Nathan Baker - Sold

[tomd2103]

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.

Agree and I hope that was thinking when signing the likes of him on a linger term contract.  Send him out on loan and then at least get some money for him if the loan club are interested, as opposed to him walking away for nothing. 

[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

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.

Strange how people can see the same thing differently.

Baker & Clark is the one combination I'd do anything to avoid, whilst I thought Clark and Okore were our best pairing last season.

[tomd2103]

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.

Strange how people can see the same thing differently.

Baker & Clark is the one combination I'd do anything to avoid, whilst I thought Clark and Okore were our best pairing last season.

The thought of the Herd, Clark, Baker back three that Lambert used in his first season still has me breaking out in a cold sweat.  What was it - 15 goals conceded in 3 games?

[Villa in Denmark]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

[tomd2103]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

   

[claretandbeer]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

 

Certainly the worst team in the top flight .To be fair to Baker and Clark there's zero protection from the midfield and they were younger,21 & 23.I have more confidence in Baker and Clark than Okore and Richards because they don't go walkabout.

[Villa in Denmark]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

 

Certainly the worst team in the top flight .To be fair to Baker and Clark there's zero protection from the midfield and they were younger,21 & 23.I have more confidence in Baker and Clark than Okore and Richards because they don't go walkabout.

That's because they can't move more than 5 yards in any direction. They still manage to get caught out of position more often in 1 game than you'd want to see in a season though.

I thought during that spell where Clark played alongside Okore that it looked like he'd finally started to mature into the defender he'd looked capable of becoming as 17-18 year old. Unfortunately he's gone backwards at a frightening pace this season

[myf]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

 

Certainly the worst team in the top flight .To be fair to Baker and Clark there's zero protection from the midfield and they were younger,21 & 23.I have more confidence in Baker and Clark than Okore and Richards because they don't go walkabout.

before that we smashed liverpool at anfield in a very impressive performance with a young squad.  I was full if optimism after that

[Malandro]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

   

Poor Benteke! That's like sticking him up top for Grantham Town

[SoccerHQ]

Was that the line up for that run?

I can remember Herd filling at centre back against Fulham and not getting within 20 yards of Berbatov all day, as he obviously chose us to have is 1 game in 6 that he gave a shit about.  That wasn't pleasant watching either.

Just had a look at the line up for the 8-0 at Chelsea:


                   Guzan

   Herd          Clark        Baker

Lowton                               Lichaj

     Holman  Westwood  Bannan

           Weimann      Benteke


Benteke aside, probably the worst team to ever take the field for Aston Villa?  Looking at the next games,  that back five stayed in place for the 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, but then Bennett came in for the 3-0 defeat at home against Wigan with Baker going out (injured probably), meaning Lowton probably went to CB. 

 

Certainly the worst team in the top flight .To be fair to Baker and Clark there's zero protection from the midfield and they were younger,21 & 23.I have more confidence in Baker and Clark than Okore and Richards because they don't go walkabout.

before that we smashed liverpool at anfield in a very impressive performance with a young squad.  I was full if optimism after that

That's been the thing for the last 5 years really...in all the seasons we've still produced the odd exceptional result e.g. winning 3-1 at Chelsea under McLeish and that 3-1 win at Liverpool under Lambert which briefly gets everyone excited....and then we follow that up with a horrendous run of form which kills everything.

What is marking this season as the one we go down is we didn't even win the game (Leicester where we had the good performance).

On Baker, he is limited but I put him along with Hutton in that we will need those types for plenty of our games next season particularly away on bleak midweek nights.

Our most important defender next season will be Okore imo, I'm a fan and think he'll really shine in that league IF he can stay fit.

[ozzjim]

We will need another right sided centre half to cover Okore. Baker and Lescott left side with Okore and a new hopefully capable right sided one that knows the division. I would go for Chester from the Albion as he never plays. But watching us Baker will walk back in alongside Okore in the Championship next season.

[LeeB]

Baker's no worse than any of the tossers that have lined up for us this season.

[footyskillz]

Just a shout out to baker. Again gave it today . By all accounts he is on par if not better than elphick and I hope he starts in the derby.  Bruce praises him since coming in and put in some great stops and blocks. I think Bruce appreciates his play he's an all or nothing guy and very physician when Bing to challenge so can be prone to injury. Not afraid to put his head in I think from schooling from Bruce and could fulfil his potential.
Well played again Nathan ! He's been there mainly for many of the seasons and apart from the loan has has to endure difficult development. 

[RichardBatchelor]

He's always been wholehearted and despite his obvious limitations I've always wanted him to make it. He still just might. Hope so.

[cheltenhamlion]

He played bloody well today.