Source: FOOTYMAD
Baker desperate to get on score sheet
Midfielder can't wait to break his scoring duck Coventry City's attacking midfielder Carl Baker not only wants to score for his club, he want to spend a lot more time on the pitch. Baker, who joined Coventry from Stockport County during the January 2010 transfer window, has not yet managed to score at all, but by Christmas 2009 he had managed to bag 12 goals for Stockport. “I want that goal but it is more difficult when you are on the bench because you can go on for the last 15 minutes and it looks like you haven’t scored again, but you are only get 15 minutes to score," said Baker. “So at the minute it is more important to get myself in the team and play 90 minutes because it only takes a second to score a goal and every second I am on the pitch I have got more chance of scoring. So I will concentrate on getting a full game and hopefully the goals will come.” “I am scoring bag fulls in training every day so they will come, but I have got to stop thinking about it and just let it happen.” When Baker joined Coventry City, the squad had been trimmed down by Chris Coleman and so he had more opportunities to play, but now the City squad is bigger there is a lot more competition for places and it is Baker who is losing out. The 27 year old attacking midfielder knows he has himself to blame, but he knows what he has to do to change the situation and that is work harder, get fitter, be a lot more consistent and prove to Boothroyd that he has what it takes to hold down a regular first team place. Baker reflected, “I have started a bit slow to be honest. I wanted to get myself in from the start this season and hit the ground running but I didn’t get in the first eleven against Portsmouth when the lads did really well and then they went to Watford and nicked a draw, so it has been a bit of a waiting game." “I have been doing really well in training and the gaffer seems happy with me so it is a case of biding my time and keeping myself as fit as possible while I am not getting as many minutes as I would like. I have just got to wait for my chance and then hopefully impress when I come off the bench and get myself back in the team." "It happened against Swansea when I went on and did well and got myself a start in the next couple of games. I thought I did all right against Preston and the gaffer had a word with me and told me I hadn’t done anything wrong but that he wanted to change it round, but I will keep working hard and waiting for my chance and hopefully take it again.” Baker faces competition from Gary McSheffrey and Danny Ward, both of whom joined the club after Baker, but now find themselves ahead of Baker in Boothroyd's preferred starting eleven. Since Aron Gunnarsson has been moved further out right and has been doing well there, Baker has to dislodge him as well. David Bell is also looking to return to the squad, so competition for places in the congested midfield is fierce. Baker does not mind that though, he explained, “I think that is a good thing. I think we have got two or three players for each wing and that’s what you want because if you are not performing there is someone ready to come in and take your place, so it does keep you on your toes." “I am at the stage where I am waiting for one or two of the wingers to have a bad game and then I can get my chance. It is not a nice thing but that’s the way it is and I am sure when I play there will be someone waiting to see if I mess up so they can get back in, but it is healthy competition." " It is a long season and we will need a big squad to get us through to the end. The pre season was really good for me and I have been feeling really good in training so I know I will have no excuses when I get my chance.” Baker is looking forward to the next two games, both tough ones against teams who are pushing for a top six finish, Ipswich on Saturday and at home to Cardiff on the following Tuesday. “We have got two very tough games coming up but these are the games you want to be involved in. It will be a good test to see where we are," said Baker. "The lads are confident we can make the play-offs this season and but it is all well and good saying it, the important thing is doing it by beating teams like that who want to be doing the same, so how we do well against them could give us a bit of a guide.” Read More http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/coventry-city-fc-news/2010/10/12/carl-baker-desperate-to-start-scoring-goals-for-coventry-city-92746-27451135/3/#ixzz12DwXllTv
