CONFIRMED Ciaran Clark

[007]

seems to be taking an age for this Clark deal to go through!

I’m waiting for the “we tried……but when the big boys come calling…”

 

[Snowflake]

I’m waiting for the “we tried……but when the big boys come calling…”

At this level we are a “big boy”.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Last Irish centre half we got and he was.37 wasn't bad ,
Our captain is 37.this year he isn't bad so at 32 the new lad is just in his prime

 

[brownblade]

Finally the replacement for JOC, a past his best 32 year old moving down the leagues. So excited.

Bit harsh... he's dropping out out of the top flight for the first time through choice (once relegated) hoping to get promoted back to the top flight this season.

Left footed centre backs are like gold dust. We'd have to find an unknown or an Ahmedhozic. But that's what most teams are trying to do.

 

[brownblade]

Last Irish centre half we got and he was.37 wasn't bad ,
Our captain is 37.this year he isn't bad so at 32 the new lad is just in his prime

Think we've had a few since McGrath

 

[LewishamBlade]

Finally the replacement for JOC, a past his best 32 year old moving down the leagues. So excited.

I really don’t understand why you hate this signing so much

 

[Bladeloyal]

Think we've had a few since McGrath

You knew the one I meant

 

[jt64]

Left footed centre backs are like gold dust.

If a player is that shit that they can't use both feet then they can fuck off

Pretty unenthused by this signing. Seems to be at best a rotational option that's going to consume too much wages

 

[Mesut Özil's Lawnmower]

Finally the replacement for JOC, a past his best 32 year old moving down the leagues. So excited.

these comments are incredibly boring

not every signing has to be exciting

he’s obviously not a long term JOC replacement but he’s a very experienced CB & has good leadership qualities

this is a great signing overall for depth

 

[brownblade]

If a player is that shit that they can't use both feet then they can fuck off

Pretty unenthused by this signing. Seems to be at best a rotational option that's going to consume too much wages

I can't agree with any of that mate

There are very few top class footballers who have top class left AND right foot.
Name me more than 5?

Clark will start LCB generally, but also we badly beed a strong squad for rotation due to hectic schedule and probable injuries. Championship season is a slog at the best of times. Also wages will be fully budgeted and carefully considered.

 

[jt64]

I can't agree with any of that mate

There are very few top class footballers who have top class left AND right foot.
Name me more than 5?

I'm not saying they need to be the foot version of ambidextrous, I'm merely saying that "oh my god he's right footed he can't play left centre back we must have a left footer" is ridiculous thinking

 

[SufcBilly]

I'm not saying they need to be the foot version of ambidextrous, I'm merely saying that "oh my god he's right footed he can't play left centre back we must have a left footer" is ridiculous thinking

But if we are playing overlapping centre backs again then surely you want them in their preferred foot

 

[Mouth of the South]

Finally the replacement for JOC, a past his best 32 year old moving down the leagues. So excited.

Who would you prefer Utd to have signed to cover LCB Smirth?

 

[Smirth]

I really don’t understand why you hate this signing so much

I'm just a miserable bastard.

I just don't think for his age and the wages we'll be paying him for one season that it is a worthwhile signing.

 

[jt64]

But if we are playing overlapping centre backs again then surely you want them in their preferred foot

It would be nice, but

a) that's an if
b) most of the time, if they've not cut back onto their better foot anyway, the following pass is trivial enough it can be made with either foot

 

[Smirth]

Who would you prefer Utd to have signed to cover LCB Smirth?

I'd have preferred us to sign a first choice LCB and have Robinson as back up.

Naby Sarr (free), Jarrad Branthwaite (loan), Luke McNally (permanent) are just three differing options I'd have much preferred us to go for. From those three I'd accept that Sarr may well be back up, but at least he'd be our player and on much lower wages.

 

[brownblade]

It would be nice, but

a) that's an if
b) most of the time, if they've not cut back onto their better foot anyway, the following pass is trivial enough it can be made with either foot

If they have to cut in they may well lose the opening/opportunity to progress the ball.

There's reasons top managers pay extra for LCBs.

 

[Speedracer]

I'm not saying they need to be the foot version of ambidextrous,

It is ambifootrous.

Definitely.

 

[1973Blade]

seems to be taking an age for this Clark deal to go through!

It takes time to get the announcement video sorted!

 

[Mouth of the South]

I'd have preferred us to sign a first choice LCB and have Robinson as back up.

