Baldock/Freeman debate - Ver:27.2.1

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Fulwood Blade

Fulwood Blade

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There have been numerous debates about which of these two play wing back.

With Baldock stepping into the position when Freeman was struggling a few games ago, the question now is:

Has Freeman now stepped his game up - just as Baldock did before?

Without doubt Baldock has been fantastic, but in the last two games that Freeman has played (Boro & WBA), he also appears to have stepped up his game again.

Opinions. opinion, opinions - Baldock would not have run at the WBA defence like Freeman did on Saturday to put Crainie in for the only and winning goal. Freemans defending seemed better too, but can it be maintained or will he switch off like he is prone to do?

Do we now put a better attacker in the team (Freeman) as against the better defender (Baldock)?

There you are - get keyboard fingers going on a Monday morning.

UTB
 



Its been a good little battle between them two for a couple of seasons now. It seems whenever one gets injured or suspended, the other comes in, plays well and keeps hold of the shirt on merit. Exactly how it needs to be and until one or the other dips in performance levels, there's no debate to be had.

I think this 'freeman frozen out' narrative is BS. We just don't tend to have a RWB on the bench with Bash and Cranie being able to cover there
 
For next Monday, go with the more reliable and athletic one. So Baldock.

But it's very handy that Freeman's back in the picture. He could have another one of his stints left in him this season.
 
I believe Baldock has the better engine to get up and down the pitch and he’s definately quicker.
So he’s more likely to be in position and not get skinned by a nippy/ tricky winger.
Against quick wingers/ quick teams (when games are likely to be stretched) then Baldock is better.

However Freeman seems to have a better attack minded instinct, scores occasional goals and seems to put in better crosses.
Freeman’s fires in crosses hard and low (almost like a shot) where as Baldock floats them in so they tend to be headed away.
Against weaker opposition where we are expected to do plenty of attacking then Freeman would be best.

Both are good enough but against the most difficult opposition then i’d choose Baldock.
 
I am just happy that as each one of em goes down, the other is just about back up to take over

They are sharing it, not based on choice, but availability, and both are doing very well
 
Freeman for me. He always manages to get a few goals and assists, I don't think Baldock as much as I like him would score or assist anywhere near as much as Freeman over whats left of the season.
 
Hard to fault either of them when they’re both playing to their capabilities. Freeman does seem to be the one who chips in with goals and assists though.

When Freeman came back into the side earlier on in the season, he started well but faded out and was deservedly dropped. Probably due to the fact he was coming back from a long term injury. Baldock came back in and like last season, hardly put a foot wrong. Now Baldock’s out, Freeman’s come in and made a difference once again.

The slight difference between the two for me is that Baldock’s more athletic, Freeman is the better footballer.
 
It's funny. Every time you watch one of them play, you're reminded of how they bring what the other lacks.

When you watch Freeman, you're reminded how much of an attacking threat he is. And it makes you want to keep him in the side. Then you see Baldock and how energetic and reliable defensively he is, and you're reminded of how Freeman lacks in that department.

Given where we are, and how tight things are, I favour Baldock and his reliability.
 
Baldock every day of the week. With the cbs bombing on like ours do, his pace gets us out of the stuck numerous times
 
I think CW said Freeman is still getting upto speed fitness wise,as he's not played much football but put in a shift...Baldock did well in his latest stint,but I'd stick with Freeman for now as he offers more in the final 3rd.
Whoever gets the nod, I'm happy either way.
Just watched the highlights of their game Saturday,and they were 442 with Lazaar and Arrons starting on their left,so could be who Freeman or Baldock will be up against on that side of the pitch.
Swandea gifted them 3 goals really...Fletcher looked offside for the 3rd...Bruce said they ran out of juice 2nd half...if they run out of juice against us they're in trouble.
 
Difficult one. I don’t think there’s much in it. Freeman end product in the attacking third slightly better, Baldock possibly provides us with better defensive balance but then neither one is particularly lacking in either area. Like any other position the one holding the shirt and playing well keeps it. Happy with either of them.
 



I honestly couldn’t pick which one I prefer as they’ve both done fantastically well.

What it possibly boils down to is the opposition we’re up against, for example the so called tougher games, where you might be expecting to do more defending, this then leads to Baldock being favourite to play, then there’s the so called easier games where we’ll be on the front foot basically all the way through the game then Freeman will be favourite.

Wilder could play any fucker there at the moment though such is our confidence and we’d still be confident of a performance. :)
 
I just wish Enda had the same competition on the left. But I don’t think Johnson is a natural left back.
 
Freeman is good, Baldock is very good. So on that amaizng analysis I would go with Basham.
 
But Freeman’s a fat, lazy shit isn’t he?

Prefer Kieron but both of them are great options. Think away from home Baldock is the better option though.
 
Not much between them overall. Freeman's stepped in, scored one, involved in the goal against WBA, two clean sheets. That's enough to keep his shirt. Also depends on fitness, sharpness, and so on. Assuming Baldock's match ready I honestly think you could flip a coin and make a good decision.
 
Pinchy said:
He isn’t. He really, really isn’t. Baldock is vastly superior.
Click to expand...

we got 3 points at WBA precisely because Baldock would not have run at the WBA defence like freeman did - he quite simply does not have the ball carrying skills at full pace that Freeman does.

UTB
 
Fulwood Blade said:
we got 3 points at WBA precisely because Baldock would not have run at the WBA defence like freeman did - he quite simply does not have the ball carrying skills at full pace that Freeman does.

UTB
Click to expand...

Freeman has cost us a lot more points than he has gained this season. His performance at Derby in particular was about as good as Kozluk the Joke.

Baldock is a far better footballer. I’ve seen them both play many times.
 
Pinchy said:
Freeman has cost us a lot more points than he has gained this season. His performance at Derby in particular was about as good as Kozluk the Joke.

Baldock is a far better footballer. I’ve seen them both play many times.
Click to expand...

Agreed, he has cost us points in the past, but he has also created far more in the final third than Baldock.

Horses for courses.

UTB
 
Fulwood Blade said:
Agreed, he has cost us points in the past, but he has also created far more in the final third than Baldock.

Horses for courses.

UTB
Click to expand...

One horse is far better than the other. As I say, I’ve seen them both play. It’s not up for discussion.
 



Pinchy said:
He isn’t. He really, really isn’t. Baldock is vastly superior.
Click to expand...

“Footballer” as in technical ability on the ball and his decision making and end product in the final third etc. The stats will back me up on that.

I’m not saying Baldock isn’t also a good “footballer” because he is.

I like them both. If we go up, I’d say it’s not a position we need to spend money on.
 
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