Baxter

[Sunjihi]

It's time for him to go I'm afraid !! I know we can get shut of him while he's under contract but when he is out of contract the boy needs moving on !! What a passenger in every single game he plays all this talk of defence splitting passes , bit of magic , long range strikes .... Are nonsense he does nothing but lumber about playing miss placed passes , and if we are lead to believe that after getting the red at Fulham he got the roasting to end all roastings well he didn't bang his chest and demand the ball in a il pay the fans and my team mates back way , this team isn't good enough to carry passengers and he's had more than enough chances but he is just not good enough !!!

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Baxter was no better or worse than the vast majority of the side last night. He has the ability but rarely shows it, will never achieve his potential, and quite frankly looks like a man who would rather be somewhere else. Hopefully he will be in the not too distant future.

 

[Caseh]

I see he is back with McEveley in the list of people that are causing all the problems.

Let's ignore the fact that most of those players were absolutely embarrassing tonight, including so called "fans favourites"

 

[davidpinder]

Another Baxter post

 

[Coily]

From Adkins' post match interview, I'd be very surprised if Baxter starts on Sunday.

There is a player in Jose, but he's not able to function in a 2 man central midfield defensively. He also takes too many risks playing balls with little reward, especially in our own half.

 

[Smirth]

Both him and Basham aren't up to scratch it seems.

Pity we have no realistic replacements since Coutts, Cuvelier and Wallace are all crocks.

 

[sitwell]

I see he is back with McEveley in the list of people that are causing all the problems.

Let's ignore the fact that most of those players were absolutely embarrassing tonight, including so called "fans favourites"

Who are these fans favourites who have been ignored ?

 

[Caseh]

Who are these fans favourites who have been ignored ?

People like Basham, who very rarely receives criticism but he actually adds nothing in midfield.

 

[TonyAgana]

Who are these fans favourites who have been ignored ?

Agendas, bro. Everyone's got 'em.

---

Not entirely unrelated, I suppose, but I thought Basham was arse last night. Also, not necessarily in defence of McEveley, I didn't see enough leadership or captaincy material from anywhere else on the field.

Baxter didn't look hungry to make amends, but then Scougall looked like a little-boy-lost rather than the relentless nuisance we saw in his first season; Sammon was largely anonymous but a damn-sight more capable than Higdon. Let's hope it's an early blip and with four key players (plus another three second-choicers) set to return we can crack on and never look back.

 

[Sean Thornton]

People like Basham, who very rarely receives criticism but he actually adds nothing in midfield.

Basham loses the ball as much as anyone when he sets of on one of his forward runs. Final ball is more often than not, poor.

We need a Doyle type with more quality.

 

[Slim Man]

From Adkins' post match interview, I'd be very surprised if Baxter starts on Sunday.

There is a player in Jose, but he's not able to function in a 2 man central midfield defensively. He also takes too many risks playing balls with little reward, especially in our own half.

At least someone in our team actually tries risky balls. The rest of them look for a pass, see a run, then turn back and give it to Collins or Edgar. Or a pass out to McEveley for him to launch into heir keepers arms

 

[Smirth]

Of the games played so far this season Basham has had a dreadfully poor start and looks very clumsy in the middle.

Baxter has been a mixed bag so far but has contributed with a goal and a very good performance against Peterborough and has done okay in other games and poorly in some too.

Baxter gets a load of stick and jeered by the home crowd whenever he misplaces a forward pass, yet Basham receives very little criticism. I'm not in anyway saying Baxter has been good enough, but he's been better than Basham has so far this season yet received far more stick.

 

[Trigger Blade]

At least someone in our team actually tries risky balls. The rest of them look for a pass, see a run, then turn back and give it to Collins or Edgar. Or a pass out to McEveley for him to launch into heir keepers arms

I thought Baxter was poor, lazy and disinterested, but he did play at least a couple of killer balls in the second half, one threaded between defenders out to JCR and one through to McNulty, which their keeper read and just got to.

Is that enough from a creative midfielder? Definitely not.

 

[TonyAgana]

I certainly don't buy into the ethos that you need 11 players giving 100% every game - there's plenty of players from our history that go some way to dampen it - but a team can't carry more than 1 or 2 (at a push) enigmatic / flair players. That said, Baxter, I'm afraid, doesn't quite fit into that category.

