Chris Baird

[Rapid]

I don't like posting negatively so I thought I'd show some positivity and leap to the defence of chris baird. I know he's had a lot of stick recently but I'd like to point out that he really isn't a midfielder and certainly not a playmaking one like thorne.

he's a centre back by trade and a pretty solid one at that. he can shift to right back as a utility man and it appears that was what he was brought in to do at derby.

At RB I don't think he did a bad job at all. he's had the odd lapse in concentration and he doesn't bomb forward like Christie did he's pretty solid and can put in a decent cross.

I guess it goes back to those square pegs in round holes again. can anyone remember when will hughes first came into the side and was stuck out wide? he was nowhere near as good.

I just hope that he'll play for us in defence because that's his bread and butter. I think we should cut this guy some slack.

[AngryRam]

I've just noticed your avatar... HoHoHo..
Have a like.

[mistaram]

Rapid You are spot on mate Derby fans are among the worst for having to have scapegoat They can not blame Mascarell or Keogh this season and before that it was Bucko So this season its lets blame Baird for everything Thes are the same people who were on this site in August raving about him and saying he should be captain How can you judge a player who for the sake of the team is playing out of position This is a centre half who is his countries captain I don't really take much notice of them because I should imagine most of them would struggle to run a bath

[Rob_the_Ram]

From what I've seen, Baird is not the best player we have in ANY of the positions he's played in.
If he's an international class centre back, why do Shackell and Keogh start there?
At right back, at home, it seems to always be the negative ball. Touch and go but I think Cyrus is the better overall fullback (at the moment).
In defensive midfield, George is better and maybe Hanson and Johnson too.
Attacking midfield, Johnson, Hendrick, maybe Butterfield and certainly Hughes and Bryson are better.
Baird is a great player to have backing the others up but starting?

He's not a scapegoat to me, just not the best player we have in each position.

[AnagRam]

Unfortunately I can absolutely see the sense of what both Rob and misteram have written in the two posts above. Derby fans do seem to have to have a scapegoat and this season there's a choice of Baird, Christie, Shotton and Wiemann...never helps and I don't know why it happens. Equally, without picking on anyone, I agree with Rob, we have better players in every position that Baird is covering. His versatility may still prove useful this season and I hope it works out for him - and us - but just at the moment he is a victim of our strength in depth making his position as captain a tad unfortunate imo.

[Oldtimeram]

I originally think Yogi was bought as cover, but with injuries to Bryson, Hughes and Thorne I think he got his chance to stake a claim on a regular place. He started off well and he is still living off that at the moment. If his performances continue to tail off he will be joining Mildred and the Dawk on the subs bench.

[AdiSalisbury]

Very useful player. He's solid, like Eustace but more mobile and can pass more than 2 yards. Being able to cover 3 positions is no mean feat. His versatility makes him a very good squad player.

Unfortunately, as most point out, he isn't as good as other players in those positions, but that shouldn't count against him.

The only thing that PC will need to rectify is though, the captaincy. It can't be held by a cover player.

[Oldtimeram]

Not as good as Eustace according to Angry

[paulo570]

At the end of the day, Paul CLement will make the decision on who plays and who is captain and live or die by his beliefs and decisions.
My opinion is that Chris Baird is a at best someone who can cover a few positions to a degree...the old utility player...jack of all trades..master of none.
If he sees him as a better option to Christie or to a holding midfielder already at the club ..so be it.
Fans will however always have an opinion.

[mistaram]

Rob Im definitely not saying he is the best player and no I don't think he should start.But what is Clement supposed to do when Thorne is not fit Hendrick can not play the position were still not sure about Hanson especially away from home The trouble with us fans we have been spoilt with having Thorne in the holding midfield because he is good enough to push us forward.Most DFMs in the Championship do not do that you only have to look at Clayton and Leadbetter at Boro at the end of the day they are there to protect the defence and im sure that is uppermost in Bairds mind As for saying why isn't he playing ahead of Keogh and Shackel that's about as daft as saying international Bent should be in ahead of Martin