Perspective

[tomtheblade]

Tonge was better AND younger than Brooks when he first broke into the United team.

Fair enough, Tonge was definitely younger, only 18 as I remember, when he broke through, and was pretty much a consistent part of the team from his debut onwards. Just my opinion but I think Brooks ultimately has it in him to play at a higher level than Tonge did, ie. lower to mid table Prem. It remains to be seen really.

As I recall we never really came seriously close to selling Tonge (at the stage where he was still a promising youngster) even though there were definitely rumours swirling around at the time. Even though he never became the top player he hinted at, I think keeping him was a good idea. Whether we were actually severely tested on this is another matter. I have a hunch we weren't which is why he stayed, but don't know how true that is.
Point being that this is the only somewhat similar instance I can recall in which we didn't sell a genuine young prospect despite some temptation to do so. Happy to be proven wrong though, but it does seem like we choose the same option 99% of the time.

 

[niktheblade]

I've genuinely no problem with the sale. I like brooks and I'm always screaming for him to come on to impact a game, I appreciate he's been ill but when he's started a game he's been pretty average. 15 million is a lot to turn down for an impact bench player. Again though, I appreciate he's not been 100% since his illness.

What we all must remember is that we are a top 10 championship team, there are 20 odd other teams with loads of cash and can throw money at clubs and players, we aren't currently in a position just to knock back 15mil because we shouldn't sell our best players? We don't have mega rich backers (or at least ones that are willing to heavily invest) I'd sooner sell for 15m and bring in a couple of players to significantly strengthen the starting 11.

Of course this is all bollocks if CW doesn't get at least half to reinvest.

 

[Champagneblade]

I think another angle on perspective would be:

2016 - Sells DCL and Adams to fund recruitment of Fleck, O'Connell, Clarke, Duffy, Moore, etc
2017 - Promoted.

2018 - Sells Brooks to fund recruitment of Gallagher, Mousset, Palmer, DaSilva, Robinson, Henderson.
2019 - ?

 

[Paqamaq]

Any chance of a season-long loan back?

 

[Bookers Mullet]

The only thing that stopped Michael Tonge being a top class premier league player was Michael Tonge.

I genuinely think he only ever saw football as a means to an end, I maybe doing the lad a disservice, but in spells and when he was on it, he was unbelievably good.

I think we are making a massive mistake selling Brooks, he may not be consistent, but he has the x-factor where he can turn a game out of nothing and I believe that the consistency will develop with experience. It also shouldn't be underestimated the fear factor he creates in opposition teams, not seeing his name on the team sheet next year will give a lot of teams we play a big boost.

If the club believe the way forward is to invest in 2 or 3 more consistent players so be it, but I can't help but think the amount of times we say 'we really could use Brooks' when in a tight game will be incredibly high

 

[Carlton Blade]

Fuck perspective. Unless we needed the money to run the club and we'd fold otherwise I wish we'd kept him. Potential to be out best attacking player in 30 years. I go to the games regardless but I wanted something I'd Remember for years and he could have done that

 

[FleaPitBlade]

As much as I'd like him to stay:

I dont hold anything against the kid for wanting a move that'll make him a multi millionaire overnight.

And I also don't blame the club for taking the money if it goes some way to giving CW more wriggle room to strengthen and improve the first team.

We'll have lost a player of undoubted ability. In a perfect world, we would keep him but in the bigger picture, if you were to list players in order of importance, influence and 'not-for-sale-ness' then right now Brooks is probably behind Fleck, O'Connell, Clarke, Duffy and Coutts so I'm not having this as another case of United selling the family silver.

 

[Rodders]

David Brooks, at age 20, has scored 3 goals from 30 appearances.

Even Jordan Slew, aged 18 and in one of the worst United teams in living memory, managed to score 3 goals in 11 appearances. Jordan fucking Slew!

Some people need to get a fucking grip.

Now you’ve put it like that, I’m glad we’re selling him because he’s clearly shit.

 

[SwissBlade]

David Brooks, at age 20, has scored 3 goals from 30 appearances.

Even Jordan Slew, aged 18 and in one of the worst United teams in living memory, managed to score 3 goals in 11 appearances. Jordan fucking Slew!

