Ciaran Clark - now gone

[N'Zimidy]

People who are saying that Clark isn't good enough or should be bunted into midfield are insane. He's only 23 and has had to lead a back four and midfield consisting of players aged 23 and under for a large part of the season. He's made a couple of errors defensively but other than that he's been solid at the back, he can pass the ball and most importantly in our setup he can keep the ball.

I think people are focusing far too much on the few negatives he's had this season. Watch him play week in week out and he's cutting out passes, dominating defenders in the air and making dozens of last ditch tackles and blocks to keep us in the game. In our 3-1 win over Liverpool he absolutely murdered Suarez all game. Even Liverpool fans were joking that Suarez couldn't get out of Clark's pocket for weeks after the match had finished.

At the age of 23 Johnny Evans really looked like a joke at centre back. Fast-forward a couple of years and Evans is a solid unit for United. There's nobody calling for Johnny Evans to go down the leagues or to shift him out of position these days. In another year or two Clark will be in the exact same position. Centre half is the hardest position for a young player to play and it takes time and experience before they're up to standard. Clark's not only had to play there in what was a defensively weak team but he also had the responsibility to captain the side for many games this season.

For me Clark is first choice. I don't want Lescott or somebody to come in and take games off of him. He's a top, top prospect and a few blunders aside he has been good this season. I'd buy a centre half to cover injuries and rotation but not to force Clark and Baker out of the side. A lower league signing like Chester for example who's young and promising. Then we have the option to rest centre halves if they're out of form. Something that wasn't an option this year. The experience that Clark will have gained this year and an opportunity to rest for a couple of months will be vital to him and his progress. He's already fixed many problems in his game and although not the finished article, we have to persevere with him and he'll reward us next season.

[neo_Villan]

All the young lads have been thrown in the deep end this season. Some have sunk and some have swum. Clark is one of those who have sunk.

[Billy Walker]

I agree (with N'Zimidy).  He is a top prospect and people forget that he captained England at every level before electing to play for Ireland.  He's had a real baptism of fire to his career and to get rid now would be, in my opinion, utterly insane.  Even from midfield he is useful and has scored more league goals from that position than the ludicrously over-hyped Jack Wilshere.

The England squad for Clark's last match might indicate how highly he is/was regarded:

Marc Albrighton Aston Villa

Ben Amos Manchester United

Ryan Bertrand Norwich City (on loan from Chelsea)

David Button Luton Town (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

Andy Carroll Newcastle United

Ciaran Clark (Captain) Aston Villa 

Tom Cleverley Leicester City (on loan from Manchester United)

Jack Cork Watford (on loan from Chelsea)

Fabian Delph Leeds United

Kieran Gibbs Arsenal

Ben Mee Manchester City

Javan Vidal Aberdeen (on loan from Manchester City)

Freddie Sears West Ham United

Scott Sinclair Birmingham City (on loan from Chelsea)

Chris Smalling Fulham

Daniel Sturridge Manchester City

James Tomkins West Ham United

Josh Walker Middlesbrough

[ozzjim]

People who are saying that Clark isn't good enough or should be bunted into midfield are insane. He's only 23 and has had to lead a back four and midfield consisting of players aged 23 and under for a large part of the season. He's made a couple of errors defensively but other than that he's been solid at the back, he can pass the ball and most importantly in our setup he can keep the ball.

I think people are focusing far too much on the few negatives he's had this season. Watch him play week in week out and he's cutting out passes, dominating defenders in the air and making dozens of last ditch tackles and blocks to keep us in the game. In our 3-1 win over Liverpool he absolutely murdered Suarez all game. Even Liverpool fans were joking that Suarez couldn't get out of Clark's pocket for weeks after the match had finished.

