Do we like Baines in Mid Field?

[Kurt.]

I never realized Garbutt was substituted.

I never realized Garbutt was substituted.

No need to be a tit about it, watch the last twenty minutes again and watch where Baines played.

 

[Woolly Blue]

I'm not keen on the idea but if Martinez is serious about it as a long term thing then Baines needs a run of games in the position. I'm not convinced now is the right time for that.

 

[streeky]

He is a quality player and can play the role, but I personally don't think garbutt is ready, at LB so no for me.

 

[MACCA75]

Depends who we have available tbh, with McCarthy, Gibson and Osman out then it's a possibility as Barry needs dropping for me.

 

[DuncanDuncanFerguson]

ASSISTS
13 - Cesc Fabregas
8 - Gylfi Sigurdsson
7 - Leighton Baines, Dusan Tadic
6 - Alexis Sanchez, Stewart Downing, Angel di Maria, Jesus Navas

Those numbers are great for most wingers let alone a fullback who has been "below par for months and ultra negative in an attacking sense". He has 3 more assists in the Europa as well.

Personally don't want to see either garbutt or Baines in midfield, perhaps Oviedo on the wing at a push.

You can quote the stats all you like, those assists came largely in the earlier games of our season, the past couple of months his attacking capabilities have been nullified on that left hand side, and his performances haven't been up to his usual standards.

 

[Stutheblue]

Thought he did well there against Newcastle. But if Besic has recovered I'd go McCarthy and Besic against Hull or Barry and Besic if McCarthy isn't fit.

 

[marty mcfly]

No need to be a tit about it, watch the last twenty minutes again and watch where Baines played.

Sorry. He was playing further back but more where Barry played rather than in Garbutt's position IMO.

 

[LinekersLegs]

You can quote the stats all you like, those assists came largely in the earlier games of our season. His attacking capabilities this season have been nullified on that left hand side, and his performances haven't been up to his usual standards.

He was regularly getting goals or assists right up to his injury which was on England duty on 14th November. Since then he has not been as good (although neither have many other players) but that is a period of 6 weeks - hardly the months that you implied he has been poor for.

 

[marty mcfly]

You can quote the stats all you like, those assists came largely in the earlier games of our season, the past couple of months his attacking capabilities have been nullified on that left hand side, and his performances haven't been up to his usual standards.

I think we all know how good he can be so we can be overly critical especially when he has a bad game plus he's not had much ahead of him but its clear he and Kev are still our best players.

 

[banno]

Baines had more movement than the rest of the midfield put together. He could grow into the position but everything is dependant on Garbutt being good enough at left back. Both Garbutt and Baines got a little lost in the game but both could grow into it.

 

[hetion]

Baines had more movement than the rest of the midfield put together. He could grow into the position but everything is dependant on Garbutt being good enough at left back. Both Garbutt and Baines got a little lost in the game but both could grow into it.

Yep. I like it. Considering they were thrown into it a bit, they did great. Would like to see them settle there at some point tbh.

 

[Robertor]

Yes, thought it showed great promise. People seem to ask for change and then moan that something's changed and want to revert to the previous ways. There is plenty of reasons why it worked:

1) Pressing from the front - Baines showed high levels of energy throughout the game and on numerous occasions - mostly in the first half - found himself higher up the pitch doing a really good job of pressing the Newcastle defence when they and their keeper were on the ball, which ultimately is a practical and useful method of getting the ball back off the opposition especially away from home and causing more defensive errors. And it seems as if we need some sort of increase in defending from the front considering the actual defence has been awful.

2) Change of shape - Martinez's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation is centered around the two central midfielders dropping in and supporting the full backs and as a natural full back himself he would be able to do this job. However, in a 4-3-3 this then allows one midfielder to press forward and join the attack which a lot of fans are asking for McCarthy to learn to do a bit more, which allows the 3 front men to be out and out forwards, one centre midfielder to join the attack, and Garbutt and Coleman to bomb up the pitch.

3) On the ball - Baines' best attributes have always been on the ball, with his delivery and ability on the ball aswell as his high attacking work rate, which came to prominence following his almost telepathic underlapping relationship with Pienaar, he could surge forward from midfield like he did on Sunday when he took on Tiote down the left. From centre midfield he can utilise these talents to have a better all round impact on the team's attacking play. Early signs of that were good on Sunday for Mirallas' goal and he has showcased some of these abilities from left back, such as the ball in the build up to Naismith's goal against Arsenal last season, he has the best vision out of any player at the club and when people have been calling out for the right service to get Lukaku through on goal, the ball he played for Mirallas is the type that he thrives off, just like vs Crystal Palace and Wolfsburg away. If he's made 44 assists and however many this season from left back, think how many he could make from a midfield role

4) His form at left back - He started the season off brilliantly but he has faded away lately and as the team has had less of it's free flowing confidence neither full back has been able to showcase their finest attacking traits, moving him from left back into midfield will help to get the best out of his play on the ball.

5) Garbutt - Firstly he would be a great person for Garbutt to have on the pitch due to him playing the position at one of the highest levels for a number of years, as mentioned previously he would be able to slot in and cover for Garbutt going up the pitch. Baines would help him into becoming a better left back in his first Premier League season. There has been lots of talk about Garbutt's contract situation and this would be a great way to get one of our best young prospects into the team, reducing the age of the squad, and as previously stated actually helping the team.

So I don't particularly agree with the online moaning from people about Martinez trying to go with a new strategy as of course something needs to change. This Baines in midfield experiment may not work, but it needs to be given a good run and from the points made, I believe amongst other things it could really help the team over the next few months, especially with Barry's bad form and the serious lack of any creativity from the centre of midfield.

 

[Paulie]

Another example of Martinez trying to be too clever and over complicate things.

 

[DuncanDuncanFerguson]

He was regularly getting goals or assists right up to his injury which was on England duty on 14th November. Since then he has not been as good (although neither have many other players) but that is a period of 6 weeks - hardly the months that you implied he has been poor for.

My apologies, a pen against Sunderland and a pass to Naismith saves himself from 2 months of poor performances.

 

[ijjysmith]

If certainly give him another go or two there.

One game isn't enough to judge. It was hard to work out exactly where he was playing though.

Hey. We're awful anyway so anything goes at the moment.