Chris Baird and the seven substitutes

By: timmyg | October 23rd, 2009

Chris Baird When the Premier League went from 5 substitutes to 7 last season the switch was perceived by many as the end of the utility-player. An additional two players on the bench meant managers had more opportunities to impact the game tactically.

The rosters then were about the same size, but the lack of substitutes created a larger margin for error. So stalwarts like Carlos Bocanegra and Moritz Volz played practically the entire defense and midfield positions while at Fulham. And although not very successful at either role, Tomasz Radzinski could play up front or out wide.

Yet those three and others were sold in exchange for players like Stephen Kelly and John Painstil (up until last night anyways) who only play right back, or someone like Damien Duff who often stays on the left side of midfield.

Now, granted a footballer has their favored position. But Roy’s stressing on systemic tactics and role-playing that leaves little for generality, makes it ever more difficult for any remaining “jack of all trades, master of none” to see ample field time (see: Seol Ki-Hyeon).

But then there is Chris Baird.

Baird was a center back while captain at Southampton. Under Lawrie Sanchez he played at right back to mixed results, but still earned the “Player We Hate of the Year” by the fans. Roy Hodgson used him once, as a center back, in the second half of 2007-08. For 2008-09 he was used sporadically as a center mid, right back, and center back in predominately cameo roles, but he always made the bench.

So far this season he has started and been substituted to be both a center back and a center mid, performing admirably in both in three different competitions. Although we’re just nearing the end of October, no other player has seen such time in two different roles.

Assuming that Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu are the bona fide starting midfielders, Baird has to be the #3 center-mid based on the number of appearances alone. That puts him over Jonathan Greening, The Evidence and Andranik (remember him?).

Excluding the promising but still green Chris Smalling, Roy appears to have so much faith in him that he is really the only substitute center back on the roster. (Think about that for a second – under Cookie we used what, 5 center backs? Sanchez utilized at least 4? Now we have three, plus the young Smalling and the oft-injured Kallio. Although it’s good to have some continuity, is anyone else a little bit concerned about this?!?)

We could chalk up Baird’s deputizing toward our involvement in the Europa League, the solo Carling Cup match, and a hopeful FA Cup run. But there are other players, specific-role players, that are not seeing time that Baird is.

Perhaps Roy just really rates him (he did sock Jimmy Bullard in the jaw after all). Or maybe he proves that there is always an exception.

At least he’s playing well.