I'm tempted to suggest that this is a PR exercise by his agent to get him a new contract with 'Boro this summer.
I'd be staggered if he was really going to be signed by a Premier League Club. I accept that he will have matured as a player but I thought he was a bit of a liability and was amazed when we got in excess of £1m for him.
Can't see Bailey as a Premiership player, even as a defensive midfielder.
For me, his biggest weakness was actually passing the ball and holding onto possession, he always tried to play a Hollywood ball (a la Gerrard) rather than keep it simple.
Was a good signing for us, and a Hollands/Bailey combo would be pretty good in the Championship, never mind L1 But the memories of the Swindon game still linger, and his generally wind-up attitude got on my nerves- 'fraid I don't subscribe to the "he plays for us, so it's OK" view
Very good player, but had a tendency to over-work and run around like a headless chicken. In a better team and with better management he'd be very good. Has all the basics - great engine, tough tackling, superb shot, good finisher.
Was a good signing for us, and a Hollands/Bailey combo would be pretty good in the Championship, never mind L1 But the memories of the Swindon game still linger, and his generally wind-up attitude got on my nerves- 'fraid I don't subscribe to the "he plays for us, so it's OK" view
I take it you don't like Yann then?
I like lots of things about him, but no, I don't appreciate the wind-ups and gamesmanship. I'm not so naive that I think everyone should play the game like Prince Edward, but some of Yann's actions can be a bit embarrassing. Nor cajn you defend them with "it's up to referees to stop ii". That's like saying "Ok if bankers cheat, it's up to the FSA to stop them"
Was a good signing for us, and a Hollands/Bailey combo would be pretty good in the Championship, never mind L1 But the memories of the Swindon game still linger, and his generally wind-up attitude got on my nerves- 'fraid I don't subscribe to the "he plays for us, so it's OK" view
I take it you don't like Yann then?
I like lots of things about him, but no, I don't appreciate the wind-ups and gamesmanship. I'm not so naive that I think everyone should play the game like Prince Edward, but some of Yann's actions can be a bit embarrassing. Nor cajn you defend them with "it's up to referees to stop ii". That's like saying "Ok if bankers cheat, it's up to the FSA to stop them"
Fair enough. I find Yann's antics hilarious myself but I think that's all part of the good season we're having. When you're on rubbish form and slipping down the table the moaners are the ones who tend to annoy you the most but when your players' antics win you a tough match against promotion rivals it goes down easier. Plus there's a brilliant Frenchness to Yann's bastardry that makes it even more amusing
I thought Bailey was a decent player in a poor side. PL quality, not sure, but definitely would slot back into out current team, alongside Hollands in central midfield probably.
I liked him a lot and he stayed with us when we went down. May have looked good as the rest of the team so poor, but I thought he was an excellent footballer. 1mil we got for him probably saved us from Admin and for that alone we should be grateful. If he is still the player he was, then he would be a great signing. Knee injury suggests that he won't be and may find he picks up more and more injury's now. He maybe the old head that we may appreciate in the Champ, but I would like to know if we have any chance of a Prem MF coming down a league as would have more class. Aston V are having a clear out and I suspect so will many others. There is also the clubs going up that will improve their squads and release/sell players. So on balance, not for me, as I think there will be better players that we can attract, but lets please stop slagging off a player that played his heart out for the club and showed some loyalty when so many others did not. Thank you.
Saw him a week or so ago playing for Boro on the tv. Seemed a little unfit to me, and playing at probably his level. PL quality, not on what I saw. I also thought he was a decent player in a poor Charlton side, but it was a very poor Charlton side.
Thought he was a fantastic player. Surprised that many seem to be so quick to point out his flaws. As much as I rate the current side, he would be back in the starting eleven for me if we magically signed him back.
He may have missed that penalty but we may have not even made the playoffs without his goals throughout the season. Always committed and passionate.
Very good player, but had a tendency to over-work and run around like a headless chicken. In a better team and with better management he'd be very good. Has all the basics - great engine, tough tackling, superb shot, good finisher.
