Brownhill

[BigGaz]

It's a few years ago since he posted it on his social but he was doing laps round an athletics track in the close season to keep his fitness up and the numbers were scary. I can't remember exactly now but think he was doing 5k in the mid teens, which speaks to some of his main strengths including his engine, effort and professionalism.

[Spike]

Silverware - pay rise - CL - i can see the temptation from his point of view

We are unbeaten against them since 1978

[Darnhill Claret]

If you are a fan of Brownie the player, or if you choose to highlight his weaknesses rather than his strengths, I think we can all acknowledge that he is an underrated and under appreciated player.
As a man, this season he has grown into a leader, a natural captain on the field, and I guess, also in the dressing room. In that respect I believe he is also the natural successor to Ash Barnes.
Do I think he will stay? Not sure.
Do I want him to stay? Definitely.
If he stays, do I expect great things?
No, but he will be a valuable squad member, either as a starter or coming on from the bench. No matter what our squad looks like next season, it will be a struggle, maybe painful at times. If Brownie is here I know he will give 100%. We can't have less than 100% if we hope to survive.
Parker and Pace need a final squad that is better than we had last time in the Prem.
Brownie is already an upgrade, a better player and a more confident player and man.

If he leaves, good luck to the man. If I was him and decided to leave, I'd be giving Westie a call at Charlotte. Either way, if I was at the club, I would want a decision by the end of May.

There has to be a deadline.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Just watched that 90 minute podcast interview mentioned on this thread with the two local non league lads.

The way he spoke about Parker in comparison to Vincent and Dyche suggests this is his dream manager. I agree with others, I think he has been persuaded to go, but I’m not sure that is in his best interests. If I were him I would sign a deal on PL terms with a relegation buy out clause at a fairly low level to protect his income if we go back down.

The flipside, whether it is in our own interests if he goes, is compelling. We could strengthen with pace and power, or replace with craft (e.g. Ramsey or Amdouni if he returns). You need one or the other in the PL and I like Josh but he is just short in both attributes.

[fatboy47]

I don't know any clarets, outside this messageboard, who wouldn't be delighted to see Brownhill leading the team out next season.

I'd be delighted too.

[Goliath]

Brownhill would be vital next season even just for his discipline, work rate and experience. We could even see him used as a narrow right midfielder at times when we want to keep a solid shape. I think he's been underused in that role at times.

[CrosspoolClarets]

To be clear, I’d keep him too. Though I do think as I say above that IF he chooses to leave we could improve on him in a physicality sense (he referred to the physicality of that PL midfield in that Youtube interview). I certainly didn’t mean I wouldn’t offer him a contract, leadership is vital.

[alwaysaclaret]

I don't know any clarets, outside this messageboard, who wouldn't be delighted to see Brownhill leading the team out next season.

I'd be delighted too.

16 goals and 5 assists says it all, SP seems to have found he's best position and allowed him the luxury of actually playing and operating in that role, and got the best out of him in the bargain.
Granted he won't be as prolific back in the prem, but if he could achieve half of that playing the same role it would be massive. I too think he's a player we can't afford to let go.

[Corway]

The ball is in his court, his heart is here but his head will decide, but as agent is touting him around
It’s down to money and we’re not at PL or Middle East levels.

[Vegas Claret]

at least our promotion has given him food for thought

[blatherwickstattoos]

After watching his brilliant podcast on ‘I had trials once’ ( pashley said he wasn’t good enough at 16, a year later he’s playing for Preston’s first team) he just wants to play in the premier league. I think he will sign and was waiting until we went up before even having negotiations

[claretspice]

I'd be delighted if Brownhill re-signs.

At Championship level, I think he's a very good player either played further forwards as a third midfielder, or further back as the more forward thinking of two orthodox midfielders. But at Premier League level he's always looked best playing as a "ratting 10" given the freedom to use his pace and stamina to lead our pressing out of possession and support the counter attack when we get the ball back deep. His goalscoring game has developed massively this season - Parker has added a bit of extra guile to the timing of his runs into the box - and when you put all that together you've got someone who, deployed well could be a huge asset next season.

One of the mistakes we made last time we went up was that in trying to add extra technical quality in the attacking third, we sacrificed the high intensity pressing that was such a feature of (particularly the first half of) our Kompany promotion. We mustn't make that mistake again. When you're not as good at playing through a team, getting the ball back high and early is one of the most valuable ways of making in-roads.