Andre Brooks

[Not so Slim ane]

Brooks gets far more game time under any other football manager….CW has to lose the grudge he has against him….

The problem is wilder didn't pay £25m for him, if he had he would have played every game of the season

 

[Nick Jansky]

Maybe he doesn't laugh at the right jokes or play golf...

Maybe he’s more interested in doing the things that will give him the best chance of a long and healthy career than being a “culture carrier”.

 

[vas borbokis]

It's completely baffling why he hasn't had lots more game time.
Don't know what's gone off but Wilder needs to get over himself on this one.
Feels like the Duffy scenario.
Lad's got talent and always puts a shift in.

 

[SwissBlade]

Maybe, maybe not. JRS has been good in patches, like a lot of wingers are, but I was expecting a bit more from all the hype.

Brooks was unfortunate to lose his place straight away, as IIRC he had a good game at Norwich the week before, getting an assist.

That said, Brooks has always played out on the left prior to this season and we’ve had Hamer pushed out there all season. We’ve then brought in another left sided player (BBD) and stuck him on the right.

Basically, I think Brooks has been unfortunate.

I think in many ways you're right, Brooks has been unfortunate, but also, like with JRS, the game doesn't always suit him.

I also feel that he's been managed, like many of the players to try and rotate players.

Wilder has certainly favoured JRS over Brooks, but at times that's also been with some justification, sometimes not.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Never seen a player like Brooks play for the Blades.

He has so much talent, looks the modern player and I really rate him.

But.. sometimes he looks so unconfident and shaky in the final third, you feel like he thinks he’s just won a raffle to play for us? Just so strange, does all this amazing stuff, but fluffs his lines! Seems like he wasn’t fazed last night, which is great.

I hope we see more of him now!

 

[AWetFlannel]

And just like that, he's world class and Wilder has a grudge so isn't playing him.

 

[Nick Jansky]

And just like that, he's world class and Wilder has a grudge for not playing him.

What a strange post. Nobody has said he’s world class. People have voiced an opinion that he should have played more. You’re quite a shrill person who is prone to knee jerking aren’t you.

 

[Rodley]

Need to be starting over on the left if we play 4-4-2.

 

[AWetFlannel]

What a strange post. Nobody has said he’s world class.

I'm exaggerating for effect.

People have voiced an opinion that he should have played more.

And some people have suggested that the reason he hasn't played more is because of his "face", hobbies, personality and Wilder's grudge. It's embarrassing.

You’re quite a shrill person who is prone to knee jerking aren’t you.

I am indeed, lost all patience this season with our fans.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I'm exaggerating for effect.

And some people have suggested that the reason he hasn't played more is because of his "face", hobbies, personality and Wilder's grudge. It's embarrassing.

I am indeed, lost all patience this season with our fans.

You really don’t do the “Wilder in” brigade any favours at all with this sort of stuff. The opposite actually, you polarise things further.

 

[AWetFlannel]

You really don’t do the “Wilder in” brigade any favours at all with this sort of stuff. The opposite actually, you polarise things further.

The Wilder in/out debate is over, it's already finished. We've reached max polarisation and nothing will change it, he will get sacked soon as a result.

I don't see myself as part of any brigade though. I don't come out with nonsense on a regular basis to support or praise Wilder, I just find myself rebutting anti-Wilder insanity more often because of how prevalent it is.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don't see myself as part of any brigade though. I don't come out with nonsense on a regular basis to support or praise Wilder, I just find myself rebutting anti-Wilder insanity more often because of how prevalent it is.

That might be a question of perception and self awareness. Which, admittedly, is difficult on an internet forum where nuance isn’t always a thing.

 

[FriethBlade]

The Wilder in/out debate is over, it's already finished. We've reached max polarisation and nothing will change it, he will get sacked soon as a result.

I don't see myself as part of any brigade though. I don't come out with nonsense on a regular basis to support or praise Wilder, I just find myself rebutting anti-Wilder insanity more often because of how prevalent it is.

Flannel the problem is when playing shit teams with a low block we have been crying out for a bit of creativity, a bit of magic, a bit of pace, some unpredictability. But Brooks never got a look in even off the bench. For most of us there is no logical reason for this so some will raise the "conspiracy theory" argument.

He should have had more of a chance but he hasn't and that is on Wilder who has persistently played BBD in that position. He can not beat a man and when the other team employ a low block is completely ineffective.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Flannel the problem is when playing shit teams with a low block we have been crying out for a bit of creativity, a bit of magic, a bit of pace, some unpredictability. But Brooks never got a look in even off the bench. For most of us there is no logical reason for this so some will raise the "conspiracy theory" argument.

He should have had more of a chance but he hasn't and that is on Wilder who has persistently played BBD in that position. He can not beat a man and when the other team employ a low block is completely ineffective.

"No logical reason".

Wilder has said this season that Brooks hasn't trained well, that is one reason.

The fact that BBD is an established, top Championship player who's recently had moves to La Liga and PL clubs is also another reason.

Add to that JRS, a similar player to Brooks but with more pedigree a frankly better performances and stats this season.

Hamer brings plenty of creativity and unpredictability to our attack which has been successful for most of the season. Our team has played crap as a collective in recent losses; we've defended badly, moved the ball slowly, had players put in shit performances, missed chances, lacked quality etc.

 

[Shawy24]

Need to be starting over on the left if we play 4-4-2.

