Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on March 21, 2012, 10:58:55 AM
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sportinglife.com
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish says defender Ciaran Clark is getting closer to returning to full training.
The Republic of Ireland international has been ruled out since late January after damaging knee ligaments in training.
Initial hopes that the 22-year-old would return within a month were dashed when he had a setback in his recovery but McLeish revealed he is now on course to start working with the rest of the first-team again.
"He suffered a wee setback and I think next week it will be six weeks since he was injured," McLeish told the club's official website.
"We felt it might be about four but the setback stretched it out a wee bit. But he is now running and kicking the ball.
"He is not doing any blocking work yet as he has still got a bit of tenderness in the knee. But I would say in about a week's time we should be able to evaluate whether he comes back with the group."
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Good.
We can see the season out with him at LB and then flog Warnock in the summer.
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I'd rather give Stephens a go at leftback as he's been playing very well in the reserves, leaving Clark to concentrate on mdifield and/or centre half.
I'm not happy he isn't doing any blocking work. There must be lots of walls that are behind schedule.
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I'd rather give Stephens a go at leftback as he's been playing very well in the reserves, leaving Clark to concentrate on mdifield and/or centre half.
Not a bad shout, but I'd like to see Gardner get a decent few games in midfield alongside Petrov and have thus far been happy with the Cuellar/Collns partnership.
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So have I. But he's cover for them plus I'd like to see him play alongside Gardner and Herd a few times as I think this has potential. Nothing against Stan but he's back to breathing through his arse on the hour again. He's due a break sooner or later and it would be nice to see some experimentation while we can.
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I'd like to see Clark as a CB, but at the moment Cuellar & Collins seem to be doing well.
Next season I think he'll make the CB position his own.
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Agree with John, would like to see Clark at left back so we can jettison the walking turd that is Warnock.
Handy at defending and attacking corners as well.
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Good. Clark is probably as good a player as we have.
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But not at left back, he's too slow.
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So have I. But he's cover for them plus I'd like to see him play alongside Gardner and Herd a few times as I think this has potential. Nothing against Stan but he's back to breathing through his arse on the hour again. He's due a break sooner or later and it would be nice to see some experimentation while we can.
Yes, I would like to see how a midfield three of Gardner, Herd and Clark perform at some point. But as cover only he wouldn't be getting much game time and that would be in favour of a player that the vast majority of fans, and hopefully the manager, wants shot of in the summer.
I'd be looking at the following team for the rest of the season:-
Given
Hutton
Cuellar
Collins
Clark
Petrov
Gardner
Albrighton
Ireland
N'Zogbia
Gabby
Given
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But not at left back, he's too slow.
I'd rather slow than shit.
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Warnock has improved lately. I'd keep him in.
Clark on the bench for a bit, until the next CB get's crocked or we play poorly, then I'd replace one of them.
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Warnock has improved lately. I'd keep him in.
Not too much, he's still pretty poor.
He's still capable of an embarrasing balls up at any point.
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Good.
We can see the season out with him at LB and then flog Warnock in the summer.
Why mess about, we should flog him now and sell him in the summer.
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I’d have Clark in at left back when fully fit and drop Warnock as he is a mistake waiting to happen every game and the Collins/Cuellar partnership is working well.
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Warnock has improved lately. I'd keep him in.
Form aside for a minute, look at his wages and how long is left on his contract. He's a clear candidate for the chop in our cost cutting exercise.
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I've never seen him play well at left back. He is too slow and liable to commit himself when he can't get the ball. He was awful against Wolves at their place.
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I've also not seen much from him at left-back to suggest he should be playing there ahead of Warnock.
I'd also be keen not to keep shunting him all around the pitch.
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Didn't Clark have a bad game against Wolves, a match which only got better when Warnock came on to replace him at left back?
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Good news he will be a top player.
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Didn't Clark have a bad game against Wolves, a match which only got better when Warnock came on to replace him at left back?
Kightly ripped him to shit at left back during that first half. Warnock came on for Gabby at H-T and there was a MON type re-shuffle when he used to bring Harewood on for Shorey.
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He did have a stinker at Wolves, but I remember he had a couple of decent games there under Houllier.
I'm not saying it's a longterm solution, just that it's get the walking liability out of the side, giving the clear message he's going in the summer, and give one of our emerging talents some game time.
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But not at left back, he's too slow.
I'd rather slow than shit.
The only times I've seen him play at LB he's been both. Much as Warnock is a liability, I think Clark would be even more of a liability in that position.
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But not at left back, he's too slow.
I'd rather slow than shit.
The only times I've seen him play at LB he's been both. Much as Warnock is a liability, I think Clark would be even more of a liability in that position.
Fair enough. I completely disagree, but fair enough!
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He's back in training, at least; sounds as if a first team comeback is a way off yet.
Be good to see out the season - last 2-3 games - with Clark at CB and Stevens at LB. Just to gauge how they get on.
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Get Clark alongside Cuellar and let's see if they are the real deal for next season.
Herd and Gardner will be supplemented by Holman in the summer so let's get CC and CC going at CB.
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I would also like to get Clark playing alongside Cuellar and give Enda a go at left back.
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I would also like to get Clark playing alongside Cuellar and give Enda a go at left back.
Brave, but that's what I'd like to see too. Clark and Cuellar are left and right footed so they could be a good partnership. Not sure how much pace and strength there is though. However they're both quite small for CBs so I'd imagine that their turning and mobility should better than Dunne and Collins.
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I would also like to get Clark playing alongside Cuellar and give Enda a go at left back.
Brave, but that's what I'd like to see too. Clark and Cuellar are left and right footed so they could be a good partnership. Not sure how much pace and strength there is though. However they're both quite small for CBs so I'd imagine that their turning and mobility should better than Dunne and Collins.
Cuellar can leap and head the ball as well as either of those two, though, and is less prone to lapses in concentration. Certainly Clark there would improve our distribution from the back.
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As well as having a brilliant name, naturally very comfortable on the ball is Clark and looks best in the middle I think.
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Yep. Definitely Clark in the middle for me. 5 or so games in his best position.
Ultimately we need to see how good he is. In the summer there's a good chance that Dunne, Collins and Cuellar will have the option to leave so knowing how good (or bad) Clark will be is vital so we can plan and prioritise our spending.
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We can't keep putting off playing him in the position most people think is his best or he will never develop into a top player. He needs to finish this season in the centre of defense, either with Cuellar or Collins.
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Given
Lichaj Cuellar Clark Enda
Herd. Gardner.
Albrighton. N'zogbia
Ireland.
Gabby
I'd quite like to see this formation at some point this season....