Philippe Senderos

[supertom]

This worries me:

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/11234/Show/Philippe-Senderos

Philippe Senderos' Characteristics
+ Strengths
(Player has no significant strengths)
- Weaknesses
Aerial Duels
Weak
Tackling
Weak
Philippe Senderos's Style of Play
Likes to play short passes
Does not dive into tackles

I would have thought "does not dive into tackles" would be more of a strength than a weakness for a central defender to be honest.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

That's just the formatting from the copy + paste.  That last section is just his "style of play", and not necessarily strengths or weaknesses.

[peter w]

Senderos was a regular part of a Fulham defence that conceded even more goals than we did last season. That worries me.

Slap.
Comments like that are not welcomed. Please think of something positive about Swiss Phil and post that.

Senderos was part of the Valencia tram that finished 8th in La Liga and were semi-finalists in the Europa League?

[supertom]

That's just the formatting from the copy + paste.  That last section is just his "style of play", and not necessarily strengths or weaknesses.

Oh I get you. I thought they'd actually listed one of Senderos's key weaknesses as "plays like Philippe Senderos." Ha ha.

[Toronto Villa]

It'll be ace if we ever get round to signing players who can be considered starters for us.

It'll be just like old times, when they use to wheel out that "proud history" bullshit, when we used to show a bit of ambition, before it all got so unambitious and embarassing that they wouldn't even have the balls to roll out something like that any more.

Is it no longer possible for the club to buy squad players without people becoming angry about it? Every single Villa fan and their mum knows we need 4 or 5 starters, but it isn't the end of the world if we buy better depth than we have currently at the club. Senderos joining didn't send extra blood into my pants either but the way some are going on it's August 31st and the signing is a sure sign of the arrival of the Four Horseman Of the Apocalypse.

[silhillvilla]

What's that rumbling of hooves I can hear approaching ?

[john e]

I doubt he has been brought in to be a starter with us.

I honestly don't know, I suppose as always it will depend on how he performs

but if we are signing Centre Halfs who are considered behind Baker and Clark in the pecking order then you have to ask the question , why

[paul_e]

This worries me:

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/11234/Show/Philippe-Senderos

Philippe Senderos' Characteristics
+ Strengths
(Player has no significant strengths)
- Weaknesses
Aerial Duels
Weak
Tackling
Weak
Philippe Senderos's Style of Play
Likes to play short passes
Does not dive into tackles

In the name of balance, from the same site:

Nathan Baker's Characteristics

+ Strengths
Aerial Duels
Strong
Blocking the ball
Strong

- Weaknesses
Passing
Weak
Concentration
Weak


Ciaran Clark's Characteristics

+ Strengths
Crossing
Strong
Blocking the ball
Strong

- Weaknesses
Holding on to the ball
Weak
Passing
Weak
Discipline
Weak

They're the guys he's competing against in the squad, I'd say the 'passing' weakness for both of them and the 'concentration' weakness for Baker and 'Discipline' weakness for Clark sum up why we've had the number of defensive issues we have.

Just to round things out fully:

Ron Vlaar's Characteristics

+ Strengths
Tackling
Strong
Concentration
Strong

- Weaknesses
Aerial Duels
Weak
Passing
Weak

That'll be another one with a black mark against his passing, which actually makes me think the passing issue might be a team/tactical problem more than an individual one, except in Baker's case at least.

[supertom]

The funny thing with Vlaar is, put him in the Dutch side and his passing looks a lot better. In the Villa side of course, the movement in front of him is non-existent and it also seems to be a pre-requisite for us to hoof the ball up to whoever is playing up front. Likewise Clark's passing hasn't always been a weakness but he's turned into a hoof specialist in recent years too.

[paul_e]

The funny thing with Vlaar is, put him in the Dutch side and his passing looks a lot better. In the Villa side of course, the movement in front of him is non-existent and it also seems to be a pre-requisite for us to hoof the ball up to whoever is playing up front. Likewise Clark's passing hasn't always been a weakness but he's turned into a hoof specialist in recent years too.

That's why I think it's a tactical thing that's caused it.  Baker is genuinely a poor passer, he always has been, but those poor passing flags have only appeared by Clark and Vlaar in the last 6 months.

I'm not sure if it's a lack of movement as such, Westwood is pretty good at making himself available for the defenders, it's the sheer percentage of hoofballs they were launching.

From the same site:
Vlaar attempted 220 longballs (in 32 games) and 114 were accurate (just under 52%)
Clark attempted 142 longballs (in 23 starts and 4 sub appearances) and 60 were accurate (just over 42%)
Baker attempted 79 longballs (in 29 starts and 1 sub appearance) and 34 were accurate (just over 43%)

Oddly Baker has a lot less, which makes the fact that his overall pass success rate is lower than the others all the more damning.

[Gregorys Boy]

It'll be ace if we ever get round to signing players who can be considered starters for us.

It'll be just like old times, when they use to wheel out that "proud history" bullshit, when we used to show a bit of ambition, before it all got so unambitious and embarassing that they wouldn't even have the balls to roll out something like that any more.

Is it no longer possible for the club to buy squad players without people becoming angry about it? Every single Villa fan and their mum knows we need 4 or 5 starters, but it isn't the end of the world if we buy better depth than we have currently at the club. Senderos joining didn't send extra blood into my pants either but the way some are going on it's August 31st and the signing is a sure sign of the arrival of the Four Horseman Of the Apocalypse.

Well like you I am bored about all this pointless debate, but I have one question what makes you think he is a squad player?  Whose to say than Lambert hasn't thought we need another experience central back to play with Vlaar and Senderos is that man?  If he is a squad player then it is a bit more acceptable I will grant you.

[silhillvilla]

Be interesting to see how the defence lines up at Stoke now we have Swiss Phil, Alan done his time Hutton, Roncrete, Okore fit , Lowton , Bennett, Baker, Luna , Clark. Lots of options

[Chico Hamilton III]

Be interesting to see how the defence lines up at Stoke now we have Swiss Phil, Alan done his time Hutton, Roncrete, Okore fit , Lowton , Bennett, Baker, Luna , Clark. Lots of options

Just looking at most of those names brings me out in a nervous rash

[Gregorys Boy]

Well at least Hutton will be able to kick lumps out of them

[silhillvilla]

Be interesting to see how the defence lines up at Stoke now we have Swiss Phil, Alan done his time Hutton, Roncrete, Okore fit , Lowton , Bennett, Baker, Luna , Clark. Lots of options

Just looking at most of those names brings me out in a nervous rash

Guess it's a bit like having a collection of bad cars.