Aden Baldwin

If Baldwin plays centrally again next season then recruitment in that area has been a failure.

Perhaps he gets that RCB slot but ideally we bring in better defenders and Baldwin/Pennington will be back up options.

 

Baldwin was our best and most consistent defender last season and has earned his place next along with Wright

 

Sorry Park, no one has earned their place yet. They need to earn it through pre-season.

 

I would definitely have Baldwin at RCB, but you are right, we need to bring in better in the centre and left hand side

 

Baldwin wasn't even close to Touray and Tilt and wasn't even in our best 3 during our best run of form.

 

Ok, so here's my serious opinion on Baldwin, perhaps it's true, perhaps it's not.

Yes, he can hit a long range pass. Is it successful? It feels like it used to be and then, once teams worked us out, that long diagonal probably had a 3-5% success rate.

Then we discuss his defending and everyone points out the awesome last ditch tackles. And yes, I agree, some have been absolutely superb.

BUT ... no one ever questions why he is having to make those last ditch tackles. Certainly they aren't all his fault and certainly he deserves great plaudits for covering around but they seem to come around pretty consistently. Is it really all his teamates fault or could we benefit from someone more steady and consistent in there once we get better options further forward?

I suppose it's a difficult conundrum.

 

The last ditch tackles are mainly to do with all of our centre backs being slow and having poor positional sense. Its why the majority of the last ditch tackles were committed by either Baldwin or Tilt, the only two CBs with a bit of pace

Regarding the ball playing aspect, Touray and Baldwin are the only ones that are competent with the ball to feet and feel comfortable with it. Wright, Kelly and Tilt treat the ball like a live hand grenade and visibly look confused on what to do with it in possession

Agree with the teams sussing out our long ball tactic. Unfortunately a lack of creativity in the midfield resulted in diagonals becoming our main attacking form, which as a result became a lot less effective. Although I can say there was a noticeable drop off in the quality of his long range passing near the end of the season

Im not Baldwins biggest fan by any means, but I feel he gets a load of unfair stick by many on here. When he came from Notts County, many felt we’d had our pants pulled down and that he was a calamity waiting to happen, and that his most successful run was in the National League. He’s been a mainstay in a team that won Promotion from League Two, and adjusted effortlessly into a promotion fighting team in League One, and truth be told, has been our most consistent defender, baring a few memorable exceptions (Doncaster A, Barrow A, Bolton H)

 

Nonsense he was the best and most consistent defender all season and the only one who can hit a pass

 

Thanks for confirming my thoughts park. It's always reassuring when you diasgree with me.

 

Some of which find team mates

 

You just can’t get around all the stupid remarks you made about when he signed. Get over the fact he made you look foolish

 

He did alright but the stats show that he wasn't the best and most consistent defender all season. In terms of defensive contributions per game, he was third behind Wright and Tilt and as for being the only one who can hit a pass, he had an average 4.9% success rate per game of hitting an accurate long pass. For comparison, Lee Evans success rate was 5.9% in the games he played, and everyone thought he was gash.

 

Tbf @NorthernMonkey I thought Baldwin was by far our most consistent defender this season.Touray and Tilt were good even probably better in spells but playing well more consistently Baldwin was head and shoulders above both IMO.

 

I am a fan of Baldwin, but I thought Touray was our most consistent defender last season.

 

All about opinions @Idlebantam

 

Baldwin is the only defender who was here from our promotion team. I don’t believe he has ever lost his place because of form only from injury and that stupid sending off. When looking at planning for the coming season Baldwin was one of the last that needed changing

 

For me Baldwin is better Central than at RCB his awareness is extremely good and some of the full blooded tackles he does not one other defender does likewise that's why for me he is our most consistent defender. You then add in his range of passing which is an added bonus. I will say if he had a bit more pace he could easily be a championship defender.

Now can we improve on him absolutely as we could with every member of the squad however he would be the last defender I personally would replace.

 

Can we have a poll on the subject then it can get back to being a rumour thread

 

Create one?