Naby Sarr (free), Jarrad Branthwaite (loan), Luke McNally (permanent) are just three differing options I'd have much preferred us to go for. From those three I'd accept that Sarr may well be back up, but at least he'd be our player and on much lower wages.

All decent shouts tbf Smirth. I was in favour of signing Branthwaite but I guess PH favours a more experienced option in Clark and there was apparently a lot of competition for his services - the rumours on his destination seem to have gone a bit quiet of late. Sarr always has a mistake in him whenever I've seen him play and McNally would be a risk in stepping up to the Champ, although he was highly rated by a few mates who watch OUFC regularly and Burnley obviously see the potential in him.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Who would you prefer Utd to have signed to cover LCB Smirth?

Think he’ll be a solid signing so Not trying to be negative but I hope we aren’t wasting a loan on cover. I’d hope he’s here to start or I really don’t see the loan being worth it.

For the sake of argument we cover 40k a week of his wages, and pay a small loan fee say 200-300k. That’s going to cost the best part of 2.5m for a year.

If we are after cover we’d be better plucking a young player from league 1 - say the equivalent of the Ipswich lad we were looking at a few years back. If you paid a £1-2 mil for him and he was 10/15k a week it would be a similar outlay to that and the potential upside on top.

 

[Mouth of the South]

Think he’ll be a solid signing so Not trying to be negative but I hope we aren’t wasting a loan on cover. I’d hope he’s here to start or I really don’t see the loan being worth it.

For the sake of argument we cover 40k a week of his wages, and pay a small loan fee say 200-300k. That’s going to cost the best part of 2.5m for a year.

If we are after cover we’d be better plucking a young player from league 1 - say the equivalent of the Ipswich lad we were looking at a few years back. If you paid a £1-2 mil for him and he was 10/15k a week it would be a similar outlay to that and the potential upside on top.

Well I'm not sure how much Clark will cost, or how much Woolfenden would cost (if that is who you were referring to). However, the main difference in my eyes, is that Clark has played that vast majority of his career at Prem level whereas Woolfenden has been playing 2 levels below, has never played at a level higher than L1 and hasn't been picked up by any other Champ or Prem side.

If you look at it like that, the case for Clark would appear more convincing don't you think, even though he'd probably only be a solution for 1-3 years max?

 

[Diamondlife]

It is ambifootrous.

Definitely.

It is ambipedal.

Definitely.

But ambifootrous sounds much better

 

[bongleblade]

I'd have preferred us to sign a first choice LCB and have Robinson as back up.

Naby Sarr (free), Jarrad Branthwaite (loan), Luke McNally (permanent) are just three differing options I'd have much preferred us to go for. From those three I'd accept that Sarr may well be back up, but at least he'd be our player and on much lower wages.

Clark is pretty much our player if we want him as he's on a free at the end of the year, but we have the advantage of playing less wages and being able to send him back if he gets injured long-term

he will be 1st team, pretty much nailed on. The guy has 200+ PL apps, international caps and blitzed the championship last time he was there.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Well I'm not sure how much Clark will cost, or how much Woolfenden would cost (if that is who you were referring to). However, the main difference in my eyes, is that Clark has played that vast majority of his career at Prem level whereas Woolfenden has been playing 2 levels below, has never played at a level higher than L1 and hasn't been picked up by any other Champ or Prem side.

If you look at it like that, the case for Clark would appear more convincing don't you think, even though he'd probably only be a solution for 1-3 years max?

I agree, that’s why I’m saying I’m hoping he is seen as / will prove to be an immediate starter.

I’d go the youth player route if we are only after cover for JLT but otherwise the fee seems abit rich if we don’t anticipate him starting regularly

If he’s solid to good for a year and helps us go up then I think the loan will obviously be worth it. Even if it’s only short term.

 

[SufcBilly]

 

[ekke287]

 

[brownblade]

I'd have preferred us to sign a first choice LCB and have Robinson as back up.

Naby Sarr (free), Jarrad Branthwaite (loan), Luke McNally (permanent) are just three differing options I'd have much preferred us to go for. From those three I'd accept that Sarr may well be back up, but at least he'd be our player and on much lower wages.

Clark is better than all of those players. He's not ancient either.

Sloppy goals cost us promotion last season tbf.

 

[ekke287]

Confirmed

 

[Linz]

Green tick...