Baxter must play every week

[Slim Man]

i don't care where, I don't care at who's expense, but he's the only player who makes things happen in the middle of the park. He thinks quick and can execute difficult balls when the opposition have a brick wall for a back 4.

He frustrates the fans, well those who don't know much about football, because he loses the ball trying things. It's those same people who were moaning and groaning about us keeping possession on Tuesday...

On the game, it was weird. But simply have to be winning that. That's 3 we've lost at home already and the defence is still as bad as it was last season and I still don't trust Mark Howard.

Freeman's form has dropped, McGahey is a young lad learning the trade, Collins is shit, Wallace is good but inexperienced and Mark Howard marshalling them simply isn't good enough for promotion from this league.

To avoid losing we need to not let them get at our defence, we do that by keeping the ball. Baxter is capable of doing that and also changing he tempo up when we need to. Well taken goal today as well.

Also, today Coutts should have came on. He deserved to on his midweek performance.

I still think we can do it, but the board really need to get a grip and support their manager. We need a replacement for Collins before we can even think about promotion.

 

[Blade82]

Alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2 for me. Bash isn't doing enough for me would be of better use at centre half.

 

[Slim Man]

Alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2 for me. Bash isn't doing enough for me would be of better use at centre half.

I'd like a 4-3-3. Hammond sitting with Coutts as a playmaker and Jose a bit infront of them orchestrating the play between midfield and attack.

Basham at centre half with Edgar for Saturday, hoping that he returns to his previous form.

Collins was done at this club last year. It's a big shame he's back.

 

[Rustyblade]

I'd like a 4-3-3. Hammond sitting with Coutts as a playmaker and Jose a bit infront of them orchestrating the play between midfield and attack.

Don't quite get that. Someone has to make the play before someone else can orchestrate it?

 

[Toledo Blade]

i don't care where, I don't care at who's expense, but he's the only player who makes things happen in the middle of the park. He thinks quick and can execute difficult balls when the opposition have a brick wall for a back 4.

He frustrates the fans, well those who don't know much about football, because he loses the ball trying things. It's those same people who were moaning and groaning about us keeping possession on Tuesday...

On the game, it was weird. But simply have to be winning that. That's 3 we've lost at home already and the defence is still as bad as it was last season and I still don't trust Mark Howard.

Freeman's form has dropped, McGahey is a young lad learning the trade, Collins is shit, Wallace is good but inexperienced and Mark Howard marshalling them simply isn't good enough for promotion from this league.

To avoid losing we need to not let them get at our defence, we do that by keeping the ball. Baxter is capable of doing that and also changing he tempo up when we need to. Well taken goal today as well.

Also, today Coutts should have came on. He deserved to on his midweek performance.

I still think we can do it, but the board really need to get a grip and support their manager. We need a replacement for Collins before we can even think about promotion.

I think it makes on difference who plays the whole of the midfield is very poor indeed, all light weight no passion, and worst of all no idea. Baxter may have scored today but the midfield could not pass a collection plate in a church.

 

[BrayfordsBushyBeard]

Unfortunately for Baxter , he is not what a lot of the Bramall Lane purists would class as a footballer ! If they don't run til they are blowing our of there arse then they are lazy , if they can't provide a killer pass every time they are useless ! This kind of player looks like a liability at times when they are not playing well but they still have the potential every game to provide that one bit of magic in any given game , something we are certainly not over blessed with !! We at Bramall Lane put effort over technical ability way to often as fans and look where its got us ! I personally would ask him what position he favours and build the rest of the midfield around him and give him a decent run of games ,we chop and change his position , he is under instant pressure from the crowd to produce or he is a " a useless fat (?) lazy....." If you read the Oldham comments they can't believe where we play him , and look how he did for them ! Stop expecting him to be something he isn't and let him be what he is , get if his back and maybe just maybe he could be the driving force we are all craving to get out of this godforsaken division !!!! As ever UTB

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Unfortunately for Baxter , he is not what a lot of the Bramall Lane purists would class as a footballer ! If they don't run til they are blowing our of there arse then they are lazy , if they can't provide a killer pass every time they are useless ! This kind of player looks like a liability at times when they are not playing well but they still have the potential every game to provide that one bit of magic in any given game , something we are certainly not over blessed with !! We at Bramall Lane put effort over technical ability way to often as fans and look where its got us ! I personally would ask him what position he favours and build the rest of the midfield around him and give him a decent run of games ,we chop and change his position , he is under instant pressure from the crowd to produce or he is a " a useless fat (?) lazy....." If you read the Oldham comments they can't believe where we play him , and look how he did for them ! Stop expecting him to be something he isn't and let him be what he is , get if his back and maybe just maybe he could be the driving force we are all craving to get out of this godforsaken division !!!! As ever UTB

Exactly - let Baxter be what he is - and play in his best position. Yesterday, Adkins did that (for only the second time) and low and behold he gets a goal and makes things happen. He also put a great all over to Sharp and Sammon near the end which they made a mess of. He should be in the team every week, and was unlucky to be dropped for the last two home games, so Adkins could accomodate his new mate. Adkins attempts to turn Baxter into a defensive holding midfielder were never going to work that well - as thats not his strength at all.

