Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

[Snapshot]

For those interested in such matters, I highly recommend Brian Friel's excellent play Translations which deals with the anglicisation of Irish place names and surnames in the early 1800s. But for those commenting on the dumping of Ciarán Ó Cléirigh, the diversion again underscores the ambivalence with which the majority of Irish supporters have towards probably our most undervalued EPL regular ever. But they can feel comforted by the fact the most overvalued manager ever agrees with them.

[CraftyToePoke]

But they can feel comforted by the fact the most overvalued manager ever agrees with them.

Thanks Snappers & I'll take the liberty of speaking for all cult SK members in assuring you how comfortable we indeed are. Cosy even.

[Snapshot]

You've every right to be cosy - it's a low bar.

[Fixer82]

I remember tweeting something about Westwood's name being spelled wrong on a team sheet and the man himself replied saying something along the lines of 'it's easy: it starts with a K, ends with an N and has Eire in the middle.'

Which was class!

[Fixer82]

https://twitter.com/westwoodkeiren/status/1154721488274112513?s=21

[Exgrad]

...anyway, played yesterday, wasn't great. Won't be a premier league player for too much longer, one way or another.

[tetsujin1979]

absolute howler for City's opener, even if the keeper was at fault too.

[Snapshot]

absolute howler for City's opener, even if the keeper was at fault too.
Yes, it was awful, though Clark's movement suggests the keeper called for it.

[the 12 th man]

...anyway, played yesterday, wasn't great. Won't be a premier league player for too much longer, one way or another.

Looked in his own world there in that game,absolute howler.

[SkStu]

Looked in his own world there in that game,absolute howler.

Complete stinker. Was awful for the Cancelo goal as well.


57% of brain farts attempted were successful.

Massive jump to 66% successful brain farts now.

[Snapshot]

He's at rock bottom. Let's all put the boot in.

[SkStu]

Sorry, what?

[the 12 th man]

He's at rock bottom. Let's all put the boot in.

He'a a grown man getting huge money to play football,what are you on about?

[third policeman]

It does seem that some people are taking perverse pleasure in the discomfiture of a player passed over by Kenny. Is there a bit of an agenda there? He had a bad game playing in a bad team, low on confidence and rooted at the bottom of the league. Not sure how this negates his entire PL career?

[Stav]

Don't forget Duffys time at Celtic and how things have changed for him. Hopefully same will happen here.

[Stuttgart88]

It does seem that some people are taking perverse pleasure in the discomfiture of a player passed over by Kenny. Is there a bit of an agenda there? He had a bad game playing in a bad team, low on confidence and rooted at the bottom of the league. Not sure how this negates his entire PL career?
4 posts above acknowledging a bad game, one poking fun in keeping with a silly joke made by me earlier. I don't think it's anything particularly thematic. I'd say it's more accurate to suggest that the good form of some senior players and the need to integrate younger players, who have all acquitted themselves well when given the chance, has made Clark a marginal figure. I'm not perturbed by his absence from the squad, nor would I be particularly disappointed if he was in it. It's just a marginal call but a few posters seem to think it's not marginal at all. If I was to choose I'd prioritise Omobamidele, O'Shea and Collins and I'd also look to prioritise Scales and Lenihan. Manning I'm not sure about. Doherty (as LWB cover), Coleman, Duffy and Egan (as CBs) speak for themselves and Stevens is good enough LB/LB cover for now. I'll always have the jitters about JMcC at LWB!

I wish Clark nothing but good luck whenever he plays.

[ColourfulPeanut]

I've seen people mention him as LB/LWB cover. I don't know if you've seen him play in recent years, but in no way would he be able to cover that position.

Just because he's left footed doesn't make him cover for wing back. He's about as much cover for LB as John Egan is for RB.

[SkStu]

I wish Clark nothing but good luck whenever he plays.

You see, that is just something that i assume that this is the default for every poster on here as it relates to Irish players. That, even if we don't particularly rate a player, we all wish them the absolute best in their careers and in every game - limitations and all. I know I do.

On Clark, i am sure my posts on here over the years would back up my fondness for him and that i rate him overall as a player. But when a player has a stinker, they have a stinker. Pointing that out, isn't "sticking the boot in", is not rooted in an agenda and isn't intended to "negate his entire PL career". Talk about melodramatic.

