It's not Sherwood!

[john e]

That Vlaar thing against Stoke is the worst bit of individual defending I think I have ever seen at VP,

when the ball comes to him the fella that scored is a full 10ft away, he miss controls it so badly that the goal scorer makes that space up, then to rub salt into the wound Vlaar to try and rectify his mistake he chops him down in the box

It's a perfect storm ticking all the boxes of shit defending when you also take into consideration the importance of the match and it being in the last minutes

Sunderland last week for Gabby's second was equally unbelievable for a team display of atrocious defending, I don't think I've seen worse both individual and complete back 4 defending and all in the same month

Btw I like Vlaar, these things happen but that was as bad as it gets

[supertom]

That Vlaar thing against Stoke is the worst bit of individual defending I think I have ever seen at VP,

when the ball comes to him the fella that scored is a full 10ft away, he miss controls it so badly that the goal scorer makes that space up, then to rub salt into the wound Vlaar to try and rectify his mistake he chops him down in the box

It's a perfect storm ticking all the boxes of shit defending when you also take into consideration the importance of the match and it being in the last minutes

Sunderland last week for Gabby's second was equally unbelievable for a team display of atrocious defending, I don't think I've seen worse both individual and complete back 4 defending and all in the same month

Btw I like Vlaar, these things happen but that was as bad as it gets

I'm not even sure Vlaar should have played that day either. He looked half fit. He was dead on his feet by 60 minutes. Ron, when (rarely) he's fit actually has a fairly good turn of pace for a defender. But he got left for dead by Diouf. He looked like he was wading through treacle. It was desperate, tired and foolish challenge. And as much maligned as Okore can be, head have mopped that up I think.

I don't think we'll see much more of Ron. There's no point bringing him in half fit, and he lets the side down, or worsens his injury.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Don't really understand the criticism Vlaar gets. Yes, he made a huge mistake against Stoke, but he's never been, umm, concrete, has he? I think his performances at the World Cup made people think he was a great defender when he's always been above average at best for us.

[supertom]

Don't really understand the criticism Vlaar gets. Yes, he made a huge mistake against Stoke, but he's never been, umm, concrete, has he? I think his performances at the World Cup made people think he was a great defender when he's always been above average at best for us.

My only criticism of him is that he should be done in on trades description. He's not concrete at all. I think it's come to a point now that we don't need to play a half fit Ron just because he's available. He wasn't right against Stoke and he ended up being a liability. Clarks been excellent this season and Okore has been mostly good (the odd rick aside). There wasn't really a need to rush him back. Ron wouldn't be the first defender to make a challenge like that when his legs had gone in a game. They'd gone 20 minutes before he even attempted to make that challenge.

Until he's absolutely 100% again, I wouldn't play him.

[Toronto Villa]

this whole "concrete" thing has gotten blown way out of proportion. It was a nickname given to him because of his recovery from a serious injury at Feyenoord. It has nothing to do with his resilience or being a hard man. And it shouldn't be a stick to beat him with either. He's a very good defender when he is given a run of games. Unfortunately it just hasn't happened for him with us and mainly because he picks up mostly niggling calf injuries that constantly sets him back. He made a very bad mistake against Stoke, but it's not at all like he was doing that kind of stuff week in week out. He's not Titus Bramble. He's a solid PL defender when he is fit and has played a few games to get into the groove of things.

[OCD]

If all 5 centre backs were 100% fit, would Vlaar even be third choice now? Senderos was very good at organising and could be a better fit now than Vlaar would be. Baker played well in the first part of the season but I would still be wary of putting him alongside Clark or Okore.

[peter w]

Vlaar is still our best defender. But the bright side of his injury is that it has allowed Okore half a season or so first-team football that never looked like happening. It's probably saved his Villa career.

[Dante Lavelli]

I agree.  A fit Vlaar is our best defender.  He and Clark should be very solid in theory, especially now that Clark has grown into his role.  The catch is that Vlaar rarely gets fit enough to reach his optimum level.  However that is arguably why he is at Villa and only cost 3m.

I'm probably in a minority here but I would offer him another contract - not a massive one - as I think he would be a ideal for succession planning from where we are now and getting Okore/Baker to fulfil their potential.

[OCD]

Based on his World Cup performances he's clearly one of the best around but -

1) is his head right? There's been comments that he can't wait to get away and is already mentally playing for someone else. His attitude against Stoke supported this. Both for the first goal where he called for Hutton to pick up his man when nobody else was around or when he threw the draw away.
2) he's gone from occasionally missing games to never being fit. He's no good if he's never 100% fit physically and mentally.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Vlaar might work well in a three man central defence, with Okore to the right, and Clark to the left.  Bacuna as a right wing back, and perhaps N'Zogbia as an attacking left wing back - I think he played there for Newcastle a few times.

But I think he's pretty much at the end of his Villa career now - hopefully he can come on for the last 5 minutes against Burnley, with us having achieved safety, and wave goodbye.

[Toronto Villa]

I imagine now with Vlaar he'd rather be injured for a CL club than one where all he has known is relegation battles. Going into what will likely be his last contract of any real significance I don't blame him for thinking that way.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

As long as Vlaar has no dreams of playing at Wembley, I can live with that.

[steffo]

Driving down a north warwickshire country lane a few weeks back Mr V forced me to reduce speed as he pulled out of his abode. (bit of a blind turn and he acknowledged it) - said abode has a for sale sign on it now.

[tomd2103]

I agree.  A fit Vlaar is our best defender.  He and Clark should be very solid in theory, especially now that Clark has grown into his role.  The catch is that Vlaar rarely gets fit enough to reach his optimum level.  However that is arguably why he is at Villa and only cost 3m.

I'm probably in a minority here but I would offer him another contract - not a massive one - as I think he would be a ideal for succession planning from where we are now and getting Okore/Baker to fulfil their potential.

Have to disagree with that, as I feel a parting of the ways would be best for both parties.  Looking at our other options, we probably would need to bring in a replacement though.

[aj2k77]

I might be harsh but I'm no fan of Vlaar.

Apart from his injury record and the constant chopping and changing it entails I don't think he's vocal enough, especially as a captain, he is beaten to headers to often for my likening and doesn't have that much of a turn of pace. I never thought I'd say this but Ciaran Clark has produced a sustained period of performances better than anything Vlaar has at his time here.

He's not our best Defender and an average Premier quality player will adequately replace him.