Nathan Baker

[tomd2103]

Clark has the more potential to be a better player. Baker probably won't get much better, though if he eliminates silly errors he could prove useful to us over the next 3 years. He's a back up for me. I wouldn't want him to be playing 30 games a season.
In terms of last season, Baker made errors but Clark was our worst center half. He was nightmarish at times. All over the shop. He needs to improve his upper body strength to make him better aerially, and his concentration a lot.

If Clark had any pace, I'd have turned him into a left back by now.

Baker does indeed fully deserve his extension though.

What we could really do with is a machine similar to the one in the movie "The Fly" so we could create a CB who has Clark's ability on the ball and Baker's physical attributes.  Then we would have a player on our hands!!

[Mister E]

True Nigel, but as much as I enjoy seeing him flying into crunching tackles (his one against Chelsea at home being a good example), he only needs to get his timing fractionally wrong and it's a red card every time these days (I also remember him getting sent off for a similar type challenge in the FA Cup against Blackburn during Houllier's reign and that was a couple of years ago).   

Yep, dives in too much. Someone above likens Baker to Eghiogu; I can see that but the latter timed his challenges alot better than young Baker currently does.
Players like Gnasher Suarez have a field-day against Baker because they'll always draw the foul.
His distribution is shocking at times as well.

[SoccerHQ]

I just don't think Clark has the defender's knack tbh. He's o.k on the ball but not great in the air and isn't that quick, I'd prefer him in midfield or left back.

Baker has faults but at least we look a bit better defending high balls and set pieces with him in there, he had good games at Stoke, Fulham and Norwich for example and he is the typical british centre half who'll fly around the pitch blocking shots.

[barrysleftfoot]

 I'm glad Baker has signed a new deal, for me he is a better defender at this age than Cahill was.He is only 21/22, and good CHs are generally in their late 20s.Alongside a quick right sided central defender, his aeriel abilities, and generally good defensive qualities, will be a very good partnership.

 Never understood the Clark love in tbh, for me hes a poor mans Barry.Same attributes, no pace, but Clark is the lesser player.

 Baker should be 3rd choice tbh, and brought through gradually.Clark can go.

[Doorbell]

 I'm glad Baker has signed a new deal,

Me too.

[PeterWithesShin]

 I'm glad Baker has signed a new deal,

Me too.

And me. Increases the chances of getting cup tickets.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Prefer Baker to Clark as well. I can't see the appeal of Clark either. But we need to start getting a clean sheet. Our last clean sheet is December 8th in 0-0 draw against Stoke and had 4 clean sheet in the league. Which is not good enough.

[eastie]

Prefer Baker to Clark as well. I can't see the appeal of Clark either. But we need to start getting a clean sheet. Our last clean sheet is December 8th in 0-0 draw against Stoke and had 4 clean sheet in the league. Which is not good enough.

Fair comments Michael.

[ktvillan]

I suppose with Baker in the team at the end of the season our defending of corners and set pieces seemed to improve, and he is at least a commanding aerial CB.  On the downside our own goal and penalty concessions increased due to him.  The og at Reading was pure slapstick.

People keep mentioning Clark as a possible  LB.  I can only assume they missed  his (thankfully) few appearances there as he was utterly gash, positionally all over the place. 

[SoccerHQ]

True but Ridgwell looked hopeless there the one time we played him at LB and he's gone on to be a competent LB at WBA.

[TheSandman]

I also which to join the Baker over Clark campaign. Baker has attributes that can't really be taught to a defender that Clark lacks. Not just the obvious physical attributes but he has a much better reading of the game. Baker's shortcomings are things that he can get over with experience and coaching.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Pleased Baker has signed a new contract, has great potential. But I hope PL brings in two CB one with pace (Okore) and an aerial dominating partner Laursen type player. I think then with the injury records Vlaar and Baker have, they can be used in certain games more effectively. Think Clarke could become a decent DM but not sure if PL see`s him in that role .........

[darren woolley]

 I'm glad Baker has signed a new deal,

Me too.

I'm also glad he's signed a new contract.

[The Left Side]

Well done Nathan, now go out and make the shirt your own.

[PeterWithesShin]

Nathan Baker has been backed to become a fans’ favourite at the heart of Aston Villa’s defence for years to come.

The glowing reference comes from Shaun Teale who knows what it takes to win over the claret and blue faithful with courageous defending.

Baker agreed a new three-year contract last week with manager Paul Lambert handing the 22-year-old a pay rise in recognition of his growing importance.

Teale, who became a Holte End hero himself during his Villa Park spell from 1991 to 1995, has been impressed with Baker’s development.

The 49-year-old sees a lot of his own no-nonsense style in the youngste r and reckons Baker can become a top player if he learns from his mistakes.

“I sort of see him as being a bit like me when I first went there,” said Teale. “Just go and stick your head into everything. You’d want to win the ball possibly, in a sense, too much.

“I certainly made mistakes when I first arrived. I’d have run through a brick wall to get in the first team and stay there.

“Fans appreciate that kind of attitude and he will get a strong rapport with them by doing that.

“I went in for challenges I shouldn’t have, because I was never going to win them and I was always going to give a free kick away.

"But you just back yourself and think ‘I’m going to win it’ – and then think ‘I wish I hadn’t gone in now’.

“He’s one of those, he’s very much like I was, he loves a challenge and he loves a tackle.

“But he’s got a bit about him as well. He can play, he’s got a cool head at times when he needs to put his foot on the ball and play.”

Teale joined Villa when he was 27, having learned his trade in non-league football and the lower leagues with Weymouth and Bournemouth.

Baker is five years younger than that and has been elevated to the Premier League stage after coming through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath.

The Worcester-born defender still has room for improvement, but Teale has seen enough encouraging signs to rate the youngster’s chance of success.

In fact, if Baker continues to progress, Teale fears other clubs will try to poach him.

“He will learn,” said Teale. “The more games he plays the more he will know what decisions to make and when.

“Games will teach him that and, to be fair, I think he’s getting better week-in, week-out at the moment.

“Probably the end of the season has come a little bit too early for him because he was in decent form and he was getting to grips with the Premier League.

“But he’ll do well, he’s one that will probably end up being wanted by a bigger club later. It’s important Villa continue to help him develop and try to keep him.”

Teale admits the time has come for the new breed of centre-backs to stamp their mark on the club after the last of Martin O’Neill’s defensive recruits departed.