Former favourite convinced pal to sign for beloved Coventry City

Former fans’ favourite Carl Baker believes Kyle McFadzean is a “good fit” for Coventry City.

In fact, the one time Sky Blues skipper can even take a large chunk of credit for selling the club to one of his best friends in football.

McFadzean, 32, became manager Mark Robins ’s first signing of the summer last week when he agreed a two year deal, joining the club on a free transfer from League One bedfellows Burton Albion.

Baker and centre-half McFadzean had a season together at MK Dons when they gained promotion to the Championship in 2015.

“You come across so many players in football and, for me, I have played with or against hundreds and hundreds of players and Kyle is one of maybe five who I stay in close contact with,” said Baker , who is enjoying the Autumn of his career at non-league Brackley, who have just missed out on promotion after being knocked out of the Conference North play-off semi-finals on penalties.

“He’s up there along with people like Michael Doyle and Lee Carsley – great lads who I keep in touch with and see as true friends.

“And Kyle is a class lad who is a very good player. He’s a big, strong lad who is calm on the ball and off the pitch he has a great character as well, so I think the fans will really take to him.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve, is really passionate and loves what he does. He will give 110 per cent to everything in the way he plays and the fans will see that.

“So I think he’s a really good fit for Coventry, both on and off the pitch to be honest with you.”

Asked about the way he plays, Baker said: “He’s a ball playing centre-half, a bit like Rio Ferdinand used to play when he was at Man United.

“If he sees space to run in front of he will take up that space.

“Kyle is a little bit similar to Harry Maguire, who he was at Sheffield United with. He has confidence on the ball and will step into spaces and try to get you higher up the pitch.

“Sometimes he can take a chance and make errors here and there but for the majority of the season, what he gives will be a massive contribution.

“And with losing Doyler and a few more of the experienced lads it’s going to be important to have him in the dressing room.

“It’s important to have a good group of lads off the pitch and he will certainly fit in great to the dressing room and the lads at Coventry will absolutely love him.

“He’s a fun character with a heart of gold and is a really good lad.”

McFadzean revealed in his first interview as a City player that Robins has told him he intends to play a style of football he was used to playing at MK Dons.

Asked about that style, Baker explained: “We just massively played out from the back.

“We had three or four routines to play it out from the back when the goalkeeper had the ball, to get it out without kicking it long.

“The manager at the time, Karl Robinson, wouldn’t let us kick it long and told the goalkeeper to never kick it above head height when kicking it out.

“It can cost you a goal here and there where we did get caught on it but it’s worth it most of the time because you get the ball out and you have possession around the halfway line, and the way you can control possession is fantastic.

“We had Dele Alli playing in that team, dropping onto the 18-yard box knowing that the two centre-backs would spread out to the corner flags and the two full-backs would go up to the halfway line.

“We used to work on it and nine times out of ten we’d be able to pass the ball out from goal kicks, or when the goalkeeper had the ball, and we’d be able to pass out rather than launch it and fight for the second ball and scraps, which would be 50/50.

“Instead we’d have the ball at our feet and pass it out and be in control of possession, which worked really well.

“Kyle is the type of player who will demand the ball to feet and he’s not scared of making mistakes.

“I think the way football is going you see the best teams in the Premier League all pass it out from the back and your goalkeeper is a really important and big part of that.”

As for his part in McFadzean joining the Sky Blues, 36-year-old Baker said: “I spoke to him loads of times before he signed, so I was obviously aware of it. I am going to tell him he can give me his agent’s fees because I sold the club to him.

“Obviously I told him how good the fans are and about the facilities at the training ground and all about the lads who are there, as well as the manager.

“He said he fancied it so I was delighted to see him make that step and really happy for him.”

Asked if he had other options as a free agent, Baker revealed: “He had some good options to go to other League One clubs expecting to be pushing for promotion next season, but he fancied Coventry.”

       

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