Cornish Steve Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 I'm all for it, personally. I think he has all the right attributes to succeed in that role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Bringing back an old debate here, but I'd be really curious to see how Baines would go in the centre of midfield. Some of his greatest strengths are his engine, ball retention and incisive passing, the later of which is rarely allowed to be displayed from left-back. It'd also allow him to show off his long range shooting a lot more, which is another skill of his starved from playing out wide. At the same time the only skill of his that would conceivably diminish from playing centrally would be Leighton's mostly excellent crossing ability, which has seen a decline in frequency under Martinez anyway. Also I feel like one of the main concerns many people would have with playing Baines as a DM would be his lack of stature in the middle of the park. One thing to consider is that he is actually the same/similar height to other masterful defensive midfielders such as Lahm, Edgar Davids and Makelele himself I'd agree, the only thing I wouldnt be sure on is how he would react to having less space to operate. He usually works well in tight spaces so I dont see it being an issue but you never know. I think he would be better in the long term playing centrally rather than as a left winger for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_E Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Bringing back an old debate here, but I'd be really curious to see how Baines would go in the centre of midfield. Some of his greatest strengths are his engine, ball retention and incisive passing, the later of which is rarely allowed to be displayed from left-back. It'd also allow him to show off his long range shooting a lot more, which is another skill of his starved from playing out wide. At the same time the only skill of his that would conceivably diminish from playing centrally would be Leighton's mostly excellent crossing ability, which has seen a decline in frequency under Martinez anyway. Also I feel like one of the main concerns many people would have with playing Baines as a DM would be his lack of stature in the middle of the park. One thing to consider is that he is actually the same/similar height to other masterful defensive midfielders such as Lahm, Edgar Davids and Makelele himself Davids and Makelele were a hell of a lot stronger though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 I would love to see baines there next year. He and McCarthy would be great together. That would give Oviedo and garbutt the chance to play LB. Plus that would make Barry (if we signed him) more of a squad player and useful in rotation. Oviedo baby, Oviedo ooooooooo Sibdane 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC11 Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 If it's not broken don't fix it leave him where he is He's one of our best attacking players from left back. Spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vranny Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 I'd still be wanting him to play the bulk of his football at left-back (depending on how he'd fair in the centre), but surely Oviedo deserves a decent chance at left-back himself next season following his performances in Baines' stead? May as well find something else for Baines to do rather than benching him for Oviedo when he's one of our fittest players Bailey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 I would love to see baines there next year. He and McCarthy would be great together. That would give Oviedo and garbutt the chance to play LB. Plus that would make Barry (if we signed him) more of a squad player and useful in rotation. Oviedo baby, Oviedo ooooooooo I can see where you're coming from, and it would be benificial for Garbutt to get some 1st team action and Ovideo to establish himself in the squad in what is ment to be his preffered position (I think), however Baines has just sealed his place in the England team as the 1st choice left back, plus he is outstanding there, why change things around now? Just because Lahm did it dosn't mean that Baines has to. If it's not broken don't fix it leave him where he is He's one of our best attacking players from left back. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shukes Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 Though I would say baines is not the best defender. He does have that low centre of gravity, excellent control and his ball retention is his best quality. We may find a central position takes him to a whole new level. Worth a chance for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibdane Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 If it makes the team better, do it. If not, revert him back to left back. I think they'd have a good indication of how successful it would be if they tried in preseason for a couple of games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffee_in_LA Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 I'd leave him as our LB for a couple of seasons but start working on him playing as a CDM on a limited basis during practice and preseason where he'd be comfortable enough to play there in a pinch if need be. Then after a couple of seasons and he gets up there in age, I'd move in to the center of the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romey 1878 Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 I'd leave him as our LB for a couple of seasons but start working on him playing as a CDM on a limited basis during practice and preseason where he'd be comfortable enough to play there in a pinch if need be. Then after a couple of seasons and he gets up there in age, I'd move in to the center of the park. He's 29 now, just how long are you expecting him to still be playing at the top level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffee_in_LA Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 He's 29 now, just how long are you expecting him to still be playing at the top level? Good question, he hasn't shown many signs whatsoever of slowing down (albeit he hasn't played as well without Peanuts as his partner). I'd say 2-3 years is fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/08/27/baines-goodison-career-plans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddock Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Great servant to the club but Oviedo will be sniffing right up his arse for a starting place all the way so by the time he gets to 31-32 he may not be an automatic choice. Love him though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBlood81 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Garbutt will be before long an all. Looks class the lad from what I've seen of him this far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efc1111 Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Level-headed interview with Mr Baines: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2771168/Leighton-Baines-When-I-retire-I-ll-walk-away-game-Everton-star-learning-play-guitar-England-plans-football.