 

[SouthportBlade]

Its the midfield pairing which is the issue.

Firstly Baxter isn't really suited to a 2 man midfield, as everyone can see - doesn't have the pace or fitness to cover the ground required. He is really suited to a number 10, or free role position. This would require us to build the team around him, sadly he may be suited to that position but don't think he is good enough to build a team around.

Secondly, Basham. He won a lot of fans round when moved to CB last season, and rightly so as he was very strong at CB. However move him to his natural position and he offers very very little. His job should be to break up play and play percentage passes. In terms of breaking up the play I don't think he is up to scratch, apart from a few big challenges which get cheers from the fans, he doesn't do the basics right. He often seems to be out of position and always stretching / chasing play. For all his critics Doyles positioning was more often than not fantastic, which meant he was very effective at breaking up play. Moreover, once he has the ball, he never looks comfortable especially when having to pass a ball more than 10 yards.

The issue I don't think is the individuals ability, its I don't think they are right for a CM pairing.

JD

 

[SwissBlade]

Another Baxter post

at least his name was in the title of this thread

 

[mattbianco1]

Random.. I thought Baxter and Bash am were best players last night.

Baxter offers something none of our other midfielders do

 

[Caseh]

I thought Baxter was poor, lazy and disinterested, but he did play at least a couple of killer balls in the second half, one threaded between defenders out to JCR and one through to McNulty, which their keeper read and just got to.

Is that enough from a creative midfielder? Definitely not.

I don't think you'll find anyone saying he has been good enough this season, the issue is he gets all the criticism and then the likes of Basham gets left alone.

Neither of them have been good enough, only one gets jeered every time they make a mistake... Or villified after every match.

 

[super_pig]

People like Basham, who very rarely receives criticism but he actually adds nothing in midfield.

apart from doing his job and baxters at the same time.. people like him because he gives 100 percent. can you say the same about backwards baxter who spends most of his time in the centre circle smoking cigars

 

[super_pig]

Random.. I thought Baxter and Bash am were best players last night.
Baxter offers something none of our other midfielders do

unpredictability.. unfortunately that works against us most of the time

 

[Caseh]

apart from doing his job and baxters at the same time.. people like him because he gives 100 percent. can you say the same about backwards baxter who spends most of his time in the centre circle smoking cigars

Ah we're back to this again.. "He runs around a lot, so he must be doing a good job".

No he runs around like a headless chicken. He isn't strong enough, he doesn't have enough positional awareness, he isn't good enough on the ball, he panics as soon as he has to pass further than his nose. He needs to be tougher, more aggressive. Don't get me wrong, I like him - But not as a starter in a 2 man midfield. And before you say it, no Baxter hasn't been good enough either, but he already receives plenty criticism, whilst he is playing in the stands and then after the match.

 

[forever_blade]

I purposely watched Baxter closely last night & he offered absolutely nothing.

No heart, no passion, no quality, disinterested. Was an absolutely pathetic showing from a man who should have been looking to made amends after letting Adkins down by getting himself sent off at Fulham.

He played two passes all game that warranted any sort of praise as previously mentioned the one through to McNulty & the one slid in to JCR, apart from that he was non-existent.

I'm quick to praise players & I'd say I sway more towards being a 'clapper' than a 'slasher'. Peterborough away we saw the Jose Baxter that can arrive at the party (no pun intended relating to his recent antics) - guile, bite, hunger & quality on the ball, playing with a purpose. Last night was far & away the worst performance I have seen from him.

Granted it's not just Baxter who takes the brunt of the abuse but he didn't break sweat last night & for that there's simply no excuse. If you put that red & white shirt on, you work that engine till there's nothing left, that's a given. If the quality & touch isn't there then that can be forgiven, if your not working hard to close down, to bite into tackles, to support your forwards, to offer your wingers an option, to offer your full backs an option, to get up for those first balls, to drive into those second balls when they drop, to get on the ball & try & make things happen then that's simply unforgiveable.

Baxter offered non of the above last night & Basham didn't impose absolutely any where near an acceptable level especially first half. The worst part is Baxter hid last night. Hid from play, didn't want the ball, didn't close down, didn't want to make a tackle (the only ones he did make he injured himself in the process).

