Leighton Baines

[LinekersLegs]

Looks like all the injuries, knocks and niggles over his time with us have caught up with him over the past year or 2, so use to him performing so faultlessly no matter what.

Hope he swerves the euros, needs a good summer off resting, would hate to see him stumbling through a season off the pace like cahill did in his last season

Hopefully he has a similar renaissance that Barry did from last year,

 

[Zatara]

If you are going to go into next year with a Mirallas type or Kone at LW/Striker, then you are probably better off with Oviedo or a smart vet who can just hang around the CBs/center line and defend. England tried this when Baines was in his prime (wasn't it Rooney pinching in that year?) and he got unfairly blamed for god forbid not being able to handle the entire attacking and defending duties on entire left flank.

been saying this...

Coleman plays better with Lennon. Why? Because hes not a full on attacking winger like Deulofeu and can help out defensively. Major benefit as Colemans defending isnt the greatest.

Baines also cant play with a deulofeu type...hence the cleverley/Baines axis of evil.

We simply need to bring in a LW now like Deulofeu and also add full backs who can defend...

Otherwise we stick to the attacking full backs and lose the threat players like deulofeu can bring.

 

[mkrudden]

been saying this...

Coleman plays better with Lennon. Why? Because hes not a full on attacking winger like Deulofeu and can help out defensively. Major benefit as Colemans defending isnt the greatest.

Baines also cant play with a deulofeu type...hence the cleverley/Baines axis of evil.

We simply need to bring in a LW now like Deulofeu and also add full backs who can defend...

Otherwise we stick to the attacking full backs and lose the threat players like deulofeu can bring.

Totally disagree.
What we need is our attacking full backs to forge relationships with our wingers.

Baines can't do that on the left because we still haven't replaced Pienaar.

Coleman and Deulofeu simply need more games together.

You're seemingly suggesting that our full backs are gung ho or aren't providing the ball to the wingers because they want to do the attacking. Looking at the way Coleman and Deu were playing together earlier this season, I'd say we are onto a winner with those two.

If its because you think that they hinder us defensively, id again have to disagree. How many times have our full backs, either with mistakes individually or their position on the pitch lead directly to goals conceded? Baines is the only player we've got who actually attempts to stop crosses in to the box.

I think more generally, you have a point about the imbalance of the side. That left midfielder is a must this summer as is another CB and a GK. We then have to find a way of putting it together like we did 2 years ago.
It must must must involve Coleman and Baines though. Must my friend!!

 

[Saint Domingo]

If Baines had played as poorly as Rose did for England the other night even just once it would have ended his international career. As it is it seems that despite having a good qualifying campaign Baines has been booted out of the squad for Rose and Bertrand. Will be an utter travesty if he doesn't go to France.

 

[Zatara]

Totally disagree.
What we need is our attacking full backs to forge relationships with our wingers.

Baines can't do that on the left because we still haven't replaced Pienaar.

Coleman and Deulofeu simply need more games together.

You're seemingly suggesting that our full backs are gung ho or aren't providing the ball to the wingers because they want to do the attacking. Looking at the way Coleman and Deu were playing together earlier this season, I'd say we are onto a winner with those two.

If its because you think that they hinder us defensively, id again have to disagree. How many times have our full backs, either with mistakes individually or their position on the pitch lead directly to goals conceded? Baines is the only player we've got who actually attempts to stop crosses in to the box.

I think more generally, you have a point about the imbalance of the side. That left midfielder is a must this summer as is another CB and a GK. We then have to find a way of putting it together like we did 2 years ago.
It must must must involve Coleman and Baines though. Must my friend!!

I think that if we had signed Coleman and Baines last summer and they were unknowns to most of the fanbase then they would be getting slated this season. Massively.

1-- Coleman. All heart and very exciting to watch going forward with his runs which can end up with him in the box (then nothing happens). Very weak positionally and lets so many crosses come in, yet due to the hrd tackles he can put in and his runs hes seen as top quality....teams have cottoned on that by pressuring him he will give up chances and the ball. Great if he was 21-23 but hes 27 now and unlikely to improve that side of his game.

2-- Baines. Its fine to say he tries to stop crosses but how does he do that exactly? Ive lost count of the times now that hes caught up the pitch and out of position this season and hes certainly not able to make any covering tackles as he just tries to cajole opposition players rather than old school defending.

I think both players on form are great as attacking full backs BUT we have attacking players further up the pitch now and are becoming overloaded with them (bar LW).

3-- Mori and Stones. Both are able to bring the ball out from the back and pass the ball. We dont need our full backs to bomb on down the wings with the ball carrying it when these two can pass it faster down the pitch. What we need are full backs who can defend and pass the ball...much higher tempo then.

4-- Deulofeu/ Lennon. On the right we can see how Deulofeu helps us as an attacking outlet in short, he is amazing and i would like to see a beast of a RB behind him so he is let off loose on the right wing without having to worry about any defensive duties...we will then see the opposition full back stay back also. Lennon of course is also quality but more of an all rounder compared to Deulofeu....Lennon can help win games but Deulofeu types win trophies. So fo we want a lennon/coleman partnership or a Deulofeu/monster partnership?

4-- Left side we have to play cleverley as theres no other options. I think Martinez realised fast that baines cant play with a winger in front so looked to move him to defensive midfield as was publicised. Even with Cleverley in front he still looks suspect and oviedo looks much better defensively but is always injured. I cant see a LW coming in if he has to play in front of baines...its suicide defensively.

