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Post by stokecitytalke on Sept 4, 2023 13:08:41 GMT
Had a quick look at the Sentinel in Sainsbury's this morning and it said we were "close to signing centre half free agent".
I can't find anything on line. I wonder who it could be?
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Sept 4, 2023 13:11:28 GMT
Ciaran Clarke
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Post by cobhamstokey on Sept 4, 2023 13:14:42 GMT
There’s worse around. Just hope he can keep fit. Decent quality if he does. Though I’m no fan of 343 with Junior and Gooch in I could see it working potentialiy in some games.
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Post by theporcelainpele on Sept 4, 2023 13:16:13 GMT
Ciaran Clark. 34, not played for ages, 275 hamstring injuries and no pre season to his name. That should sort the ball over the top problem we’ve been facing for the last 6 years.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Sept 4, 2023 13:18:04 GMT
Ciaran Clark. 34, not played for ages, 275 hamstring injuries and no pre season to his name. That should sort the ball over the top problem we’ve been facing for the last 6 years. Let’s at least give him a chance see how it pans out. I’d have gone for Ayala but heh ho.
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 4, 2023 13:19:42 GMT
Hard toknow what to make of the Clark signing.
Is he just a making the numbers up one to get the CB stable up to 4?
Or do we see him as a genuine left-sided one who can come in and start?
So many unknowns about what Neil is thinking, how long it'll take him to get fit enough to even be in contention - but it's very hard to see him starting ahead of Wilmot or McNally.
Can't really argue with a 12-month deal as we're so short.
But he seems some way short of Tuanzebe's ceiling at 34 in a few weeks, even if you can well understand us not going down that avenue.
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Post by dirtygary69 on Sept 4, 2023 13:20:24 GMT
No chance it's Cathcart?
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Post by cobhamstokey on Sept 4, 2023 13:21:39 GMT
Hard toknow what to make of the Clark signing. Is he just a making the numbers up one to get the CB stable up to 4? Or do we see him as a genuine left-sided one who can come in and start? So many unknowns about what Neil is thinking, how long it'll take him to get fit enough to even be in contention - but it's very hard to see him starting ahead of Wilmot or McNally. Can't really argue with a 12-month deal as we're so short. But he seems some way short of Tuanzebe's ceiling at 34 in a few weeks, even if you can well understand us not going down that avenue. We’re not so desperate that we can’t give him time to get match fit either.
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Post by biddulphchav on Sept 4, 2023 13:22:29 GMT
Hard toknow what to make of the Clark signing. Is he just a making the numbers up one to get the CB stable up to 4? Or do we see him as a genuine left-sided one who can come in and start? So many unknowns about what Neil is thinking, how long it'll take him to get fit enough to even be in contention - but it's very hard to see him starting ahead of Wilmot or McNally. Can't really argue with a 12-month deal as we're so short. But he seems some way short of Tuanzebe's ceiling at 34 in a few weeks, even if you can well understand us not going down that avenue. 34 isn’t too bad for a CB, whatever he lacks in pace he should be able to compensate for with experience. Be happy with this signing, has decent pedigree and I’m confident could do a job if called on
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 4, 2023 13:23:00 GMT
He's right-footed, isn't he? Looks like the need for a left-footed option has been the key. Probably why he wanted Davies. But if he sees it as key - is it key enough to see him as a starter? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-alex-neil-8673661...and a left-sided centre-back is on his shopping list too, “I thought you could see today that not having a left-sided centre-back caused us some problems because a lot went down that side"
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Post by theporcelainpele on Sept 4, 2023 13:23:04 GMT
Ciaran Clark. 34, not played for ages, 275 hamstring injuries and no pre season to his name. That should sort the ball over the top problem we’ve been facing for the last 6 years. Let’s at least give him a chance see how it pans out. I’d have gone for Ayala but heh ho. It was a witty reply mate, you need a few lessons in light humour. I’ll support every player that dons our shirt.
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Post by vidigal7 on Sept 4, 2023 13:28:37 GMT
Should have gone all out for Lacelles and offered him a good deal plus the captains arm band, top player at this level, a unit & a leader.
Don't know our finances of course so it may have not been even possible
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Post by cobhamstokey on Sept 4, 2023 13:29:02 GMT
Let’s at least give him a chance see how it pans out. I’d have gone for Ayala but heh ho. It was a witty reply mate, you need a few lessons in light humour. I’ll support every player that dons our shirt. I’ll take that on board He’s a kiddy compared to Jags
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Post by dirtygary69 on Sept 4, 2023 13:32:38 GMT
He's right-footed, isn't he? Looks like the need for a left-footed option has been the key. Probably why he wanted Davies. But if he sees it as key - is it key enough to see him as a starter? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-alex-neil-8673661...and a left-sided centre-back is on his shopping list too, “I thought you could see today that not having a left-sided centre-back caused us some problems because a lot went down that side" Yes, I think he is. If it's specifically a left footed player then it would appear to be Clark but the potential of him and Stevens on that left side wouldn't fill you with much confidence, would it? Could we not use Stevens for that LCB role with Junior/Gooch playing LB instead?
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Post by johnnysoul60 on Sept 4, 2023 13:40:27 GMT
Still think it was Stupid of Neil to not offer Fox another deal, had his best season for us last season and can cover two positions, not sure from what I have seen so far that either Rose or Mcnally are much of an upgrade . Clark has the experience but has always seemed to have a mistake in him but he might help in terms of leadership , apart from the keeper the standard of the defence and having to rely on Wes to hold the ball up all the time are my main concerns.
