CONFIRMED Ciaran Clark

[Whitby-Blade]

I don’t know which Newcastle fans you’re looking at, but every one I’ve seen today has been incredibly respectful of Clark, obviously acknowledge that the guy isn’t good enough to start in the PL anymore, at least for them (some of those promoted teams wouldn’t have much right to turn their noses up looking at their CBs mind), but he did a great job in keeping them from relegation numerous times + a key part played in Championship promotion

Yeah, most are happy to see him go because his time there is over, but overall very positive comments on him, he’ll be a great addition in the champ

Mainly this here…

Newcastle fans buzz as Clark tipped to leave | thisisfutbol.com

Lots of talk about how good he is to have around the place and a model pro in other articles but the fans reaction above is a worry. Seem to remember Leicester fans saying Dean Hammond was a loyal servant and model pro.

I’ve no personal opinion on him as as much as I’m aware of him l can’t say I’m clued up in him at all.

 

[Weasel]

I've seen him a few times (cousin a NUFC fan). He is a very competent, strong centre half. Would do a very good job for United if we can nail him down. A few years ago, I was probably the only poster on here who said David McGoldrick was a clever signing (check the posts of anyone can be bothered). I'll say the same for this lad. Clever signing (if we get him) as he is a very solid professional who will do a very good job in the Championship.

 

[robbiez666]

There are some very mixed comments on Newcastle forums but this made me laugh:

"Will remember him for his sending off against Norwich and his sending off in a friendly in Saudi Arabia for punching an opponent. Was good in the championship and absolutely hopeless in the premier league "

 

[Weasel]

He only needs to be really good in the Championship (next season if we sign him).

 

[Luke1993]

This season's Martin Cranie, good signing.

 

[Withington Blade]

Good, low risk signing in my opinion. We’re reportedly only paying part of his wages and he was Newcastle’s POTY when they were last promoted, albeit that was 5 years ago. Adds decent quality at worst.

 

[Snowflake]

There is no way we are paying big wages for Clark + the money for the bosnian lad and not selling egan

What we gonna play 7-2-1

Call me a Debbie downer

Well that was a surprise !!!!!!!

 

[Stretch]

There is no way we are paying big wages for Clark + the money for the bosnian lad and not selling egan

What we gonna play 7-2-1

Call me a Debbie downer

Did you fail to notice how many injuries we had last season, especially in defence?

We desperately needed some depth in there and now we have it .

 

[brownblade]

There are some very mixed comments on Newcastle forums but this made me laugh:

"Will remember him for his sending off against Norwich and his sending off in a friendly in Saudi Arabia for punching an opponent. Was good in the championship and absolutely hopeless in the premier league "

Hopeless in the Premier League but amassed over 200 Premier League appearances. Sounds like an educated fan there.

Picked regularly by Rafa Benitez etc. "Hopeless" though.

 

[Reyt Then]

Looks like the illegitimate lovechild of Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice

Thought the exact same thing, how bizarre

 

[Westran]

Good, but would have preferred a permanent

He's out of contract at the end of the next season, with the potential to get him for free

 

[Mouth of the South]

He's out of contract at the end of the next season, with the potential to get him for free

Agree - a perm deal would have been far more expensive esp. as Utd are reportedly only paying a proportion of his salary. Not sure of the logic in wanting it to be perm - Utd have that choice next season

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Surprised this is a reportly a loan with his contract expiring

Not against it as think he’s be decent at this level. But surely the loans should be used for players we’d be unable to get on a perm transfer because of wages / parent clubs desire to keep….

Seems a sub optimal use of our limited loan capital to me (still 5 in the squad?) Stand to be corrected though and I suppose if he’s a bust we aren’t committed long term

 

[Caseh]

Surprised this is a reportly a loan with his contract expiring

Not against it as think he’s be decent at this level. But surely the loans should be used for players we’d be unable to get on a perm transfer because of wages / parent clubs desire to keep….

Seems a sub optimal use of our limited loan capital to me (still 5 in the squad?) Stand to be corrected though and I suppose if he’s a bust we aren’t committed long term

I suppose with a loan there is a chance that Newcastle are paying everything

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Surprised this is a reportly a loan with his contract expiring

Not against it as think he’s be decent at this level. But surely the loans should be used for players we’d be unable to get on a perm transfer because of wages / parent clubs desire to keep….

Seems a sub optimal use of our limited loan capital to me (still 5 in the squad?) Stand to be corrected though and I suppose if he’s a bust we aren’t committed long term

He'll be on PL contract that nobody can match at our level, which is seemingly his level. Of course, no tier 2 team can afford a fee + his wages.

The compromise is to find the club at our level which are willing to take on the biggest % of his salary to take him through the year.

 

[Weasel]

He'll be on PL contract that nobody can match at our level, which is seemingly his level. Of course, no tier 2 team can afford a fee + his wages.

The compromise is to find the club at our level which are willing to take on the biggest % of his salary to take him through the year.

That's how I see it also. We will be finding a percentage of his wage with Newcastle making up the shortfall. Unless Newcastle are happy to pay him up and buy him out of his contract then the loan option is the easier thing to do as he then gets regular football, could be recalled in January by Newcastle (in reality highly unlikely to happen), and we get is services for a year. If he's done well next season then as he is then out of contract we might look into taking him on permanently, probably on a reduced wage to what he's currently on but then the same has happened to Connor Hourihane who's Villa contract has just run out. Either way, he's worth one of the 5 loan places available imo.

