Baxter ?

[SandyMcBlade]

I'm not saying this guy can't play a bit, but has he really been that big a success playing up front ?
Our attack especially in the box has for the most part looked pretty poor this season, and now since Coady has stop playing is practically none existent, that is until you take Baxter off and bring Porter on..
So do you expect NC to keep playing him up front next season, because I have my doubts, but if not where ? ....

 

[boo radley]

I think he will be with us next season. He's swapped with Murphy loads during games and does create many different options because of his quality vision despite the fact he lacks pace and a decent chaseback.

 

[bricktop]

Get him playing off a decent striker then you will really see him flourish. I dont think we have really seen the best of him this season as we have not seen him in a position where we can use him to his best advantage.

Blades of a certain vintage should be reminded of another player, who he reminds me more and more of, and that is the sublime but often at the time much maligned Glyn Hodges

 

[grafikhaus]

Get him playing off a decent striker then you will really see him flourish. I dont think we have really seen the best of him this season as we have not seen him in a position where we can use him to his best advantage.

Blades of a certain vintage should be reminded of another player, who he reminds me more and more of, and that is the sublime but often at the time much maligned Glyn Hodges

Absolutely. Jose Baxter is the new Stephen Quinn, don't miss him 'til he's gone.

 

[Captain]

Baxter was poor last night, looks still to be carrying a bit too much weight, Should have gone with Porter from the start last night as Vales defence was inexperienced and it showed!Baxter will be at BDTBL next year, as will CP.

 

[Sheff de party]

He's not a striker! But he's the cleverest, most skillful player we have. Cloughy know he's been playing him out of position and he'll rectify that in the summer. I'm certain Baxter will be playing off a front man in a free role, creating some havoc.

I'd be saying these things to him were I Cloughy:

1) You have a big future in this game, but you're still young and at the moment, the only way from SUFC is down. Work hard next season, get us in the Championship and one day you'll be playing higher than us.

2) I'll be building the attacking part of the team around you next season. I'll get someone who can actually control a ball to play in front of you, so you'll have a great time.

3) Spend this summer thinking about what you want. If you want to be a footballer, lose some weight and GET FIT. You should be running games at this level and you're not.

 

[SwissBlade]

Baxter is doing the job he's being asked to do. Playing up top on his own is a thankless task in many ways. Last night I thought 2 up front wouldn't have been too bold a move to make and perhaps Baxter was a scapegoat at times. When he went off we started penetrating more and Flynn/ Murphy started running at defenders and trying to force errors.

Port vale had targeted Scougall all game and the ref didn't offer him any protection, I suppose Scougall was only able to make those runs because we had one up top and a packed midfield.

Baxter isn't a target man, he'd ideally be sitting in behind a main striker and getting into the box late - in Scougall's role.

I like Baxter, he can be frustrating at times and there are games where he won't be suited. I don't think he's carrying much extra timber, but I don't think he's as sharp as he could be. He's not a player to chase lost causes, unlike Porter when he came on, but that was what we needed last night.

 

[blader]

Got to feel sorry for him, can't say any more than has already been said. No different to putting Collins on the wing and slagging him off for under performing. We will see the best of him next year, Baxter needs to be 40 yards from goal controlling the game from there. Not on the last man with his back to goal.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Baxter is doing the job he's being asked to do. Playing up top on his own is a thankless task in many ways. Last night I thought 2 up front wouldn't have been too bold a move to make and perhaps Baxter was a scapegoat at times. When he went off we started penetrating more and Flynn/ Murphy started running at defenders and trying to force errors.

Port vale had targeted Scougall all game and the ref didn't offer him any protection, I suppose Scougall was only able to make those runs because we had one up top and a packed midfield.

Baxter isn't a target man, he'd ideally be sitting in behind a main striker and getting into the box late - in Scougall's role.

I like Baxter, he can be frustrating at times and there are games where he won't be suited. I don't think he's carrying much extra timber, but I don't think he's as sharp as he could be. He's not a player to chase lost causes, unlike Porter when he came on, but that was what we needed last night.

Both goals last night were typical NC goals based on how he has us playing with the emphasis on midfield.

