Ongoing Defensive Frailties

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Clark won't go out on loan in the Championship now. He's got PL experience and is considered "experienced" and has proved it from time to time. Prone to blunders now and again that he needs to sort out.
TBH I think Vlaar, Baker & Okore will form the central defensive unit and we may see Clarky moving on next year.
He's a great footballer but perhaps not quite suited to the way they play things in the Prem. A bit too risky?

[tomd2103]

Clark won't go out on loan in the Championship now. He's got PL experience and is considered "experienced" and has proved it from time to time. Prone to blunders now and again that he needs to sort out.
TBH I think Vlaar, Baker & Okore will form the central defensive unit and we may see Clarky moving on next year.
He's a great footballer but perhaps not quite suited to the way they play things in the Prem. A bit too risky?

I think it is still very questionable whether Clark (and Baker for that matter) is a Premiership quality defender at this point.  He still struggles with the physical side of the game, something a spell in the Championship might help him with.  Lambert seems to rate him though and it seems like he is very much in his squad plans for the season.  I just hope we don't end up having to rely on him and Baker again too much this time round.   

[Malandro]

Clark has calamity written all over him. Baker, although rash at the moment. hopefully will improve. (I hope Clark does too, just don't see it)

[Olof's Beard]

Clark is two months younger than Bale.  I know defenders probably mature at a slightly older age but I have run out of patience with him to be honest.  I want him to do well but the fact is that when he is in the team I don't feel comfortable about his presence.  He was better off in midfield I think but Baker is the better defensive prospect.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Baker is a better defender than Clark. But is injury prone and I am still hoping PL will invest in a CB who is dominant in the aerial battles as Vlaar is suspect and unpredictable. Would also like a proper DM to protect the defence. Okore has the pace we have lacked and will be a big improvement ......

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I hope when the season actually starts, fans will be supportive of Clark and not get on his back from the first minute, waiting for a mistake. The lad is still learning and as a centre half it will take time, it's not like Bale or any other attacking player, if that were the case we could all have a go at Weimann for the sitters he misses.

The same goes for Joe Bennett and Marc Albrighton. In Bennett's case he showed signs of improving towards the end of last season. Albrighton we already know he can produce but injury hasn't helped him. Confidence is key to these young lads, as it is with the rest of our squad, so I'd hope we support the lads and save our moans for the tossers that don't put the effort in.

It's going to be a long season and we need all the squad to be ready to step up when called upon, both physically and mentally.

[PaulWinch again]

Bennett improved a lot last year, and I think he'll come good.

[fredm]

Baker is a better defender than Clark. But is injury prone and I am still hoping PL will invest in a CB who is dominant in the aerial battles as Vlaar is suspect and unpredictable. Would also like a proper DM to protect the defence. Okore has the pace we have lacked and will be a big improvement ......

Baker seemed to be taking the "attack the ball in the air" position with Vlaar sweeping up on a few occasions in pre season. Maybe this is what they have worked out, if so I think it suits Baker as he likes to get stuck in as opposed to standing off.

[Dante Lavelli]

Bale was also moved from defence as the position(s) demand greater tactical know how than (even) he could muster. We all know how it turned out but at the time I'm pretty sure harry thought of it as a temporary switch.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Baker is a better defender than Clark. But is injury prone and I am still hoping PL will invest in a CB who is dominant in the aerial battles as Vlaar is suspect and unpredictable. Would also like a proper DM to protect the defence. Okore has the pace we have lacked and will be a big improvement ......

Baker seemed to be taking the "attack the ball in the air" position with Vlaar sweeping up on a few occasions in pre season. Maybe this is what they have worked out, if so I think it suits Baker as he likes to get stuck in as opposed to standing off.

If Baker is going to be the aerial power then surely Okore will be the one to sweep up. Okore`s distribution is very good plus he has serious pace ??

[fredm]

You maybe right. Personally do not think Vlaar is particularly good in the air, don't know about Okore yet.

[Matt Collins]

We fielded what might be our first choice back 5 on saturday. I know we left them exposed with our midfield, but even so I wasn't left feeling reassured.

I thought vlaar was ropey in the first half before getting better. Both full backs were too easy to beat one on one. And the diagonal run from our left to right, with a ball over the top, got us into trouble several times in the second half.

It's just not organised enough and unless it improves its very hard to see us getting near the top half I think.

Very happy with the rest of the side, so it'd be a real shame if this continues to be our Achilles heel.

[supertom]

Vlaar is our biggest issue. He's supposed to be the main man, the experienced lynch pin, the skipper, the big daddy...but he's bobbins. I think he may score a few impressive goals to mask some of his defensive inadequacies, but he's just not good enough. Not very quick, not very good in the air and positionally suspect.

I actually think the fact Clark and Baker haven't had a sort of Laursen figure has hindered them. Particularly in Clark's case, he needed a leader and an organiser next to him to keep him in tow. Curtis Davies looked twice the player with Laursen as he did without. When Mart had his final injury, Davies was never the same and of course he dropped a league then after, before now coming back. Clarks got too many concentration issues and positional problems. He needs to improve his physical stature, but that can be rectified. The more mental aspects of being a top defender can be greatly helped by spending 30 games alongside someone who knows what they're doing. 

This is why, for me, Vlaar has been the one real clanger thus far in Lambert's signings. He was always meant to be the main man in he middle. Dunney was largely irrelivant and never in PL's long term plans realistically (not least because he's clearly a busted flush). Blamanche Ron has to drastically improve. Not just his own game, but the way in which he keeps the younger lads in line. My worry at the minute is that he's focused on what he's doing, but he's still making errors left, right and center. Again though, the biggest issue is that he's poor aerially.

[tomd2103]

Vlaar is our biggest issue. He's supposed to be the main man, the experienced lynch pin, the skipper, the big daddy...but he's bobbins. I think he may score a few impressive goals to mask some of his defensive inadequacies, but he's just not good enough. Not very quick, not very good in the air and positionally suspect.

I actually think the fact Clark and Baker haven't had a sort of Laursen figure has hindered them. Particularly in Clark's case, he needed a leader and an organiser next to him to keep him in tow. Curtis Davies looked twice the player with Laursen as he did without. When Mart had his final injury, Davies was never the same and of course he dropped a league then after, before now coming back. Clarks got too many concentration issues and positional problems. He needs to improve his physical stature, but that can be rectified. The more mental aspects of being a top defender can be greatly helped by spending 30 games alongside someone who knows what they're doing. 

This is why, for me, Vlaar has been the one real clanger thus far in Lambert's signings. He was always meant to be the main man in he middle. Dunney was largely irrelivant and never in PL's long term plans realistically (not least because he's clearly a busted flush). Blamanche Ron has to drastically improve. Not just his own game, but the way in which he keeps the younger lads in line. My worry at the minute is that he's focused on what he's doing, but he's still making errors left, right and center. Again though, the biggest issue is that he's poor aerially.

Think that is a little harsh on Vlaar, but I do share some of your concerns about him.  He didn't look too comfortable at  left sided CB yesterday and players got in between him and Luna on a number of occasions, including the time when I thought he actually fouled their forward inside the box just as he was about to shoot.  Okore looked solid, but again doesn't look too great in the air.

[supertom]

For me I'd like to see Baker alongside Okore. Give them a run of games and see how it works out. It's the best balance of pace, power and aerial ability as a pairing. Oh and a righty and a lefty.