Leon Clarke

[Stafford Blade]

Not been on here for a very long time. Surprised to see how much negativity there is towards Clarke on here. Last night he was our best performer, put himself about and won plenty of balls. His winning of balls leads me to one of the worst players last night.....captain fantastic. Several times, Clarke won a header and Sharp was about 30 yards away from the flick on. Sharp doesn't seem to have enough of a footballing brain to play with an effective target man. If one of them has to be dropped it certainly shouldn't be Clarke.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

We've been struck by how incredibly hard he works, defensively as well as up top, and often in lost causes. He reminds us, in an odd way, of poor old Rob Hulse--another Utd striker who spent much of his Blades career twenty yards from everyone else, flicking long balls on to the oppo.

Not sure where the occasional suggestion that Clarke is "lazy" actually comes from, to be honest . Maybe that bloke from Whitby could help us out ?

 

[wizadry]

Not been on here for a very long time. Surprised to see how much negativity there is towards Clarke on here. Last night he was our best performer, put himself about and won plenty of balls. His winning of balls leads me to one of the worst players last night.....captain fantastic. Several times, Clarke won a header and Sharp was about 30 yards away from the flick on. Sharp doesn't seem to have enough of a footballing brain to play with an effective target man. If one of them has to be dropped it certainly shouldn't be Clarke.

There isn't much negativity towards Clarke, it's how we played with the tactics deployed where the negativity comes from. Sharp will never play well for a long ball side, plus it's fucking awful and predictable to watch when as soon as a ball gets lumped forward from one of us, one of the opposition defenders goes to challenge Clarke and the other one drops off and picks up the pieces, it's absolutely shite football of the highest order.

 

[Stafford Blade]

We've been struck by how incredibly hard he works, defensively as well as up top, and often in lost causes. He reminds us, in an odd way, of poor old Rob Hulse--another Utd striker who spent much of his Blades career twenty yards from everyone else, flicking long balls on to the oppo.

Not sure where the occasional suggestion that Clarke is "lazy" actually comes from, to be honest . Maybe that bloke from Whitby could help us out ?

Thinking about it... Didn't he also clatter into Nile Ranger?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Agree. He needs McNulty up front with him. Not Billy "stick my arse out and get a foul" Sharp.

 

[YES Blade]

Why, when you have a player who was top scorer with 21 goals and player of the season do you sign a strike partner for him that is completely the wrong type of striker?

But hey forget last season, Clarke is the man and Sharp is now shit so let's sell Sharp and all worship our new hero!

 

[Harry's Game]

Let's go three up top. Fuck it shit or bust. 4-3-3. We ain't got any wingers and Bash is like playing one short in midfield anyway.

 

[Rodley]

We've been struck by how incredibly hard he works, defensively as well as up top, and often in lost causes. He reminds us, in an odd way, of poor old Rob Hulse--another Utd striker who spent much of his Blades career twenty yards from everyone else, flicking long balls on to the oppo.

Not sure where the occasional suggestion that Clarke is "lazy" actually comes from, to be honest . Maybe that bloke from Whitby could help us out ?

Blackman used to get the lazy jibe from one or two fans as well.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Agree. He needs McNulty up front with him. Not Billy "stick my arse out and get a foul" Sharp.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Why, when you have a player who was top scorer with 21 goals and player of the season do you sign a striker partner for him that is completely the wrong type of striker?

But hey forget last season, Clarke is the man and Sharp is now shit so let's sell Sharp and all worship our new hero!

Were we not in agreement that what we did last season didn't work?

 

[Muttley]

Best

Not been on here for a very long time. Surprised to see how much negativity there is towards Clarke on here. Last night he was our best performer, put himself about and won plenty of balls. His winning of balls leads me to one of the worst players last night.....captain fantastic. Several times, Clarke won a header and Sharp was about 30 yards away from the flick on. Sharp doesn't seem to have enough of a footballing brain to play with an effective target man. If one of them has to be dropped it certainly shouldn't be Clarke.

Player by a mile last night

 

[YES Blade]

Were we not in agreement that what we did last season didn't work?

And that was the fault of our best player?

 

[robbiez666]

I don't think many are being negative about Clarke, just how obviously unsuited the striking partnership is

 

[wizadry]

Why, when you have a player who was top scorer with 21 goals and player of the season do you sign a striker partner for him that is completely the wrong type of striker?

But hey forget last season, Clarke is the man and Sharp is now shit so let's sell Sharp and all worship our new hero!

