'He's a pig'

[Blade82]

Seriously!? Clarke was poor in the air he won very little.

 

[Blademan89]

Plenty are slagging Clarke off actually. One post starts "Clarke is wank" so you must be blind if you can't see that. I think he's also been described as lazy by others.

I can see a case for him being our best player today. He's not had much competition has he?

I thought he did a decent job of a target man, it's not his fault that the midfield can't find any space so the centre halfs can only lump it forward. Fleck may have been great in other games but he was part of a midfield that got over run today.

Clarke has played three games and got 1 goal, the same as our other "star" striker. In my experience of watching football for many years, strikers who miss a few tend to score a few also over the season. It's the ones who never seem to get chances you have to worry about

The man himself as said that he should be doing better ......

 

[Fraggle Blade]

i'm still not sure what formation we are trying to play.....is it 4231 or 442?
I know Brayford is playing crap, but there was hardly ever a ball to someone on the right wing available for most of the match, we seemed to lack any width and Basham never offers himself when in CM.
Fleck is wasted atm in that midfield...he always looks like he's playing in there in his own.
There rarely seemed anything but a long ball on for the centre backs for much of the time and Clarke / Sharp didn't look close enough to be playing as a partnership 2 up top.
Rochdale seemed so much sharper than us...and we're trying to be the fittest side in the div?

It was a very disappointing performance.

 

[Sean Thornton]

i'm still not sure what formation we are trying to play.....is it 4231 or 442?
I know Brayford is playing crap, but there was hardly ever a ball to someone on the right wing available for most of the match, we seemed to lack any width and Basham never offers himself when in CM.
Fleck is wasted atm in that midfield...he always looks like he's playing in there in his own.
There rarely seemed anything but a long ball on for the centre backs for much of the time and Clarke / Sharp didn't look close enough to be playing as a partnership 2 up top.
Rochdale seemed so much sharper than us...and we're trying to be the fittest side in the div?

It was a very disappointing performance.

We were second the ball most of the time throughout the team as well.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Seriously!? Clarke was poor in the air he won very little.

No.

He won everything (apparently).

Must be this seasons unseen work a la donkey Dean

UTB

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Yeah he is the best player we have been fielding so far, but honestly I'd prefer to utilize him from the bench.
Our game plan of chip it to Clark isn't working at all, yeah he's winning the headers and even knocking them in the right direction (which is great to see) but Sharp is not capitalizing on it. So basically we are wasting our own time, we need to start playing it on the ground more and run at the defense.
Get McNulty/Done to pester the defense for 60 min, then bring Clark on to bully the defense.

 

[DronnieBlade]

EXACTLY what is it that I'm missing Dan ?

In 3 games, he has a goal and 0 assists.

Do you regard that as good ?

Are there other positive impacts he is having ?

He is a bang average L1 striker that we are now stuck with for 3 fuckin years.

And I have more chance of seeing the Queens tits than I have of seeing Clarke n Sharp forming an effective partnership.

Give it 10 games, come back to me, and tell me I was wrong

UTB

4 down.

6 to go.

UTB

 

[Claude Makelele]

No point in singling out players because they're all toss.

 

[DronnieBlade]

No point in singling out players because they're all toss.

They all arnt. They truly arnt.

But lumping it to Leon is clearly not showing many of them in a good light just now. Which is clearly leading to frustrations across the entire team.

UTB

 

[vorpal blade]

they ar, they really ar - wot wos de kweschun?

 

[LenTednTony]

This week i've heard:
Sharp is not good enough - 20 goals last season
Clarke not good enough - 19 goals last season

SwissBlade, based on what we have seen so far he must have had hundreds of chances to score 19. Also, you tell me if 2 x renowned goalscorers are actually doing it? I don't think so.

 

[SwissBlade]

SwissBlade, based on what we have seen so far he must have had hundreds of chances to score 19. Also, you tell me if 2 x renowned goalscorers are actually doing it? I don't think so.

I merely presented the facts for you duckie.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Just a few more games now fellas.

4 down, 6 to go.

ZERO G
ZERO A

ONE thoroughly pissed off captain.

UT on the ropes B.

 

[DronnieBlade]

4 more to go Danny Boy !

30 odd minutes today to have an influence on the game and, well, didn't.

Again.

UTB

 

[Slim Man]

4 more to go Danny Boy !

30 odd minutes today to have an influence on the game and, well, didn't.

Again.

UTB

Sorry? We won the game with him on the pitch
Find it bizarre to bring this up after a result like today, there's been enough negativity lately and we're well overdue an away win.

After the start we've had today could be the start of a run and it seems stupid to try and bring that down for whatever reason

 

[Houso]

Leon put himself around well when he came on too. Certainly doesn't warrant any criticism for the small amount of time he got on the pitch.

Cov fans can't believe we have quality like Clarke and Fleck on the bench. Both are loved down there.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Sorry? We won the game with him on the pitch
Find it bizarre to bring this up after a result like today, there's been enough negativity lately and we're well overdue an away win.

After the start we've had today could be the start of a run and it seems stupid to try and bring that down for whatever reason

And the start of the "run", co-incided precisely with what, might you suggest ?

Yep. Clarke on the bench. It's not a coincidence.

The good news is that, when all his striking options are fit, Clarke may well find his arse sitting on the bench more than he finds himself on the pitch. Which is a good thing. IMHO.

If the reverse is true, performances and results will deteriorate.

6 games. 0 goals 0 assists. FACT.

And to add to this, he hasn't looked like scoring or assisting, IMHO.

UTB

Ps did you watch the cobblers game on earlier. In particular the contribution of Alex Revell. That's how it's done.

