Ciaran Clark - now gone

[brontebilly]

I wonder if we'll go back three when Okore returns, certainly would put me more at ease with Richard's suicidal surges from the back.

Surprised 3-5-2 hasn't been played in pre season, would prefer it to 4-4-2.

wouldnt be surprised to see Okore get his place back once he gets fit again. he is a solid character. made a good few mistakes last year but still showed a lot of promise too and combined well with Clark. The Okore/Clark pairing was our strongest since the days of Collins/Dunne under MON....not the booze brothers days

[thick_mike]

Three centre halfs has worked well for us in the past.

I would have liked to play this a couple of seasons ago when we had problems defensively at full back. A few of our fullbacks showed promise going forward, but were crap defensively. Mind you, we had problems fielding two fit centre halfs, let alone three.

[villan from luton]

I wonder if we'll go back three when Okore returns, certainly would put me more at ease with Richard's suicidal surges from the back.

Surprised 3-5-2 hasn't been played in pre season, would prefer it to 4-4-2.

I would prefer the 4-2-3-1 system tbh for this game

[Matt Collins]

I'm not that bothered by Richards making one burst forward from the back per game

It's more the shape with Clark and Hutton on a constant basis which is a bit of a risk. See first goal v forest plus a couple of other times in the first 20 mins. Could have drove a bus through their

[LeeB]

The last 5 years have made me negative, or would you rather a messageboard full of cheerleaders jumping up and down with pom poms with inane grins of their faces while the team lurches from one disaster to another?
Again, I don't have to justify when I post and I've certainly never been a prolific poster like others on here but that's not to say I haven't commented on the players we've signed this summer because I have and I've been positive about them. You are wrong to suggest I only pipe up to criticise, but I'll certainly criticise when I feel I should. I've never been a fan of Clark, or Baker, or even Okore, and the sooner they've gone the better. That's just my opinion though which I'm entitled to.
I don't know why you've had a go at me because I can honestly say I've never even noticed your name before.

We've disagreed quite vigorously at times, on many subjects, but I'll stick for you a bit here because on the few occasions we've done something good in the last few years you're one of the first to celebrate.

It's a clear distinction to the doom merchants, who seem to disappear once form upturns.

[john e]

The last 5 years have made me negative, or would you rather a messageboard full of cheerleaders jumping up and down with pom poms with inane grins of their faces while the team lurches from one disaster to another?
Again, I don't have to justify when I post and I've certainly never been a prolific poster like others on here but that's not to say I haven't commented on the players we've signed this summer because I have and I've been positive about them. You are wrong to suggest I only pipe up to criticise, but I'll certainly criticise when I feel I should. I've never been a fan of Clark, or Baker, or even Okore, and the sooner they've gone the better. That's just my opinion though which I'm entitled to.
I don't know why you've had a go at me because I can honestly say I've never even noticed your name before.

We've disagreed quite vigorously at times, on many subjects, but I'll stick for you a bit here because on the few occasions we've done something good in the last few years you're one of the first to celebrate.

It's a clear distinction to the doom merchants, who seem to disappear once form upturns.

Hear hear

[richard moore]

I don't have to justify when I post, and it certainly wasn't my first post in months either so I don't know where you're coming from with that one. I've been consistent with my opinion on Villa over the last 5 years and looking at our league positions over that time certainly doesn't make me regret it
I've been pretty pleased at our buys so far this summer, and I've said so much on here as well. You make it sound like I'm some kind of troll who does nothing but criticise 100% of the time just to wind people up. That isn't the case and I resent you giving that impression.
If I have an opinion on Villa I'll give it. If you don't like it don't read it.

Good man, don't ever stop posting on here, some of us know what a good guy you are.

[Dante Lavelli]

Yes, Clark + Okore did very well together and seemed to understand each other very well.

The problem we have had at the Villa is that we can't keep a centre back partnership together for more than three games in a row.

As a template Clark/Okore is pretty similar to Richards/Clark as both Okore and Richards are right footed and have pace.

[Clampy]

I thought Clark was excellent at times today.

[villan from luton]

I thought Clark was excellent at times today.

Clark made one error in allowing the striker onside and Guzan helped it out. Other than that, he was excellent I thought, but for the silly booking

[ozzjim]

I thought Clark was excellent at times today.

Clark made one error in allowing the striker onside and Guzan helped it out. Other than that, he was excellent I thought, but for the silly booking

The booking made me as angry as conceding would. Why on earth is he charging into that challenge on the stroke of half time with no chance of getting near the ball. Just idiotic.

[Chris Smith]

I thought Clark was excellent at times today.

Clark made one error in allowing the striker onside and Guzan helped it out. Other than that, he was excellent I thought, but for the silly booking

The booking made me as angry as conceding would. Why on earth is he charging into that challenge on the stroke of half time with no chance of getting near the ball. Just idiotic.

It just looked like a misjudgement of the flight of the ball and so to cover himself he committed the foul. The equivalent of pulling back a player who goes past you.

[tom jennings III]

Hope this is the season Clark finally comes of age in the top flight, seem like he's been almost there for a while now and, at 26, I can understand the opinion that we should move him on even though I don't agree with it. Keep him fit this season and I think alongside either Okore or Richards he'll perform really well and maybe even start upping his goal rate!

[PaulWinch again]

If Clark plays like he did for the second half of last season he can be a very good player.

[Matt Collins]

Yeah I thought last year was when he came of age

It was such a massive error not to give him a couple of years on loan when he was much younger