Concrete Ron

[LeeB]

It doesn't seem that difficult to understand Clampy.

[Dante Lavelli]

It doesn't seem that difficult to understand Clampy.

I'm confused.  wasn't it Clampy's point originally?  If so, how can we be questioning his own understanding of his point?
The internet is broken.

[silhillvilla]

I placed the £8m estimate on replacing vlaar as just that , an estimate. That was based on a like for like replacement rather than an up and coming prospect.

[Matt Collins]

It's obviously conceivable that we could get a replacement for vlaar for £4m who's just as good. Just like it's conceivable we could get a replacement for benteke for £7m who's just as good.

It's just unlikely. Less unlikely with vlaar than with benteke, but unlikely nonetheless.

[ozzjim]

I placed the £8m estimate on replacing vlaar as just that , an estimate. That was based on a like for like replacement rather than an up and coming prospect.

I would agree with 8m actually. You have to remember Vlaar was ropey as hell in his first season, so 4m might get you a Vlaar in 2 years, but that means 2 years of bedding in. Oh and being captain. To get like for like as he is now, 4m would be like finding a rolex for 15 quid at a car boot.

[pauliewalnuts]

He might have been ropey last season at times, but by comparison to the rest of our centre halves, he was Paolo Maldini.

We haven't even started to address the starting XI weaknesses we already have. i don't see the point in creating another one.

[ozzjim]

I meant the season before, I thought he was quite good considering Baker was his partner from Jan onwards last season.

[kippaxvilla2]

In listening to Talkshite at the moment (until the shit games are over).  I kid you not a Southampton fan has just been debating whether Vlaar will not would be good enough for them.

[peter w]

It's an of not mentioned point that more than Benteke being out, Vlaar's absence usually ended in a defeat.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's an of not mentioned point that more than Benteke being out, Vlaar's absence usually ended in a defeat.

It's been mentioned a lot as it usually left us a CB pairing of Baker and Clark, which explains the defeats more than Vlaar being some Super defender for us.

[peter w]

It's not just that though. Two seasons back we all really did have the same sense of dread feeling when the opposition had a corner, as we would when  there is a last minute type penalty against us in the last minute or two. Vlaar was usually immense at corbers and free-kicks last season. Next to him Baker when an awful lot of the headers too. between them they stopped corners always leading to a good chance of scoring for the opposition. Where Baker fell down was the rest of his game. That's the popular view but I think he has been over exposed. You can't help the development of a young central defender if he is always playing in a nervous back 4. And one offered little protection.

So, yes, I do believe that Vlaar being there helped us defensively. In the box in the air Baker's game rose thanks to Vlaar's presence. Without him he was okay in the air with Clark but missed the guiding hand of Vlaar. Having Vlaar back made a difference to those playing around and it is plain to see. Well, for me anyway. So, although not a 'Super' defender he is the best at what he does for us and is the best a lot of teams have got doing for them.

Am I convinced? Not entirely. but I'd like to see him given a chance next to good experienced centre-half next season to see if he can consistently perform to the World Cup standard that he has set. Then we'll see.

[Mister E]

In listening to Talkshite at the moment (until the shit games are over).  I kid you not a Southampton fan has just been debating whether Vlaar will not would be good enough for them.

That's what you get if you listen to TalkShite.


Sourhampton will be lucky to have an eleven to field come August 16th. There is a mass exodus down there (holy Moses).

[N'ZMAV]

Ron's been talking....

Vlaar: "I still have a contract for a year and understand that Villa definitely do not want to lose me."

[PaulWinch again]

Sign him on a new deal please Villa.

[curiousorange]

Ron's been talking....

Vlaar: "I still have a contract for a year and understand that Villa definitely do not want to lose me."

This has been taken as a sign that he's leaving by the Twitterverse. Can somebody point out what I'm not seeing here?