Jores Okore

[Jarpie]

Easily could be this season's "Benteke", he's been good in both games and can see him keeping the spot in the starting eleven even when Clark and Baker will be back in full fitness.

[PeterWithesShin]

Easily could be this season's "Benteke", he's been good in both games and can see him keeping the spot in the starting eleven even when Clark and Baker will be back in full fitness.

I said to Legion during the game last night that Okore was like having a Benteke in defence. There is just something about him that instils confidence.

[OCD]

There was at least one occasion where Vlaar took too long on the ball and Okore got him out of trouble. Vlaar's looked better so far and part of that might be having a partner who has the anticipation and pace to get him out of trouble.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

But for a few wayward passes (which a better team might have punished us for) I thought he had a cracking game and looks the business.
Still looks a tiny bit shaky but the extra game time will have helped and I would have thought he'd be one of the first names on Mr Lambert's team sheet.

[claretandbeer]

Not a good defender,not a very good defender but simply a great defender already.What a signing.Defensive frailties,so last season. I now expect/demand that Lambert signs a world class midfielder .

[Dante Lavelli]

But for a few wayward passes (which a better team might have punished us for) I thought he had a cracking game and looks the business.
Still looks a tiny bit shaky but the extra game time will have helped and I would have thought he'd be one of the first names on Mr Lambert's team sheet.

Didn't see the game on Wednesday so did not see the wayward passes however from that youtube complilation of Okore (v Chelsea) it was his passing that impressed me most.  I certinaly wouldn't want to discourage him trying to pass.  Hopefully it's just a case of the midfield getting used to his vision and anticipating where to move accordingly.  I can certainly see Westwood and Delph getting very used to dropping deep to pick up his passes as they're both comfortable picking up passes in tight situations (meaning there must be space elsewhere).

[PaulWinch again]

I think Vlaar and Okore will be a lot better partnership. Okore is a much more natural defender, but Vlaar offers leadership to the side which is really important.

[Jarpie]

Vlaar has been better now that he doesn't feel the need to look over his shoulder all the time.

[PaulWinch again]

If it's true he's done his cruciate we are in serious trouble. Not only does he look like our best centre half by a distance, he also makes Vlaar better when he plays next to him. A sustained period of Clark or Baker and we're in big trouble. Baker is also made of glass in any case.

[rob_bridge]

If it's true he's done his cruciate we are in serious trouble. Not only does he look like our best centre half by a distance, he also makes Vlaar better when he plays next to him. A sustained period of Clark or Baker and we're in big trouble. Baker is also made of glass in any case.

Completely agree - one lets the oppositon score whilst the other scores for the opposition.

Are there any free agents worth looking at?

[saunders_heroes]

If it's true he's done his cruciate we are in serious trouble. Not only does he look like our best centre half by a distance, he also makes Vlaar better when he plays next to him. A sustained period of Clark or Baker and we're in big trouble. Baker is also made of glass in any case.

Completely agree - one lets the oppositon score whilst the other scores for the opposition.

Are there any free agents worth looking at?

Lambert fucked up bit style not strengthening the defence adequately. Two centre backs should have been signed, at least. If we go into the next few months with just Vlaar and Clark/Baker at the back we could well be in deep trouble again.

[Monty]

If it's true he's done his cruciate we are in serious trouble. Not only does he look like our best centre half by a distance, he also makes Vlaar better when he plays next to him. A sustained period of Clark or Baker and we're in big trouble. Baker is also made of glass in any case.

Completely agree - one lets the oppositon score whilst the other scores for the opposition.

Are there any free agents worth looking at?

Lambert fucked up bit style not strengthening the defence adequately. Two centre backs should have been signed, at least. If we go into the next few months with just Vlaar and Clark/Baker at the back we could well be in deep trouble again.

A cruciate ligament injury to the best signing is really unlucky though. If any of the other defenders gets that injury it doesn't look so bad, but Okore getting it is bad luck.

However, it's debatable whether he should have spent that £7m on the defence or the midfield. What's not debatable is that he's wasted it on a big man striker when that really was the lowest priority in the team.

[saunders_heroes]

If it's true he's done his cruciate we are in serious trouble. Not only does he look like our best centre half by a distance, he also makes Vlaar better when he plays next to him. A sustained period of Clark or Baker and we're in big trouble. Baker is also made of glass in any case.

Completely agree - one lets the oppositon score whilst the other scores for the opposition.

Are there any free agents worth looking at?

Lambert fucked up bit style not strengthening the defence adequately. Two centre backs should have been signed, at least. If we go into the next few months with just Vlaar and Clark/Baker at the back we could well be in deep trouble again.

A cruciate ligament injury to the best signing is really unlucky though. If any of the other defenders gets that injury it doesn't look so bad, but Okore getting it is bad luck.

However, it's debatable whether he should have spent that £7m on the defence or the midfield. What's not debatable is that he's wasted it on a big man striker when that really was the lowest priority in the team.

Don't know why he has so much faith in our defence considering how many times they fucked up last season, so I find it just bizarre why he spent £7m on a striker when he could have shored up the shoddy back 4 or spent it on a midfield playmaker. I just don't understand Paul Lambert.

[CJ]

Where is it reported he's done his cruciate?

[ozzjim]

With Lowton struggling for form a bit too, it makes not signing a right sided centre back that could play right back too a very big miss.

6 months out for Okore would be about as big a blow as I could imagine after losing Benteke.

Very, very unlucky though Lambert so far this season. Should have got points at Chelsea, and then to lost Okore would be a horror show. Got his tactics really woefully wrong on Saturday. Frustrating times. It all looked so rosy after the Arsenal game too!