"Would you describe Nick Freeman as a ball player"
Absolutely. What he did best for us that nobody else could wasn't crossing or passing, it was taking a touch and shielding the ball when it was becoming a head tennis or hoof rally and then slowly passing it on with a bit of calm restored.
Anyone who prefers a measured pass to a percentage based lump forward especially when it's frenetic is a ball player.
That would never register in stats btw but he did it often and we were usually much better as a team for at least the next 10/15 minutes. Some of the defenders must have loved the brief rest.
I'm pretty sure over the whole course of the season Freeman had a lot more minutes than Campbell... though I could be wrong of course, which is quite often according to her indoors
This is exactly what we’ll miss - pretty much the only player in the entire squad who was consistently calm on the ball in any situation. It took so much pressure off when we’re under the cosh, which is basically the second half of every game.
Freeman would occasionally show a flash of something great, but then would make bizarre decisions, or just not turn up. Thought he was great the few times we played him in the middle.
When GA figured out the best way to use Wing, he was fantastic. Then he never quite clicked in that way under Blooms.
It was weird how Wing's form dropped off a cliff under Bloomfield despite the change of style that should've benefited him far more. Just speculation but I wonder if he had a lot less respect for Matt as a rookie manager having never played alongside him nor necessarily buying into the Wycombe culture of old (he reminded me a little of Josh Knight in his deportment on the pitch, a bit standoffish and occasionally giving off the sense he thought he was too good for us). Aligned to that, maybe he clocked out too early having got a verbal agreement to sign for a Championship club in Jan, when there was speculation six or seven were in for him.
Perhaps. Paradoxically, I found our midfield all dropped a bit. Scowen is a brilliant workhorse, but I found him a bit laboured in possession at times under MB. Just kinks in the system, I'm sure
Not sure Wing's form was much different to how it was the majority of the time under Ainsworth. He hit a real purple patch of form for a couple of months, but he hadn't been pulling up trees before that.
Yes, the way some posters talk about Freeman is as if he was an incredible artist who was always superb every time he got the ball. And it was utterly incredible he didn't play more.
Or a wasted talent in a team that was his opposite, of course so many factors involved that we might never know, if he excels at a lower level those who rated him will no doubt point to that while those that didn't point at the level. Also if we win without him he was always rubbish, of we lose he is the Messiah, Gasroom summer here we come.
Fair enough, I'm usually on the positive side on here which everyone hates :) Had no issue with AAH leaving, just hope someone takes an exaggerated bid for him and we get a chunk. I think I understand both the love for Nick and why we didn't maybe try a bit harder to keep him. Looking forward to see who arrives.
Nick is a very good player, was never given a good run in the team like others were, and he never let anyone down, it’s all to do with preferences, after being very patient over the years, and probably waiting to see what direction the new manager was going, the straw that broke the camel’s back, was having the number 10 position up for grabs recently, and being Nicks favoured position, was then over looked for a development player with only a few professional games under his belt (TJ) pushing for playoffs you play your most experienced players, having been patient over the years he finds himself playing second fiddle to a less experienced player playing out of his favoured position
Nick's been one of my favourite players for years, so to answer your question - I think if he turns up somewhere that plays on the deck then yes, if he turns up somewhere that boots it over his head then no.
The biggest reason I was always glad to see him on the pitch is that when he received the ball he never panicked - if there was a useful pass on he'd play it, if not, he'd hold the ball until there was which gave the rest of the team time to get into useful positions. He's ridiculously good at this. When we're playing backs-to-the-wall football under constant pressure (second half of pretty much every game this season), this is exactly what you need. What everyone else seems to do in that situation though is panic hoof it up the other end so it can come straight back at us because there's nobody up there. Obviously the ideal scenario would be that the rest of the team learn to do this too, but in the absence of that he's been our only calm holder.
Comments
Good point of order.
Yes he's definitely not a playmaker.
More a guy who can get it, glide around with it, play a sensible ball on the floor most of the time.
Quite hard to categorise really.
"Would you describe Nick Freeman as a ball player"
Absolutely. What he did best for us that nobody else could wasn't crossing or passing, it was taking a touch and shielding the ball when it was becoming a head tennis or hoof rally and then slowly passing it on with a bit of calm restored.
Anyone who prefers a measured pass to a percentage based lump forward especially when it's frenetic is a ball player.
That would never register in stats btw but he did it often and we were usually much better as a team for at least the next 10/15 minutes. Some of the defenders must have loved the brief rest.
So Freeman scored twice last season. Only one less than Premiership loanee Chem Campbell and he only played for about ten minutes every six games.
