Not ruling it out mind especially given we pulled the enzo deal out the bag, would have thought Hartes mouth would be going if there was anything on the cards though he can’t help himself
Yeah I think so, or at least there was discussions My club were looking at him last January but it was hard to do a deal as United couldn't sign a replacement
Not for certain, last week they said 'the club was optimistic' that him and watson would be available early feb. Then you need weeks for Mundle to even reach the levels he was showing before, Hamstrings are notorious to go again.
Mundle's sounded a bad tear and I doubt he'd be back to anywhere near full fitness and match fit until April.... Clarke with Watson as backup would be canny
Yeah, Mundle may be "back" in Feb but I doubt he'll be fully up to speed until near the end of the season. He might not even make it that far, would be at high risk of re-injury. I think Clarke would be an amazing signing to take the pressure off Mundle so we can take it really slow and make sure he's absolutely 100%, in time for next season.
As I've said Clarke coming back is a no brainier for me, he knows us and we know him, he's also quality at this level and it allows Mundle and Watson to fully recover from their injuries
Personally, I'm not in favour of Clarke coming back. Nothing against him and I do genuinely wish him the best, but from the rumours I've heard his confidence is shot to pieces. People would expect him to come back and be the player he was before he went to Ipswich, which he sounds confidence wise miles off. If he comes back and doesn't hit the ground running you can bet there'll be a few who'll turn on him. That would only make things worse for him and could be a risk for team overall. You have to think that when he first came to us it took him a while to fit in and deliver, a mate if mine used to call him rotten for a good few months saying he couldn't see what he brought to the team. Even myself didn't rate him that highly until the play off semis (though I'll give the reason I missed a load of games after Christmas because of work, so I didn't see a lot of him in the flesh). He admitted himself he'd had some awful loans that had affected his confidence before he came here. I'd hate it if he needed a run of games to get it back but that sections of our fanbase don't give him it. I really think Harte has damaged the lads career. He'd been touting him out for over a year before the move happened. He's moved him to a club that doesn't suit him, that appear to have written him off, (certainly lost faith in him), where fans have pretty much turned on him and the manager is signing players that play in his position. It's enough for you to think that McKenna isn't interested in trying to work with him and develop him into the player he wants. It's enough for any player to become demoralised, especially someone who's had bad moves previously in his career. Initially he did alright after first joining them, I remember a game against Villa where he set up the opening goal and played pretty well. Yet now he wasn't even picked for the bench in their last game. It may take a helluva lot to get his confidence up from there and I'm not sure enough of our would give him the time to do it.
This might be overthinking it, imo. Fact is, he got thrown into a new team, which didn't play to his strengths, in a much tougher league. It's no wonder he's struggled. If he comes back he'd be surrounded by familiar faces, with a team who knows how to get the best out of him, and fans who all love him, playing against easier opposition. I'm pretty confident he'd be back to his old self in no time.
Working from home tomorrow and only 15mins from Ponteland air field so happy to sit in arrivals if a private jet appears.