I dont pay attention to the lazy comments - its a tired old cliche a lot of fans come out with (because they arent used to seeing technically sound players - just runners and hoofers).

 

[Ecco1889]

I recall Kevin macdonald being called a lazy so-and-so on numerous occasions

 

[ilovesufc]

Totally agree re Baxter - Basham and Hammond together is a waste of time - no creativity or forward thinking at all through the centre of midfield. I like Basham, but also his final ball is often shit, and because he isn't quick thinking enough to play that role, he often puts other players under pressure with the wrong pass. There was a throw in yesterday where it came to him and he passed it back to I think it was Freeman, the shortest, crappest pass, and we conceded possession from our own throw in!! Basic.

 

[robbiez666]

In a midfield 2 he can't start every game. You either play 3 in there or push him further forward.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I'd like a 4-3-3. Hammond sitting with Coutts as a playmaker and Jose a bit infront of them orchestrating the play between midfield and attack.

Basham at centre half with Edgar for Saturday, hoping that he returns to his previous form.

Collins was done at this club last year. It's a big shame he's back.

Difficult to disagree with this Danny.

I would prefer Basham to go back to CB as well.

Only caveat would be would a midfield 3 of Coutts, Hamster and Jose have enough "bite" in it and enough to protect the back 4 ?? Not sure myself but agree that on paper it looks very creative.

We do miss a Doyle / Montgomery type, that is for sure.

UTB

 

[FTPE]

Jose isn't just the best player of his type, he's probably the only one.
Reed doesn't have the vision Baxter does.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Unfortunately for Baxter , he is not what a lot of the Bramall Lane purists would class as a footballer ! If they don't run til they are blowing our of there arse then they are lazy , if they can't provide a killer pass every time they are useless ! This kind of player looks like a liability at times when they are not playing well but they still have the potential every game to provide that one bit of magic in any given game , something we are certainly not over blessed with !! We at Bramall Lane put effort over technical ability way to often as fans and look where its got us ! I personally would ask him what position he favours and build the rest of the midfield around him and give him a decent run of games ,we chop and change his position , he is under instant pressure from the crowd to produce or he is a " a useless fat (?) lazy....." If you read the Oldham comments they can't believe where we play him , and look how he did for them ! Stop expecting him to be something he isn't and let him be what he is , get if his back and maybe just maybe he could be the driving force we are all craving to get out of this godforsaken division !!!! As ever UTB

Are you the alter ego of Pinchy

 

[Slim Man]

Don't quite get that. Someone has to make the play before someone else can orchestrate it?

Forgive me. I don't mean for Coutts to be a playmaker, don't know why I said it! Just want him to be the one to take the ball from the defence or his team mates when they're struggling in deep positions, either pick a pass or give it Jose to go forward. I think it's important that we have 2 ball players in midfield as we don't have enough from wide positions to make up for it.

 

[boo radley]

o oh.

 

[AlienBlade]

Alongside Hammond in a 4-4-2 for me. Bash isn't doing enough for me would be of better use at centre half.

what is Hammond actual doing in your opinion?

I am yet to see anything barring his CV that makes me think he is worthy of playing in the side, Hammond for me offered very little in the last 2 games, he isnt a Baxter type player who will attempt to pick out that pass (albeit too infrequently for me but that's beside the point) and he isnt a Doyle type player (I dont think I have seem him put a single tackle in so far) so he isnt protecting the back 4... so what exactly is he offering.

 

[TonyAgana]

Baxter is magic off the bench but doesn't have that impact when starting.

Things we are missing from better times (and our last-seen example):

1) A Centre-Half either capable of or willing to make a direct run out of defence with the ball at his feet and draw players (Maguire)

2) A Central-Midfielder with either the ability or energy to build the play from our box to their's and come back again when it breaks down and have another go (Coady)

3) Anyone who can throw a ball more than 10 yards (Halford)

 

[AlienBlade]

I'd like a 4-3-3. Hammond sitting with Coutts as a playmaker and Jose a bit infront of them orchestrating the play between midfield and attack.

