Is it Time To Drop Clarke?

[originaltrueblade]

my opinion is he looks slow although he didn’t get much service he looked poor when he got the ball. Maybe he should be rested for s few games and he shouldn’t be captain. Never see him barking any orders too far up the pitch to be captain. Give it to Bssham or Stearman

What do you think?

 

[him behind you]

I agree about the captaincy mate. Don't think he's captain material and it might even be affecting his performances.

 

[BigBed]

Sort of agree, he needs a rest, let Donaldson n Sharp out for a few games, it can't hurt, Holmes looked good, but bringing Duffy on for him after 70mins seems like the way to go, also play, Fleck and Evans in the middle, and bring Leonard on for Evans later on, and Wilson/Clarke on for Billy, unless forced changes are needed do to stupid goal keeping that is!

 

[Selly]

If you are looking at dropping strikers then Wilson needs benching first.

Unproductive and selfish. Twice in the last two games he's had the ball running at the back four with Clarke ahead of him making good runs looking for a though ball, and twice Wilson has kept hold too long and lost the ball.

 

[metalblade]

No,it is time to drop the Man U show pony though. How he gets to start ahead of Sharp or Donaldson is beyond me,unless that is part of the deal that he has to play. I wouldn't think Wilder would agree to that though but who knows.

 

[S64 Blade]

I think both do at the moment. The service has been poor, granted, but the work rate isn’t there currently. It’d be good to see Sharp and Donaldson.

I’m not sure why Clarke has been given the arm band either, he seems quite extroverted. Fleck or O’Connell, would be better choices if Sharp isn’t playing.

 

[Lil red rooster]

last couple of games he's had absolutely no service whatsoever,not sure what he's supposed to do.
it's a long hard season and our wingbacks are looking a bit fatigued maybe a tweek in formation could do us a world of good .either way. clarke wont score goals with the service he's getting at the moment neither would billy or anyone else.

 

[YES Blade]

At Clarke’s age, a rest here and there can’t hurt. I’m sure the physios/sports science staff at the club know more than me, but on the face of it a 33 year old shouldn’t be consistently playing 90 mins every match.

 

[GodricBlade]

No,it is time to drop the Man U show pony though. How he gets to start ahead of Sharp or Donaldson is beyond me,unless that is part of the deal that he has to play. I wouldn't think Wilder would agree to that though but who knows.

The loan system has many pros & cons for all involved & we may be suffering from one of the cons.
One big reason owning clubs loan players out is to get game time. Whether it’s to get the fit, get them in form or get them in the shop window.
Man U - especially Mourinho - will be unlikely to do a deal that doesn’t specify game time for Wilson.
Wilson had bags of talent & looks like he could be what we need - but so far has been poor & might benefit from being dropped. Then again, he’s less likely to settle & find his form if he’s on the bench. Only Wilder knows what he HAS to do.
Clarke - not captain material & his little bits of visible pissed-off-ness during games is not captain behaviour either.
Take the armband off him, give it Stearman & let the Leon loose again.

 

[Weasel]

The problem at the moment is lack of service to the front lads. I'd they were missing chances then fair enough, bit they aren't getting any to miss in the first place.

If we started to break with a bit more pace and have midfield running at teams the you would start to see the front lads making the dangerous runs again and scoring goals.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Few thoughts - Clarke works his socks off harassing the opposition back line, if he isn’t supported by a high press from midfield it will make him look silly and is a waste of time. Players like him will hold the ball and win headers but he has to be supported by people who will then play him in if he is going to score. The three main players who were doing that for him are now injured or benched so I have a lot of sympathy for him.
Duffy must have lost the confidence of CW - he’s either been behaving badly or not delivering in training. He was sensational last season and first half of this but everyone now knows how important he is/was to us. Have to say that in the Pigs game at the Lane, they shut him out completely. Other teams will have noted that and if he can’t perform when being marked closely, I’m afraid that it’s evidence that he isn’t good enough at the level we want to get to.
Others have said so and I agree that there’s no need to panic, we’re a good side but confidence is low. If the fans start getting on their backs they’ll feel it and the passing game that got us top of the league will be replaced by long ball as they want to
get rid.
We’re in a slump but we’ve all seen this before from our team. I’m no happy clapper but a couple of results, confidence lifted and we’ll be back on a run. I still think playoffs are are realistic.
UTB

 

[Blade56]

No, drop Wilson first and give Billy a run. Need a bit of passion back in the side. We're looking like a team of steady eddies.

