daughter. The cynics may say he might get favouritism due to this! I am not sure that is the case but Wilder has always liked him (and has spoken fondly of him and Peck – perhaps in comparison to a harsher line to Brooks and Seriki). Arblaster now has to step up. It is a huge summer and he needs to show he can get back to the levels he did. If he performs as he did this season, he will not play much at all sadly. That is the reality. Even Soumare and Rothwell offered more and they were hardly stand outs. He needs to be physically stronger and hope he can get some running power back – if he cannot run then I worry that his career may go same way as a Paul Coutts – who was never quite the same. Arblaster is younger at 22 and so has more time but the club cannot carry anyone and he will know he did not contribute much other than being a bit part player. He was seen as a real prospect with Premier League clubs looking at him – due to his clever football brain, great touch and ability to just do the basic things. I look at an Adam Wharton type and see Arblaster could follow a similar path – if he regained his fitness and the things he did so well before.
Grade E (Last season B)
Gustavo Hamer He had of course won player of the year last season and despite still some frustrations with him, was the player that looked the most creative and would weigh in with goals, on top of the assists. He did seem to go missing in the bigger games (not sure we saw much of him at all in the playoffs – save one assist for the Campbell goal) and I still found him frustrating with petulant fouls and bookings on top of the creative side of his play. His weight seemed to be increasing steadily in his United tenure and he struggled to last games. I wondered how seriously he took the game and wondered if he was never going to get the most out of his undoubted ability. No top clubs took him on – was linked with Leeds and Feyenoord around the summer/August window – but he remained. He started the season poorly, like the rest of the team and looked off the pace completely apart from a wonder goal at Birmingham in the cup from the half way line, which showed his class. He did not fit in with the new systems where we had no defensive cover and tried to play with wide men either side of a striker. He picked up 5 bookings his first 7 games to be suspended by September! After he got back into the team, he gradually started to find some form. He scored his first goal of the season against Portsmouth but was still in and out as Wilder rotated him around.
When he did play, he was still racking up the assists and after he had been used in other positions, ended up back wide left. There was a period when there was talk of us being better without him and more balanced and he was not a regular in that run between November and January, when we played our best football and looked exciting. Ironically Hamer’s best form came when we dropped off. He remained the most likely to open the door and continued to be the player looking to pass the ball forward and try things. Not everything came off and still he was a liability defensively, especially when Burrows returned. There were lovely threaded assists in games against Middlesbrough and Wednesday. He had not scored many goals but found the net v Swansea, Hull and Preston – albeit from the penalty spot. I think we realised, and will realise what we are missing, if he is not in the team/moves on. He does not seem to still be in game shape which is poor and the disciplinary record is really poor – 13 bookings but has had 12 assist – the most in the division. He only had 5 goals (2 in the cup) but 16 goal contributions is still very good. I enjoy watching him play and he is someone that can do things very few in this league can. I think his actual ball retention is poor at times and can be careless doing the basics but he continues to try the hard passes and try and stretch defences.
Overall, his season has been an inferior one to last season. He has gone from being the best player in the league, to not even really being discussed in divisional teams or any of the better players over the campaign. Yet, he still is someone that if he remained would be our best player and our key man. I am torn on what we do with him. You want to keep your best players but also maximise their value. If he is not going to stay – doubt he will – we may have to move him on but then how much would we get and who would be interested, with only a year left? It might be worth hanging onto him if we can only get say like 4 or 5 million but then the flip side, that is still a lot of money that we may need to recoup with losing parachute payments. Brooks, Peck and Seriki arguable could see their value increase. Hamer won’t, due to his contract. I think if United get a reasonable offer (more than the figures I quoted above) then we sell and look to reshape. I have at times wanted more from him, because he has so much ability but the fact he is still the man who we look to for a moment of brilliance, especially, when we don’t have a clear structure how to create or score goals. That is when we will feel it next season, if he does depart and a symbol of us moving further and further away from where we need to be. What I will say, is despite the gifts he possesses, Hamer has to look after his body better and has to be more consistent. He has to reduce his bookings. I do wonder if he is a bit in a comfort zone here and maybe needs to leave to test himself more.
