Clark doing well at centre-half vs City tonight. Has made some important interceptions and one great tackle in the box. The doc will be pleased.
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Clark doing well at centre-half vs City tonight. Has made some important interceptions and one great tackle in the box. The doc will be pleased.
Injured himself clattering Jovetic (at least it wasn't his own player for once) and had to be taken off at 2-0. He played Dzeko onside for the second goal but probably couldn't have been expected to check his run as the covering defender.
Rare start for Ciaran Clark this afternoon against Arsenal.
Well that's a nightmare five minutes for Villa right there. Clark lost Welbeck for the second, didn't really have anything to do with the other two goals.
He fourth choice at cb for villa now and i say okore is also ahead of him as well only for he well down with flu!
He did have something to do with one of the other goals he gave wellbeck space and didn't cut out the ball for özils goal.
I think we are going to see less and less of him.
I don't think so, the midfielder was coming across to cover, Clark was staying in line with the back four and was quite a distance from Welbeck (far farther away than the tracking midfielder as Welbeck was coming from deep). Most centre halves would do exactly the thing).Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I think you're possibly right on the second point. He should've scored five minutes before Villa's meltdown too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Think we need to lay off Clarky now, he was built up by most on here as our next big hope, some even laughingly suggesting he's the next Dunny (There's a joke in there fellas!)
Anyone with decent football knowledge knew he wasn't that good.
I think the same will become of Grealish, saw him a few times now to me he's another McClean.
No doubt I will get slated for that last comment, but as you all know I'm usually right when it comes to footie.
i cant imagine 2 players in the world more different than mcclean and grealish. that is no disrespect to either. grealish would love mccleans pace and physicallity as he lacks both.
you're going to have to explain that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
I wasn't saying they are the same type or style of player, I was referring to the similar hype and expectation of each player.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
In the end we were all disappointed in McClean being no where near as good as we expected, something I feel will happen with Grealish.
I think Grealish will end up having a career like Daniel Nardiello.
I'm not disappointed in McClean at all. I never expected much from him because he's not that talented, and I found the fan roar that greeted his introduction during Trapattoni's reign embarrassing to say the least.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
Grealish's natural ability lies on a much higher level.
Good job he wasn't associated with that defeat at home to Spurs. That bloke Sanchez is a liability. Baker practically guided that free kick in with his head while Agbonlahor was fast asleep for Spurs' equaliser. Young Jack found it all quite amusing on the bench until the late winner.
Looks like Clark could do with a move, he's not going to learn and improve by not playing. How is Darren Bent still at Villa?
senderos is injured as well. okore like gibson seems to b finding return from acl surgery very difficult. recent research showed that only 50% of people who have acl surgery return to their same level of sport i.e premier league, munster senior league, ucd superleague etc.
To be fair to Clark, he should be ahead of Baker.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Clark won't get any better, same as Wilson and Keogh mistakes waiting to happen every game.
Wilson will cost us points, he's not a CB, did you see him for Stoke on Sat?
Got turned horrendously for West Hams first goal.
The sooner SSL gets a club the better for Ireland.
Why would you say that? Richard Dunne improved with experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
How's that going? Is he in touch with clubs or what exactly is he doing?Quote:
The sooner SSL gets a club the better for Ireland.
Active on the old twitter. Seems to be getting a lot of TV time in.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Is he taking a break from football for a bit or something? It's certainly odd that he'd have been unable to find a club interested in his services.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
No offers according to himself. Seems to be getting more disheartened. I suspect his agent isn't doing his job properly as he is a really good player and should have clubs lining up for him.
100% spot on Chazza!Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Clubs think he's still injured!
100% fit, lets start a
"Get Ledge back playing" campaign
I'd say him sacking his agent would be more effective than a message board campaign.
At this stage I'd be happy if he got back to where he was two or three years ago. Wasn't he Villa's vice captain at that stage and getting regular football? I think he looked a more than decent prospect at that stage but he definitely needs a move.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
He needs a move. He's 25 now. Far too old for being a good prospect.
Starting tonight centre half v Southampton. Grealish & Given on the bench with Long starting for Southampton.
Just made a goal saving tackle!
And a goal-making clearance!
The defending from Villa has been agricultural to say the least, but it's benefited Clark and Okore who are doing well. Long has been kept fairly quiet so far.
Finishes 1-1. Thought Clark played really well, Villa's best player just ahead of Okore. Several great blocks and challenges. Also was the leader in the back four and appeared to be quite vocal in organising the defence - the Sky commentary team mentioned that he was telling the back four to keep a high line and forcing them up throughout the second half.
Clark got the Sky man of the match too.
Long had a quiet enough game, though was shunted out to the right in the second half. Looked frustrated when he was subbed off late on.
Good to hear, I only saw a small bit. I think he's definitely our third best centre back, if not second. Throw him in with O'Shea from now on and let him develop, added bonus of Wilson replacing Ward at left back.
It was a good performance but he'll be out of the team when Vlaar & Senderos return.
Not to mention Baker.
“The two centre-backs, the young ones were outstanding. Jores (Okore) has been out for 14 months and I thought he was fantastic.
“But I thought Ciaran (Clark), grew up tonight and took the lead role and he was outstanding.
“I thought we played well. We had six players out , three centre-backs and (Christian) Benteke’s out, (Nathan) Baker and (Fabian) Delph’s out , big players for this club and it’s a lot to carry.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...ght-1.2014234?
So what about that black eye? Was there anything in that Keane bust up or was that conjured out of the fact that he had a black eye to begin with? I suspect the latter.
I wouldn't read too much into what Lambert says, he makes it up as he goes along.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
He still believes in Father Christmas after getting a new four year deal on the back of 3 poor seasons.
I was at the Villa game last night got a couple off compos off the bearded wonder!
Good game by Clarky, but one good game every 30 games isn't good enough.
As they say "one swallow doesn't make a summer!"
Unless your on holiday with Miss world!
The spot beside Vlaar is there to be played for. There's not really anything between Clark and Baker aside from one being a flavour of the moment. He might have nipped back in front of Baker based on last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by backtowalsall
Also Vlaar could be out the door come January.
Just scored to equalise for Villa v Leicester. Great header from a free. First goal in 2 tears apparently. Very similar to Sledge's goal v Italy.
Was it definitely his head? It looked like a great cushioned header at first but another look made me suspect it was his back, or shoulder.
Defo a header.
https://vine.co/v/OrOVnFnvVxi
A sliding header - you don't see that every day. Definitely good to see him playing regularly for Villa again - sometimes hard for me to judge players from Canada, as I don't see many games live, but it sounds like he's been written off as unfulfilled promise when he may just have gone through what they call a "Sophomore slump" over here - where a player has a terrific rookie season and in his second season plays poorly before often coming back to deliver on his first-season promise later in his career. If Clark can rediscover his earlier form it would really be a boon for our defence - it frees up Marc Wilson to play left-back and means that when John O'Shea retires we only need to fill one central defender role between Duffy, O'Brien, Hoban, Keogh, Pearce, Baba, Cleary, O'Connell and any other up-and-comers rather than hoping that two of them become top-class centre-backs - of course if more than one of them succeed, all the better.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels