Richard Dunne

[not3bad]

We all get a bit dewy eyed about Clark because he's come through the youth team and has some potential, but he lacks pace and strength at centre half. He will continue to be found out by the better sides.

Villa played away at a side who have only lost at home once in the last year on Sunday and Clark was not only excellent in defense but he scored a goal.

[nick harper]

I must have watched a different Paul McGrath. He was deceptively quick, even well into his thirties.

Clark did as well at Newcastle as he did badly against Everton. I'm not writing him off by any means, I'm just not writing off Richard Dunne. I just dont see what Clark has done to judge him as better than Dunne, other than a willingness to cut him more slack for his iffy performances.

[Dave Cooper please]

I must have watched a different Paul McGrath. He was deceptively quick, even well into his thirties.

Nope, same McGrath but you have mistaken speed for timing. McGrath didn't need to be quick, he knew where the ball would be and made sure he was there, at times it was surreal.
 You rarely saw McGrath caught for pace by a speedy forward, true. But that was because McGrath knew where the forward was going to run, knew where the through ball was going and just made sure he was there when it happened, an uncanny ability that I only saw before in Bobby Moore and I have never seen since.

[tomd2103]

I do have concerns whether Clark has the physical attributes to make a top class centre half.  He has struggled against big, physical forwards in the past, but that might be something he can develop in the coming years.  I would think Dunne will want to prove a point when he returns from injury and shouldn't be written off just yet, especially as he is out of contract in the summer. 

[Matt C]

Think Dunne will be a useful, experienced player to have around between now and the end of the season and then I'd be almost certain he'll be off at the end of his contract.

[villan from luton]

McGrath was bloody quick, there can be no doubts about that.

As for Clark, think a fair number of us do still have doubts, I recall being in Turkey and seeing the battering Andy Carroll gave him. I do think he has a future though, even in that position. As for Dunne, really think we should give the guy a chance as he is a class player and hopefully PL can bring that out in him, if not he will be off at end of season. He will have to perform to get a contract elsewhere.

[Vancouver]

Sorry to drag it up, but what happened in that team bonding incident?

[eastie]

I must have watched a different Paul McGrath. He was deceptively quick, even well into his thirties.

Nope, same McGrath but you have mistaken speed for timing. McGrath didn't need to be quick, he knew where the ball would be and made sure he was there, at times it was surreal.
 You rarely saw McGrath caught for pace by a speedy forward, true. But that was because McGrath knew where the forward was going to run, knew where the through ball was going and just made sure he was there when it happened, an uncanny ability that I only saw before in Bobby Moore and I have never seen since.

Only time i saw McGrath really given the run around was by dean Saunders at the baseball ground one day, McGrath truly was a legend and without doubt the best and most consistent player I have ever seen in a villa shirt.

Dunne could still be an asset to us this season and has a part to play yet for us.

[QBVILLA]

Reading back through this thread it seems that Dunne is a player who totally splits opinions. Not many who do that though I will say those who are against him seem to talk more about his perceived lack of fitness and attitude rather than ability. It'll be interesting to see what Paul Lambert thinks.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I think Dunne and Vlaar have something in common and that is that they can be very good players, but I think there's a mistake every now and then in them.

[not3bad]

Sorry to drag it up, but what happened in that team bonding incident?

Richard Dunne and James Collins had a row with Gary Mac and the coaching staff after getting well oiled with the evening meal.  At least that's what I've heard.

[claret and blue blood]

Personally I will be glad when Richard is fully fit and available for selection again.There will be games especially against the more physical sides when we will be very grateful he can play as we were for the last few games last season when he did as much as anyone to steady a fast sinking ship.Paul Lambert will decide if he's going to figure, my guess is he will.

[London Villan]

Sorry to drag it up, but what happened in that team bonding incident?

Richard Dunne and James Collins had a row with Gary Mac and the coaching staff after getting well oiled with the evening meal.  At least that's what I've heard.

Didn't one or both of them square up to Gordon Cowans?

[damon loves JT]

Let's not talk about that. The idea of anybody squaring up to Sid makes me bristle like an angry gorilla

[Hookeysmith]

Sorry to drag it up, but what happened in that team bonding incident?

Richard Dunne and James Collins had a row with Gary Mac and the coaching staff after getting well oiled with the evening meal.  At least that's what I've heard.

Didn't one or both of them square up to Gordon Cowans?

The rumour was that Collins actually rolled Sid over a table and had to be restrained

If that was only 0.5% true then i would have ripped up the cnuts contract there and then