Richard Dunne

[sidcowans10]

Bizarrely, Dunne hasn't got an ounce of fat on him. I would sit in the hot tub at the Belfry and he is as lean as they come !! Hard to believe I know !!
He also has an incredibly fit mrs btw!

[johnc]

Bizarrely, Dunne hasn't got an ounce of fat on him. I would sit in the hot tub at the Belfry and he is as lean as they come !! Hard to believe I know !!
He also has an incredibly fit mrs btw!

Footballer earning 50k ish per week has an incredibly fit Mrs. Who have thought?

[mr-villa]

Well I for one hope that we can get him fit again for next season.  Surely most of us would agree that had we had Richard fit and playing at the centre of our defence throughout this season we would be at least 8 to 10 points better off.  It will cost more to replace a player of his experience and quality than offer him a new contract albeit on reduced terms. 

[Irish villain]

I'm no huge fan of Dunne but he does get unwarranted stick from villa fans.

For most of his career he has been a consistent defender and in his first season with us was exceptional. He dirtied his bib in his second season but we have missed him this year and he would still get into a lot of Premiership sides if fully fit.

[pauliewalnuts]

Well I for one hope that we can get him fit again for next season.  Surely most of us would agree that had we had Richard fit and playing at the centre of our defence throughout this season we would be at least 8 to 10 points better off.  It will cost more to replace a player of his experience and quality than offer him a new contract albeit on reduced terms. 

Lets just spend the money on a more reliable defender, possibly one who isn't the heaviest player in the top flight, and hasn't just had a year off at the end of his career.

There is no point investing that cash in Dunne just because he's already here, it doesn't match the new ethos if the club re player investments, either.

[PaulWinch again]

Well I for one hope that we can get him fit again for next season.  Surely most of us would agree that had we had Richard fit and playing at the centre of our defence throughout this season we would be at least 8 to 10 points better off.  It will cost more to replace a player of his experience and quality than offer him a new contract albeit on reduced terms. 

Lets just spend the money on a more reliable defender, possibly one who isn't the heaviest player in the top flight, and hasn't just had a year off at the end of his career.

Agreed, there are no circumstances where he should get a new deal.

[Irish villain]

How do we know he has 'had a year off'? He has never been a player to avoid a battle (to give him his due).

[saunders_heroes]

Have Villa ever actually said what is wrong with Dunnes because I can't seem to remember. It's quite bizarre. You miss an entire season with barely any updates whatsoever.

[Legion]

Gilmores groin.

[saunders_heroes]

Gilmores groin.

Just looked it up. Sounds rather nasty.

[villan from luton]

Am sure Dunne would have loved to be playing at this time in his career. He is not a shirker and some of the comments I have read are very unfair IMHO. As for giving him a new contract, not too sure to be fair, but maybe some fans should think back to some of the immense performances he has put in for this club.

[supertom]

Dunneys done at this level unfortunately. We have really missed him this season. You sense that the players seem to pull for Lambert and Dunne probably would have too, but the injuries keep mounting and his fitness isn't right. Had he been fit this season and somewhere close to his first season form we probably would be clear of 40 points by now. Dunney didn't cover himself in too much glory the last couple of seasons, aside from a strong finish in the tail end of Houllier and a solid start for Eck. Actually, losing Bent, Petrov and Dunne in the second half of last season just killed us. We were mediocre of course, but then we turned to complete toss.

A fit Dunne/Vlaar partnership all season would have been a lot more solid. I think you could chalk 10-20 goals from our conceded column. Ifs and buts and bad luck. As it is Dunney hasn't played and Vlaar has had too many injuries too. It's only now he's getting a good run, but he really needs someone next to him who's been around the block.

He shouldn't get a new deal. His wages are too high and there's little point having him on the books if he'll barely play. Even on pay as you play, it's pointless.

[Lizz]

Does it depend on individual contracts as to whether a player is paid in full when he's suffering from a long term injury?

[mr-villa]

Does it depend on individual contracts as to whether a player is paid in full when he's suffering from a long term injury?

I would hope that Paul Faulkener is intelligent enough to have arranged a robust insurance policy for all our playing staff whereby the club can claim back wages paid to long term injured players.  As he has not kicked a ball for us this season then surely the club will be compensated I hope.

[nick harper]

If we do go down, I would definitely take him for another 12 months. His experience at a level down would be invaluable (assuming he'd take a pay cut). If we stay up, probably not.