Concrete Ron

[JUAN PABLO]

so he only plays when hes 100% fit.  god help us

[Clampy]

Interesting that Nursey lazily and ignorantly suggests that its because he's foreign that he won't play if he's not 100%. 

I've stopped reading anything that hack writes, he's dreadful.

[PaulWinch again]

The 'only playing if 100%' seems speculative, but if it's true he needs to be prepared to suffer some pain for the cause.

[Billy Walker]

Interesting that Nursey lazily and ignorantly suggests that its because he's foreign that he won't play if he's not 100%. 

I've stopped reading anything that hack writes, he's dreadful.

He's a shit stirrer.  One minute he'll write a fawning, praising piece and then, a few weeks later, he'll write a piece that contains sly and subtle digs at individuals or the club as a whole.  He's the type of journalist I would ban from anywhere near Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath.

[eastie]

Interesting that Nursey lazily and ignorantly suggests that its because he's foreign that he won't play if he's not 100%. 

I've stopped reading anything that hack writes, he's dreadful.

He's a shit stirrer.  One minute he'll write a fawning, praising piece and then, a few weeks later, he'll write a piece that contains sly and subtle digs at individuals or the club as a whole.  He's the type of journalist I would ban from anywhere near Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath.

He's a Norwich fan and i guess deep down resents the fact that lambert walked out on them for villa.

[pauliewalnuts]

Interesting that Nursey lazily and ignorantly suggests that its because he's foreign that he won't play if he's not 100%. 

I've stopped reading anything that hack writes, he's dreadful.

He's a shit stirrer.  One minute he'll write a fawning, praising piece and then, a few weeks later, he'll write a piece that contains sly and subtle digs at individuals or the club as a whole.  He's the type of journalist I would ban from anywhere near Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath.

He's a Norwich fan and i guess deep down resents the fact that lambert walked out on them for villa.

Surprised to read this, Nursey is incredibly positive towards Villa most of the time, and particularly towards Lambert.

I'd rather journalists who said what they actually think than those who just spout what they think people want to hear.

[pauliewalnuts]

Vlaar in Garth Crooks' team of the week today.

Surprising. I thought he was OK, but nothing marvellous. Crooks, by his write up, seems to have picked him because he was seen geeing up Baker after the own goal.

[Damo70]

Vlaar in Garth Crooks' team of the week today.

Surprising. I thought he was OK, but nothing marvellous. Crooks, by his write up, seems to have picked him because he was seen geeing up Baker after the own goal.

I'm not sure I've ever read a Garth Crooks write up. I would imagine it makes War And Peace look like a Mister Men book.

[Risso]

Garth Crooks was on Final Score on the BBC Saturday afternoon.  He was walking about our game and the most trivial statement is delivered with the most overblown grandiosity imaginable.  I haven't seen him on TV for a while and forgot just how awful he is to listen to.  His co-pundit looked like he was trying not to laugh.

[Chris Smith]

Interesting that Nursey lazily and ignorantly suggests that its because he's foreign that he won't play if he's not 100%. 

I've stopped reading anything that hack writes, he's dreadful.

He's a shit stirrer.  One minute he'll write a fawning, praising piece and then, a few weeks later, he'll write a piece that contains sly and subtle digs at individuals or the club as a whole.  He's the type of journalist I would ban from anywhere near Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath.

He's a Norwich fan and i guess deep down resents the fact that lambert walked out on them for villa.

Surprised to read this, Nursey is incredibly positive towards Villa most of the time, and particularly towards Lambert.

I'd rather journalists who said what they actually think than those who just spout what they think people want to hear.

I don't think he does either instead he goes for what is likely to cause the most reaction.

[Damo70]

Garth Crooks was on Final Score on the BBC Saturday afternoon.  He was walking about our game and the most trivial statement is delivered with the most overblown grandiosity imaginable.  I haven't seen him on TV for a while and forgot just how awful he is to listen to.  His co-pundit looked like he was trying not to laugh.

He should host Mastermind. What a challenge. Try answering questions on your favourite subject when, by the time he has finished, you can't remember what the queston was.

