Richard Dunne

[PaulTheVillan]

I'm glad we kept Dunne over Collins, but one of them had to go.

I'm hoping he returns fully fit.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm glad we kept Dunne over Collins, but one of them had to go.

Yes, me too, Dunne has his problems - quite a few of them - but he's much the better out of those two.

[pedro25]

I'd rather stick to Vlaar and Clark with Baker and Lowton (with Lichaj coming in as right back) as back up.  Don't think there's a need for Dunne any longer.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd rather stick to Vlaar and Clark with Baker and Lowton (with Lichaj coming in as right back) as back up.  Don't think there's a need for Dunne any longer.

It's good to have another experienced option, though. Vlaar, Clark, Baker and Lowton have played about 20 premier league matches between them.

[not3bad]

It's up to Dunne to show if there's a need for him.  PL has shown that players will be picked on merit.

[tomd2103]

It's up to Dunne to show if there's a need for him.  PL has shown that players will be picked on merit.

I think a fit and motivated Richard Dunne could still have a part to play for us this season.  I would not be surprised to see him line up alongside Vlarr at times and  thyere is always the possibility that PL might try a 3-5-2 formation at some point.

[hartman_1982]

According to "Aston Villa Stats" on Twitter, since he joined the club we have lost 50% of games he hasn't started compared to 29% when he has.

[not3bad]

According to "Aston Villa Stats" on Twitter, since he joined the club we have lost 50% of games he hasn't started compared to 29% when he has.

I suppose the stats for any player over the last couple of seasons would be pretty bad if they'd played a lot.

[Eigentor]

Now I've read the whole thread and still haven't worked out who ate all the pies. 

[paul_e]

it's not bad luck that he scores so many own goals and concedes so many penalties and close range free-kicks.  As I said, for 89 minutes he's a fantastic defender, but for that other minute there's always a mistake in him, he doesn't make that mistake every game but he does often enough that he's a risk.  If he had gotten passed that he'd be a truly great defender but those mistakes that happen too often  have totally restricted him.

[brian green]

You are exactly right paul e.   Odd that one could write the same assessment of Ridgewell.

[Steve R]

It looks like Dunne is the latest player whose reputation is starting to benefit from not being in the team. To call him 'one of the best when in form' would put him alongside the likes of Vidic or Komapny. He is well short of that.

Alongside his mistakes, he also has the cross to bear of being one of O'Neill's signature signings. Competent I guess, but what an opportunity wasted for the money he cost. He is now one of the decreasing number in the current squad that represents a time better left behind us.

In truth, he was past his sell-by date as a player and as a professional before we even bought him.

Who knows what Lambert thinks, but I'd rate him 4th choice centre back right now.

[Vancouver]

For a centre half he doesn't half miss a lot of headers

[nick harper]

it's not bad luck that he scores so many own goals and concedes so many penalties and close range free-kicks.  As I said, for 89 minutes he's a fantastic defender, but for that other minute there's always a mistake in him, he doesn't make that mistake every game but he does often enough that he's a risk.  If he had gotten passed that he'd be a truly great defender but those mistakes that happen too often  have totally restricted him.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. He's a decent Premier League defender and he's had a lot more good games than bad for us. To buy a defender that doesn't make mistakes would cost a lot more than £6m.

He was part of a very good defence under O'Neill and I think Lambert will see him as first choice once he's fit. After that it's up to him.

[paul_e]

it's not bad luck that he scores so many own goals and concedes so many penalties and close range free-kicks.  As I said, for 89 minutes he's a fantastic defender, but for that other minute there's always a mistake in him, he doesn't make that mistake every game but he does often enough that he's a risk.  If he had gotten passed that he'd be a truly great defender but those mistakes that happen too often  have totally restricted him.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. He's a decent Premier League defender and he's had a lot more good games than bad for us. To buy a defender that doesn't make mistakes would cost a lot more than £6m.

He was part of a very good defence under O'Neill and I think Lambert will see him as first choice once he's fit. After that it's up to him.

Not really, his mistakes have been responsible for 5-6 goals in each of the last 2 seasons.  If a goalkeeper made 5-6 errors of that level people would question his ability so it's only fair.

I agree that we weren't going to get a significantly better defender for the money but I'm not going to get all dewy eyed about how great he is either.  He's a decent premier league defender who's on the downward slope towards the end of his career, nothing more nothing less.  Baker and Clark both have the ability to be better than him this season and if we're going to have a centre half making mistakes I'd rather it be a youngster getting experience than a old experienced player who should know better.

The senior players need to set an example with a squad like ours and I'm really not sure what example he sets to the kids.