Ciaran Clark - now gone

[Villan For Life]

I knew plenty of players would be off this summer but I didn't think he'd be one of them.

He divides opinion, I felt he was one of those who would improve with a better player alongside him. Unfortunately we never had a player like that in the side so he was exposed to be the mediocre player that he is.

I wish him well, they will slaughter him up there.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I wish him well, they will slaughter him up there.

We're talking about a club that thought Titus Bramble was a footballer. He'll survive.

[eamonn]

Always liked him and disappointed to see him go. He's been here since he was 12 so the amount of "he's shit, good riddance" comments are in poor taste.

 He seemed to care a lot more than most of them. He's probably gone a bit stale and Benitez isn't a bad judge of a player. Farewell Clacker.

[LeeB]

I wish him well, they will slaughter him up there.

We're talking about a club that thought Titus Bramble was a footballer. He'll survive.

Not only that, they played him for years.

See also the proto-Clark, Steven Taylor.

[pauliewalnuts]

Clark is really our Steven Taylor. Well, he was.

[ozzjim]

I would play Gestede against him in our games with them. He is very easily bullied and tries to make up for it with hard man tackles. Fooling no one. Too pretty to be an effective centre half.

[PeterWithe]

I always stood up for Clarke in the pub and nearly always mentioned that Ferguson rated him and tried to sign him, many was the time I'd come back from the bar and my mates were still reeling off the names of all the shit players that SAF had signed.

Farewell Clacker.

[myf]

Surprised a few prem clubs didn't come in for him at 5m. The boggies were regularly linked with him last year.  5m is peanuts in the current market

[wittonwarrior]

He would put in a crunch tackle and then  misjudge the simplest of balls.  Not the complete footballer and as an individual sorry but not fussed.

However, I am  concerned about the likes of  him and Gana jumping  ship just before the season  on the back of what I can only describe as poor contract terms for the Villa. 

To me I can't understand the validity of a contract if players simply hold each and every string.

[Malandro]

A dedicated footballer and with us since childhood - good luck.

[PeterWithe]

 Suppose it's a two way street, when we go down we tell them they have to take a drop in wages but we have to accept offers. No great loss.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

I would play Gestede against him in our games with them. He is very easily bullied and tries to make up for it with hard man tackles. Fooling no one. Too pretty to be an effective centre half.

agree with him being bullied but bloody hell at no point last season did gestede bully anyone

[PeterWithe]

He didn't get close enough to the ball to bully anyone. Awful unless the ball was crossed from the final third, then he was as good as I've seen in the past few years.

Gestede that is.

[VillaAlways]

A thank you from Clackers:-
I would like to place on record my thanks to everyone who supported me during my 15 years @AVFCOfficial Special mention to Gordan Cowans,Tony McAndrew and Kevin McDonald who played a huge part in my development from youth team to first team. Last season obviously hurt everyone
i will be forever grateful for my time at the club, and i wish everyone @AVFCOfficial the best of luck for the future.

[Louzie0]

I don't know why he has opted to leave but considering he's been at the club since he was a kid, represented us at all levels and was our only representative at Euro 2016 he should leave with our best wishes and get a warm reception on his return. He was thrown in as a teenager during a terrible era, was brave and never ducked a tackle, good luck Colin Clarke.

That's how I feel about him as well. I hope he flourishes there, apart from when he plays us, of course! 
Good luck, Ciaran.