Opinion: Brown Is Our Best Midfielder

As always, I adopt the attitude that honesty is the best policy when I set about writing articles and today is no different. I also admit if I have misjudged a player, today is also no different. When it comes to Reece Brown, I have been very surprised by his change in character over the past few months.

As a follower of the youth team, I have been aware of Reece for a good few years and despite clearly having the talent to succeed, it is often his attitude whether that be in training or on a match day, that lets him down. If he lost the ball, he very rarely tried to win it back and it was that lack of team spirit that made me question whether he could make the step up into the first team at all. I saw Gray, who is a similar ability level, put in a shift every single week and work for the team. As we all know, he is now a Premier League champion so it is the attitude that made him make the step up.

Before pre-season I did an article on Brown because I felt like this season was his last chance to impress. He is on a one year contract and to me this is the club saying that he has this season and only this season to really prove that he can make the step up. Fair play to Reece, I think he has listened to this advice because he is certainly stepping up to the plate.

The last couple of games in the academy season saw Brown not only score a few, but also assist his team mates. This kind of selfless play wasn’t seen previously and so it showed that he was headed in the right direction. He looked confident in his ability but not arrogant which is the best mind set to have. He certainly has brought this changed attitude into the first team.

When he has played, his ability to pick out passes is actually the best in the team. I think his range and skill is better than even Fabbrini’s or any of the midfielders. He has that almost sixth sense of where the attackers is going to be and he often finds the target. Add this with his goal scoring ability and his improved work rate to track back, then I think we have a player on our hands.

If we compare him to Fab again, he is a better defender because he is stronger in the tackle. It is noticeable that he has been working hard to improve his strength and is certainly a benefit when he has to outmuscle a member of the opposition or win the ball back. I think that he would compliment Fab well if Rowett plays them both in midfield with a defensive midfielder behind them.