Jores Okore

[PeterWithesShin]

when Okore first joined he played with Vlaar despite them being both right footed. Yes, balance comes into it as does chemistry. However one is a young and very promising CB, the other a very experienced CB and captain of the club. And two right players works if the understanding is correct. There are examples everywhere today where it works, and some of our own best CB pairings over the years have been 2, even 3 right footed players playing perfectly well together.

They only started 3 games together so we still don't know how well they work together long term. And as has been said, some players don't like playing on the 'wrong' side of a partnership. I read the Clarke Carlisle book recently and in one part he mentioned he had to play the wrong side and he had zero confidence in himself there. He didn't feel comfortable knowing positioning, using his wrong foot etc.

[Toronto Villa]

when Okore first joined he played with Vlaar despite them being both right footed. Yes, balance comes into it as does chemistry. However one is a young and very promising CB, the other a very experienced CB and captain of the club. And two right players works if the understanding is correct. There are examples everywhere today where it works, and some of our own best CB pairings over the years have been 2, even 3 right footed players playing perfectly well together.

They only started 3 games together so we still don't know how well they work together long term. And as has been said, some players don't like playing on the 'wrong' side of a partnership. I read the Clarke Carlisle book recently and in one part he mentioned he had to play the wrong side and he had zero confidence in himself there. He didn't feel comfortable knowing positioning, using his wrong foot etc.

We don't know whether it will work or now either way because of the sample size. And yes, Clark and Okore has worked well. But not wishing to dismiss Clarke Carlisle, we are talking Clarke Carlisle vs Ron Vlaar, or the many other players who are right footed and play on the left without issue. Some players can't make it work, others make it look it look easy.

[PeterWithesShin]

It is only Clarke Carlisle, but he was only facing 3rd or 4th division attackers not Rooney, RVP, Bony etc, and had still been a pro for 15 years. The point is more confidence in playing the position, we can be flakey enough as it is in defence without potentially adding another issue. I'd stick with Clark and Okore for 2 reasons, 1) I don't like dropping players who are playing well and 2) I doubt many of us expect to see Vlaar in a Villa shirt after the summer, so let's build a partnership with players who will be here (hopefully) and are playing well together.

[Shrek]

For me I would never start Vlaar again, unless there is an injury or a big change in Clark and Okores form.

Clark and Okore are now our first choice centre backs in my eyes. And j never thought Clark had it, but they compliment each other very well.

Cash in on Vlaar.

[Dave]

I'd be inclined to agree. If he doesn't look like he wants to stay then we should be looking to get a few million out of somebody desperate in January.

If the other defenders were looking like a catastrophe in waiting then that changes things, as there would be no point leaving him out to the detriment of the team. But if we have players who are likely to stay with us performing well then it makes sense to keep it going.

[supertom]

Jores is really looking the part now. I really like him. He's so quick and he's got a bit of nous too. He knows how to defend and he's not just using his pace to get him out of trouble like a Micah Richards would do for example.
Looks another of Lamberts better signings and certainly it eases the pressure with the inevitable departure of Ron.
Likewise Clarky was superb again today.

[pauliewalnuts]

Only a few matches, but Okore looks highly impressive. Not only that, he seems to have formed a partnership with Clark.

If Vlaar left, I'd be disappointed in as much as it'd be a player leaving on his terms rather than ours, which always irritates me, and happens too often, but I wouldn't be massively bothered squad-wise.

[supertom]

Every now and again there's a little flash of God in Okore. Hopefully he carries his form on all season. If he did he'd end up possibly being a good shout for POTY.

[Steve67]

He reminds me of Paul Parker. Another good little player.

[Mister E]

Only a few matches, but Okore looks highly impressive. Not only that, he seems to have formed a partnership with Clark.

If Vlaar left, I'd be disappointed in as much as it'd be a player leaving on his terms rather than ours, which always irritates me, and happens too often, but I wouldn't be massively bothered squad-wise.

R5L were raving about Vlaar yesterday, most other media outlets I've heard / watched put Okore forward as the key defender.
We are - bizarrely - replete with CB right now after these last few seasons.

[Matt Collins]

when Okore first joined he played with Vlaar despite them being both right footed. Yes, balance comes into it as does chemistry. However one is a young and very promising CB, the other a very experienced CB and captain of the club. And two right players works if the understanding is correct. There are examples everywhere today where it works, and some of our own best CB pairings over the years have been 2, even 3 right footed players playing perfectly well together.

They only started 3 games together so we still don't know how well they work together long term. And as has been said, some players don't like playing on the 'wrong' side of a partnership. I read the Clarke Carlisle book recently and in one part he mentioned he had to play the wrong side and he had zero confidence in himself there. He didn't feel comfortable knowing positioning, using his wrong foot etc.

We don't know whether it will work or now either way because of the sample size. And yes, Clark and Okore has worked well. But not wishing to dismiss Clarke Carlisle, we are talking Clarke Carlisle vs Ron Vlaar, or the many other players who are right footed and play on the left without issue. Some players can't make it work, others make it look it look easy.

Plenty of right footed players have played left side, including laursen, southgate, dunne, hyppia, vidic

I do think vlaar much prefers right side but I'd think he could do both

[robbo1874]

when Okore first joined he played with Vlaar despite them being both right footed. Yes, balance comes into it as does chemistry. However one is a young and very promising CB, the other a very experienced CB and captain of the club. And two right players works if the understanding is correct. There are examples everywhere today where it works, and some of our own best CB pairings over the years have been 2, even 3 right footed players playing perfectly well together.

They only started 3 games together so we still don't know how well they work together long term. And as has been said, some players don't like playing on the 'wrong' side of a partnership. I read the Clarke Carlisle book recently and in one part he mentioned he had to play the wrong side and he had zero confidence in himself there. He didn't feel comfortable knowing positioning, using his wrong foot etc.

sorry but who is Clark Carlisle? I've never yeard of him

[Toronto Villa]

He reminds me of Paul Parker. Another good little player.

Paul Parker is 5ft 7, Jores Okore is 6ft. Not sure that is a good comparison. Parker is little, Okore isn't.

[Holte L2]

The way Okore runs and composes himself reminds me of Ugo.

[supertom]

He reminds me of Paul Parker. Another good little player.

Paul Parker is 5ft 7, Jores Okore is 6ft. Not sure that is a good comparison. Parker is little, Okore isn't.

It's funny with Jores but he looks a little smaller than that. That said he's still good in the air and he's pretty burly. He's got everything in his locker a top defender needs. And these days there is becoming less need for 6ft 4 center-backs.