Clarke to West Ham

[Slash/ED]

Has nobody mentioned this? A left back going to a premiership club has to be considered good news. I had a quick look for threads on it so if there was one, sorry.

http://www.whufc.com/article.asp?article=295763&Title=HAMMERS+SIGN+CLARKE&lid=_News+Headlines&navlid=

THE Club is pleased to announce the signing of defender Clive Clarke from Stoke City for £275,000.

The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international full-back arrives at Upton Park after impressing in an excellent season at the Britannia Stadium last term.

Clive began his career as a trainee at Stoke in 1996, making his debut three years later in May 1999 against Oldham Athletic.

Naturally left-sided, quick and comfortable on the ball, Clive immediately established himself as a key player in the Stoke side. He went on to make 259 appearances and scored an impressive 10 goals from full-back.

A versatile player, Clive can also play in the centre of defence or midfield. After a distinguished career for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, the Dublin-born defender won his first full cap in a 1-0 win over Jamaica in June 2004.

FACTFILE

Name: Clive Clarke
Born: Dublin
Date of Birth: 14th January 1980
Height: 6ft 1ins
Weight: 12st 3lbs
Previous Clubs: Stoke City
International: Republic of Ireland, 1 Full Cap

[Stuttgart88]

Does anyone know what sort of competition he'll be facing at West Ham for the left-back spot?

The guy beside me at work is a Hammers fan. Last year they had the veteran Chris Powell but he's gone back to Charlton I think. Brevitt has played there but he's gone too. Repka has also played there. They have bought two new centre-halves from Cardiff - Gabbidon & Collins - in addition to the two they already had - Ferdinand & Elliott Ward. So it seems like there are several good defenders at the club, but none is necessarily a specialist left-back other than Clarke.

[Stuttgart88]

It'll be interesting to see how he does. I thought he was a better squad option than Maybury throughout last year.

[Stuttgart88]

Article attached (apologies for the format - it's difficult to cut & paste from this source):

CLARKE BACKS WEST HAM TO STAY UP
By Graham Chase, PA Sport
Clive Clarke claims he preferred a £275,000 move to West Ham to a switch to
Sunderland because he thinks the Hammers have a better chance of staying in thePremiership.

The 25-year-old left-back, who had just under a year left on his contract at
the Britannia Stadium, has been linked with a move away from the Potters all
summer and the Black Cats had a formal offer of £100,000 turned down by the
Championship club.

Burnley had a £125,000 bid knocked back and there was also reported interest
from Ipswich but Clarke has now signed a four-year deal with the east London
club.

It is another significant boost to the defensive options of Alan Pardew, who
has also signed Charlton's Paul Konchesky and Cardiff duo James Collins and
Danny Gabbidon.

Like Konchesky, Clarke is a versatile operator and has had long spells in
central midfield for Stoke.

He hopes top-flight football will help him add to his one Republic of Ireland
cap and admits he was concerned a fee might not be agreed before the closing ofthe transfer window at the end of August.

He said: ``There have been a few bids but I'm just happy it's sorted out now.
``It was a worry with so many bids being rejected. You always want to improveand hopefully it will help (my international ambitions).''

Along with the Black Cats and Wigan, the Hammers are favourites for relegation but Clarke reckons the team promoted through the play-offs are more likely to remain in the top flight than the clubs coming up automatically.

Clarke is also optimistic that another striker can be added by Pardew before
the Londoners meet Blackburn on the opening day of the season.

``Out of the three teams promoted, I think we've got the best chance of
staying up,'' he continued. ``The manager has already signed some good players and hopefully there's alittle bit more money to buy another top striker as well. ``Alan hasn't promised me anything, he just said he wanted another left-sided player. I've come in, and obviously whoever is doing the best will play.''

``I've been (at Stoke) so long and I wish them all the best but this move
didn't need selling to me. It's a big club and it's a great opportunity for
me.''

[dr_peepee]

Pardew has spent the last few years in the Championship so he'd have come accross Clarke a few times and I'd assume would know what he's all about. Plus the fact they gave him a four year contract speaks of how highly he's rated.

Fingers crossed. By all accounts he was 'treading water' the last while at Stoke!!

[tetsujin1979]

Pardew has spent the last few years in the Championship so he'd have come accross Clarke a few times and I'd assume would know what he's all about. Plus the fact they gave him a four year contract speaks of how highly he's rated.

Fingers crossed. By all accounts he was 'treading water' the last while at Stoke!!
Think he was p!ssed at them because he wanted to leave and they wouldn't let him, think Parker at Charlton or Saha at Fulham