Is it Time To Drop Clarke?

[bladesmanluke]

Thought Clarke did well today

 

[Grizzly blade]

One of the worst performances I have ever seen by any blades player today. Offered nothing all game.

Was brilliant up until Christmas but needs a rest and putting on the bench.

Fuck me....you been a fan for one week?

Think there’s some over reaction here, for a start he played a pivotal part in the opening goal, and for a slightly better ball across by Sharp he would have got the goal he’s missing.
Confidence clearly down, a little tired mentally as well as physically and needs a rest for a few games for me. Give him the cup game off and bench for a few games.

 

[1066blade]

One of the worst performances I have ever seen by any blades player today. Offered nothing all game.

Was brilliant up until Christmas but needs a rest and putting on the bench.

Agree he was very poor, didn't attempt to fun into spaces to receive any balls. But say one of the worst performances ever by any blades player is well over the top, you really don't have to go back very far to see stinking performances which makes Clarkes just mediocre.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Well that’s one goal in close to 1000 minutes of continuous football.

On top of which are lacklustre performances and an uncanny ability to turn over possession at an alarming rate anytime he goes anywhere near the ball.

You know where I stand.

UTB

You’ve been desperate for it to get to 1000 minutes.

I agree in the last few games he’s not really done much and he needs a rest, however I don’t want him to fail like some do.

 

[1066blade]

Thought Clarke did well today

Please elaborate, just what did he do well? He was a professional spectator I'll give you that.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Thought Clarke did well today

Really? I thought he was very poor as he has been for a number of games. I think he is actually hindering our performances at the moment.

If Sharp was dropped for poor performances then so should Clarke.

 

[Bladesman]

Drop Billy he has done nothing lately.

 

[Carlton Blade]

He looks jaded and a little indecisive. We needed him on the last man today and he didn't seem capable.

But we need that physical presence up top at the moment and we don't have anybody else

 

[Jehovah]

I don't see how there can debate that Clarke was anything but poor today

 

[GodricBlade]

Thought Clarke did well today

I though he was poor for much of the game today.
Odd little moment of something joined together by long periods of nothing.
I’d have taken him off & Donaldo on after an hour.
To re-answer the OP’s question - yes, it’s time to give him a rest & let him get his hunger back. What’s that, 9/10 games without a goal & missing the chances that come his way?
We need goals & he’s dried up.

 

[BushBlade]

LOL... I knew someone would say that ... it was a very poor performance though today ... offered nothing

It wasn't his best game but he won the ball to set Duffy free for Billy's first and should have had a penalty. I suspect that with the absence of Coutts, and the more recent absences of Billy and Duffy, he's been the one that opposition managers have tried to stop playing. They seem to get men around him and deny him space. That's what teams were doing to Coutts earlier in the season and it created more space for Duffy. I think today by having men around Clarke it made space for Billy and Duffy.

That said, I'd have replaced him with Donaldson after our second goal as Leeds had to push on and I think Donaldson is better on the counter attack. Even so, he still should have had a pen towards the end so I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[1066blade]

It wasn't his best game but he won the ball to set Duffy free for Billy's first and should have had a penalty. I suspect that with the absence of Coutts, and the more recent absences of Billy and Duffy, he's been the one that opposition managers have tried to stop playing. They seem to get men around him and deny him space. That's what teams were doing to Coutts earlier in the season and it created more space for Duffy. I think today by having men around Clarke it made space for Billy and Duffy.

That said, I'd have replaced him with Donaldson after our second goal as Leeds had to push on and I think Donaldson is better on the counter attack. Even so, he still should have had a pen towards the end so I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

One pass in the second minute, what about the 93 minutes after that?

 

[N20 Blade]

Despite being below par on a personal level, Clarke brings the best out of Sharp. No coincidence that Billy always does better next to Leon. It’s a team effort.

 

[DronnieBlade]

You’ve been desperate for it to get to 1000 minutes.

I agree in the last few games he’s not really done much and he needs a rest, however I don’t want him to fail like some do.

What I have been desperate for is for him to rediscover some of the form that he has shown in fits, and to even look like he might score again !

