John Brooks leaves Benfica for Hoffenheim
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 26, 2023
After less than five months at Benfica, John Brooks has returned to Germany, signing with Hoffenheim, currently 13th in the 18-team Bundesliga.
Brooks, who was limited to two one-minute Primeira Liga appearances in the fall, made 243 first-team appearances over 10 seasons with Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg, which he left as a free agent after the 2021-22 season.
“I’m delighted to be returning to the Bundesliga,” Brooks was quoted as saying. “I know both the league and TSG very well, and am highly motivated to get started straightaway and do my bit to help us get back on the path to success in the short term.”
Kicker reported Hoffenheim paid Benfice 300,000 euros ($327,000) for Brooks, who was signed through June 2024.
“Jay is a seasoned, tough-tackling and aerially strong defender who really needs no further introduction,” Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen said. “He should and will contribute to improving our defensive stability with his experience, his vision and his presence.”
Brooks, who turns 30 on Saturday, scored the winning goal for the USA against Ghana at the 2014 World Cup and made the last of his 45 caps for the USA in the 4-1 win at Honduras in World Cup 2022 qualifying, exiting at halftime.
Huffing it to Hoffenheim.... Good Luck JAB
Young man. Will have had a nice little break from the cold in Portugal along with some excellent training. Should be in great shape. Plenty of miles in the tank. Make it happen!
And another overlooked by Berhalter.
Yup, Ben... If Ggg had come to the Realization Earlier, that he wasn't going to be able to Play a "High-Line" on Defense, then it would have been Brooks and Ream starting ALL Along.!!!
But, he was so Wedded to "HIS" System, that he couldn't see the "Forest for the Trees"
i.e.
What IF, Miles Robinson, goes DOWN.???
What IF, Chris Richards, goes DOWN.???
These were the Only 2 CBs that Could have Played it the way he wanted it.
So, once they were OUT, he had to go to more of a Flat Back, Mid-Block,,,
Which Left too much Space for the MMA to Cover between, the Gegen-Press UP-Front and the Mid-Block necesitated by playing Zimmerman-Ream.
He should have gone, WITHOUT the Press and Played a 4-4-2 with Gio as the #10 Midfielder.
CP ---- Weah
Reyna
Musah McKenNIE
Adams
Jedi Dest
Ream--Zimm
*Turner*
without dig to GB, the point is, be careful about locking in playing high-line, success of Klopp, Liverpool, has resulted in a lot of efforts poured into how to defeat this strategy and it is out there. They know. Live by high-line, today, die by high-line. To watch Liverpool is to watch team after team create chances, most of which are saved by Allison, but not all. Anway, I agree with Santi, high line, as part of recipe book of coach is good, but coaches today, unless running teams financed by state owned enterprise, need to take the Ancelotti approach, be dynamic, get the most from your resources, and be able to deal with all the personalitites that come with your group, like, the guru from hoops, Phil Jackson. We'll take your Rodman's and your Pippen's and we'll make a team. This is the way.
Sorry guys, I would not have selected Brooks regardless of how I wanted the team to play.
Does every comment section have to include a dig it Berhalter? Enough already!
You are correct that we should move on. The digs are from people who expected to see some improvement in the program and were disappointed. There hasn't been any progress since Bradley was fired in 2010 to make room for Jurgen Klinsmann. The high points of the program are making the quarterfinals in 2002 and beating Spain in 2009. No progress for the past 12 years. Also the WNT has been in decline after Ellis left.
In this sport if you are not improving, you are falling behind.
Nice one Bob, you got in a dig, no a double dig as you brought in WNT, while calling for no more digs. Clever. This is not the time to move on, this is the time to assess what went wrong and what can be done better. After this article is written and published somewhere, or the book, then, we move on. Keep it going!
Humble1, I never said that I wasn't one of the "disappointed". :P