Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

[DeLorean]

Goal here at 2:30 (http://www.skysports.com/football/newcastle-vs-bristol-c/358513)

Seems bizarre that Benitez didn't use Murphy off the bench given the way the game developed. In fact he didn't even use his third substitution.

O'Dowda got a welcome ninety minutes for Bristol City.

[DeLorean]

Relieved man tonight as Newcastle recovered from his penalty concession to win 2-1 at Brighton in the Championship top of the table clash. Rafa and co. seemed to feel hard done by but it looked a clear penalty from the one replay angle I saw on SSN, as he was holding onto Glenn Murray's shirt before dragging him to the ground. Newcastle got a comically fluky goal from Diame to equalise nine minutes from time before Perez won it for them in the closing stages. They now lead the division by two points. Duffy started and was booked for Brighton.

[Stuttgart88]

It was a moronic foul to give away but at the same time I think the Brighton attacker played for it and actually brought Clark down rather than the other way around. That typoe of defending always deserves to be punished in my opinion though.

Newcastle's equaliser was unbelievable. I just saw it.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Substituted midway through the second half after taking a knock to his knee.

https://twitter.com/raisbeck10/status/840612010513580032

[DannyInvincible]

No update as of yet as to the seriousness of Clark's knee injury today: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/ireland-facing-another-injury-blow-as-ciaran-clark-forced-off-during-newcastle-defeat-35522329.html

Benitez says Clark was taken off as a precaution and the Indo are reporting that he'll have scans to ascertain the full extent of the injury.


Ireland have suffered another potential setback to their preparations ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark was forced off just over an hour into his side's shock 3-1 home defeat to Fulham yesterday.

The former Aston Villa defender, who has been a virtual ever-present under Rafa Benitez this season, will have scans on a knee injury, the Newcastle manager confirmed last night.

Benitez said: 'He got a knock so we withdrew him as a precaution. We don't know how serious it is yet of course so we will wait and see.'

[DeLorean]

A couple of encouraging pieces mentioning the importance of Ciaran Clark to Newcastle United.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/is-ciaran-clark-the-biggest-miss-for-newcastle-1-8486112

http://www.themag.co.uk/2017/04/ciaran-clark-remarkable-newcastle-stats-doesnt-play-newcastle-united-aston-villa/

[tetsujin1979]

In the Newcastle starting XI tonight, along with Robert Elliott

[DeLorean]

Clark assisted the Toon goal, 1-1 now though.

[DannyInvincible]

In the Newcastle starting XI tonight, along with Robert Elliott

The decision to start Elliot seems to have been a surprise call by Benitez rather than being down to Darlow picking up an injury or anything: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-fans-react-elliot-darlow-12938787


And while many are surprised by the decision, a lot of fans are happy to see last season’s Player of the Year back in the starting XI.

Paul Elliott tweeted: “Rob Elliot back in goal. That’s a turn up for the books.”

Rhys Melhuish added: “Surprised that Darlow has been dropped but about time that Elliot is back in goal, should’ve been no. 1 as soon as he was fit again.”

[elroy]

Interesting fortunes for our keepers, I rate Randolph highly but he hasn't really grasped the opportunity at West Ham. The next six months will tell a lot for both and not forgetting Westwood.

[CraftyToePoke]

He is back in the Prem and played a big role in his 'big' club getting there, now watch the clamour begin to replenish the team spine with men with fancier exotic names than Ciaran Clark, and much fancier exotic haircuts, voluminous and multi coloured.

[SkStu]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39716009

Both Newcastle and West Ham raided by HMRC for possible income tax and insurance fraud. At least one person (managing director Lee Charnley) directly involved in the running of Newcastle has been arrested and confirmation that he was among "several men within professional football" that were arrested.

Wonder would there be sanctions forthcoming from the FA that would punish Newcastle or West Ham in terms of points or promotion? (recognizing that it could take a long time for the issue to be ruled)

[DeLorean]

More on Clark's injury here - http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/martin-o-neill-holds-fire-in-latest-mccarthy-fitness-debacle-1.3084061


Ciaran Clark, it seems, is not even close to that with the Newcastle defender now resigned, it seems, to targeting the start of next season for his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of Newcastle’s Championship winning run-in.

“Ciaran came back and I was delighted that he came back but then he injured himself again,” said O’Neill. “He has gone down to see the specialist and the specialist is pretty pessimistic about the particular injury.