 

[Deadbat]

Just a few more games now fellas.

4 down, 6 to go.

ZERO G
ZERO A

ONE thoroughly pissed off captain.

UT on the ropes B.

This 10 games you have given Clarke; where has it come from. It is just in your mind. Why are you so desperate for him to fail - having this count down. It's pathetic.

You could put same notion on Basham and Coutts for performances in terms of assists/goals but they played well. I agree strikers are judged on goals but baffling to citique him on his cameo today? Rather praise team/squad for a good performance and win.

I want United to win. I dont care who play. I thought today Clarke did ok when he came on. We did not lump it to him and actually created quite a few chances with Sharp/Clarke up top together. Play like we did today and they both will get goals. This notion that our results/performances have been down to him playing/not playing is ridiculous really and rather boring.

 

[DronnieBlade]

This 10 games you have given Clarke; where has it come from. It is just in your mind. Why are you so desperate for him to fail - having this count down. It's pathetic.

You could put same notion on Basham and Coutts for performances in terms of assists/goals but they played well. I agree strikers are judged on goals but baffling to citique him on his cameo today? Rather praise team/squad for a good performance and win.

I want United to win. I dont care who play. I thought today Clarke did ok when he came on. We did not lump it to him and actually created quite a few chances with Sharp/Clarke up top together. Play like we did today and they both will get goals. This notion that our results/performances have been down to him playing/not playing is ridiculous really and rather boring.

Thanks for that.

UTB

 

[Slim Man]

Thanks for that.

UTB

He's right. I'm not even going to respond to your post since you seem to have forgot he scored against Crewe. And we've hardly created him any half decent chances, maybe that starts now with a bit of confidence.

 

[coolhandluke]

Sorry? We won the game with him on the pitch
Find it bizarre to bring this up after a result like today, there's been enough negativity lately and we're well overdue an away win.

After the start we've had today could be the start of a run and it seems stupid to try and bring that down for whatever reason

Basham is absolUtley fuckin shit though .

 

[Slim Man]

Basham is absolUtley fuckin shit though .

He isn't very good no but I've not brought that up after a massive win because it's defeating the object of developing a positive mentality and a good feeling after a huge 3 points - mate.

 

[coolhandluke]

He isn't very good no but I've not brought that up after a massive win because it's defeating the object of developing a positive mentality and a good feeling after a huge 3 points - mate.

To be fair he played very well . But I actually agree , he isn't a good player there .

But for the first time today maybe we saw why wilder hasn't strengthened there whilst he's been at pains to strengthen everywhere else ?

Does a wilder side need the midfield maestro we all crave ? Today we broke them down all over the park and played simple through balls to players in space . Does CW really want that kind of player ? Maybe we all do bit he doesn't

Give CW time

 

[Marcus Aurelias]

4 more to go Danny Boy !

30 odd minutes today to have an influence on the game and, well, didn't.

Again.

UTB

Weapons Grade Wanker Post. I guess the win means less to you than slagging your own personal scapegoat, eh?

You need to have a long, hard look at yourself pal.

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Weapons Grade Wanker Post. I guess the win means less to you than slagging your own personal scapegoat, eh?

You need to have a long, hard look at yourself pal.

UTB

Conveniently ignoring the point of the post. Clarke is poor.

Never mind. Project insults at someone you don't agree with on a football forum. It's easier !

Explaining why I'm wrong about Clarke would have been more constructive, but hey ho ...,,,.

Well played !!!

UTB

 

[mattbianco1]

Conveniently ignoring the point of the post. Clarke is poor.

Never mind. Project insults at someone you don't agree with on a football forum. It's easier !

Explaining why I'm wrong about Clarke would have been more constructive, but hey ho ...,,,.

Well played !!!

UTB

We've got Lavery to come into the team soon too

 

[Slim Man]

We've got Lavery to come into the team soon too

Hahahaha bet he's gutted about that. SEND THE PIGS BACK. I can't cope with the fact that we're signing their cast offs I'm getting a bit of stick in the local about it and going home and crying to my missus.

Grow up. Pathetic.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I think it's a bit harsh on Clarke. From what I've seen, when he's played the team have reverted to knocking it high to him in the hope of benefiting from the second ball, this tactic was clearly not working but not convinced it's Clarke's fault. I think it's a bit like the "Peter Crouch effect" - you've got a tall striker so it's tempting to just play high balls. Since we've played with Done and Sharp, the team are forced into playing the ball into them as they aren't going to win any high balls which has resulted in a general improvement in our pattern of play.

I don't think we're going to get the best out of Clarke until we start giving him the right sort of service.

 

[Bladesway]

It's a long season and I think players like Clarke will come into their own at some point. He is something different so that gives us options.

Struggling to understand why in this thread we are taking it out on each other? I'm assuming that because we won we have to find another target to chuck rocks at. Must be the Blades Mad gene infesting.

 

[Slim Man]

To be fair he played very well . But I actually agree , he isn't a good player there .

But for the first time today maybe we saw why wilder hasn't strengthened there whilst he's been at pains to strengthen everywhere else ?

Does a wilder side need the midfield maestro we all crave ? Today we broke them down all over the park and played simple through balls to players in space . Does CW really want that kind of player ? Maybe we all do bit he doesn't

Give CW time

Whether we need a 'maestro' or not we simply don't have enough midfield players, we have 3 centre mids and then Whiteman and Reed and that's it.
If we play 3 in midfield we have no choice but to play Basham-Coutts-Fleck, Whiteman to come in. I would've loved us to sign Diagorouga from Leeds, not a maestro more of an athletic, strong ball winner in the middle.

We also need more goals, but we know that anyway. So hopefully we start working on it from now.