Coutts & Brooks vs Pigs (The 4-2 away win)

[blade_ben]

Got a feeling CW will try and get Brooks back in the “summer”

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Brooks would be ideal for the Didzy role - assuming he can come back from his injury.

 

[Bobby Boo]

I also watched the re-run this afternoon. Nobody has mentioned it but Bashambauer was fucking immense in that midfield, it's his header that helps set up the bounce killer.

 

[Guesty]

I also watched the re-run this afternoon. Nobody has mentioned it but Bashambauer was fucking immense in that midfield, it's his header that helps set up the bounce killer.

And his lovely backheel, which led to the corner which eventually led to the second goal.

 

[BladeTillIDie]

I think watching it back, a notable example of that is Enda Stevens. His development since his first season here, to now one of the best left-sided players in the country, has been phenomenal.

He was awful that first season, i was one of his biggest critics.

 

[Tezza1889]

Tell you what I noticed, the advertisements in the first half pitch side were like something out of Billy the fish in Viz, pallet companies nobody's heard off, balloon sellers, fake energy drinks and non existent taxi firms.. Drink beer n smoke tabs comes to mind.. what a bunch of cheap tack cheating wankers.

It was great they got battered in thier own back yard, we had a team full of heroes that day, all of em..

 

[Blademanx]

Watched the game from one of the boxes that day. Brilliant day and atmosphere. Thought Baldock did well that game too.
Then in the second half they brought on that superstar Jordan Rhodes lol. Did he actually touch the ball?? Memories that will never die . UTB

 

[Wapping Blade]

Got a feeling CW will try and get Brooks back in the “summer”

I had that exact thought watching it back yesterday.

 

[Worksop II]

I thought Brooks looked something special, probably why Bmuff bought him

Good thing is, he is still out there ............

 

[Akinbiyi]

Peak Coutts was one of the first names on the team sheet.

Was peak Brookes (for whatever reason) ?

UTB

He would’ve been if not for the succession of injuries. Raw talent alone he was by far the best of that team, as he proved in the PL last season. He’d be our best player if we still had him.

 

[Akinbiyi]

I wouldn’t though. We’ve moved on – brilliant player in the year and a half we saw him at full fitness. But I wouldn’t want to take any of the current players out to play him now. Same with Peak Duffy. Or Peak Wright.

Yep. We wouldn’t have gone up with Coutts, Norwood added so much more to our armoury. What we lost with Coutts (his control, possession, keeping the game ticking over and basically bossing it, Norwood can do. But he can’t run with it as well as Coutts did) we gained more in Norwood (set piece ability, crossing from deep, long passing) whilst not losing much.
I loved Coutts but Norwood is a better player overall hence the 3 promotions in 3 seasons.

 

[diplomat]

They played the same position, but in a different way. I think Norwood has more attributes that suit how we want to play now. Coutts may well have been more suited to games we dominated.

I'll be honest, even at his best I found Coutts frustrating at times. He was physically bigger and stronger than most opponents while remaining Mobile. Great ability on the ball. I always thought he had another gear. I never feel like that with Norwood. He knows his game and maximises his ability

I think prior injury robbed Coutts of the other gear. However, I remember him fondly and his size and strength were definitely good attributes. He was great in the Leeds away game that we won 2-1 and many others in the three in the middle. Lunny has far greater mobility, goal threat and crossing threat (due to the mobility) in the current team.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Norwood is an upgrade on Coutts injury or not.

 

[Gareth Kay]

Brooks on that day would still be the best player in our current squad. His illness and ankle injury may mean he never reached his heights but he was such a talent.

Better than fleck, Egan, O'Connell, Steven's and baldock. I don't think so.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Better than fleck, Egan, O'Connell, Steven's and baldock. I don't think so.

I do. Think they are all great but I personally prefer players with a bit of magic. He has it.

 

[Guesty]

Yep. We wouldn’t have gone up with Coutts, Norwood added so much more to our armoury. What we lost with Coutts (his control, possession, keeping the game ticking over and basically bossing it, Norwood can do. But he can’t run with it as well as Coutts did) we gained more in Norwood (set piece ability, crossing from deep, long passing) whilst not losing much.
I loved Coutts but Norwood is a better player overall hence the 3 promotions in 3 seasons.

We might have gone up with Coutts given that we were top of the league when he broke his leg.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Good thread and mostly balanced regarding which player posters preferred.

I happened to love Coutts, he was the centre of all activity, most importantly he allowed the likes of Duffy and Fleck to get forward and add to our attack.

The pros and cons offered regarding Coutts vs Norwood doesn't really matter. I happen to think we were fortunate to get Norwood for such a small figure, and ON has shown he's capable of playing with and against the best. Truth is, we'll never know whether Coutts could have excelled in the Prem, my guess is that he'd have shown the same desire as he had since Wilder put a rocket up his arse and turned him into the player he became for us. Coutts was a great player for the Blades, and the Coutts vs Norwood debate seems, at best, academic.

 

[Akinbiyi]

We might have gone up with Coutts given that we were top of the league when he broke his leg.

Was a long long chunk of the season left at that stage, it would've caught up with us (as it did) imo due to our defence and lack of chance creation ability. Egan and Norwood transformed that.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Brooks on that day would still be the best player in our current squad. His illness and ankle injury may mean he never reached his heights but he was such a talent.

but without the ball Brooks wouid be our worse player and a bit of a liability....the lad can’t even tackle.
however of course with the ball he’s a real talent and can make things happen by himself....you could see he’d go far.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Regards Coutts he’s a great player for the simple pass and move game but I’m not sure he‘s physical enough or offers a weapon,
Norwood isn‘t physical enough either however he’s great at that long pass and we use that weapon to great effect.

Think the key to our success is we play a patient short passing keep possession game
but we mix it up well because Norwood isn’t afraid to be direct with his long pass.