Lambert in or out? Poll reset with majority 'in', 7th May

[DrGonzo]

It's a bit harsh calling him calamity central. He has a point to prove for sure. I expect big things from him next season. Some players can adapt to a new league straight away some take a good season to find their feet. Vlaar is an international and I think will come good.

Vlaar was pound for pound our poorest player last season. Big things were expected from him when he signed. I thought he'd be a strong leader and an absolute rock at the back but he was neither.

Pound for pound?  That award has to go to Dunney, no?  Or maybe Ireland, who for all the pounds we have given him has yet to produce a meaningful display.  Vlaar had a debut season interrupted by injury, playing alongside 3 youngsters finding their way in the Premier League.  To say he was our worst player is harsh at the very least.

[LeeB]

It's a bit harsh calling him calamity central. He has a point to prove for sure. I expect big things from him next season. Some players can adapt to a new league straight away some take a good season to find their feet. Vlaar is an international and I think will come good.

Vlaar was pound for pound our poorest player last season. Big things were expected from him when he signed. I thought he'd be a strong leader and an absolute rock at the back but he was neither.

Pound for pound?  That award has to go to Dunney, no?  Or maybe Ireland, who for all the pounds we have given him has yet to produce a meaningful display.  Vlaar had a debut season interrupted by injury, playing alongside 3 youngsters finding their way in the Premier League.  To say he was our worst player is harsh at the very least.

It's not only harsh, it's a

It's a bit harsh calling him calamity central. He has a point to prove for sure. I expect big things from him next season. Some players can adapt to a new league straight away some take a good season to find their feet. Vlaar is an international and I think will come good.

Vlaar was pound for pound our poorest player last season. Big things were expected from him when he signed. I thought he'd be a strong leader and an absolute rock at the back but he was neither.

Pound for pound?  That award has to go to Dunney, no?  Or maybe Ireland, who for all the pounds we have given him has yet to produce a meaningful display.  Vlaar had a debut season interrupted by injury, playing alongside 3 youngsters finding their way in the Premier League.  To say he was our worst player is harsh at the very least.

It's not only harsh, it's plain wrong.

Had he not been injured when he was we'd probably have avoided our mid season collapse and finished mid table.

[Clampy]

Completely agree SH, he was abysmal.  If you're going to turn up with a ludicrous nickname, you at least have to be competent.

No he was'nt abysmal at all. He was ok, not great but not poor either. He got better as the season went on but he certinlay was'nt abysmal.

[midnite]

If he's as bad next year with no improvement then I'll go along with the criticism. But as others have pointed out, he was playing along side young defenders, some very green. I imagine the pace of the league is something lots of defenders have to get use to. He improved as the season wore on. Couldn't see the likes of Dunne pitching in with those types of goals either. And at important moments of the games too.

He has got improvements to make I'm not denying that. But he certainly wasn't the worst player this season. Nor was he abysmal or a calamity.

[Legion]

Vlaar is/was hardly abysmal.

[Percy McCarthy]

I can see Vlaar having a good second season. I like the way he brings the ball out of defence. Those around him have to improve too, to give him the freedom, but I think it will become a feature of our play next year.

[Clampy]

I can see Vlaar having a good second season.

Yes, i can as well. Some players take time to settle and he has struggled at times but i reckon he'll be miles better next season.

[SamTheMouse]

I think people have been very harsh on Vlaar. It's his first season in England, which is always tough for players arriving from joke leagues, and on top of that he's come in with responsibility for single-handedly marshalling a defence made up of kids with little idea of how to defend. And even with all of that, we still looked miles better with him in the team. When he got injured, we looked like an Under 11 side at the back.

I think all things considered, he did pretty well and if we sign some actual defenders for him to play alongside, he'll impress us all next season.

[PeterWithesShin]

Hopefully Risso's words will have the same effect on Vlaar as they had on Benteke and Delph when he was slating them

[Risso]

I think people have been very harsh on Vlaar. It's his first season in England, which is always tough for players arriving from joke leagues, and on top of that he's come in with responsibility for single-handedly marshalling a defence made up of kids with little idea of how to defend. And even with all of that, we still looked miles better with him in the team. When he got injured, we looked like an Under 11 side at the back.

I think all things considered, he did pretty well and if we sign some actual defenders for him to play alongside, he'll impress us all next season.

He was utterly hopeless in the cup games against lower league opposition.  Even in the league after the new year, we averaged nearly 2 goals a game against and failed to keep a clean sheet.  Not all his fault, but he was as bad as everybody else.

[Clampy]

I think people have been very harsh on Vlaar. It's his first season in England, which is always tough for players arriving from joke leagues, and on top of that he's come in with responsibility for single-handedly marshalling a defence made up of kids with little idea of how to defend. And even with all of that, we still looked miles better with him in the team. When he got injured, we looked like an Under 11 side at the back.

I think all things considered, he did pretty well and if we sign some actual defenders for him to play alongside, he'll impress us all next season.

He was utterly hopeless in the cup games against lower league opposition.  Even in the league after the new year, we averaged nearly 2 goals a game against and failed to keep a clean sheet.  Not all his fault, but he was as bad as everybody else.

The defence improved after the new year and last season will have been a massive learning curve for them. Lowton had a decent first season, Baker and Vlaar were ok. Bennett struggled with it and it showed at times and i don't think Clark is a centre half anyway.

[Toronto Villa]

Completely agree SH

Breaking news on H&V...

[Risso]

So three out of four of our defence all had good seasons, and yet we conceded 69 goals in 38 games.  It might have improved after the New Year, but given how bad it was in December, that isn't saying much.  We still didn't keep a clean sheet.

[Jockey Randall]

I'm not saying our defence is quality by any means but I think we also need to bear mind how attack minded we are as a team now. For me this is a massive factor in the lack of clean sheets.

[olaftab]

Hate to agree with Risso and SH but I think Vlaar is the worst Dutch footballer I have seen. Not even as good as the horrific Heitinga at Everton!