baxter MOM

[biggey blade]

I know I am a bit late with this post but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts on this was.

Baxter was man of match for me closely followed by Billy sharp. I have been reading a lot of negative things about our midfield, and how they are too slow. Personally I thought baxter had an amazing game and also think coutts had a good game as well despite reading a lot of negative things about him.

Sharps ball for the season goal was top class not only did he manage to hold on the ball despite having two defenders on him and managed to get the ball down and hold it off from the defenders and the played an amazing pin point pass across the field onto an on running adams who did brilliantly to take it down and put it in back of the net.

All in all I think there was a lot more positives to take from this match than there was negatives.

Was glad to see adams back on the score sheet and hope he continues to grow. Think an attack force of sharp adams and done is by far the best in the league. Think all the front 3 put an amazing amount of effort in and covered a lot of pitch.

What was everyone else's thoughts about the MOM? and the rest of the match?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Baxter's level of performance has really picked up since the Fulham sending off. He plays passes that lead to chances and goals, he can accurately deliver training-ground corners that lead to goals, he wins headers(!), he often gets a foot in to break up play, and yesterday he flung himself at a shot on the edge of the area, and he's still running at the end of 90 minutes.

He's obviously weaker on the defensive side - but he puts in the work.

First half MOM: Freeman. ML didn't get anything.

Second half MOM: Freeman had a bit more trouble and the game as a whole got a bit random till Reed came on and did the work Coutts couldn't. Can't really give one. Billy maybe for workrate and commitment - I think Done just tires himself out sprinting between CHs and is no use if we regain possession, so I can't give it to him.

 

[blade67]

I thought we spent long periods being over run in midfield - again.

This exposed the weaknesses in the back four and meant we always looked like we could give another away.

In those circumstances you can't really give Baxter a MOM, despite his brilliant ball for the first goal. Coutts didn't even have the glory of an assist to mask his lack of mobility.

MOM comes from Adams (2 goals,taken well means he really should get it), Done (amazing work rate considering he's only just back from injury) or Sharp (best pass of the day for the 2nd goal and worked his socks off).

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

All in all I think there was a lot more positives to take from this match than there was negatives.

Think I agree with you on this (despite there being a fair few negatives). Certainly liking & enjoying seeing high-scoring, more exciting games as we morph into our new identity, rather than sluggish, timid 1-0s or whatever.

I'd go for Billy as MOM though, for his tireless running, his energy & enthusiasm, & his hold-up play (not forgetting, like you say, his sublime part in that goal-of-the-season contender). Lots of good individual performances though. We just struggled as a team/formation with Rochdale's clever forward play after half time - especially in midfield with Bash absent without leave, Coutts tiring badly, & Jose wasted a bit in the no.10 role; but also by sitting far too deep at the back & thus constantly inviting Rochdale on.

As you say, that front three of Done-Sharp-Adams is some forward-line. And with Sammon, JCR & McNulty as back-up, we've got proper riches up front. No tweaking needed in that part of the pitch.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

MOM comes from Adams (2 goals,taken well means he really should get it).

In some ways Adams had a bit of a shocker: he was forever conceding possession - he's got a really bad touch sometimes, I bet he can only do about 5 keepie-uppies

Besides that he was often out of position on the left, which Rochdale were looking to exploit. WHF Jr Sr had him pegged as a liability. A bit harsh, maybe.

Then he (Adams, not WHF Jr Sr) scores 2 and could have had a third.

 

[Blade56]

Sharp

 

[Woodwardfan]

Baxter played out of position and put a shift in to the best of his ability. When he got into dangerous areas he played some great stuff but was average when deep, although in fairness he did put a shift in as best he could. His corners were very good and he provided two assists out of three goals, nowhere near MOM in my opinion though, maybe 4th best.

Again in fairness to Baxter the combination of him, Coutts and Scougall was woeful and as a group they were overwhelmed at times.

