Joleon Lescott - GONE

[SoccerHQ]

Better late than never I suppose.

It's true. Just like Robbie Keane, a player I always expected to play for us but about 5 years later than I imagined.

[dave.woodhall]

The way I see it is that allowing for football hyper-inflation we're probably not paying more than we did for Colin Calderwood, or even Ronnie Johnsen's signing-on fee, and I expect he'll have the same effect - in years to come his name will crop up occasionally and we'll agree that he did the job we bought him for, he never let us down and it was a pity we couldn't have got him five years earlier.

[Drummond]

A wise old head to settle down the back four. Perfect.

[footyskillz]

I'm speaking fairly here to suggest that lescott is at Senderos, Joe Cole level perhaps with a bit of Kevin  richardson. I've been advocating Evans but lescott is reasonable. Dominant in air and reasonable on ground positionally improved and great attitude on and off pitch. Would likely see Richards go to right back where he belongs or dove tail with Clark as cb

[old man villa fan]

I just don't get people talking about bringing in Lescott will allow Richards to move to fullback.

Lescott has never played right side of defence so why do people think it would be no problem.  Also, I think Richards came to Villa so he could play centre of defence and Sherwood sold this to him as being his main position.

[Dante Lavelli]

Anyone who says he's past it could perhaps come up with their own alternative, good enough to be in the team but equally happy to be third or fourth choice, and available for a couple of million.

Personally I don't think there is the need for the role.  We have Baker, Okore and Senderos as reserve CBs.  How many do we need?

It will make sense if we can shift Senderos as that well help equalise the extra wages, then I think we need to loan Baker so when Lescott does retire he is ready to step up.

[Tayls_7]

I'm speaking fairly here to suggest that lescott is at Senderos, Joe Cole level perhaps with a bit of Kevin  richardson. I've been advocating Evans but lescott is reasonable. Dominant in air and reasonable on ground positionally improved and great attitude on and off pitch. Would likely see Richards go to right back where he belongs or dove tail with Clark as cb

.?. Kevin Richardson was a great player for us over numerous seasons.

[DB]

Anyone who says he's past it could perhaps come up with their own alternative, good enough to be in the team but equally happy to be third or fourth choice, and available for a couple of million.

Personally I don't think there is the need for the role.  We have Baker, Okore and Senderos as reserve CBs.  How many do we need?

It will make sense if we can shift Senderos as that well help equalise the extra wages, then I think we need to loan Baker so when Lescott does retire he is ready to step up.

All of which have had recent injury problems as has Richards. Who says we need to equalise the wages???

[PeterWithesShin]

Two of the reserve CB are currently injured. Which is why we need another one.

[walsall villain]

Definitely need both cover and experience, Baker impressed me at times last year but he looks like he has gone backwards from what I saw Tuesday.

[supertom]

Two of the reserve CB are currently injured. Which is why we need another one.

And seem to be persistently injured.

[Ian.]

Definitely need both cover and experience, Baker impressed me at times last year but he looks like he has gone backwards from what I saw Tuesday.

That's a bit harsh after only 1st team match for a long while.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I've always liked him, strong, determined and hates losing. At least he won't be scoring against us anymore (unless it's an own goal).
Plus he's related to two of my favourite posters on here, he's not coming for one last pay day, he'll give his all, that's for sure. It's just a shame we're only getting him now.

[KevinGage]

Agreed Rudy.

We were close to signing him when he was at Wolves, and O'Neill was keen back in 2008 too.

In the season that Martin Laursen scored six goals, Lescott wasn't far behind either.

A wee bit concerned about where this leaves Clark, but maybe the writing was on the wall when Richards was made captain and Gabby club captain.

[old man villa fan]

Agreed Rudy.

We were close to signing him when he was at Wolves, and O'Neill was keen back in 2008 too.

In the season that Martin Laursen scored six goals, Lescott wasn't far behind either.

A wee bit concerned about where this leaves Clark, but maybe the writing was on the wall when Richards was made captain and Gabby club captain.

Lescott is not the future but Clark could be.  Gabby club captain may have been Sherwood's idea to try and give Gabby a lift out of his slump into mediocrity.