Concrete Ron

[adrenachrome]

Our four best players are Guzan, Vlaar, Benteke and Delph.

There is then a considerable quality drop to the rest of them. People who go on about whether Vlaar is as good as his WC performances suggest, or whether he's good enough to play for Man United, are totally missing the point.

The point is that he is one of our best players. We already have enough of a challenge this summer getting in enough players of a higher standard than those we already have just to start to even approach something nearing acceptability next season.

It doesn't matter if Vlaar is good enough for club A or club B or if he's one of the best CBs we have had in a while. What matters is that he is clearly one of a small group of players who are significantly better than the rest of the dross that stinks out the club these days.

I will totally understand if he decides he doesn't fancy it any more, and I wouldn't be even remotely surprised if our glorious leaders opted to cash in, but surely the key point here is that, regardless of whether he's good enough for this or that CL club, he is more than good enough for us, and losing him can only be a bad thing.

Precisely.

I find it hard to believe that Lambert would disagree.

The question therefore is how much this state of limbo will damage us. Make no mistake, it has damaged us already.

[bobdylan]

I think we'll soon be including Okore in the small list of players that are better than the rest of the dross in the squad, fingers crossed.

[Dante Lavelli]

Villa are fooked with some of these signings, but shouldnt be. Lerner does not want to invest more, but the wages have gone down, we have big tv money, give us a chance and then you can sell for more FFS

Randy still pumped in 50-odd million of his own money last year so the extra TV cash (in his mind) probably only means he does not have to do that again this year.

[Matt Collins]

I think we'll soon be including Okore in the small list of players that are better than the rest of the dross in the squad, fingers crossed.

Definitely like the look of Okore. But he is quite short. From the very limited Mansfield highlights he was beaten in the air a number of times including for their goal. I hope that doesn't hold him back

[RussellC]

I think we'll soon be including Okore in the small list of players that are better than the rest of the dross in the squad, fingers crossed.

Definitely like the look of Okore. But he is quite short. From the very limited Mansfield highlights he was beaten in the air a number of times including for their goal. I hope that doesn't hold him back

That's my worry with him too, but can see Lambert using him on the right hand dude of a back 3, which would allow Vlaar and Senderos to add height alongside him.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think we'll soon be including Okore in the small list of players that are better than the rest of the dross in the squad, fingers crossed.

Definitely like the look of Okore. But he is quite short. From the very limited Mansfield highlights he was beaten in the air a number of times including for their goal. I hope that doesn't hold him back

That's one of the reasons I can see us going three at the back.

[Matt Collins]

Yes and he can then bring it out from the back a bit

But worth remembering there are lots of reasons people stopped playing three at the back

It worked in some respects for Mexico and Netherlands but let's now forget they both went long spells without troubling the opposition goal.

I think you need three attack minded players ideally - 3412 or 3412 . But that does mean two in central midfield

[edgysatsuma89]

Yes and he can then bring it out from the back a bit

But worth remembering there are lots of reasons people stopped playing three at the back

It worked in some respects for Mexico and Netherlands but let's now forget they both went long spells without troubling the opposition goal.

I think you need three attack minded players ideally - 3412 or 3412 . But that does mean two in central midfield

Make your mind up. Is it 3412 or 3412?

I'm being a dick.

[old man villa fan]

Trouble is, we have fecked up by letting his contract wind down, great business not.

When we signed the first batch of Lambert's signings, there was general approval of only signing them up on 3 year contracts so that se didn't get stitched with unwanted players with 2-3 years left on long contracts as with a the likes of Beye.

After his first season, where he'd looked off the pace and spent a large chunk of the season injured, he had done nothing to justify a new contract.

At the point where we could have sensibly offered a new contract during the course of last season he was injured again, casting further doubts on his long term fitness.

Once we approached the end of the season there was never going to be any contact negotiations, first we were too busy worrying about survival (again), followed by Vlaar departing for Brazil.

He's now on a well earned holiday and the earliest anything can happen is on his return.

When would  you have offered a new contract?

Commonsense v commenting with the clarity of hindsight.  I'm with you, surely the time to negotiate on a 3 year contract is at the end of year 2 unless it is a young player that you have picked up and want to tie them down (as much as you can these days).  Vlaar's performances in the world cup possibly came at the wrong time for us.

[paul_e]

Trouble is, we have fecked up by letting his contract wind down, great business not.

