Concrete Ron

[ROBBO]

players that were rumoured to be leaving now keen to re-sign maybe they all know something we don't.

[peter w]

I would play Baker and Okore against Burnley, and if Baker comes through Baker and Vlaar in the final. The balance has to be right.

I'd go with that.

[warleyboy]

I would play Baker and Okore against Burnley, and if Baker comes through Baker and Vlaar in the final. The balance has to be right.

I'd go with that.

Senderos and baker please

[Villafirst]

I would play Baker and Okore against Burnley, and if Baker comes through Baker and Vlaar in the final. The balance has to be right.

I'd go with that.

No chance, Okore has been carrying an injury for the last couple of matches. TS will rest him for this game

[peter w]

I was actually referring to the Vlaar - Baker bit

[Gregorys Boy]

I will hold my hands up and say I got the Vlaar thing wrong. At the start of the season I said that he would be a crucial player in us staying in the league.  I was wrong.  He has had another very injury prone season and when he has played again has looked very hit and miss which kind of sums up his time at Villa.  He is still a good player, but just hasn't done for us consistent enough.  I think its time to cut our loses.

As for next week I can see a case for playing him just because of his experience and because on his down he can produce in a way maybe some of our other players can't, but on his recent form I don't know if it would be a deserved start.

[Matt Collins]

I'd definitely play vlaar. He's a big game player.

[dekko]

He's still our best (fit) defender.

[mike]

Rarely has an epithet been so inaccurate. Or maybe it was meant to be ironic and we all missed the Dutch humour.

[passitsideways]

Maybe they were referring to his brain.

All jokes aside, I think the nickname's fair enough given the sort of mental toughness I reckon it would take to come back from essentially consecutive knee ligament tears.

[ROBBO]

Vlaars hardly been fully fit all season and i reckon he's still carrying an injury, we never get to hear about it until well after the event.

[Matt Collins]

Sherwood has already said he's carrying an injury, as is okore

To say it's a concern ahead of Walcott, ozil and Sanchez would be an understatement

[Villafirst]

Sherwood has already said he's carrying an injury, as is okore

To say it's a concern ahead of Walcott, ozil and Sanchez would be an understatement

Why on earth didn't Sherwood rest him ahead of the Final?? Senderos could've payed surely? He wasn't even on the bench. Is he part of a new 'bomb' squad with Gil??

[adrenachrome]

From an article in the Birmingham Mail:

“He (Okore) really has gritted his teeth and got us over the line in the Premier League because he thought that was the priority.

“He is not thinking about himself. His performances, particularly with this injury considered, have been excellent.

“I think him and Ron (Vlaar) have been quality. The fans don’t see that side. The guys know they are putting themselves on offer.

“They are going in trying to do their job having at times only been able to train once a week, especially when you need to be switched on and fit, so I think they have done brilliantly.”

Vlaar is another player who is sticking to a light workload.

Sherwood knows the Dutchman is experienced enough to manage his own body but cut down his training time himself to improve his low appearance record.

[ozzjim]

Sherwood has already said he's carrying an injury, as is okore

To say it's a concern ahead of Walcott, ozil and Sanchez would be an understatement

Why on earth didn't Sherwood rest him ahead of the Final?? Senderos could've payed surely? He wasn't even on the bench. Is he part of a new 'bomb' squad with Gil??

I read that Lowton, Gil and Senderos had knocks and were not available to play. So already down to 2 defenders essentially, there was not much choice.