The Mail Bag
Baines ? a real star
Comments (31)
There is understandable frustration about us being nearly there on the site. Strange season as we play lovely midfield football but cannot score. School of Science stuff but just missing that elusive Big Bang.
But, whilst we all have our people to blame, may I just suggest that we have a player who seems to give his all and do it well for us: Leighton Baines.
So good and so unrecognised ? unless he makes a mistake of course.
He plays in a position that does not grab headlines and the press have forgotten about him but for me he is one of our best players and we would have lost last night without him.
When he retires, we will look back on him as a real star.
Ged Simpson, Posted 11/11/2010 at 17:28:09
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Phenomenal work ethic, and one of the most creative Left Backs in the world. Considering he had a ropey start with us and has now become indispensible,says an awful lot about his character & his will towards self-improvement.
He was given a huge hand by us in the corner of the Lower Gwladys,when he came (sprinting) over to show Arteta how to take a decent a corner. Hats off to him..
We have had players that want to play for themselves, to play for a transfer.
Baines has the skill and more confidence in himself now, I hope he is part of Everton for a long time
Our most creative player for quite a while now, deserves a lot of praise. (Tips his hat)
Remember reading a piece by him when he first arrived and he (very honestly) talked about being a bit nervous and worrying about being good enough to make the step up.
Well he's done that and is now one (of the few) I feel relaxed about and feel can be counted on to perform with some consistency.
Some right geniuses on here at times ^^
Coleman has an amazing attacking ability down the right, but lacks the turn and pass or alternating at the moment that Baines and Pienaar have perfected so well.
Once Coleman has a player of Pienaar's calibre on the right, both our flanks will be dominating. Of course, Coleman has now moved into a winger and Neville at right back, but we need a creative player to mix with our attacking wing backs.
COYB!
He's always the first name down on my Fantasy League Team sheet and I bet he is with Moyes too.
When things aren't going our way and we need someone to create something, it's always him I look to, just two examples being the game against Man United and the game against Bolton. He also isn't one of the growing number of players that come out every week talking a load of crap that we then usually don't go and back up on the pitch!
Look at the number of assists the lad has, a lot of them when he is running people ragged after 90 mins has long been up, Man Utd, Birmingham, Bolton. I always thought Ashley Cole was the best left back, but in my honest opinion I think Baines has overtaken him, after all Coles outings for Chelsea often consist of 90 mins as an extra attacker with no defensive duties.
When Pienaar leaves, we will lose the best left sided pairing in the division, but whoever comes in will improve with Baines behind him.
I fail to see the need to commend people just because he loves the shirt and gives his all. Well done but this is the minimum requirement.
He has not overtaken Ashley Cole, he has not even overtaken Warnock. He was at Wigan and is now with us and probably at the right standard but the clubs near the top of the league ? Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea ? would not look twice at him.
Great Post! LIKE LIKE LIKE!
"Not mentally or physically strong enough" ? what basis do you have to come out with shite like this? He always wants the ball, always stands up to be counted, gets stuck in and I can't recall him ever being bullied off the ball ? again watch a few Everton games before spouting shite.
"Not better than Warnock" and "Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea won't look twice at him" ? fucking hell! He's fucking MILES better than Warnock! Arsenal have Clichy, Chelsea have Cole and Man Utd have Evra, in which I don't think it would be churlish to suggest Baines is right up there with them! Plus, do you want other clubs looking at our best players???
Bainsey has by and large got better as the seasons have gone by, and this season is without doubt one of our best performers. Actually, I'll even go as far as to say I don't think I've ever seen him have a bad game for us.
It just annoys me when some people who CLEARLY don't know what they are talking about come out with fucking daft comments.
Great post by the way ? keep it up Bainsey lad!
COYB
I only wish we had a few more on the pitch who had that same level of passion and desire... whether he's the best left back in league is another matter but I wouldn't swap him for anyone else.
Easily been our best player in the first quarter of the season, keep it up Bainsey!
Baines on the other hand gives them time to cross which results in many goals (do you not go to the game?). Another fault is that he is easily beaten when going in-field ? an example, given that we're playing Arsenal, is that Bendtner ripped him apart by taking him inside last season, I think at home.
You seem to think that CLEARLY I don't know what I'm talking about ? I think it's you with your rosy eyes specs. Pienaar makes Baines look better, not the other way around.
I think he's alright, not our biggest problem by a longshot, and more of an asset than detriment, but to compare him with best left backs in the world is, in my view, total balls.
Enough said.
"Enough said."
How true.
He is right up there with the best FBs and he has most of the attributes required, eg, pace, crossing ability and link up play. He is not a fantastic tackler but neither is Clichy... BUT he is an integral part of our side and is the best LB we have had since Ray Wilson in my opinion.
The best full backs have never been tall, height is needed in the centre of defence and the domination of the penalty area by a top goalkeeper. Baines has the ability to cope with most wingmen he comes up against and backs up our midfield and strikers very well.
Baines was the most productive full back last season, assist-wise, and is probably the most productive this season also. Mr Capello left Baines because he got over-run against, I think Mexico, Gerrard completely leaving Baines to fend for himself against two men.
Agree with others - SHOOT!
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1 Posted 11/11/2010 at 20:48:20
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