Should we drop Clarke

[North East Blade]

Am I the only one that thinks Leon is now showing us the real Leon Clarke I know he runs all over and puts a shift in but that chance no opposing player around should have been tucked away or at least forced the keeper to save it if it was billy or Donaldo it would have been 1 nil if reading weren’t so poor it could have cost us 3 points.

Great performance from the lads and surely 3 points on Saturday

 

[Woodwardfan]

I either 'like' this O.P. or pity it. If it's a joke I 'like' it and have given it the benefit if the doubt.

 

[Berlin Blade]

This is now ‘the real Leon Clarke’ ?? Isn’t he still top scorer in the league?

Perhaps all those goals in the last 12 months were a figment of my imagination.

 

[DronnieBlade]

One excellent and one other good chance that he spurned aside, I thought he did OK last night.

So my conclusion is that you are the only one that sees it this way

UTB

 

[Bladezz]

He’s scored loads of goals and is a target man who works hard.

Madine went for £6million and he hasn’t scored anywhere near as many as Leon. If Leon was 26 he would be worth a fortune financially to us.

This must be a joke.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Am I the only one that thinks Leon is now showing us the real Leon Clarke I know he runs all over and puts a shift in but that chance no opposing player around should have been tucked away or at least forced the keeper to save it if it was billy or Donaldo it would have been 1 nil if reading weren’t so poor it could have cost us 3 points.

Great performance from the lads and surely 3 points on Saturday

To be fair, he made the effort himself, yeah he should have scored...but saying that about BIllly, he also missed a 1v1. It was offside but he didn't know that and didn't even get a shot off.

Who played him through...Clarke via a cheeky nutmeg.

 

[Paulus]

No - but he might be out injured anyway

 

[mattbianco1]

We should give him a rest. Play Sharp & Don vs Burton. He's still working extremely hard but for whatever reason it's not been going for him in front of goal.

Give him a couple of games on the bench to get his hunger back.

 

[North East Blade]

Cheers lads

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Forget Don, he's been way off the pace the last few opportunities he's had. At least Clarke looks with it....he's creating but seems to lack confidence in front of the bag.

 

[derfblade.3]

No chance. He's having a rough period goalscoring wise but is a handful for any defender. So you would drop him for who?

 

[McGrath]

The new Real Leon Clarke appears to be different to the old Real Leon Clarke. As the old Real Leon Clarke was characterised as being lazy and didn't run around all over the place.

P.s. doesn't Real Leon mean Royal Lion in Spanish?

 

[sitwell]

I like the unreal Leon Clarke.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Leon brings much more to the party than goals.

He’s a target man, figure head, works hard, holds the ball well and brings others into play.
Agree he’s lost his scoring touch but thats temporary.
He’s still doing a decent job but I’d think about using the squad and give him a rest
Every now and then to ensure his energy levels remain high.

 

[North East Blade]

Doesn’t help that he hardly gets rested he must be fooked

 

[Woodwardfan]

We should give him a rest. Play Sharp & Don vs Burton. He's still working extremely hard but for whatever reason it's not been going for him in front of goal.

Give him a couple of games on the bench to get his hunger back.

Looks as though he's injured anyway.

I reckon Wilder will be keen to play Holmes. Look out for Duffy and Holmes playing behind and around Sharp next Saturday.

I'd love to see them in tandem with either Sharp or Clarke as lone striker.

In due course add Brooks to that mix and we could be in for some exciting times. Might even play without a recognised target-man/striker in due course. Why not?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

The OP has some merit.

Clarke needs a lucky break when on the pitch - all strikers go through these patches.

It may be he has a few games off now with injury.

Even that might be what he needs.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I reckon Wilder will be keen to play Holmes. Look out for Duffy and Holmes playing behind and around Sharp next Saturday.

For sure, Burton sit in and will only have 30% possession.

We aren't good when faced with this type of opposition. CW & AK may just do what you suggest, but initially think we will stay with 3-4-1-2 and see how it goes first half. Score first will not necessarily make Burton come out as we all know what Clough tends to do, so patience and concentration in defence is paramount to me.

We have enough to score against Burton at home - think we MUST stop them nicking a goal, and certainly make sure they don't go 1 up.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

I think Ched will get some game time soon

 

[CaptainMorgans]

If you have been watching Clayton Donaldson or James Wilson in 2018 then you shouldn't even need to ask the question on Clarke. Every time the ball goes near Donaldson he seems to fall over clumsily or just lose it. My memories of him as a player before he joined us was that he was a bit of a battering ram, someone who gave defenders a tough time. But last night reminded me of his away performance at QPR, which was just laughable. He's way off Clarke's standard in my opinion. James Wilson just doesn't look like he has the heart to play in a Wilder team.

However, I too would love to see us play with a couple of 10s off a striker. We have three dangerous ones - it'd be nice to see a couple of them given a go against Burton.

 

[Ricky]

I think Ched will get some game time soon

I'd start him against Burton if Clarke's not fit.

Could be a great chance for him.

And I don't think Donaldson's anywhere near as effective at home - especially against a side like Burton likely to sit deep.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think Ched will get some game time soon

Not too encouraged by reports on here of his U-23 games. I think Ched's a long shot to succeed this season anyway but if he is going to contribute anything this season I suppose he has to do it soon.

Personally I'm really looking forward to Holmes establishing himself because I think he'll add urgency and craft and optimism to our play. Duffy obviously stands in his way and quite rightly with the present formation and just maybe a more fluid set-up can evolve.

This weekend I think Burton would cope better with Duffy plus Clarke/ Sharp or Sharp/Evans than with Duffy and Sharp/Holmes. We need to find a way to beat the parked bus.

 

[Steve Mackan]

No chance he should be dropped.

 

[blade too long]

by the same logic Ronaldo needed a rest last night

real lost

hes gone less games without a goal than Lukaku went
Mourinho still played him

 

[Trafford]

Clarke is your classic "confidence striker", so dropping him is counterproductive, he just needs to bag a couple and get going again. To be fair I thought that Donaldson was ok last night - worked hard for the 60 or so minutes that he was on and was very close to scoring. Also got zero protection from the ref, albeit shouldn't have stopped when expecting a foul at the end (and it was definitely a foul).

 

[Tommoblade66]

Every time the ball goes near Donaldson he seems to fall over clumsily or just lose it.

Should do it in the opponent's penalty area then

 

[Tommoblade66]

Clarke is your classic "confidence striker", so dropping him is counterproductive, he just needs to bag a couple and get going again.

Exactly, except these heavy winter pitches are taking their toll on him

 

[bladesman3]

If you have been watching Clayton Donaldson or James Wilson in 2018 then you shouldn't even need to ask the question on Clarke. Every time the ball goes near Donaldson he seems to fall over clumsily or just lose it. My memories of him as a player before he joined us was that he was a bit of a battering ram, someone who gave defenders a tough time. But last night reminded me of his away performance at QPR, which was just laughable. He's way off Clarke's standard in my opinion. James Wilson just doesn't look like he has the heart to play in a Wilder team.

However, I too would love to see us play with a couple of 10s off a striker. We have three dangerous ones - it'd be nice to see a couple of them given a go against Burton.

I think that is tough on CD...he played well yesterday, he worked hard, good ball control, some poor passing , missed an easy chance he made for himself....

 

[Sean Thornton]

Should do it in the opponent's penalty area then

 

[Fanny magnet]

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