Some people need to get a fucking grip.

This is where stats don't work.

Have you never watched Brooks play? He's got fantastic ability.

There are similarities for me with Gareth Bale as he came through steadily too.

 

[Muttley]

The one thing I can't get my head around.

Its Bournemouth ffs.

How the hell have a tiny club like that nabbed out best talent?
I wouldn't be half as gutted had he buggered off to Liverpool or somewheŕe like that.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

The one thing I can't get my head around.

Its Bournemouth ffs.

How the hell have a tiny club like that nabbed out best talent?
I wouldn't be half as gutted had he buggered off to Liverpool or somewheŕe like that.

I would assume he sees it as a stepping stone, similar to Maguire going to Hull before Leicester, then likely a top four club. He won't get anything like the game time at spurs or Liverpool. I maintain £15m is good compensation for someone with excellent potential but yet to deliver it consistently. Insert a sell-on and give most of the cash to tufty and Im confident we'll have a stronger first 11 next year.

 

[Blade58]

The one thing I can't get my head around.

Its Bournemouth ffs.

How the hell have a tiny club like that nabbed out best talent?
I wouldn't be half as gutted had he buggered off to Liverpool or somewheŕe like that.

A tiny club, with Premiership status, Premiership money and billionaire owner

Brooksy won't be bothered turning out on front of 12k home crowds or 27k home crowds as long as he gets the opportunity to turn out and don't forget, potentially he also gets to play at Old Trafford, Emirates, Stamford Bridge and his old stomping ground the Etihad and all for 3, 4, or 5 times his current salary

Same applies to most other Bournemouth players plying their trade in one of the biggest, if not the biggest league in the World

 

[Rollerball]

We talk of perspective, across the city, they have just lost an allegedly great talent, a striker that's proved his self in many differeing levels of football, scoring in all, prolific in all and yet they lost him for around £200k. Potential is great, but until it's fully realised it's worth very little. Comparisons have been made to players we have sold on before, the one I compare brooks to is che adams, came through from no where in a blaze of glory, bags of potential yet not pulled any trees up in Birmingham so before we hang wilder and mc cabe for selling the family jewels let's see if A brooks becomes the player most think he already is and B if wilder gets an increased transfer budget, if the latter doesn't appear then maybe the budget was made, knowing brooks was going.
Let's wait and see before we start to slip off shoes

 

[pommpey]

The only thing that stopped Michael Tonge being a top class premier league player was Michael Tonge.

I genuinely think he only ever saw football as a means to an end, I maybe doing the lad a disservice, but in spells and when he was on it, he was unbelievably good.

You are doing him a disservice. He loved his time at the Lane and loved his football. The mistake was his sale to Stoke and the fact that there were better, more capable players in the position he was expected to play in. That's the way the shit flips.

Like Brooks could be, however, Tonge was only good because he was part of a good team. Although last season raised some eyebrows, as soon as the nucleus of that good team was disturbed, we could see from November onwards how fragile the actual ability was in the squad. And buying bobbins from the lower leagues isn't the way to fix that. If we fail to bring in talent who will work with Brooks's ability and work on another level up, this is where we will stay. No sigings so far, regardless of any assumed bonus from our league position, our season ticket sales and inbound cash from sell-ons. And now we are selling our prodigious talent to a club ten years ago who were struggling to exist.

Anyone know who owns the club yet, by the way? I'm assuming the directive on this has come from one of either end of the boardroom table which features people who clearly don't get on with each other?

pommpey

 

[S5Blade]

Anyone know who owns the club yet, by the way? I'm assuming the directive on this has come from one of either end of the boardroom table which features people who clearly don't get on with each other?

pommpey

Or, you know, its come from the man in charge of the first team? Just imagine that for a second...... Imagine, if the first team manager, decides whether or not we accept a bid for a player.

 

[derfblade.3]

Fleck next to go, you watch. Rangers will be in, now United are showing weakness.
Sick as a ......

 

[Houston_Blade]

It will be reinvested in the club not making a loss for a few months.

 

[Harrisblade]

More creative than Hodges? Really.