I'm pretty sure over the whole course of the season Freeman had a lot more minutes than Campbell... though I could be wrong of course, which is quite often according to her indoors
You are never wrong if, like me, you avoid asking anyone else's opinion @HolmerBlue
This is exactly what we’ll miss - pretty much the only player in the entire squad who was consistently calm on the ball in any situation. It took so much pressure off when we’re under the cosh, which is basically the second half of every game.
What odds on Wing joining a team related to "birds"....?
Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol City, Norwich?
No chance of joining Sunderland or Hull.
Some strange birds there.
Whoops. I’ve fallen in, kerplonk.
I will plump for Blackpool, As Lewis is supposedly a house house fanatic, hence is known as Bingo Wing.
Freeman would occasionally show a flash of something great, but then would make bizarre decisions, or just not turn up. Thought he was great the few times we played him in the middle.
When GA figured out the best way to use Wing, he was fantastic. Then he never quite clicked in that way under Blooms.
It was weird how Wing's form dropped off a cliff under Bloomfield despite the change of style that should've benefited him far more. Just speculation but I wonder if he had a lot less respect for Matt as a rookie manager having never played alongside him nor necessarily buying into the Wycombe culture of old (he reminded me a little of Josh Knight in his deportment on the pitch, a bit standoffish and occasionally giving off the sense he thought he was too good for us). Aligned to that, maybe he clocked out too early having got a verbal agreement to sign for a Championship club in Jan, when there was speculation six or seven were in for him.
Perhaps. Paradoxically, I found our midfield all dropped a bit. Scowen is a brilliant workhorse, but I found him a bit laboured in possession at times under MB. Just kinks in the system, I'm sure
Not sure Wing's form was much different to how it was the majority of the time under Ainsworth. He hit a real purple patch of form for a couple of months, but he hadn't been pulling up trees before that.
That's like saying you're more handsome than the average wycombe fan.
It's not an incredible accolade is it?
Yes, the way some posters talk about Freeman is as if he was an incredible artist who was always superb every time he got the ball. And it was utterly incredible he didn't play more.
There was a huge difference in use early Bloomfield reign versus under Ainsworth.
Wing would often be deeper than the centre backs and seemed to be being used as the classic deep lying playmaker
I think by "speculation" you meant "Now, Im about to completely fabricate a story...."
Jack of all trades but a master of none?
Or a wasted talent in a team that was his opposite, of course so many factors involved that we might never know, if he excels at a lower level those who rated him will no doubt point to that while those that didn't point at the level. Also if we win without him he was always rubbish, of we lose he is the Messiah, Gasroom summer here we come.
While I want him to do well and be happy and all of that....on the flipside the overrators will be unbearable, as seen with the Al-Hamadi stuff.
And literally no-one rated him when he was here!
Fair enough, I'm usually on the positive side on here which everyone hates :) Had no issue with AAH leaving, just hope someone takes an exaggerated bid for him and we get a chunk. I think I understand both the love for Nick and why we didn't maybe try a bit harder to keep him. Looking forward to see who arrives.
Your last line is the key.
A nervous and exciting period at the same time as we've no previous to go on with Bloomfield.
Nick is a very good player, was never given a good run in the team like others were, and he never let anyone down, it’s all to do with preferences, after being very patient over the years, and probably waiting to see what direction the new manager was going, the straw that broke the camel’s back, was having the number 10 position up for grabs recently, and being Nicks favoured position, was then over looked for a development player with only a few professional games under his belt (TJ) pushing for playoffs you play your most experienced players, having been patient over the years he finds himself playing second fiddle to a less experienced player playing out of his favoured position
Had a good window by all accounts in January but can't really judge without knowing budgets and who else he was offered.
Nick Freeman
Why did he struggle to get in the Orient team when on loan?
Is this opinion, or you claiming inside knowledge?
Do all the Freeman clamourers expect him to kick on elsewhere? What do you think his level is?
Nick's been one of my favourite players for years, so to answer your question - I think if he turns up somewhere that plays on the deck then yes, if he turns up somewhere that boots it over his head then no.
The biggest reason I was always glad to see him on the pitch is that when he received the ball he never panicked - if there was a useful pass on he'd play it, if not, he'd hold the ball until there was which gave the rest of the team time to get into useful positions. He's ridiculously good at this. When we're playing backs-to-the-wall football under constant pressure (second half of pretty much every game this season), this is exactly what you need. What everyone else seems to do in that situation though is panic hoof it up the other end so it can come straight back at us because there's nobody up there. Obviously the ideal scenario would be that the rest of the team learn to do this too, but in the absence of that he's been our only calm holder.