Matt Clarke

E

edinboro

Well-known member
Not sure if it's been covered but how fantastic for the lad tonight. From the little we saw he looked the player we saw when he first signed. So nice for him. Like Darnell last year, it's lovely to see a player who might never have played a game again get the chance.

And he looked good. I reckon he will have a part to play. I can see him and Rav becoming a partnership as we move forward.
 
Last time I saw him play was Sunderland at home ..
I'll be honest, I gave recruitment pelters .. as he looked like he was towing a caravan.
His injury was horrendous, for a normal fella, let alone an athlete..
To come back and play as physically aggressive, and calm on the ball, was a surprise.
He's all the attributes to be a top six centre half .. .
And by gosh .. do we NEED a bully boss back there
 
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Hopefully the classic 'like a new signing'. He looked alright. Won plenty in the air.

I'm sure he was player of the year for 3 successive seasons with different clubs? That's a very good CB. I remember WBA fans saying how gutted they were that we'd signed him.

He's actually a very good ball playing CB. A reputation for pinging 40-50 yard crossfield passes etc. He's no bruiser or slugger. So should fit Carricks style.

Also left footed. That brings balance to a back 4/5. Oh god.... I sound like Wilder 😂. The guy who played Bola at CB because he was left footed lol.
 
I think he'll have a job on shifting McNair, who has been brilliant since he came in at left centre half.

It was lovely to see him back and a classy moment from Howson giving him the armband when he went off. My only issue with him is that he's perhaps too one footed.
 
"It was lovely to see him back and a classy moment from Howson giving him the armband when he went off. My only issue with him is that he's perhaps too one footed."

How many of our right footed players are too one footed as well then?
 
What kept him out for so long? Obviously he's been injured but don't think I've ever seen any mention of the injury?
 
I think Carrick bringing him on last night is an indication he intends to work him back into the first team.
How often does he change CBs during a match? He obviously wanted to get him minutes and start brining him up to full match fitness.

Delighted for him personally, but I also think he could be a massive plus for the first team. Will support Engel on that side as well if he comes back into the side. Having a left footed CB does help the LB as they are more natural covering that flank.
 
He was awful for us for those first games and looked like another duff signing, given he was out for a year not long after we now know why. Hopefully that’s behind him now, would be nice to get some good injury news, everyone who gets injured seems to be out for ages at the moment! When’s McGree and Forss back for a start?
 
gravy173 said:
He was awful for us for those first games and looked like another duff signing, given he was out for a year not long after we now know why. Hopefully that’s behind him now, would be nice to get some good injury news, everyone who gets injured seems to be out for ages at the moment! When’s McGree and Forss back for a start?
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He was outstanding on his debut.

And he was player of the season for three different clubs, far from a duff signing. He was a quality player when we signed him. The long term injury may have affected him going forward, time will tell.
 
Juninhoburger said:
He was outstanding on his debut.

And he was player of the season for three different clubs, far from a duff signing. He was a quality player when we signed him. The long term injury may have affected him going forward, time will tell.
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To be fair his cameo last night reminded me of his debut, he seems to love those little turns and drag backs, he never looks rushed. Good to get him out there for a short spell at a time when he was under no pressure as the game was won.
 
B_G said:
I think Carrick bringing him on last night is an indication he intends to work him back into the first team.
How often does he change CBs during a match? He obviously wanted to get him minutes and start brining him up to full match fitness.

Delighted for him personally, but I also think he could be a massive plus for the first team. Will support Engel on that side as well if he comes back into the side. Having a left footed CB does help the LB as they are more natural covering that flank.
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Hmm I just think it’s 3-0 and he saw a chance to get him on the pitch. Nothing more to it
 
Mendieta14 said:
Hmm I just think it’s 3-0 and he saw a chance to get him on the pitch. Nothing more to it
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Surely getting him minutes on the pitch is all about integration/reintegration, as it was for the young lad?
If he was just on the bench to make up the numbers, he wouldn't have bothered.

The guy was rightly MOTM on his debut, but poor after that. However, the injury was serious, and almost every other players was able to show themselves to be a better player under MC than they were under CW. He's yet to have that chance to prove himself, so good luck to him, and I hope he takes it.
 
We are one injury away from needing him in the starting 11. So he needs minutes on the pitch. I was very pleased to see him come on last night, not that we learnt much against such terrible opposition.
 
Steer said:
We are one injury away from needing him in the starting 11. So he needs minutes on the pitch. I was very pleased to see him come on last night, not that we learnt much against such terrible opposition.
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Preston were the worst opposition I've seen at the Riverside this season. I don't enjoy saying that because they're a club and a set of fans I have a lot of time for.
However, I've got to think they're much better than they showed last night. They're still above us in the table. I know that's largely buoyed up by excellent early season form, but I'd be surprised to see them end up in the relegation mix. They'll probably finish top half.
 
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