ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Baines for midfield?

I live in a remote part of Australia and don't get to see any games at all, but the reports of Saturday's game against Man Utd brought to mind a strange idea I've had floating around in my mind for some time - playing Baines in midfield as the stopper instead of Neville. What do you think?
Neil Riddell, Australia Posted 18/09/2007 at 01:02:25

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Varun Rajwade
1 Posted 18/09/2007 at 06:22:11

Why? Why even try it? We have too many jack-of-all trades guys here, why add one more?

Ron Wilmington
2 Posted 18/09/2007 at 06:26:05

I live a long way away too (about 6,000 miles) but we get games on Fox Soccer Channel.

I think we need a fast quality winger, the team plays too narrow.

John Holmes
3 Posted 18/09/2007 at 08:04:43

Ah good to see the spirit of England team management lives on down under. If a player is outstanding in one position move him out of it as soon as possible (see Scholes, Barry, Gerrard)

Nelly Vaughan
4 Posted 18/09/2007 at 09:05:32

Obviously some antipidean humour to cheer us up after after a disappointing weekend because there is no way you can be serious.......

Andy Ellams
5 Posted 18/09/2007 at 09:42:45

Possibly Moyes best signing, very possibly the best player in his position in the league. Why the hell would you move him. Do some people even watch this sport ?

Nick Entwistle
6 Posted 18/09/2007 at 10:44:51

Tim Howard is amazing in goal, now if we could transfer that skill to that of a flying winger, we would win the league!!!

James Elworthy
7 Posted 18/09/2007 at 10:46:21

If we have one of the best left backs in the league why should we move him out of position.

Andy
8 Posted 18/09/2007 at 11:38:21

baines is a left back and while he could play in midfield thats not his position, we need a settled back four and it needs to be neviile yobo lescott baines because we can’t keep clean sheets at the moment, our midfield is the problem at the moment but when gravesen and cahill are back im sure, well pretty confident the midfield will become a lot more creative.

Sam Morrison
9 Posted 18/09/2007 at 11:49:23

If we moved Baines who would be our fantastic new left-back? I?ve got a better idea - why not try Phil Neville at right-back?

Steve Parry
10 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:05:45

With a relatively small squad and (hopefully) a lot more games this season, don’t be surprised if we do see Baines playing in midfield for the odd game if needs must. Although the only midfield position likely is surely left wing. But based on the performances so far he has to be one of the 2 best LWB in the playing in the premier league, and long may it continue.

Lee Spargo
11 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:19:53

We’ve got enough players to fill the CM positions.

Baines is a fantastic left back.

If it aint broke - dont fix it.

Andy McKenzie
12 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:25:39

Steve Parry, you're right about Baines being one of the best in the league at the moment, looks an absolute bargain, hopefully he can keep it up.

Ian Tunstead
13 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:24:22

Hes only just broke into the team and has only had 1 M.O.M performance hasnt he? any one can have a good game even McFadden. Lets not jump the gun wait a few more games before he can be considered 1 of the best LWB in the league.

Allan Hobbs
14 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:37:22

If baines was to play in midfield, it should be left wing, not in the middle as a ’stopper’ Have you actually seen how big he is?? He makes Oompah Loompahs look like Shaquile O’Neal.

Ryan Crest
15 Posted 18/09/2007 at 12:45:13

Brilliant! Take a promising (and extremely expensive) young left-back and convert him into yet another garbage holding midfielder.

Mark Stone
16 Posted 18/09/2007 at 13:12:39

If he was going to get pushed into midfield it would be to left wing surely? He looks good going forward. Lescott could fill in at left back and Stubbs back in at centre half. There must be a reason why he changed positions aas a youngster though so I’d leave him at left back unless we were really struggling

Ray Robinson
17 Posted 18/09/2007 at 19:44:10

I must be missing something. I thought using wingbacks allowed full backs to push up into midfield and even to play as additional wingers?

Don’t change Baines, look to improve the fullback on the other side of the park!

Roy Coyne
18 Posted 18/09/2007 at 23:48:59

Great while were at it give AJ the fullbacks job and maybe we could use Carsley in the back four and Yak in goal. Lets just leave our best fullback where he is why do people try to fix what's not broken.

Matt Willey
19 Posted 19/09/2007 at 14:31:32

I think a strikeforce of Carsley and Stubbs would be pretty formidable... I would also like to see Moyes try a centreback partnership of Leon Osman and AJ for the aerial prowess and strength they possess. It goes without saying that Ian Turner and John Ruddy should be played on the wing and Mikel Arteta should definately be the goalkeeper...our midfield enforcer should be Phil Neville ... errr...hang on...that last one sounds ridiculous ???