A fair assessment I think. Not seen him play at Boro, but it's entirely possible he's matured and learnt the importance of positional discipline and not going chasing after everything that moves. On a good day he was easily Championship quality, on a bad day he looked barely non-league quality, but he had a lot of the raw attritbutes and seemed to have a good attitiude so it's no surprise to hear he's improving as a player. At the time he left we needed the money more than we needed him (and it was good money for the player he was at that time) but I don't think any of the midfielders we've had since he left have been significantly better, except maybe Jacko.
Waggy is going through a similar process at the moment imo and is learning to channel all that energy and enthusiam in the right way and is looking a better player for it. Happily he's doing it at the Valley.
Haven't seen enough of him to know how he's adapted at Boro. From what Boro fans said when Mowbray got him playing at dm, he was one of their most important players. Wouldn't judge him atm as he's just come back off a long lay off.
As others have said has everything in his game, bar a bit of in game intelligence. This is great when you're on top and he can break into offensive areas, but not when the game is breaking down offensively: a la Swindon. Having said that he's streets ahead of Semedo as a footballer and defensively. When tasked with a simple defensive role he was excellent and a far more effective tackler/header than Semedo. The problem came when he'd hared out of position and was subsequently trying to plug his gap, or when he had time to think about a pass. If he kept his football simple, I could see him able to compete in the prem, albeit for a bottom half team.
Never has the last game in a shirt soured so many views on a player. Nicky was excellent in the play off season, he had some poor games, but the goals he scored were vital, work rate was excellent, and could have the hero if we had made it to Wembley. We also made excellent money on him.
He's been good for Boro this season, hope he gets a good deal
I tend to agree with Rothko, but thinking back I got the distinct impression that there came a point during the season when his performances became erratic and I assumed that this was because he was "unsettled" and had started to believe he was too good for us.
I tend to agree with Rothko, but thinking back I got the distinct impression that there came a point during the season when his performances became erratic and I assumed that this was because he was "unsettled" and had started to believe he was too good for us.
Undeniably he was the best player in what was a weak side, it must be dispiriting playing in a side that conceded so many soft goals, that with poor management maybe made him conclude that it wasn't worth putting in 100% anymore. Let's face it, few of that side did.
Comments
I'd be staggered if he was really going to be signed by a Premier League Club. I accept that he will have matured as a player but I thought he was a bit of a liability and was amazed when we got in excess of £1m for him.
For me, his biggest weakness was actually passing the ball and holding onto possession, he always tried to play a Hollywood ball (a la Gerrard) rather than keep it simple.
Good player in the CCC but not up to PL level.
1mil we got for him probably saved us from Admin and for that alone we should be grateful.
If he is still the player he was, then he would be a great signing. Knee injury suggests that he won't be and may find he picks up more and more injury's now.
He maybe the old head that we may appreciate in the Champ, but I would like to know if we have any chance of a Prem MF coming down a league as would have more class.
Aston V are having a clear out and I suspect so will many others. There is also the clubs going up that will improve their squads and release/sell players.
So on balance, not for me, as I think there will be better players that we can attract, but lets please stop slagging off a player that played his heart out for the club and showed some loyalty when so many others did not.
Thank you.
Can you imagine if your boss did that to you? Or your customers.
Seemed a little unfit to me, and playing at probably his level.
PL quality, not on what I saw. I also thought he was a decent player in a poor Charlton side, but it was a very poor Charlton side.
He may have missed that penalty but we may have not even made the playoffs without his goals throughout the season. Always committed and passionate.
Loved his song too.
Waggy is going through a similar process at the moment imo and is learning to channel all that energy and enthusiam in the right way and is looking a better player for it. Happily he's doing it at the Valley.
I know he scored the goals from the left mid spot but it made us so so disjointed.
As others have said has everything in his game, bar a bit of in game intelligence. This is great when you're on top and he can break into offensive areas, but not when the game is breaking down offensively: a la Swindon. Having said that he's streets ahead of Semedo as a footballer and defensively. When tasked with a simple defensive role he was excellent and a far more effective tackler/header than Semedo. The problem came when he'd hared out of position and was subsequently trying to plug his gap, or when he had time to think about a pass. If he kept his football simple, I could see him able to compete in the prem, albeit for a bottom half team.
He's been good for Boro this season, hope he gets a good deal
But, having seen him play a number of times for Forest this season, its fair to say he is now feeding in a very nice paddock......