Basham at centre half with Edgar for Saturday, hoping that he returns to his previous form.

Collins was done at this club last year. It's a big shame he's back.

Many criticised clough for dropping Collins and never playing him again.... I think some people owe Clough an apology on that front...

isnt Edgar still injured, hence him not playing? playing 4-3-3 also hasnt seemed to work when we have played it, as our best plays seem to be getting round the back, as soon as we lost the width of Cambell-Ryce we didnt create anything.

 

[Slim Man]

Many criticised clough for dropping Collins and never playing him again.... I think some people owe Clough an apology on that front...

isnt Edgar still injured, hence him not playing? playing 4-3-3 also hasnt seemed to work when we have played it, as our best plays seem to be getting round the back, as soon as we lost the width of Cambell-Ryce we didnt create anything.

Definitely. I never complained about him being dropped personally, and will still say it was Clough's best decision.
Agreed also, we need Adams and JCR starting in a 4-3-3 as Done doesn't look half as effective on the wing. We could do with another winger to be honest.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd like a 4-3-3. Hammond sitting with Coutts as a playmaker and Jose a bit infront of them orchestrating the play between midfield and attack.

Basham at centre half with Edgar for Saturday, hoping that he returns to his previous form.

Collins was done at this club last year. It's a big shame he's back.

100% what I was about to write.

Baxter is starting to be appreciated by our fans, great to see, but it's also no coincidence that he's knuckled down this year

 

[TonyAgana]

Re: Collins, are you all pissed? Yes, he's in need of replacing, but Clough was right to never play our only recognised Centre-Half?? Of course I can't prove this but with every confidence and sincerity, I say we would've picked up more points and conceded fewer goals with him in the side last season.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Since I've been on here, Jose has divided opinion like no other. I've always said, he's the only player in the squad that plays 'with his head up' and can change the direction of an attack and open things up. He suffers because he's not the type of player to beat 3 men and smash it in, he needs his team mates to work and find space. Another poster explained this brilliantly by saying he'll play well and look good in a team that's playing well but can't play well in a team playing shite. One of the main problems has been, and continues to be, our forwards lack of, or stifled, movement. This is also the reason he tends to give possession away in trying to find that pass and probably out of some frustration, whether the fans have a bearing on this after 5 mins of passign across the midfield in anyone's guess - not blaming the fans here - footballers should play their game and not 'take advice' from fans calling them to "oof it upfield".

I think the manager is still uncertain of where to play Jose and also depending on how we set up to play individual games. I think it's fair to say if we are going 4-4-2, and Jose plays in the middle, you're going to need a really strong defensive mid alongside Jose (which we don't have). I've seen us play 4-2-3-1 and I think this can work with Jose in the middle of the "3" behind the striker. It's obvious that NA is going to change it as befits the opponents we play so I think that we must accept that Jose will be on the bench a few times.

 

[itsinyerblood]

My feelings about Baxter boil down to the following - he's possibly the only player we have who has that rare quality known as guile. He can see angles than other players somehow are blind to, his quality of pass is generally better than most of his teammates........and then, on the other hand, we have a player who cannot give us a consistent run of form, guaranteed to ensure that our attacking potential is raised during most games. So our supposed 'playmaker' doesn't turn up enough for my liking, in which case he needs to be replaced. Don't get me wrong, when Jose is good he's impressive, but the ratio of decent games versus poor games we can expect from him isn't that high, so why depend on Baxter to be the man who can change a game in our favour? It probably supports the much discussed point of view that Baxter's career has been spent mostly in the lower rungs of professional football for a reason.

 

[Smirth]

How often has Baxter been played in his favoured no.10 role for us? Not all that often as I recall.

He did for Weir and he was poor, I'd let him off for that as the whole team was. When Clough came in he didn't play much at the start before Clough started using him as a striker. It wasn't his favoured position but he got on with the job and did it to the best of his ability.

Last season was a mixed bag. He was played centre mid, holding mid, no 10 and striker. For him to settle and find consistency he needs to be given a role in his favoured position.

I wish we'd stop playing 4-4-2. The players we have don't suit it IMO because we lack good enough wingers and we don't have the right central midfield players for it either.

A midfield 3 of Coutts/Basham, Hammond and Baxter in front of them would work wonders IMO, if given time to gel as a unit. It wouldn't work over night and would require patience but I could see them 3 becoming a real force. Combine it with a forward 3 of Sharp, Done & Adams and I would really be confident of our chances of promotion.