Concrete Ron deal done

[Le Lapin]

I wonder will MON test Vlaar with a bid.that would be heart breaking.

I'd be very surprised if he's heard of him

Most of us weren't particularly aware of him before he was linked either, but now he appears to be a must-buy.

I know none of us knew a thing about him, but you have to say, if he ends up at another club when we all thought he was going to be here,  it will be kinda weird. In hindsight, "heart breaking" was a bit over the top. After all the mouthing from himself and his manager over the last few days, it looks unlikely that he'll be partnering Clarke or whoever in our reworked defense.

[Mazrim]

He wasn't a player I gave much thought too but I was certainly aware of him and have been for a few years.
He's not some fringe player, he's Feyenoord's captain, a Dutch international and was touted as the next Jaap Stam a while ago.

I'm not going to be inconsolable if the deal falls through or anything but I certainly hope we get him. If for no other reason than he'll play instead of Dunne and/or Collins and I dont have to watch their oafish bungling.

[JJ-AV]

Feyenoord were annoyed we won't pay without selling. Collins and Warnock will be off when we come back from the US, won't they?

Depends if we've got a buyer.

Well if we haven't then I'd prefer us not to sign him. We need to be run sensibly and we've got a coach who (hopefully) can get the best out of what we've got.

[DrGonzo]

If the buy out clause is really £3.2m we would struggle to find another international defender for that sort of money.  Dunne and Collins have only 1 year left on their contracts.  We will have to find another CB before the start of the next season,unless we plan to partner Clark and Baker and have no-one on the bench as cover. 

In my eyes I'd rather bring Vlaaar in, then we have the option of leaving the Pie King out when he is too fat to fit through the changing room doors, and probably save money on next years shopping list.

[not3bad]

I'm not going to be inconsolable if the deal falls through or anything but I certainly hope we get him. If for no other reason than he'll play instead of Dunne and/or Collins and I dont have to watch their oafish bungling.

Hopefully the emergence of Clark and Baker will ensure that the Collins/Dunne combination will not be seen again anyway.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm not going to be inconsolable if the deal falls through or anything but I certainly hope we get him. If for no other reason than he'll play instead of Dunne and/or Collins and I dont have to watch their oafish bungling.

Hopefully the emergence of Clark and Baker will ensure that the Collins/Dunne combination will not be seen again anyway.

I don't know if he's ready for regular primetime just yet, but I must admit, Baker impresses me a lot.

[Brend'Watkins]

I'm not going to be inconsolable if the deal falls through or anything but I certainly hope we get him. If for no other reason than he'll play instead of Dunne and/or Collins and I dont have to watch their oafish bungling.

Hopefully the emergence of Clark and Baker will ensure that the Collins/Dunne combination will not be seen again anyway.

I don't know if he's ready for regular primetime just yet, but I must admit, Baker impresses me a lot.

He did okay and at least as well as the other two when called on at the end of last season.  Better with the ball at his feet too. 

Did he make a Dunnesque fuck up at any point?  Can't remember any glaring mistakes that he made. 

As bad as it was last season there is one good thing that has come out of it and that's the emergence of some of the kids.  Yes, there is still plenty to prove but in Clarke, Baker, Herd, Lichaj, Carruthers, Johnson and maybe Bannan Gardener and Weimann we have at the least capable players who will push the rest for a starting spot.

[peter w]

Man U away was a poor fuck-up but the ball shouldn't have come through to him for their (I think 3rd goal?). But, liek above I am impressed with Baker and think he is a better centre-half than clark - who I still think is a better defensive midfielder than cerntre-half.

[Concrete John]

I think Baker looks better defensively, while Clark (without the e, please!) looks better on the ball and a better all round footballer.  I think they'd make an excellent combination, but the lack of experience you get playing the two of them together is a worry. 

[Toronto Villa]

I'm not going to be inconsolable if the deal falls through or anything but I certainly hope we get him. If for no other reason than he'll play instead of Dunne and/or Collins and I dont have to watch their oafish bungling.

Hopefully the emergence of Clark and Baker will ensure that the Collins/Dunne combination will not be seen again anyway.

I don't know if he's ready for regular primetime just yet, but I must admit, Baker impresses me a lot.

Baker is a very smooth player. He isn't far off and has really impressed on this tour. Clark looks just about ready. His reading of the game is very good indeed and while he might be caught for pace when is positioning is a little off his IQ will be enough in most cases. I still thinknhe needs a senior dead next to him. He would have really benefitted from playing next to Martin Laursen. That would hsve been a superb partnership.

As for Vlaar, he's a younger, better version of Richard Dunne. Easy to forget that Dunne's 32 now and Vlaar much of the same tenacity that Dunne has. He was a very good player a few years back and can still show flashes of it and especially if he stays away from the pop. Vlaar offers a big personality that the club is in need of which is why I hope it still happens.

[Nastylee]

There's a lot of faith being laid at the feet of Clarke. Let's hope he's not another Villa youngster who's built up but ultimately turns out shit.

[Percy McCarthy]

I couldn't care less if Clarke turns out to be shit. He gets a lot of praise on here but I don't think I've seen him have a good game. I'd sell him to Houghton.

Clark on the other hand...

;-)

[not3bad]

I think Baker looks better defensively, while Clark (without the e, please!) looks better on the ball and a better all round footballer.  I think they'd make an excellent combination, but the lack of experience you get playing the two of them together is a worry. 

I think the season will start with Dunne being played with either Clark or Baker.

EDIT: As things stand anyway.

[Nastylee]

I couldn't care less if Clarke turns out to be shit. He gets a lot of praise on here but I don't think I've seen him have a good game. I'd sell him to Houghton.

Clark on the other hand...

;-)

Mate, it was deliberate to wind the likes of you up

[tomd2103]

I'd be very surprised if a new CB did not arrive this summer.  Collins has been connected to a few clubs in the media which I think is probably a way of letting it be known that he is available.  I think it will be a case of Collins moving on before another CB comes in though.