 

[Mouth of the South]

Surprised this is a reportly a loan with his contract expiring

Not against it as think he’s be decent at this level. But surely the loans should be used for players we’d be unable to get on a perm transfer because of wages / parent clubs desire to keep….

Seems a sub optimal use of our limited loan capital to me (still 5 in the squad?) Stand to be corrected though and I suppose if he’s a bust we aren’t committed long term

Clarke would certainly fit into the 'unable to get on a perm transfer due to wages' category BiL

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Did you fail to notice how many injuries we had last season, especially in defence?

We desperately needed some depth in there and now we have it .

Just calling it how I see it Stretch

Of course you have back up to your first 11 but you don't make your back up players the highest earners which I'm sure Clark has to be or sign them for the majority of your transfer budget which Anel likely is and was

Right now we have 5 first 11 Centre backs none of them are really back up and they should all be starting at this level all im saying is it wouldn't surprise me if Egan went

Also if its a case of signing 27 Centre backs or keeping berge , id rather play with the same Back 5 as last year doesnt matter how good our back 5 is without berge and MGW we are a long way off last seasons team even then at times we struggled

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Clarke would certainly fit into the 'unable to get on a perm transfer due to wages' category BiL

Agree - but you’d have thought we’d be able to get some sort of Burke type agreement with Newcastle.

Offer him an extra year or similar to sweeten the deal. He’ll be on lower wages in 12 months anyway you’d assume

 

[SufcBilly]

Just calling it how I see it Stretch

Of course you have back up to your first 11 but you don't make your back up players the highest earners which I'm sure Clark has to be or sign them for the majority of your transfer budget which Anel likely is and was

Right now we have 5 first 11 Centre backs none of them are really back up and they should all be starting at this level all im saying is it wouldn't surprise me if Egan went

Also if its a case of signing 27 Centre backs or keeping berge , id rather play with the same Back 5 as last year doesnt matter how good our back 5 is without berge and MGW we are a long way off last seasons team even then at times we struggled

Have you seen the state of the fixtures schedule pre World Cup? Need all the players we can get to even survive that shitshow

 

[Mouth of the South]

Agree - but you’d have thought we’d be able to get some sort of Burke type agreement with Newcastle.

Offer him an extra year or similar to sweeten the deal. He’ll be on lower wages in 12 months anyway you’d assume

Unless Newcastle are willing to effectively pay him off, Utd would be miles away from being able to afford his current salary. Who knows what options have been explored but to me a subsidised loan for the season is perfect and would put Utd in pole position to offer terms for 2023/24 should they wish to.

The target for the season is promotion - if that is achieved, would Clarke really be wanted in the Prem? I'm not so sure, especially as he's already 33

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Maybe the Saudi connections?

 

[robbiez666]

Unless Newcastle are willing to effectively pay him off, Utd would be miles away from being able to afford his current salary. Who knows what options have been explored but to me a subsidised loan for the season is perfect and would put Utd in pole position to offer terms for 2023/24 should they wish to.

The target for the season is promotion - if that is achieved, would Clarke really be wanted in the Prem? I'm not so sure, especially as he's already 33

this. He'll want a big last payday as well, I assume.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Unless Newcastle are willing to effectively pay him off, Utd would be miles away from being able to afford his current salary. Who knows what options have been explored but to me a subsidised loan for the season is perfect and would put Utd in pole position to offer terms for 2023/24 should they wish to.

The target for the season is promotion - if that is achieved, would Clarke really be wanted in the Prem? I'm not so sure, especially as he's already 33

You would have thought a decision would also have been made on JOC by then, we'd know if any of the youngsters impressed at L1 level and are ready, has RND been tried and is he a viable option?
Lots of things could be different in 12 months time, which is why it's a sensible move now with little risk.

 

[Mouth of the South]

You would have thought a decision would also have been made on JOC by then, we'd know if any of the youngsters impressed at L1 level and are ready, has RND been tried and is he a viable option?
Lots of things could be different in 12 months time, which is why it's a sensible move now with little risk.

Spot on FB - with JOC not in Utd's plans for the coming season, which would be the third consecutive season he's unavailable, it would be a huge task for him to get back to anywhere near Champ level, assuming he's even able to play again (which to the observer does appear to be doubtful). Very sad if so - he was a colossus at the back and at the time of his injury had his best years ahead of him, whether or not that would be been with Utd.

 

[Withington Blade]

Maybe the Saudi connections?

Seems to knock on the head the conspiracy theory about the Newcastle owners demanding that the prince sells up. They would be funding the wages of one of our signings

 

[FriethBlade]

Cant see why anyone would knock this deal....assuming it happens. A few guys like this along with a few guys Doyle and Anels age and we are set.

Also like the sound of Kedra coming. If we can get Clark and Kedra in I will be very happy.

 

[Mesut Özil's Lawnmower]

Maybe the Saudi connections?

Not targeting you specifically but I really hate this general line of thought, they are still independent of each other

It’s like saying Arsenal might give a discount to Liverpool because of the American connections

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Not targeting you specifically but I really hate this general line of thought, they are still independent of each other

It’s like saying Arsenal might give a discount to Liverpool because of the American connections

That's very innocent of you in this case...

 

[Mesut Özil's Lawnmower]

That's very innocent of you in this case...

Not really, rather I see it as quite the stereotype/judgement made from the other side