Grade B- (Last season B+)
Callum O’Hare His first season on the whole, had been a really positive one. Began linking well with his former teammate Hamer and showing his work rate and ability to press. He was used in that number 10 position and looked a good signing. He maybe did not maintain his form throughout the season and had a drop off – he was eventually taken out of the team and remember he was on the bench for the playoffs – but scored in both the semi final legs. Like Cooper, Burrows and Campbell, had been a good addition. Selles came in and he was used in a few different positions to start the season but we had no real structure or shape – with the midfield badly exposed. When Wilder came in, he started to find some form. He scored in our first win at Oxford and another in the first home win, v Watford. He was really consistent for a period of time, as he worked hard, got on the ball and was able to get into areas where he caused problems. Scored at Preston and against Derby at home. There was another lovely reverse ball to set up Campbell to score against Wednesday (similar to last season). We put in some impressive performances either side of Xmas and he scored more goals – home and away v Leicester and a brave one against Ipswich. I think around February time, most fans would say he was our player of the season – granted slim pickings! He had improved his output of goals and his performances had been more consistent than last season.
From mid to late February, I thought he started to have less impact. Maybe he was tired or just he hit a bit of a rut, but he was not able to influence games as much. He was anonymous for a while and then he was taken out and rotated as any slim hopes of the playoffs disappeared. From being leading the press, working across the defensive lines and picking up balls to work with Brooks, Seriki, Bamford and Hamer, he became more of a peripheral figure. There were the odd flashes but not the intensity of running and closing down – or his work on the ball. Was tried on the wings a few times but that did not really work. I think he is best off a striker but then means we cannot play two out and out strikers up top and that is a quandary. If both he and Hamer play, that sometimes leaves us short in terms of physical presence and defensive cover.
Still, he has had a good season. I am not sure what his ceiling is, as he lacks the pace, consistency and maybe physical presence to go much higher than top of the Championship. To this extent, not sure we would have any interest in him and nor have I ever heard him linked with other sides? He is still here for 2 more years and someone that if he plays and is form, is someone most at this level would like.
Grade B (Last season B-)
Sydie Peck Peck had been a revelation in his first full season in the first team. After Arblaster got injured, he became a mainstay in the side and despite the likes of Tom Davies and Choudhury having spells in midfield, the best pairing was undoubtedly Peck and Souza. At Championship level, not sure we quite realised how good Souza was and what a presence he was. He made Peck and Arblaster’s life much easier. With Souza leaving, it meant we were left with Peck and a new young player Soumare with Arblaster now back. We started with an odd midfield with wide men and wide forward and Peck was given the impossible task of trying to cover the whole central midfield area. It meant we were badly exposed and outnumbered in this area. I felt sorry for Peck who did struggle to cope but even when Wilder came back, not sure he got back to his standards of the previous season. He looked quite leggy and maybe the exertion of the previous campaign (overplayed for his first full season?) was taking its toll.
Riedewald came in and gave us a steadying influence and Peck could roam more and do what he does best by being busy and moving the ball on. He started to show more of the form we saw and this was accompanied by his first goal – a penalty (which was a surprise when he took it) and then more goals came along – like buses. He got a cracker at Leicester from range and another penalty. He always seems to play well in the Sheffield Derbies and this happened in both games and he loves to win and wind them up! His overall form though still was up and down I thought. He would have a good game, followed by one where he did not really influence things. I felt he was flogged again too much but with Davies injured almost all the time, Soumare looking out of his depth much of the time and Arblaster still a long way off it – we had the lack of viable players to give him a rest. Phillips and Rothwell getting sent off did not help. He ended the season with an excellent second half (and goal) at Derby.
