Ongoing Defensive Frailties

[SoccerHQ]

Knight better really? You'll be rating Curtis Davies higher next....

[warleyboy]

I think Clark and perhaps vlaar have one more year to prove themselves. But a more ruthless manager might have decided to ship both.

My praise for Pubehead is as rare as us keeping a clean sheet but at least when he realised he'd bought rubbish, he had the common sense and balls (plus money) to replace them. I do wonder if Lambert is too stubborn to replace one of his purchases.

Can somebody confirm if Vlaar is a left or right sided central defender as I'm half sure he prefers the left but was pushed over to the right side to accommodate either Clark or Bennett due to Dunne's injury. Hopefully the right sided Jores can allow Marshmellow Ron to return to his favourite side. Even then I'm still not convinced he's good enough, he's too much of a passenger when what we need is a leader.

Soccer Wiki sez Ron's preferred foot is the right one' Rudy.

We're buggered then. Hang on, that Soccer Wiki also says he has Aerial Ability. What am I to believe?

His window cleaning business !!! 

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think if we kept Collins and Dunne last season and there is no attitude/fitness problems we will do even better last season. But that would be interesting question to be answered.

[warleyboy]

I think if we kept Collins and Dunne last season and there is no attitude/fitness problems we will do even better last season. But that would be interesting question to be answered.

Not so sure about that salsa, I think dunne has seen his best days, Collins may have been a better shout.
Maybe we should never have let Cahill go.
He would do a quality job for us

[Matt Collins]

Vlaar is obviously right footed. Whether he prefers the right or left side of the defence I'm less sure, but I wouldn't see it as an excuse

Looking at the Luton goal again I think it was Clark's fault, it should have been vlaar's ball. Though perhaps there was a communication failure

[Dante Lavelli]

There was an occasion last year where (I think) baker spooned one into his own net. Across came vlaar, literally picking Baker up off the floor and patted him on the back. The goal was a complete fuck up but vlaar's actions were immense.

I suspect that vlaar, whilst maybe not the footballer we'd hoped for, is a good guy to have around, someone who improves the players around him. Basically the sort of player Lanbert appears to like. And personally give me that anyday over the likes of Collins who might make marginally less mistakes but never seemed bothered about the club of the player's well being.

[Ads]

That was Reading.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Yeah Vlaar has some great leadership qualities. I also dont think its coincidence that we reduced our "oh my god my balls have gone up through my body to my mouth" defensive moments when he returned from injury.

Our defence certainly was not concrete with him in it, but it went from half open flappy curtains to venetian blinds.

[warleyboy]

Would be nice to see Okore come into the side and get a few clean sheets, the team, fans need a morale booster.
I think everybody realises we can attack very well, and our counter attack is tremendous with strength and pace, probably the best in the prem.
Once the team realise we are hard to break down as well, I believe we could have an almighty season, but this defense has to act and act now.
At no cost does the opposition score....So that means Crewe 0... Starting tonight...UTV

[supertom]

Knight better really? You'll be rating Curtis Davies higher next....

When he had Laursen by his side, yes. That said, Vlaar would look a lot better with Laursen by his side.
What we still need is that level of quality of defender who can come within sniffing distance of Olof and Martin. Dunney did in his first season. Vlaar is way off.

Zat Knight was good in the air too and actually despite being bought as a back up I thought he proved good value in the end. Some important goals, and some surprisingly dominent games. The odd howler I grant you, but less regularity than the Concrete gentleman.

[tomd2103]

Not sure I agree with some of the criticism of Vlaar really.  We looked much better at the back when he came back into the side after his injury, even though we were still gifting teams goals at times.  He reminds a bit of Cuellar (he's much better on the ball than Carlos) in that he isn't really a dominant type of CB and would look better playing alongside that type of player. 

[PaulWinch again]

Vlaar massively helped the composure of our side on the whole at the end of last season. He makes errors, but his leadership is vital.

[bobdylan]

I rate Vlaar more highly than Clark and Baker, although I would say Baker is not far behind Vlaar.  I agree with the comparison to Cuellar, even Mellberg wasn't hugely dominant in the air and relied on his partner be it Knight or Laursen to deal with most of the high stuff.  I think Vlaar and Okore could be very good and Baker alongside either ought to be ok as an alternative especially with an apparent upgrade on Bennett at left back and the form of Sylla, Westwood and Delph in front, plus Bacuna for further steel in front of the defence.  A right back who can cover centre half to replace the rash Herd and I'd be happy enough with our squad's defensive options.

[Dante Lavelli]

Vlaar massively helped the composure of our side on the whole at the end of last season. He makes errors, but his leadership is vital.

I think that's fair.

Not sure that we need a "get it away!" Type headering beast back there either as there's probably only a handful of clubs which have a lump up front nowadays. As long as there is enough height throughout the side to deal with corners then vlaar/Clark should be big enough.

[warleyboy]

Gents, anyone at the game last night let us know whether there were any improvements, or was it just a case of them not getting into he last third due to our attacking threat