Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: wittonwarrior on August 29, 2022, 11:26:59 AM

Title: Nathan Baker
Post by: wittonwarrior on August 29, 2022, 11:26:59 AM
Just announced his retirement following a head injury.   All them bricks he headed!  Seriously had a bit of a raw deal at the Villa, no way was he worse than Elphick.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: pauliewalnuts on August 29, 2022, 11:54:04 AM
I thought Elphick was much better, personally.

However, neither were very good.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: UK Redsox on August 29, 2022, 12:03:36 PM
I thought Elphick was much better, personally.

However, neither were very good.

At least Baker didn’t bang goalposts or hoof the ball to the corner flag during the warm up.

Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Exeter 77 on August 29, 2022, 12:09:53 PM
Apart from flogging his 2010 League Cup Final tickets on Facebook I don't think Nathan ever let us down or gave less than his all for Villa but even in his early days in the first team he seemed to have a knack of picking up head injuries so the reason for his retirement isn't really a surprise.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: cdbearsfan on August 29, 2022, 12:10:53 PM
He was a million times better than Elphick. Shame for Baker, he had terrible luck with injuries. Hope he has a decent retirement, wouldn't be amazed to see him end up as manager.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Deano's Mullet on August 29, 2022, 12:13:20 PM
He was better than Ciaran Clark.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Goldenballs on August 29, 2022, 12:14:29 PM
I liked him, played like a fan throwing his body in the way of everything.

He was shagging my mates cousin for a bit.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: cdbearsfan on August 29, 2022, 12:19:32 PM
Merge with the Nathan Baker thread below please.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Brend'Watkins on August 29, 2022, 12:27:03 PM
He was better than Ciaran Clark.

He really wasn’t. Clark is a far better footballer than Baker ever was his career to date is testament to that. Baker threw his body on the line always and invariably got himself injured doing so. Not very smart of him.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: SoccerHQ on August 29, 2022, 01:01:55 PM
Never the best defender but always gave 100% and certainly put his head in where it hurt many times, think he was concussed a few times playing for us.

Wish him well, hopefully he's got stuff lined up after finishing playing given he's had a few months knowing it was coming seeing as he hasn't played since November.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: nigel on August 29, 2022, 01:12:24 PM
I thought he could have been a very good centre half.
I don’t think he had the best role models at the time so was probably never given any decent coaching.
I think had his time been around in the Dean Smith era with JT things may have been different.

Best of luck in his retirement
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Abbeyfealeavfc on August 29, 2022, 01:16:46 PM
Best of luck Nathan in your retirement!
Thanks for your whole-hearted attitude when playing for Villa.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: eamonn on August 29, 2022, 01:18:10 PM
Will he need to work again? Must be a millionaire, no?
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Hopadop on August 29, 2022, 02:25:06 PM
At his best he was very good. In the rare win at Spurs in 2015 he was an early sub and Kane got nothing at all out of him. The home supporters were massively impressed.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Diablo on August 29, 2022, 03:09:37 PM
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-nathan-baker-retires-24880724
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: Ad@m on August 29, 2022, 03:17:59 PM
He certainly made the most of his limited ability but the Championship was his level, which is why he spent most of his career there.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: manic-road on August 29, 2022, 05:12:53 PM
Whatever his ability he gave his all in a Villa shirt, I wish him and his family all the very best.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: olaftab on August 29, 2022, 05:37:08 PM
Good lad, very good professional. Wish him all the best.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: SamTheMouse on August 29, 2022, 07:18:25 PM
I always thought Baker was a decent defender, especially when it came to the last ditch stuff, but incredibly fragile physically.

It's sad that his career has ended this way, but better safe than sorry.
Title: Re: Nathan Baker
Post by: dcdavecollett on August 30, 2022, 11:21:13 PM
Yes, Sam, he did come over as a bit fragile, which is almost laughable when you remember how he used to tear into tackles with no fear whatsoever.
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