Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

[drummerboy]

I really like this kid. Reckon he is going to have a great career at club level and with Ireland. I hope Trap brings him to Poland.

[DannyInvincible]

Ciaran Clark will be out for a few weeks with damage to knee ligaments: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2608682,00.html


Ciaran Clark, meanwhile, damaged his knee ligaments in training on Saturday and looks set to miss several weeks.

...

"In training yesterday Ciaran caught his studs in the turf and he's tweaked a ligament.

"It's a real shame because we had definite plans for him tonight as well as Gary Gardner in the team.

"We will lose him for a few weeks. It's not an overnight return either. It's knee ligament issues.

[TrapAPony]

Back starting in midfield for Villa v Man Utd

[geysir]

Penalty awarded against Clark for placing his foot within 100 cm of Ashley Young.
Shay goes for the wrong side again.
If a goalie just ignored what the kick taker was shaping up to do, would they have a 50/50 chance of diving in the right direction, not counting down the middle shots?

[theworm2345]

Took a blow to the head, had to be taken off. Don't think it would be too bad but no head injury is good.

[Stuttgart88]

Just scored against Spurs.

Might be one of the stanby options announced on Monday, maybe even a wild card for the 23?

[elroy]

Thought he should've been in the replacements, certainly will be one to look to in WC campaign

[Murfinator]

Not had a huge amount of gametime and when he has its been a mixture of centre back, left back and centre midfield. Difficult to know what position he's most suited for other than utility bencher.

[dr_peepee]

James Collins sold back to West Ham.... Does it open a door for Clark as CH???

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm guessing it'll be Vlaar and Dunne at the heart of defence. Clark and Dunne both prefer to play on the left side, so I think they'll be competing for the same spot.

[tetsujin1979]

confirmed Vlaar signing for Villa: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2867916,00.html

[Murfinator]

Don't think anyone really knows where Clark's best position is between CB, LB and CM. Will be interesting to see where Lambert puts him but him with Collins, Cuellar cleared out and both Warnock and Hutton told they can leave its good news for him that the Trash is being cleared to give him more opportunities.

[Charlie Darwin]

I know, he's a centre half.

[the doc]

How many on here have seen Clark play regularly?

He not a bad player, too rash in the tackle, can see him getting sent off lots if he ever played at international senior level.

Not in the same class as Dunne and St Ledger, and no better than ODea or the Ginger Pele.

[Charlie Darwin]

Bit unfair to say he's not in the same class as players 5 and 10 years older than him. I could foresee Richard Dunne getting sent off a lot at international level too as he is, among other things, too rash in the tackle, yet as far as I know it hadn't happened up until last year.

[Manblue]

How many on here have seen Clark play regularly?

He not a bad player, too rash in the tackle, can see him getting sent off lots if he ever played at international senior level.

Not in the same class as Dunne and St Ledger, and no better than ODea or the Ginger Pele.

I have seen him play quite regularly and while he is rash in tackles (he's young and inexperienced), he's defo on st ledgers level and far better than O Dea or Mcshane....cant exactly see one of those two being given ago in midfield which he has done quite comfortably on more than one occasion...and his defensive qualities are on par with both these (which doesn't say much)

BTW since when are Dunne and St Ledger in the same class...do you think St Ledger will ever play consistently in the premier league...cause I don't....and with Dunnes injury its a great opportunity for Clarke to stake a claim.

[ifk101]

Not in the same class as Dunne and St Ledger

You're not in the same class as Richard Dunne. You're talking about a chap that has 70 odd caps to his name and, with the exception of one season, has played regularly in the top flight of English football. You warm the bench in the Championship, day-dreaming of fantasy transfers to Serie A.

[Eminence Grise]

Shades of 'Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy' there, IFK

Ouch!!!

[the doc]

You're not in the same class as Richard Dunne. You're talking about a chap that has 70 odd caps to his name and, with the exception of one season, has played regularly in the top flight of English football. You warm the bench in the Championship, day-dreaming of fantasy transfers to Serie A.

Of course I'm not onbtgr same class as Dunne I've been retired from the game for years now.

This is forum, I give my opinions on what I think, nothing more nothing less.
Unlike you who just look for confrontation without what appears to have any basic knowledge or experience in the game.

