Aston Villa vs Fulham Post Match Thread

[Dan England]

The only thing I'm surprised about is that people are shocked.  We are awful. We have not progressed anywhere in the last 12 months,  there is no Improvement,  there is no desire,  no tactical skill,  no intelligence. The same mistakes are made week after week by the same players and nothing changes,  Lambert is MON with sit players.

[OzVilla]

I've noticed Baker seems to head balls away he has time to control and clear and this invites further pressure. He did it a lot yesterday.

Baker is a car crash of a defender. A bloody liability!

I think there is a decent defender in there somewhere but Baker's decision making at times is poor.  He is only 22 so that may get better with experience but, as it stands, he is playing like the fourth choice centre back he is.

No there isn't a decent player there. He's shit. Sorry.

[saunders_heroes]

I've noticed Baker seems to head balls away he has time to control and clear and this invites further pressure. He did it a lot yesterday.

Baker is a car crash of a defender. A bloody liability!

I think there is a decent defender in there somewhere but Baker's decision making at times is poor.  He is only 22 so that may get better with experience but, as it stands, he is playing like the fourth choice centre back he is.

No there isn't a decent player there. He's shit. Sorry.

Agreed. He isn't Premier League quality. There's always a fuck up just around the corner with Baker. He can't be trusted.
Get rid.

[Richard]

Add Bennett to the Baker comments too which meant yesterday Fulham having a field day down our left - neither of them is more than Championship standard

[Clampy]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

[saunders_heroes]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

But with every game he plays the more experience he gets?
Na, a Premier League standard player he ain't.

[David_Nab]

Des, we actually scored from a corner,thats two now this season i believe

He did. And to be honest he did enough to keep his place too. 

not that I think gabby has been any good but Holt and Gabby up front next with Weimann dropped. Albrighton and Bacuna on the wings . Hopefully Delph back with Westwood .

100% no way should Wiemann be starting on current form

[OzVilla]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

I read a stat on here yesterday that he's now played 65 first team game for the Villa. That's nearly 2 whole seasons worth. And he's 22 not 19.

Sorry but I've seen more than enough to know he's not a Premier League standard centre half. And he's not the only one.

[saunders_heroes]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

I read a stat on here yesterday that he's now played 65 first team game for the Villa. That's nearly 2 whole seasons worth. And he's 22 not 19.

Sorry but I've seen more than enough to know he's not a Premier League standard centre half. And he's not the only one.

You can add Clark to that list.

[UK Redsox]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

He's fine at the actual defending (most of the time). Baker's main problem is that his distribution skills are non-existent.

However, the lack of that aspect of the game does mean that he's nothing more than a backup at Premier League level.

[Mister E]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

He's fine at the actual defending (most of the time). Baker's main problem is that his distribution skills are non-existent.

However, the lack of that aspect of the game does mean that he's nothing more than a backup at Premier League level.

His distribution is poor ... and, he has a defensive error in him every time.
He may, like C Davies, have to go away and rebuild himself as a Premiership defender; but probably not at VP

[Chris Smith]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

He's fine at the actual defending (most of the time). Baker's main problem is that his distribution skills are non-existent.

However, the lack of that aspect of the game does mean that he's nothing more than a backup at Premier League level.

Agree with that but would add that he often gets himself into the wrong position then tries to repair the damage with last ditch, sliding tackles that get a big cheer but a better defender would not have put himself in that situation in the first place.

[Mortimer's Bear]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

He's fine at the actual defending (most of the time). Baker's main problem is that his distribution skills are non-existent.

However, the lack of that aspect of the game does mean that he's nothing more than a backup at Premier League level.

Agree with that but would add that he often gets himself into the wrong position then tries to repair the damage with last ditch, sliding tackles that get a big cheer but a better defender would not have put himself in that situation in the first place.

I agree with this, it's similar to John Terry.

[Monty]

I like Baker and I personally think there's a decent defender there. Like a lot of young players down there though, he's played too many games and sometimes the inexperience shows.

He's fine at the actual defending (most of the time). Baker's main problem is that his distribution skills are non-existent.

However, the lack of that aspect of the game does mean that he's nothing more than a backup at Premier League level.

Agree with that but would add that he often gets himself into the wrong position then tries to repair the damage with last ditch, sliding tackles that get a big cheer but a better defender would not have put himself in that situation in the first place.

This is why I think Clark is better. Maldini, Baresi, McGrath, Cannavaro, these guys almost never went to ground because they didn't have to. Bobby Moore wiping his hands on his shorts before shaking hands with the Queen isn't remarkable because cor blimey guv, Sir Bob, 'e luvved 'Er Maj, but because his shorts were sufficiently unmudded for him to clean his hands on them.

Obviously Clark is nothing like near the league below the league those players are in, but he beats a dull-witted slider like Baker every time, IMO.

[caster troy]

I keep hoping Baker is going to do a Ugo Ehiogu. He has the physical attributes and bravery to be a top class centre back, he just needs to cut out the stupid mistakes and improve his distribution. It doesn't help him that he's had to play alongside a string of useless left backs as well, if he had a Wilfred Bouma type steady defender there to help him out I think he'd look a lot more comfortable.