Anything else is in your head fella !!

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Thought Clarke did well today

To get 90 minutes again you mean ??

UTB

 

[derfblade.3]

We have a good squad so i reckon Leon should be rested for a couple to recharge the battery.

 

[madeinsheffield]

He needs subbing or dropping for a game or two, he needs to know nobody gets an automatic place. Look how Baldoch has been putting more effort in the nearer Freeman is to being fit. Every player needs pressure of losing the shirt to drive them on

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I thought Clarke did OK today. He isn’t looking anywhere near as threatening but I don’t think it’s through a lack of interest / effort. Strikers tend to have purple patches, his is over. Think it’s time we gave Donaldson a run.

 

[Houston_Blade]

What I have been desperate for is for him to rediscover some of the form that he has shown in fits, and to even look like he might score again !

Anything else is in your head fella !!

UTB

It took until he smashed his 10th goal of the season for you to admit he wasn’t shit, you weren’t as slow to jump back on the “Leon is shit again” wagon.

Definitely needs a rest, definitely hasn’t become a bad player due to an ineffective few games.

 

[BushBlade]

One pass in the second minute, what about the 93 minutes after that?

I think I covered that in my post.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We've tried to let him improve by playing, but maybe next week's cup game will be a good chance to give him a rest, and hopefully he'll be fresher for QPR on the Tuesday.

 

[Jan Age]

Agree he was very poor, didn't attempt to fun into spaces to receive any balls. But say one of the worst performances ever by any blades player is well over the top, you really don't have to go back very far to see stinking performances which makes Clarkes just mediocre.

Haha I know.... but today was well below acceptable and he hasn’t been at the races at all recently

 

[Jan Age]

Fuck me....you been a fan for one week?

Think there’s some over reaction here, for a start he played a pivotal part in the opening goal, and for a slightly better ball across by Sharp he would have got the goal he’s missing.
Confidence clearly down, a little tired mentally as well as physically and needs a rest for a few games for me. Give him the cup game off and bench for a few games.

Probably not fair today ever! (Heat of the moment)

But he was terrible today offered nothing really over 90mins and hasn’t been at it for the last few. His hold up play was terrible, he hardly won any headers and seemed generally off the pace.

He needs a rest and give someone else a run for 2/3 games.

 

[Jan Age]

It wasn't his best game but he won the ball to set Duffy free for Billy's first and should have had a penalty. I suspect that with the absence of Coutts, and the more recent absences of Billy and Duffy, he's been the one that opposition managers have tried to stop playing. They seem to get men around him and deny him space. That's what teams were doing to Coutts earlier in the season and it created more space for Duffy. I think today by having men around Clarke it made space for Billy and Duffy.

That said, I'd have replaced him with Donaldson after our second goal as Leeds had to push on and I think Donaldson is better on the counter attack. Even so, he still should have had a pen towards the end so I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

He needs dropping for the next few games today was awful and the last few games tbh.

 

[BushBlade]

He needs dropping for the next few games today was awful and the last few games tbh.

Yeah, you said.

 

[DronnieBlade]

It took until he smashed his 10th goal of the season for you to admit he wasn’t shit, you weren’t as slow to jump back on the “Leon is shit again” wagon.

Definitely needs a rest, definitely hasn’t become a bad player due to an ineffective few games.

If this helps with your perception, then hey ho.

Fraid the facts somewhat different.

https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/attention-of-london-road-blade.54708/#post-1309406

UTB

 

[Jan Age]

Yeah, you said.

Thanks for reminding me ...;-)

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Despite being below par on a personal level, Clarke brings the best out of Sharp. No coincidence that Billy always does better next to Leon. It’s a team effort.

Does he? I think Sharp has also played well for us when paired with Donaldson, Lavery, Hanson, Done, Adams, and probably others too...

Clarke will likely get his form back, but I’d be tempted to bring Donaldson back in for him next league game (keeping the rest of the XI unchanged).

 

[Lowen]

I'd leave him out for cup game, play him against QPR then rest him for the 2 away games where Donaldson can thrive and bring him back in against Burton.