Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Russ aka Big Nose]

If we're keeping Senderos, then that's 5 CBs, so I suppose losing Baker doesn't really leave that big a hole in the squad as he's presently our 4th choice for that position.

Surely the rational decision would be to shed the older, more fragile Senderos and keep Baker? Hope that's nonsense, particularily at 2 million.

Whilst Baker is hardly 'fragile' because of how he puts himself in harms way, he has been consistently injured/unavailable for a couple of years. I like him but he is down the pecking order and not looking likely to develop, so probably for the best he moves on.

Based on what? That he's improved enormously over the last two years, so now that must be it?

We might disagree, but I don't think he has developed in the last two years. It has been tough given the constant changes but his positional sense is still not great, he is still prone to a rash tackle and his distribution is limited. He is good in the air, committed, brave (in that his face is often a magnet for the ball) and he seems a decent bloke and local(ish) from Worcester. However, I can't see that he has improved to any great extent given the games he has played.

I know with consistent selection and a settled back four it might be different but if he was genuinely going to step up then I think we should have seen more from him. We have had signs of that from Clark. If we can find another CB (on the right deal) that is an upgrade on Baker and Senderos then I would move both on - though with Baker it would be with some regret that he didn't make it at Villa.

[pauliewalnuts]

I like Baker.

He definitely shows promise and isn't scared to throw himself around if he needs to. It is just a shame that he is stuck in a situation where he picks up a lot of injuries and never really gets the chance to stake a claim to be first choice.

If I were him, I'd see Burnley as a good option. Go somewhere like that where they will (with parachute money) be competitive, start long runs of games for the first time in his career, and then get back into the top flight, either with them or another club.

If you leave the injury record to one side, he's sort of too good to be fifth choice but not likely to get a chance to prove himself as a first choice.

Some of these players we are moving on, I don't really think have ever shown they have enough to become PL regulars, but I think Baker does have it.

[Joshua Fineman]

Seriously who would actually buy NZogbia?

Fingers crossed someone does.  He must have just about done enough good stuff for a decent you tube video to be compiled?

[curiousorange]

If there's one thing I dislike about Nathan Baker, it's his 50p head. Mind you, if my head had been kicked as many times as his, it would probably have a few interesting angles too.

[pauliewalnuts]

Seriously who would actually buy NZogbia?

Fingers crossed someone does.  He must have just about done enough good stuff for a decent you tube video to be compiled?

I can imagine the viewers, "yes, get Wigan on the phone, he looks decent"

[DB]

It's ok having 5, but we need more quality at CB.

[tomd2103]

If we're keeping Senderos, then that's 5 CBs, so I suppose losing Baker doesn't really leave that big a hole in the squad as he's presently our 4th choice for that position.

Surely the rational decision would be to shed the older, more fragile Senderos and keep Baker? Hope that's nonsense, particularily at 2 million.

Whilst Baker is hardly 'fragile' because of how he puts himself in harms way, he has been consistently injured/unavailable for a couple of years. I like him but he is down the pecking order and not looking likely to develop, so probably for the best he moves on.

Based on what? That he's improved enormously over the last two years, so now that must be it?

He has improved, but still switches off or is caught out of position which usually results in a goal at the top level.  Case in point, the Burnley game at home last season.  He switched off twice and Ings scored and missed a great chance.  The fact he is not great in possession also goes against him. 

[Steve67]

Baker has potential but is not the player to take us into Europe. Sometimes we need to be harsher, just because he's a local lad and all that does not make him good enough.  Better quality required, rather than quantity.

[Clark W Griswold]

Sorry but I agree that Baker isn't good enough. If we are going to improve and move up the table we will not still be using players of that standard. I'd like the 4 centre backs next season to be Richards, Clark, Okore and another new one.

[Matt Collins]

I thought baker was much improved last year. Not as much improved as Clark but a lot better

[OCD]

On the face of it, it seems harsh to sell Baker but we don't get to see the full picture until all deals are done. I doubt many people would complain if were able to uncover a gem who was good technically, not injury prone and anticipated things rather than being purely reactionary.

[edgysatsuma89]

I agree with everyone stating that Baker likes getting stuck in and flings himself about. It does look good, but isn't it a sign that he isn't that good? You shouldn't need to be getting into those situations if you had decent positional sense etc and therefore risking getting the injuries he gets. I don't think he helps himself.

I like Baker by the way. He has a good beard.

[silhillvilla]

Would prefer to sell senderos and keep baker, not that anyone would buy senderos

[villasjf]

We now have 25 in the squad which includes Herd on the OS I guess Grealish doesnt count because of his wage and Bennett isnt listed so we still have to unload.

[Proposition Joe]

That Veretout guy coincidentally played against Bournemouth the other day, but didn't seem to have much of an impact:
http://www.fcnantes.com/articles/article2809.php?num=11455

But what did leave an impact on me is that high line from Bournemouth.  If we have enough pace in our front line I fancy us against that lot.