He still has the best long-ball touch out of just about any US player, especially in the CD spot. But the rest of his game was good, but not always great, which limited him some. There were times when he looked like he should be the lock starter hands down... but we never really played the kind of 3 CD set-up/partnership that probably would have made him most effective and he was not as effective in the systems we did play. But when he's on, he's v. good.
Blaming JAB for Rafa's goal when Jozy essentially picked off JAB and did nothing to attempt to defend is just odd. I guess that JAB could have attempted to run over Jozy to get to and contest Rafa but that goal was on Jozy who never even attempted to contest. Guzan aslo did not cover himself in glory on that play.
Out of contract XI: Best free agents available to sign this summer transfer window https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/free-agents-summer-transfer-window-27374531 he's keeping good company, at least.
I am a big fan of JAB and think he is unfairly singled out for criticism by many US commentators and fans. That said, what happens over the next couple weeks will reveal a lot about what European football professionals think of him. I think he ends up at a mid-table or higher team in a top five league, but perhaps I am overestimating his current level of talent.
I think the Berliner Kurier is saying that Hoffenheim are no longer interested, but numerous MLS clubs are. Google Translated below: https://www.berliner-kurier.de/fuss...tupinan-jovetic-in-italien-begehrt--li.241919 It has been clear since March 1 that John Anthony Brooks (29) will leave VfL Wolfsburg after five years. Only: To date, the free ex-Hertha player, who moved to Autostadt in 2017 for a whopping 17 million euros, has not found a new club. TSG Hoffenheim should no longer be interested, rather numerous MLS clubs are vying for the 45-time national player of the USA.
If he does it will be as cover. The criticism probably seems harsh because John was a Euro big 5 player when we had few, so he could do absolutely no wrong in the eyes of many, who would degrade anyone else (MLS player) in any way they could. If you have read the US boards over the years then you understand this. John‘s biggest failure? Being a solid player but not a top star. It makes some overestimate, and others be overly critical. He has had ups and downs. He is what we all hope the decent average US player in Europe will be over the next decade. It would be incredible if we could have a dozen of him performing in Big 5 leagues. As i have stated. I lived in Germany for many years, and right before JAB chose to play for us. I got to hear, and read everything about him in the press and from fans. I got to see the immaturity, the uneven play, the stellar play, and then the drop offs. They were real. If we analyzed or paid attention like soccer crazy countries would they would be obvious. It‘s pretty clear that the opinions of him have dropped over there. I don‘t doubt clubs would want him, but price and playing time will also be in play. It all depends on JAB‘s priorities at this point. Think about this. A 29 year old central defender. On a free. He should be in his prime. What‘s the deal? Also, he was benched early in the season. TD said wasn‘t in his plans. Would have been dirt cheap. No offers known. Why? Again, I am only posting on what I have seen, and what I hear over there. Is that critical?
Was Hoffenheim ever more than speculation due to connections to those in the club? Hit the nail on the head. I think there is some have romanticized Brooks since being frozen out of the USMNT. I think in Europe though thr mixture of higher salary demands and more teams wanting to play a high press hurts the market for John.
Good point. Not just Europe. US Nats also. It‘s not just good enough to be an excellent passer or tall player as a CB anymore. This has happened all over the field. Whether forward, fullback or midfield. Even the keeper position requires more tools and skills. I am guessing JAB‘s mobility and lateral movement is hurting him in the current market. For a guy like him on a free there should be a lot more interest.
Agreed. One would think interest would be known, However, remember we are dealing with Germany and its press and clubs tend to be a little more tight lipped that the tabloids of England. Just because we don’t hear anything, doesn’t mean there’s no or little interest.
Again, I don‘t doubt there is interest. It‘s just the level, pay, playing time, and club level. Even for Germany the silence is pretty damn silent.
Maybe his wage demands are too high, or there is some behind the scenes stuff? Because based on his talent and current ability he should be a starting CB on a mid level club in a big 4 league. He was benched in a run of bad form but came back and cemented himself as a starter by the end of the season. To come back from out of the TD’s plans to lock starter says a lot about JAB and his quality. I do think he’s been unfairly criticized based on a couple of memorably poor performances in a US shirt. To me here is a good litmus test: where do you rank Brooks in the top 5 to 10 USMNT CB’s of all time? Reasonable fans will certainly disagree.
Maybe his wage demands are too high, or there is some behind the scenes stuff? Because based on his talent and current ability he should be a starting CB on a mid level club in a big 4 league. He was benched in a run of bad form but came back and cemented himself as a starter by the end of the season. To come back from out of the TD’s plans to lock starter says a lot about JAB and his quality. I do think he’s been unfairly criticized based on a couple of memorably poor performances in a US shirt. To me here is a good litmus test: where do you rank Brooks in the top 5 to 10 USMNT CB’s of all time? Reasonable fans will certainly disagree.
