It's not Sherwood!

[supertom]

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.

Wholly agree.

[passitsideways]

I say we pretty much broke even on him. 76 games, maybe 40-50 of them being decent or above, over three seasons isn't a particularly good record, but his wages probably weren't all that high and he didn't cost very much in terms of a fee. All the best to him but hopefully Clark and Okore continue their upwards path and make sure that we won't have to miss him very much.

[supertom]

I say we pretty much broke even on him. 76 games, maybe 40-50 of them being decent or above, over three seasons isn't a particularly good record, but his wages probably weren't all that high and he didn't cost very much in terms of a fee. All the best to him but hopefully Clark and Okore continue their upwards path and make sure that we won't have to miss him very much.

It actually surprises me it's been 76 games. I didn't think it would be much over 60.

[Dante Lavelli]

Looking at our other options, we probably would need to bring in a replacement though.

That is the reason I'd offer the contract as I think we do need an experienced CB that can guide Clark/Okore and Baker. 
We could easily spend 5m on transfer fee alone and get a lesser player than Vlaar or we can rely on Senders to fulfil the "lynchpin" (but often injured) CB role.  Out of those two options I'd offer Vlaar a contract, but if he demands stupid money then he can go.

[supertom]

Looking at our other options, we probably would need to bring in a replacement though.

That is the reason I'd offer the contract as I think we do need an experienced CB that can guide Clark/Okore and Baker. 
We could easily spend 5m on transfer fee alone and get a lesser player than Vlaar or we can rely on Senders to fulfil the "lynchpin" (but often injured) CB role.  Out of those two options I'd offer Vlaar a contract, but if he demands stupid money then he can go.

Were he happy to accept a one year deal on the same money I wouldn't be adverse. I honestly think he'd prefer to go on a free and try his chances at attracting a bigger club and/or a good signing on fee.

[Dante Lavelli]

Looking at our other options, we probably would need to bring in a replacement though.

That is the reason I'd offer the contract as I think we do need an experienced CB that can guide Clark/Okore and Baker. 
We could easily spend 5m on transfer fee alone and get a lesser player than Vlaar or we can rely on Senders to fulfil the "lynchpin" (but often injured) CB role.  Out of those two options I'd offer Vlaar a contract, but if he demands stupid money then he can go.

Were he happy to accept a one year deal on the same money I wouldn't be adverse. I honestly think he'd prefer to go on a free and try his chances at attracting a bigger club and/or a good signing on fee.

My guess is that you are right, but we should still offer something, something close to what he is earning now.

[OCD]

What makes people think we haven't previously offered him a new contract? He wants to go.

[mr woo]

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

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.

Wholly agree.

Utter crap. Seriously.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm more concerned with Sherwood's tactics than I am with Vlaar.

[pauliewalnuts]

Vlaar is a decent player but I can't help thinking he is also a pretty unlucky one, on two counts.

Firstly, he seems to be an injury magnet when it comes to niggling thigh problems that keep him out for, of not long periods of time, spells long enough to create a real problem. I remember a while back reading the number of matches he has been unavailable for through injury since he came here and it was pretty frightening stuff.

Secondly, he had a really great world cup last summer, featured a lot in discussions of who would be moving and how we'd miss him yada yada, only then, come the new season, he spends great swathes of it injured, falling out of peoples' view.

He also then manages to stumble on a situation where we, the club people were - understandably - saying would really miss him when he moved on, look like we actually wouldn't miss him very much at all.

He's not the reincarnation of Paul McGrath, but neither is he the new Titus Bramble, he's a competent Premier League level central defender. Unfortunately he is also now 30 years old, which isn't the idea age if you are looking for a final, big deal at a club where you can do things, and carrying a dreadful injury record.

I'm aware of the McGrath mention there and the age / injury thing, but Vlaar is no McGrath.

I would be happy for us to keep him if the deal suited us, but to be honest, the only thing that worries me about him moving on is that he'll be doing it for no fee. He clearly is moving on, though, so we just have to plan ahead without him.

Unless given no choice, I wouldn't use him for the rest of the season.

[brian green]

I think Sherwood has already made his mind up about Vlaar and he will go. Apart from the injuries he never in my view stepped up to the plate as captain. As has been said not vocal enough and too prone to un jour sans as they say in cycling.

[Damo70]

I won't miss Vlaar. He isn't outstanding. He is a decent quality PL defender who becomes a liability due to his injury record. Off the top of my head Evans, McNaught, Keown, Neilson, Teale, McGrath, Southgate, Ehiogu, Mellberg and Laursen were all better. On the plus side he has played more games than Stas and Pejic put together.

[supertom]

I don't see the point in carrying a player on his wages who would struggle to play 10 games in a row now. The injuries have hampered him badly and age has hampered him.
I also think we've made too many excuses for him over the years, regarding him having to babysit other players. It's part and parcel of being a captain and a senior man at the back. I've been more impressed with Clarky this season than I ever have with Vlaar. Which is a shame because on the basis of what he did in the World Cup, on his day he's top quality.
He's certainly had moments where he threatened to gain cult status. The goals in his first season and some good displays. I thought he was average last season (granted, in a sea of badness). This season (perhaps largely due to fitness) he's been well below par, with the exception of that first couple of games where he and Senderos actually looked like they'd make a decent partnership.

[supertom]

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

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.

Wholly agree.

Utter crap. Seriously.

He'll be a forgotten man in 10 years. I put him somewhere alongside Ronny Johnsen in the Villa pantheon. We hope he'd be more Laursen or Mellberg, but he hasn't. Fitness has been his biggest issue. He's out injured, he comes back (normally too soon) and looks ring rusty.
The best I've seen him play is in a bright Orange shirt.

[fbriai]

Rarely can a player's importance to a side have drifted so much in a single season.

It feels as though losing him in the summer would have been a nightmare scenario. Now, and despite the season we have had, we'll hardly notice he's gone.