Nathan Baker - Sold

[adrenachrome]

I think Timmah realises we need a Baker in the bunker for when times get tough, and you need to lay down some markers about acceptable behaviour in the box, and the costs of transgression of those markers. Martin Laursen did it well in addition to his other qualities, but the job has to be done. I reckon Baker will get 3 or 4 goals from set pieces as well.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think Timmah realises we need a Baker in the bunker for when times get tough, and you need to lay down some markers about acceptable behaviour in the box, and the costs of transgression of those markers. Martin Laursen did it well in addition to his other qualities, but the job has to be done. I reckon Baker will get 3 or 4 goals from set pieces as well.

Unfortunately 2 If them will probably be at the wrong end #half joking#

[OCD]

Just read an interesting interview where Sherwood has challenged Baker to show that he can play 35/36 games a season and that he doesn't want him to leave permanently. Sounds like he wants him out on loan and playing regularly for a season.

[Dante Lavelli]

Just read an interesting interview where Sherwood has challenged Baker to show that he can play 35/36 games a season and that he doesn't want him to leave permanently. Sounds like he wants him out on loan and playing regularly for a season.

That would be ideal.  Let him learn (make mistakes) at another club's expense.  In reality he only needs to improve a small amount and he'd be more than good enough for us in our current position.

[Villa in Denmark]

Just read an interesting interview where Sherwood has challenged Baker to show that he can play 35/36 games a season and that he doesn't want him to leave permanently. Sounds like he wants him out on loan and playing regularly for a season.

That would be ideal.  Let him learn (make mistakes) at another club's expense.  In reality he only needs to improve a small amount and he'd be more than good enough for us in our current position.

If he only improves to the point where he's good enough for our current position, then hopefully he'll still not be good enough, as we'll have moved on.

Ideally he'll have improved at least to a point where he's acceptable as solid back up for a mid table side.

Whether he can or not, I'm not sure.

[brian green]

Keeping Nathan Baker is shrewd business, something unheard of at VP almost in living memory (Ellis was not shrewd, he was grasping).  He is an improving player, he is a young player, he cost us nothing, his new wages are probably pretty low.  Let him mature and learn, quite possibly on loan, and if he learns enough and quickly enough bring him back into our team or if not with still three years on his contract sell him to one of the self styled hard cases of the league like Millwall, Stoke or Sheffield United where his hardness would have great appeal.  Put another way we handle him in exactly the opposite way we handled Gary Cahill, and no, I am not saying he is another Gary Cahill, I am saying that there is a good few quid locked away in the young lad, don't toss it away please.

[Ron Manager]

Keeping Nathan Baker is shrewd business, something unheard of at VP almost in living memory (Ellis was not shrewd, he was grasping).  He is an improving player, he is a young player, he cost us nothing, his new wages are probably pretty low.  Let him mature and learn, quite possibly on loan, and if he learns enough and quickly enough bring him back into our team or if not with still three years on his contract sell him to one of the self styled hard cases of the league like Millwall, Stoke or Sheffield United where his hardness would have great appeal.  Put another way we handle him in exactly the opposite way we handled Gary Cahill, and no, I am not saying he is another Gary Cahill, I am saying that there is a good few quid locked away in the young lad, don't toss it away please.

Young lad Brian? He's 24 I think.Almost half way through his career but just about worth keeping I suppose.

[brian green]

Everybody is a lad to me Ron.  What I should have said that he is young for a central defender whose football trade take a lot of learning.

[UK Redsox]

Everybody is a lad to me Ron.  What I should have said that he is young for a central defender whose football trade take a lot of learning.

Its time to give that young McGrath fella a chance

[Mellin]

You can let him leave for free, or give him another chance to fulfil the potential he was showing last season, and if he doesn't, sell him for 3-5M. No brainer.

[saunders_heroes]

I'm hoping we've given him a new contract so we can get a decent fee for him in the near future. I'd be disappointed if he's a first choice next season, I just don't rate the player. He seems to have a mistake just around the corner. I don't trust him.

[Boz]

I'm hoping we've given him a new contract so we can get a decent fee for him in the near future. I'd be disappointed if he's a first choice next season, I just don't rate the player. He seems to have a mistake just around the corner. I don't trust him.

I think there might be more than a grain of truth here. Didn't I see Burnley were interested at £2m?

If he could be less injury prone, last season (when he played), he had improved and there is still potential in him I believe.

[tomd2103]

I'm hoping we've given him a new contract so we can get a decent fee for him in the near future. I'd be disappointed if he's a first choice next season, I just don't rate the player. He seems to have a mistake just around the corner. I don't trust him.

Beginning to think that might well be the case.  Get him out on loan for a season and if he does well (even in the Championship), we'll probably be looking at double the fee we would have got this summer.

[paul_e]

Everybody is a lad to me Ron.  What I should have said that he is young for a central defender whose football trade take a lot of learning.

Exactly right, 24-27 is about the time that central defenders start to show their real quality and they peak around 30 generally, unlike strikers who generally peak earlier (with the flyers like Owen tending to peak around 23-24 and be washed up by 30).

[in exile]

Just been mentioned on SSNHQ that Bristol City are hoping to take Nathan Baker on loan.
Didn't hear any other details such as the length of the loan etc