NCM Report Cards: #8 Julien Baudet

Hindsight is a such beautiful thing. Looking back to my reaction of Julien Baudet’s signing, I seem to remember likening him to the legendary figure of Jon Bewers of Gary Mills’ relegation side of the previous season.

In all honesty, I could see not an awful lot of need for what I – and indeed many others of my kind – saw as a Rotherham ‘reject’.

Not Again...

To Mills’ credit, if there was one thing he was capable of was sniffing out unlikely and often abandoned talents – and Baudet, in time, proved to be just that.

How wrong I was then to consider Baudet as surplus to the side, when in fact he came on to become one of the more established members of the squad.

From the opening day of the season, Baudet’s class was obvious. With none of the continental finesse that we could expect from a Frenchman, ‘Le Brute’s Rio-esque composure was belied somewhat by the bullying presence that was applied oh so effectively by Baudet.

During the pre-season, Baudet was utilised more as a midfield man, looking more suited for a building site than the football pitch.

Come the season’s dawn, however, and perhaps the real Baudet was beginning to surface. His outstanding showing in the season’s opener with Chester let on just what the Frenchman was going to be about; power, composure and calm penalty taking.

His second-half penalty against League Two newcomers Chester City helped ease nerves momentarily, up until Chester equalised, that was.

Whilst he was not the most brash a Frenchmen ever to grace the English game, it was clear that the towering defender – signed following an unhappy spell with Rotherham United in the Championship – was to play a massive part to play over the coming season.

Baudet on his Magpies' debut

And, sure enough, he did. Only a young whippersnapper himself at 25, one of Baudet’s main priorities was to aid the development of the club’s youngsters; especially its defenders.

With Mike Whitlow, Ian Richardson, Mike Edwards and Rob Ullathorne ALL injured – often in tight cohesion – Baudet became the only senior member of the back four at times, with Kelvin Wilson, Emmet Friars and Shane McFaul still not of the nipple, for want of a better expression.

Whilst it will be 37-year old Mike Whitlow who will take much of the plaudits for the youngsters’ development off the field, it will be Baudet – a man twelve years his junior – who will be remembered most ominously for berthing the young trio into the side.

Saying that, however, it would be wrong to assume that Baudet’s season was without event in a more personal perspective.

Between his the distraction of one groin injury to another, Baudet’s cool head from twelve-yards benefited the Magpies no fewer than five times over the course of the season.

After an opening day spot-kick at Chester, Baudet later was to stroke home from the spot against Leyton Orient, Woking, Rushden and Lincoln.

...Yes, again

With the club’s showing a baffling ability to stumble in and out of form at the drop of a hat, Baudet’s cool head from the spot proved a useful commodity.

Claiming five points and a place in the FA Cup Second Round all from simple composure as the club’s regular penalty taker, Baudet’s consistency from twelve yards was handy, to say the very least.

Missing just one of his penalties – against Cambridge, Baudet also grabbed a header at Oxford to take his season tally to six – not bad for a centre half, I think you’ll agree.

And so, finishing the season with forty-four appearances, six goals and a bouncing baby boy to his credit will be a satisfying season indeed for the towering Frenchmen; with Baudet hardly likely to look back at the season gone by with any strain of regret or frustration.

And, whilst Kelvin Wilson and the like have much to thank him for, Le Brute should continue his steady progress through to the forthcoming season.