[Albion] Catch up with Baldock and Goldson

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

So on this thread we've had Baldock being compared to Zamora and Sheringham. Let's get real !

I never like to dis an Albion player, and Sam did ok for us. But he was not a great player, and really did need an upgrade when we got promoted.

I'm kind of with Superphil on this.

 

[Is it PotG?]

So on this thread we've had Baldock being compared to Zamora and Sheringham. Let's get real !

I never like to dis an Albion player, and Sam did ok for us. But he was not a great player, and really did need an upgrade when we got promoted.

I said he played in that way. It's not difficult.

A gifted player intellectually, if not the most skilful.

I'd sooner have him than the likes of Knocky all day.

Similar to Barnes......oh.

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

I said he played in that way. It's not difficult.

A gifted player intellectually, if not the most skilful.

I'd sooner have him than the likes of Knocky all day.

Similar to Barnes......oh.

Agree about Knocky.

Barnes was definitely one we should have kept....

 

[DJ NOBO]

Four goals a season, really, a fantastic striker? Even Glenn Murray has managed 12 a season. I don’t doubt his efforts in training, and his work in the medical room, but he just was never a great player for us.

Indeed. Sam had opportunities. Let’s not confuse his enthusiasm and likeableness with his ability at Prem level.

Goldson however was unfortunate.A couple of games where he looked Slightly weak, and he Was out. Harsh.

 

[NooBHA]

Not only was he our poorest striker that season, one of our midfielders scored more than him. Strikers should be judged on goals, end of story, that’s their job. Baldock sadly never Lived up to his promise during his time with us, sure injury paid a part in it, and he had golden moments, but he was never up to the task IMO during his time with us.

Whilst I agree with you that Sam wasn't a "World Beater" -. He was a very good footballer.

Some forwards are what I call an "Enabler" in that they enable players around them to reach a Potential that may not have happened without the "Enabler" around them.

Richard Sadlier was the best ever example of this. An absolutely wonderful skilful talented footballer who created so many goals for Neil Harris.

Sam whilst not as talented as Sadlier falls into that category. He enabled Tomer Hemed and Glenn Murray to score a lot more goals than they would have done. It would be interesting to know the stats of goals scored by Hemed and Murray playing alongside him as opposed to when he was missing from the side.

Sam's a good player and he could potentially have played higher but I suspect he probably wouldn't have been too successful in the PL.

He has real infectious charisma when you speak to him and with that comes a great personality within a dressing room. That's worth a lot to a team as well.

Major down side though is his injury record. You can't really afford to carry a player like that who isn't available for selection that much throughout any season. Especially going up to a Division where you are gonna be one of the favorites to be relegated.

 

[NooBHA]

Good video. .. I always say we should have kept hold of Goldson....

After his Heart Op the insurance on him would have been as much as his wages. That's obviously an exaggeration but it wouldn't have been cheap

 

[boik]

Not a striker then. The post I quoted said he was an excellent striker, a strikers job is to score goals, he just didn’t do it enough during his time with us. As a winger, he did well, as a provider he contributed so much more than as a striker,

You keep using the word "striker" when you should be using the word "goalscorer". Any sensible football person knows the difference. If 2 strikers play together and one score 2 goals and the other scores 30 then that is better for the team than two goalscorers who score 12 each.

 

[Justice]

I said he played in that way. It's not difficult.

A gifted player intellectually, if not the most skilful.

I'd sooner have him than the likes of Knocky all day.

Similar to Barnes......oh.

Wait, so you would of rather had Baldrick than Championship player of the season Knockaert

 

[Is it PotG?]

Wait, so you would of rather had Baldrick than Championship player of the season Knockaert

I refer the honourable poster to the response I made earlier...

"I'd sooner have him than the likes of Knocky all day".

 

[Bozza]

So on this thread we've had Baldock being compared to Zamora and Sheringham. Let's get real !

Not sure of your point there. I could compare me to Messi - it doesn't mean I believe we have the same ability.

The extent of my "comparison" is that both players weren't particularly prolific (setting aside Bobby's magnificent first stint with us), but there is more to a forward's game than just scoring goals.

 

[NooBHA]

I refer the honourable poster to the response I made earlier...

"I'd sooner have him than the likes of Knocky all day".

Nah - Even without taking ability into account. Baldock's injury record makes Knocky the first choice

 

[Is it PotG?]

Nah - Even without taking ability into account. Baldock's injury record makes Knocky the first choice

I love football, all about opinions.

 

[Justice]

Good video. .. I always say we should have kept hold of Goldson....

Have to disagree there never ever PL quality still looks dodgy at times at league one level Scottish football.

 

[AnotherArch]

Don't forget Baldock's defensive qualities off the ball. With his persistent running at their defenders when they had the ball, the pressure they were put under led them to hurry their distribution. This enabled us to play 10-20 yards higher up the pitch.

 

[Justice]

For a player that played bit parts for four seasons I do think some are exaggerating history, he scored a few decent goals yes, although for me he didn’t play consistently enough to say he was part of one of our best front two.

 

[nwgull]

Have to disagree there never ever PL quality still looks dodgy at times at league one level Scottish football.

I think you’re right. He was a good player for us in 15/16 but was never going to be picked ahead of Dunk or Duffy by Hughton once Duffy had been brought in.

As for Baldock, he scored some amazing goals in 16/17. Sidwell May have won it with his half-way chip (which Baldock assisted by forcing the defensive error) but Baldock probably had at least 5 of the top 10 for the season. The following are particularly memorable, and there are probably more:

Reading (home)
Barnsley (away)
QPR (home)
Fulham (home)
Wednesday (away).

 

[Justice]

I think you’re right. He was a good player for us in 15/16 but was never going to be picked ahead of Dunk or Duffy by Hughton once Duffy had been brought in.

As for Baldock, he scored some amazing goals in 16/17. Sidwell May have won it with his half-way chip (which Baldock assisted by forcing the defensive error) but Baldock probably had at least 5 of the top 10 for the season. The following are particularly memorable, and there are probably more:

Reading (home)
Barnsley (away)
QPR (home)
Fulham (home)
Wednesday (away).

His Fulham away goal was enjoyable.

 

[GloryDays]

Baldock was a bright player, possibly in the Sheringham mould if not the same quality.

The goals at Barnsley and MASSIVE were great times.

I liked him, should possibly have been given a bash.

And QPR at home. Personally my favourite.

Retired Onuoha with a quick turn of pace.

I don't want to join those ganging up on you, but Baldock was instrumental in our Championship side being at its attacking best, goals or no goals.

I'll concede your point on the word striker, so perhaps Sam Baldock wasn't a striker. If that's the case, Bobby Zamora was also not a striker at West Ham, Fulham and QPR. He was, like Sam Baldock, an occasionally-scoring forward. Both were very effective in those roles.

And just to clear this up before it gets out of hand. I know footballers get boxed in to a variety of positions and roles these days but let's keep it simple. Baldock was a striker.

 

[Napper]

Baldock was great. We played better when he was in the team. What he did off the ball created space everywhere

 

[lawros left foot]

It’s threads like this I really miss Bens Grandad