Clarke

[Lard_Lad]

Playing like that and fully fit, he'd start upfront with Sharp. Proved that we don't need to hoof it to him and partnered well with Sharp. Works to win the ball and can also score goals. Strong and powerful in the box, just what we need.

 

[Caseh]

It's almost like he shouldn't have been getting written off like he was....

 

[Esablade]

...where's that they 'can't play together thread'!?!?

Maybe a bit early?

 

[Grizzly blade]

Spot on.

Keep that boy fit and he makes a big difference.

There were comments in here t'other day about odds on him getting 15 goals. Not many fancied his chances.
On that little cameo he showed exactly what he can bring to the party in this side....not the one that he started the season with!

 

[zablade]

Now we are playing it in to him and not lumping it up to him he looks a different player than he did in the first month.

 

[TJB.]

Impact sub for me as it stands.

But Done needs to put his chances away soon or he will be dropped. He's probably pissed off at himself, but there's no mercy in football. Two sitters he missed today by my recollection.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Stop this nonsense, he's crap and we shouldn't have signed him.
He's behind Sharp, Done, Chapman,Lavery, even Scougall.

Well according some of our resident experts.

 

[Iceybabey]

We'll score more goals from midfield with Clarke in the team.

 

[Gavlar]

I still think Done and Sharp as a pair are one of the main reasons for our improvement, but I happy to try Clarke and Sharp also, or even Clarke and Done.
We need lots of options to keep this going throughout a long season.

 

[Guesty]

He worked hard, and he worked smart. He offered a different problem, and he scored. Can't argue with that!

 

[BrayfordsBushyBeard]

But he cant play alongside Billy apparently!!!! Good players will find a way and from what I saw today , both playing with confidence , both looked a handful and certainly looked like a partnership ! Clarke is a quality player at this level bit his style will sometimes make him look laboured . His goal was a instinctive finish and his link up play for Sharps was excellent . Great performance by everyone second half and the best compliment I can think of is I never doubted we would win !!
As ever UTB!!!

 

[JohnDenver]

On first viewing I thought the keeper had dropped a gonad for Clarke's goal. But the replay showed it was utterly brilliant from the big fella. Gorgeous goal.

 

[SUFCinks]

Looked very good when he came on and his goal was superb, he could of easily kept running and lost it but like a true striker hit it instincively and it nestled beautifully into the bottom corner.

I would start him over done and bring on done when we need energy.

Really pleased for him and happy for the team, pundits on SS praised him heavily for his contribution as well.

 

[blade too long]

we dont hoof
we spread the ball with pace from left to right and back again, patiently and persistently looking to break down a team playing 9 at the back
Duffy after an indifferent first 45 was superb second half , Fleck was immense and once Clarke came on up front and Done was moved back we became unstoppable
Clarke passed the ball into the goal, with precision

 

[Ricky]

Those two goals for 3-1 and 4-1 that provided our cushion wouldn't have happened without Clarke. A great example of the sort of impact he can have from the bench and the sort of impact you look for when you bring a striker on. His goal was a superb finish.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

A fit Clarke at this time of the season is like a new signing in January!
It was great to see him come back with a goal against Grimsby and his goal and impact today was immense.

 

[Nick Jansky]

To have the ability to bring that sort of quality off the bench is fantastic. He looked a class act today.

 

[FlamingLip]

Influenced the game. looked comfortable and match fit. almost lazily confident strike. top drawer

 

[Boxer Blade]

Its about the squad on the day, as someone has mentioned it was the bench that excited me some good options for the manger to use depending on the situation, January will be very interesting

 

[ThatJa]

Changed the game.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Think it was far to premature to judge him in the first few games.

No one was playing well and he was far from the worst culprit. At that stage it was a team in transition and they weren't following wilders tactics, seemed scared and started to Lump it 70 yards because it was easy. Think we would have seen a different player on the unbeaten run had he been fully fit.

His record in this division it top quality. Hopefully he will start to preform now he's back and has chance to build a partnership with Sharp in a attacking and confident side.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Clarke will be far too good for most defences in this division (as he's proved in the past with other teams at this level). It was noticeable today that Clarke and Sharp both played up front, on the oppo centre halves shoulders (as opposed to Sharp being 10, 15, 20 yards deep as he was at the start of the season), and both were excellent.

We just need CW to realise that the defence should have O'Connell in as one of the 3 centre halves. If he'd started with JOC, EEL would have naturally picked up Ched Evans on our right side and wouldn't have been ragged like Basham was. Minor point only on an excellent day to be a Blade

 

[Slim Man]

I believed all along

 

[Pinchy]

...where's that they 'can't play together thread'!?!?

I dealt with that nonsense. No need to wait for today to point out a bit of common sense....

 

[Pinchy]

Impact sub for me as it stands.

But Done needs to put his chances away soon or he will be dropped. He's probably pissed off at himself, but there's no mercy in football. Two sitters he missed today by my recollection.

He's simply not good enough as I have been saying all season. He contributed close to nothing today. The difference when Leon came on was there for all to see. He has far more to offer than committed but limited trier Matt Done.

We need to pick our best players, not mediocre S2 favourites who, guess what, run around a lot...

 

[Esablade]

I dealt with that nonsense. No need to wait for today to point out a bit of common sense....

Ok, thanks...

 

[Pinchy]

He worked hard, and he worked smart. He offered a different problem, and he scored. Can't argue with that!

Well, certainly a different problem to Runaround Done, who offered none whatsoever.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

His strength is another asset to the team

 

[super-dazzler]

League 1 defences are going to be shatting themselves at the prospect of Billy and Mr Clarke upfront together.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Clarke will be far too good for most defences in this division (as he's proved in the past with other teams at this level). It was noticeable today that Clarke and Sharp both played up front, on the oppo centre halves shoulders (as opposed to Sharp being 10, 15, 20 yards deep as he was at the start of the season), and both were excellent.

We just need CW to realise that the defence should have O'Connell in as one of the 3 centre halves. If he'd started with JOC, EEL would have naturally picked up Ched Evans on our right side and wouldn't have been ragged like Basham was. Minor point only on an excellent day to be a Blade

Will people stop picking on Bash.
I thought he played well today.
Bash is a vital part of this side, just because he doesn't beat 4 players and curl one in the top corner, or play defence splitting passes.
For me he's been our most consistent player from the start of the season.
I know I'm in the minority but thankfully the one person that seems to agree with me is the one person that matters Mr Wilder.