Clarke

[DronnieBlade]

The only thing that I would criticise Clarke for tonight was in the 2nd half when he was running into the 18yrd box and tried to find Donaldson with a pass instead of shooting. Very strange thing for a relatively inform striker to do. It might have been on his weaker side but it was still worth even a toe punted effort.

Relative to what exactly ?

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[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Relative to what exactly ?

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Lionel Messi

I meant that over the season he's in form, and the league's leading scorer, but he's slightly off the boil at the moment with 2 in 10. The Clarke of November would've had no 2nd thoughts about putting his foot through it.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Lionel Messi

I meant that over the season he's in form, and the league's leading scorer, but he's slightly off the boil at the moment with 2 in 10. The Clarke of November would've had no 2nd thoughts about putting his foot through it.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I must question Wilders judgement as to why EVERY single striker has been rotated. Except Clarke who plays 90 minutes of every game.

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[Dronfield Blade]

At the moment, I think Donaldson is a bigger goal threat given the way we're playing, yes.

Clarke is simply not getting chances.

Then we will have to agree to disagree Robbie.

I believe if we draw tonight we would not be having this conversation. I try to look at a lot of posts regarding players with that outlook.

There is positives in tonight's performance, but as always its the final result that really counts.

Im hopeful that we may just scrape into the playoffs and as I mentioned earlier, I think playing Brooks (or duffy/ holmes) alongside Leon may be the key to unlocking defences.

Either way, good luck to Chris Wilder.

 

[robbiez666]

Then we will have to agree to disagree Robbie.

I believe if we draw tonight we would not be having this conversation. I try to look at a lot of posts regarding players with that outlook.

There is positives in tonights performance but as always its the final results that really count.

Im hopefully that we may just scrape into the playoffs and as I mentioned earlier, I think playing Brooks (or duffy/ holmes) alongside Leon may be the key to unlocking defences.

Either way, good luck to Chris Wilder.

Agreed, but it's worrying not to score in 3 consecutive home league games. Our defence isn't good enough to keep clean sheet regularly.

 

[YES Blade]

I just don’t think we have a striker at the club that is real Championship quality. They are all OK, do a job type strikers so it’s inevitable that they are all going to suffer from loss of form and not score for a few matches.

Personally I’d give Sharp a match or two now but I think Wilder has made his mind up and Clarke is his main man and it’ll take a prolonged loss of form for him to be dropped.

 

[super_pig]

problem wasn’t clarke
JT is still a class act

 

[Iceybabey]

Yep, and then second half I don't think we put a decent pass near him. I'm not really sure what our strikers were supposed to do since we never played through the middle and hesitated for far too long over every crossing opportunity.

Totally agree

 

[SwissBlade]

He needs a rest. I can't fault his general workrate but he's gone off the boil. I don;t think he's adding much at the moment. The problem is that neither Donaldson or Sharp are on form, but I think the former is probably a better starting bet right now. We need something different.

I don’t think Clarke needs a rest, but his game has changed recently. He’s finding it hard to get in behind players.

1st half he was excellent and all over their average centre halves, but second half they sat deeper and it meant he couldn’t play on the shoulder.

Personally I thought Donaldson for Clarke was a better move, Wilson, unless he was knackered (as he’s not played a lot of football ) was still lively. But we also had Billy on the bench and you’ll always get goals from him

I think the biggest compliment was that Villa changed their set up to stifle us, but a criticism of Wilder and Knill is that sometimes we also need to counter those changes better

Up front we now have a lot of options and we need to use them all better. For me Clarke has had a great season, but there’s never any harm in swapping him out for something different instead of waiting for something that just won’t come. Last night and against the pigs are major examples

 

[Razor1967]

Reverted back to the old Leon since the new deal, work rate has dropped significantly and a few times 2nd half he was shrugging shoulders and puffing out cheeks. Maybe fatigue or maybe he's just had a purple patch and reverted to type, who knows. Can't see why Sharp can't get a run of games.

Nonsense!

 

[cahill]

Loved the showboating bit in the first half and the pass with th3 outside of his foot which put one of ours down the wing. Didn’t have a lot to feed on second half.

