Notts County v Bristol City preview: Luke Freeman's new role keeps him busy. please log in to view this image Bristol City's Luke Freeman who scored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw at Rochdale last weekend. LUKE Freeman admits he is still learning how best to harness his undoubted talent in Steve Cotterill's revamped Bristol City team. Signed for a substantial six-figure sum from Stevenage during the summer, Freeman's arrival at Ashton Gate aroused more excitement among Robins fans than any of the other six newcomers who have walked through the door. A naturally-gifted player with a penchant for the unexpected, the former Arsenal youth-team starlet had established a reputation as a scorer of spectacular goals and a creator of chances for others. Yet so far, expectant City fans have only seen glimpses of the brilliance that rendered Freeman the first name on Stevenage manager Graham Westley's team sheet last season. Still to fully settle in Bristol and yet to attain the level of match sharpness that only comes with playing regular games, the Londoner has also had to adapt to a new way of playing. Deployed ostensibly as on old fashioned winger at his last club, Freeman has been asked to adopt an altogether different role by Robins manager Cotterill. While Mark Little and Greg Cunningham have been briefed to provide width on either flank, it is Freeman's job to support the strikers from a more central position in midfield. Accustomed to isolating and taking on full-backs, Freeman is now presented with the task of engineering time and space in the busiest part of the pitch. Speaking ahead of Sunday's rearranged League One clash with Notts County at Meadow Lane, Freeman admitted: "It's a learning process for me â I've never played that role before and it is all new to me. "At Stevenage, I was usually out wide on the wing and that was a very different role. "But the gaffer has told me he wants me to be more involved in the game and have the ball at my feet more. "Given the formation we are playing, he thinks I'll be better in a more central role than stuck out wide. "I have been getting on the ball more, but you have to be quicker and cleverer when you play in the middle, because it is easy to run into traffic. "You have to try and find pockets of space in which to operate and make the room to turn and create. "I've still got a lot to learn about playing inside, but I'm definitely enjoying it." Scoring his first City goal against Rochdale at Spotland last weekend will certainly hasten the process of assimilation and afford Freeman a much-needed confidence boost. His searching runs from deep positions and ability to go beyond the forwards were a feature of City's high-octane first-half display at Rochdale and his goal, supremely well-taken from outside the penalty area, suggests a player who knows where the net is. He said: "I like to score goals and getting that one was a big confidence boost for me. "I got in a few good positions and was knocking on the door in the first couple of games, but couldn't find the finish, so it was nice to finally get off the mark. "It's now a case of cracking on and getting more games and goals under my belt." City had to fall back on their new-found defensive resilience to withstand a ferocious second-half fight-back from Rochdale and Freeman expects something similar when he and his team-mates take to the road again to meet a Notts County side that has made a decent start to the campaign. Although Cotterill is still grappling with the not inconsiderable task of assimilating seven new players into his team, City have already demonstrated a level of cohesion and organisation that will stand them in good stead during the course of what promises to be an arduous campaign. Playing County in their Meadow Lane backyard will represent another stern test of character and resolve, but Freeman is confident the best is still to come from a City side that is still to fully develop an understanding between its various component parts. He said: "We know we are going to get away games like that in this league and Rochdale were relentless in that second half." City (possible line-up): Fielding, Ayling, Flint, Williams, Little, Elliott, Smith, Freeman, Cunningham, Wilbraham, Agard. County: Carroll, Dumbuya, Baird, Adams, Hollis, Ismail, Mullins, Jones, Murray, Cassidy, Noble. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Notts-...Luke-Freeman/story-22845743-detail/story.html
Like Jay Aston Emmanuel-Thomas his ability is wasted by asking him to do what he is not really good at v what he really is good at.
Yeah what was Arsene Wengar thinking off when he bought a winger and played him through the middle as a forward (twice)? Also when he bought that defender and played him in midfield. Taking players out of their starting roles, and then seeing something that they might settle into and be a better player. These managers eh they know **** all compared to us on here. Jets issue is he's a liability on his day he's great v 75% of the time he's not interested.
Last Saturday City fell flat on their arse for forty five minutes as players struggled in unfamiliar roles. Taking one of the divisions best players and seeing if he MIGHT SETTLE ... Buy players for their positions, and play them there. I will pass on comparing Bristol City to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Jets issue is his limitation, play him up top and ask him to lead a line ... There are players in non league better equipped to do that job.
Great as a winger for Stevenage and under par doing something else for City and completely understandable.
Watched Baldock's goals on the Brighton site, I'd forgotten just how many were put on a plate by Jet.