 

[Dkc]

I went for a drink with an older Blade last night who told me that some elements of the kop used to dislike Tony Currie, and slag him off for being lazy. They saw him as a luxury player who was more interested in showboating than putting in a shift for the team.

Obviously Baxter's no TC but it seems he's in good company

 

[PokerBlade]

Life's a lot easier for Baxter now that there's actually movement ahead of the ball. Sharp is constantly getting good positions, and with Done and Adams vs. Rochdale there were always attacking options for our midfield. As we saw repeatedly under Clough, there's no use in having a player like Baxter look up, see nothing on ahead of him, and have to play it back and start again.

I wouldn't have put him as MOTM though. I thought Sharp and Collins were better. I didn't think much of Baxter overall until I've watched parts of the game again. Now I agree he did well.

None of our problems right now are when we're in possession.

 

[Roygbiv]

Life's a lot easier for Baxter now that there's actually movement ahead of the ball. Sharp is constantly getting good positions, and with Done and Adams vs. Rochdale there were always attacking options for our midfield

I made a similar point in the pub last night. Baxter seems much better but he is behind three genuinely good strikers at this level. Makes a huge difference to any creative midfielder

 

[FTPE]

For all his faults, that defense splitting ball he put through for Che's goal could only have been done by him.
I also liked the fact that he grabbed the ball off their team when they scored, wanting to game the game restated ASAP.

 

[Caseh]

I thought he was one of the better players, but I wouldn't put him down as MotM. I do think it's unfair when people blame him that we get overrun in midfield though, since that kind of midfielder is never going to run the midfield. You need your other players to run the midfield area and in turn, Baxter will run the rest of the + most likely win it.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I know I am a bit late with this post but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts on this was.

Baxter was man of match for me closely followed by Billy sharp. I have been reading a lot of negative things about our midfield, and how they are too slow. Personally I thought baxter had an amazing game and also think coutts had a good game as well despite reading a lot of negative things about him.

Sharps ball for the season goal was top class not only did he manage to hold on the ball despite having two defenders on him and managed to get the ball down and hold it off from the defenders and the played an amazing pin point pass across the field onto an on running adams who did brilliantly to take it down and put it in back of the net.

All in all I think there was a lot more positives to take from this match than there was negatives.

Was glad to see adams back on the score sheet and hope he continues to grow. Think an attack force of sharp adams and done is by far the best in the league. Think all the front 3 put an amazing amount of effort in and covered a lot of pitch.

What was everyone else's thoughts about the MOM? and the rest of the match?

Truth is that if Ronaldo had done what Sharp did in setting up Adams 2nd goal, half the planet would be looking it up on YouTube.

Sublime.

UTB

 

[Smirth]

He was very good I thought. His defensive work gets better with each game I see and he's really starting to make us tick with his passing.

Maybe he's playing for a new contract? If so I'd not bother extending it until later in the season and ask him to keep it up, help us win promotion and then be given a new contract.

 

[Caseh]

He was very good I thought. His defensive work gets better with each game I see and he's really starting to make us tick with his passing.

Maybe he's playing for a new contract? If so I'd not bother extending it until later in the season and ask him to keep it up, help us win promotion and then be given a new contract.

Probably down to having a manager that encourages and supports him, he does seem like his head is getting back into it a little.

 

[Boxer Blade]

His through ball for che's goal has obviously been mentioned a few times but in the second half
he had his back to there goal, near the bench and in our half and he played a ball through to done
that I think just ran out, but was brilliant, because we are sat in the stands we often see things the
players dont, I bet nobody in the ground saw that pass coming, fantastic skill.

 

[boo radley]

Anyone not happy with Baxter?

 

[Dkc]

Just wait until his next poor game...

 

[RMBlade]

Maybe slightly controversial, but just my opinion of course. I don't think he had a particularly good game. The assist for Adams and actually having a player who can take a half decent corner is nice, but there were time when Rochdale were 25-30 yards from goal and Baxter was just backing off (all of the midfield was guilty of this especially until Reed came on).