 

[blader]

No, we just need to play duffy!!!

I agree Clarke hasn’t been at his best the last few games. However, I’d like to actually see him up to in our ‘best’ team (in my opinion) before we drop him.

Keeper

Basham
Stearman
O’Connell

Baldock
Evans
Fleck
Duffy
Stevens

Clarke
Donaldson

Would be what I’d play next game. Duffy is integral to how we play and it affects more than just the no.10 position but also the other players around him that have linked up so well this season.

 

[CornwallBlade]

No, we just need to play duffy!!!

I agree Clarke hasn’t been at his best the last few games. However, I’d like to actually see him up to in our ‘best’ team (in my opinion) before we drop him.

Keeper

Basham
Stearman
O’Connell

Baldock
Evans
Fleck
Duffy
Stevens

Clarke
Donaldson

Would be what I’d play next game. Duffy is integral to how we play and it affects more than just the no.10 position but also the other players around him that have linked up so well this season.

Fair enough, I’m not saying don’t play him as something has to change but obviously CW isn’t convinced. I hope I’m wrong, that he gets to start and sets the game alight.

 

[DronnieBlade]

No.

He is captain.

He is top scorer.

He is tall.

He runs around a lot.

He is undroppable.

UTB

 

[GodricBlade]

No, we just need to play duffy!!!

I agree Clarke hasn’t been at his best the last few games. However, I’d like to actually see him up to in our ‘best’ team (in my opinion) before we drop him.

Keeper

Basham
Stearman
O’Connell

Baldock
Evans
Fleck
Duffy
Stevens

Clarke
Donaldson

Would be what I’d play next game. Duffy is integral to how we play and it affects more than just the no.10 position but also the other players around him that have linked up so well this season.

Problem is your ‘best team’ has Bash & Stevens in it - both of whom have simply not been at the races lately.
Drop ‘em both. Leonard in for Bash, Lafferty for Stevens.

 

[DronnieBlade]

No.

He is captain.

He is top scorer.

He is tall.

He runs around a lot.

He is undroppable.

UTB

Oh and forgot he should play every minute of every game.

UTB

 

[blader]

Problem is your ‘best team’ has Bash & Stevens in it - both of whom have simply not been at the races lately.
Drop ‘em both. Leonard in for Bash, Lafferty for Stevens.

Stevens might not have been good, but Lafferty really isn’t an upgrade. Just because Stevens has had a drop in performance doesn’t mean we should put in a worse player in his place.

I would drop Basham straight away but I’m not convinced there’s anyone ready to take his place, which is why I left him in.

 

[super_pig]

my opinion is he looks slow although he didn’t get much service he looked poor when he got the ball. Maybe he should be rested for s few games and he shouldn’t be captain. Never see him barking any orders too far up the pitch to be captain. Give it to Bssham or Stearman

What do you think?

no just remove the armband and give it to bill .. i’ve come to the conclusion that whatever bills form/otherwise we are ‘definitely’ missing his (obviously underestimated) leadership qualities and passion for the club
basham ?? you’re shitting me he’s lucky to be in the team atm

 

[snootyfenooty]

It's all huff and puff without the duff.

 

[super_pig]

Stevens might not have been good, but Lafferty really isn’t an upgrade. Just because Stevens has had a drop in performance doesn’t mean we should put in a worse player in his place.

