The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[Ad@m]

Clark's not mobile enough, nor is his passing good enough, to play in midfield.  I genuinely think that given a bit of time where he's not under the pressure of being surrounded by very poor players in a struggling team he's got a chance of developing in to a decent top flight centre back.  His time is running out though - he needs to improve soon or he'll end up dropping down in to the Championship.

[OzVilla]

Baker is right up there as one of the shittest centre halves I've seen in a Villa shirt, and to be honest Clark's not far behind.

Baker is the worst defensive player we've had since Bernie Gallagher.

I still cannot quite believe he's in ahead of Clark and its the clearest indication that Lambert has lost the plot.  Irreverent whether he's right or left footed when he's this poor.

[Mister E]

Baker is right up there as one of the shittest centre halves I've seen in a Villa shirt, and to be honest Clark's not far behind.

Baker is the worst defensive player we've had since Bernie Gallagher.

I still cannot quite believe he's in ahead of Clark and its the clearest indication that Lambert has lost the plot.  Irreverent whether he's right or left footed when he's this poor.

irreverent is right; bloody sacrilege having Baker in the side.

[OzVilla]

Baker is right up there as one of the shittest centre halves I've seen in a Villa shirt, and to be honest Clark's not far behind.

Baker is the worst defensive player we've had since Bernie Gallagher.

I still cannot quite believe he's in ahead of Clark and its the clearest indication that Lambert has lost the plot.  Irreverent whether he's right or left footed when he's this poor.

irreverent is right; bloody sacrilege having Baker in the side.

Meant irrelevant sorry. Bloody predictive text at 4 am in the morning with jet lag and worrying about the Villa.

Bastards!!

[eamonn]

I can only think Lambert's persistance with Baker is that because Clark is left-footed. So too are Vlaar and Guzan (as well as whatever hapless lefty is on the flank - Bertrand, Bennett or Moon, giving us a defence-full of yohurt knitters).
Perhaps he feels Clark is more uncomfortable than Baker when playing on the right of the central defensive partnership.

Vlaar's right footed, and Baker is left footed also. That is, to the extent that he could be said to be anything-footed.

Oh, must have mixed-up Baker and Vlaar. Well, I was letting Lambert off for excluding Clark but seeing as he would balance with Vlaar, more reason to sack the Mumbler.

[DB]

Apologies if already mentioned, but Simeone at Athletico Madrid, took over 2.5 years ago, they were down near the bottom of la liga, knocked out the cup by a lower league side.....now look at them, oh and they didn't have much in the way of cash. Take note Lambert....

[curiousorange]

I can only think Lambert's persistance with Baker is that because Clark is left-footed. So too are Vlaar and Guzan (as well as whatever hapless lefty is on the flank - Bertrand, Bennett or Moon, giving us a defence-full of yohurt knitters).
Perhaps he feels Clark is more uncomfortable than Baker when playing on the right of the central defensive partnership.

Vlaar's right footed, and Baker is left footed also. That is, to the extent that he could be said to be anything-footed.

Oh, must have mixed-up Baker and Vlaar. Well, I was letting Lambert off for excluding Clark but seeing as he would balance with Vlaar, more reason to sack the Mumbler.

I'm not entirely sure it makes much of a difference which foot Baker uses, as he's equally reliable with both of them. The kid has the positional acumen of a water-damaged satnav.

If I was being charitable to Nathan Baker, I'd say he's suited to being that extra defender you bring on when trying to defend a 1-0 lead in the last five minutes. To build from the back though? No. But given Clark's not really Mr Reliable either (guaranteed one foul-up per game, I think), it's like you need both of them in there to make one complete defender. If the situation wasn't so grim I'd have liked to have seen Westwood and Clark tried as two holding midfielders, and maybe Baker wouldn't have got caught out so much.

All this leads me to assume we won't be seeing hide not hair of Jores Okore despite him being "really close" some weeks back?

[SoccerHQ]

Clark's had a decent season from what I've seen, I can't quite understand why he's barely started these last two months when Baker has been abysmal since the Chelsea game.

[curiousorange]

Clark's had a decent season from what I've seen, I can't quite understand why he's barely started these last two months when Baker has been abysmal since the Chelsea game.

