Nathan Baker - Sold

[OCD]

I would have said Senderos myself. We've missed his organisation and communication since he got injured.

[supertom]

Improving but he is made of glass.

Thought he was going off in the first half when he seemed to do his hamstring.

The injuries disrupt the good form he's in.

He goes to ground too much still, even despite his good form this season. It's going to cost him in the long run. He's a brave lad but the best defenders are ultimately the ones who only have to go to ground as an absolute last resort. He's not doing his body any favours.

[silhillvilla]

Thought he was immense today

[peter w]

Is there anybody ahead of Baker as this year's player of the season so far?

Damning with the very faintest of praise, but I don't think we've had too many better players up to now.

I had him as my young player last year. Save the final run in where everyone turned useless, I thought he was playing well and had developed nicely. He has been our best defender this season. He wins everything in the air and closes down better than most. he was a lot better than Vlaar today.

[supertom]

Is there anybody ahead of Baker as this year's player of the season so far?

Damning with the very faintest of praise, but I don't think we've had too many better players up to now.

I had him as my young player last year. Save the final run in where everyone turned useless, I thought he was playing well and had developed nicely. He has been our best defender this season. He wins everything in the air and closes down better than most. he was a lot better than Vlaar today.

I think he's been second only to Hutton. Probably on a par with Big Phil too, who's been surprisingly good so far.

[peter w]

Really? Has well as Hutton has defended he has offered nothing going forward. I think Lowton has looked far better since coming back.

[silhillvilla]

I think Baker has been good this season and I thought he had a good run last year too. He's brave as they come and will continue improving . Hope the injury isn't a bad one .

[Lastfootstamper]

Villa defender injured. Those three words combined usually mean we won't be seeing him back any time soon.

[Chris Smith]

I still don't particularly rate him but I do like his attitude and commitment.

A return to the Vlaar/Senderos partnership will, in my view, improve us. We were very solid defensively in the first few weeks and, given our lack of goals, getting back to that offers our best hope of improving results at the moment.

[supertom]

Really? Has well as Hutton has defended he has offered nothing going forward. I think Lowton has looked far better since coming back.

Lowton was okay yesterday, certainly going forward. It was his best game in over a year. The previous games he's been in I thought he looked pretty shit to be honest and very suspect defensively. He still did somewhat yesterday.

Hutton has been very good. But honestly it's Lambert's insistence on our fullbacks being our only creative outlet which is the problem. Hutton's never had a fantastic delivery. It shouldn't be all on him/Lowton and Cissokho to create all our chances.
Since we've spent 90% of the season defending though, Hutton's done that job very well. And often he's been the only player who's shown a desire and drive to try and make something happen in attack. Whilst our midfield seem content to pass sideways and disappear from games.
We've missed his desire and resoluteness I think. Lowton's a little boy lost at this level more often than not.

[supertom]

Thus far this season I'd say that Baker, Guzan, Hutton and Senderos get pass marks. Sanchez looks promising and will hopefully develop. Even then I think if the season were to end now, our player of the year would be a solid 7/10 and nothing more.
Everyone else has been a mind numbing disappointment. Even Delph to a large extent before his injury to be honest. Cissokho started well but honestly, he's fallen apart in the last 7 games IMO. He looks like bambi on ice going forward and he looks like an accident waiting to happen in defence. Sadly he's starting to look like the player we all groaned at when he was first linked with us.

[Ron Manager]

Thus far this season I'd say that Baker, Guzan, Hutton and Senderos get pass marks. Sanchez looks promising and will hopefully develop. Even then I think if the season were to end now, our player of the year would be a solid 7/10 and nothing more.
Everyone else has been a mind numbing disappointment. Even Delph to a large extent before his injury to be honest. Cissokho started well but honestly, he's fallen apart in the last 7 games IMO. He looks like bambi on ice going forward and he looks like an accident waiting to happen in defence. Sadly he's starting to look like the player we all groaned at when he was first linked with us.

I agree with the above comments 100%.

[Ad@m]

I still don't particularly rate him but I do like his attitude and commitment.

A return to the Vlaar/Senderos partnership will, in my view, improve us. We were very solid defensively in the first few weeks and, given our lack of goals, getting back to that offers our best hope of improving results at the moment.

Nail on head.

His buccaneer tackles might be fan pleasers but they're generally the result of him falling asleep and finding himself horribly out of position. He's also the worst passer in the entire team and his regular blind hoofs forward just bring more pressure on to us.

The fact he's in the first team shows how desperately poor this side is.

[aj2k77]

I still don't particularly rate him but I do like his attitude and commitment.

A return to the Vlaar/Senderos partnership will, in my view, improve us. We were very solid defensively in the first few weeks and, given our lack of goals, getting back to that offers our best hope of improving results at the moment.

Nail on head.

His buccaneer tackles might be fan pleasers but they're generally the result of him falling asleep and finding himself horribly out of position. He's also the worst passer in the entire team and his regular blind hoofs forward just bring more pressure on to us.

The fact he's in the first team shows how desperately poor this side is.

He's the sort of Centre back I imagine playing for Milwall and being a fan favourite. Big, clumsy last ditch merchant, coming out of games bruised and bloodied.

[Ad@m]

I still don't particularly rate him but I do like his attitude and commitment.

A return to the Vlaar/Senderos partnership will, in my view, improve us. We were very solid defensively in the first few weeks and, given our lack of goals, getting back to that offers our best hope of improving results at the moment.

Nail on head.

His buccaneer tackles might be fan pleasers but they're generally the result of him falling asleep and finding himself horribly out of position. He's also the worst passer in the entire team and his regular blind hoofs forward just bring more pressure on to us.

The fact he's in the first team shows how desperately poor this side is.

He's the sort of Centre back I imagine playing for Milwall and being a fan favourite. Big, clumsy last ditch merchant, coming out of games bruised and bloodied.

The Championship is his level. I can see him ending up there (hopefully not with us!) and he'll be a club captain somewhere.