That said, the boy looked good didn't he? True Blackpool were a mess at the back, with Baldock's second literally gift wrapped as tangerine defenders stood around awkwardly like a bunch of paedophile uncles at Christmas as Little Sam opened his present, but the way he took his first screamed quality.
Imagine, for a moment, Carlton clean through like Baldock. Or Sears. Or Piquionne. Or Boa. Or Robbie Keane in a West Ham shirt. We haven't created many chances like that over the last three years, but when we have, most have been missed. It looks easy, but knees turn to jelly, the head spins and panic suffocates the striker's advantage. We will all have our own memories of the missed ones: Cole against Chelsea stands out for me.
But Baldock looked composed. He held his run brilliantly to beat the off side trap and when clean through, he looked up, assessed, and buried the chance beautifully. As Zola discovered with Cole, you can't coach that composure. It is innate. Baldock will miss some - all strikers do - but he will score more than he misses because he is a natural.
It is one game. Blackpool were shocking at the back. Much bigger challenges lie ahead. But Baldock has started well and, in this division at least, looks the part. He may not be the new Michael Owen, but he could just be the new Tony Cottee!
Wow, an optimistic post. Just.
ReplyDeleteWe all love 30 yard screamers , but they don't happen every week, baldocks goals were poachers goals as you say we don't get goals like that very often, I remember regullary watching Harewood bearing down on goal and screaming don't think marlon dont think, only for him to shoot straight at the keeper and be proved right again.
ReplyDeleteBaldock looks like the cottee we have been missing for so long.
The new Tony Cottee will do very nicely! nice article too.
ReplyDeletegreat article, shame they can't all be like this
ReplyDeleteI say it how I see it. Unlike the OS which say what you want to hear. With more honesty, we would not be in the Championship now!
ReplyDelete...if I hadn't prompted him by commenting positively on Baldock on another post, I'm sure HF wouldn't have thought of it. Right misery guts?
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree and have been thinking the same thing since seeing the goals - Cole would not have scored that first Baldock goal.
ReplyDeleteHe also wouldn't have scored the header that Carew put away.
Here's hoping that these two get a good run of games to keep it up!
Anyone know why Carlton and Lansbury were nowhere to be seen? Injured or rested??
For once, a good article. Your wife will be proud.
ReplyDeleteUnworthy of you Stani. Article held back until this morning to maximise hits after a "gush" of posts yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHahaa, modest as ever HF.
ReplyDeleteGold said on twitter that Lansbury and Cole were available for selection but rested 1300
So they were dropped then!
ReplyDeleteAs good as. Tuesday's game will tell us more.
ReplyDeleteI reckon he rested both with a view to playing them against Southampton. Cole would have been direct replacement for Carew who had an international game too. But Baldock and Carew did so well, I think Cole will only make the bench. Lansbury may come in though...possibly for Collison.
Doesn't make sense. Cole has enjoyed a 2 week rest, Carew played for Norway!
ReplyDeleteCole had a niggle too though. But knowing Pam, he may shift to 451 again since we're away.
ReplyDelete