80% Pass Accuracy, Involved In A Goal Every 139 Minutes: David Brooks Has Been Crucial To Sheffield Utd
Sheffield United’s young midfield talent David Brooks is turning some heads this season and is starting to emerge as a crucial member of the Blades squad. 13 of his league appearances have been from the bench, with his cameos earning him some rave reviews but naturally, we have learned more from his 5 starts in attacking central midfield role.
Brooks is a real talent; ambitious and confident, and so he needs to play in the middle to ensure he sees enough of the ball. He has a talent for dribbling and can comfortably move past opposition defenders – something already becoming a regular sight for the Sheffield United fans.
What has been noticeable so far is that the senior pros in the side seem to trust him implicitly. So he has not been starved of the ball and is being given the chance to show what he can really do.
Brooks has a talent that many left-footed players have in this sort of position, and that is the ability to drop short and slip neat, tidy, accurate passes through to the central striker. Think of the sort of passes nipped through by the likes of Juan Mata or David Silva over the years and you’re getting close.
He already appears to be a tough nut, who is not bothered at all about being fouled and he doesn’t seem to panic at all when confronted by opposition defenders.
For those who haven’t watched Brooks play; try not to picture a lightning-fast winger or no.10 playing like Lionel Messi. Brooks, in fact, isn’t that quick but he does have a deft touch and a lovely, floating style, making it uneasy for defenders and ensuring a simple looking passage for him into the box.
The more games he gets for Sheffield United, the better, though one thing I’m not certain will help him is the fact that he has committed himself to Wales, who have played him twice in the first-team already and that can either make him grow up and prove to be too much, too soon.
Given that he averages just 38 minutes per game overall at this early stage, his stats are ranking well within the squad at Bramall Lane.
Brooks has 2 goals and 3 assists in his short time in the team already, which means he’s been involved in a goal once every 139 minutes. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that he has a goal and an assist in 4 starts in the attacking midfield position, showing how dangerous he can be.
A pass completion rate of 80% at his age, given that he’s a dribbler, is excellent and can only get better as time goes on. He’s certainly an impressive young talent.