That man Freeman

[LoughboroBlade]

It’s about damned time

 

[JackSUFC]

Really happy for him. He must have been pretty down in dumps throughout last season with his injury but he’s come back, been fantastic and his call-up is fully deserved.

Be an interesting watch if it’s Freeman vs Stevens down their side of the pitch next Tuesday.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

ahha - Well done Ryan Giggs - woken up at last to the best RWB in the Championship.

Just need that Scottish fella to to get Fleck into the squad and team.

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

ahha - Well done Ryan Giggs - woken up at last to the best RWB in the Championship.

Just need that Scottish fella to to get Fleck into the squad and team.

UTB

In fairness to Giggs, he did have Freeman as standby for the squad for the Ireland/Denmark games the other month.

 

[IOM Blade]

ahha - Well done Ryan Giggs - woken up at last to the best RWB in the Championship.

Just need that Scottish fella to to get Fleck into the squad and team.

UTB

Duffy and O'Connell. Both based in Liverpool with Irish names. Has to be an Irish grandparent in there somewhere?

 

[BushBlade]

Personally I’d prefer all our players to be having a rest rather than jetting around the globe risking injury playing for teams I don’t give a shit about.

But well done Freeman, absolutely deserve the recognition.

 

[GrayBlade]

I’m going to hold my hands up. I never really rated Freeman even in our promotion season because I though that he was far too suspect defensively, to such an extent that teams seemed to be targeting our right defensive I didn’t think that he was a patch on Baldock.

But boy has he proved me wrong this season. He’s defensively improved his game but absolutely blasted Baldock out of the water with the attacking side, mainly because his end product is so much better. It just shows we should never write any player off.

Well done and congrats Kieron!

 

[itsinyerblood]

I’m going to hold my hands up. I never really rated Freeman even in our promotion season because I though that he was far too suspect defensively, to such an extent that teams seemed to be targeting our right defensive I didn’t think that he was a patch on Baldock.

But boy has he proved me wrong this season. He’s defensively improved his game but absolutely blasted Baldock out of the water with the attacking side, mainly because his end product is so much better. It just shows we should never write any player off.

Well done and congrats Kieron!

Gray, could be a case of the nearer we get to the prize of promotion the more players push themselves. Whatever lay behind this, Freeman is a valued member of this team. What we're seeing is a squad of players, competing with one another to gain a foot in the first eleven. Getting there's tough, but remaining there is even tougher. It's why we have competition for places, which in turn enables Wilder to choose the man in form. But you're right, Freeman is a very good player who could possibly/probably get even better.

 

[adebo]

This has taken too long to come for Freeman when i saw Chris Gunter was Welsh right back last night I thought wow how is the Reading fullback in ahead of ours?

 

[GrayBlade]

Gray, could be a case of the nearer we get to the prize of promotion the more players push themselves. Whatever lay behind this, Freeman is a valued member of this team. What we're seeing is a squad of players, competing with one another to gain a foot in the first eleven. Getting there's tough, but remaining there is even tougher. It's why we have competition for places, which in turn enables Wilder to choose the man in form. But you're right, Freeman is a very good player who could possibly/probably get even better.

I think you’re spot on mate and I think maybe it’s that he’s started to realise how good he can be.

I think he was seen as backup at best at Forest and Derby hence the times he was loaned out, and he was always going to struggle here once we signed Brayford. Getting rid of Brayford but then bringing in Baldock could have been the last straw from some players but as it turns out, the injury that kept him out for much of last season could have actually have done both him and United a favour. Maybe he had time to reflect? He’s certainly really upped his game, as in fairness Stevens has also.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I think you’re spot on mate and I think maybe it’s that he’s started to realise how good he can be.

I think he was seen as backup at best at Forest and Derby hence the times he was loaned out, and he was always going to struggle here once we signed Brayford. Getting rid of Brayford but then bringing in Baldock could have been the last straw from some players but as it turns out, the injury that kept him out for much of last season could have actually have done both him and United a favour. Maybe he had time to reflect? He’s certainly really upped his game, as in fairness Stevens has also.

Hope you're right Gray,

We may just be on the cusp of developing players capable of playing in the Premiership Division, the trick is going to be holding onto them. Firstly, promotion is the single most important next step, once there we must ensure that we either remain, or failing that, should we get relegated, plan accordingly to return as quickly as possible. In fact very similar to the way Burnley have mapped out their present and future. At the centre of this is Wilder. He'll need complete support from the Board who must allow him to recruit the type of players who can take over from those who depart.

No absolutes I know, but that's where we currently stand. I hope McCabe's the one who manages to retain control, as being a Premiership club will make selling this club far easier for KM. We can only hope that whoever takes over has an ambitious outlook, one which includes supporting his manager with a healthy transfer attitude.