At the age of 23 Johnny Evans really looked like a joke at centre back. Fast-forward a couple of years and Evans is a solid unit for United. There's nobody calling for Johnny Evans to go down the leagues or to shift him out of position these days. In another year or two Clark will be in the exact same position. Centre half is the hardest position for a young player to play and it takes time and experience before they're up to standard. Clark's not only had to play there in what was a defensively weak team but he also had the responsibility to captain the side for many games this season.

For me Clark is first choice. I don't want Lescott or somebody to come in and take games off of him. He's a top, top prospect and a few blunders aside he has been good this season. I'd buy a centre half to cover injuries and rotation but not to force Clark and Baker out of the side. A lower league signing like Chester for example who's young and promising. Then we have the option to rest centre halves if they're out of form. Something that wasn't an option this year. The experience that Clark will have gained this year and an opportunity to rest for a couple of months will be vital to him and his progress. He's already fixed many problems in his game and although not the finished article, we have to persevere with him and he'll reward us next season.

This is a great post, and spot on. The only reason I would prefer a Lescott over a Chester for example, is the frailty of Vlaar. I want at least 1 man with experience to coax the others through.

Shame Stoke did not go, I would have taken Shawcross or Huth to do the same.

[neo_Villan]

I agree (with N'Zimidy).  He is a top prospect and people forget that he captained England at every level before electing to play for Ireland.  (Yet he has looked anything other then a captain when he has been given the armband this season.) He's had a real baptism of fire to his career and to get rid now would be, in my opinion, utterly insane. (No more a baptism of fire then the other young lads. Yet it hasn't prevented the likes of Lowton, Westwood, Weimann and Benteke from stepping up and having good seasons.) Even from midfield he is useful and has scored more league goals from that position than the ludicrously over-hyped Jack Wilshere. (Clark is a great prospect whilst Wilshire is over-hyped! Seriously? Also, I'd like Clark to midfield but he made it clear that he only sees himself as a centre-back.)

The England squad for Clark's last match might indicate how highly he is/was regarded:

Marc Albrighton Aston Villa

Ben Amos Manchester United

Ryan Bertrand Norwich City (on loan from Chelsea)

David Button Luton Town (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

Andy Carroll Newcastle United

Ciaran Clark (Captain) Aston Villa 

Tom Cleverley Leicester City (on loan from Manchester United)

Jack Cork Watford (on loan from Chelsea)

Fabian Delph Leeds United

Kieran Gibbs Arsenal

Ben Mee Manchester City

Javan Vidal Aberdeen (on loan from Manchester City)

Freddie Sears West Ham United

Scott Sinclair Birmingham City (on loan from Chelsea)

Chris Smalling Fulham

Daniel Sturridge Manchester City

James Tomkins West Ham United

Josh Walker Middlesbrough (Yes, there have been many players who have looked good at youth level without making the grade at senior level. We have seen enough of them here at Villa.)

[Billy Walker]

I understand your points Neo_Villan but young players develop and shine at different rates and different times, getting consistency to their games is the key thing.  This time two years ago, in the midst of Houllier's crisis-ridden reign, Clark and Albrighton more than stood up and both looked very promising indeed.  I saw enough then to know they are very capable players just as I've seen enough in the past couple of months to know the likes of Lowton are  capable lads.   Clark was captaining a team containing Smalling, Cleverley, Sturridge, Sinclair, Gibbs etc.  which suggests he has something about him worth sticking with.

[Boz]

People who are saying that Clark isn't good enough or should be bunted into midfield are insane. He's only 23 and has had to lead a back four and midfield consisting of players aged 23 and under for a large part of the season. He's made a couple of errors defensively but other than that he's been solid at the back, he can pass the ball and most importantly in our setup he can keep the ball.

I think people are focusing far too much on the few negatives he's had this season. Watch him play week in week out and he's cutting out passes, dominating defenders in the air and making dozens of last ditch tackles and blocks to keep us in the game. In our 3-1 win over Liverpool he absolutely murdered Suarez all game. Even Liverpool fans were joking that Suarez couldn't get out of Clark's pocket for weeks after the match had finished.

