Concrete Ron

[N'ZMAV]

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.

That's pretty fair TBH.

Vlaar needs to get fully fit, I think if we had another couple of centre backs then he wouldn't have been rushed back for some games, only to break down again. Hopefully a summer off from international football and a full pre-season at the club could improve him.

[Chris Smith]

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.   
 

I think that pretty much sums it up for me, he's been OK and might improve with a run free from injuries. The haste with which some people write players off is only matched by the speed others over hype some others. He's twice the player Cuellar is, for example.

[eastie]

Vlaar certainly hasn't looked anything like a Dutch international on his displayed for us this season - i wouldn't write him off yet but he has looked average at best.

Maybe we are comparing him to the likes of mellberg and Laursen who were top notch defenders- i hope the best of Vlaar is still to come.

[Risso]

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.   
 

I think that pretty much sums it up for me, he's been OK and might improve with a run free from injuries. The haste with which some people write players off is only matched by the speed others over hype some others. He's twice the player Cuellar is, for example.

He's nothing special, and neither is/was Cuellar.  I'd put them both on a par to be honest.  The player in question would have to be desperately poor to be half the player that Vlaar is though.  Ciaran Clark maybe.

[eastie]

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.   
 

I think that pretty much sums it up for me, he's been OK and might improve with a run free from injuries. The haste with which some people write players off is only matched by the speed others over hype some others. He's twice the player Cuellar is, for example.

I certainly wouldn't say Vlaar is twice the player cuellar was - as i remember you were often praising cuellar when he was coming in for stick during mons final year chris.

Cuellar was too often played out of position at right back for us, he was an ok centre half as is Vlaar.

[Damo70]

I would sum up Vlaar by saying he is not like he was described in the brochure. I don't want to slaughter the bloke and accept he has had injuries, had to adapt to a new country and has been surrounded by relative rookies. The fact is he was bought as an international/CL player and hasn't been very good. But I do believe he will be better next season.

[Chris Smith]

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.   
 

I think that pretty much sums it up for me, he's been OK and might improve with a run free from injuries. The haste with which some people write players off is only matched by the speed others over hype some others. He's twice the player Cuellar is, for example.

I certainly wouldn't say Vlaar is twice the player cuellar was - as i remember you were often praising cuellar when he was coming in for stick during mons final year chris.

Cuellar was too often played out of position at right back for us, he was an ok centre half as is Vlaar.

I was happy with him as a full back for the way we player under MON, not so much at centre half. That was because we were set up for 442 and didn't worry too much about our defenders getting forward. His limitations are obvious, he can't pass, doesn't communicate with team-mates and lacks concentration. It's fine when he's asked to be purely a stopper and you've got Friedel, Dunne and Collins talking him through games, it would be disastrous in our current set up.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Part of the reason Vlaar looks uncomfortable is he's playing on the right of the central defence, as both he and Clark are left footers. That still doesn't excuse him being beaten so often in the air. Commanding, he ain't. Reading was his first game back and may explain why he looks a little rusty. Hopefully he'll be up to speed for QPR.

[Toronto Villa]

Vlaar is a very solid second centre back. We need to very good one to go with him. He's not good enough as player to make up for his own flaws and that of his central defensive partners.

[Damo70]

I liked Carlos Cuellar as a bloke and thought he was a half decent player. But I have no idea why we still discuss him. Not bad, not great, not played enough in his best positon. If not being played in the centre of defence for Villa is the mark of greatness then I'm better than Paul McGrath.

[N'ZMAV]

Carlos Cueller used to tweet a lot, for some reason that meant the Villa fans on twitter seemed to think he was world class...

[Damo70]

Carlos Cueller used to tweet a lot, for some reason that meant the Villa fans on twitter seemed to think he was world class...

That's our central defenders sorted for next season then. Joey Barton and Stephen Fry. Justin Beiber on the bench.

[tomd2103]

Part of the reason Vlaar looks uncomfortable is he's playing on the right of the central defence, as both he and Clark are left footers. That still doesn't excuse him being beaten so often in the air. Commanding, he ain't. Reading was his first game back and may explain why he looks a little rusty. Hopefully he'll be up to speed for QPR.

Not sure about that Rudy, he looks right footed to me.

[David_Nab]

Vlaar is right footed

[Rudy Can't Fail]

My mistake. Well actually not mine, I heard it mentioned during the game on Saturday. Left or right footed, he still doesn't win enough headers for me.