Jose Baxter - well done

[Deleted member 875]

It shows how poor he has been for 2 seasons when one half decent performance (and it was only that) results in numerous threads about what a great player he is. He has to up his game from Peterboro and keep doing it consistently ,then he will be worth a place. Can he do it ,I have serious doubts both in mentality and ability ,but would love to be proved wrong.

I would definitely say mentally more than in terms of ability.

 

[sitwell]

I would definitely say mentally more than in terms of ability.

So would I but I do question his ability ,one or 2 passes a game does not equate into bags of ability especially when another 6 don't come off and they are gamble balls really. What exactly is this fantastic ability he has which other players in our squad don't ? I always think if I was playing I would rather play against him than with him.
Regarding the living stuff ,I heard he lived in Sheffield ,a friend of mine sees him walking his dog in Ecclesall Woods ,I also heard he has never passed a driving test but that might be a load of crap.

 

[Jehovah]

I think his scouser background might play just as big a part you know, and my tongue is only slightly in my cheek when I say that. Don't underestimate the solidarity created by a shared origin, especially for a character like Jose Baxter who clearly needs an arm around him as much as a rocket up his arse sometimes. I live in Manc now but it's no coincidence that most of my mates over here are from Yorkshire!

Agree with this, I think me and my mates get on as we are all massive bell ends.

 

[super_pig]

I'd be interested to know what other saw in him that was so positive - if the above sounds critical it's not really meant to be.

scored a goal??

 

[coaxingstar71]

So would I but I do question his ability ,one or 2 passes a game does not equate into bags of ability especially when another 6 don't come off and they are gamble balls really. What exactly is this fantastic ability he has which other players in our squad don't ? I always think if I was playing I would rather play against him than with him.
Regarding the living stuff ,I heard he lived in Sheffield ,a friend of mine sees him walking his dog in Ecclesall Woods ,I also heard he has never passed a driving test but that might be a load of crap.

It's like deja vue this isn't it?

I'm going to stick my neck out here and offer that what others see is that Jose plays with his head up and looks for the pass that most of our players don't. I've seen him many times retrieve the ball, feint and then switch play. BUT, and I accept this is a big BUT, his ratio of completion of those passes should probably be much better and that's not to say he doesn't play passes he shouldn't in dangerous areas. For that reason, as others have indicated, I'd be happier with him playing further up with one of the more orthodox mids such as Basham playing the holding/water carrier role. I'd still like to see him given his chance, but his consistency and work rate need to improve, otherwise as Alan Hansen was fond of saying.... "Luxury player".

 

[Sheff de party]

Last night I thought Jose Baxter was superb. Not only did he get stuck in, but he created when opportunity allowed, he ran, he played to the team defensive discipline when required and he played a role that I never thought I'd see from him. Top drawer.

He really does seem to have had a playing (and possibly lifestyle) epiphany.

I think the French called the role a 'water carrier' and given our defence (the superb Edgar apart) that role is needed until injuries and signings come good. So, respect and well done Adkins for spotting the need, spotting that Jose could fill it and making it happen.

Keep it up Jose, you can be invaluable in this early part of the year.

I've been saying for a while that post-drugs ban, someone needed to have a serious sit-down with young Jose and ask him what he wants. Is it:

a) Stay here, get fitter and thinner, do more, show us your ability, take this seriously and be one of the best players in the division. The only way from Sheffield United for you is downwards, but you have everything you need to go upwards and take us with you.

b) Stay overweight, unfit and mess around with your career (or give it up entirely) and make a living in the lower leagues.

I honestly wouldn't have resented b) as long as he was honest, but he's clearly chosen a).

For someone who spent a pre-season sat on his sofa once watching Sky Sports and training at a gym, then almost got a huge ban for a recreational drug, it shouldn't have been too difficult a choice.

 

[Bartleby]

Last night I thought Jose Baxter was superb. Not only did he get stuck in, but he created when opportunity allowed, he ran, he played to the team defensive discipline when required and he played a role that I never thought I'd see from him. Top drawer.

He really does seem to have had a playing (and possibly lifestyle) epiphany.

I think the French called the role a 'water carrier' and given our defence (the superb Edgar apart) that role is needed until injuries and signings come good. So, respect and well done Adkins for spotting the need, spotting that Jose could fill it and making it happen.

Keep it up Jose, you can be invaluable in this early part of the year.

Good to read that, had heard he had a good game. I think this new management team is capable of getting a lot more out of players, and I think JCR will be another one that we'll see improve under this regime.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Last night I thought Jose Baxter was superb. Not only did he get stuck in, but he created when opportunity allowed, he ran, he played to the team defensive discipline when required and he played a role that I never thought I'd see from him. Top drawer.