It's embarrassing at times on here. I know why Pinchy gets so annoyed and has to point people in the right direction now mate, forgot how bad this football was until these last two games and people are advocating dropping Sharp over Clarke so we can keep this sort of football going. There's only one way we're going with this type of football and that's down and it grates me to say that.

 

[Barney]

It's McNulty's time for me. These types of situations where one of the main strikers isn't on their game is the reason you have these other options to call on. If not with Clarke, I'd try Done up top with him. Before the season started, Wilder said himself that Done's a striker so it's a bit of a baffling one as to why he's been playing him at left wing. He's either a striker or a sub for me and it's worth seeing what he can do when he's played up top again. Let's not forget either that he cost 600k and was on fire at the time we signed him. He was also quite prolific when he first came here and only tailed off when Adkins started playing him out of position.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

And that was the fault of our best player?

Did I say that? But if last season's efforts resulted in a change of manager, who brings in a change of system and it don't suit our best striker, what do you suggest? We revert to the style that suits one player?

Great, bring Adkins back.

 

[YES Blade]

I don't think many are being negative about Clarke, just how obviously unsuited the striking partnership is

My issue isn't with Clarke as a player, it's that he wasn't the type of player needed. If we needed to replace Sharp then sign him, but we need to replace Adams so why sign Clarke?

 

[Stafford Blade]

Why, when you have a player who was top scorer with 21 goals and player of the season do you sign a strike partner for him that is completely the wrong type of striker?

But hey forget last season, Clarke is the man and Sharp is now shit so let's sell Sharp and all worship our new hero!

Because we now have a new manager who plays a different style, and playing a big lad up top is part of that style. Sharp needs to adapt his game. I reckon Done would relish playing alongside a ball winner like Clarke.

Can't dispute Sharp's record last season, but he was poor last night and he needs to improve quickly.

 

[wizadry]

I can't wait to see these examples of fans being negative towards Clarke, I wait with bated breath.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Been impressed with his attitude and game so far.

 

[wizadry]

Because we now have a new manager who plays a different style, and playing a big lad up top is part of that style. Sharp needs to adapt his game. I reckon Done would relish playing alongside a ball winner like Clarke.

Can't dispute Sharp's record last season, but he was poor last night and he needs to improve quickly.

So Sharp needs to change his game from a 20 goal a season striker to possibly not even getting in double figures? Why should a 30 year old player have to do this?

 

[YES Blade]

Did I say that? But if last season's efforts resulted in a change of manager, who brings in a change of system and it don't suit our best striker, what do you suggest? We revert to the style that suits one player?

Great, bring Adkins back.

The new system is utter shite, so no sure how that backs up your point.

I'm not saying we should focus our entire system around Sharp, but don't change it so he becomes completely ineffective.

 

[Stafford Blade]

So Sharp needs to change his game from a 20 goal a season striker to possibly not even getting in double figures? Why should a 30 year old player have to do this?

Last time I looked, football is a team game.

 

[wizadry]

Last time I looked, football is a team game.

Yes, and you build it around your better players.

 

[YES Blade]

Because we now have a new manager who plays a different style, and playing a big lad up top is part of that style. Sharp needs to adapt his game. I reckon Done would relish playing alongside a ball winner like Clarke.

Can't dispute Sharp's record last season, but he was poor last night and he needs to improve quickly.

Well Sharp can't play that role so it's a case of Clarke or Sharp. So we might as well sell Sharp.

Better still stop playing this awful hoofball.

 

[Stafford Blade]

Yes, and you build it around your better players.

As long as they are prepared to follow the orders of their manager

 

[wizadry]

Been impressed with his attitude and game so far.

His attitude has been good but I'm not convinced about his game due to our managers tactics.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Jesus fucking Christ.

Did I miss the secret meeting where everyone got together and decided that our only consistant goalscorer in 4 years was now shit and shouldn't be on the pitch?

 

[HillmortonBlade]

The new system is utter shite, so no sure how that backs up your point.

I'm not saying we should focus our entire system around Sharp, but don't change it so he becomes completely ineffective.

I'm not so sure we are far apart on this YES, point being that fans have demanded a change from last season and welcomed the new managers plans of a more direct approach. He brought in Leon, changed the system (to fuck knows what) so we can't start being protective of the system does not sort Billy. Mores the pity.

 

[wizadry]

As long as they are prepared to follow the orders of their manager

It seems like they're following them, which is the worrying part.