2017/18 Leighton Baines

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Zatara said:
He jogs forward, waves his arms (saying he has no pass on) turns and passes to Williams who then passes to Schneiderlin...who passes back to him.

Every single game he waves his arms...does my head in.
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Whilst I agree, he really could do with an actual wide player/winger in front of him.
 
I think time has caught up with him unfortunately.

There were a few instances of him having loads of space yesterday to run into when on our defensive midfield crabs had the ball, but I think in his head he doesn't trust himself to get back when it's lost. Either that or he's been told not to.
 
PhilEFC said:
I think time has caught up with him unfortunately.

There were a few instances of him having loads of space yesterday to run into when on our defensive midfield crabs had the ball, but I think in his head he doesn't trust himself to get back when it's lost. Either that or he's been told not to.
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He doesn't trust the other players, and I don't blame him.

Obviously he's lost some physicality, but years ago he'd run forward because he could trust Pienaar to make an option, hold on to the ball and give him it back. Plus he always knew that, if he did get caught out, Pienaar would track back or Lescott, Distin, Jagielka etc. would sort it.

Now he looks up and sees no one in front of him so has to hit a ball inside to one of our dreadful number 10s, and hope after he's lost it that Ashley Williams can save the day.

I don't think any left back in the world would look particularly great playing for us at the moment.
 
Azzurri said:
He doesn't trust the other players, and I don't blame him.

Obviously he's lost some physicality, but years ago he'd run forward because he could trust Pienaar to make an option, hold on to the ball and give him it back. Plus he always knew that, if he did get caught out, Pienaar would track back or Lescott, Distin, Jagielka etc. would sort it.

Now he looks up and sees no one in front of him so has to hit a ball inside to one of our dreadful number 10s, and hope after he's lost it that Ashley Williams can save the day.

I don't think any left back in the world would look particularly great playing for us at the moment.
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That's enough to knock anybody's confidence...
 
Osamabindiesel said:
Tbf to Baines this is true, but he is mentally shot. His first instinct is to pass back regardless of what is in front of him and he's afraid to take on his man and get crosses in.
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In fairness, Baines has never really done this, even when he was at the top of his game. He's always relied on quick one-twos to get behind the opposition defence, rather than taking on a defender.

I actually feel quite sorry for him - he clearly doesn't have the legs to play every single week, and to make things worse he is completely isolated when he has the ball. He's effectively being hung out to dry.
 
Azzurri said:
He doesn't trust the other players, and I don't blame him.

Obviously he's lost some physicality, but years ago he'd run forward because he could trust Pienaar to make an option, hold on to the ball and give him it back. Plus he always knew that, if he did get caught out, Pienaar would track back or Lescott, Distin, Jagielka etc. would sort it.

Now he looks up and sees no one in front of him so has to hit a ball inside to one of our dreadful number 10s, and hope after he's lost it that Ashley Williams can save the day.

I don't think any left back in the world would look particularly great playing for us at the moment.
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Yeah I see what your saying. If you do make a run and you don't think they are capable of finding you, you'd think better of it and not bother. I would do the same.
 
Like i said a few weeks back, through no fault of his own we've depended on him to play every single minute of every single match for at least 3 seasons even when he's struggled with injuries. He should have been our back up LB for a while now.
 
MartSlinger said:
Like i said a few weeks back, through no fault of his own we've depended on him to play every single minute of every single match for at least 3 seasons even when he's struggled with injuries. He should have been our back up LB for a while now.
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We've needed cover for both fullbacks for 3 seasons. Martinez blooded Galloway, Garbutt, Holgate, Browning yet only Holgate is getting a run and no one else was brought in.

Bar Martina. On a free.
 
People on here...

Distin was finished...
Hibbert was finished...
Osman was finished...
Pienaar was finished...
Gibson was finished...
Oviedo was finished...
Barry was finished...
Mccarthy is finished...
Besic is finished...
Jagielka is finished...
Williams is finished...
Rooney is finished...

Baines Is fine, it's everyone else...
 
From an outsider looking in he seems to have lost a yard of pace (which happens when you get older obviously). He always used to bomb forward and overlap the winger, always providing another option. I don't see that as much, which isolates the attacker. I know injuries have played their part too. I've only saw about 5 of your games though - So you'll all know a lot more than me. It may be that he's told by the manager not to get forward as much, focusing more on his positional sense, or it may be that Baines himself doesn't want to commit too far forward as he himself knows he doesn't have the legs to get back anymore - Not sure.

I remember him taking a cracking free kick and getting 4/5 goals per season with superb free kicks and he took the penalties too. I don't see that as much.

On a side note, when is Coleman back for you? Know he suffered that horrific leg break playing for Republic of Ireland. Recently watched a programme where he spent time with kids with down syndrome, what a true class act. On the pitch, I think he's one of the most consistent full-backs in the league. He destroyed us at the SOL a few years back. Just kept getting forward and putting in great deliveries, yet had the pace/fitness to get back too. What a gem of a player you've got there lads/lasses.

He'll be a huge boost when he's back.
 
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