Carlos Cuellar

[Dave]

Average defender who seemed far too happy to be getting splinters in his arse than pushing for a starting place. We won't miss him to much.

What should he have done? Gone on Twitter to whinge about being out of the team? Refuse to play unless he got to play at centre-half? Get ratted and kick the doors in at a night-club or two?

Or do exactly as he did, get on with his job, play when and where asked and generally be humble and professional, while being one of the best defenders at the club over the last few years.

As for not missing him, there's a reason why we've looked very solid defensively over the last half dozen games. And the fact that they are exactly the games that Cuellar has played is not a coincidence.

[PaulWinch again]

Thanks for your service to Villa Carlos, good luck in the future.

[Wiggz]

Yup, I'm in agreement.  Cuellar has looked adventurous when played as a right back, despite not being one!!

He also looked solid and combative at the back with blocks and all.

I'll miss him for sure.

[PeterWithe]

I've never thought he was much cop if I'm honest, that said he seemed a model professional and always played with full commitment.

[VILLA MOLE]

I've never thought he was much cop if I'm honest, that said he seemed a model professional and always played with full commitment.

of the experience  centre halves to leave he was the least I wanted to go

[Chipsticks]

Always liked him, and as many others have said, he was always nothing but a consummate professional who gave is all. You can't ask for much more than that.

Thank you, Carlos.

[TheTimVilla]

He improved the less frequently he played! When he played, he was ok. When he didn't, he was lamented due to our poor first choice centre halves. He came with a great reputation but didn't fulfil that promise. He's a good squad player, but his salary would be better allocated on a superior player.

[SX150]

Carlos was never given a proper chance at the Villa for me. Not played enough and often when picked it was out of position. The thing I don't get is it wasn't just under one manager. Totally bamboozled by it all and can only wish him all the best. He got a decent wage out of the club but on a footballing front some good years have been lost/wasted at Villa. A model proffessional for me who got on and done what was asked of him and never complained when pissed about. A far better centre half than he was given credit for, a step above Collins/Dunne and possibly up there with Melberg/Laursen but we will never know.

[supertom]

I liked Carlos. He was good on the whole when he played. Best defender we've had this season, but that's more an indication of how bad we've been.

Good luck to him though. Top pro, top bloke.

[dave.woodhall]

Five managers can't all be wrong. He was, if you like, the anti-Heskey.

[cdbearsfan]

Only three full-time managers. Two of them useless, one a mad egomaniac that showed blind loyalty to some players, while discarding others for no apparent reason (see also Cahill, Luke Young).

Yes, they were all wrong. Cuellar has been our best defender for the last few years when he's had a chance. Unfortunately that has happened far too rarely.

Good luck Carlos.

[dave.woodhall]

Only three full-time managers. Two of them useless, one a mad egomaniac that showed blind loyalty to some players, while discarding others for no apparent reason (see also Cahill, Luke Young).

Yes, they were all wrong. Cuellar has been our best defender for the last few years when he's had a chance. Unfortunately that has happened far too rarely.

Good luck Carlos.

With the greatest of respect to someone who can always be relied upon to buy any old tat I try to sell him, you can't just blithely say "They were all wrong." When a series of managers, both full-time and caretaker, ignore a player there must be a reason. As others have said, he seems to get better with every game he doesn't play.

[Mazrim]

A nice guy but easily replaced. Maybe he could have played sooner when others lost form but that's about it.
An average dependable player who makes a few mistakes more than 'd like and I wish him all the best.

But we need somebody better.

[saunders_heroes]

I don't understand the adulation Cueller gets. Clearly a nice bloke, but on the pitch he can be clumsy, especially his distribution. I can't say we'll miss him. Why do players like Cueller leave with a pat on his back from the fans while genuine fine players like Barry get vilified?

[dave.woodhall]

I don't understand the adulation Cueller gets. Clearly a nice bloke, but on the pitch he can be clumsy, especially his distribution. I can't say we'll miss him. Why do players like Cueller leave with a pat on his back from the fans while genuine fine players like Barry get vilified?

God loves a trier.