As for SSL, when has he ever let Ireland down? Highest ranking player for Ireland in the Euros and 3 goals in 30 games isn't too bad either for a CB (or Championshio bench warmer as you call him)
All scored I'm important games too!

[ifk101]

Of course I'm not onbtgr same class as Dunne I've been retired from the game for years now.

Who are you fooling Sean?


This is forum, I give my opinions on what I think, nothing more nothing less.
Unlike you who just look for confrontation without what appears to have any basic knowledge or experience in the game.

You're not in the same class as Dunne. You're in the same class as O'Dea and McShane.


As for SSL, when has he ever let Ireland down? Highest ranking player for Ireland in the Euros and 3 goals in 30 games isn't too bad either for a CB (or Championshio bench warmer as you call him)
All scored I'm important:bigsmile: games too!

You have scored three goals from set-play moves in games we did not win. Andrews was our player of the Euros.

[Stuttgart88]

Regardless of whether Doc is SSL or just a stalker, I think he's right that SSL has been a consistently good performer for us.

[ifk101]

But is he in the same class as Dunne? I respect your opinion Stuttgart88 but disagree about SSL. If we want to improve the team, SSL is a player that needs to replaced. He's slow, poor in the air, has terrible distribution and has lapses in concentration on a regular basis.

[Stuttgart88]

Dunne's our best but I think SSL is a good player. I have to say, based on his Irish performances, that he could play at one of the EPL's lesser lights. I mean if Cauldwell can...

I respect your opinion too so think we'll have to agree to disagree!

[the doc]

You have scored three goals from set-play moves in games we did not win. Andrews was our player of the Euros.

WTF? Are you for real? Any goals a good goal, set play or not as long as it hits the back of the Onion sack.

Speaking of sacks, isn't it about time you went back to playing with yours and leave this forum to people who know about football and go to matches.

Get back to your job in the village, you bore me!

[youngirish]

But is he in the same class as Dunne? I respect your opinion Stuttgart88 but disagree about SSL. If we want to improve the team, SSL is a player that needs to replaced. He's slow, poor in the air, has terrible distribution and has lapses in concentration on a regular basis.

If doc is SSL doesn't he deserve a bit more respect on here for wearing the green jersey with pride? I'm just asking because I think it's likely he is SSL and Man Blue is Stephen Ireland.

With all that anger and bitterness emanating from your posts ifk I've also sussed that you are Roy Keane.

[drummerboy]

SSL has been a huge success for Ireland. Don't know why his is being attacked by some posters. His club game has had some ups and downs, but he has never let Ireland down and long may it continue.

[The Fly]

I've just been reading Clark's thread over on the Villa Talk forum and it seems he has been given the number 6 shirt by the new manager.

Hopefully that signifies he'll be regular in the first team this season.

[Supreme feet]

Bad centre-backs will eventually get found out at international level if they're given a run in the team - they'll drop a clanger in an important game, give away a penalty, get the runaround from a good striker or get caught badly out of position. That hasn't really happened to St. Ledger for us. He's been solid, and we missed him against Macedonia when O'Shea and O'Dea were at CB. My preference would be for a Dunne-O'Shea partnership, but SSL certainly isn't one of the players we need to get rid of.

[ifk101]

If doc is SSL doesn't he deserve a bit more respect on here for wearing the green jersey with pride? I'm just asking because I think it's likely he is SSL and Man Blue is Stephen Ireland.

Well if you believe it is likely that the doc is SSL you should have a read of previous posts and his opinions on other players wearing the green jersey with pride. the doc also let us know SSL was eligible for the North if not picked.


With all that anger and bitterness emanating from your posts ifk I've also sussed that you are Roy Keane.

It may read as anger and bitterness but at the end of the day I want the same thing everyone else here wants. We lost all three games at the Euros, comprehensively beaten in all three, so everyone knows we need change to move on. Moving on is changing tactics and players. I don't think we should continue with two holding midfielders and the protection we currently give our centre halfs through playing with two holding midfielders. Changing will expose our centre halfs more and this is where there is a worry in playing somebody of SSL's ability. Because of this SSL is one of the players I believe needs to be replaced. Dunne is a player we need to keep around. SSL isn't in the same class as Dunne. There's no anger or bitterness in stating that fact.

