When the rumours first started that we were interested in the young MK Dons striker I started following his form and I liked what I saw. A quick, direct and clinical goal poacher the likes of which we hadn’t seen since Jermain Defoe wowed and dazzled us with his early displays before relegation ensued and with it that infamous transfer request.
All of our front-men seem to fit into a particular category: Cole, Carew and Piquionne all happen to be target-men who don’t offer much in the way of variation or mobility. Upon the arrival of Baldock for around 2 million of your finest English pounds this mould of striker down the Boleyn had finally been broken, we’d go back to the days of 4-4-2, Baldock would surely partner Cole in a latter-day attempt at the Ashton and Bellamy axis that we all felt was going to prove so fruitful in the days of Alan Curbishley…
Its early days yet but Baldock hasn’t featured as much as he or the fans would like; we don’t have a particularly quick side, that was there for all to see against Leeds a few weeks back when we just couldn’t keep up with their lightning counter-attacks. So far this season I think the side has looked, slow, laborious and lethargic. I feel we’re crying out for a bit of pace and dynamism…just what Baldock would provide surely?
Sam throughout his managerial career has always favoured a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation with a target man as its focal point. So where does this leave our sprightly new striking acquisition? A place on the wing? An impact sub? Baldock simply doesn’t fit into Sam’s tried and tested tactics, unless he miraculously becomes a 4-4-2 man Baldock will be nothing more than a peripheral figure.
Sam is understandably reluctant to change the shape of the side too much; after all we’ve only lost 2 out our first ten games. Such a ratio over the course of the season would probably see us automatically promoted. (QPR were promoted last season with 8 defeats to their name and Norwich City with at total of 12) To see the best of little Sam he will need a sustained run in the side with one of our aforementioned target men. But just how Sam fits in his namesake within his stout beliefs on how the game should be played will be key to how our promotion campaign progresses.
Strange signing considering BFS knows he’s always going to play 4-5-1 and you can’t play Baldock as a lone striker. Looks like the only way we’re going 4-4-2 is if we get Tevez back. Won’t be holding my breath though.
Could have had craig mackail-smith for 1 million more who is a proven goalscorer so Sam must be something special, surely ?