He really does seem to have had a playing (and possibly lifestyle) epiphany.

I think the French called the role a 'water carrier' and given our defence (the superb Edgar apart) that role is needed until injuries and signings come good. So, respect and well done Adkins for spotting the need, spotting that Jose could fill it and making it happen.

Keep it up Jose, you can be invaluable in this early part of the year.

Yes this good news. You could see in pre-season Baxter had an intent about him (and yes it was likely the fear that his career was on the line with the drug incident). Baxter does need to do better and is capable of it, but, I think in his defence its hard to be consistent when you are being played in a number of different positions (how many roles did he occupy under Clough, wing, deep and attacking middy, striker). I agree with the poster who made the point about needing movement (and strength) around him.

Out of the 5 passes Baxter might attempt, ok some will not come off, but one or two will end in a goal, just like his pass to Adams on Tuesday for Sammon's second goal or his pass last Saturday to McEverley that started the move for Che's second goal. That's football! Lets not forget he also scored a very good goal himself, and is capable of that.

I said on Saturday he could do with pushing up a little bit in the midfield and when he did this on Tuesday he looked a decent player.

So yes, keep it up, and keep showing your class.

 

[maxtheblade]

If you are meaning they have a habit of "finding" trouble then I would agree that L'pool is like no where else.
Used to work for a Construction company for 12 years and we worked all over the UK - We had as much trouble in L'pool as all the others put together. Somethings that happen in L'pool just don't happen anywhere else.

UTB

I think he meant more that he might listen to Adkins as a fellow Scouser.

My two penneth is that maybe he shit himself at the prospective ban / sacking and realised he needed to get his act together or he'd be out on his ear.

 

[Rodley]

All the players look fitter, sharper and more motivated under Adkins.

 

[Bartleby]

All the players look fitter, sharper and more motivated under Adkins.

Absolutely. I do wish Cloughie well, but hard to see where he can go in management now after this, other than back to the (lower) lower leagues.

 

[BushBlade]

Absolutely. I do wish Cloughie well, but hard to see where he can go in management now after this, other than back to the (lower) lower leagues.

I think he'll wait for a job like Notts County, Mansfield, Chesterfield as he doesn't want to leave the area and doesn't have to. Or maybe back to Burton when JFH leaves.
The ideal would probably be Mansfield as he'll get time to build something.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I think he'll wait for a job like Notts County, Mansfield, Chesterfield as he doesn't want to leave the area and doesn't have to. Or maybe back to Burton when JFH leaves.
The ideal would probably be Mansfield as he'll get time to build something.

He left us in a far better place than when he arrived, so he deserves some praise and surely another job at some stage. He could quite possibly turn around another underachieving, struggling club. He's got to have a serious look at himself though, his stubbornness is holding himself back. If rumours are correct he also has to combine his good football brain with a more scientific/up to date approach to training and tactics.

 

[Finnieston]

He left us in a far better place than when he arrived, so he deserves some praise and surely another job at some stage. He could quite possibly turn around another underachieving, struggling club. He's got to have a serious look at himself though, his stubbornness is holding himself back. If rumours are correct he also has to combine his good football brain with a more scientific/up to date approach to training and tactics.

Some people have short memories. We were on our uppers under Weir and Clough saved us that first season and even got us just out of the playoffs and some success in the cups. That's good management whoever it is.
I give him total respect and wish him well. We have had some crap managers over the years and he in my eyes has been one of the better ones. I agree with all the above look forward to seeing how his career develops.
I also have a feeling that Adkins will not be one of those managers who is in for the long haul and end up getting stale.Just a gut feeling.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Last night I thought Jose Baxter was superb. Not only did he get stuck in, but he created when opportunity allowed, he ran, he played to the team defensive discipline when required and he played a role that I never thought I'd see from him. Top drawer.

He really does seem to have had a playing (and possibly lifestyle) epiphany.

I think the French called the role a 'water carrier' and given our defence (the superb Edgar apart) that role is needed until injuries and signings come good. So, respect and well done Adkins for spotting the need, spotting that Jose could fill it and making it happen.

Keep it up Jose, you can be invaluable in this early part of the year.

I've never seen Jose as the water carrier, let Bash do that and Jose the creative stuff.

With injuries out of the way I'd see Wallace and Cutts being the pair, the bonus being they could both do both roles.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

He left us in a far better place than when he arrived, so he deserves some praise and surely another job at some stage. He could quite possibly turn around another underachieving, struggling club. He's got to have a serious look at himself though, his stubbornness is holding himself back. If rumours are correct he also has to combine his good football brain with a more scientific/up to date approach to training and tactics.