[the doc]

Theres no difference between the lower 12 teams in the Prem and the top half of the Championship.

I'd play Macca or Daz ahead of Clark as they have more experience at international level.

The grass isnt always greener!

[brine3]

Theres no difference between the lower 12 teams in the Prem and the top half of the Championship.

I'd play Macca or Daz ahead of Clark as they have more experience at international level.

The grass isnt always greener!

You'll have to fill me in here. Who are Macca and Daz?

[Murfinator]

I'd play Macca or Daz ahead of Clark as they have more experience at international level.


Could someone link me back to foot.ie please, I seem to have wound up on foot.co.uk somehow.


But is he in the same class as Dunne? I respect your opinion Stuttgart88 but disagree about SSL. If we want to improve the team, SSL is a player that needs to replaced. He's slow, poor in the air, has terrible distribution and has lapses in concentration on a regular basis.

Looking to replace SSL to me is like being slightly dissatisfied with your cake icing while the cake is collapsing in on itself. We have serious, serious problems with both our fullbacks and both our centre midfields right now. I don't think we should give serious consideration to overhauling any other part of our team until we have the luxury of solving those crucial problems because ultimately everyone else has their job difficulty increased tenfold because of those core problems.

[Supreme feet]

I'd play Macca or Daz ahead of Clark as they have more experience at international level.

The grass isnt always greener!

By that logic, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff would never have broken into the Irish side in 1998. After all, we had David Connolly, Mickey Evans, John Goodman, Alan Moore, Keith O'Neill and Davey Savage. All had more experience at international level at the time.

[Charlie Darwin]

You have scored three goals from set-play moves in games we did not win. Andrews was our player of the Euros.
Two of those goals gave us the lead in important qualifiers and the other brought us level in a European Championship game. Hardly dead rubbers.

[ifk101]

Looking to replace SSL to me is like being slightly dissatisfied with your cake icing while the cake is collapsing in on itself. We have serious, serious problems with both our fullbacks and both our centre midfields right now. I don't think we should give serious consideration to overhauling any other part of our team until we have the luxury of solving those crucial problems because ultimately everyone else has their job difficulty increased tenfold because of those core problems.

The fullbacks are for another thread. Ward isn't good enough. The central midfielders are tied in what they are asked to do. It's not the individual players in central midfield that are an issue, it's the role they are asked to play. That role is to protect the back four by holding their position. The fact that Trapattoni choses to use his central midfielders in this way says a lot of about his approach to the game but also what he sees in the individual qualities of the players he selects. In other words the tactics he uses are to protect what he sees as the weak points in his side.


Two of those goals gave us the lead in important qualifiers and the other brought us level in a European Championship game. Hardly dead rubbers.

And we didn't win any of those games. And every time SSL scores, the opposition scores.

[Charlie Darwin]

And we didn't win any of those games. And every time SSL scores, the opposition scores.
You say this is as if it means anything.

[jbyrne]

And every time SSL scores, the opposition scores.

and recently when he doesnt also

[Murfinator]

The fullbacks are for another thread. Ward isn't good enough. The central midfielders are tied in what they are asked to do. It's not the individual players in central midfield that are an issue, it's the role they are asked to play. That role is to protect the back four by holding their position. The fact that Trapattoni choses to use his central midfielders in this way says a lot of about his approach to the game but also what he sees in the individual qualities of the players he selects. In other words the tactics he uses are to protect what he sees as the weak points in his side.



And we didn't win any of those games. And every time SSL scores, the opposition scores.

If the implication is that he views the centre backs as a weak point in our defence it doesn't make too much sense given the success we've had there under Trap. Both Dunne and JOS were standout in our first campaign and we had a ridiculous streak of games without conceding during the most recent. It's more likely he's selecting the only players who actually play central midfield in a 2 for their club. His original choice was Steven Reid and his passing ability was working wonderfully for us, I think if Trap viewed the less conservative options as viable midfielders he'd pick them, he just sees them as not good enough to play in a 2. Judging from his initial S.Reid selection when he could have retained Carsley I'd say he doesn't like picking limited midfielders any more than we like seeing them but he doesn't view the alternatives as credible options in a 2, and legitimately so since they don't play in a 2.


