Derek Rae translates a Bild article on what's up with Brooks: 🧵 Long BILD piece today on Wolfsburg & #USMNT defender John (Jay as he’s often referred to in Germany) Brooks. The part in bold says Bild’s information is USA coach Gregg Berhalter was not happy with Brooks in his most recent appearances & that there was an attitude problem.— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) December 10, 2021
Doubt that. This is going beyond that. Brooks is near the end of his contract so his transfer value isn't that high. Sounds like the club is just taking a shot at him out the door. Even if Brooks has an attitude problem (I'm not discounting that), this feels like a low blow from the club to air it publicly. If they don't like Brooks, fine, just let him go in January on a minimal transfer fee since he's cheap goods right now. Then be done with it and move on. This seems unnecessary to air this dirty laundry.
John has perplexed since he came on the scene. From top displays to turning off. Remember the tatoo incident at Hertha? let’s not forget Wolfsburg were trying to sell him before the 2020 season with no real takers. Whenever JB has been in poor form, under threat for playing time/benched/ out favor, he has always come back real strong. The steady consistency however has eluded him. Here’s hoping he goes on another strong run for the team, which of course will help himself.
Against top tier opponents I trust him a little more than Zimmerman. Richards’ development might cure my worry eventually. But I hope Brooks and Gregg bury the hatchet.
Looked up if MLS could be realistic if a team really opened the purse strings (given the low transfer fees) to pay up for him but the top MLS defender doesn’t even make half his current wages.
Doesn’t seem like direct quotes in Bild article but it isn’t difficult to surmise some of these things. Brooks is best when s the defense sits deep which is usually what Wolfsburg does as a counterattacking team. When the team tries to play higher, his mobility and decision making can get exposed, imo. He won’t get close to $4M/yr in his next contract. Maybe wants to go on a free to get maximum salary from next club. If that is the case, he will sit a lot for the rest of the season.
We'll see but that kind of talk, particularly being that specific, is usually about negotiating. But they might just be pissed and want to be jerks.
I like Brooks a lot but he does have a history of clashing with coaches throughout his career. I think he's a good to very good player in form but I think taking the next step has alluded him... I also think people keep wanting to prop him up as more of a leader than he actually is. Doesn't mean he's not a good player but I don't think he commands a line so to speak. But that's a different discussion.
From a NT and club perspective, Brooks seems to be a player that is unquestionably talented but it becomes a problem if he's not starting. Do you sign him or do you call him up if there is a decent chance he's going to be a backup? Some players are starters only - otherwise, it could be a problem. We will see, but Brooks might have one foot out the door already at Wolfsburg and if he's not seen as a starter the rest of the season they might be trying to get him out the door early. Just speculating about that. What I do know is that Brooks has a history of getting himself into problems and then reemerging with a strong run of form. It looked like he was cooked at Wolfsburg at the start of 2020 when they bought Marin Pongračić. Brooks rode the bench for a few weeks but then got an opportunity due to a red card suspension and then played absolutely incredible soccer leading up to the COVID shutdown - and then in the summer after the shutdown. Brooks is at his best when he's under fire from coaches/technical directors and his back is against the wall. It also doesn't mean he's always a pleasant guy to have on the team either.
On the bench: Our starting line-up to face @VfB_int! #WOBVFB #VfLWolfsburg 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/BMhbkkRm1N— VfL Wolfsburg EN/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) December 11, 2021
Update: John Brooks is unlikely to win his place back in the starting XI, as newcomer Sebastiaan Bornauw is preferred. Manager Florian Kohfeldt says Brooks is handling the situation well:🗣"Jay trains well and shows what a professional player he is."(Via Kicker) pic.twitter.com/R8kqqdykiP— USMNT Universe (@UsmntU) December 13, 2021
Kohfeldt is only a disaster coaching teams that wear green & white. When Wolfsburg fire him, he'll rebound by taking over Fürth next season and turning them into a powerhou....oh...nevermind. Seriously, I have no idea why Wolfsburg hired this proven disaster of a coach. Couldn't they have seen this coming? I doubt the guy will last for the rest of the season, unless Wolfsburg is really run by masochists. Anyways, at least we know there will be an open Bundesliga manager position soon where Jesse Marsch can apply.
Die 🐺-Elf für #WOBKOE. Felix Nmecha gibt sein Startelf-Debüt, Bartosz Bialek ist zurück im Kader! #VfLWolfsburg pic.twitter.com/GvjV7xhPw3— VfL Wolfsburg (@VfL_Wolfsburg) December 14, 2021 Brooks one of the little names off to the side, on the bench.
When deciding who is more likely correct, a player or Florian Kohfeldt, I will go with the player. (Am I a Kohfeldt hater? Maybe a little.)
Kohfeldt uses 2 of 5 available subs as Wolfsburg concede in the 73rd and 89th minute to lose 3-2 at home to Koln. Winless in 7. lol