Ciaran Clark - now gone

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

He's looked really strong in the air this season, but I do wish he'd keep his hands off the player he's marking. I know a lot do it but Clark seems to be more obvious than most.

[peter w]

Clark has been great since coming back in including, for me, at QPR when he was winning just about every ball in the air v Zamora where Vlaar was losing those headers. I think Clark could develop even better now because he can use the ball. It's a shame they're both left-footed  because I think Baker and Clark would be a decent partnership now. Will Clark do the talking though?

[Dante Lavelli]

Clark and Baker have always had potential.  I do wonder whether they've had to do ALL their learning on the pitch and have not been given 'text-book' type lessons on the training ground? 

[N'ZMAV]

Neither Clark or Baker seem like leaders to me. Both have qualities. I just think they need a proper leader next to them. I'm not convinced Vlaar is a proper leader.

[Drummond]

I remember, not that long ago, when Clark was being touted as a future England captain.

[Mister E]

Neither Clark or Baker seem like leaders to me. Both have qualities. I just think they need a proper leader next to them. I'm not convinced Vlaar is a proper leader.

No, but Senderos and Okore do appear to be the partners that Clark and Baker need.

[PaulWinch again]

Clark looks better when there's someone with pace beside him, that's why him and Okore are a good combo.

[supertom]

I think Clark seems to have skipper potential. He's had the armband in the past and did so in the second string and yoofs didn't he? He's actually been the one to take on the senior role alongside Okore to me. Of course he has the benefit of 100 or so games now, which plays a part.

If anything this season the CH who's not really played that well is Vlaar. He had some shaky matches between his last couple of injuries, after a very solid opening couple of games with Phil.

If Vlaar walks straight back into the starting 11 when he's fit, he'll be very lucky.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I think Clark seems to have skipper potential. He's had the armband in the past and did so in the second string and yoofs didn't he? He's actually been the one to take on the senior role alongside Okore to me. Of course he has the benefit of 100 or so games now, which plays a part.

If anything this season the CH who's not really played that well is Vlaar. He had some shaky matches between his last couple of injuries, after a very solid opening couple of games with Phil.

If Vlaar walks straight back into the starting 11 when he's fit, he'll be very lucky.

Someone mentioned on the coach to Burnley that Vlaar ain't injured at all...Lambert's having a strop re his agent/Ron himself and he's chosen to freeze him out. Makes a goodish story buy maybe total bollux.

Ron was completely shit at QPR.
IMHO.

[aj2k77]

Vlaar misses too many chunks of games. He's out for 6 or 7+ and then getting up to speed for the next 2 or 3 and bang there goes over a quarter of the season in one injury, year in year out.

[N'ZMAV]

Vlaar is only rated by those who don't watch Villa that often it seems.

[Dave]

Someone mentioned on the coach to Burnley that Vlaar ain't injured at all...Lambert's having a strop re his agent/Ron himself and he's chosen to freeze him out. Makes a goodish story buy maybe total bollux.

Why would he have been left out of the last Dutch squad then?

[UK Redsox]

Someone mentioned on the coach to Burnley that Vlaar ain't injured at all...Lambert's having a strop re his agent/Ron himself and he's chosen to freeze him out. Makes a goodish story buy maybe total bollux.

Why would he have been left out of the last Dutch squad then?

Its a cover up

[brontebilly]

I think Clark seems to have skipper potential. He's had the armband in the past and did so in the second string and yoofs didn't he? He's actually been the one to take on the senior role alongside Okore to me. Of course he has the benefit of 100 or so games now, which plays a part.

If anything this season the CH who's not really played that well is Vlaar. He had some shaky matches between his last couple of injuries, after a very solid opening couple of games with Phil.

If Vlaar walks straight back into the starting 11 when he's fit, he'll be very lucky.

Someone mentioned on the coach to Burnley that Vlaar ain't injured at all...Lambert's having a strop re his agent/Ron himself and he's chosen to freeze him out. Makes a goodish story buy maybe total bollux.

Ron was completely shit at QPR.
IMHO.

They showed the replays of both QPR goals at half time of one our recent games, he was absolutely shocking for both of them.

The first Dunne looked up and Zamora was pointing to the sky. A big hoof later, Zamora had totally dominated Vlaar physically that he didnt even get off the ground. Sanchez and Clark perhaps could have been a bit quicker to the knockdown but an experienced international defender like Vlaar should not be made a mug of like that in the air by the likes of Bobby Zamora.

Sanchez lost the ball in the build up to the second but it was criminal how Vlaar let Austin run across him to knock it in first time at the near post. Clark has defended the near post extremely well over the last few games, he has had to with Cissokho's struggles.

Centre backs are all about partnerships and we cant afford for our captain to be off injured so often. Baker too is often out injured which is why I would think of cutting him also in the summer.
 

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Someone mentioned on the coach to Burnley that Vlaar ain't injured at all...Lambert's having a strop re his agent/Ron himself and he's chosen to freeze him out. Makes a goodish story buy maybe total bollux.

Why would he have been left out of the last Dutch squad then?

All part of the massive and mysterious Vlaar conspiracy Dave!