Clive Clarke to Sunderland

**eirebhoy** · 26/01/2005, 10:00 AM

This rumour has been going around for a while now but they've now made a bid:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...nd/4205767.stm

Sunderland are understood to have made an attempt to sign Stoke City captain Clive Clarke.

The Black Cats are believed to have made an undisclosed offer to fellow Championship outfit Stoke for the services of the 25-year-old.

Republic of Ireland international Clarke has made over 200 appearances for the Potters.

Also able to play in midfield, the versatile left-back would be a useful addition to Mick McCarthy's side.

I'd love to see him go there and play at left back, he could be our only left back playing premiership football (in that position) next season.

**Stuttgart88** · 26/01/2005, 10:18 AM

As I've said a few times I like this lad and it could be the catalyst he needs to step up the grade(s) necessary.

I hope it works out.

**Karlos** · 26/01/2005, 10:57 AM

Saw him down at Highbury there 2 weeks ago and have to say wasn't overly impressed. He was however up against Reyes & Pires at times. Might have just not been his best game. He was substituted during the game. Hope the move goes well - we could do with having another decent left back.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/01/2005, 10:59 AM

Slightly off-topic, does anyone on the forum live in Sunderland or know any Sunderland fans? Just wondering what they all think of the amount of Irish players at the team, good thing/bad thing/etc?

**Peadar** · 26/01/2005, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Just wondering what they all think of the amount of Irish players at the team, good thing/bad thing/etc?

I listen to them on TalkSport and Radio5Live and given that they're in 3rd place, only 3 points off the top of the Championship, they're well chuffed with life at the moment. They're also taking great pleasure out of seeing Newcastle United in such a mess.

**colster** · 26/01/2005, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Slightly off-topic, does anyone on the forum live in Sunderland or know any Sunderland fans? Just wondering what they all think of the amount of Irish players at the team, good thing/bad thing/etc?

Try their MB http://www.readytogo.net/smb/

**eirebhoy** · 26/01/2005, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by KarlosIRL

Saw him down at Highbury there 2 weeks ago and have to say wasn't overly impressed. He was however up against Reyes & Pires at times. Might have just not been his best game. He was substituted during the game. Hope the move goes well - we could do with having another decent left back.

I'm just after looking at the Stoke team for the game against Arsenal and it looks like Clarke played in central midfield for that match:
Stoke: Simonsen, Thomas, Taggart, Buxton, Hall, Russell,Greenacre (Asaba 77), Halls (Henry 52), Clarke (Eustace 77),Akinbiyi, Jarrett.

Taggart and Buxton are both centre half's, Thomas is a right full and Hall is a left full.
I stand corrected though.

**Karlos** · 26/01/2005, 12:58 PM

he didn't start off at left back but did interchange with Halls during the first half as he appeared to be playing left of centre mid or left wing. Dropped back to left-back when Halls was substituted. Buxton played at right back in the game from what I remember

**eirebhoy** · 26/01/2005, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by KarlosIRL

he didn't start off at left back but did interchange with Halls during the first half as he appeared to be playing left of centre mid or left wing. Dropped back to left-back when Halls was substituted. Buxton played at right back in the game from what I remember

I'm a bit confused (Ok Buxton at right back and Thomas at CB is a straight swap) but Halls is also a right back is he not? There's about bloody 9 full backs in the team.

**Karlos** · 26/01/2005, 1:10 PM

not up to date on the Stoke lads in fairness but it appears he played right or left backs in the wide midfield positions. Akinbiyi played up top on his own with 5 in midfield. Almost sure Buxton was at rightback and Halls was at left but open to correction if someone knows better. Nearly bloody worked aswell having all those defenders in there!

**Peadar** · 26/01/2005, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by KarlosIRL

not up to date on the Stoke lads

Get Pat O'Banton's better half in here, she'll sort this out!

**gspain** · 26/01/2005, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Slightly off-topic, does anyone on the forum live in Sunderland or know any Sunderland fans? Just wondering what they all think of the amount of Irish players at the team, good thing/bad thing/etc?

Was there for Quinner's testimonial in 2002.

This was before McCarthy obviously but few I spoke with were quite happy with any player from anywhere once he was totally committed to the jersey and the club. Quinner is of course a legend on Wearside. I can't imagine any one having a problem there becaus eof their nationality (unless of course they were Geordie.

)

A lot of Sunderland fans actually also support Rangers and one guy near me had a Sunderland shirt, Rangers scarf and a tricolour with Niall Quinn's photo on it.

I believe when Howard "only play one twos with God" Wilkinson took over he took one look at Sean Thornton (bleached hair, white boots) and said "you'd better be some f%^king player son"

**livehead1** · 26/01/2005, 5:46 PM

from what i remember watchin a documentary about carlisle when they had courteney and roddy collins in charge, the were well Pis*ed off with all the "paddy's" and dint want to be known as irish united,lol....altho they were cr*p at the time....

thecorner · 26/01/2005, 5:56 PM

why dont sunderland just change their name to "the irish rejects"

**Stuttgart88** · 27/01/2005, 7:09 AM

Elliott, Thornton, Clarke, Ryan etc. would be better described as "prospects" not "rejects" IMO.

**Pat O' Banton** · 27/01/2005, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Get Pat O'Banton's better half in here, she'll sort this out!

Mrs O' B? surely your not going to be listening to what women are saying about Football?

.

I've only seen Stoke a few times this season and he certainly seems to have been the kind of anchor man in midfield and hasn't overly impress my expert eye!

It was a strange move as he seemed really to have come on at left back and I was thinking that he may be worth a go in a frendly or two (certainly better then Maybury.) However things should be viewed in terms of Stoke's overall record, he plays as a defensive midfielder in one of the tightest defences in the division and if Tony Pullis knows about anything in football its about defending. Also he regards Clarke enough to have made him captain.

**eirebhoy** · 27/01/2005, 2:31 PM

I found it a weird coincidence that when Kerr went to see Clarke (and Rowlands) v QPR 2 weeks ago, Clarke was playing left back for one of the few times this season. Hopefully he gets a callup (and starts at LB) v Portugal. O'Shea isn't a left back and Maybury is a right footer.