Ciaran Clarke- just how good is he?

It's easier to name players I think are good enough for bottom half safety:

Yes - Mbemba, Lascelles, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle

Maybe - Yedlin, Atsu, [insert one of 4 keepers here], Clark, Mitrovic, Anita

The rest are filler.

 

There's no doubt that coming here has resurrected a somewhat stagnating career.
He's done well to date, but cutting it in the PL is a dfferent matter.
Two seasons on the trot, particularly last year, struggling to be first choice for the worst team in the league says something.

 

I'll ask this again: did he play LB for villa most of the time? Anyone know because I just haven't watched Villa whatsoever over the last few years unless we were playing them.

 

Last season their main left back was Amavi, who was fantastic in France and turned to **** in the PL.

Something you're familiar with as a club.

 

I dare you to Saivet again

 

Rafa isn't Hughton and he won't settle for expectations of a bottom half/relegation scrap when we're back, Sels, Diame and Hanley definitely ain't Prem class, they'd be the first to go. Fringe players like Haidara, Aarons and Gamez also likely to go.

Colback, Gouffran, Mbemba and Dummettcould just about do a job for a struggling Prem side, but Rafa will be aiming higher than that, so I'd be surprised if they stay.

Would stay - Shelvey, Gayle, Ritchie, Laecelles, Perez, Mitro
Likely to stay - Hayden, Clark, Darlow, Elliott, Yedlin

 

I thought that Arrons was supposed to be a top kid?

Who's likely to get poached in Jan/Summer?

 

I agree but ok not sure about mbemba he's got a but of bramble in him

 

Getting rid of Krul probably helped a lot, the bloke is/was a great shot stopper but his kicking was Ryman League standard, I have no idea how he managed to get so much support, you lot must love kicking it straight into the stand up there.

 

aarons looked the deal in his first few games a couple of seasons back. since then he has been injured most of the time and average when he is available.

he still could come good I suppose but at this point the odds are against it

 

Aarons looked like the next big then when he appear 3 years ago, since then he's been constantly injured, and even when he's been fit to play (end of last season/start of this season), he hasn't looked up to it. Doubt he's gonna go on to anything bigger than us, probably be a similar case to Haris Vuckic - we pipped AC Milan and Man U to signing him and had "one of the brightest talents in Europe".....a few years later he's on the Rotherham bench.

Laecelles, Ritchie and Shelvey will be our most targeted players. Possibly Hayden too if he gets played more and keeps up his good form. Gayle will probably keep scoring, but I doubt any big team will come in for him.

 

Found his level...

 

You building walls again?

 

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I've heard (completely unsubstantiated) stories that Aarons turned up for training drunk once. Is he a bad lad? I think it's bollocks since the likelihood of him ever being fit enough to take part in training is so remote that it must be made up.

 

Clark may still be worth a go in the Prem. Of course you can argue he was struggling to get into the worst team in the league last season, but our current captain could barely get in the squad for us last season when we were clearly struggling in defence. It takes the right manager to see something in a player and give him the chance to play and develop. Like Rafa has done for Lascelles, maybe Clark will benefit greatly from his influence and become a very competent Premier League defender.

 

He's a count... just like ACS... whoever he is.

 

Mostly CB. He played at CM a few years ago too and more than held his own.

He was excellent for Ireland tonight btw. With Clark and Duffy together Ireland probably have the two best Championship CBs together on the same team.

 

Did well tonight I thought,as a Toon and ROI fan he has contributed to both hence both topping their respective tables

 

So you are saying Clark is better than Lascelles?