 

[Gin&Juice]

I’m a big Baldock fan, but Freeman all day long now. Incidentally I wanted us to sign Baldock to eventually replace Freeman. Glad we have two genuinely good right backs. It’s always been our strongpoint for the last 10 years or so.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

I'll hold my hands up and admit, I'd forgotten he was Welsh.

 

[GrayBlade]

I'll hold my hands up and admit, I'd forgotten he was Welsh.

Me too, he’s got 15 U21 caps for them as well.

 

[diplomat]

I'll hold my hands up and admit, I'd forgotten he was Welsh.

I just never knew

 

[BigBed]

FREEMAN = ACE.

 

[Dronfield Blade]

Freeman. 2nd highest goal scorer in the promotion season, that was 10 goals from right wing-back!! Oh and 5 assist, the same amount as Coutts!!

I know its a pig fans excuse, but, we really was unlucky with injurys last season.

For some reason Freeman just doesn't get the headlines like Coutts.

Glad he is back and firing on all cylinders, also credit to Baldock for doing a fine job of filling his boots. Good competition for places keeping everybody on their toes.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

funny that John Egan liked his post but may have to stop him!

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Freeman is certainly the outright winner in the category of 'Most improved player under Wilder'.

Under Clough I thought he was a busy player with little technical ability. Under Adkins I thought he looked a defensively lazy, confidence shy journeyman.

Under Wilder he has developed into a fine wing back. Great engine, comfortable on the ball and wonderful technical ability. Bizarrely this season he looks like he has benefited from a year of Championship football.

Wouldn't swap him for anyone else in the division.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Freeman is certainly the outright winner in the category of 'Most improved player under Wilder'.

Under Clough I thought he was a busy player with little technical ability. Under Adkins I thought he looked a defensively lazy, confidence shy journeyman.

Under Wilder he has developed into a fine wing back. Great engine, comfortable on the ball and wonderful technical ability. Bizarrely this season he looks like he has benefited from a year of Championship football.

Wouldn't swap him for anyone else in the division.

Agreed. While Basham for example has had poor spells in his time with us, I’ve definitely never thought we need to get rid of him. Freeman and Coutts though I’d have been pleased to have seen go when Wilder came in – and unlike Coutts, Freeman didn’t have the excuse that he was recovering from injury in the Adkins season. He really buckled down when Wilder came in, but nobody would have realistically thought in he’d replace Brayford that season, let alone go on to have such an impact to our success – fitting in perfectly with the new style and system Wilder introduced. I was banging the Freeman for Wales drum by the end of that season (still think Coleman should have given him a look then) and he’s had a super start to this season. He fully deserves the call-up.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Agreed. While Basham for example has had poor spells in his time with us, I’ve definitely never thought we need to get rid of him. Freeman and Coutts though I’d have been pleased to have seen go when Wilder came in – and unlike Coutts, Freeman didn’t have the excuse that he was recovering from injury in the Adkins season. He really buckled down when Wilder came in, but nobody would have realistically thought in he’d replace Brayford that season, let alone go on to have such an impact to our success – fitting in perfectly with the new style and system Wilder introduced. I was banging the Freeman for Wales drum by the end of that season (still think Coleman should have given him a look then) and he’s had a super start to this season. He fully deserves the call-up.

The "most improved under Wilder" category is definitely shortlisted to Coutts, Freeman and Basham.

Bash always looked useful, but I thought his value would be as a utility RWB/RB/CB/DM in a similar way Jamie Carragher was to Liverpool.

Coutts showed glimpses of his quality but overall he seemed to be off-pace (Madkins and Clough idea to deploy him in RM was ridiculous).

Freeman didn't demonstrate anything worth getting enthused about. His loan spell at L2 Pompey was unsuccessful so his time seemed up. Fast forward to now and I think he plays a crucial part in our system. When him and Bash attack the right side it's often a threat that doesn't get nullified.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Red boots to go with the red jersey.

 

[sunny_jimbob]

Freeman is certainly the outright winner in the category of 'Most improved player under Wilder'.

Under Clough I thought he was a busy player with little technical ability. Under Adkins I thought he looked a defensively lazy, confidence shy journeyman.

Under Wilder he has developed into a fine wing back. Great engine, comfortable on the ball and wonderful technical ability. Bizarrely this season he looks like he has benefited from a year of Championship football.

Wouldn't swap him for anyone else in the division.

...and a great knack of popping up at the back post at exactly the right moment, hence the ten goals in the promotion season. I felt we missed that almost as much as we missed Coutts last season.