MOTM probably Sharp I think Adams apart from his 2 goals was quiet and disappeared for large portions of the game. Done made a lot of really good off the ball runs, maybe after 3/4 more games the others will start to expect these runs and can pick him out more often.

I think id stick with the team that finished the game, also i thought collins and magahey (probably spelt wrong) looked solid and i dont recall either of them losing an aerial challenge all game.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I thought we spent long periods being over run in midfield - again.

This exposed the weaknesses in the back four and meant we always looked like we could give another away.

In those circumstances you can't really give Baxter a MOM, despite his brilliant ball for the first goal. Coutts didn't even have the glory of an assist to mask his lack of mobility.

Adkins described the formation as 4-3-3, but Scougall was advanced, so defended in front of Baxter and Coutts. From there he struggled to get close to players and couldn't help out as much. Mobility, closing down, tracking back, covering grass in general remain Baxter and Coutts' common weakness and from a defensive perspective they are not an ideal partnership. Baxter has improved his fitness this season, but still looks dependent on a very fit and mobile partner.

We could try inverting the midfield triangle, meaning Coutts is deep and flanked by Baxter and Scougall, thus reducing the amount of space Coutts and Baxter had to cover defensively. If that doesn't help I think Adkins will move Basham back into midfield.

 

[RMBlade]

Adkins described the formation as 4-3-3, but Scougall was advanced, so defended in front of Baxter and Coutts. From there he struggled to get close to players and couldn't help out as much. Mobility, closing down, tracking back, covering grass in general remain Baxter and Coutts' common weakness and from a defensive perspective they are not an ideal partnership. Baxter has improved his fitness this season, but still looks dependent on a very fit and mobile partner.

We could try inverting the midfield triangle, meaning Coutts is deep and flanked by Baxter and Scougall, thus reducing the amount of space Coutts and Baxter had to cover defensively. If that doesn't help I think Adkins will move Basham back into midfield.

Based purely on Saturdays performance my midfield 3 would be.

------Defence------
------Basham------
Reed-------Baxter

I think with Done and Adams on the wing they don't really provide anything defensively so playing with Scougs and Baxter in midfield, with no Basham either is leaving the backline exposed massively.

 

[Darthblade]

I know I am a bit late with this post but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts on this was.

Baxter was man of match for me closely followed by Billy sharp. I have been reading a lot of negative things about our midfield, and how they are too slow. Personally I thought baxter had an amazing game and also think coutts had a good game as well despite reading a lot of negative things about him.

Sharps ball for the season goal was top class not only did he manage to hold on the ball despite having two defenders on him and managed to get the ball down and hold it off from the defenders and the played an amazing pin point pass across the field onto an on running adams who did brilliantly to take it down and put it in back of the net.

All in all I think there was a lot more positives to take from this match than there was negatives.

Was glad to see adams back on the score sheet and hope he continues to grow. Think an attack force of sharp adams and done is by far the best in the league. Think all the front 3 put an amazing amount of effort in and covered a lot of pitch.

What was everyone else's thoughts about the MOM? and the rest of the match?

As you're probably aware I'm not a Baxter fan ( in this Division ) however, I think he's had a good game in the last two games and has played some good through balls. I still stick by my assessment though that he's a luxury player for us and when I saw that NA had picked Scougal & Baxter in the same midfield my heart sank. Our midfield was regularly overrun until Basham moved into CM in the second half and I still do not understand how Scougal gets a place in the team.

But, credit where its due to Baxter ....... great through-ball to Adams for the goal.
UTB & FTP

 

[ThatJa]

If Baxter consistently puts performances in like Saturday, we'll do well to keep him come January.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Baxter probably wasnt quite man of the match, but I think he was the reason we won the game. The first and final goal were down to him. When they got back to 2-2 - it needs somebody to step up and provide a bit of quality. Baxter did just that - corner right onto Collins.

