Ciaran Clark D Free agent b.1989

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/02/2011, 11:12 PM

In fairness, it does sound like a bit of a cop-out on the player's part. And the FAI do seem almost too pre-occupied with getting English youngsters involved at underage level, judging by the proportion of them that seem to be in the squads of every age group. Missing Clark does seem like a glaring oversight though.

**paul_oshea** · 08/02/2011, 7:27 PM

Tardelli telling trap who irelands number 7 is.

Good header by Clark there

**the bear** · 08/02/2011, 9:26 PM

left back problem solved??

**Kingdom** · 08/02/2011, 9:38 PM

Impressed with the young lad. Confident on the ball and in tight situations.
Who'd have thought Man City getting taken over by the Emirates would mean Ireland unearthing a new left back!

**elroy** · 08/02/2011, 9:40 PM

Thought he did well, solid, very good in the area, good positioning etc. Only point would be that it didnt really offer much going forward but he could well have been operating on those instructions. Probably deserves to start against Macedonia now.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/02/2011, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Impressed with the young lad. Confident on the ball and in tight situations.
Who'd have thought Man City getting taken over by the Emirates would mean Ireland unearthing a new left back!

Man City?

**SwanVsDalton** · 08/02/2011, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

Thought he did well, solid, very good in the area, good positioning etc. Only point would be that it didnt really offer much going forward but he could well have been operating on those instructions. Probably deserves to start against Macedonia now.

To be honest I don't think he'll ever offer loads going forward since he's not an orthodox left back. But he's certainly game and a natural footballer.

**Kingdom** · 08/02/2011, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Man City?

If Man City hadn't been revolutionised, Dunney Monster wouldn't have gone to Villa, wouldn't have met Clarkey's Mother after the friendly vs Valencia, wouldn't have recognised her bogger Leitrim accent, and wouldn't have got Clark to play for Ireland.

Comprende?

**noddy102** · 08/02/2011, 10:12 PM

Clark was solid, and that's the best back 5 we can hope to have for the rest of the campaign.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/02/2011, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

If Man City hadn't been revolutionised, Dunney Monster wouldn't have gone to Villa, wouldn't have met Clarkey's Mother after the friendly vs Valencia, wouldn't have recognised her bogger Leitrim accent, and wouldn't have got Clark to play for Ireland.

Comprende?

Welcome to foot.ie, Richard

**Sullivinho** · 08/02/2011, 11:32 PM

Ringing endorsement for Ciaran from Trap in his post-match interview tonight.

**paul_oshea** · 09/02/2011, 9:53 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

If Man City hadn't been revolutionised, Dunney Monster wouldn't have gone to Villa, wouldn't have met Clarkey's Mother after the friendly vs Valencia, wouldn't have recognised her bogger Leitrim accent, and wouldn't have got Clark to play for Ireland.

Comprende?

It was clear to me kingdom. Mind the bogger accent ye knacker dub.

**geysir** · 09/02/2011, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

In fairness, it does sound like a bit of a cop-out on the player's part. And the FAI do seem almost too pre-occupied with getting English youngsters involved at underage level, judging by the proportion of them that seem to be in the squads of every age group. Missing Clark does seem like a glaring oversight though.

Kevin McDonald was at Villa for many years while Clark was a promising youth there and being picked for the English underage teams.

**Duggie** · 09/02/2011, 10:20 AM

isnt both his parents irish? weird he went with england in the first place. anyway hes with us now. fair play to dunney.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/03/2011, 6:45 PM

Clark's playing centre half tonight with Dunne against City as Cuellar and Collins are both injured. Will be interesting to see which one lines up on the left side.

**paul_oshea** · 02/03/2011, 7:32 PM

himself and dunney seem to be getting caught for pace a bit in this game.

**CraftyToePoke** · 02/03/2011, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

himself and dunney seem to be getting caught for pace a bit in this game.

To be fair there isnt much of a midfield ahead of them. I think they have done ok.

**paul_oshea** · 02/03/2011, 8:49 PM

There might not have been, but they were caught out numerous times, particularly clark, very slow, positional sense from both was very poor, if yer midfield is poor you don't pull so far up if you are lacking in pace at the back, you have to stay deep, they didnt do that and they got caught out time and time again.

3 -0 is a fair assessment of how they did. Anyone can thank whoever they like but the reality is the score speaks for itself. And it could have been worse.

**SwanVsDalton** · 02/03/2011, 9:07 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

There might not have been, but they were caught out numerous times, particularly clark, very slow, positional sense from both was very poor, if yer midfield is poor you don't pull so far up if you are lacking in pace at the back, you have to stay deep, they didnt do that and they got caught out time and time again.

What game were you watching? Delph and Herd - two centre mid's playing as full back's were - were caught out several times but Dunne and Clark, despite having no protection from full-back's or centre mid, actually made several crucial interceptions and tackles. They had little or no support and stood up fairly well, Clark was pulled around at the start by Balotelli but he upped his game in fairness and, aside from getting caught from the second, did OK. Dunne was possibly Villa's best player.

When the centre midfield is non-existent it becomes very easy for the opposition to play dainty balls over the top btw. Petrov, Bradley and Bannan were overrun and clueless.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

3-0 is a fair assessment of how they did. Anyone can thank whoever they like but the reality is the score speaks for itself. And it could have been worse.

Eh? No one said otherwise. Villa should've got utterly hammered - the fact they didn't is mostly down to Dunne, in particular, and Clark.