Nathan Baker

[olaftab]

I am pleased at his progress and means may be MON can take Dunne off us in January for £10m.

[Dave Clark Five]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2739421,00.html

[Clampy]

The first time i ever saw him was in a pre-season freindly against Walsall a few years back (the one where Barry got booed). I liked the look of him that day. It's a shame niggling injuries have held him back, he really does look a decent defender.

[ktvillan]

Not sure that a standard "bigging up" piece on Pravda when he's had to throw him in due to injuries proves he deserves credit for his development.  Baker always looked ok to me if a little raw, but always seemed to pick up a knock as soon as he got a chance.  Like other youth team products, they often just need a run of games to prove they can hack it and he appears to be doing just that, as do Weimann and Bannan.

[ozzjim]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2739421,00.html

See nothing in there to credit Eck with any more than putting him into the side when he had too.

[Risso]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2739421,00.html

See nothing in there to credit Eck with any more than putting him into the side when he had too.

Indeed Oz.  Plus he calls him a "male model", which makes him a big bumder.

[Monty]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2739421,00.html See nothing in there to credit Eck with any more than putting him into the side when he had too.

And that he was mostly concerned with making a naturally 'stopper' style centre-back play 'uglier'.

[JUAN PABLO]

It's like watching Gary Cahill all over again. All we need now is an overhead kicked goal in front of the Holte and we're there.

Let's just hope the manager doesn't go mental and give him away for next to nothing this time.  Somehow, I can't see it happening.

I will drink to that

[barrysleftfoot]

  Nice Lad as well apparently.

 Will be England captain.A much better player at this age than Cahill was, a better player than Lescott, who cost £24m, will be worth at least that in 2/3 years time barring injuries.A proper centre half.

[itbrvilla]

The first time i ever saw him was in a pre-season freindly against Walsall a few years back (the one where Barry got booed). I liked the look of him that day. It's a shame niggling injuries have held him back, he really does look a decent defender.

was there too and he was the stand-out performer in that game and seemed to disappear off the radar for a while after.

[tomd2103]

He definitely has the physical attributes and the aggression to be a top class CB and being left footed is a huge advantage.  I still think there are questions regarding his distribution and decision making (the step over in his own box at Old Trafford last season springs to mind), but he's been better in both areas in the last few games and hopefully he will come on further with the more games he plays. 

I read somewhere that Dunne's operation was a success and he should be back soon, which will mean there will be healthy competition for places at CB, which can only be good.   

[supertom]

Laurenesque yesterday. That's praise. He looks brilliant. More importantly, he and Clark read each other well. I think Clarks really stepped it up since being skipper. He's looked the part. Baker is looking brilliant though. Totally imperious. In all honesty, at the moment Baker and Clark a looking a cut above what Vlaar has offered thus far, and I think he's been quite good. Not brilliant, but good. Our defence has been tight since he's been out so he's really got to raise his game when he comes back.
Herd too deserves a lot of credit. I like him in that role. He's no nonsense and really gives his all. I think he's done more than well enough to suggest he's more than a gap filler.

[onje_villa]

One great thing about Lambert is that you can just put complete faith in his judgement. You know if he has money to spend he'll do so wisely, equally you know he's not going to let Baker go anywhere, certainly not for peanuts like with Cahill.

It's also nice having a manger who will pick players not based on reputation. Just think how good these players could be at 26/27 with the game time they're getting at 21/22. Plus you know it's going to make great financial sense. Even if a Benteke or a Baker gets their head turned, we're going to be more than doubling or money each time and you just know that PL and our scouts will be able to but in the same but cheaper. Not that I want anyone sold....

[Archie]

Baker's progress under Lambert is amazing, last season he struggled to play when he was on loan at Millwall in Championship and now it seems a proper Premier League centre half. Chapeau!

[johncvilla88]

It's like watching Gary Cahill all over again. All we need now is an overhead kicked goal in front of the Holte and we're there.

Against the "blue's" next week would be nice... be a long time waiting to play Birmingham City again if ever............