Nathan Baker - Sold

[Virgil Caine]

A good squad player who can be trusted to come in and do a good job. I would agree however that a Baker Clark combo is not ideal.

[KRS]

You've got your 4 year contract...now stop fuckin about, get better and stop making stupid mistakes...oh yeah, and stop getting injured all the frickin time.

[robbo1874]

He's not the best, but he's a trier and he won me over last season. As a squad player to fill in, he's more than adequate. I'm pleased for him he got a new contract.

[PeterWithesShin]

I like him. And not many clubs outside the obvious have a better 3rd/4th choice centre half. Especially one that cost nowt.

[Steve67]

I can't be hypocritical, I have slated Baker for his positioning and diving in and wouldn't have been too upset had we sold him to Burnley, with a sell on clause. However, there is a player in there somewhere and if he can now push on, then we might have found the commanding centre back we really need. He is a big bloke, brave, capable. But, he now needs to push on and leave the silly mistakes behind him. Given that we are a feeder club to England and that we don't seem too blessed in the central defence area, he has a carrot.  I hope he's good enough one day to win that carrot.

[JD]

I'm pleased with this. A good squad player who can come in and do a job when required. We need squad players to back up our first choices and Baker will serve us well.   

[dave shelley]

A good squad player who can be trusted to come in and do a good job. I would agree however that a Baker Clark combo is not ideal.

Happy birthday mon ami.

[PaulWinch again]

Quite surprised but he's a good squad option.

[peter w]

If this were the late 80s/90s and if Baker were playing for Arsenal he'd be called up for England and be touted as a typical tough tackling defender and a leader of men.

[amfy]

He's actually pretty good most. Of the time but sadly, always seems to have one complete lapse of concentration in a game.

Where we are in the lower left Holte, you often see him get a look on his face when chasing back down that wing where you know he has absolutely committed to getting there first, and when I see that look, I have complete confidence that he will. I've seen him make quite a few tackles similar to the one Clark was lauded for last season. When he decides the ball is his, it is his. I love that!

[peter w]

Exactly amfy. Clark makes one of those tackles (two ripsnorters against Leicester) and its proof of his ever improving defensive ability. Baker does it more often and to his detractors its evidence of his lack of positional awareness, lack of ability leading to a last ditch tackle, or just him being reckless.

Clearly I'm a fan but I also do get nervous when the ball's played to him particularly when he's under pressure.

[Chris Smith]

He's actually pretty good most. Of the time but sadly, always seems to have one complete lapse of concentration in a game.

Where we are in the lower left Holte, you often see him get a look on his face when chasing back down that wing where you know he has absolutely committed to getting there first, and when I see that look, I have complete confidence that he will. I've seen him make quite a few tackles similar to the one Clark was lauded for last season. When he decides the ball is his, it is his. I love that!

For me that is part of the problem. Competent centre backs only occasionally have to make those type of challenge, due to their positional play and reading of the game. Nathan is reactive rather than proactive.

[peter w]

He's actually pretty good most. Of the time but sadly, always seems to have one complete lapse of concentration in a game.

Where we are in the lower left Holte, you often see him get a look on his face when chasing back down that wing where you know he has absolutely committed to getting there first, and when I see that look, I have complete confidence that he will. I've seen him make quite a few tackles similar to the one Clark was lauded for last season. When he decides the ball is his, it is his. I love that!

For me that is part of the problem. Competent centre backs only occasionally have to make those type of challenge, due to their positional play and reading of the game. Nathan is reactive rather than proactive.

Disagree. Paul McGrath only had to read the game in his 'area'. nathan baker has had a poor left-back, a shaky centre-half next to him, a quiet centre-half, and a pourous midfield in front of him in a losing team throughout his Villa career. He may be likke a rabbit caught in the headlights at times but that's because he's learnt through bad Villa habits to become trigger happy when deciding whether to go or stay.

[Chris Smith]

He's actually pretty good most. Of the time but sadly, always seems to have one complete lapse of concentration in a game.

Where we are in the lower left Holte, you often see him get a look on his face when chasing back down that wing where you know he has absolutely committed to getting there first, and when I see that look, I have complete confidence that he will. I've seen him make quite a few tackles similar to the one Clark was lauded for last season. When he decides the ball is his, it is his. I love that!

For me that is part of the problem. Competent centre backs only occasionally have to make those type of challenge, due to their positional play and reading of the game. Nathan is reactive rather than proactive.

Disagree. Paul McGrath only had to read the game in his 'area'. nathan baker has had a poor left-back, a shaky centre-half next to him, a quiet centre-half, and a pourous midfield in front of him in a losing team throughout his Villa career. He may be likke a rabbit caught in the headlights at times but that's because he's learnt through bad Villa habits to become trigger happy when deciding whether to go or stay.

He's played in the same team as Vlaar, Clark and Senderos and they don't spend as much time on their arse as he does.

He has improved and I don't mind him as a backup but if we are in the position where he has to play regularly then we'll be in for another season of struggle.

[peter w]

He's actually pretty good most. Of the time but sadly, always seems to have one complete lapse of concentration in a game.

Where we are in the lower left Holte, you often see him get a look on his face when chasing back down that wing where you know he has absolutely committed to getting there first, and when I see that look, I have complete confidence that he will. I've seen him make quite a few tackles similar to the one Clark was lauded for last season. When he decides the ball is his, it is his. I love that!

For me that is part of the problem. Competent centre backs only occasionally have to make those type of challenge, due to their positional play and reading of the game. Nathan is reactive rather than proactive.

Disagree. Paul McGrath only had to read the game in his 'area'. nathan baker has had a poor left-back, a shaky centre-half next to him, a quiet centre-half, and a pourous midfield in front of him in a losing team throughout his Villa career. He may be likke a rabbit caught in the headlights at times but that's because he's learnt through bad Villa habits to become trigger happy when deciding whether to go or stay.

He's played in the same team as Vlaar, Clark and Senderos and they don't spend as much time on their arse as he does.

He has improved and I don't mind him as a backup but if we are in the position where he has to play regularly then we'll be in for another season of struggle.

Vlaar and Senderos are experienced. Got through playing with players they can learn from usually in successful teams. Until last season not many wanted to keep Clark least of all as a centre-half.