Yes. What an absolute surprise that a left footed player should appear from the left wing and use his left foot to score. Wilder will put a stop to that happening again.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Yes. What an absolute surprise that a left footed player should appear from the left wing and use his left foot to score. Wilder will put a stop to that happening again.

And yet the exact opposite argument is made regards playing BBD on the right to once again paint Wilder as an idiot. People see what they want to see to suit their agenda.

 

[Rodley]

Yes. What an absolute surprise that a left footed player should appear from the left wing and use his left foot to score. Wilder will put a stop to that happening again.

In the previous system you’d typically play inverted wingers as CW has mostly done.

 

[Shawy24]

In the previous system you’d typically play inverted wingers as CW has mostly done.

I know. I don’t like it.

 

[Blade45]

Brooks should always have gotten more minutes than he did. I personally think he's the most talented winger at the club, and frankly I have no idea why he wasn't playing. I don't recall him being injured or anything, and every time he plays he looks really good, and a player like him on the left would free up lots of space for Rak Sakyi on the right. Again, I seriously don't know why he wasn't playing.

 

[vas borbokis]

What's the reason for not swapping it around in games though when playing inverted isn't creating chances?
A 10 minute swap around would give defences a different problem...
Valid point I reckon.

 

[bornablade]

I long for the days when players could use both feet.

Honestly it used to happen.

 

[Tickhill Blade]

I long for the days when players could use both feet.

Honestly it used to happen.

We've had a lot of players over the years who were equally shit with both feet

 

[robbiez666]

1. Confidence at that age comes through experience.
2. Wilder has said on more than one occasion that he doesn't train well and infers that's why he doesn't get more game time.
3. He seems to be more easily dropped following a bad performance than others.
4. Players at his age will be inconsistent

 

[loyalblade95]

Brooks should always have gotten more minutes than he did. I personally think he's the most talented winger at the club, and frankly I have no idea why he wasn't playing. I don't recall him being injured or anything, and every time he plays he looks really good, and a player like him on the left would free up lots of space for Rak Sakyi on the right. Again, I seriously don't know why he wasn't playing.

Started the season then got a concussion around end of August/start of September.

 

[Blade45]

Started the season then got a concussion around end of August/start of September.

Thanks, I honestly didn’t know. I don’t remember him starting a match from about January to now. Clearly a very talented player. If we don’t go up next season, he’ll probably play a lot more. If we do, I think he’ll have to go out on loan.

 

[AWetFlannel]

What's the reason for not swapping it around in games though when playing inverted isn't creating chances?
A 10 minute swap around would give defences a different problem...
Valid point I reckon.

The vast majority of teams don't do it, which should tell you there's probably a good reason.

Perhaps it's not worth the time it would take training a system which is less effective? Why take a winger that's built to cut in, shoot and score and put him on his weak foot? Dunno, but it's obviously not just a Blades thing.

 

[Nedski]

Wilder loves the safe and solid approach with seasoned pros (think back to the Fleck and Norwood partnership, or the Sharp and McBurnie partnership, both of which went on far longer and more often than they should have). He's not a fan of unpredictability, flair, pace and all that nonsense.

Brooks, Rak-Sayki and Seriki have all those attributes in abundance and we would have had a far more entertaining and attacking season than we have. We would possibly have dropped a few points here and there but would have gained them too. We certainly wouldn't have been 26 points worse off and ending outside the playoffs.

Wilder has been brilliant for us, we've had a great yet unspectacular season, but we need to move forward with a modern manager with modern ideas.

 

[loyalblade95]

Thanks, I honestly didn’t know. I don’t remember him starting a match from about January to now. Clearly a very talented player. If we don’t go up next season, he’ll probably play a lot more. If we do, I think he’ll have to go out on loan.

No worries. He hasn't played much post January, and I can't recall him starting much in that time, got some minutes off the bench every few games.

Think he came off the bench against QPR and Coventry, but other than those 2 games I don't think he's played much.

Agreed about next season, if we don't go up he's got a big chance to get one of those starting winger positions, if we do go up I'd send him on loan to the Championship (even if it's just for half a season) to continue his development.

 

[FriethBlade]

"No logical reason".

Wilder has said this season that Brooks hasn't trained well, that is one reason.

The fact that BBD is an established, top Championship player who's recently had moves to La Liga and PL clubs is also another reason.

Add to that JRS, a similar player to Brooks but with more pedigree a frankly better performances and stats this season.

Hamer brings plenty of creativity and unpredictability to our attack which has been successful for most of the season. Our team has played crap as a collective in recent losses; we've defended badly, moved the ball slowly, had players put in shit performances, missed chances, lacked quality etc.

What about the fact that BBD has been crap the last 5 or 6 games? Does it matter if Brooks isn't tearing it up on Shirecliffe if he is delivering in games? Could he have made a difference second half at Oxford? We will never know but what we do know is that who did come on didn't make a difference.

Nibody is saying he's a world beater but it seems weird that a lad who has that bit of magic has not been in the matchday squad for over half of our games. Whereas other players who turn in mediocre perfoemances most of the time get a lot more opportunity. But yep Wilder is always right and nobody should question his judgement on any player.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Brooks is very much a more advanced Seriki. Good at dribbling which gets fans off the seat but other aspects need refining.

Great confidence boost for him last night but I don't particularly think he's massively underplayed tbh