By that logic, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff would never have broken into the Irish side in 1998. After all, we had David Connolly, Mickey Evans, John Goodman, Alan Moore, Keith O'Neill and Davey Savage. All had more experience at international level at the time.

Keane had won the under-19 championship and was a double digit goalscorer to Wolves when he was given his first cap. Duff also won the under-19 championship and was a regular in the premiership. Clark did little but set on the bench for the last year, when he did play he was shunted all over the field. Not the same situation at all, I like Clark but hes done nothing to deserve a callup in recent times. Hopefully he'll get himself sorted out this season with a competent manager at villa and make that claim for inclusion.

[youngirish]

Well if you believe it is likely that the doc is SSL you should have a read of previous posts and his opinions on other players wearing the green jersey with pride. the doc also let us know SSL was eligible for the North if not picked.



It may read as anger and bitterness but at the end of the day I want the same thing everyone else here wants. We lost all three games at the Euros, comprehensively beaten in all three, so everyone knows we need change to move on. Moving on is changing tactics and players. I don't think we should continue with two holding midfielders and the protection we currently give our centre halfs through playing with two holding midfielders. Changing will expose our centre halfs more and this is where there is a worry in playing somebody of SSL's ability. Because of this SSL is one of the players I believe needs to be replaced. Dunne is a player we need to keep around. SSL isn't in the same class as Dunne. There's no anger or bitterness in stating that fact.
SSL has generally been good for Ireland so deserves some slack. Before looking at replacing him the likes of Ward and O'Shea possibly the two poorest players in the Euros from any squad need to be quickly shifted out of the team. Watching them both in a live game it's amazing how slow they are when receiving a pass to get the ball under control and pass it onto another Irish player. I couldn't count how many opportunities to attack fizzled out because one of these received the ball and took so long to get it under control the opposition had managed to snuff out any semblance of an opportunity. It truly was Sunday league stuff. Duff in particular seemed to be particularly frustrated with Ward in the Italy match for exactly this reason.

I'm also not of the opinion that O'Shea is a better option at centre back either - I think he's been rubbish for Ireland and can't believe he's been a guaranteed starter for so long while failing to offer anything of note.

Rant over Glenn Whelan also needs to go as he's limited beyond belief. I'm not sure a 5 man midfield would make this fact any less apparent. Once those 3 are out of the team then maybe SSL should start to feel threatened.

[the doc]

Think we all know that ifk101 is a bit of a nutter, so pointless taking any of notice of those posts.

According to a poster on Ybig SSL should be back in 4 weeks.

Ding dong!

[the bear]

Think we all know that ifk101 is a bit of a nutter, so pointless taking any of notice of those posts.

According to a poster on Ybig SSL should be back in 4 weeks.

Ding dong!

come in, its open

[Charlie Darwin]

Ballwatching and lost Jelavic for Everton's third. Paul Lambert may be rethinking whether he should get rid of Dunne at this rate.

[geysir]

Lambert has a job and a half with that Villa team.

[tetsujin1979]

Just been sent off.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sent off for denying Jelavic a goalscoring opportunity - very little contact but a foul nonetheless. Great through-ball from Gibson to set it up.

[Murfinator]

Been having a nightmare these past two weeks, not watching the game today but he was getting destroyed aerially last week. The sending off couldn't have come at a worse time for him too because he'll have to dwell on those performances through suspension and may not get his place back after.

[brine3]

Lambert has bought Ron Vlaar, who is frankly a very poor defender. Got away with the hard man act in Holland, but getting found out badly in England.

[Charlie Darwin]

Been having a nightmare these past two weeks, not watching the game today but he was getting destroyed aerially last week. The sending off couldn't have come at a worse time for him too because he'll have to dwell on those performances through suspension and may not get his place back after.
He'll only miss the League Cup game.

[SkStu]

He'll only miss the League Cup game.

Straight red though?

[tetsujin1979]

Of all the games for Trapattoni to attend!