“According to Alan Byrne, my doctor, he thinks that the specialist is saying maybe eight weeks or something like that. So it is a blow to Ciaran (and us) because I felt that it would be great to have him back again.

[tetsujin1979]

Newcastle-following friend of mine mentioned this blog on Newcastle's stats with and without Clark to me recently: http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/05/03/astonishing-stats-show-the-importance-of-ciaran-clark-to-newcastle-united-this-season/
http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-03-at-12.08.03.png

[DeLorean]

1.1 points per game over a 46 game season = a total of 50.6 points. That's conclusive evidence that Newcastle would have been relegated without Ciaran Clark. :)

Edit - I was looking at the wrong line... 1.3 points per game would have meant 59.8 points and therefore 14th, still not great!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Clark, Long and Coleman out. McCarthy unlikely.

We are not blessed.

Can't afford many more players to be ruled out.

[liamoo11]

done great to b first choice centre half ahead of leschelles and mbemba who started last season as first choice and grant Hanley who came in last summer as well. There was lots of talk he wood b fourth choice centre half when he moved there he has really knuckled down which is great for us

[DeLorean]

Great to have himself & Duffy back fit. Will they resume their partnership in Georgia?

[the doc]

Clarks a liability as he displayed at the last Euros.

He will cost us games, can't understand the love in on here for him.

Dreadful, truly dreadful!

[Diggs246]

I think Duffy is the more reckless of the two

[John83]

Gets some love here as he makes football365's team of the week:
http://www.football365.com/news/sod-garth-its-f365s-team-of-the-week

Centre-Half: Ciaran Clark (Newcastle) ... Jamal Lascelles scored a thumping header to win the match, and received all the plaudits (http://www.football365.com/news/f365s-early-winner-jamaal-lascelles). But in his primary role, defending, he was beaten three times, resulting in three Swansea chances. Twice Rob Elliot made a good save, once Lascelles himself recovered for that goal-line clearance. Otherwise he was definitely good, but not exceptional. Clark was better. He too was beaten and lucky to escape, but only once, by Alfie Mawson on a corner. His passing wasn’t as good as Lascelles’, but his marking was better, his clearances were stronger, and overall he was the more valuable defender. If you think the goal should put Lascelles over the top, I won’t argue. But Clark was better. (Elsewhere, Cesar Azpilicueta had a strong overall performance, also marred by a big mistake.)

[liamoo11]

leguene who kept clark out for second half of season even though clark had played well i felt up to that done his cruciate so is out for season

[Olé Olé]

leguene who kept clark out for second half of season even though clark had played well i felt up to that done his cruciate so is out for season

Every cloud and all that. Lascelles linked with Leicester if Maguire joins United too.

[tetsujin1979]

Unlikely they'll sell another defender with one ruled out for the season

[Diggs246]

If we want Rice in midfield ( which i do) and MON sticks to three across the back we will need clark playing and fit to play alongside duffy and K. Long

[zero]

If we want Rice in midfield ( which i do) and MON sticks to three across the back we will need clark playing and fit to play alongside duffy and K. Long

bad news for newcastle but potentially good for clark is that lascelles main partner at the back for the second half of last season, lejeune, looks to be out for the coming season with a cruciate. chancel mbemba has also departed.

on the other hand, newcastle have sign swiss centre half fabian schar...

[DeLorean]

Schar will start for sure I think, looks a good player and tough too. I remember him having a couple of very strong tackles in the games with Northern Ireland in particular. Clark's best chance would be if Newcastle lost Lascelles on deadline day or something!

[irishfan86]

After some time out in the wilderness for Newcastle, Clark has started the last two matches on the left side of a back three. He looked good against two teams loaded with pricey attackers (Man Utd & Chelsea).

Hopefully he keeps his place and makes the Denmark squad.

[Olé Olé]

Would be a better option than Kevin Long there (and Stevens, who ought to be LWB) if we were to go with 3-5-2.

[samhaydenjr]

Scored the opener for Newcastle against West Ham today:https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1102/1088258-clark-scores-for-magpies-mcgoldrick-leads-blades/ with both him and Duffy scoring, Brady playing again and Connolly impressing, we'll hopefully have a bit more firepower against Denmark than we've had recently

[Olé Olé]

3-5-2 is screaming out to be picked. Clark, Duffy, Egan, Stevens, Doherty, Whelan, Brady, Hendrick, McGoldrick, Connolly. I wouldn't complain with that.