Peck has lots of attributes. He can get around, pass the ball, is mobile and can win tackles and you can see why some Premier League clubs (Brentford – where Andrews and Lester are – who know Peck of course) are looking as he is young and could improve. I am not sure I know what his ceiling is. He definitely will be a top end Championship to possibly lower Premier League club but there is also the flip side in asking what he is outstanding at? I do not see him getting much better if I am being honest as he lacks that one feature. He is not an imposing physical player who tackles ferociously but neither is he a technical player who runs with the ball or assists for lots of chances. He rarely scores (despite that three-goal burst). However, he is decent on the ball and not slight that he cannot battle or dig in and he is a good all-around midfielder, if not outstanding, as I have discussed. It will be interesting to see what we would command for him fee wise? 10 million seems a push but then other Championship players of a similar profile have gone for more! I would not be devastated if we got a fee like this or more but equally is he stayed; I would be fine with that. We do need to ensure we can sell players at the right time though and we have held onto players too long before too. In an ideal world, he stays and starts with a physical player alongside him but then where does the creative side come from? I am not sold on Rothwell or a Phillips return particularly. Riedewald and Peck did ok as a pair but then
we finished far nearer the bottom.
Peck’s season has been ok but it still has been a bit of a backwards step but he is so young and maybe was too much to ask him to anchor a midfield almost on his own and even with other players coming in, none proved they could consistently partner him either due to injury or fitness. Hopefully, he can come back fresh and we see some players that compliment him but as I have stated, I would not be shocked if we did cash in now with us needing funds to cover the loss of the parachute payments.
Grade C+ (Last season B)
Andre Brooks It seems Brooks has been so stop start since he burst onto the scene in the Premier League under Wilder as a central midfielder. He looked like a player with a big future but then did not quite carry on that impressive start and last season, even at a lower level, he never really established himself. Started the season well at Preston but then seemed to lose favour. He had the odd good game but also a number where he was poor. We seemed to go with Rak Sakyi more and Brooks was often used as an impact sub. There were good moments, the goals v West Brom and Watford but every time he looked like getting a run, Wilder took him out and not sure this helped him although you could question if he did enough? He ended the season in better form and scored at Bristol City in the playoffs but missed a big chance at Wembley – if that goes a few inches either side of the keeper trailing leg, we probably go up.
This season, as he turned 22, I thought he has to really establish himself as a first team regular. We brought in Barry, but you expected he would be on the left with Hamer maybe, if we went down him playing there. Down the right, with JRS and Brereton Diaz going back, you thought this was the chance for Brooks to make himself a regular. It did not quite go that way as players were rotated in and out and the defeats piled up. Wilder returned and you wondered what might happen as Brooks had maybe not quite be in his favour last season. He did end up getting into the side and after scoring at Preston, he slowly started to flourish. He was starting to show more than the predictable go inside and we saw him use both feet more and try and be more direct. Suddenly, he was going at full backs and looked powerful and aggressive. We saw a range of skills and either side of Xmas, he became out best player in my opinion, in this period. Against Stoke he was superb and built an excellent relationship with Seriki. There were a number of home games where he became our main outlet and suddenly, it seemed like he had clicked. He scored 4 in 5 in January and recall him being phenomenal at Millwall and got a late winner at Portsmouth. Was teasing Wednesday at times I in the derby win and you wondered if bigger clubs would now start being linked with him. He looked like the type of player that Premier League clubs would court. Pace, dribbling, goals and a good size. He was finally realising his ability that we all knew he had and being much more consistent. Had a bit of a drop towards the end of the season and then got an injury which means he would be out till pre season. He can be pleased with his overall improvements and move to bring more consistent.
Despite this, I felt Wilder was overly harsh on him at times but maybe he wanted to push him even more. I also thought that he was harshly taken out, when he needed to keep playing. He maybe did not quite keep the standards up of before as we dipped at the end of the season but I also thought that he remained one of our most dangerous players and one that could find moments that others could not. We have had a disappointing season but Brooks has taken big steps forward. He still has to take another step in terms of being able to do it every week and not have those spells where he cannot maintain it. Needs to be a 7/10 and with some 8/10 rather than an 8/10 and then 5/10. I really like Brooks and hope he can remain here. He has been one of the few who can come out of this season with real credit and their reputation enhanced.
