Murray and Baldock

[Ninja Elephant]

Baldock was just brilliant today.
Good thread: they're working brilliantly together.

My criticism of Baldock remains the same - he doesn't affect the game at all more often than not. Today he scored a belter (where did THAT come from?!) and picked up an assist with an awesome cross. He produced two moments of quality which changed the game for us and that's what we should expect. He did all the usual run around looking like he's trying to win it back without knowing what he'd do if he did work, and was weak and sloppy in possession but he won us the game with two moments of quality. Bravo lad, bravo.

MOM should still have been Stockdale though, questionable perhaps on the "goal" and a couple of hairy moments but without his saves we'd have been further behind.

 

[warmleyseagull]

Stats prove what a great partnership this is. Knockers of Baldock forget that he has played far fewer minutes than most strikers as out of favour at start of season and gets subbed off. He is very productive though.

Reviewing the Championship top scorers and adjusting mins played to include assists shows our two in the top four (and arguably Assombalonga has not played enough to be representative);



It just plain is not true that Baldock is ineffective; he actually produces a goal or assist every game adjusted for mins played. Even dismissing assists, he is still 10th in list of players with 5 or more goals in terms of goals scored per mins played. And his goals are important - all have been Albion's first in the game. Murray is prolific but still to score away.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Interesting stats. Hogan scored again yesterday but the rumours are he's available come January. Bees need money for their new ground more than a play-off spot, but they do need to stay up though.

Donaldson proved he could still be useful.

 

[Machiavelli]

My criticism of Baldock remains the same - he doesn't affect the game at all more often than not. Today he scored a belter (where did THAT come from?!) and picked up an assist with an awesome cross. He produced two moments of quality which changed the game for us and that's what we should expect. He did all the usual run around looking like he's trying to win it back without knowing what he'd do if he did work, and was weak and sloppy in possession but he won us the game with two moments of quality. Bravo lad, bravo.

MOM should still have been Stockdale though, questionable perhaps on the "goal" and a couple of hairy moments but without his saves we'd have been further behind.

Well, you're increasingly on your own on Baldock, as I'm sure you're aware. He also hit the post yesterday. His improved form this season might also just be to do with the fact that he's playing in a position where he can effect the game more and, more importantly, has not had his season (so far) disrupted by injury.
That is not to say that we don't need to boost the squad with another player who plays in his position. If that materialises in the beginning of January, as I expect it will, it'll then be down to the new player and Baldock to deliver and ascertain who gets more game time.