[IsMiseSean]

3-5-2 is screaming out to be picked. Clark, Duffy, Egan, Stevens, Doherty, Whelan, Brady, Hendrick, McGoldrick, Connolly. I wouldn't complain with that.

It does have a nice look to it.

[samhaydenjr]

3-5-2 is screaming out to be picked. Clark, Duffy, Egan, Stevens, Doherty, Whelan, Brady, Hendrick, McGoldrick, Connolly. I wouldn't complain with that.

I was actually thinking of that line-up, with McCarthy instead of Whelan, if he got enough time today and next week - McCarthy only got 12 minutes today, but Whelan was taken off in the first half of Hearts' League Cup tie with Rangers with a hamstring injury - so what would we do now for the holding midfielder spot? Alan Browne? Use McCarthy anyway?

[liamoo11]

I was actually thinking of that line-up, with McCarthy instead of Whelan, if he got enough time today and next week - McCarthy only got 12 minutes today, but Whelan was taken off in the first half of Hearts' League Cup tie with Rangers with a hamstring injury - so what would we do now for the holding midfielder spot? Alan Browne? Use McCarthy anyway?

I think the difficulty there is the right sided centre back needs to be comfortable on the ball and egan and Duffy play as the middle in a 3 with neither been particularly comfortable in the wide areas either in possession or out of possession

[IsMiseSean]

I was actually thinking of that line-up, with McCarthy instead of Whelan, if he got enough time today and next week - McCarthy only got 12 minutes today, but Whelan was taken off in the first half of Hearts' League Cup tie with Rangers with a hamstring injury - so what would we do now for the holding midfielder spot? Alan Browne? Use McCarthy anyway?

McCarthy replaced McArthur yesterday who looked like he was carrying a knock leaving the field. McCarthy might get a start next week and with a few more minutes in the legs against NZ should see him ready to go against Denmark.

[CraftyToePoke]

Surely Cullen is next in line after turning up consistently for very little point so far ?

[Fizzer]

Another goal for him today against Bournemouth.Really turned his season around.

[tetsujin1979]

First time scoring in consecutive games in his career

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ckAZUern-U
Bit scrappy but he did well to get there.

[samhaydenjr]

First time scoring in consecutive games in his career

Stick him up front Mick!

[tetsujin1979]

substituted late on today with a nasty looking ankle injury

[Demesne Lad]

Ciaran Clark out for the rest of the season. According to ClubCall.com "from the 14 league games he has played in, the Magpies have won six, drawn five and lost three – conceding 17 and scoring the same amount. In the 13 games without the centre-back, the Tynesiders have won two, drawn two and lost nine – conceding 24 goals and scoring just seven"

[seanfhear]

Ciaran Clark out for the rest of the season. According to ClubCall.com "from the 14 league games he has played in, the Magpies have won six, drawn five and lost three – conceding 17 and scoring the same amount. In the 13 games without the centre-back, the Tynesiders have won two, drawn two and lost nine – conceding 24 goals and scoring just seven"
Things were going well for him . Tis a pity the way this injury has got him. Life of a professional footballer I suppose. Wish him all the best and a good recovery as soon as possible.

[tetsujin1979]

Appearing for the Newcastle U23s today. Don't think this is the same demotion as Obafemi, more another step in his recovery from injury
1318144869873848321

[Diggs246]

Appearing for the Newcastle U23s today. Don't think this is the same demotion as Obafemi, more another step in his recovery from injury
1318144869873848321

Obafemi is lemon. . No comparisons really.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I think Clark still has a lot to offer. Quite comfortable on the ball, would suit us if we were going three at the back. Actually think he's a better player than Egan. :eek:

I'm not the greatest judge I might add. I used to rate McShane highly in his early days. :worship:

[John83]

Clarke and McShane share a flaw: they're both quite slow. Ireland playing more on the front foot may not suit him.

[elatedscum]

Clark slow??? Would easily put my money on him being our fastest centre half...

[Fixer82]

Clarke and McShane share a flaw: they're both quite slow. Ireland playing more on the front foot may not suit him.

Not sure he's as slow as McShane? Definitely is a calmer player than McShane who always seemed to be scrambling

[irishfan86]

Disagree on Clark being slow. He’s a good athlete and good technically as well. Has struggled with injuries and has the odd mistake in him but he isn’t slow.