 

[Lmaobob]

Can't help but get the feeling that now he's signed his new contract, now he's already scored 15 odd goals that he's going to be the first name on the team sheet every week.

Oh and also he was given the armband and since then our results have deteriorated. Why isn't someone like J'OC, Stearman, Bash captain?

 

[DronnieBlade]

First half Clarke was unplayable

There are perhaps a dozen or so players in the world who, at their very best, could maybe be described as unplayable. They tend to earn 8 figure salaries.

Leon Clarke is not one of them !!

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[DronnieBlade]

Can't help but get the feeling that now he's signed his new contract, now he's already scored 15 odd goals that he's going to be the first name on the team sheet every week.

Oh and also he was given the armband and since then our results have deteriorated. Why isn't someone like J'OC, Stearman, Bash captain?

Well slappamythigh

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[DronnieBlade]

Suggested a month ago, the move to Villa, for a significant fee, would be in the long term interest of ALL parties. Every player has a price.

Laughed out of town by the resident experts.

Who’s laughing now ?

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[adebo]

Thought his touch and movement was tired. We need him or Billy or Wilson to get on a hotstreak ASAP

 

[Slim Man]

I love the bloke to bits but I have no faith in him scoring at the minute. He’s not anticipating things and when he is he’s getting the connection wrong.

His link up play will always be just fine cos he’s a good player.

I’d rest him, not drop him, judging on what we do on Saturday. He needs to play against Wolves because he LOVES scoring against his old clubs.

If we get a poor result give Sharp and Wilson a run against Leeds. Donaldson just can’t seem to play at Bramall Lane and we need a bit of luck in front of goal, something Sharp is more likely to provide than anyone.

 

[LSF]

Who’s laughing now ?

Me!
He's still our no.1 striker
He played well first half last night, tapered off as did most second half
Not scoring ridiculously lately but still leading the line better than anyone in club capable
Effort, application and example all exceptional

And finally.....
you're still trying vainly to justify your shit judgement

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

£15m Scott Hogan had scored 4 in his last 3, was on fire.

But he was nullified last night, with Clarke looking by far the better player (especially first half before he ran out of steam).

And Scott Hogan hadn't just "signed a new contract" before his no-show last night - it was caused by the defenders/tactical system he was up against.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Me!
He's still our no.1 striker
He played well first half last night, tapered off as did most second half
Not scoring ridiculously lately but still leading the line better than anyone in club capable
Effort, application and example all exceptional

And finally.....
you're still trying vainly to justify your shit judgement

1
720+

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[LSF]

1
720+

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errr.... 721?

 

[DronnieBlade]

errr.... 721?

Ill keep score

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[YES Blade]

Suggested a month ago, the move to Villa, for a significant fee, would be in the long term interest of ALL parties. Every player has a price.

Laughed out of town by the resident experts.

Who’s laughing now ?

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Personally, I found the Villa link very hard to believe, with their budget they can and have signed strikers with a better track record at Championship level.

I can only believe it if Villa thought they could get him for say £500k or less, which would be pointless for us to sell him at a low price.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Personally, I found the Villa link very hard to believe, with their budget they can and have signed strikers with a better track record at Championship level.

I can only believe it if Villa thought they could get him for say £500k or less, which would be pointless for us to sell him at a low price.

Not that aspect that bothers me.

Offer comes in.

Wilder on record as saying Leo COULD have doubled his wages but “elected” to remain with dem Blades.

Player instantly regrets decision. Unsurprising given said players age and an obvious desire for “one last pay day”.

Performances drop off. Natural and human psychological reaction. “Sellers remorse” !

Bottom line is we are most probably “stuck” with a player under contract until close to 36 years of age. Little chance of any resale. Little chance of transfer interest while under contract due to wages.

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[Latters]

I don’t think Clarke could do an awful lot with Moore twatting the ball anywhere in his general vicinity, with three or four Villa players around him each time. It was horrible to watch and I thought we’d moved on from that type of thing.

