Adam Clayton

I absolutely loved Clayton while he was at Boro and for a couple of seasons in the championship his partnership with Grant was outstanding. He never gave anything other than 100%, which as we know isn't what you always get from others. I really think that season in the Premier League ruined him through no fault of his own. He tried to give so much while others around him took the proverbial. This lead to him being exposed so many times while trying to protect our back line that season and his slight lack of pace in that central area was cruelly exploited. I still love the lad to be fair.
 
Boro1964 said:
If you want to see a player deteriorate look at Paul Parker, he was playing in the champions league final, A year later
he was playing for Heybridge Swifts in the Isthmian North Division.
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not quite true...... Utd didn't play in a champions league final until 1998 and he left in 1996 after being injured all season.
 
Slightly off topic but related to Clayton.

My dad would speak to anyone & one pre-match whilst waiting for me in the West Stand concourse he struck up a conversation with a complete stranger who turned out to be Adam Clayton's father Steve. The two became friends and Steve would join us for a pint before most matches.
In 2017 my dad had to have knee replacement surgery and as a get well soon gift Steve sent him the shirt Adam wore for the game against Man City. The shirt is signed by Adam & has a message written on it to my dad.

Sadly my dad died last year & my mother is now wondering what to do with shirt.

If there is anyone on here who collects this sort of thing then I will happily give it to them. If there is more than one person who would like it then whoever is willing to make the biggest charity donation can have it.
 
BoroBosco said:
Slightly off topic but related to Clayton.

My dad would speak to anyone & one pre-match whilst waiting for me in the West Stand concourse he struck up a conversation with a complete stranger who turned out to be Adam Clayton's father Steve. The two became friends and Steve would join us for a pint before most matches.
In 2017 my dad had to have knee replacement surgery and as a get well soon gift Steve sent him the shirt Adam wore for the game against Man City. The shirt is signed by Adam & has a message written on it to my dad.

Sadly my dad died last year & my mother is now wondering what to do with shirt.

If there is anyone on here who collects this sort of thing then I will happily give it to them. If there is more than one person who would like it then whoever is willing to make the biggest charity donation can have it.
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Great story that and sorry to hear of your loss. I personally think you should keep the shirt though, purely due to the message to your Dad.
 
Tryasize10 said:
I absolutely loved Clayton while he was at Boro and for a couple of seasons in the championship his partnership with Grant was outstanding. He never gave anything other than 100%, which as we know isn't what you always get from others. I really think that season in the Premier League ruined him through no fault of his own. He tried to give so much while others around him took the proverbial. This lead to him being exposed so many times while trying to protect our back line that season and his slight lack of pace in that central area was cruelly exploited. I still love the lad to be fair.
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He was great in the championship, as was Leadbitter, but neither of them were PL midfielders. We signed De Roon and we had Forshaw, they probably should have been the upgrade to Clayton and Leadbitter but losing Leadbitter was more than just his ability, it was his organisation and leadership which was more difficult to replace and everyone else suffered. We probably should have prioritised a Leadbitter upgrade to play alongside De Roon who we have seen has gone on to have a top level career. Instead we were forced into 3 CMs and even though De Roon played as the front of those 3 he would have been more suited to playing his own game and having Ramirez ahead of the 2 instead of out wide.

Clayton lacked the pace for the PL and he slowed things down too much and his weekly booking for pulling a player back was happening earlier in games meaning he had to sit extra deep to not be forced to do it again. Harsh realities of stepping up to the PL is that some of the best players that got you there will never be good enough for that step up.
 
Top pro and integral part of our team for a few seasons. He was never going to be good enough for the PL as he wasn’t fast enough or good enough technically.

That’s not to do him a disservice, he’s had a great career.
 
Said it before on a different thread but the rugby ruck he formed one game to prevent a ball going over the line in televised game, cant recall which one, was the stuff of legend. Typified the defensive determination and will to win of that side, and midfield two in particular
 
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