Baxter playing deeper

[ZoneManWilf]

A wholly different prospect when he's playing in one of the deep roles in midfield. He was brilliant tonight especially for the first 20-odd minutes of the second half when he ran the game, and really put the match to bed.

His passing here is much more effective and he has more time on the ball than when he sits behind the lone striker.

And a excellent team performance tonight, great to see them finally play well for 2 halves.

 

[wizadry]

I thought we started shaky and they had a bright start without threatning but after that it really was plain sailing and Baxter deserves all the credit he gets as there has been a lot on here knocking him this season and rightly so on a few occasions but the lad has got real talent. Early on he tried a couple of balls which didn't come off and you could here the gasps but he didn't let it put him off and put in a great shift and performance along with many others.

 

[blade too long]

Building a team takes time , the sides moving from chrysalis to butterfly just now

we gonna float like a butterfly sting like a bee

 

[sitwell]

A wholly different prospect when he's playing in one of the deep roles in midfield. He was brilliant tonight especially for the first 20-odd minutes of the second half when he ran the game, and really put the match to bed.

His passing here is much more effective and he has more time on the ball than when he sits behind the lone striker.

And a excellent team performance tonight, great to see them finally play well for 2 halves.

I wouldn't go as far as running the game but he did play well at last and took 2 mean pens. We went down the wings a lot tonight ,Flynn and Murphy played well and I really like the look of davies up front. The back 4 was excellent.

 

[Blade82]

Building a team takes time , the sides moving from chrysalis to butterfly just now

we gonna float like a butterfly sting like a bee

Maybee

 

[boo radley]

I wouldn't go as far as running the game but he did play well at last and took 2 mean pens. We went down the wings a lot tonight ,Flynn and Murphy played well and I really like the look of davies up front. The back 4 was excellent.

One day!

 

[UnitedBlade]

Thought it was his best game for United, playing deeper suits him. Less pressure, fewer mistakes, opportunity to create more.

He may struggle more in that position against better sides that press because that's when he makes mistakes.

United played well but we have to recognise Scunthorpe were woeful. Encouraging though.

 

[sheffielder]

I thought he had a good game, and he generally does when he keeps it simple. Kept the ball ticking along nicely. It's when he puts his foot on the ball when things go a miss

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Maybe this is the position he can finally make his own although Doyle will no doubt be back sooner rather than later. Baxter had loads of the ball in a similar position at home to Fleetwood and just about every pass was sideways but I guess it depends what's in front of him in terms of runners. Makes a massive difference when Flynn and Murph are on their game.

We're here again, confidence.

 

[Bergen Blade]

For a player that has quality on the ball, but is poor off it, it's so important to find the right role for him, and the right type of players surrounding him. His best role can vary from game to game though as his impact is also affected by the way the opposition sets up.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

The back 4 was excellent.

To a man. Basham won everything in the air and brought the ball out well on numerous occasions. Brayford had a good game at centre half, and both full backs were excellent, nice to see Harris get a bit of form back, and Freeman did well all night pushing forward and combining well with Flynn, and his ball to Murphy for the 3rd goal was a beauty.

Interesting how a solid back four performance leads to a higher tempo and confidence from the rest of the team, given solidity at the back has been sorely lacking in recent games.

 

[Pinchy]

Maybe this is the position he can finally make his own although Doyle will no doubt be back sooner rather than later. Baxter had loads of the ball in a similar position at home to Fleetwood and just about every pass was sideways but I guess it depends what's in front of him in terms of runners. Makes a massive difference when Flynn and Murph are on their game.

We're here again, confidence.

Doyle will be gone sooner rather than later and rightly so. Thanks Michael but we're moving on!

 

[LSF]

Baxter was excellent last night along with Flynny who was on fire down the flanks, through the middle, in fact anywhere he chose to go!
Back four solid against what has to be said, was a poor, shower of a team in Scunny.
I like Freeman, he does things competently and likes a drive forward when we are on top.
Holt shows signs of better things to come, from where I sat his goal looked like a ball back into the box rather than a goal attempt, but my lad sat in John St, said it looked a placed shot to him, angles eh!
Still can't get me head around Coutts though, OK in last nights stroll, but not a man for all seasons (so far).