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC11 Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Level-headed interview with Mr Baines: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2771168/Leighton-Baines-When-I-retire-I-ll-walk-away-game-Everton-star-learning-play-guitar-England-plans-football.html I read that this morning and maybe I'm being negative again but when he says he shuts football out in his spare time it sort of worrys me. He's said he doesn't want to stay in the game when his career finishes? Is his heart still in it? I know his performances over the past 18 months have dropped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badaids Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 I read that this morning and maybe I'm being negative again but when he says he shuts football out in his spare time it sort of worrys me. He's said he doesn't want to stay in the game when his career finishes? Is his heart still in it? I know his performances over the past 18 months have dropped. Can't say that his heart's not in after a performance like today - he was brilliant. He is the way he is, and he is the player he is because of that. Paul Scholes was a bit the same and yet you never doubted his heart. I like the fact that he doesn't appear in adverts, in the press or fanny about or fuck of to Bayern of Man Utd when they come sniffing round. He's a solid pro and I wish more players were like him. MikeO and pete0 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Angel Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Can't say that his heart's not in after a performance like today - he was brilliant. He is the way he is, and he is the player he is because of that. Paul Scholes was a bit the same and yet you never doubted his heart. I like the fact that he doesn't appear in adverts, in the press or fanny about or fuck of to Bayern of Man Utd when they come sniffing round. He's a solid pro and I wish more players were like him. I obviously seen a different game then. I think he played a safe game not a good game. He hardly got forward and his corners were really poor. Although I think someone had a word in his ear to hold back today. Defensively he was found wanting a few times in the first half. Edited September 28, 2014 by Brett Angel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romey 1878 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 His corners have been woeful for about 3 years. I wish he'd stop taking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shukes Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Ye aways strange when he steps up to take a corner as he is useless at them. Your taught at school to make sure you beat tge first man. Thought he was excellent yesterday though. He is so level headed and so good on the ball. His biggest problem is the same as Ross and Pienaar... His intelligence is on another level than the rest of his team mates. Just like Pienaar and Ross his team mates are never quite on the same level and find it hard to keep up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowensda Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 His corners have been woeful for about 3 years. I wish he'd stop taking them. Couldn't stop hitting the first man yesterday, dreadful. Hope that Garbutt starts pushing him out...his corners are thing of beauty. Like Emily Ratajkowski standing over your shoulder and resting her bosom on your shoulder, whilst whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 guess he's not making the transition to centre mid playmaker this campaign. wonder if that was just a pipe dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romey 1878 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 guess he's not making the transition to centre mid playmaker this campaign. wonder if that was just a pipe dream. A pipe dream is all it ever should've been. Lowensda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shukes Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 guess he's not making the transition to centre mid playmaker this campaign. wonder if that was just a pipe dream. I think it's already started to be fair. Every match I watch I see him trying more through balls in the middle or defence splitting cross through balls. When he hits a ball to feet it gets there 90% of the time whether its a 5 yard pass or a 40 yard pass. Ball retention is a class above. rarely does he lose the ball. And his control is pretty good too. I think Baines is our best all round player. Can pass, run forward, cross, play slick one two's, can shoot. and on top of this he isn't bad in defence either. Very under-rated player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddock Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 A pipe dream is all it ever should've been. More like stuff of nightmares. He's never had and never will have the attributes needed to be a central midfield playmaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badaids Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 I obviously seen a different game then. I think he played a safe game not a good game. He hardly got forward and his corners were really poor. Although I think someone had a word in his ear to hold back today. Defensively he was found wanting a few times in the first half. He was at the heart of most things good we did on Saturday, we was a like a scrum half, bustling around distributing the play and wanting the ball. There was a brilliant bit of play where he got the ball, played a one two and drove onwards with the ball and totally caned the liverpool defence, shitting them up and letting bringing in other players round him. He also kept popping up in the box, and on another day would have got a goal. We are so lucky to have a player like that at our club. MikeO, Matt and markjazzbassist 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shukes Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Agree. A lot of people only notice the exciting players and often overlook the glue of the team. Baines is one of our best of not our best player and could easily step into the middle. Time will tell o suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafnia Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 It's been said Baines doesn't actually like football, he's just very good at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elston Gunnn Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/10/baines-blows-competition-away/ I'd be interested in seeing an update of these sorts of stats every 5 matches or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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