[JR89]

4 posts above acknowledging a bad game, one poking fun in keeping with a silly joke made by me earlier. I don't think it's anything particularly thematic. I'd say it's more accurate to suggest that the good form of some senior players and the need to integrate younger players, who have all acquitted themselves well when given the chance, has made Clark a marginal figure. I'm not perturbed by his absence from the squad, nor would I be particularly disappointed if he was in it. It's just a marginal call but a few posters seem to think it's not marginal at all. If I was to choose I'd prioritise Omobamidele, O'Shea and Collins and I'd also look to prioritise Scales and Lenihan. Manning I'm not sure about. Doherty (as LWB cover), Coleman, Duffy and Egan (as CBs) speak for themselves and Stevens is good enough LB/LB cover for now. I'll always have the jitters about JMcC at LWB!

I wish Clark nothing but good luck whenever he plays.

Lenihan probably playing his best football this season and Blackburn only three points behind leaders Fulham. Would be fantastic to see Lenihan in the PL next season and you've got Jimmy Dunne and QPR who are fifth in the table. Top of the championship getting very interesting with Fulham and Bournemouth dropping points and teams below them showing great forum.

[the 12 th man]

No player is above criticism,Clarke has been poor for a while now and went from a straight red to an awful performance in his next game back,he's a hard working likable guy but a very limited player at Premier/International level.


This is a football forum for debate,opinion etc..

If you want to see vitriol about Clark have a peek at the Newcastle FC forums...

[Snapshot]

. . . On Clark, i am sure my posts on here over the years would back up my fondness for him and that i rate him overall as a player. But when a player has a stinker, they have a stinker. Pointing that out, isn't "sticking the boot in", is not rooted in an agenda and isn't intended to "negate his entire PL career". Talk about melodramatic.


No player is above criticism,Clarke has been poor for a while now and went from a straight red to an awful performance in his next game back,he's a hard working likable guy but a very limited player at Premier/International level.


This is a football forum for debate,opinion etc..

If you want to see vitriol about Clark have a peek at the Newcastle FC forums...
And if I want to see vitriol about John Egan I would have a peek at the Sheff Utd forum, Stevens too. And Seamus Coleman was guilty recently of two howlers (only one gentle mention on his thread here). And Omobamidele, for all his youthful promise, has put in a couple of naive performances at Norwich. And Duffy's misjudgement against Man Utd . . . and recently dropped again by that dreadful Graham Potter.

Collins and O'Shea certainly look the goods - hopefully they will gather EPL stats like the limited Clark (159 EPL, 127 C'ship). It won't be that easy. Clark must have fooled a lot of good football people along the way.

All very subjective, of course, on a forum where, I'm reliably informed, people express opinions. Happy Christmas to all.

[third policeman]

And if I want to see vitriol about John Egan I would have a peek at the Sheff Utd forum, Stevens too. And Seamus Coleman was guilty recently of two howlers (only one gentle mention on his thread here). And Omobamidele, for all his youthful promise, has put in a couple of naive performances at Norwich. And Duffy's misjudgement against Man Utd . . . and recently dropped again by that dreadful Graham Potter.

Collins and O'Shea certainly look the goods - hopefully they will gather EPL stats like the limited Clark (159 EPL, 127 C'ship). It won't be that easy. Clark must have fooled a lot of good football people along the way.

All very subjective, of course, on a forum where, I'm reliably informed, people express opinions. Happy Christmas to all.

Very well put.

[SkStu]

And if I want to see vitriol about John Egan I would have a peek at the Sheff Utd forum, Stevens too. And Seamus Coleman was guilty recently of two howlers (only one gentle mention on his thread here). And Omobamidele, for all his youthful promise, has put in a couple of naive performances at Norwich. And Duffy's misjudgement against Man Utd . . . and recently dropped again by that dreadful Graham Potter.

Collins and O'Shea certainly look the goods - hopefully they will gather EPL stats like the limited Clark (159 EPL, 127 C'ship). It won't be that easy. Clark must have fooled a lot of good football people along the way.

All very subjective, of course, on a forum where, I'm reliably informed, people express opinions. Happy Christmas to all.

Not sure why you are quoting me there but whatever.

Coleman has been the subject of a lot of conversation over the last couple of years including some poor performances and whether he is performing at the levels we had become used to; Duffy another player that has been called out regularly for howlers, a shocking spell at Celtic and questions about his ability to play the passing/retention style Kenny is looking for. Egan got called out for his errors, lack of pace and some red cards over the last couple of seasons...