 

[Blade56]

Noticed him recover a few lost balls in midfield breaking down their attack a couple of times in second half. All round good game not patchy with one or two good balls. Just do the same every game and he will be the general we have needed for a few seasons..

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Doyle will be gone sooner rather than later and rightly so. Thanks Michael but we're moving on!

You don't need to convince me but he's only out because Clough doesn't want him to get booked, he'll be back for the run-in.

 

[Punk Blade]

For a player that has quality on the ball, but is poor off it, it's so important to find the right role for him, and the right type of players surrounding him. His best role can vary from game to game though as his impact is also affected by the way the opposition sets up.

I'm not sure Baxter is that poor off the ball. Last night his movement was good, looking to create space to receive a pass (although he was comfortable collecting the ball with bodies around him). If you mean defensively, I thought he did fine last night and was excellent against Preston when playing in a deeper role.

I've seen Baxter play well and make a big contribution to a positive result as a forward, playing wide, and sitting deeper in midfield. The big thing he needs to work on right now is consistency, although his recent scoring form is a good start!

 

[pommpey]

Building a team takes time , the sides moving from chrysalis to butterfly just now

we gonna float like a butterfly sting like a bee

Mate, we have just ground out a win at the weekend and deservedly beaten a shit side, after a string of arse-proddingly painful un-results, after a series of league and cup games where we looked at one stage like automatic contenders.

Never unserestimate Sheffield United to put sand in your swarfega ...

pommpey

 

[DI36O]

He had an excellent game and in fact Holt really stepped his game up and showed us why he's in the team. I didn't think we'd make it work with these three in the middle but I'd keep it the same for next week, although bear in mind Scunthorpe were really poor.

Davies settling in and the security provided by Brayford at CB were big factors too, but it just shows how different it can be if various players hit form.

 

[MobileBlade]

Mate, we have just ground out a win at the weekend and deservedly beaten a shit side, after a string of arse-proddingly painful un-results, after a series of league and cup games where we looked at one stage like automatic contenders.

Never unserestimate Sheffield United to put sand in your swarfega ...

pommpey

Did you enjoy the game last night Pommpey?

 

[sitwell]

What was shoutbox like last night ?

 

[MobileBlade]

What was shoutbox like last night ?

Was at the game Sits so wouldn't know but based on previous evidence, it would have been about how poor Scunthorpe were - they must have been for us to score four.

 

[blade too long]

Mate, we have just ground out a win at the weekend and deservedly beaten a shit side, after a string of arse-proddingly painful un-results, after a series of league and cup games where we looked at one stage like automatic contenders.

Never unserestimate Sheffield United to put sand in your swarfega ...

pommpey

or weve lost 2 in 12 and are unbeaten in last 6 away ,

you dont think Swindon or mk dons play like barcelona every game do you
since the new year started weve beaten bristol city swindon and preston , but lets handily just forget that eh, it doesnt gel with the we are never endingly shit argument

 

[Crofton Blade]

I think a good team needs a Baxter- someone who is able and willing to take a risk and play a speculative pass from time to time rather than just play a simple sideways or backwards pass. Imagine a midfield comprised of players who just help the ball on or play a simple pass (lets say for example 4 or 5 Coutts). It would be very stale and make few chances. Yes Bax is going to get caught in possession now and again and yes he's going to misplace a long through ball, but its up to Cloughie to accommodate him to cover for this.
Baxter's still one of the few players this season that I've loved watching along with Murphy, Reid and Basham.

 

[Pinchy]

You don't need to convince me but he's only out because Clough doesn't want him to get booked, he'll be back for the run-in.

I agree entirely with that. I had in mind more that his contract is up at the end of the season (or so I believe and hope) and the silence on a new offer is deafening!