I'd suspect NC was delighted with Baxters contribution last night and his ability to carry out orders.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Interesting that loads of people are saying play him behind a striker, which I'd agree is probably his best postion but that's also where Scougall is most effective with the added bonus that Scoug isn't bone idle when it come to picking up a man defensively.

 

[Rodley]

Rule 143 of being a Blade - we must have a player to whinge constantly about.

A creative player, asked to perform a role he's totally unaccustomed to that doesn't really suit his game. He's not the most mobile but his ball retention / link up play is vastly underrated and he can pick a pass.With Scougall, Flynn and Murphy bombing forward he's actially very effective at unlocking defences. He's got a reasonable goal return and plenty of assists and his playing regularly has coincided with us shooting up the league and getting to the FA Cup Semi Final.

On balance I think he's done well, he's only 22 and has been asked to take on a lot of responsibility. Next season when teams start to park the bus, we'll need his nous to break teams down. Under this management team he'll continue to improve and I'm inclined to trust NC who clearly recognises his value and the attributes to the team.

 

[DazBlade88]

He'll have a big part to play for us next year. Clough has openly admitted that he's looking forward to having a pre-season with him and getting him into better shape.

Yes, he's a bit lazy and a luxury player but he's playing in a position that doesn't suit his game. He wasn't at his best last night but he still wanted the ball and tried to pick a pass.

If we can get a proper centre forward in the summer and keep Flynn, Murphy, Scougall and Baxter we'll have a very dangerous attacking line-up who all have different strengths. We just need a focal point for all of these to feed off/supply.

 

[sitwell]

I personally don't think he is either overweight or unfit ,its how he plays. If Im wrong and he is then it is a real problem because he has had nearly a full season of regular football to get in shape and at 22 that is worrying. Like a previous poster said if his position is as a partner up front we will have to play a certain way into feet which could work as we have pacey wingers and Scougall ,but he will have work harder to get in the box. My other dilemma with him is I think he has an arrogance which is not a bad thing as long as he doesn't become a comfort zone player. Hope he can do it ,but the choice of striker is imperative.

 

[Woodwardfan]

He's not a striker! But he's the cleverest, most skillful player we have. Cloughy know he's been playing him out of position and he'll rectify that in the summer. I'm certain Baxter will be playing off a front man in a free role, creating some havoc.

I'd be saying these things to him were I Cloughy:

1) You have a big future in this game, but you're still young and at the moment, the only way from SUFC is down. Work hard next season, get us in the Championship and one day you'll be playing higher than us.

2) I'll be building the attacking part of the team around you next season. I'll get someone who can actually control a ball to play in front of you, so you'll have a great time.

3) Spend this summer thinking about what you want. If you want to be a footballer, lose some weight and GET FIT. You should be running games at this level and you're not.

Good post but FGS he's not overweight, it's just his build. Was Molby overweight? The young Gazza? Malcolm Mcdonald? If the lad was fat he would not get into a Clough team

 

[ScoobBlade]

I actually rate Baxter, seems to be a very intelligent footballer, but I do believe that one thing you can't forgive a professional footballer for is a lack of fitness. It's a basic and it seems to be a challenge for our jose

 

[Mendi]

he can have good games, and bad ones. I hope he does well but maybe he looking for move if he cant keep a form going for him self that my take, i could be wrong.

 

[itsinyerblood]

he can have good games, and bad ones. I hope he does well but maybe he looking for move if he cant keep a form going for him self that my take, i could be wrong.

Mendi, I was doing well mate up until your second sentence. Is this an Italian take on chav-speak? Not being funny, but I struggled with this.

 

[sheffielder]

BASH! So we trust clough in everything, yet he must be wrong about Baxter then?

 

[ScoobBlade]

BASH! So we trust clough in everything, yet he must be wrong about Baxter then?

I never said clough was wrong, I fully expect Nigel to expect a fitter Baxter to come back pre season, I think he's just giving him time

 

[sheffielder]

I never said clough was wrong, I fully expect Nigel to expect a fitter Baxter to come back pre season, I think he's just giving him time

Personally, I see Baxter as good squad man next season. Can be that third in midfield, play behind the top man or be the top man. In some games he has swapped with Murphy on the left. Clough likes a small first team squad so players like Murphy and Baxter are a must.