Colchester's lads we're buzzing from the word go, they won every second ball, chased, harried & looked so much more hungry than our lads all over the park especially in midfield. Fair play to them. We need to buck our ideas up & quick.

You have to earn the right to play before you can play. We weren't prepared to do the dirty work last night & seemed to have turned up with a swagger that we just had to roll out & we'd win, we just cantering about as if it was just 'gonna happen' & Colchester weren't gonna be fussed.

Tell you what they were fussed, they were impressive, like bees round honey round that ball when we had it, we didn't know what to do, instead of matching them up, pressing them as they pressed us, we sat off & our body language spoke volumes. 'They won't let us play it's not fair' was what was presented. Match 'em up, press 'em hard & do to them what their doing to you United & when you get it, play it with purpose, play with a tempo & if your not on it create space with movement rather that sat there waiting for someone else to 'make it happen'.

I'm still positive, the performance's at Peterborough & Swindon away show me the United we can be. That's your standard, keep to it, don't let it drop below that as you have done against Bury & Colchester.

Buck your idea's up sharpish & get back to the levels you've set yourselves. Keep the faith, UTB

 

[Dnblade]

Yeah Baxter was poor last night although he improved 2nd half..similar with a Bash...can't defend either of them on that showing..overran and outplayed.Maybe we should go back to playing with 3 centre a Midfielders until we can bring in some new blood...Any team with pace and mobilty like Colchester who have a go,or big physical teams like Gills we struggle.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Well considered post from forever_blade. I've seen enough of Baxter to know that he definitely falls into the category referred to as luxury. When the mood takes him he's a decent player, but when he does no more than make an appearance, well we might as well take the field with 10 men, such is his influence on the team's performance. And this is the crux, he's meant to have an influence, but we can't depend on this happening often enough. The word guile was mentioned, something we're desperately low on. Without guile we are mundane and predictable, how inspiring is that?

 

[super_pig]

Ah we're back to this again.. "He runs around a lot, so he must be doing a good job".

No he runs around like a headless chicken. He isn't strong enough, he doesn't have enough positional awareness, he isn't good enough on the ball, he panics as soon as he has to pass further than his nose. He needs to be tougher, more aggressive. Don't get me wrong, I like him - But not as a starter in a 2 man midfield. And before you say it, no Baxter hasn't been good enough either, but he already receives plenty criticism, whilst he is playing in the stands and then after the match.

i didn't say that.. i was commenting on why basham is more popular.. at least he does 'something'

 

[BushBlade]

Its the midfield pairing which is the issue.

Firstly Baxter isn't really suited to a 2 man midfield, as everyone can see - doesn't have the pace or fitness to cover the ground required. He is really suited to a number 10, or free role position. This would require us to build the team around him, sadly he may be suited to that position but don't think he is good enough to build a team around.

Secondly, Basham. He won a lot of fans round when moved to CB last season, and rightly so as he was very strong at CB. However move him to his natural position and he offers very very little. His job should be to break up play and play percentage passes. In terms of breaking up the play I don't think he is up to scratch, apart from a few big challenges which get cheers from the fans, he doesn't do the basics right. He often seems to be out of position and always stretching / chasing play. For all his critics Doyles positioning was more often than not fantastic, which meant he was very effective at breaking up play. Moreover, once he has the ball, he never looks comfortable especially when having to pass a ball more than 10 yards.

The issue I don't think is the individuals ability, its I don't think they are right for a CM pairing.

JD

Exact JD. I appreciate NA is new to the club and has to make his own assessments of players but by buying Sharp and loaning Sammon he was effectively committing to playing 442 and I think it's pretty obvious to those of us that follow the Blades we haven't got two fit midfielders that can play in a 442.
We've all been fretting about getting a CH, myself included, when it seems more pressing that we sort out the midfield.

It's really difficult to draw any positives about the last two games. To lose at home to Bury and Colchester is shit, whichever way you look at it. I hope NA now realises what a bunch of limited, spineless players we have. He seems to have slept walked into this situation like Robson did.

 

[BushBlade]

I purposely watched Baxter closely last night & he offered absolutely nothing.

No heart, no passion, no quality, disinterested. Was an absolutely pathetic showing from a man who should have been looking to made amends after letting Adkins down by getting himself sent off at Fulham.

