Alan McCafu

[PeterWithe]

I like him, he's not great and he'd need replacing if we ever went up but for now he's fine, a good example to the others in terms of making the most of limited talent.

[brontebilly]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

[Witton Warrior]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Agree brontebilly but I give him a lot of credit for not just sinking into the mire along with all lazy bastards as it would have been easy to just give up

[West Derby Villan]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Agree brontebilly but I give him a lot of credit for not just sinking into the mire along with all lazy bastards as it would have been easy to just give up

Agree Witton, he didn't and with his experience with the bomb squad he had every right too

[chrisw1]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Awful is a bit much.  There were many occasions in the dark days he was pretty much out best player.  He has heart & spirit and never say die attitude.  Bear in mind it is always harder when the players around you are shite and you are having to cover for them.  I agree he has limitations and is no Roberto Carlos, but I don't think he is anyway near as bad as some make out.

[Goldie.7]

His attitude and professionalism given how he was treated for two years marks him out from many of his peers.

£30,000+ a week for doing nothing and you'll never hear a peep from me either.

[TheTimVilla]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Awful is a bit much.  There were many occasions in the dark days he was pretty much out best player.  He has heart & spirit and never say die attitude.  Bear in mind it is always harder when the players around you are shite and you are having to cover for them.  I agree he has limitations and is no Roberto Carlos, but I don't think he is anyway near as bad as some make out.

Agreed, he is more of a Cafu. I don't particularly rate him but he's the least worst right back option we have at the moment.

[auntiesledd]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Awful is a bit much.  There were many occasions in the dark days he was pretty much out best player.  He has heart & spirit and never say die attitude.  Bear in mind it is always harder when the players around you are shite and you are having to cover for them.  I agree he has limitations and is no Roberto Carlos, but I don't think he is anyway near as bad as some make out.

Agreed, he is more of a Cafu. I don't particularly rate him but he's the least worst right back option we have at the moment.

Given Amavi & Cissoko's contributions to defensive solidity, he could be in with a shout of being the least worst left-back option we have too!

[The Edge]

Is he really that bad?  He's played in all of the recent improved performances, and the defence as a whole has looked much better.  He's never going to be the best player at the club, but he surely isn't the worst.  Perfectly good enough for this season at least I'd argue.

Look at the error against the blues, look at all the crossing chances where he hits the crowd, watch him in a game and see how often he's standing still whilst his winger spins in behind him.  I agree he may not be the worst player at the club but he's only a couple of steps away from it at his very best.

Agreed he is an awful footballer and has been for years. Trying hard and being fit should be taken as a basic requirement of any player at the club.

Awful is a bit much.  There were many occasions in the dark days he was pretty much out best player.  He has heart & spirit and never say die attitude.  Bear in mind it is always harder when the players around you are shite and you are having to cover for them.  I agree he has limitations and is no Roberto Carlos, but I don't think he is anyway near as bad as some make out.

Agreed, he is more of a Cafu. I don't particularly rate him but he's the least worst right back option we have at the moment.

Given Amavi & Cissoko's contributions to defensive solidity, he could be in with a shout of being the least worst left-back option we have too!

Speaking of which. What the hell has happened to Amavi? He just doesn't look the part this season. Had high hopes for him too.

[old man villa fan]

I still think he flatters to deceive and gets favourable support because of a seemingly good attitude.  For a player that Spurs paid £9m for and the level he achieved earlier in his career, why has ended up playing like he does.  Perhaps his attitude to the game is not that good and that is why his career has tailed off dramatically. Granted, he doesn't show the disregard for the club and supporters that others have shown but attitude can be measured in different ways.

[achilles]

I feel that Hutton comes in for a lot of unfair criticism, on Saturday I thought he was superb except for his crossing which was too 'floaty' for my liking but it is very difficult when Villa weren't playing with a centre froward and we all know our midfield players get a nose bleed if they enter the penalty area. McCormack and Kodjia aren't players that actually attack crosses they tend to pounce on defensive mistakes.

On the issue of crosses what about Amavi in the first half, does brilliantly to actually get to the byline and then with all the time in the world, as the Blackburn players were appealing for the ball having gone out for a throw in, proceeds to pass the ball to a Blackburn player! If that had been Hutton he would have been vilified but as far as I can tell nobody has mentioned this incident.   

[JB1811]

Is De Laet that much of an improvement really? It seems like a lot of money for not a great deal of improvement in the grans scheme of things...sometimes I honestly suspected it was just Hutton in a wig.

[eamonn]

How much was De Laet?

[cheltenhamlion]

I will tell you what is a miss. De Laet has a fucking huge throw in in his locker.

[aj2k77]

How much was De Laet?

£2.5m or thereabouts?