Needs protection in the middle - no doubt - but you can see he is at least trying to improve at what he isnt great at - defending. But he has quality that most other players at this level dont. And that is being realised partly because we finally have movement off the ball - Sharp, Done, Adams (plus Scougs on Sat).

With his contract being up this coming summer I agree with the above poster, in January we could well lose him, on the cheap as well.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

For all his faults, that defense splitting ball he put through for Che's goal could only have been done by him.
I also liked the fact that he grabbed the ball off their team when they scored, wanting to game the game restated ASAP.

That stuff about grabbing the ball shows real intent and belief. It's something Basham does too.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

For me it's very simple.

keep him away from the back 4. If he wants to play his fancy dan football up top then fine.

2 x strong CB & 2 x strong CM PLEASE.............how many times do we have to ask?

It will be the difference between having a chance to finish top 2 or finishing 3rd to 6th.......or worse.

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

For me it's very simple.

keep him away from the back 4. If he wants to play his fancy dan football up top then fine.

2 x strong CB & 2 x strong CM PLEASE.............how many times do we have to ask?

It will be the difference between having a chance to finish top 2 or finishing 3rd to 6th.......or worse.

UTB

Paid for how?

 

[blade67]

Adkins described the formation as 4-3-3, but Scougall was advanced, so defended in front of Baxter and Coutts. From there he struggled to get close to players and couldn't help out as much. Mobility, closing down, tracking back, covering grass in general remain Baxter and Coutts' common weakness and from a defensive perspective they are not an ideal partnership. Baxter has improved his fitness this season, but still looks dependent on a very fit and mobile partner.

We could try inverting the midfield triangle, meaning Coutts is deep and flanked by Baxter and Scougall, thus reducing the amount of space Coutts and Baxter had to cover defensively. If that doesn't help I think Adkins will move Basham back into midfield.

Adkins could try several different options in a 3 man midfield but I don't think he really wants that formation at all. He must be frustrated that he has all these midfielders in the squad but there simply aren't any available that would allow him to play 4-4-2.

Another option for 3 in midfield would be

Basham Reed
Baxter
Done Sharp Adams

This is probably the solution that puts most round pegs in round holes but it means we rely on an 18 year old and I doubt we'll get away with that every week. As a result I'm expecting us to remain inconsistent for some time

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Paid for how?

We might have them in house - I don't see them in training but I will give you a few options.

Basham to CH - whilst an advocate of him playing in midfield last season in a 5, he seems a bit out of sorts in a 4 AND playing with Baxter.
Basham to CM with Coutts at the side of him. Coutts played well last season in midfield with Basham and Doyle. If Adkins wants to play 4, then it is an option.
McGahey to CH? probably not a serious option but he looked like a brick shit house on Saturday and must have worked with Morgan as his timing for headers was very good. When he had to he kicked it row Z.

Basham and Edgar at CH - CM is then a problem x 2 - perhaps Hammond is coming at some time on loan - does anyone really know.

James Wallace is the solution if he stays fit . again a long standing joke.

What I am against is Baxter and Scoogs in any combination what so ever - been done to death - far too light weight.

As for your comment of "paid for how" - for me it is still very simple - we either solve the problem or we continue to stay in this division and tweak what Adkins is presently doing as he gives everyone a chance "searching" for a workable formula and slip down the league as we did last season and never look like challenging for the top 2. I presume you went on Saturday - once AGAIN we were out played in midfield (for the umpteenth time this season).

So we possibly go for loans - and yes I am the first to say it's someone else's money and we are losing £5m per year - but if we don't solve midfield and tighten up in defence then we are stuffed once again, which leads on to losing another £5m next season. I am led to believe teams make an extra £4m being a division up.

So there you have it and I now throw a similar question to you what would you do - I banged on last season about CD from last September and I am now banging on about CD and CM (because we now play 4). It is my opinion what got us here in this division and why we are STILL in this division and why we may STILL be in this division next season. It's the basics that we continue not to resolve and it pains me to think people still think Collins/Baxter/Scoogal can be part of the solution. I disagree vehemently with this continued soft option we have in CM and CD - it isn't working - the proof is watching the team, week in, week out.