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Post by PotterLog on Sept 4, 2023 13:43:17 GMT
He's right-footed, isn't he? Looks like the need for a left-footed option has been the key. Probably why he wanted Davies. But if he sees it as key - is it key enough to see him as a starter? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-alex-neil-8673661...and a left-sided centre-back is on his shopping list too, “I thought you could see today that not having a left-sided centre-back caused us some problems because a lot went down that side" He says left-sided rather than left-footed, maybe a subtle difference
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Post by Pugsley on Sept 4, 2023 13:53:13 GMT
We're desperate and now scraping the bottom of the barrel.
We've signed so many players but neglecting this position is a big error. Hopefully we can put it right in January.
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 4, 2023 13:58:25 GMT
He's right-footed, isn't he? Looks like the need for a left-footed option has been the key. Probably why he wanted Davies. But if he sees it as key - is it key enough to see him as a starter? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-alex-neil-8673661...and a left-sided centre-back is on his shopping list too, “I thought you could see today that not having a left-sided centre-back caused us some problems because a lot went down that side" Yes, I think he is. If it's specifically a left footed player then it would appear to be Clark but the potential of him and Stevens on that left side wouldn't fill you with much confidence, would it? Could we not use Stevens for that LCB role with Junior/Gooch playing LB instead? Yeah - I don't really understand why, if you think having a left-sided CB in the back 4 is important, you don't target one as a genuine starter at the start of the rebuild who isn't a 34yo free agent still available on September 4th, and who only managed 700 minutes last season. It's either important or it's not - and his comments, certainly post-Ipswich, indicate he thinks it is. Maybe there wasn't one out there in our price range whose left-sidedness was considered important enough to override what he thought McNally could add? Maybe he only thinks it's particularly important against certain teams - and he can get by with Wilmot/McNally most of the time? Not sure about Stevens playing LCB in a 4. Don't think he's really ever played there before, but seems to have done it in a 5 a few times. From looking yesterday, Clark seems to have done ok when he did get on the pitch for Sheff Utd, largely during December, but you can't really read much into that 700 minutes, either side of hamstring injuries. And not much to suggest he's going to start 10+ games.
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Post by spitthedog on Sept 4, 2023 14:17:10 GMT
Blades fans seemed to like Clark.
Also it looks like it wasn't just injury that kept him out of the side, he was just not picked after his injury and other in form players kept him out.
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Post by northernstokie on Sept 4, 2023 14:21:47 GMT
Yes, I think he is. If it's specifically a left footed player then it would appear to be Clark but the potential of him and Stevens on that left side wouldn't fill you with much confidence, would it? Could we not use Stevens for that LCB role with Junior/Gooch playing LB instead? Yeah - I don't really understand why, if you think having a left-sided CB in the back 4 is important, you don't target one as a genuine starter at the start of the rebuild who isn't a 34yo free agent still available on September 4th, and who only managed 700 minutes last season. It's either important or it's not - and his comments, certainly post-Ipswich, indicate he thinks it is. Maybe there wasn't one out there in our price range whose left-sidedness was considered important enough to override what he thought McNally could add? Maybe he only thinks it's particularly important against certain teams - and he can get by with Wilmot/McNally most of the time? Not sure about Stevens playing LCB in a 4. Don't think he's really ever played there before, but seems to have done it in a 5 a few times. From looking yesterday, Clark seems to have done ok when he did get on the pitch for Sheff Utd, largely during December, but you can't really read much into that 700 minutes, either side of hamstring injuries. And not much to suggest he's going to start 10+ games. Maybe he tried but couldn't get one in. And this could be a plaster until Jan.
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Post by Gary Hackett on Sept 4, 2023 14:39:17 GMT
He's right-footed, isn't he? Looks like the need for a left-footed option has been the key. Probably why he wanted Davies. But if he sees it as key - is it key enough to see him as a starter? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-transfer-alex-neil-8673661...and a left-sided centre-back is on his shopping list too, “I thought you could see today that not having a left-sided centre-back caused us some problems because a lot went down that side" He's deluded if he thinks signing Clarke will remedy that. Jesus wept.
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Post by bertiestan on Sept 4, 2023 14:44:19 GMT
No one knows it's Clarke
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Post by thepottypotter on Sept 4, 2023 15:03:42 GMT
Hope its Phil Jones
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Post by cvillestokie on Sept 4, 2023 15:07:14 GMT
Having someone who is naturally suited to a role is important. If you are playing with your back to goal and a player is running down the left flank, it’s good to have your strongest foot to kick off from.
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Post by PotterLog on Sept 4, 2023 15:18:13 GMT
Had a quick look at the Sentinel in Sainsbury's this morning and it said we were "close to signing centre half free agent". I can't find anything on line. I wonder who it could be? Old-school that is mate. Announced in the Green'un satdee pm?
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Post by st3mark on Sept 4, 2023 15:28:13 GMT
If we signed Clark and Tuanzebe, and by some miracle they both stayed fit. Would they be our best pairing?
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Sept 4, 2023 15:38:50 GMT
We really do need another specialist CB and will probably have to make do and mend at this point but better to do that than just hope injuries don't leave us short at the back.
It was a great window but I really hoped we could have brought in an experienced, quality CB - it could make the difference between mid table mediocrity and a genuine tilt at a playoff spot.
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Post by neddy on Sept 4, 2023 15:41:51 GMT
Perhaps they will give him a trial?
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Post by FullerMagic on Sept 4, 2023 16:03:52 GMT
twitter.com/DannyPenfoldNixon says he "can also play LB" - but according to transfermarkt, he's only played there a couple of times in the last decade after 10 or so appearances in his early career
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 4, 2023 16:07:21 GMT
Always saw Ciaran Clark as a better footballer than he is an actual defender. Is/was a really good player and good in the opposition box as well but has a habit of not picking players up.
A position that should have been sorted long before now you feel
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