Id like to see TWO full backs signed now. Koulibaly (the napoli CB) to come in at right back and similar on the left side.....id also like to see one deulofeu or similar winger on the left.

We then have two attacking options at full back on both sides and also in midfield + we have defensive options also....can change when necessary game to game r half to half.

A real squad.

 

[Zatara]

If Baines had played as poorly as Rose did for England the other night even just once it would have ended his international career. As it is it seems that despite having a good qualifying campaign Baines has been booted out of the squad for Rose and Bertrand. Will be an utter travesty if he doesn't go to France.

Picked on league form...baines has been poor and is also carrying an injury.

 

[Jxg]

If Baines had played as poorly as Rose did for England the other night even just once it would have ended his international career. As it is it seems that despite having a good qualifying campaign Baines has been booted out of the squad for Rose and Bertrand. Will be an utter travesty if he doesn't go to France.

Hasn't been his best form of late but agree with you about Rose

 

[sageyefc]

If Baines had played as poorly as Rose did for England the other night even just once it would have ended his international career. As it is it seems that despite having a good qualifying campaign Baines has been booted out of the squad for Rose and Bertrand. Will be an utter travesty if he doesn't go to France.

Them 2 have been miles better than him in the league though, they deserve to be ahead of him in the squad

 

[Saint Domingo]

Them 2 have been miles better than him in the league though, they deserve to be ahead of him in the squad

By that logic you could rule out Rooney Henderson Lallana Milner Walcott Cahill and Welbeck from the squad as well. They'll all more than likely keep their place though. Fit and in form Baines is far better than those two, why wouldn't you want that at a tournament?

 

[Zatara]

By that logic you could rule out Rooney Henderson Lallana Milner Walcott Cahill and Welbeck from the squad as well. They'll all more than likely keep their place though. Fit and in form Baines is far better than those two, why wouldn't you want that at a tournament?

Baines isnt fit and isnt in form is he?

 

[sageyefc]

By that logic you could rule out Rooney Henderson Lallana Milner Walcott Cahill and Welbeck from the squad as well. They'll all more than likely keep their place though. Fit and in form Baines is far better than those two, why wouldn't you want that at a tournament?

Agree, a fit and in form baines is miles better, hes not been fit and in form for a good year or so now though


And tbh them others you named shouldnt be anywhere near the squad either other than welbeck who's performed quite well since coming back

 

[Saint Domingo]

Baines isnt fit and isnt in form is he?

Could well be by May/June though. IF fit, he should be England's first choice left back. He's a better footballer and has far more experience than Rose or Bertrand. That counts at the highest level.

 

[Zatara]

@bluestevon

If baines plays against UTD, Arsenal,Chelsea
Galloway against Stoke,Newcastle,WBA
Oviedo against City,Wham,Watford

You cant have a direct correlation of performance as they play different teams/players/styles individuallly and as part of our team.

Baines has been very poor on/off for 2 seasons now due to injuries as well as likely just being off form in games.

Hes caught out up the pitch so many times...Barry is too slow to cover him if the opposition break and were not setup like that anyway.

I think Baines/Oviedo will last another season...but Coleman will be given competition and also another CB brought in so galloway can go on loan.

Another posted mentioned Wes Brown at Utd and also look at Mourinho and even Pulis playing CBs at full back. Huge benefits defensively as long as your defenders can pass the ball out (stones) and you have a DM in front as a pivot + wingers who can move quickly (deulofeu) for the Koeman-esque passes.

Thats what id like to see.

As for Baines himself,hes 31 now so probably has perhaps 3 seasons left in him. Hes a local and a fan favourite and also oviedo has just got a 4 year deal....Garbutt doesnt look like hes pulled up any trees at fulham....so it makes sense to keep baines for a season with oviedo and make changes elsewhere first.

I do like Baines and i also like coleman but dont think they suit this setup....also it would take a brave man to sell them.

 

[bluestevon]

@bluestevon

If baines plays against UTD, Arsenal,Chelsea
Galloway against Stoke,Newcastle,WBA
Oviedo against City,Wham,Watford

You cant have a direct correlation of performance as they play different teams/players/styles individuallly and as part of our team.

Baines has been very poor on/off for 2 seasons now due to injuries as well as likely just being off form in games.

Hes caught out up the pitch so many times...Barry is too slow to cover him if the opposition break and were not setup like that anyway.

I think Baines/Oviedo will last another season...but Coleman will be given competition and also another CB brought in so galloway can go on loan.

Another posted mentioned Wes Brown at Utd and also look at Mourinho and even Pulis playing CBs at full back. Huge benefits defensively as long as your defenders can pass the ball out (stones) and you have a DM in front as a pivot + wingers who can move quickly (deulofeu) for the Koeman-esque passes.

Thats what id like to see.

As for Baines himself,hes 31 now so probably has perhaps 3 seasons left in him. Hes a local and a fan favourite and also oviedo has just got a 4 year deal....Garbutt doesnt look like hes pulled up any trees at fulham....so it makes sense to keep baines for a season with oviedo and make changes elsewhere first.

I do like Baines and i also like coleman but dont think they suit this setup....also it would take a brave man to sell them.

At what point does it become the setup thats wrong - rather than the players though?

right now who in this team exactly suis the setup Martinez wants?

 

[Neiziro]

Looks like that's him dropped from the starting XI now with his recent comments.