The Sheffield United unit creating a buzz at Bramall Lane
Alan Biggs on two of Sheffield United’s bright young things
Received a message from a Blades fan last week saying their best business of an eye-catching transfer window was keeping Andre Brooks and Femi Seriki.
You could add a few other Sheffield United players to that, but it’s hard to argue. The added point with the aforementioned, though, is the link between them.
Not just that they have come through the ranks from United’s acclaimed academy but that they are a unit on the field. As apparent again during Monday’s narrow but fair defeat to a strikingly impressive Middlesbrough.
That right-side link up between attacking full-back Seriki and winger Brooks is a powerful and important building block of Chris Wilder’s latest team.
But it also rewards the club for providing a pathway to youth, as with Sydie Peck and Oli Arblaster.
While Seriki and Brooks have naturally had their raw moments, they are each well past 50 appearances - which has crept up considering the tendency to regard them as “youngsters.”
Both 22, we should now swap that for “young players” and the expectation on each is rightly very high.
Together down the same flank they are a highly athletic and potent force. That great combination of power and pace.
Brooks, in particular, has struck me for progression this season. His final ball or shot had left something to be desired.
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Now he is showing much more composure with his decision-making and execution. His four goals this season is testament to that.
There’s a buzz in the crowd when either he or Seriki has the ball and that, too, says a lot.
As for value, pricetags are almost impossible to quantify these days. I’d guess other clubs might take a dart at around £2.5m.
But if that equates to £5m the pair, it’s nothing compared to their potential worth and value to Sheffield United.
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