At the age of 23 Johnny Evans really looked like a joke at centre back. Fast-forward a couple of years and Evans is a solid unit for United. There's nobody calling for Johnny Evans to go down the leagues or to shift him out of position these days. In another year or two Clark will be in the exact same position. Centre half is the hardest position for a young player to play and it takes time and experience before they're up to standard. Clark's not only had to play there in what was a defensively weak team but he also had the responsibility to captain the side for many games this season.

For me Clark is first choice. I don't want Lescott or somebody to come in and take games off of him. He's a top, top prospect and a few blunders aside he has been good this season. I'd buy a centre half to cover injuries and rotation but not to force Clark and Baker out of the side. A lower league signing like Chester for example who's young and promising. Then we have the option to rest centre halves if they're out of form. Something that wasn't an option this year. The experience that Clark will have gained this year and an opportunity to rest for a couple of months will be vital to him and his progress. He's already fixed many problems in his game and although not the finished article, we have to persevere with him and he'll reward us next season.

Good analysis as far as I'm concerned, Clark can be a cornerstone of our central defence for years given the chance.

I trust Lambert to persevere with Clark, his judgement has been pretty good so far.

[neo_Villan]

I understand your points Neo_Villan but young players develop and shine at different rates and different times, getting consistency to their games is the key thing.  This time two years ago, in the midst of Houllier's crisis-ridden reign, Clark and Albrighton more than stood up and both looked very promising indeed.  I saw enough then to know they are very capable players just as I've seen enough in the past couple of months to know the likes of Lowton are  capable lads.   Clark was captaining a team containing Smalling, Cleverley, Sturridge, Sinclair, Gibbs etc.  which suggests he has something about him worth sticking with.

I think my main concern with him is that he is bordering on the limit of what we would define as young. 23 now. I just wonder how much more time we need to give him before we reach a conclusion. As I also previously said, you can't really look at his youth record to prove anything. Luke Moore was once considered as good a prospect as Rooney for example. If Clark stays, then I'll obviously give him another season and hope he proves me wrong. But I still maintain that his best performances have been in midfield. It also told me something that McLeish prefered Baker to him in defence after Dunne's injury. Say what you like about McLeish, but he is a good defensive coach and was a good centre-back himself.

[N'Zimidy]

Good analysis as far as I'm concerned, Clark can be a cornerstone of our central defence for years given the chance.

I trust Lambert to persevere with Clark, his judgement has been pretty good so far.

Exactly. Lambert came in and straight away said that Clark was a centre half and was going to be a key man for us. He instantly dismissed the notion that he should play in midfield. Lambert's stuck with him, even through a tricky January with money to spend. That should tell us plenty about the potential of Clark and how highly rated he is by the management here.

[manic-road]

Centre half's tend to put in they're better performances in the late 20's to early 30's, even Gary Cahill has looked a raw talent at times recently and he plays for England.

Clark has the potential to be a cornerstone of our defence for years to come and I wouldn't be giving up on him at the moment.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Clark is the new Barry. Where do you play him? Nobody knew for a while with either of them.

I could see him playing the Westwood role. Not as good as, but may be worth looking at if Westwood is injured/has a couple of games to see how he plays in a more advanced role.

I think Clark is a good player, he just needs a position.

[gervilla]

I certainly wouldn't be giving up on him.
Not sure if his future is at centre back though.

[Matt Collins]

Luke Moore was never considered as good a prospect as Rooney except by the most one eyed of Villa fans (so about 30% of posters here!)

[neo_Villan]

Luke Moore was never considered as good a prospect as Rooney except by the most one eyed of Villa fans (so about 30% of posters here!)

Haha! I probably did embellish that point somewhat.

[PaulWinch again]

Clark can potentially be good, but he has to show an ability to learn from his mistakes. That's the only way he'll ever succeed.