Is it time to upgrade Right Wing Back?

[Champagneblade]

Lots of talk about a new striker to add attributes to the attack and share the burden with Billy and to give some relief to Duffy.

Whilst Fleck’s form and the early imperiousness of Norwood fading have both attracted some comment, is it time to accept collectively Freeman and Baldock have come as far as they can?

I like Freeman going forward but he has looked susceptible defensively. In contrast, for the amount of ball he has, Baldock’s end product is very underwhelming. I just wonder who may be in a range that could be perceived as gettable in what is a very specialised position.

I wonder if at some point Kyle Naughton would be gettable or whether we could bit for Ben Marshall.

Anyone agree this is an upcoming area to be improved? Any candidates?

Oh for the next Vas Borbokis!

 

[allypallyblade]

Agree actually and think this is a good example of where we need to be a little ruthless. Baldock is solid but won't be a key player in ensuring play offs at worst then kicking on. Freeman was awesome for a long stretch but then faded badly not sure why. Stevens also looked a liability for some games at the start but has since improved significantly.

They are all players who have proved to be more than fantastic value, and who are much better under Wilder/Knill but they otherwise would have been. But if we are serious about promotion we need to upgrade where we can in the long term.

Having said that, we blew a huge amount by our standards on a full back not so long ago and it didn't work out. It's not the main priority.

 

[SwissBlade]

Lots of talk about a new striker to add attributes to the attack and share the burden with Billy and to give some relief to Duffy.

Whilst Fleck’s form and the early imperiousness of Norwood fading have both attracted some comment, is it time to accept collectively Freeman and Baldock have come as far as they can?

I like Freeman going forward but he has looked susceptible defensively. In contrast, for the amount of ball he has, Baldock’s end product is very underwhelming. I just wonder who may be in a range that could be perceived as gettable in what is a very specialised position.

I wonder if at some point Kyle Naughton would be gettable or whether we could bit for Ben Marshall.

Anyone agree this is an upcoming area to be improved? Any candidates?

Oh for the next Vas Borbokis!

Sure it would be nice to have a complete player, but i think its less likely to happen for our budget. Man City have Kyle Walker, he cost them £50 Million, but he's not the complete player either. However, what Walker brings to Man City and what both Baldock and Freeman offer to us are the options to play a really expansive game, both our wingbacks are excellent going forward, supporting midfield and strikers, have natural fitness and both have pace.

I think left wing back is more vulnerable if Stevens ever gets an injury, Left Centre half if JOC is out at all. Attacking mid if we lose Duffy for any period.

Right wing back could be improved, but i think its way down the list given that we have two good players there.

We could always get our coaches working on their weaknesses instead (which i am sure happens already)

 

[Rodley]

No

We need another striker and a number 10.

 

[LenTednTony]

No. That is all.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Both wing back positions need upgrading as it's where our excellent approach play often breaks down .baldock and Stevens just don't have the confidence o the vision to look up and pick out a strikers run early enough for it to be a goal threat

Naughtons an excellent shout as he's exactly the kind of player we need with the wing back positions being so key to how we play, someone who can defend ,cross and offers a goal threat would give defenders so much more to think about than just following the ball move slowly from one side of their penalty area to another before being crossed straight over the top of everyone for a throw in

 

[Champagneblade]

No

We need another striker and a number 10.

That is a given.

I meant as a third priority.

 

[Rodley]

That is a given.

I meant as a third priority.

The third priority isn’t a priority, considering our resources.

 

[SteveBlade]

Ideally we'd have two quick, athletic wing backs who are good with the ball.

We currently have wing backs who are fair defenders and relatively good with the ball, but their attacking attributes wouldn't scare me as a defender.

 

[BigBed]

Freeman will be back soon, just let his ribs heel properly and he'll be back.

 

[Harry's Game]

Goal scoring midfielder and Powerful striker is more urgent.

If it was fantasy football and we had a bottomless pit of Money we need to strengthen in about five different positions,

But it isn’t and we don’t.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

No - we need to get Freeman back in the team to create chances FOR THE TWO STRIKERS WE NEED IN THE JTW.

We only have Billy. McG is far from a centre forward - he drifts too deep - great for away type formations.

Leon is so out of sorts.

If we want to create we need a Freeman to find his proper form again - Baldock is the defensive option.

UTB

 

[zablade]

Freeman will be back soon, just let his ribs heel properly and he'll be back.

Freeman was the worst player on the pitch in the last half dozen games he played before being dropped.

