Volz MUST replace Baird

We've all had bad days at the office. Whether it's losing a contract, failing to meet sales targets or making a costly mistake. These things happen. However, when one bad day becomes two, then three, then a whole week, questions need to be asked: What's going wrong? Do you need a break? Is it time for some extra training? How can you get back on track?

This is the situation that Chris Baird finds himself in at the moment. He should be having the time of his life. Within the space of a few months he has found himself playing in the Premiership and leading his native Northern Ireland team out in the qualifers for next year's European Championships. Pretty good going for a 25-year-old.

However, some (very) suspect performances for his new club and an own goal for his national side have put him in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. His confidence looks - understandably - shot to pieces. I have no doubt he's a talented lad, but we're certainly not seeing the same player who put in a man of the match performance for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final.

The harsh fact remains that Baird must be replaced immediately. His failings are costing us points that we cannot afford to drop. There is no time for him to adjust. This is the Premiership. Lose much more ground and we'll soon be thrust into a relegation battle. The rot needs to stop now and that's why we need someone in the side that we can rely on: Moritz Volz.

He is a safe pair of hands that's experienced at this level. Versatile, tough, with good positioning sense, he will help shore up a leaky defence. Baird may well prove to be a decent long-term option for the right back position but he needs to get his head - and his game - back on track before returning to the first team. He is just giving players too much room to breathe. You might be able to get away with that in the Championship, but not in the Premier League.

What Lawrie Sanchez decides to do about this situation will, in my opinion, give us a real insight into the way he operates. He certainly seems to be his own man and appears determined to do things his own way, but the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating.

He said in a press conference last week that the team must be isolated from players who constantly make mistakes. If Baird doesn't fall into that category then i'd love to know the entry requirements.

Keeping him in the side - despite overwhelming evidence that he should be dropped to the bench - would indicate that Sanchez doesn't want to lose face by replacing one of the players he brought to the club. I really hope that won't be the case.

Everyone makes mistakes at work and should be helped through difficult patches, but when they start to threaten the entire business then action must be taken. Volz must start tomorrow (Wed) night against Bolton and, as long as he doesn't fall apart, should keep his place for our very important trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. If he doesn't, then I fear for our season.