[brontebilly]

By James Nursey | 07/03/13 

Ron Vlaar generated a few laughs when he arrived at Villa last summer and revealed his nickname was 'Concrete'.

The amiable, intelligent Dutchman, 28, is certainly a big, powerful unit at 6ft 2in.

So it is obvious where the nickname has originated from and I certainly wasn't about to argue with him!

Some of Villa's best displays since like against Swansea, Man City in the League Cup and at home to Arsenal have included the £3.2million signing from Feyenoord, who looks decent when he is on his game.

But after missing two more games with injury, I think it is fair to ask is Concrete Ron really that hard?!

I was speaking to a Villa source this week about the team's prospects.

They believed Paul Lambert's side can beat the drop but were worried about a couple of factors.

One was captain Vlaar missing so many games with injury.

He has only started 17 out of 28 League games for Villa.

I thought he was outstanding in his previous appearance against West Ham when he helped Villa to a vital victory.

Boss Paul Lambert is now hopeful the Dutchman will recover from a calf injury to play against Reading this weekend.

But to miss both the Arsenal and Man City games with injury - leaving Villa with an even younger, inexperienced defence - is most unfortunate.

Lambert made no mention of Vlaar's injury in the build up to Arsenal and was seemingly giving his captain until the last minute to declare himself fit.

But it appears Vlaar is the kind of pro who only takes to the field when he feels 100 per cent.

Now that is not unusual of course and is well within a player's rights.

But many pros are also willing to play with knocks even when they are only 80 per cent fit or worse - especially when their team badly needs them.

For every inspirational leader willing to play through the pain like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Paul Ince or Roy Keane, equally there are many players who simply feel incapable of playing when struggling.

I suspect it probably applies more to some of the foreign players who only make themselves available for selection when totally 100 per cent.

Perhaps Vlaar, who had several injuries and set-backs at Feyenoord, falls into this category?

Perhaps he doesn't.

'Concrete Ron' deserves the benefit of the doubt as the only person really able to determine his fitness definitively is Vlaar himself.

But it is clearly a fact the Villa defence is a lot better when Vlaar is in it and he needs to return quickly and stay in the side if the club are to beat the drop.

The other concern I heard recently was about the lack of natural holding players at Villa.

Villa's latest formation relies on two midfielders sitting infront of the back four to protect them by tackling and closing down opponents.

But is it a role naturally suited to the likes of Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood and Karim El Ahmadi?

They can all perform the role of course but are all I believe instinctively more attacking and creative than that.

Delph is must be said has actually had a decent personal season but his 10th booking has earned him a two-game suspension.

 

Perhaps it will now mean a first start for January signing Yacouba Sylla who appears better suited to the defensive midfielder role.

But if that is the case then why haven't we seen him already in the starting line-up?

Villa's campaign is continuing to throw up all sorts of questions.

But ultimately the only question that really is matters is will the club stay up?

Losing by a single goal to Arsenal and the champions Man City is no disgrace and people at Villa insist they are playing well.

But Villa cannot afford any defeats in their next two games against Reading and QPR.

Xenophobic drivel

[saunders_heroes]

Drivel? He's been criticised on here by lots of fans because of his laughably undeserved nickname all season.

[brontebilly]

Drivel? He's been criticised on here by lots of fans because of his laughably undeserved nickname all season.

Vlaar has been exposed as thoroughly average this season but particularly so since his initial injury. I don't think he has been fit since. Couldn't get off the ground for his desperate attempt at a header at Reading.

The article reeks of Johnny Foreigner can't hack it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke. Complete and utter drivel. With the exception of Richard Dunne, Vlaar was the worst centre half at Euro 2012. He has a history of injury problem and going into the season with him and Dunne as the centre half duo was reckless in the extreme from Lambert.

[andyh]

For me, Vlaar is an OK player.
He is certainly not brilliant, but he is not shit, he is ok.
But I think its clear that we do look better when he is in the team.
My point being we don't need world beaters to make this team better, just the addition of some quality and experience.

If we survive this year, then just 2 or 3 players of quality and experience, in the right positions, and we could just be ok next year.