Jores Okore

[Ron Manager]

I think Okore,from what we have seen so far, is going to be as good as we hoped he would.

[tomd2103]

Alan smith was blaming him for the goal, saying he'd tracked Sturridge wide and then let him wonder into the box without tracking him. I don't agree though, I think you'd generally expect to get back into shape and the nearest man should pick him up.

I think it was just a brilliant goal.

Some papers blaming him for losing Sturridge as well.  Like you, I disagree with that as he forced Sturridge back and then got back into shape.  If anyone let him go it was Delph.

[ozzjim]

I though Vlaar was sold a dummy completely by coutinho thus pulling him out of the position that Sturridge went into personally. He was left centre backs issue by the time he got the ball and Vlaar was ball missing/ watching!

[Monty]

They might have done better, but I think it's one of those goals that, if we'd scored it, we wouldn't be saying 'thank god for their defensive mistake' - we'd be going on about how great a goal it was.

[ChicagoLion]

Alan smith was blaming him for the goal, saying he'd tracked Sturridge wide and then let him wonder into the box without tracking him. I don't agree though, I think you'd generally expect to get back into shape and the nearest man should pick him up.

I think it was just a brilliant goal.

Some papers blaming him for losing Sturridge as well.  Like you, I disagree with that as he forced Sturridge back and then got back into shape.  If anyone let him go it was Delph.

I agree with the criticism, he turned his back on Sturidge so he had no idea what was going on as he was facing the wrong way, it was a moments lapse of concentration but it did cost us the match.

[Chris Smith]

They might have done better, but I think it's one of those goals that, if we'd scored it, we wouldn't be saying 'thank god for their defensive mistake' - we'd be going on about how great a goal it was.

Exactly my take on it.

[Toronto Villa]

I though Vlaar was sold a dummy completely by coutinho thus pulling him out of the position that Sturridge went into personally. He was left centre backs issue by the time he got the ball and Vlaar was ball missing/ watching!

I think that's a bit harsh Ozz. It was a goal scored by two excellent footballers combining in a very tight space and very skillfully. Sometimes it's just better to acknowledge that. I would say so far, having played three teams that will all be top six by the end or close enough, we've not embarrassed ourselves at all defensively.

[Ad@m]

I would say so far, having played three teams that will all be top six by the end or close enough, we've not embarrassed ourselves at all defensively.

Exactly.

At the start of the season if anyone had offered me a goal difference of zero after three matches I'd have snapped their hand off.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I thought he looked class yesterday - so calm and composed, on and off the ball. Best of the three new boys who started.

It's obviously early days but on that showing I can see him being better than Vlaar.

Agreed. Without doubt the best signing of the summer based on his performances to date. As you say, the composure and calmness he has in incredible for such a young player. We really have an absolute talent on our hands. I'm sure he'll be the best defender we've had since McGrath, I rate him that highly.

I'd say the the right side centre half role is now his. The left sided centre half shirt is for Vlaar, Baker and Clark to fight over. Vlaar may have looked better yesterday alongside Jores but I'm guessing so would have Baker or Clark.

[SamTheMouse]

I think he's going to be really, really good. He's confident for a young lad, and his defending is aggressive - he seems to spot the threat early and look to deal with it proactively. then when he gets it, his distribution from the back is excellent and he's not afraid to carry the ball into midfield.

He'll be the next Laursen, no doubt about it.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Really happy with Okore. I am not a great Vlaar fan but he looked a lot better with Okore next to him. There is certain confidence with Okore being back there that I have not felt for a long time. His interview on AVTV shows how calm but focused he is on his views ......

[Brazilian Villain]

They might have done better, but I think it's one of those goals that, if we'd scored it, we wouldn't be saying 'thank god for their defensive mistake' - we'd be going on about how great a goal it was.

+1

[DrGonzo]

Has lent strength to a weak defence.  Just the ticket.  Yesterday was the most comfortable I have felt with our back 4 in a goodly while.  I know it's now 2 defeats from 3 but onwards and upwards. 

[Villa in Denmark]

I thought he looked class yesterday - so calm and composed, on and off the ball. Best of the three new boys who started.

It's obviously early days but on that showing I can see him being better than Vlaar.

Agreed. Without doubt the best signing of the summer based on his performances to date. As you say, the composure and calmness he has in incredible for such a young player. We really have an absolute talent on our hands. I'm sure he'll be the best defender we've had since McGrath, I rate him that highly.

I'd say the the right side centre half role is now his. The left sided centre half shirt is for Vlaar, Baker and Clark to fight over. Vlaar may have looked better yesterday alongside Jores but I'm guessing so would have Baker or Clark.

You might be right, FCNs defence has gone to ratshit sinve he left.

I think the defence has generally looked more composed so far this year, there looks to be more cohesion and trust in the back 4.

I think some of Vlaars improvement may be down to trusting his partner more and not keeping half an eye on Bennett at the same time so he's just concentrating on his own game more.  It looked to me that there were signs of improvement with Ron last season as Bennett's defensive form started to improve.

[Villa in Denmark]

Re the goal

I don't think you can blame Okore, he's done his job, shepherding Sturridge away from goal and then dropped back into position so that the back line retained it's shape.

I'm not sure Vlarr had much choice but to step out to Coutinho. How much shit would he have got if he'd given him time to tee up a shot into the top corner by standing off.

Sturridge ran from midfield so he should have been tracked from here, unless Luna had no-one outside of him so he could have come across.

All of this also neglects how much work Sturridge still had to do to get a shot off and put it in the one spot no-one could do anything about.