Some people have short memories. We were on our uppers under Weir and Clough saved us that first season and even got us just out of the playoffs and some success in the cups. That's good management whoever it is.
I give him total respect and wish him well. We have had some crap managers over the years and he in my eyes has been one of the better ones. I agree with all the above look forward to seeing how his career develops.
I also have a feeling that Adkins will not be one of those managers who is in for the long haul and end up getting stale.Just a gut feeling.

Cough was alright, gave us some good times, fuckin' 'ell we were in the cup final at half time.

Stubborn twat though who needed to change both tactics and himself to progress this season. His sacking points to changes not been on the agenda.

Then for once we replace with someone with a better CV.

Happy times ahead (when we get another c/h).

 

[Woodwardfan]

He left us in a far better place than when he arrived, so he deserves some praise and surely another job at some stage. He could quite possibly turn around another underachieving, struggling club. He's got to have a serious look at himself though, his stubbornness is holding himself back. If rumours are correct he also has to combine his good football brain with a more scientific/up to date approach to training and tactics.

Suggest Clough's type of personality will never permit such change. That is in some ways a strength for people like that but usually a big barrier against improvements.

60% of fans in our poll taken a few days after he was sacked said that he should have been given more time. I wonder what the vote result would be now.

 

[Kenilworth]

Hi everyone, first post since my arrival a few days ago.....Looks like a good time to join after two wins on the trot. I had noticed myself the weight loss on the team in general . Should benefit everyone in the months to come. I hope we see an invigorated Higdon as the season progresses, although could see him leave in the transfer window. Great to see the energy from the team in general,and not playing at one negative pace. The future,s bright its Red and White

You great big useless lump!

 

[Finnieston]

You great big useless lump!

And that was on a good day

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Some people have short memories. We were on our uppers under Weir and Clough saved us that first season and even got us just out of the playoffs and some success in the cups. That's good management whoever it is.
I give him total respect and wish him well. We have had some crap managers over the years and he in my eyes has been one of the better ones. I agree with all the above look forward to seeing how his career develops.
I also have a feeling that Adkins will not be one of those managers who is in for the long haul and end up getting stale.Just a gut feeling.

sensible post for one so new - you do realise you have made enemies already !

welcome to the forum.

Where's the next job Nige?

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

Some people have short memories. We were on our uppers under Weir and Clough saved us that first season and even got us just out of the playoffs and some success in the cups. That's good management whoever it is.
I give him total respect and wish him well. We have had some crap managers over the years and he in my eyes has been one of the better ones. I agree with all the above look forward to seeing how his career develops.
I also have a feeling that Adkins will not be one of those managers who is in for the long haul and end up getting stale.Just a gut feeling.

Adkins' style can feed success and would look out of place on a bad run. Sheffielders won't tolerate sugary window dressing if performances are poor. Let's hope we never test it out, or at least not before the man has plenty of "brownie points" stashed up.

 

[Bartleby]

I also have a feeling that Adkins will not be one of those managers who is in for the long haul and end up getting stale.Just a gut feeling.

Hope you gut feeling is wrong on that one mate (unless it's all going badly wrong). I don't think he's the flighty type, and I think he'd have stayed with Southampton for a good while if they hadn't shat on him after he'd already started to turn it around in the Premiership.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

It’s nice to read that Jose is getting his head down and working harder to go some way towards fulfilling his potential.

For those that say he should play further up the pitch, the only way I can see that is if we go back to 4231 which it seems we did Tuesday when Sharp was replaced by Wallace. It’s the only way that a midfielder can be so advanced and have so little defensive responsibility.

When people ask what others see in him, I would say it is his vision and that ability to throw a feint to find a yard of space on the ball. Attributes not dissimilar to Kevin McDonald’s. The main difference being that Baxter doesn’t have the length of stride or the strength of McDonald so struggles to boss the midfield in the same way.

I think the reason he has been sitting so deep is that he doesn’t have the athleticism that Basham does to get box to box all the time so sitting deep means we are not so exposed when the opponents attack. It also means he can spray passes to the wide men when we look to break. The downside is that it doesn’t often allow him to get into shooting positions.

It’ll be interesting to see how things develop as Wallace’s fitness builds and Coutts returns as well as young Reedy developing. It’s difficult to see Cuvelier or Scougall getting anywhere near the CM spots as things stand and when Flynn and Done return, I can see us moving them on. If Baxter, Wallace, Reed and Coutts do stake good claims for CM spots, it’s also possible that we could see Bash moving back to CB.