I am looking forward to seeing all these players after a pre season Cloughie is going to see them. I hope we can gain another 10/20% out of the players we already have.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

BASH! So we trust clough in everything, yet he must be wrong about Baxter then?

Interesting world you seem to inhabit whereby everything must be one of two extremes?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Truth is probably the last outfield player we would have expected to see as lone striker would be Baxter but look at the results since the team was selected as such. Numerous times sat around fellow fans incensed by Baxter's lack of pace, lack of height, lack of mobility, have I wondered why him, but Baxter did his best way out of position. He's a "No.10" if ever there was one, or an attacking central midfielder. When not up front he has been pushed out wide. It's been hard on him and by now a few sat round me, ones who have to have a "boo-boy" have turned on him.

 

[sheffielder]

Interesting world you seem to inhabit whereby everything must be one of two extremes?

Life as a football fan Bob...

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Life as a football fan Bob...

I just don't buy into this whereby any criticism or highlighting of shortcomings is taken as slagging a player off, or even doubting the manager.
Baxter has shortcomings that he needs to work on if he's to be the man the team is built round. He doesn't track back when we don't have the ball, disappears from games for long periods when things aren't working for us and cannot grab a third division match by the throat and drag the team through seemingly by himself.
He is also the most technically proficient and naturally talented player we currently have on the books.
What a paradox eh?

 

[JohnDenver]

I personally don't think he is either overweight or unfit ,its how he plays.

I think he's quite clearly in poor condition, but even if not, the bottom line is the fella can't last 90 minutes. That's completely unacceptable.

He's talented and young, but now's the time for him to decide how good he wants to be. It's up to him.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I'm not saying this guy can't play a bit, but has he really been that big a success playing up front ?
Our attack especially in the box has for the most part looked pretty poor this season, and now since Coady has stop playing is practically none existent, that is until you take Baxter off and bring Porter on..
So do you expect NC to keep playing him up front next season, because I have my doubts, but if not where ? ....

I think we all know Sandy that Baxter isn't really suited to the role that he is playing at the moment. To say that we have played this season without one decent striker, and to finish where we have is a credit to NC & his coaching staff. All the inactivity during the transfer windows in relation to bringing in a striker, to me always pointed to the fact that bringing Evans back was on the cards. I agree with a lot of people that once we get a decent striker in at the club, Baxter's career with us will really take off.

 

[shorehamview]

Under Clough we've seemed lately to be playing almost a 4-6-0 formation, and it's mostly been working. Baxter isn't a centre forward, so to blame him for not being one seems rather harsh. He's not a dragon either, yet someone will be along soon moaning that he doesn't breathe fire and eat damsels.

 

[Darthblade]

I just don't buy into this whereby any criticism or highlighting of shortcomings is taken as slagging a player off, or even doubting the manager.
Baxter has shortcomings that he needs to work on if he's to be the man the team is built round. He doesn't track back when we don't have the ball, disappears from games for long periods when things aren't working for us and cannot grab a third division match by the throat and drag the team through seemingly by himself.
He is also the most technically proficient and naturally talented player we currently have on the books.
What a paradox eh?

In fact he's probably one of the most technically gifted players in the Division, as is Sean Miller ....... but neither of them seem able to just grab the game by then scruff of the neck and make it theirs .....
UTB & FTP

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I think he's quite clearly in poor condition, but even if not, the bottom line is the fella can't last 90 minutes. That's completely unacceptable.

He's talented and young, but now's the time for him to decide how good he wants to be. It's up to him.

Agree 100%. Think the ball is in his court so let's see how he responds to the challenge next year. Wish him all the luck in the world (why would any of us not?) but he's got to make a better fist of things - and he can start by losing a few pounds.

 

[Paulus]

At Tranmere on Monday first half we were as poor as we have been under Clough without Baxter, second half we looked like a team again, guess what Baxter had replaced Porter. Personally, I don't think these factors are unrelated.