Nathan Baker - Sold

[Ad@m]

My Brother-in-law is a Bristol City season ticket holder. He and his chums all think Baker's wonderful, though they do admit he might have been sent off twice yesterday.

The Championship is Baker's level - so it breaks my heart to think he'll be back playing for us next year!

many were saying exactly the same about Albrighton last year

I love the way Albrighton has been getting brought up recently - as if he's not actually just a bog standard winger having a reasonable run of matches, he's actually the reincarnation of Tony Morley - if only we hadn't been so foolish to be put off by his repeated failure to make himself a regular starter in a piss poor side for five years.

Albrighton is a classic confidence player but even when he's high on confidence he's still just about average.  When he's low on confidence he's absolutely awful (as we saw when the entire team was low on confidence).

I don't think anyone can base any judgements on this season - yes he's playing for the team leading the Prem but they're not leading the Prem because of him and apart from a couple of good games he's been pretty anonymous.

[Mortimer's Bear]

My Brother-in-law is a Bristol City season ticket holder. He and his chums all think Baker's wonderful, though they do admit he might have been sent off twice yesterday.

The Championship is Baker's level - so it breaks my heart to think he'll be back playing for us next year!

many were saying exactly the same about Albrighton last year

I love the way Albrighton has been getting brought up recently - as if he's not actually just a bog standard winger having a reasonable run of matches, he's actually the reincarnation of Tony Morley - if only we hadn't been so foolish to be put off by his repeated failure to make himself a regular starter in a piss poor side for five years.

Albrighton is a classic confidence player but even when he's high on confidence he's still just about average.  When he's low on confidence he's absolutely awful (as we saw when the entire team was low on confidence).

I don't think anyone can base any judgements on this season - yes he's playing for the team leading the Prem but they're not leading the Prem because of him and apart from a couple of good games he's been pretty anonymous.

Would he get in our current midfield?

[Ad@m]

My Brother-in-law is a Bristol City season ticket holder. He and his chums all think Baker's wonderful, though they do admit he might have been sent off twice yesterday.

The Championship is Baker's level - so it breaks my heart to think he'll be back playing for us next year!

many were saying exactly the same about Albrighton last year

I love the way Albrighton has been getting brought up recently - as if he's not actually just a bog standard winger having a reasonable run of matches, he's actually the reincarnation of Tony Morley - if only we hadn't been so foolish to be put off by his repeated failure to make himself a regular starter in a piss poor side for five years.

Albrighton is a classic confidence player but even when he's high on confidence he's still just about average.  When he's low on confidence he's absolutely awful (as we saw when the entire team was low on confidence).

I don't think anyone can base any judgements on this season - yes he's playing for the team leading the Prem but they're not leading the Prem because of him and apart from a couple of good games he's been pretty anonymous.

Would he get in our current midfield?

I genuinely don't think he would.  We've been playing three central midfielders with wingers pushed further forward - in that formation I think he'd be lower down the pecking order than all of Gil, Sinclair, Grealish and Adama.

[oldhill_avfc]

My Brother-in-law is a Bristol City season ticket holder. He and his chums all think Baker's wonderful, though they do admit he might have been sent off twice yesterday.

The Championship is Baker's level - so it breaks my heart to think he'll be back playing for us next year!

many were saying exactly the same about Albrighton last year

I love the way Albrighton has been getting brought up recently - as if he's not actually just a bog standard winger having a reasonable run of matches, he's actually the reincarnation of Tony Morley - if only we hadn't been so foolish to be put off by his repeated failure to make himself a regular starter in a piss poor side for five years.

Albrighton is a classic confidence player but even when he's high on confidence he's still just about average.  When he's low on confidence he's absolutely awful (as we saw when the entire team was low on confidence).

I don't think anyone can base any judgements on this season - yes he's playing for the team leading the Prem but they're not leading the Prem because of him and apart from a couple of good games he's been pretty anonymous.

Would he get in our current midfield?

I genuinely don't think he would.  We've been playing three central midfielders with wingers pushed further forward - in that formation I think he'd be lower down the pecking order than all of Gil, Sinclair, Grealish and Adama.

Seriously??? That's some rose tinted Villa glasses you're wearing.

[Richard E]

It tickled me at Wembley when Jack Woodward was doing pen pictures of each of the Villa players as he announced them, and then literally couldn't think of anything to say about Nathan Baker other than his name.

Mind you, the fact that this was the sole amusing part of the day tells you a lot....

[Drummond]

I'd have Baker back in this month.

[brian green]

Being lower down the pecking order than Sinclair is one hell of an indictment.

[ROBBO]

Sinclair looks to deceive he has had games (few and far between) when he looked to be of some value but really apart from a bit of pace he doesn't have a lot in his locker.

[Villa in Denmark]

I'd have Baker back in this month.

I'd say the last thing we needed was another slow, physically fragile and positionally suspect left sided centre back.

If we've just sent Illori back to free up a squad place I can't see the sense in filling that space with someone who'd be third choice and couldn't offer any flexibility by being able to cover other positions

[ozzjim]

I would leave him getting games at Bristol City then get him back in our side next season! At least he will know what's coming and have that experience.

[claretandbeer]

I'd have Baker back in this month.

I'd say the last thing we needed was another slow, physically fragile and positionally suspect left sided centre back.

If we've just sent Illori back to free up a squad place I can't see the sense in filling that space with someone who'd be third choice and couldn't offer any flexibility by being able to cover other positions

I would give Baker another chance.Prone to the odd gaffe and injuries but ironically a robust physical old school centre half,ideal for the Championship.I would say that he is far more defensively aware than Richards and Okore.Last year I thought he had a good partnership with Clark .Interesting that Pulis wanted Clark but let Lescott go.

[ozzjim]

Clark has been genuinely awful this season though.

His reaction after the second goal at Norwich was typical of hid season. Striker in yards of space scores behind him and he holds hid arms out pointing at where he should have been.

[curiousorange]

I'd have Baker back in this month.

I'd say the last thing we needed was another slow, physically fragile and positionally suspect left sided centre back.

If we've just sent Illori back to free up a squad place I can't see the sense in filling that space with someone who'd be third choice and couldn't offer any flexibility by being able to cover other positions

I would give Baker another chance.Prone to the odd gaffe and injuries but ironically a robust physical old school centre half,ideal for the Championship.I would say that he is far more defensively aware than Richards and Okore.Last year I thought he had a good partnership with Clark .Interesting that Pulis wanted Clark but let Lescott go.

I guess he wanted to pay less per week for a guaranteed defensive bollock.

[tomd2103]

I would leave him getting games at Bristol City then get him back in our side next season! At least he will know what's coming and have that experience.

He's not good enough for where we want to be.  I would sell him to Bristol City if they want him.  We already have Clark to fill the role of positionally unaware, error prone left side centre half and we don't need another one.

[curiousorange]

Yep, I would let Bristol have him if they want him. Ironically one of his best performances for us was in that Liverpool semi, until he had to go off. But he'll always be a Championship defender and even if that's where we're headed, I'd prefer to try and find one who's capable of going up a level.