I enjoy reading our manager's autobiographies to get an insight into what goes on behind the scenes (read Warnocks and Bassetts so far). It will be interestin in years to come what our managers print about Baxter. Same goes for the likes fo Brandy and De Girolamo.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

He left us in a far better place than when he arrived, so he deserves some praise and surely another job at some stage. He could quite possibly turn around another underachieving, struggling club. He's got to have a serious look at himself though, his stubbornness is holding himself back. If rumours are correct he also has to combine his good football brain with a more scientific/up to date approach to training and tactics.

He will have learned from his time here you'd've thought.

Incidentally one factor in his sacking was either his refusal or his inability to reconcile with some players.

That comes, via my mate, from someone who was party to the decision ;-)

 

[Bartleby]

I think he'll wait for a job like Notts County, Mansfield, Chesterfield as he doesn't want to leave the area and doesn't have to. Or maybe back to Burton when JFH leaves.
The ideal would probably be Mansfield as he'll get time to build something.

Think you're right and I think he'd do well - and he does seem to need a lot of time. Read an interview with him a long time ago and he seemed really happy at Burton, didn't come across as overly ambitious just taking it nice and steady and not under too much pressure of expectation. And then the Derby job came along and I guess he could't resist.

 

[BushBlade]

Hope you gut feeling is wrong on that one mate (unless it's all going badly wrong). I don't think he's the flighty type, and I think he'd have stayed with Southampton for a good while if they hadn't shat on him after he'd already started to turn it around in the Premiership.

I think what he means is that he'll know when he's taken us as far as he can. And if he takes us into the PL and keeps us there his stock would be very high, you'd expect him to want a crack at a big club if offered. Even if he took us to championship stability, PL clubs would be looking at him. I think he'd be quite loyal but if he thought he couldn't take us any further I think he'd move when he got a good offer.

 

[BushBlade]

Think you're right and I think he'd do well - and he does seem to need a lot of time. Read an interview with him a long time ago and he seemed really happy at Burton, didn't come across as overly ambitious just taking it nice and steady and not under too much pressure of expectation. And then the Derby job came along and I guess he could't resist.

Yes, with his family connections he probably had to do it, like if one of use was offered the Blades job.
I think he took it too early, he should have stayed at Burton, gone up with them and at least consolidated them.
I think last season he couldn't cope with the pressure of expectation, he couldn't deal with the stress. Anyone who's managed in pressure situations knows that, if it gets to you, it can turn you into a dictatorial control freak with a short temper and a loss of perspective.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Yes, with his family connections he probably had to do it, like if one of use was offered the Blades job.
I think he took it too early, he should have stayed at Burton, gone up with them and at least consolidated them.
I think last season he couldn't cope with the pressure of expectation, he couldn't deal with the stress. Anyone who's managed in pressure situations knows that, if it gets to you, it can turn you into a dictatorial control freak with a short temper and a loss of perspective.

Good assessment BB, and with the benefit of hindsight perhaps we were party to some of what went on at Derby. I must admit, I became pro-Clough, not blindly following him, but there seemed to be a sense of something happening, but with that enormous influx of players he brought in, there wasn't sufficient quality there to justify that spend. The truth is, we needed quality, not quantity. Quite a few posters suggested we needed 4, possibly 5 players, to shore up our spine and enhance what we already had. Instead what we bought was at times puzzling, but there you go, it's done now, NC was shown the door, and we appear to have someone who might just deliver on the promotion talk I think we've heard far too often without any delivery.

It's time the Blades shook off the label of perennial losers and delivered a promotion to the fans. Without them there is no club, so I hope the players realise they're fortunate to have so many who follow them regularly. It's nothing short of a minor miracle and it deserves to be rewarded.

 

[Bartleby]

Yes, with his family connections he probably had to do it..

Yes, and he should have walked his own path not try and walk in his dad's

Anyone who's managed in pressure situations knows that, if it gets to you, it can turn you into a dictatorial control freak with a short temper and a loss of perspective.

Been there, done that, and been on the receiving end as well. Think Adkins could handle it better though, and as you said he'll know when he's taken us as far as he can.

 

[Bartleby]

I think what he means is that he'll know when he's taken us as far as he can. And if he takes us into the PL and keeps us there his stock would be very high, you'd expect him to want a crack at a big club if offered. Even if he took us to championship stability, PL clubs would be looking at him. I think he'd be quite loyal but if he thought he couldn't take us any further I think he'd move when he got a good offer.

probably right, it can be read that way as well