Weirdly, I have not seen lots of clubs linked but he has of course started playing for Jamaica although the fact the Reggae Boys did not qualify for the World Cup, at least might not put him in the shop window. If we can keep him and Seriki around and they both can push on and be consistent starters every week, then we have one part of the team sorted, especially when we have a lot to address potentially. I hope Wilder’s public comments on him are with love but I worry that their relationship is not quite where it needs to be – why he kept playing Chong and taking him out so much was bewildering. However, Wilder must know what an asset he can be and surely will only get better? Looking forward to seeing him hopefully take his next step.
Grade B (Last season C)
Oliver Arblaster After his previous season was ended after the injury in the Sheffield Derby in November of 2024; it seemed like there were real fears about his career. He was supposed to be back for pre-season but there was talk of setbacks and even another operation – which the player himself denied. The season began and still he was not close to a comeback but slowly he began to start to train and you thought after a few u21 games he may be drip fed into the action. I was quite surprised after so long out, he was put on the bench for the Stoke game and then he ended up starting against Norwich. He looked quite rusty in this game but lasted an hour. He played at WBA off the bench but again the pace seemed a bit much for him but did start against Birmingham and did ok from what I recall. I thought he was struggling with the pace and intensity of the game and seemed to lack that sharpness. You kind of expected that but he could not take the ball on the half turn and come out of tight spots like he did before but hoped he would rediscover this. He did get involved in a goal against Leicester with a lovely ball and we saw the odd flashes but he rarely started after Xmas. When he did, I thought the midfield got overrun – recall games at Southampton and against Boro where we got overrun in midfield as he and Peck really struggled with the dynamism and pace of the opponents
I thought we maybe overplayed him at first, as we had injuries and lack of options but then after he struggled was taken out but then ironically when I wanted him to get more games time to increase his match sharpness and get somewhere near what we had seen before, he did not play much. There were more midfield options available of course but he ended up being a bit part player and did not leave the bench in a few games too. Nice for him to be part of the Sheffield derby double. I have to say that overall, whilst I expected him to take time, I have been concerned at what I have seen. He might get stronger over the summer with these mythical pre-seasons we keep hearing about for players but I worry that he has been back playing now for 6 months and not sure we have seen many improvements even small. He does not look much different to that player who found it all a bit quick and physical when he came back against Norwich. I worry how much the injury has taken out of him. He was never that fast but now seems to get run past quite easily and he was always quite slight – not that he was weak but his ability was getting on the ball, turning and linking the play. He was a clever player that read things – whether it was intercepting play or getting into space and then turning with the ball. We have not seen this and in all the game he has played – whether starting or from the bench – I have felt he has struggled to make much impact at all.
Of course, recently we found out he will be a Dad with his partner being Wilder’s daughter. The cynics may say he might get favouritism due to this! I am not sure that is the case but Wilder has always liked him (and has spoken fondly of him and Peck – perhaps in comparison to a harsher line to Brooks and Seriki). Arblaster now has to step up. It is a huge summer and he needs to show he can get back to the levels he did. If he performs as he did this season, he will not play much at all sadly. That is the reality. Even Soumare and Rothwell offered more and they were hardly stand outs. He needs to be physically stronger and hope he can get some running power back – if he cannot run then I worry that his career may go same way as a Paul Coutts – who was never quite the same. Arblaster is younger at 22 and so has more time but the club cannot carry anyone and he will know he did not contribute much other than being a bit part player. He was seen as a real prospect with Premier League clubs looking at him – due to his clever football brain, great touch and ability to just do the basic things. I look at an Adam Wharton type and see Arblaster could follow a similar path – if he regained his fitness and the things he did so well before.
Grade E (Last season B)
