Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

**elroy** · 21/09/2010, 9:25 AM

Accordingly to the papers today, this lad is the subject of interest from Man U at the moment and apparently to form part of a deal involving Michael Owen going to Villa. Now I hate these random threads about Irish sounding young lads as much as the next, but this lad is eligible for us, although English born both his parents are Irish. Unfortunately, he has represented England at youth level so far. Im not aware of any approaches been made by the FAI for him, but judging by the reports he seems to be one to check out.

He is currently playing with the Villa reserves, any one know much about him?

**cornflakes** · 21/09/2010, 12:08 PM

He played a few games at the start of the season for Villa, when James Collins was injured I think, he did ok.

Bad move for Villa if that story is true, he has potential and Owen is ****e!

**Predator** · 21/09/2010, 12:43 PM

Bow down to the power of Wikipedia!

That wiki article says he's 20 years old and a centre half.

**AlaskaFox** · 21/09/2010, 1:35 PM

He's been on the cusp of first team action for a while, but with MacDonald now finished up, he could well return to the reserves. Depends on Houllier. I doubt he'll declare for Ireland though.

**ChrisRed** · 21/09/2010, 1:56 PM

Chatting to a Villa fan at work (season ticket holder) and he really rates him, thinks he's a great prospect and doesn't think Villa will swap Clark for Owen unless there is a big sum attached. Thinks he is twice the player of Shane Lowry and Lowry isn't that bad. He has been England under 19 captain so can't see him switching allegiance, especially given how unstable the England centre backs are currently and quite a few will be retiring in the next few years. Although saying that he has never publically rulled out playing for Ireland that I know of.

**TrapAPony** · 21/09/2010, 2:24 PM

IMO we would have to be qualifying for tournaments before any of these lads would even think of playing for us.

**Predator** · 21/09/2010, 2:59 PM

If he'd like to play for us, great. It's nice to have more options at centre back, considering that Dunne is 30, but I think we already have a fair few solid defenders at underage level. The likes of Duffy, O'Brien and Egan have all got loads of potential, not to mention Darren O'Dea, who will hopefully get more game time this season.

**Brendan 82** · 21/09/2010, 3:45 PM

Daniel Devine is an Irish defender at Villa. Played in FA Cup final against Chelsea (the one in which C. Clifford scored the winner)

**carloz** · 21/09/2010, 4:26 PM

There is actually a bundle of irish lads at Aston Villa. Fingers crossed some of them can do well. Description of all the Villa Academy players with Irish links here

http://greenscene.me/2010/09/academy...n-villa-youth/

**Razors left peg** · 21/09/2010, 5:22 PM

Originally Posted by Predator

If he'd like to play for us, great. It's nice to have more options at centre back, considering that Dunne is 30, but I think we already have a fair few solid defenders at underage level. The likes of Duffy, O'Brien and Egan have all got loads of potential, not to mention Darren O'Dea, who will hopefully get more game time this season.

Whos Egan? cant remember hearing anything about him before

**TrapAPony** · 21/09/2010, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Whos Egan? cant remember hearing anything about him before

John Egan of Sunderland.

http://www.safc.com/page/AcademySqua...695274,00.html

**SwanVsDalton** · 21/09/2010, 6:48 PM

Great prospect, has settled into the team with very little problems both at the start of last season and this season (barring that 6-0 aberration against Newcastle). Looks like he's plumping for England before us though. If he ever changed his mind for whatever reason, and proved good enough, would have no problem having him in the squad.

**AlaskaFox** · 21/09/2010, 6:58 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

There is actually a bundle of irish lads at Aston Villa. Fingers crossed some of them can do well. Description of all the Villa Academy players with Irish links here

http://greenscene.me/2010/09/academy...n-villa-youth/

That youngster Grealish looked pretty good for our under 16s, but I think he's switched to England now.

**elroy** · 21/09/2010, 9:29 PM

Pity, with two Irish parents you might have thought the chances of having wanting to play for us would be reasonably high.

**greendeiseboy** · 21/09/2010, 9:50 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

Pity, with two Irish parents you might have thought the chances of having wanting to play for us would be reasonably high.

Dont think it would make any difference - he'd struggle to get in to Trappatoni's settled squad ahead of a heavyweight like McShane

**gastric** · 21/09/2010, 10:45 PM

We might be blessed soon with having more choice among our centre halves. Predator mentioned some above, but there are also prospects in Anthony O' Connor at Blackburn, (he was recently mentioned somewhere as one to watch) and Sean McGinty at Man Utd.

**Predator** · 22/09/2010, 1:46 AM

Originally Posted by carloz

There is actually a bundle of irish lads at Aston Villa. Fingers crossed some of them can do well. Description of all the Villa Academy players with Irish links here

http://greenscene.me/2010/09/academy...n-villa-youth/

Good grief, England are now 'poaching' our youngsters!

Originally Posted by gastric

We might be blessed soon with having more choice among our centre halves. Predator mentioned some above, but there are also prospects in Anthony O' Connor at Blackburn, (he was recently mentioned somewhere as one to watch) and Sean McGinty at Man Utd.

Indeed. McGinty, O'Connor, Egan, O'Brien and Duffy are all in the U19 squad for their up-coming games in the UEFA qualifiers. It will be interesting to see who is the preferred centre-half pairing.

**Razors left peg** · 22/09/2010, 8:08 AM

Originally Posted by Predator

Good grief, England are now 'poaching' our youngsters!

Indeed. McGinty, O'Connor, Egan, O'Brien and Duffy are all in the U19 squad for their up-coming games in the UEFA qualifiers. It will be interesting to see who is the preferred centre-half pairing.

Off to the CAS with us, we know the lads there now

**Closed Account** · 28/09/2010, 1:00 PM

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmin...7319-27353441/
Interesting.

**Razors left peg** · 28/09/2010, 1:20 PM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmin...7319-27353441/
Interesting.

Id be alot more confident if it wasnt Mr Givens making the approach. Lets hope we dont have Steven Ireland taking in his other ear about what he thinks of the Irish set up