I would drop Basham straight away but I’m not convinced there’s anyone ready to take his place, which is why I left him in.

lafferty isn’t an upgrade but he’s fresh and not a downgrade either on current form and not potential.. it might at least give enda a rest.. that position that him and baldock/freeman play is very demanding physically

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

The loan system has many pros & cons for all involved & we may be suffering from one of the cons.
One big reason owning clubs loan players out is to get game time. Whether it’s to get the fit, get them in form or get them in the shop window.
Man U - especially Mourinho - will be unlikely to do a deal that doesn’t specify game time for Wilson.
Wilson had bags of talent & looks like he could be what we need - but so far has been poor & might benefit from being dropped. Then again, he’s less likely to settle & find his form if he’s on the bench. Only Wilder knows what he HAS to do.
Clarke - not captain material & his little bits of visible pissed-off-ness during games is not captain behaviour either.
Take the armband off him, give it Stearman & let the Leon loose again.

Crock him in training then, twisted ankle should do it.

 

[Esablade]

154 minutes per goal and second top scorer in the league...not sure Clarke is the problem.

Billy is captain. Clarke when Billy’s not starting..personally I’m not a fan of strikers as captain but no one could really argue with Billy being captain..I’d like to see Stearman captain thecside but. It sure he’ll change mid-season unless both Billy and Clarke don’t start.

 

[stringer]

Think a few are overestimating the power of a bit of elastic on the arm. Not every captain has to be a screaming Terry Butcher style

 

[GodricBlade]

Stevens might not have been good, but Lafferty really isn’t an upgrade. Just because Stevens has had a drop in performance doesn’t mean we should put in a worse player in his place.

I would drop Basham straight away but I’m not convinced there’s anyone ready to take his place, which is why I left him in.

I can sort of understand the twisted logic of keeping an out of form player in the side because someone else ‘might’ not be any better.
Sticking with that logic is hardly a recipe for success though. Lafferty would struggle to be ‘worse’ than Stevens is at the moment - in my eyes anyway.
Add to that Bash & you’re opting to keep 2 players in the side who are out of form & struggling when we have ‘options’ on the bench in Lafferty, Wright, Leonard......????
All about opinions I guess & they don’t have to be the same.
UTB’s

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Maybe his hot spell has come to an end. However, he hasnt had great service lately, so it's probably a bit early to say.

 

[sufcboy95]

Donaldson and sharp against Leeds for me without a doubt

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

I think we should start Donaldson + sharp for the next couple of games, they've both earned it I think and Clarke could do with a little rest. Sub billy for Wilson last 30 mins if he's out of puff, I don't think Wilson or billy have the fitness for a full 90 mins atm.

As for captain, give it to bash, Clarke needs the freedom to roam about.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

my opinion is he looks slow although he didn’t get much service he looked poor when he got the ball. Maybe he should be rested for s few games and he shouldn’t be captain. Never see him barking any orders too far up the pitch to be captain. Give it to Bssham or Stearman

What do you think?

You've raised two totally different topics here in the same thread.

1 Should he be dropped?
2 Should he be Captain?

Re 1: I would say yes he should. And the reason why he should is because he hasn't been playing well for the last half-dozen games or so. In fact, he should have been dropped before now. The problem is, who do you replace him with? Because even when he's having a poor game, we don't have anyone else with his physical attributes that can win flick-ons with the head or hold other players off. There's James Hanson of course - but he's so immobile that would be even worse for the team. Ched Evans could probably fill that role, but he's nowhere near fit yet is he? Then you've got the new lad Wilson - who looks ok in fits and starts - but he's not exactly the kind of player to lead the line. Then you've got Billy Sharp who never even attempts to jump for the ball in the air, preferring instead to run behind the centre half and hope he misses it! And then you've got Donaldson, who is made of A4 Foolscap paper and falls flat on his face whenever anyone challenges him. So, I think he should have been dropped but I fully understand why he hasn't - because there's no better option to replace him with right now.

Re 2: No he shouldn't be Captain. He's one of the most downbeat, depressive, dreary characters in the whole squad. You need someone who is a bit of a mouthpiece, a bit of a motivator, someone who can shake players up and get them going a bit. I think we'd have been better giving it to Fleck personally - at least that bloke's got a bit of fire and spirit about him.

 

[Davalon]

Dropemall.