Concrete Ron

[villan from luton]

How much of the negative feeling towards Vlaar is due to him not signing an extension to his contract at the beginning of the season (a bit like the Houlier Anfield saga).

My concern is that we need a right left combination in the centre of the defence.  Okore and Vlaar are right side and Clark and Baker left side.  Okore and Clark looked good together but they are far too inexperienced as a pair.  Clark is ahead of Baker by quite a way in my opinion and I would like to see both given at least half a season to see if they continue their improvement.  The problem with the four of them is that none can play fullback in emergency.

Not sure whether I would bring in a central defender on the right or left.

I think Clark has probably been our most consistent player this season tbh, and he could play left back, not sure in the managers style though lol. I agree with you re the negative comments about Vlaar, he is a sitting target now.

[PeterWithesShin]

When the club were getting stick on here, left right and centre after the World Cup, for letting him reach the final year of his contract, I defended them. Based on his injury record and the fact he's often a bit shit for us. I've seen nothing since that has changed my mind.

[edgysatsuma89]

Vlaar and £5 million for cleverly if I was sherwood

Why would we give them any money for Cleverley when he's out of contract in the summer?

Vlaar can walk up the M6.

He would definitely break down and call for some human style AA.

[ozzjim]

If Vlaar stays, then I still think we need another centre back that is left sided. I know it sounds crazy, but Clark, Baker, Vlaar and Senderos are all made of glass. Okore is 22 and making the mistakes Clark made at that age, centre halves have to mature and at his age will have some bloody awful games.

I don't want him, but Caulker is having a tough time because of the lack of any consistency around him in my opinion. He is a fairly young defender and needs time to develop too. Stones will suffer in the same way at Everton before long.

[tomd2103]

How much of the negative feeling towards Vlaar is due to him not signing an extension to his contract at the beginning of the season (a bit like the Houlier Anfield saga).

My concern is that we need a right left combination in the centre of the defence.  Okore and Vlaar are right side and Clark and Baker left side.  Okore and Clark looked good together but they are far too inexperienced as a pair.  Clark is ahead of Baker by quite a way in my opinion and I would like to see both given at least half a season to see if they continue their improvement.  The problem with the four of them is that none can play fullback in emergency.

Not sure whether I would bring in a central defender on the right or left.

I think Clark has probably been our most consistent player this season tbh, and he could play left back, not sure in the managers style though lol. I agree with you re the negative comments about Vlaar, he is a sitting target now.

I agree about Clark.  It's been a real breakthrough season for him and I hope he can continue that kind of form next season.  Playing next to a dominant CB and a good LB would help him even further.

[richard moore]

If Vlaar stays, then I still think we need another centre back that is left sided. I know it sounds crazy, but Clark, Baker, Vlaar and Senderos are all made of glass. Okore is 22 and making the mistakes Clark made at that age, centre halves have to mature and at his age will have some bloody awful games.

I don't want him, but Caulker is having a tough time because of the lack of any consistency around him in my opinion. He is a fairly young defender and needs time to develop too. Stones will suffer in the same way at Everton before long.

It's also a position where, apart from goalkeeper, mistakes are perhaps more noticeable than any position on the pitch. Goals so often start with mistakes in midfield but the replays only ever analyse the lack of pace of the defenders or their poor positioning etc.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd still like him to stay. He had a shocker on Saturday, but so did a lot of players. When he's on form he's a great asset.

[warleyboy]

I'd still like him to stay. He had a shocker on Saturday, but so did a lot of players. When he's on form he's a great asset.

I just don't think he is what we need, we need a constant in the defence.
Not someone who has a good game then 3 bad games, injured for 5 games.
TS needs to have a season where he can concentrate on our defensive frailties, with regular players, week in, week out.
It will bring great dividends I believe going forward over the coming seasons and also assist our young bucks waiting in the wings.

[Deano's Mullet]

Hes consistently cos us goals for three years and is nowhere near as good as he seems to think he is. Hes not in the same class as a Teale, Laursen or Ehiogu not to mention Macca himself.

[villa for life]

Nor mountfield, Evans, Staunton, Cahill...

[Deano's Mullet]

Keown, Southgate, Mellberg, Riccy Scimeca, Kent Nielsen.......

he's probably Carl Tiler class.

[Villafirst]

Keown, Southgate, Mellberg, Riccy Scimeca, Kent Nielsen.......

he's probably Carl Tiler class.

And one of the best defenders at the World Cup last year was.......?

[Chico Hamilton III]

Keown, Southgate, Mellberg, Riccy Scimeca, Kent Nielsen.......

he's probably Carl Tiler class.

And one of the best defenders at the World Cup last year was.......?

Steve Sims?

[villa for life]

Totally forgot Kent Nielsen.. He was brilliant.

[Bad English]

And one of the best defenders at the World Cup last year was.......?

"World Cup" and "last year" have one thing in common. They are both in the past.