Nathan Baker - Sold

[saunders_heroes]

Sad to see him go, would of had him as first choice back up Chester and Terry.

8 years since he made his debut, which these days is a long time with one club.

As I said earlier, in practically any other Villa era he'd have been shipped out to the lower leagues after a handful of first team appearances (if he could even manage that) when we realised he wasn't good enough for this club, but sadly in the second half of the Lerner era we continued to sell our best players and filled the squad with players who weren't fit for purpose. Baker was one of the players who relegated us with some pitiful defensive displays. Good riddance to him.

[RussellC]

It's always sad to see a Youth Team graduate leave, especially one who's always seemingly had an excellent attitude and desire to play for the club. He had a pretty decent season last year. However, he kind of found his level last season, in a team that finished 13th in The Championship. If the fee is £4m, or even close, it's too good to turn down, given where we are.

I genuinely wish him all the best, but think this is the best option for all parties.

[saunders_heroes]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

[RussellC]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

Am I missing something? Wasn't Baker out on loan (at Bristol City) during the relegation season...?

[saunders_heroes]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

Am I missing something? Wasn't Baker out on loan (at Bristol City) during the relegation season...?

He more than played his part in the Villa's decline since 2010. Tried his best I'll give him that, but never good enough for the first team, and I'm glad he's gone.

[RussellC]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

Am I missing something? Wasn't Baker out on loan (at Bristol City) during the relegation season...?

He more than played his part in the Villa's decline since 2010. Tried his best I'll give him that, but never good enough for the first team, and I'm glad he's gone.

Regardless, he wasn't part of the squad that relegated us and it's wholly unfair to tar him with that brush.

[peter w]

Good luck to him but for me just one of a number of players not good enough for us 5-6 years ago to whose standard we have sunk to.

[olaftab]

One good thing that could emerge from this is more opportunity for Suliman who potentially is a very good CB.

[saunders_heroes]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

Am I missing something? Wasn't Baker out on loan (at Bristol City) during the relegation season...?

He more than played his part in the Villa's decline since 2010. Tried his best I'll give him that, but never good enough for the first team, and I'm glad he's gone.

Regardless, he wasn't part of the squad that relegated us and it's wholly unfair to tar him with that brush.

Damned with faint praise I think.

[peter w]

One good thing that could emerge from this is more opportunity for Suliman who potentially is a very good CB.

I don't rate him. Destined for Northampton town (or Real Madrid given my eye for a player).

[RussellC]

One good thing that could emerge from this is more opportunity for Suliman who potentially is a very good CB.

I don't rate him. Destined for Northampton town (or Real Madrid given my eye for a player).

Sadly I fear you're right. He looks far too lightweight to make it to me.

[nordenvillain]

All the best Nathan - One of ours that always gave his all for whoever he was playing. Accusations of being injury prone are not borne out by the last 2 seasons in which he played 40 games for Bristol City in 2015/16 and 36 games for us last season where he did not start as 1st choice intil well into the season.

[LeeB]

One good thing that could emerge from this is more opportunity for Suliman who potentially is a very good CB.

I don't rate him. Destined for Northampton town (or Real Madrid given my eye for a player).

I've never seen him play, but given what a few respected posters have said about him on here I'm surprised to see he keeps playing for England for his age group.

[RussellC]

SH is there any player in a Villa shirt from the relegation year you do not think is "shite"?  Do you think they were all as bad as each other?

A small handful, but trust me, Baker wasn't one of them.

Am I missing something? Wasn't Baker out on loan (at Bristol City) during the relegation season...?

He more than played his part in the Villa's decline since 2010. Tried his best I'll give him that, but never good enough for the first team, and I'm glad he's gone.

Regardless, he wasn't part of the squad that relegated us and it's wholly unfair to tar him with that brush.

Damned with faint praise I think.

Not really. The vast majority of team didn't have an ounce of spirit or fight in them. Whatever his limitations are, they're two things that you can't accuse Baker of.

[LeeB]

Agreed.