Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

**the doc** · 29/03/2014, 8:39 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

St. Ledger can mark three men by himself.

He had to do it a few times when Dunne, OShea and Ward went missing at the Euros

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 29/03/2014, 8:45 PM

Originally Posted by the doc

He had to do it a few times when Dunne, OShea and Ward went missing at the Euros

I think there is substantial evidence that St Ledger looked halfway decent because he had players like Dunne and O'Shea to babysit him. There has got to be a reason why he is so ponderous at Championship level.

**Charlie Darwin** · 29/03/2014, 8:48 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I think there is substantial evidence that St Ledger looked halfway decent because he had players like Dunne and O'Shea to babysit him. There has got to be a reason why he is so ponderous at Championship level.

That's a bit harsh. I think the doc stood up in some games where those players were unavailable or were playing like drains. In fact, I can't really think of a time he's not been up there with our best players.

I know my Footie

**Charlie Darwin** · 29/03/2014, 10:37 PM

Interesting point made by Shearer (I know) on MOTD, that Mata's run means Clark has to follow him and leave Rooney unmarked for the first goal. You'd have to question the doc's analysis that he was ball-watching when he was clearly following the runner.

**SkStu** · 29/03/2014, 11:32 PM

In fairness we've been questioning his analysis on all facets of good defending/defenders for years.

**Charlie Darwin** · 29/03/2014, 11:39 PM

It was more emphatic the way I phrased it.

**Stuttgart88** · 30/03/2014, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Interesting point made by Shearer (I know) on MOTD, that Mata's run means Clark has to follow him and leave Rooney unmarked for the first goal. You'd have to question the doc's analysis that he was ball-watching when he was clearly following the runner.

Yep I think he was damned of he went and damned if he didn't, maybe he could have chosen to stay with Rooney in hindsight. It was good football from United.

**SkStu** · 30/03/2014, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

It was more emphatic the way I phrased it.

It was redundant!

**the doc** · 31/03/2014, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yep I think he was damned of he went and damned if he didn't, maybe he could have chosen to stay with Rooney in hindsight. It was good football from United.

Have any of you on here played Football?

In that situation you try and hold your position,you do not go chasing the ball like a headless chicken.

Clarks too rash, he lacks the ability to read the game and ends up ball watching.

He's third choice at Villa and will be 4th choice once back Okores back.

That's how bad Clark is.

He's had 100 plus games for Villa and hasn't improved at all.

Another false Dawn!

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/03/2014, 12:43 PM

Doc, can you explain to me how following a runner counts as ball-watching, as per your original criticism? It's almost as if you don't really understand yourself whether he did anything wrong or not but you're nevertheless certain they he has and feel the need to offer a criticism no matter how half-baked.

**KK77** · 31/03/2014, 2:30 PM

Absolutely no doubts Clarke was at fault for the first goal. Ball watching at it's best.

**paul_oshea** · 31/03/2014, 3:24 PM

I didnt see it, anyone care to show? I'm pretty sure if CD is saying that he wasn't at fault he probably was though :P

**DeLorean** · 31/03/2014, 3:35 PM

It's here at 2:40. It is mainly Clark's fault. There was a player tracking Mata even if he appeared to be losing the race. Leaving Rooney alone in the middle of the penalty box shouldn't really have been an option. You could make the case that the left back should have left Young and covered for Clark but he wouldn't have got there in time anyway.

**Stuttgart88** · 31/03/2014, 3:42 PM

I might need to look at it again. My recollection is as follows:

A cross came in from the left. A MU forward attached the space at the near post and Clark had the choice of following him or stay put, with Rooney lurking just behind him. I don't know why he had a decision to make as there should probably have been another Villa CB present. He chose to track the near post decoy run and Rooney was left unmarked to nod a tidy header home. Had Clark chosen to hold his ground it may have prevented the goal, but the near post runner might have been able to nod it in.

I wouldn't call it ball watching because Clark was reacting to a MU player's run, but "bad reading" is probably fair, as per part of Doc's criticism.

In the ten minutes following he made a good block and got a great head in front of Vidic to save a certain goal.

I didn't see the second half.

[Edit: DeLorean posted the link while I was typing]

**paul_oshea** · 31/03/2014, 4:06 PM

He shouldnt have ran toward mata as mata is clearly being tracked there by a villa player, who is running in with him, as soon as its obvious the ball is coming in he stops.

Clark should have had enough confidence in the villa player coming back to do his job and worry about his own job only which was to stay put and keep an eye on Rooney. No ones fault but Clarks, inexperience more than anything you'd hope though, otherwise very poor judgement and something he should have by now.

**CraftyToePoke** · 31/03/2014, 4:22 PM

Just looked at it and am reluctantly with Doc on it, as I still hope Clark will become a key player for us but, he should have held position imo, but I think his team mate lad lost the runner and instinctively he moved to cover, but the Mata run was to the near post and even if the crosser found him running at pace, which was a lower percentage risk anyway, he still had a more difficult finish than Rooney in the center of the goal, stood still. it made the ball in to Rooney an easier one to pick out also.

**paul_oshea** · 31/03/2014, 4:35 PM

Thats exactly how i saw it, but even though mata had an edge on the player tracking back he stopped once he saw where the ball was going, so even if clark had felt the need to cover, he should have waited regardless he would still have got across to cover that area, thats good spatial awareness, perhaps he doesn't have it, or hasn't learned it yet....

**SwanVsDalton** · 31/03/2014, 4:56 PM

Part of the issue is that Villa's defenders play like shellshocked soldiers returning from WW2. Panic stricken and totally reactive. You could drive buses through the space they leave. Utd's movement was decent but hardly superlative - yet it caused the back four to have a collective aneurysm. Less said about Stoke the week previous, the better.

It's been chronic like that for three seasons. Occasionally non-existant covering from midfielders is part of the problem but, defensively, Villa just can't stay organised consistently. Maddening.

**sadloserkid** · 31/03/2014, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Part of the issue is that Villa's defenders play like shellshocked soldiers returning from WW2. Panic stricken and totally reactive. You could drive buses through the space they leave. Utd's movement was decent but hardly superlative - yet it caused the back four to have a collective aneurysm. Less said about Stoke the week previous, the better.

It's been chronic like that for three seasons. Occasionally non-existant covering from midfielders is part of the problem but, defensively, Villa just can't stay organised consistently. Maddening.

Clark IS part of the problem there though. Not all of it but he carries his fair share.

**SwanVsDalton** · 31/03/2014, 6:20 PM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

Clark IS part of the problem there though. Not all of it but he carries his fair share.

Of course, it's up to him (and the other defenders) to cut out silly errors. But it should be said it's almost the same malaise that looked Dunne like a pub player for a large part of his Villa stint. Sometimes the problems run deeper than the individual.