I initially just wasn't sure why you were quoting me in your reply but now, after biting, i am actually wondering what your point is at all.

Are you suggesting that the forum is picking on Clark? Because that would be quite silly.

[Snapshot]

Indeed. Even the suggestion would be quite silly.

[Demesne Lad]

Newcastleworld.com reporting today that West Brom are considering an approach for 32 year-old Ciaran Clark. As he was not included in Newcastle's 25 man squad at the end of January, he has not played since then. A move to Middlesborough in January fell through at the last minute but of course Steve Bruce knows Clark well, and he was a Villa player before he moved to Newcastle in August 2016.

[Olé Olé]

Newcastleworld.com reporting today that West Brom are considering an approach for 32 year-old Ciaran Clark. As he was not included in Newcastle's 25 man squad at the end of January, he has not played since then. A move to Middlesborough in January fell through at the last minute but of course Steve Bruce knows Clark well, and he was a Villa player before he moved to Newcastle in August 2016.
Grand move for him. I assume it is much closer to his parents given that he began his career with Villa. And it's a decent sized club and a manager he knows.

[tetsujin1979]

West Brom also linked with Conor Hourihane this morning

[ColourfulPeanut]

As a Newcastle fan, I'll always be thankful to Clark. He was the best defender we had in the Championship and did a shift in the Premier League. The meltdown and red card at Norwich also led to Joelinton, world class center midfielder too. So it wasn't all bad!

Can definitely do a job at Championship level but I think his Premier League and probably Ireland days are past him

[Snapshot]

Newcastleworld.com reporting today that West Brom are considering an approach for 32 year-old Ciaran Clark. As he was not included in Newcastle's 25 man squad at the end of January, he has not played since then. A move to Middlesborough in January fell through at the last minute but of course Steve Bruce knows Clark well, and he was a Villa player before he moved to Newcastle in August 2016.


As a Newcastle fan, I'll always be thankful to Clark. He was the best defender we had in the Championship and did a shift in the Premier League. The meltdown and red card at Norwich also led to Joelinton, world class center midfielder too. So it wasn't all bad!

Can definitely do a job at Championship level but I think his Premier League and probably Ireland days are past him
Clark deserves a serve of luck after a traumatic season at Newcastle. He's a player whose lapses seem disproportionately highlighted relative to an otherwise reliable career and professional attitude at Villa and Newcastle.

[ColourfulPeanut]

He's a player whose lapses seem disproportionately highlighted relative to an otherwise reliable career and professional attitude at Villa and Newcastle.
That's a good point really. His errors are usually catastrophic when they do happen. He's always been a good defender but I always felt there was a mistake just waiting to happen.

[Demesne Lad]

Clark likely to move to Sheffield Utd on a season-long loan, according to Yorkshire Live this morning. Presumably Clark's familiarity with Egan and Stevens would be a factor in Paul Heckingbottom's thinking. However, if I was a betting man I'd have a small side bet on Clark to Middlesbrough.

[Jd2793]

clarks international career should be done no matter what move he makes. plenty of better players ahead of him in the pecking order.

[third policeman]

If we were absolutely stuck with Collins, O'Shea, Omobamidele et al all injured, I'd still play Clark ahead of Duffy. Don't think he was fairly treated by Howe. Not suggesting he should be in the squad, but if he is surplus to current requirements Duffy should be as well. His fundamental lack of footballing ability make him a liability. His only value to the squad is at set pieces and as a kind of mascot cheerleader. Great heart, great character but just not in tune with the kind of team we want to be and are developing into.

[Eirambler]

If Clark was playing regularly for Sheffield United and was outperforming Egan then surely he would have to come back into the conversation for us?

[Fixer82]

If we were absolutely stuck with Collins, O'Shea, Omobamidele et al all injured, I'd still play Clark ahead of Duffy. Don't think he was fairly treated by Howe. Not suggesting he should be in the squad, but if he is surplus to current requirements Duffy should be as well. His fundamental lack of footballing ability make him a liability. His only value to the squad is at set pieces and as a kind of mascot cheerleader. Great heart, great character but just not in tune with the kind of team we want to be and are developing into.

Harsh. I don’t think Duffy is that bad a footballer at all

[Jd2793]

clarks ability on the ball is a lot poorer than egans. with the depth we have at cb i see no need for him to be making squads again unless there is a serious injury crisis

[Snapshot]

clarks ability on the ball is a lot poorer than egans. with the depth we have at cb i see no need for him to be making squads again unless there is a serious injury crisis
On what do you base your on-the-ball comment? Also, if Clark's form merits it, he's as entitled to be in the squad as anyone else.

[irishfan86]

I’ve always thought Clark was decent on the ball. If anything my main criticism has often been on the defensive end, with poor decision making at times and also bullied off the ball in key moments. One of Clark’s better attributes in my view is his ability to bring the ball out from the back. Always funny how folks can often see the same player in very different ways.

[Jd2793]

On what do you base your on-the-ball comment? Also, if Clark's form merits it, he's as entitled to be in the squad as anyone else.

i base it on what ive seen? he was the worst player on the pitch against luxemburg aswell. hes 33 in september. thanks for your commitment over the years but his time is up.

[Snapshot]

i base it on what ive seen? he was the worst player on the pitch against luxemburg aswell. hes 33 in september. thanks for your commitment over the years but his time is up.
Did your visual acuity cop Stephen Kenny standing on the sideline like a myopic rabbit caught in the headlights with his simplistic, predictable strategy pulled apart after 10 minutes? By that stage Luxembourg had bottled up midfield leaving our defenders with virtually no passing options. As usual, we had no Plan B. Clark was no worse than anyone else, in fact his completed pass rate was a respectable 83%. Easy scapegoat option.

[Jd2793]

Did your visual acuity cop Stephen Kenny standing on the sideline like a myopic rabbit caught in the headlights with his simplistic, predictable strategy pulled apart after 10 minutes? By that stage Luxembourg had bottled up midfield leaving our defenders with virtually no passing options. As usual, we had no Plan B. Clark was no worse than anyone else, in fact his completed pass rate was a respectable 83%. Easy scapegoat option.

83% is bad for a cb actually. easy scapegoat, how is that? ireland have enough depth in that position to not need him again.

[Demesne Lad]

From infogol.net Completed pass rates

Premier League: Duffy 87% Clark 79% Collins 70%

Championship: Egan 80% Dunne 80% Lenihan 66% O'Shea 66%

[tetsujin1979]

Passing stats from the Luxembourg game from whoscored: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1516066/LiveStatistics/International-World-Cup-Qualification-UEFA-2021-2022-Ireland-Luxembourg


Player Passes %Completed
Séamus Coleman 54 85.2
Ciaran Clark 81 86.4
Dara O'Shea 65 87.7

Not much between them to be honest. Little surprised at Coleman's numbers, but he was playing in an unfamiliar role the right side of a back three

[John83]

While the stats don't tell you everything, I have long felt that some players with a modest deficiency get absolutely and unjustfiably hammered over it.

[tetsujin1979]

There is a confirmation bias in relying on stats to prove a point, if you want to prove something, like that Clark is worse than any other option at centre half, then you'll find the stats to prove that.

[pineapple stu]

And an 86.4% pass rate is no good if, for example, you can't actually head the ball or win an aerial battle.

It's good to see him get a move, and I think it's also good that we have at least one position where we can leave Championship-level players out of the squad. Lenihan, for example, is down the pecking order a bit but was called on in June and did quite well. You could probably say the same about Jimmy Dunne. That's nice to have, squad-wise.

[Demesne Lad]

Clark (33) played for 80 mins in the away win at Cardiff on 12 November. Because of injury, he had only played for 170 mins in total in the Championship this season before Saturday's game. Even before that game, his manager Paul Heckingbottom was very positive about his influence since his arrival on loan from Newcastle Utd.

'Lads like him' - Newcastle's Ciaran Clark having positive impact amid Sheffield United injury woe - YorkshireLive (examinerlive.co.uk) (https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/lads-like-him-newcastles-ciaran-25475789)

[Snapshot]

Good luck to him. Ridiculously maligned player.

[Kingdom]

Good luck to him. Ridiculously maligned player.

I'd agree, one of my favourite players of the last decade. Always thought he got too much abuse for one or two high profile mistakes (Belgium waterslide Euro 2016 comes to mind), rather than praise for consistently solid performances (and he's a serious threat in the opposition box for us).

[Eirambler]

Good player, but one of those centre backs that you always felt had a mistake in him. Reminded me of Gary Breen in that sense. Both good pros but maybe just lacking the 90 minute concentration needed to step up to a higher level than mid table Premier League.