When we signed the first batch of Lambert's signings, there was general approval of only signing them up on 3 year contracts so that se didn't get stitched with unwanted players with 2-3 years left on long contracts as with a the likes of Beye.

After his first season, where he'd looked off the pace and spent a large chunk of the season injured, he had done nothing to justify a new contract.

At the point where we could have sensibly offered a new contract during the course of last season he was injured again, casting further doubts on his long term fitness.

Once we approached the end of the season there was never going to be any contact negotiations, first we were too busy worrying about survival (again), followed by Vlaar departing for Brazil.

He's now on a well earned holiday and the earliest anything can happen is on his return.

When would  you have offered a new contract?

Commonsense v commenting with the clarity of hindsight.  I'm with you, surely the time to negotiate on a 3 year contract is at the end of year 2 unless it is a young player that you have picked up and want to tie them down (as much as you can these days).  Vlaar's performances in the world cup possibly came at the wrong time for us.

Not quite, the time to look to tie down players like Delph and Vlaar was March/April, unfortunately we were occupied by suspending our assistant manager and 'head of football operations' and trying to reach the end of the season safely.  It's fairly easy to slag the club for not sorting it before the world cup but we really do have a reasonable excuse for things stretching out a little this year, it's just unfortunate that 1 of the players involved had a better world cup than anyone would've imagined.

[N'ZMAV]

Vlaar is decent. Nothing special. Had more good games at the World Cup than he ever has at Villa. Not all his fault. Poor tactics and defensive partners don't help.

[villan from luton]

Trouble is, we have fecked up by letting his contract wind down, great business not.

When we signed the first batch of Lambert's signings, there was general approval of only signing them up on 3 year contracts so that se didn't get stitched with unwanted players with 2-3 years left on long contracts as with a the likes of Beye.

After his first season, where he'd looked off the pace and spent a large chunk of the season injured, he had done nothing to justify a new contract.

At the point where we could have sensibly offered a new contract during the course of last season he was injured again, casting further doubts on his long term fitness.

Once we approached the end of the season there was never going to be any contact negotiations, first we were too busy worrying about survival (again), followed by Vlaar departing for Brazil.

He's now on a well earned holiday and the earliest anything can happen is on his return.

When would  you have offered a new contract?

I would have started contract talks near the start of last season, surely that is good business sense to keep your assets?

[Dave]

I would have started contract talks near the start of last season, surely that is good business sense to keep your assets?

Had he been offered a new contract at the end of last season, this thread would be near-universal "what has he done to deserve a new contract?" type comments.

Imagine this - N'Zogbia comes back in the team and somehow has a spectacular season, winning player of the year and scoring a dozen goals. He'll have a year left on his contract, so the very situation that Vlaar is in now. Should we preemptively start contract talks now, on the off-chance that he has a great penultimate year?

[Villa in Denmark]

Trouble is, we have fecked up by letting his contract wind down, great business not.

When we signed the first batch of Lambert's signings, there was general approval of only signing them up on 3 year contracts so that se didn't get stitched with unwanted players with 2-3 years left on long contracts as with a the likes of Beye.

After his first season, where he'd looked off the pace and spent a large chunk of the season injured, he had done nothing to justify a new contract.

At the point where we could have sensibly offered a new contract during the course of last season he was injured again, casting further doubts on his long term fitness.

Once we approached the end of the season there was never going to be any contact negotiations, first we were too busy worrying about survival (again), followed by Vlaar departing for Brazil.

He's now on a well earned holiday and the earliest anything can happen is on his return.

When would  you have offered a new contract?

Commonsense v commenting with the clarity of hindsight.  I'm with you, surely the time to negotiate on a 3 year contract is at the end of year 2 unless it is a young player that you have picked up and want to tie them down (as much as you can these days).  Vlaar's performances in the world cup possibly came at the wrong time for us.

Not quite, the time to look to tie down players like Delph and Vlaar was March/April, unfortunately we were occupied by suspending our assistant manager and 'head of football operations' and trying to reach the end of the season safely.  It's fairly easy to slag the club for not sorting it before the world cup but we really do have a reasonable excuse for things stretching out a little this year, it's just unfortunate that 1 of the players involved had a better world cup than anyone would've imagined.

And in amongst everything else I'd forgotten the minor detail of the shitstorm that was the Bodymoor 2 as a further hindrance to the normal smooth running of things.

[silhillvilla]

There's a Southampton fan in our office who says they're signing him. Most annoying though is he keeps pronouncing his name as Vee-laar . Nob.