Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[RussellC]

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

I thought Hummels looked a bit suspect in the final, and Messi exposed his lack of pace a couple of times. Compared to how Vlaar handled him in the semi-finals I wouldn't say there was much, if anything, between them.

That's just one game. Hummels had a better tournament than Vlaar.

It was just one game, but it was the only one where both centre-backs in question came-up against the same team and therefore a good way to compare them.

According to Fifa's official stats, Vlaar played a full 181 minutes more than Hummels (!), won more tackles, made the same amount of blocks and had a better pass completion percentage (83.2% to 81.4%). In fact, it's only really Hummels' 2 goals that trumps Vlaar anywhere on that list.

[Clampy]

If you were naming your team of the tournament, Vlaar and Hummels would possibly be most people's centre backs, although apparently somehow Luiz got chosen in the official one I think.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Best centre back at the World Cup? I can only assume you didn't actually watch it, as Mats Hummels was easily the best CB there.

I thought Hummels looked a bit suspect in the final, and Messi exposed his lack of pace a couple of times. Compared to how Vlaar handled him in the semi-finals I wouldn't say there was much, if anything, between them.

That's just one game. Hummels had a better tournament than Vlaar.

I wonder if you would be saying that if he wasn't a Villa player? For some people nowadays it has become quite fashionable to find new ways to bash our own.

You say stuff like this all the time. It is okay for Villa fans to criticise our players/manager!!!

I wasn't doing that anyway. He had a decent World Cup, just wasn't the best CB like some suggested.

[PaulWinch again]

'Had a decent World Cup'? No he had an excellent World Cup and was comfortably one of the best centre halves at the tournament.

[RussellC]

If you were naming your team of the tournament, Vlaar and Hummels would possibly be most people's centre backs, although apparently somehow Luiz got chosen in the official one I think.

Not one of the ITV pundits chose him in their teams either, most opting for Gonzalez of Costa Rica alongside Hummels. The BBC had him down as "just missed out" in their XI. Strange, when you think that Messi was in practically everyone's team and the job that Vlaar did on him.

[Gregorys Boy]

I am going to settle for he had a good World Cup, you know like Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion was a good film, no need to go over the top about these things

[Ian.]

Ron Vlarr was easily the one of the best centre backs and most consistent at the World Cup and I for one was proud he is ours. Credit where credit is due to Ron and Lambert for bringing him to the club.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Ron had a great WC - looked caught out for pace a couple of times but his defensive stance, tackling and distribution were excellent.
As I said somewhere before, having strong players around you helps to make you more effective as a player and this was clearly the case with Ron. I look forward to him teaming up with Okore again and hope that both can stay injury free. If so I reckon we've got a really strong CB pairing.

But, we still need to strengthen midfield Mr Lambert!!! Or Ron and Okore are gonna be massively overworked!
UTV!

[brian green]

For my four pennyworth, I thought Ron's first twenty minutes against Spain and a goal down was one of the best blood and guts performances of a centre half I have ever seen.

[RussellC]

Ron had a great WC - looked caught out for pace a couple of times

Au contraire sir!

http://www.thescore.com/news/535636

[edgysatsuma89]

Has anyone got a link to the 'official' team of the world cup. I looked previously but couldn't find it. Luiz can't be in it. Surely.

[Toronto Villa]

Ron had a great WC - looked caught out for pace a couple of times

Au contraire sir!

http://www.thescore.com/news/535636

Ron Vlaar vs Eden Hazard... superb stuff

[mr underhill]

the best CB in the WC bar none

[LeeB]

the best CB in the WC bar none

In the toilet?

[mr underhill]

quite possibly