The Brooks Conundrum

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Firstly, my wholehearted congratulations to David Brooks on his first international cap.
Now, onto what will undoubtably be a controversial statement.
At the start of the season we all wanted, and have now seen, some of 'what he can do in a red and white shirt' before losing him to the big boys, or Everton.
So the question for me is, now that his stock has risen again with the international game under his belt, should we cash in in January?
I thought last night against France, he looked out of his depth and have thought so on a number of occasions in the league games in which he's played. I think he's still a way off being the player he could/will be and dare I say it, the player many people think he already is, but the Hillsborough nutmeg and Leeds winner apart, I don't think we've seen a huge amount of 'accomplished all round quality player' stuff or 'game changing player' outcomes....yet.
That being said, I still think he has huge potential and has already shown that he has great talent and a smart footballing brain with the ability to do something 'a bit special' but I'm tempted to think we might just be better off taking the money in January.
I think at the moment DB is more of an entertaining luxury than a game changer and if we were to get some crazy bid of, say, 30 million which could be used to bring in the necessary replacements to takes us up, it would have to be worth it wouldn't it?
I know there'd be no guarantee but surely, being in such a good position with all our good luck and momentum this season, we could utilise the money to sort the final pieces of the promotion jigsaw.
From what I've seen of him so far, David Brooks could go on to become world class. He could also hit his effectiveness level very soon, so what should it be? Stick and hopefully see him help us gain promotion and see him potentially further develop with us or twist to cash in and develop the squad, as we did with the so-called Calvert-Lewin money?
Sadly, for me it has to be the money.

 

[Smirth]

Not a chance.

His development is coming on just fine and Wilder is managing him perfectly to get the best out of him.

He is on track to become a first team regular in the next 12-18 months IMO and that is just fine.

He seems so grounded that I actually think he really would prefer to stay here rather than moving out to a PL club because Wilder is managing his development perfectly.

 

[JohnDenver]

Keep him for as long as he’s happy to stay. Only sell him when the price is bonkers.

On the brink of the Prem, the value of selling him is low in comparison with the riches of promotion.

 

[Smirth]

Also, and without bashing the board or McCabe, how often do we hear about it making sense to sell a player so we can reinvest the funds in the first team. It rarely ever happens, so I would much rather keep the quality players we have.

 

[Slim Man]

The lads played 10 first team games.

Of course he’s not the complete player, or ready to play regularly against the likes of France.

Jesus Christ.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The choice will be his, if he wants to go he will and the bidding will start. Otherwise he stays, simples

 

[Boxer Blade]

It does seem inevitable, but not yet, let it be inevitable in a couple of years lets all enjoy being able to watch him play for US, even if the money is no better in 2 years or so, lets, for once have the pleasure of seeing him play, and not just for a few months, football is football, ups and downs but lets have the memories, we dont have enough of them regarding kyle Walker

 

[Ricky]

Brooks is not 'out of his depth' on any football pitch against any opponent.

Oh but he's not perfect defensively....

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Everybody has their price.
He's learning his craft and the next 12 months should see a huge improvement in his all - round game.
I hope

 

[Smirth]

Brooks is not 'out of his depth' on any football pitch against any opponent.

Oh but he's not perfect defensively....

I’m just glad we have Wilder overseeing his development.

Could you imagine if it was left to Clough?

 

[BladeInIreland]

Also, and without bashing the board or McCabe, how often do we hear about it making sense to sell a player so we can reinvest the funds in the first team. It rarely ever happens, so I would much rather keep the quality players we have.

This

Lots of times iv thought, well if we sell him the money would be enough for us to improve overall. Never happens so now I always back keeping our best players. Which brooks is one of. Still not the finished article but have to disagree with the OP I'm afraid. Never seen him look out of his depth. Always confident and for me always has a positive effect. When he adds more goals, which he will his value will rocket.

 

[Stretch]

I disagree, he has shown us on several occasions how deadly a player he can be, Sunderland, Pigs, Leeds all spring to mind where his contriution swung the game or rammed home our advantage. Numerous assists already and by rights should have a couple more goals but that column will increase this season.
It he stays he will continue to flourish in front of our very eyes. If we sell him then we all know that the money won't make it into the first team budget, or most of it anyway. That's not a dig at the club before anyone jumps on me either, it's just not how we do things and I have accepted it now. But to sell this kid at this stage of his career with us would be foolish in my opinion.
I am also struggling to see what the missing piece of the jigsaw is, for me we look completely well rounded although a quality CM to genuinely challenge Fleck wouldn't go amiss.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Bloody hell. How many starts has he made as a pro? He's just come on against a side that are one of the tipped teams to win the world cup.

Looked fine to me. One great cross to nearly set up a goal. Not sure what you wanted.

 

[raul]

Lerrimgo. Lerremallgo. Lerremallgoforafriendly.

Leave him where he is , doing what he does putting a huge smile on 25000 faces. Whilst frollicking and gambolling around on the fringes of the attack he's in the box seat to watch and learn how to become a proper midfielder from three of the finest examples you could wish for.

