As a change of pace, The72 Prospects will move to a monthly update and then three features in between, taking a closer look at a young player that’s impressed over the past few weeks. To start, here’s a focus on Gillingham midfielder Bradley Dack.
The four-year deal offered to Gillingham midfielder Bradley Dack in April 2014 might have been the best piece of business that former manager Peter Taylor did at the club. The 21-year-old was blossoming under Taylor’s tutorage and it continued under new boss Justin Edinburgh, now Dack has the entirety of League One on notice.
Six games in, he’s scored five goals in all competitions and it’s really scintillating form from the midfielder. He’s scoring a range of different goals, from long-range strikes to tap ins to Lampard-esque edge-of-the-box finishes, he’s not afraid of stepping up to try and get his side a goal.
He’s a tricky footballer, good with both feet and technically good, it can be difficult for defenders to pinch the ball from Dack’s grasp. Adding his ability to run with the ball and keep it close to him, he’s a threat to break through defences without having to pass through like other midfielders.
It’s in attacking areas where Dack excels, he likes to join in with attacks and Edinburgh has given him that freedom to do so. That’s what really advanced his game, now that he’s able to regularly be part of the attacking play, he’s scoring more goals and becoming a much more important part of the team.
His confidence is sky-high and it was no more on show than in his man of the match performance against Wigan, scoring both goals. He fought well for the ball and made the initial drive that pushed Wigan back, the ball eventually going wide and then landing back at Dack’s feet for him to squeeze the ball in the bottom corner from just outside the box.
His run at the end worried the Latics’ defence enough to bring him down and Dack dusted himself off to finish the job. It was a robust showing from a player that’s really kicked on at the start of this season and should it continue, he’ll be vital to any promotion push from the Gills.
He’s sometimes a little too boisterous, having picked up two yellow cards in the league already, but he has plenty of tools to make a move up should a team come in before the end of the window.
Peter Taylor said back in early 2014 that Dack “does absolutely everything” and just needed settling in, it seems that the former England manager’s prophecy is coming true and Edinburgh will be delighted to have such a talented young prospect at his disposal.