I don’t know if Moore had been instructed to kick it long, or the defence and midfield just weren’t showing for him, but we’re shit at long ball and need to get back to quick pass and move.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I don’t think Clarke could do an awful lot with Moore twatting the ball anywhere in his general vicinity, with three or four Villa players around him each time. It was horrible to watch and I thought we’d moved on from that type of thing.

I don’t know if Moore had been instructed to kick it long, or the defence and midfield just weren’t showing for him, but we’re shit at long ball and need to get back to quick pass and move.

Hallelujah.

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[Dronfield Blade]

Hang on fella. I’m not sure anyone’s slating him.

No one is beyond constructive criticism. Even Leon.

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Sorry for the late reply, but I must ask do you think its “constructive criticism” to accuse our leading goal scorer of:

Regretting signing a new contract and “A obvious desire for one last pay day”

Is also saying we are “stuck” with him constructive?

Like I said to the OP, if we win or drawn last night, Leon’s perfomance would not have been scrutinised like it is.

Leon been top scorer and netting 2 against the pigs should at least give him till March before we all get the daggers out...

 

[I should coco]

Bottom line is we are most probably “stuck” with a player under contract until close to 36 years of age. Little chance of any resale. Little chance of transfer interest while under contract due to wages.

I wouldn't worry yourself as the world will end before then due to meteor strike / North Korea/US nuclear armagedon / global warming causing all the ocean plastic to spontaneously combust etc etc etc.

Is it National Glass Quarter Full Day or something?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Sorry for the late reply, but I must ask do you think its “constructive criticism” to accuse our leading goal scorer of:

Regretting signing a new contract and “A obvious desire for one last pay day”

Is also saying we are “stuck” with him constructive?

Like I said to the OP, if we win or drawn last night, Leon’s perfomance would not have been scrutinised like it is.

Leon been top scorer and netting 2 against the pigs should at least give him till March before we all get the daggers out...

Yes.

Yes I do believe the 2 points you pick up on are constructive.

Footballers are mercenaries. The industry they operate in conditions them to be so. It’s not necessarily a character flaw, more a product of environment !

I have absolutely no idea what goes through the mind of Leo. How would I ? So I can’t agree with you on this point that it’s criticism of the player of any sort, constructive or otherwise.

So I’ll accept that my speculative suggestion may be well off or bang on the money (or anywhere in between) but it’s certainly not criticism.

Now.

The “stuck” bit.

How many times has our club been saddled with ageing players on relatively lucrative contracts, that we can neither use effectively on the pitch, or offload to free up a contract and the wage bill ?

My “stuck” comment is indeed criticism (constructive I hope!) of the club and the management team of the wisdom of awarding a near 33 year old player with a 2.5 yr contract extension on what I can only assume will be a salary of £500,000 pa +.

It’s not criticism of the player.

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[Dronfield Blade]

Yes.

Yes I do believe the 2 points you pick up on are constructive.

Footballers are mercenaries. The industry they operate in conditions them to be so. It’s not necessarily a character flaw, more a product of environment !

I have absolutely no idea what goes through the mind of Leo. How would I ? So I can’t agree with you on this point that it’s criticism of the player of any sort, constructive or otherwise.

So I’ll accept that my speculative suggestion may be well off or bang on the money (or anywhere in between) but it’s certainly not criticism.

Now.

The “stuck” bit.

How many times has our club been saddled with ageing players on relatively lucrative contracts, that we can neither use effectively on the pitch, or offload to free up a contract and the wage bill ?

My “stuck” comment is indeed criticism (constructive I hope!) of the club and the management team of the wisdom of awarding a near 33 year old player with a 2.5 yr contract extension on what I can only assume will be a salary of £500,000 pa +.

It’s not criticism of the player.

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Ahh Great! Carry on with the constructive criticism.

You now have me in agreement.

Trust that wanker Mccabe not to sell Leon and replace him with... err... you know.... err... another 15 goal striker..... err... who is 10 years younger.... Management team dont have a fucking clue theres loads of strikers about!

BOARD OUT. MCCABE OUT. LEON OUT (new young prolific striker IN)