Just switched him tactically from the bench with Ramos who came in for Aubameyang. Pulisic playing central striker now.
Credit to Hertha here. They're keeping things really tight and not allowing Dortmund much time and space.
Brooks has an incredibly high ceiling - if he can clean up some of the mental lapses in his game watch out
Yeah, last week was the Pulisic show, but this game, Brooks is closing down everything coming up the middle.
In the last 10 minutes that I watched, Dortmund was pretty much completely contained. They passed the ball around but could not penetrate.
That was the best I have ever seen Brooks play. Pulisic was rather quiet but didn't make any huge mistakes from what I could tell.
Playing mostly up top as a central forward, Pulisic struggled to find the game. No one from BVB was looking great attacking, though. He had one sloppy giveaway that led to a dangerous counterattack. Hopefully he's used in a wide or withdrawn position in the future. Brooks was great.
I agree. He's big, good in the air, fairly mobile for a big dude, and has pretty decent technical ability for a CB. He has all the tools to be a world-class CB, if he gets the mental side of the game figured out (which seems to be happening).
Pulisic had a few good moments when played out wide, but once he got moved to CF, he couldn't find the game. I think thats more down to Bertha shutting down the middle. I've been saying this a long time:Brooks is a star in the making. There's a reason people in Germany compare him to Boateng.
Brooks has been tremendous since he's reentered the starting lineup in November. He's cleaned up his ball watching tendencies, he's become lethal in the air, and his passing has been very good. Hertha will probably have to decide between keeping him or taking a big money offer this summer. Pulisic wasn't really able to get into the game but the action had become cagey and both teams looked like they were settled on taking the point. He did have a poor giveaway (Gundogan shouldn't have passed it to him there in the first place) that led to a dangerous counter.
Not sure why they moved Pulisic to the center (false nine-ish), but it seemed to take him out of the game a bit. Nonetheless, Pulisic had some nice early touches and showed no fear. Herta defended in numbers and played a very good game. Deserved draw, Brooks man of the match. You cant help but imagine it all coming together for Brooks. He has it hall. Size, strength, speed, poise, IQ, skill. If ever that day comes, look out.
Loved CPs first touch. Just deadened a 40 yard screamer, and them calmly sends a guy through. Next few touches see him possess and move, very active in crowded spaces. Gets another nice burst to get a cross in. First 5 minutes were really nice for him. His main fault was when Reus puts nice ball out wide to him, he tries to take on his man and got his pocket picked. Killed the attack but didn't come to anything. The "giveaway" was not on him at all. Guy plays a desperate toe poke behind him with 3 guys surrounding. He does enough to control and poke it back. But it was a mess from the get go and not on CP at all, in my opinion. He them hustled back 70 yards to pressure Kalou's shot.
Kid showed very little. Will be interesting if he stays in 18 or is passed over for other options off bench in the next match. Such is the reality of life at a top club.
Did he look worse in his time than anyone else for Dortmund on the field? They simply couldn't penetrate Hertha's backline. He didn't stand out at all, but no one else did either. The only player doing anything in attack oddly enough in the final minutes was Hummels.