 

[Eddiecolquhounsleg]

Firstly, my wholehearted congratulations to David Brooks on his first international cap.
Now, onto what will undoubtably be a controversial statement.
At the start of the season we all wanted, and have now seen, some of 'what he can do in a red and white shirt' before losing him to the big boys, or Everton.
So the question for me is, now that his stock has risen again with the international game under his belt, should we cash in in January?
I thought last night against France, he looked out of his depth and have thought so on a number of occasions in the league games in which he's played. I think he's still a way off being the player he could/will be and dare I say it, the player many people think he already is, but the Hillsborough nutmeg and Leeds winner apart, I don't think we've seen a huge amount of 'accomplished all round quality player' stuff or 'game changing player' outcomes....yet.
That being said, I still think he has huge potential and has already shown that he has great talent and a smart footballing brain with the ability to do something 'a bit special' but I'm tempted to think we might just be better off taking the money in January.
I think at the moment DB is more of an entertaining luxury than a game changer and if we were to get some crazy bid of, say, 30 million which could be used to bring in the necessary replacements to takes us up, it would have to be worth it wouldn't it?
I know there'd be no guarantee but surely, being in such a good position with all our good luck and momentum this season, we could utilise the money to sort the final pieces of the promotion jigsaw.
From what I've seen of him so far, David Brooks could go on to become world class. He could also hit his effectiveness level very soon, so what should it be? Stick and hopefully see him help us gain promotion and see him potentially further develop with us or twist to cash in and develop the squad, as we did with the so-called Calvert-Lewin money?
Sadly, for me it has to be the money.

If we knew the answer then we would all be millionaires and challenging Crab Industries as a dominant world force in business.

Unfortunately, I haven't got an answer to the dilemma.

By way of analogy we could look at the two Kyles. When we sold them to Tottenham I think it would be fair to say that Walker was the makeweight with Naughton being the dominant part of the sale. But what has happened since.

Naughton plies his trade for one of the lesser Premier League teams while Walker has gone on to play for arguably the best team in the country and collected 30 England caps along the way. What are their respective transfer values now?

I don't like all the hype over Brooks as it can only end in tears for United.

Can he fulfil his potential? Probably yes. Can he fulfil his potential with us? Probably not.

 

[Gimli]

The lad is quite clearly the most exciting young prospect we've had for years - and that's including Walker, Maguire, Naughton, Lowton etc - I cannot believe that any blade would not want him to stay as long as possible - without wishing to sound dramatic, he could be the next TC.

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

Bizarre post for me. He looks something else.

Build a team around him.

 

[Ricky]

I'd like suggestions of exactly how any fee for him could be spent to improve us. Who could we sign, who we couldn't already, who wouldn't smash the wage structure and would make a bigger impact than Brooks?

 

[nopigfansintown]

In the France game, he was played on the wrong side and still set up two excellent chances. Did more than Woodburn, Lawrence Ramsey and the other young lad (foreign sounding name?). I'm mystified how you thought he looked out of his depth. I think huge money must be considered for any player though. Everybody has a price.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Just to boil down the OP, I would love to see him stay as part of a promotion winning squad, but if it was the difference between going up or not would you let him go based on current performance and not future potential.
As Eddiecolquhounsleg rightly points out, it's impossible to predict the future, but at some point tough business decisions need to be made.

 

[Trafford]

We don’t need him to be starting games at the moment and it’s so refreshing to have a potential match-winner waiting on the bench. He’ll learn a lot from the other lads and Wilder will either keep him grounded or get the best deal for him if his head gets turned. I wasn’t impressed with the effort that he put into the half time work out against Hull but the last player that I said that about was Leon, so what if I know!

 

[Ricky]

I'm mystified how you thought he looked out of his depth.

Worth noting the 'out of his depth' comment is from the same guy who thought the Middlesbrough defeat was 'embarrassing'.

As soon as he came on last night he got in behind France's defence and it nearly led to a goal.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

In the France game, he was played on the wrong side and still set up two excellent chances. Did more than Woodburn, Lawrence Ramsey and the other young lad (foreign sounding name?). I'm mystified how you thought he looked out of his depth. I think huge money must be considered for any player though. Everybody has a price.

I guess by out of his depth npfit, I mean his all round game. There's no doubt, given the space/opportunity to show his skill, he can do it, but when you have to make that space yourself/hold off a strong defender/chase back and defend, he has a way to go.

 

[stringjunior]

For once can't we keep a young un and watch him grow and develop with us? We've exhausted the alternative model and we haven't been particularly successful using it.

The times they are a changing.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I guess by out of his depth npfit, I mean his all round game. There's no doubt, given the space/opportunity to show his skill, he can do it, but when you have to make that space yourself/hold off a strong defender/chase back and defend, he has a way to go.

His defensive work was excellent last night.Really impressive actually, considering he was out of position.Setting up arguably Wales two best chances, this appearance shouldn't be underestimated. On a more general point, if he's to be our replacement/competition for Duffy he'll have to improve his pressing. His best work has come on the counter attack, in which he retreats into a defensive position then springs forward.Very early days yet though, and I'm already seeing improvements.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

For once can't we keep a young un and watch him grow and develop with us? We've exhausted the alternative model and we haven't been particularly successful using it.

The times they are a changing.

You could argue that we did it successfully last season SJ. Apparently the Calvert-Lewin money was used to part fund last season's promotion campaign. I'd love to hold on to him mate, but if it was a straight choice between keep and stay down or sell and go up, I'd have to go with the latter.

 

[snootyfenooty]

without wishing to sound dramatic, he could be the next TC.

He is the next TC. Anyone who can't see that should be watching netball. It's been a long wait.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Just enjoy the ride.

Don't stop we wanna go FASTER!

 

[ballyblade]

He didn’t look out of his depth at all, never does, but a lot of the time last night he was in space and never received the ball. One particular instance was when Ramsey was ball hogging, trying to beat the whole French team and Brooksy was in acres of space, ready to run with it. Seems like a case of the older players not trusting the youngsters.

 

[stringjunior]

if it was a straight choice between keep and stay down or sell and go up

But it doesn't have to be. What if we kept him and went up* After all the Fresh Prince has always talked about investment coming in the championship, and he's recently talked even more positively about investing in January so the need to sell I suspect is greatly diminished.

*Which I appreciate wasn't the point of your OP