 

[Fanny magnet]

No - we need to get Freeman back in the team to create chances FOR THE TWO STRIKERS WE NEED IN THE JTW.

We only have Billy. McG is far from a centre forward - he drifts too deep - great for away type formations.

Leon is so out of sorts.

If we want to create we need a Freeman to find his proper form again - Baldock is the defensive option.

UTB

He's a left wingers dream come true

 

[BigBed]

Freeman was the worst player on the pitch in the last half dozen games he played before being dropped.

No argument from me, but he has got damaged ribs, hence not making the bench recently. He has been playing injured, and it's caught up with him.

 

[Asabanana]

Neither Baldock or Stevens are particularly good crossers of the ball and neither can beat a man. Freeman is probably the best of the 3 going forward but is the weakest defensively. The system we play puts huge emphasis on the two wide men contributing to all phases of play so if one of them has an off day it t affects our entire game.

I do think we need to upgrade but wide men who can do everything ours need to do but better don't come cheap. A lot of wing backs won't have played in a system like ours so it'll always be a punt whether they can hack it or not.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

He's a left wingers dream come true

don't disagree - forum members could make a point to change numerous players in this team which includes Freeman, except we don't have the money available.

the reality is that CW has told us where he wants the newbies and it's not at RWB.

The only question is: do we play Freeman to create chances and be poor(ish) in defence or play Baldock and have virtually zero creativity in and around the oppositions box. it's a no brainer for me as CW wants to play on the front foot and get forward. CW also wants JOC and Bash to play further forward and join the attack which will always leave the defence exposed on both sides.

If Freeman has been playing injured then it won't be long before he's back. I still recall the poll we had a bit back (Freeman v Baldock) - it was overwhelmingly in favour of playing Freeman.

UTB

 

[Ricky]

Freeman ALWAYS picks up knocks and injuries.

We do need improvement there anyway.

Both Freeman and Baldock need to be in good form to be good enough for the level we're aspiring to. If they drop below that form, they're a weakness.

If Ben Marshall has the stamina for it I'd consider him. Jonjoe Kenny could be a good loan from Everton.

 

[Champagneblade]

Just thought I'd bump this after yesterday's shambles.

The only thing I'd add is that we'd better start wrapping Enda up in cotton wool too.

If the cover for him is Johnson and Bryan, we're in trouble! Cheeky bid for Marcus Maddison who can also play there?

To the OP, the spectrum from Freeman's best to his worst is alarming. Starting to believe he's just one of those we have left behind.

If they are interested in Clarke, what about engineering a Clarke for Naughton swap with Swansea? Would Norwich sell Marshall? Not getting a game with that young lad in there. Would be useful for us.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Just thought I'd bump this after yesterday's shambles.

The only thing I'd add is that we'd better start wrapping Enda up in cotton wool too.

If the cover for him is Johnson and Bryan, we're in trouble! Cheeky bid for Marcus Maddison who can also play there?

To the OP, the spectrum from Freeman's best to his worst is alarming. Starting to believe he's just one of those we have left behind.

If they are interested in Clarke, what about engineering a Clarke for Naughton swap with Swansea? Would Norwich sell Marshall? Not getting a game with that young lad in there. Would be useful for us.

At the start of this season there were threads on here waxing lyrical about Freeman. Players lose form and the injuries he's had won't be helping him but as a few have said on this post we are more exposed at LWB than RWB.

 

[Champagneblade]

At the start of this season there were threads on here waxing lyrical about Freeman. Players lose form and the injuries he's had won't be helping him but as a few have said on this post we are more exposed at LWB than RWB.

Probably why I think Naughton would be a good signing. You could always switch him to LWB and bring Baldock into RWB. You could arguably move on Freeman and Johnson in that scenario though I acknowledge Baldock's fitness hasn't exactly been dependable. But that in itself gives another reason to target this, if not now, in the summer.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Probably why I think Naughton would be a good signing. You could always switch him to LWB and bring Baldock into RWB. You could arguably move on Freeman and Johnson in that scenario though I acknowledge Baldock's fitness hasn't exactly been dependable. But that in itself gives another reason to target this, if not now, in the summer.

I really don't like right footers on the left hand side, given the way we play with wide wing backs it would take a large part of our game away in my view. There must be better than Marvin out there, he looks pretty poor so far.

 

[Houso]

Freeman will find form again one day and be ready for when Baldock drops off.

Stevens is mentioned as being needed to be wrapped up in cotton wool, but he was Scapegoat No.1 last season and now he's performing.

RWB is a position we're among best catered for so certainly don't need to look at replacements.