The Brilliance of Baines - Times Article

[Louis]

During the summer it was reported that Manchester United were keen to sign Leighton Baines from Everton. In the interests of a more balanced Premier League, it is just as well the move did not happen.

 

While Patrice Evra’s level of performance at left back for United has dropped hugely over the past couple of years, Baines has turned into something close to a world-class player in the same position.

 

Without Baines’s brilliance Everton would surely not have managed to rise into the top four of the table this season. And had United acquired him, there would have been even greater conviction in feeling that they were untouchable to all their rivals except Manchester City and, perhaps, Chelsea.

 

This season the left back has teed up 47 scoring chances for Everton team-mates, ten more than the next most in the Premier League, by Santi Cazorla, of Arsenal, and 15 more than Luis Suárez, who is third.

 

Yet since Opta started these calculations in 2006 no defender has appeared in the top three for chances created over a full Premier League season.

 

These graphics show how he cued up five scoring attempts against Manchester United and eight against Aston Villa.

 

He is helped by the fact that he takes most of Everton’s corners and free kicks, but, of course, he only has that honour because of his crossing excellence. As is hinted by the graphics, the left-footed Baines is effective both with inswinging corners from the right (two led to chances against United, one against Villa) and outswingers from the left (one created a scoring chance against Villa).

 

In any case, he cues up plenty of scoring attempts in open play, often linking with Steven Pienaar with bewildering trickery on the left flank.

Almost every time Everton attack on the left, or even down the centre, Baines will be up in support, yet such is his speed and stamina that he can return quickly to his defensive position should the move break down.

 

As such he fills the role of two players for Everton – a solid member of the back four but also a driving force in their attack.

His fitness is allied to a tendency to avoid injury. His consistency of performance is matched by his consistency of appearance. He has missed only six of Everton’s past 125 league games. United may regret not pushing harder to prise him away from Goodison Park.

Everton v Man Utd: Leighton Baines’s key passes

Aston Villa v Everton: Baines’s key passes (and assist)

[chicagoblue]

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[MikeO]

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But the article is as copied/pasted above.

[Peter H]

They are right. He is so important to Everton.