He played two passes all game that warranted any sort of praise as previously mentioned the one through to McNulty & the one slid in to JCR, apart from that he was non-existent.

I'm quick to praise players & I'd say I sway more towards being a 'clapper' than a 'slasher'. Peterborough away we saw the Jose Baxter that can arrive at the party (no pun intended relating to his recent antics) - guile, bite, hunger & quality on the ball, playing with a purpose. Last night was far & away the worst performance I have seen from him.

Granted it's not just Baxter who takes the brunt of the abuse but he didn't break sweat last night & for that there's simply no excuse. If you put that red & white shirt on, you work that engine till there's nothing left, that's a given. If the quality & touch isn't there then that can be forgiven, if your not working hard to close down, to bite into tackles, to support your forwards, to offer your wingers an option, to offer your full backs an option, to get up for those first balls, to drive into those second balls when they drop, to get on the ball & try & make things happen then that's simply unforgiveable.

Baxter offered non of the above last night & Basham didn't impose absolutely any where near an acceptable level especially first half. The worst part is Baxter hid last night. Hid from play, didn't want the ball, didn't close down, didn't want to make a tackle (the only ones he did make he injured himself in the process).

Colchester's lads we're buzzing from the word go, they won every second ball, chased, harried & looked so much more hungry than our lads all over the park especially in midfield. Fair play to them. We need to buck our ideas up & quick.

You have to earn the right to play before you can play. We weren't prepared to do the dirty work last night & seemed to have turned up with a swagger that we just had to roll out & we'd win, we just cantering about as if it was just 'gonna happen' & Colchester weren't gonna be fussed.

Tell you what they were fussed, they were impressive, like bees round honey round that ball when we had it, we didn't know what to do, instead of matching them up, pressing them as they pressed us, we sat off & our body language spoke volumes. 'They won't let us play it's not fair' was what was presented. Match 'em up, press 'em hard & do to them what their doing to you United & when you get it, play it with purpose, play with a tempo & if your not on it create space with movement rather that sat there waiting for someone else to 'make it happen'.

I'm still positive, the performance's at Peterborough & Swindon away show me the United we can be. That's your standard, keep to it, don't let it drop below that as you have done against Bury & Colchester.

Buck your idea's up sharpish & get back to the levels you've set yourselves. Keep the faith, UTB

Quality post.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Baxter & Basham are the sort of players who, if they were both on the bench you'd think: yes, we're going places.

But, like so many others have said, they're both of them painfully limited players as central-midfield starters in a 442. I'd be looking to bench them both & get two quality loanees in ASAP - Morsy (with an agreement to sign permanently in Jan) & a more progressive-minded middy.
(Wallace & Coutts we can write-off basically, any minutes on the park from either is simply a bonus now.)

 

[sitwell]

Where does this myth that he has talent ,ability and is a luxury come from ? Because in the whole time hes been here he has shown none of these. He seems to have acquired this status at a young age by being in the same group as Rooney and his career and 'ability' have gone downhill ever since ,but still the myth remains. He cant pass consistently ,he cant head ,he cant tackle ,he cant take players on ,he has no presence ,he has no consistency ,he has no passion ,what exactly does this worldbeater possess ? I honestly don't understand why some support him while he continues to take us for mugs.

 

[JohnDenver]

Where does this myth that he has talent ,ability and is a luxury come from ? Because in the whole time hes been here he has shown none of these. He seems to have acquired this status at a young age by being in the same group as Rooney and his career and 'ability' have gone downhill ever since ,but still the myth remains. He cant pass consistently ,he cant head ,he cant tackle ,he cant take players on ,he has no presence ,he has no consistency ,he has no passion ,what exactly does this worldbeater possess ? I honestly don't understand why some support him while he continues to take us for mugs.

He has vision and can strike a ball. Trouble is, he's a one-in-ten game performer at best, and I'm absolutely sick of paying to watch his nine game stretches of unforgivably half-arsed, laboured, lower-league tarting about.

For years and years I've sat watching all shades of tripe without abusing the players or jeering at half time. But Baxter takes me to the limit of my endurance.

Honestly, one day soon you'll see a random bloke run onto the pitch in the middle of the game, rugby tackle the useless lump of scouse inadequacy, then proceed to drag him off the pitch by his bollocks. That bloke will be me, and I fully expect a standing frickin' ovation.