Ciaran Clark: The new/next David Platt?

[Brend'Watkins]

Clark is nothing like Platt although he has got an eye for goal.  He's more comparable to Barry when he first started...not perfect but can and will improve.

One thing is for sure though, there is nobody else on the team on current form who would have executed that first goal on Saturday the way Clark did.  He is a very composed player.

[cheltenhamlion]

The new Platt? Nah.

[KevinGage]

Clark is nothing like Platt although he has got an eye for goal.  He's more comparable to Barry when he first started...not perfect but can and will improve.

One thing is for sure though, there is nobody else on the team on current form who would have executed that first goal on Saturday the way Clark did.  He is a very composed player.

Agreed.

He looks more like Barry with every passing game.

Not identical, but shades of Barry's first goal for the club was v Forest at home back in 1998. Reason it sticks in the memory is that it was a very composed finish for a defender - as Clark's was on Saturday.

[The Left Side]

The new David Platt... nope!

The new Curly Watts... Maybe (sorry I couldn't resist)

Possibly a new Gareth Southgate, as he has the ability to play at CB and CM!

[eamonn]

Why is that do you think, anything to do with  the previous manager?

He's been nearly an ever present until his injury under Houllier and has offered a competitiveness lacking since his exit.
Petrov is just Petrov, and I'm sure any of the kids who have replaced him do as good a job. Clarke has scored and done a sterling job for a cb, Bannan has become a media favourite and a Scottish cap and done more or less all Petrov does.

And yet our results have suffered in his absence. He may not be as flashy or have such distinctive qualities as our other midfielders but he is the glue that keeps them all together. The one player we have who has something approaching a birds-eye view of the game (er, something that can fly but is a bit less mobile/lazier than a bird). I've often been unimpressed with Petrov but his absence has highlighted that he fulfills the ''ticking things over'' role that's actually quite important and crucially, no one else in our squad is that good at doing.

[Steve67]

Tin hat on.  I'd quite like to see what the young man can do at left back.  He's got a lovely left foot, good in the air, good engine on him, better player than the current left back.  Oh, and he's left footed.  Any thoughts or am I being silly?

[Bosco81]

He's going to be a very good centre half, end of debate.

Be interesting to see where Ireland play him when he's next called up.

[Legion]

Why is that the end of debate? He could quite easily establish himself in midfield.

[Bosco81]

I just think his whole body shape, the way he runs and his positioning suits playing at centre half.

Left sided centre halves don't come along very often and it would give us a great balance.