Just to add Doyle into the mixture - he WAS part of the problem why we came down and to think we are missing someone like Doyle is a joke. Yes we need a leader, but we need someone who can actually be positive, strong and is looking (FIRST) in a forward motion.

Anyway, sorry it was a bit of a rant, but it really does pain me to watch poxy, small, low budget clubs continually and completely out play us, out pass us, out run us the way that Rochdale did. This is not a complaint against any other club - it is a moan that we do not seem capable of solving the problems we have. If Adkins has a plan B, then fine - I don't see it developing one iota - perhaps you and others do - it looks and sounds as though Adkins has his bloody fingers crossed during each game, hoping it will all come together. Meanwhile, clubs keep "doing" us one way or another.

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

We might have them in house - I don't see them in training but I will give you a few options.

Basham to CH - whilst an advocate of him playing in midfield last season in a 5, he seems a bit out of sorts in a 4 AND playing with Baxter.
Basham to CM with Coutts at the side of him. Coutts played well last season in midfield with Basham and Doyle. If Adkins wants to play 4, then it is an option.
McGahey to CH? probably not a serious option but he looked like a brick shit house on Saturday and must have worked with Morgan as his timing for headers was very good. When he had to he kicked it row Z.

Basham and Edgar at CH - CM is then a problem x 2 - perhaps Hammond is coming at some time on loan - does anyone really know.

James Wallace is the solution if he stays fit . again a long standing joke.

What I am against is Baxter and Scoogs in any combination what so ever - been done to death - far too light weight.

As for your comment of "paid for how" - for me it is still very simple - we either solve the problem or we continue to stay in this division and tweak what Adkins is presently doing as he gives everyone a chance "searching" for a workable formula and slip down the league as we did last season and never look like challenging for the top 2. I presume you went on Saturday - once AGAIN we were out played in midfield (for the umpteenth time this season).

So we possibly go for loans - and yes I am the first to say it's someone else's money and we are losing £5m per year - but if we don't solve midfield and tighten up in defence then we are stuffed once again, which leads on to losing another £5m next season. I am led to believe teams make an extra £4m being a division up.

So there you have it and I now throw a similar question to you what would you do - I banged on last season about CD from last September and I am now banging on about CD and CM (because we now play 4). It is my opinion what got us here in this division and why we are STILL in this division and why we may STILL be in this division next season. It's the basics that we continue not to resolve and it pains me to think people still think Collins/Baxter/Scoogal can be part of the solution. I disagree vehemently with this continued soft option we have in CM and CD - it isn't working - the proof is watching the team, week in, week out.

Just to add Doyle into the mixture - he WAS part of the problem why we came down and to think we are missing someone like Doyle is a joke. Yes we need a leader, but we need someone who can actually be positive, strong and is looking (FIRST) in a forward motion.

Anyway, sorry it was a bit of a rant, but it really does pain me to watch poxy, small, low budget clubs continually and completely out play us, out pass us, out run us the way that Rochdale did. This is not a complaint against any other club - it is a moan that we do not seem capable of solving the problems we have. If Adkins has a plan B, then fine - I don't see it developing one iota - perhaps you and others do - it looks and sounds as though Adkins has his bloody fingers crossed during each game, hoping it will all come together. Meanwhile, clubs keep "doing" us one way or another.

UTB

Good post. Hopefully I'll get a better stab at a reply later. In the meantime I'd say Scoogs is often very easily knocked, or occasionally thrown, off the ball but what he does bring is tireless energy (a bit like Done) and occasional creativity.

Second half Rochdale were walking through the midfield almost at will. I wonder how much of this was bc Scoogs wasn't there.

Do we need a stronger and more creative presence? Yes. Till then he does at least part of a good job.

I think we have more options now at CH.

It may be that CM that is the priority.