Clark's mishaps tend to be ones which very obviously lose matches. The most obvious one which springs to mind is the Manchester City one a couple of seasons ago, when he tried to turn Tevez and tripped on the ball. I get the impression Lambert forgives Baker his misdeeds more easily because he "tries hard". When Baker messes up it probably gets lost in the fog of a general crap performance by the team.

[pauliewalnuts]

Clark's had a decent season from what I've seen, I can't quite understand why he's barely started these last two months when Baker has been abysmal since the Chelsea game.

Clark's mishaps tend to be ones which very obviously lose matches. The most obvious one which springs to mind is the Manchester City one a couple of seasons ago, when he tried to turn Tevez and tripped on the ball. I get the impression Lambert forgives Baker his misdeeds more easily because he "tries hard". When Baker messes up it probably gets lost in the fog of a general crap performance by the team.

Baker is in many ways the embodiment of Lambert's football philosophy - he's big, committed, will throw his head in front of anything, gives 100 percent (which, despite not being enough, is still accepted), but pretty much without any finesse

[supertom]

I just think it's a case of Lambo wanting one big CH. Vlaar isn't aerially dominant so Baker seems to be the go to man at the moment. Unfortunately this means Clark, a far more reliable player is left on the bench while Baker is dropping clangers left, right and centre.

[curiousorange]

I just think it's a case of Lambo wanting one big CH. Vlaar isn't aerially dominant so Baker seems to be the go to man at the moment. Unfortunately this means Clark, a far more reliable player is left on the bench while Baker is dropping clangers left, right and centre.

If Baker is preferred to Clark on Saturday, I'd seriously question Lambert's sanity. Baker's confidence must be rock bottom right now seeing the abuse he gets on Twitter, and he must know his performances have dropped off dramatically. A bit of composure and dare I say it, experience, is needed in an atmosphere like this and at least Clark has been a regular since the days of Houllier. But he won't change it. Lambert's course is set, and the club lives or dies by his stubborn attitude.

[supertom]

I just think it's a case of Lambo wanting one big CH. Vlaar isn't aerially dominant so Baker seems to be the go to man at the moment. Unfortunately this means Clark, a far more reliable player is left on the bench while Baker is dropping clangers left, right and centre.

If Baker is preferred to Clark on Saturday, I'd seriously question Lambert's sanity. Baker's confidence must be rock bottom right now seeing the abuse he gets on Twitter, and he must know his performances have dropped off dramatically. A bit of composure and dare I say it, experience, is needed in an atmosphere like this and at least Clark has been a regular since the days of Houllier. But he won't change it. Lambert's course is set, and the club lives or dies by his stubborn attitude.

Christ knows what goes on in Lambo's mind sometimes. The same can be said regarding Weimann too. He just looks a wreck at the moment and needs dropping.

I don't even see the great need for Bakers apparent physical presence (I mean despite being big, he misjudges a lot of aerial balls it must be said). Not too many sides play the big bastard up top and pump long balls to said big bastard now. The game is changing. Vlaar and Clark have enough physical presence between them to deal with a physical and height threat for most of the opposition. Certainly that threat won't be their Saturday. Clark is more mobile than Baker and should play.

[mike]

Clark's not mobile enough, nor is his passing good enough, to play in midfield.  I genuinely think that given a bit of time where he's not under the pressure of being surrounded by very poor players in a struggling team he's got a chance of developing in to a decent top flight centre back.  His time is running out though - he needs to improve soon or he'll end up dropping down in to the Championship.

The last line sums up the club itself as much as Baker.

[Mister E]

Clark's not mobile enough, nor is his passing good enough, to play in midfield.  I genuinely think that given a bit of time where he's not under the pressure of being surrounded by very poor players in a struggling team he's got a chance of developing in to a decent top flight centre back.  His time is running out though - he needs to improve soon or he'll end up dropping down in to the Championship.

The last line sums up the club itself as much as Baker.

or even Clark.
Clark has always been a better player than Baker, for me. Whether either is Premiership is debatable but Clark has always offered more as a footballer, despite his errors. Bsker is a liability, has poor positioning, passing and - frankly - intelligence that he is the weakest link every time.
If Lambert insists in playing Baker and Vlaar, then Clark has to play, either in a back three or as the defensive MF. That way, our CB fraility is covered.