And no comparison to Currie in any way (although admittedly the nutmeg against Wednesday was worth a couple of £million on it's own )

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It's bollocks.

He's a real talent, one who has been wrapped in cotton wool, laid off, 'ill', benched, shown in brief moments and contracted to keep us lot quiet and happy. Meanwhile, the strategy is to sit and wait until the first half decent offer comes along and cash him in.

And anyone who really believes the money generated from him will be reinvested needs to account for the mysteriously vacant sell on bonusses we were meant to have for Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. Whilst teams like Forest are buying and loaning and strengthening from abroad and our board are happy that football fans' attentions are slaked by the World Cup, holidays and the sunshine, jack shit is happening down at S2.

Where's t'munneh?

pommpey

and the winner of 'today's most unexpected post' goes to.........

 

[dazzlingblade]

Its funny how everyone trusts wilder. Who has said time and time again no one will leave unless he believes it is right for the club. But a lot don't trust him on this. We have seen glimpses of a 20 year old, not a kid but a 20 year old with potential. He has achieved nothing yet and maybe never will. No one knows if it will turn out to be a good deal for us or a crap one. But I trust the man who has transformed this club. Who sees brooks every single day and has made a decision based on that. And I doubt wilder would still be our manager today if he had been sold from under his nose or he hasn't been promised a huge chunk of the fee

 

[derfblade.3]

If Chris Wilder asked Brooks for 100% loyalty and got a negative then he will have got the most he can for him. £30,000 a week been talked about for Brook's wage making him a millionaire in about 35 weeks from now! He knows what he wants and that's Premiere league football and loads of dosh. Sad to lose him but but that's how it works these days. I do have a feeling though that come the end of the season Bournemouth and Sheffield United could be swapping divisions. Anyway good luck to the lad.

 

[pommpey]

Or, you know, its come from the man in charge of the first team? Just imagine that for a second...... Imagine, if the first team manager, decides whether or not we accept a bid for a player.

Hah. You really reckon that's how it works?

Me neither.

pommpey

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Always the same excuses, these same threads are made after we undersell each young player.

£12 million upfront for a 20 year old with his potential is not a good deal. Its a shocker.

 

[pommpey]

and the winner of 'today's most unexpected post' goes to.........

Typical 'play the man, not the ball' post.

How's about you offer some explanations, then?

pommpey

 

[Ricky]

Lumping Brooks into any sort of category with Jordan Slew.... Christ. Amateurish comparison.

But wait, they have the same number of goals!

 

[S5Blade]

Hah. You really reckon that's how it works?

Me neither.

pommpey

Considering that he actually said he was happy with the deal, yes.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Same
Old same old. Started with Mick Jones and has continued with greater momentum as the years have gone by. Wilder said he wanted to build his team around Brooks. Well I will be interested to hear what he has to say about this

 

[JohnDenver]

The only thing that stopped Michael Tonge being a top class premier league player was Michael Tonge.

If he had had pace and a nasty streak we’d have flogged him in 2003 for a record fee. And he’d probably have had ten years in the top half of the premiership.

 

[8lade]

And no comparison to Currie in any way (although admittedly the nutmeg against Wednesday was worth a couple of £million on it's own )

Hence why I said since, maybe if I live another 40 years I might get to see half a season of another talent like that turn out for United. Wish (like Maguire) he'd given us a chance to get promoted with him and it would've helped his development.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Good OP but the rest is descending into predictable doom and gloom drivel (again)

Yes he is a talent and yes he is one of the best players to ever break into the first team. Yes we are a selling club and so is every other club in the land!

Yes he probably is being sold for too little and yes we may get a hefty sell on clause because if he makes it big time, it will not be with Bournemouth and it will be a big money move to a top ten outfit.

We will not miss DB, we hardly relied upon him last season. He is not the finished article and it is a gamble to keep a player that wants to leave.

£10m/£12m with add ons is a massive amount for us in our situation - snatch their hands off and we move on.

Perspective needed indeed! I could understand it if he was going for £250,000 but cmon please be realistic.


UTMB (with or without DB (GLTTL) )


PS. I see that many many posters are returning from the woodwork for their eagerly anticipated and overdue anti-united agenda - fill yer boots lads