Both wing backs

[Akinbiyi]

Superb today.

I know Enda has his own thread already but I think the performance of both him and Baldock warrants another.

A trip to Bournemouth might not sound the toughest task to most people in the football world but make no mistake that was a baptism of fire for those 2 lads in particular. Wing backs to face AND King and Fraser our wide, often overloading (bit like what we do). Also had to get up and down, join the attacks, not lose the ball in silly areas and always be an out ball for a switch in play - they were both magnificent. Baldock looked much more comfortable than I thought he might.

Only the easy task of Zaha and Puncheon next week, lads... very well done.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Superb today.

I know Enda has his own thread already but I think the performance of both him and Baldock warrants another.

A trip to Bournemouth might not sound the toughest task to most people in the football world but make no mistake that was a baptism of fire for those 2 lads in particular. Wing backs to face AND King and Fraser our wide, often overloading (bit like what we do). Also had to get up and down, join the attacks, not lose the ball in silly areas and always be an out ball for a switch in play - they were both magnificent. Baldock looked much more comfortable than I thought he might.

Only the easy task of Zaha and Puncheon next week, lads... very well done.

Agreed about the performance both looked like PL regulars against tricky opponents. I thought Puncheon had signed for Paphos FC or some shit like that though so might be missing next week.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Superb today.

I know Enda has his own thread already but I think the performance of both him and Baldock warrants another.

A trip to Bournemouth might not sound the toughest task to most people in the football world but make no mistake that was a baptism of fire for those 2 lads in particular. Wing backs to face AND King and Fraser our wide, often overloading (bit like what we do). Also had to get up and down, join the attacks, not lose the ball in silly areas and always be an out ball for a switch in play - they were both magnificent. Baldock looked much more comfortable than I thought he might.

Only the easy task of Zaha and Puncheon next week, lads... very well done.

Puncheon is playing for a team in Paphos you're thinking of Townsend

 

[Harrisblade]

Agreed about the performance both looked like PL regulars against tricky opponents. I thought Puncheon had signed for Paphos FC or some shit like that though so might be missing next week.

Zaha might need a week off to "clear his head"

 

[Akinbiyi]

Puncheon is playing for a team in Paphos you're thinking of Townsend

I was literally saying Townsend out loud, I’ve even got him in my fantasy team. Fuck knows.

 

[Kevin Arnott]

Agreed about the performance both looked like PL regulars against tricky opponents. I thought Puncheon had signed for Paphos FC or some shit like that though so might be missing next week.

Can you have Puncheon and shit in the same sentence ? Remembering his delayed second half reappearance for Southampton that night

 

[Foxy]

King and Fraser our wide,

They spent a period trying to isolate O'Connell and Egan too, who handled their attempts well with good communication and passing the runs between them.

 

[Akinbiyi]

They spent a period trying to isolate O'Connell and Egan too, who handled their attempts well with good communication and passing the runs between them.

O’Connell looked like he was going to be fucked in the second half. Got a second wind from somewhere. Brilliant.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Baldock looked much more comfortable than I thought he might.

Agreed, and his involvement on the equaliser, when everyone was expecting Norwood to ping it into the box, shouldn’t be forgotten.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Becoming a theme now. The back 3 rightly getting plaudits, but Baldock and Stevens make it easy for them. Always forcing the attackers inside because there’s no space to get down the sides, which plays into our hands. Even the best teams are relying largely on crosses from deep into the box, which Egan, JOC and Bash will eat up all day. That’s due to the fact teams can’t get past Stevens or Baldock - with the help of Lunny and Fleck/Freeman it must be said.

More than happy to admit I was off the mark with George Baldock. Thought he might not quite have enough at this level, never had any doubts about Enda - but he’s took to this division like a duck to water. And he’s not afraid to have a little battle and we love that, like yesterday with the midget Bernard.

Top top players the pair of them.

 

[BladeInIreland]

I always rated Stevens, but this is as good a place as any to say I was wrong about Baldock. I never thought he was a bad player but I thought he would struggle in this division. He has been incredibly good. I thought we needed a new RWB, I was wrong.

 

[Digs blade]

Same here regarding Baldock, good player but would he be found out at the top level?

Delighted to say he’s proving me wrong. Without wanting to change tact on the thread, how much must these 2 be worth in the current market. Both in their twenties playing comfortably at the top level must have elevated both of them into the 20 million bracket

Crazy when you think about it