Concrete Ron

[Dave]

Er... He played on Saturday. I guess that means he's fit doesn't it?

[eamonn]

Well, his shaved head and stubble make him appear quite handsome I guess.
Not in the class of Olof "hear me roar" Mellberg or Martin "the blonde, blue-eyed bombshell" Laursen though.

[mr woo]

Considering the guy's come from a different league and a supposed lesser standard of football, had to cope with injuries, babysitting his colleagues in the entire back four,  questionable defensive coaching and taking the responsibility of the official club captaincy I think he's done well.

I see a talented, intelligent, ball playing centre half who would benefit from playing alongside a brutish bullying sidekick as opposed to a similar type (Clark).

You could say the proof of the pudding is in whether you miss the player when they're not playing. Even Vlaars critics are using his appearance record as a stick to beat him with. Isn't that an admission of how important a player he is?

I won't argue theres not room for improvement but I think Big Ron has the character to take that on board and I reckon in two years time he'll be as important to us as Mellberg and Laursen were in years past.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think he's done alright, but am worried about his picking up injuries so frequently.

He's dropped his fair share of clangers - Southampton away, for example, where he just decided to stop running and let the bloke score was not unlike Gareth Barry trudging along at walking speed "trying" to catch Ozil at the last world cup - but then again, the entire defence have.

[Clampy]

Yeah he's been 'ok' without being brilliant. I have'nt come away from a game thinking he's played really well. He's another one who we might see the best of next season.

[MoetVillan]

Chris fair point, but we still shipped a cricket score to Chelsea that season, and none of that back five ever got close to those performances in subsequent seasons either here or where they went on to, so id take that Collins, but not todays version

[mike]

He's in Garth Crooks' team of the week so he must be ok.

[pauliewalnuts]

Chris fair point, but we still shipped a cricket score to Chelsea that season, and none of that back five ever got close to those performances in subsequent seasons either here or where they went on to, so id take that Collins, but not todays version

I think the vogueish argument re Chelsea's slaughter of us that season is to blame it on Luke Young being at right back, and then to use that fact to legitimise a wider argument defending MON's strange thing regard "proper" right backs, and his failure to trust either of the RBs we had at one point - both of which had been bought by himself.

Soz, slight tangent, that.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

[Concrete John]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

Baker for me.

[DrGonzo]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

Baker for me.

So who, in Rainman style, is playing LB?

[Concrete John]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

Baker for me.

So who, in Rainman style, is playing LB?

Joe Bennett.  I think he's better than a lot of other people do.

[Chipsticks]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

Always Clark.

[eastie]

Baker for me at centre back ahead of Clark.
Clark would be a defensive midfielder for me.
As regards left back ive seen encouraging signs from Bennett recently, I think he will be a good asset.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I'm guessing that Porous Ron will always be first choice, but who would you prefer to partner him.

Clark or Baker?

Baker for me.

So who, in Rainman style, is playing LB?

Joe Bennett.  I think he's better than a lot of other people do.

I agree. He's had a lot of stick based on when we played weird formations that resulted in him facing two opponents on his own (their full-back and wide player).

With someone in front of him (as we have played more recently), he'd have come on a lot more I think.