 

[Lane Ender]

I think a good team needs a Baxter- someone who is able and willing to take a risk and play a speculative pass from time to time rather than just play a simple sideways or backwards pass. Imagine a midfield comprised of players who just help the ball on or play a simple pass (lets say for example 4 or 5 Coutts). It would be very stale and make few chances. Yes Bax is going to get caught in possession now and again and yes he's going to misplace a long through ball, but its up to Cloughie to accommodate him to cover for this.
Baxter's still one of the few players this season that I've loved watching along with Murphy, Reid and Basham.

Baxters been generally poor this season except for the occasional brilliance.

Last few games hes shown what he can do when hes up for it

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Baxter can be an enigma; he can spray 30/40 yard passes beautifully, but then bobble a 5 yard one to an opposing player.

Last night he was MOM imo. He won most of the second balls, found players with almost every pass and actually showed a bit of competence defensively, Did anyone else think he also looked a bit fitter? He seemed to last 90 minutes without physically fading and also seemed a bit quicker.

 

[sitwell]

Baxter can be an enigma; he can spray 30/40 yard passes beautifully, but then bobble a 5 yard one to an opposing player.

Last night he was MOM imo. He won most of the second balls, found players with almost every pass and actually showed a bit of competence defensively, Did anyone else think he also looked a bit fitter? He seemed to last 90 minutes without physically fading and also seemed a bit quicker.

I would agree with that ,but its a lot easier when you are 4-0 up. Where does he go when we need to unlock a defence when 1-0 down ? If he could do that he would be such a more important player.

 

[pommpey]

Did you enjoy the game last night Pommpey?

I enjoy it when we win. But let's not let the heady spin of beating Scunny go to our heads, eh? In amongst some of the 'lost two in twelve' optimistic outbursts were some pretty wretched performances against Peterborough and Fleetwood Town, both of them shitty home defeats on the back of a crap showing against a poor Crawley side.

The way some frame this (and its the same old vanishing act postees when we end up bummed by Fleetwood who front it out here calling us cynics 'cunts' for suggesting United are an unpredictable, unreliable outfit) it seems like we are suddenly bestowed with a magical prowess that will see us suddenly catapulted into ... where, exactly? Automatic? Fucking yeah! That train left the platform months ago. So to me, it matters not who we beat now just as long as it prepares us for what seems an inevitable exit in some or other stage of the playoffs, because unless you have your melon up your arse, this team cannot produce winning confidence in both its players or supporters.

FYI, my mate who went last night said we played a lot better. I believe him. I'll have faith if we look like a feared, strong unit come late May, but given just over 90 minutes of football ago we were relying on a Baxter spot kick and a sending off to get past a risible Port Vale, I am still not sold, even if you lot are clapping your happy hands off.

pommpey

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Baxter played well last night.

The last time I think he played well was Donny away..............how long ago was that?

All he has to do is be MORE consistent - that is all some of us ask from an inconsistent talent.

Keep up the good work is what the teacher would have said to the pupil.
Ideal opportunity v Crewe, but can he do it against decent opposition ie: Barnsley away?
That is what is meant by being consistent.

UTB

 

[Lane Ender]

I enjoy it when we win. But let's not let the heady spin of beating Scunny go to our heads, eh? In amongst some of the 'lost two in twelve' optimistic outbursts were some pretty wretched performances against Peterborough and Fleetwood Town, both of them shitty home defeats on the back of a crap showing against a poor Crawley side.

The way some frame this (and its the same old vanishing act postees when we end up bummed by Fleetwood who front it out here calling us cynics 'cunts' for suggesting United are an unpredictable, unreliable outfit) it seems like we are suddenly bestowed with a magical prowess that will see us suddenly catapulted into ... where, exactly? Automatic? Fucking yeah! That train left the platform months ago. So to me, it matters not who we beat now just as long as it prepares us for what seems an inevitable exit in some or other stage of the playoffs, because unless you have your melon up your arse, this team cannot produce winning confidence in both its players or supporters.

FYI, my mate who went last night said we played a lot better. I believe him. I'll have faith if we look like a feared, strong unit come late May, but given just over 90 minutes of football ago we were relying on a Baxter spot kick and a sending off to get past a risible Port Vale, I am still not sold, even if you lot are clapping your happy hands off.

pommpey

Trust me Pompey that was a lot better last night

Played like a team who wanted it