Tiago Ilori (update 2017 - signs for Reading)

[Holtemeister]

This lad is a footballer ... watch the youtube clips and see why we have swapped Baker for a more cultured centre back.  Keeps the ball well and good distribution even can thread a through ball.

He will be one to keep an eye on if he gets "game time" a real prospect.

[Toronto Villa]

This lad is a footballer ... watch the youtube clips and see why we have swapped Baker for a more cultured centre back.  Keeps the ball well and good distribution even can thread a through ball.

He will be one to keep an eye on if he gets "game time" a real prospect.

Yeh, I didn't see any 60 yard cannons up the pitch. There is a time and place for that off course but its nice to see a defender passing it as his first choice.

[SoccerHQ]

He did well on Bordeaux last season as I saw a few games.

No idea where he plays here as I assume the first choice Cbs will be Richards and Lescott.

Even when we do have 5 cbs we also seem to have 2 out injured. End of last season we were down to Vlaar and Okore and Okore was playing on one leg.

Don't quite understand why we signed Crespo if we were making a move for this one all along.

[cdbearsfan]

Crespo's full back cover this guy is centre-half, I think.

[Toronto Villa]

I think Crespo was brought in as RB cover more than CB. That he also offers more versatility across the back four. So instead of Hutton on the bench you'd have him or Bacuna. Watching Hutton the other night vs Notts County you can see he no longer has it.

[SoccerHQ]

Hutton was fine v Sunderland although an easy game given their non existant left side of midfield.

And Bacuna showed if he's starting games it can't be in midfield, has to be RB or bench.

[footyskillz]

Great signing with potential and if developed right another gem !! Liverpool really wasted his talents or at least didn't enhance them much and will undoubtedly be given opportunity at villa . played in the euro under 21 finals so many may remember him v England for example and he's also able to play left back . Basically he's an attacking and playmaking centre half something villa don't have . if I could compare him to a defender I would say David luiz but with a bit less razz ma taz . He likes to be forward and set up play and will join in attacks but probably not as flamboyant as David luiz. He's a solid defender who probably needs to be a bit more ready for the physicality side of the things but ball playing and football he's very good !!

[GarTomas]

Great signing with potential and if developed right another gem !! Liverpool really wasted his talents or at least didn't enhance them much and will undoubtedly be given opportunity at villa . played in the euro under 21 finals so many may remember him v England for example and he's also able to play left back . Basically he's an attacking and playmaking centre half something villa don't have . if I could compare him to a defender I would say David luiz but with a bit less razz ma taz . He likes to be forward and set up play and will join in attacks but probably not as flamboyant as David luiz. He's a solid defender who probably needs to be a bit more ready for the physicality side of the things but ball playing and football he's very good !!

David Luiz with less razz ma taz.  You do have a way of describing players!

[tomd2103]

This lad is a footballer ... watch the youtube clips and see why we have swapped Baker for a more cultured centre back.  Keeps the ball well and good distribution even can thread a through ball.

He will be one to keep an eye on if he gets "game time" a real prospect.

Yeh, I didn't see any 60 yard cannons up the pitch. There is a time and place for that off course but its nice to see a defender passing it as his first choice.

If you were referring to Baker, surely you meant "60 yard cannons in to the Trinity Road & Witton Lane stands"?

By the sounds of it, Ilori might also be able to move into a defensive midfield position.

[Matt Collins]

If we play him and Richards together will there be times they both join the attack?

I really really like okore so I hope this doesn't spell the beginning of the end for him

Would be happy for any of them to play right back, but despite initial reservations I think Richards has been great at centre half. Really impressed

[nigel]

If we play him and Richards together will there be times they both join the attack?

I really really like okore so I hope this doesn't spell the beginning of the end for him

Would be happy for any of them to play right back, but despite initial reservations I think Richards has been great at centre half. Really impressed

I hope not, too.
I do think Sherwood likes Okore, though, so I can't see him going anywhere.
Maybe Tim sees a future partnership of Okore and Ilori

[RussellC]

Okore has only just turned 23, still plenty of time on his side. Sherwood praised him last season for playing through injury, I think he's a fan.

[richard moore]

Great signing with potential and if developed right another gem !! Liverpool really wasted his talents or at least didn't enhance them much and will undoubtedly be given opportunity at villa . played in the euro under 21 finals so many may remember him v England for example and he's also able to play left back . Basically he's an attacking and playmaking centre half something villa don't have . if I could compare him to a defender I would say David luiz but with a bit less razz ma taz . He likes to be forward and set up play and will join in attacks but probably not as flamboyant as David luiz. He's a solid defender who probably needs to be a bit more ready for the physicality side of the things but ball playing and football he's very good !!

You do make me smile footy with your way of describing things and eternal optimism. And suggestions for whom we should buy, 90% of which are barking mad. Meant affectionately! Keep it up...

[mr underhill]

agreed I love his posts, barking mad but with plenty of energy, compassion and eccentricity.

[dave shelley]

Makes me smile anyway, and that can't be a bad thing can it?