Wage demands is a big thing. There's also a growing belief among Bundesliga fans that Brooks being as slow as he is limits him to playing in a 3 man backline so he isn't isolated enough. As a Milan fan a lot of Brooks' issues with the biggest issues remind me of Alessio Rogmanoli. Both seen as pivotal members to the team (AR being captain) and Both known for being great passers of the ball. Milan did try to play a 3 man Backlund to get Roma into the 11 but Pioli felt it hurt the effectiveness of other players. Why do I bring this up? Because Roma is also a free agent and despite having a lot of great qualities he has found his options limited like Brooks. It has been long rumored that he would sign with his boyhood club of Lazio but they refuse to meet his wage demands. Roma has talked about returning to Milan but they too don't want to meet his wages and would prefer a cheaper younger backup. To date Roma has had 2 known offers, Lazio which he is stalling on and Fulham. So being seen as a slower, and maybe tactically limited CB is going to limit the market no matter how good of a passer you are... heck you're seeing Paulo Dybala (2 years removed from being Serie A MVP) struggle to find a team because of a perceived combination of attitude issues, wage demands, and a belief teams need to build around him (plus Inter needing to sell a lot of players before they could sign him... another story)
JAB needs to go to the MLS IMO. His passing prowess would pay off big time and his D liabilities (particularly one-v-one) would likely be somewhat alleviated. But one has to assume he thinks he is worth more than he really is.
First sentence. That has happened 4 times in his career already. Twice at Hertha and Wolfsburg. This is my point. Yes, there is clearly quality, but there is also a real lack of consistency to the point coaches and TD‘s have thrown their hands up in the air. If all you want to see are the quality performances then he is a CL player. Of course it means you have to ignore all of the other stuff. Doesn‘t work like that in the real world. That‘s why, depending on which version of JAB you want to view, he becomes that player consistently in your eyes. Just like in a US uni. Look at the guy at the Copa Cent and he was our best player IMO. Then look at qualies throughout his whole US career, he is a guy who falls asleep and gives up big goals he shouldn‘t. The reality is JAB is both, a high quality player when locked in, and a frustrating liability when not. He can be a WC passer, and liability on D when left isolated. They can be both, and both are real.
As more of our players ply their trade in the Big 5 leagues we will see more understanding. Again, we had so few that they were simply assumed as our best options, and 99% of the time that was absolutely correct. No doubt or questions asked. The times are changing. The US insecurity complex among fans is still large. It drives me crazy when some lower level guy scores a few or plays well for a while and you hear the screams from US fans that he needs a cap, the coach is dumb, yada, yada, yawn. Fans should actually be super excited. Between MLS improvement, youth production, and growing world acceptance for our league and players fans should be ecstatic. I know many are, but some folks just can‘t help themselves. Can‘t handle or believe success. It‘s here folks. When a guy like JAB doesn‘t have auto starter role on our team anymore it’s a good thing. Also, a guy can have a very, very good Big 5 career, and still have issues. It‘s a new world.
Bernardeschi is a 28-year-old active Italian international and he's about to go to Toronto. I don't think the silence on the European front for Brooks is all that damning; a lot of clubs are broke as shit after Covid, and too many teams have been burdened and burned by high-wage free transfers to be super eager to bring an injury-prone player like Brooks aboard. Also if someone like Paulo Dybala isn't snatched up immediately, that's a sign that the market is weird.
I don’t really see what the controversy is with Brooks not being on the Nats. He’s not a starter with how we now play, and he’s not a good locker room guy, especially when he is on the bench. One of our strengths is team unity and having a potential cancer threatening that is not worth it, especially if we’re not really missing him on the field. I still think we should take him to Qatar, as I think his skills could be more useful when we face top tier teams.
Thing to remember too is these free transfers aren't always "free" because of salaries. Inter is basically broke they were gonna sign Dybala but got Lukaku at a deal they couldn't pass up... but even with him they have to make 80 mill in net sales... which is why even now they basically have to sell Skrinniar. Milan has approached Dybala at 4 mil a year and he wants 8... very few teams are willing to meet that. Also (especially with covid) you are seeing more and more teams take a moneyball approach to transfers
Genuinely feel the same way, think I said it a month ago or so but I think he might be able to both maximize his wages + extend his career by coming over. He'd be a great signing for nearly any club in the MLS and I won't be surprised if he comes to live here for the first time (he's always been very outwards about his love for the country despite not growing up here).
Well, then JK is an idiot because he called out JAB. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ddefe9751e12&usg=AOvVaw3dDIimpve-y7x8VkPGwkB8
Klinsmann said John Brooks was supposed to mark Marquez on the corner kick. “We lost him there. Individual mistake,” Klinsmann said. That is no callout. Everyone saw that JAB was marking Marquez and JAB got picked off by Jozy. Jozy either has to get out the way or pickup the mark if JAB is picked off. This was a callout. “Out midfielders didn't get into the one-on-one battles we expected them to,” Klinsmann said, citing Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley.