Peter Clarke.

[DTS]

Agree 100% Dave as I pointed out on the Simon Francis thread. Saw ya there today.

Sorry - You saw me at the game???? Bit lost.

 

[PaulC]

Clarke still drops a real clanger every game - its just in recent weeks he's got away with it.

I was more confident at half time than I would normally be in that situation as both Francis and Clarke had got their standard gift of a goalscoring opportunity out the way.

Clarke was incredibly lucky that the Ipswich player took a dive when Clarke recklessly dived in. Had the Ipswich player stayed on his feet Clarke was already committed and their player would have had a clear sight on goal.

Francis similarly nearly undid all his good work (of which there was much) with some truly horrific defending which Ipswich also failed to make the most of.

I think our most important defenders are actually Sodje and Hunt, as those two rarely make errors in dangerous positions.

I think all our defenders have flaws. Francis still scares me, his positional sense seems flawed and his clearances are all lumped up the centre with no control. Hunt is more composed, but as another contributor has noted, he is speedy, it is his brain sometimes that is'nt. Sodje is strong, but I still think he is playing very stiffly, which does suggest that he is not fully fit, but with Prior one foot on bondi beach and Barrett forced out, Tilson is obliged to keep him going. Hammell does lack speed, Tilson did make a very interesting comment to BBC Essex after the Ipswich game, that after watching Peters against Hull during the week, he thought Hunty was his best option against him at left back. Clarke does make mistakes and he could do with being half a foot taller, but, he is a calm determined individual who does not want to be on the losing side. Clarke, with McCormack has toughened up our spine and with the best defender behind them, Flahavan, I believe they will not give up, even if the results go against them this week.

 

[PaulC]

Seems a bit unfair in a way to single out one player for praises after I just witnessed 11 heros out on the pitch but.............

Clarkey today put in one of the single handed best perfofmances I have seen in a Blues shirt for years.

I cannot even begin to count how many times he won his header, calm under pressure, his reading of the game, all round play and just a real passion to be playing for us.

I now realise why some Blackpool fans claimed to have handed back there season tickets. I think we mugged them off for £250k or whatever it was.

He doesnt grab the headlines as much as others but I reallly feel he is as important as Flavs, Maher, Freddy etc in our fight to stay up.

DtS:flamer:

Quite agree. I feel that he is calming influence on and off the pitch. He comes across very well in interviews. Intelligent and professional. He would be a very good captain, but is a bit down the pecking order for that. I would not be surprised if he became a football manager of some repute in years to come.

 

[Jam_Man]

Clarke still drops a real clanger every game - its just in recent weeks he's got away with it.

II think our most important defenders are actually Sodje and Hunt, as those two rarely make errors in dangerous positions.

Been saying that for some time. Every game Clarke does something that could cost us the game, yet manages to get away with it.

Even so I do think he has been good recently and has shown he can be a decent player so my opinion of him is slowly being turned !

As to Sodje, in recent weeks he too hasnt been as solid as previously and has been making some big gaffes as well. He got better as the Leicester game went on and I understand he played well against Ipswich so maybe his confidence is on the up.

Sodje on form is our most important centre back, with him in the side Barrett and Clarke both seem to play better.

 

[sufcintheprem]

In terms of the inconsistencies, Francis, Clarke and Hammell are all still quite young for defenders and will iron out mistakes as they get more experienced. Even if people on here think that Sodje could be the weak link in our back four, I think it is worth having him in for experience if nothing else.

 

[Leighite]

I think all our defenders have flaws. Francis still scares me, his positional sense seems flawed and his clearances are all lumped up the centre with no control. Hunt is more composed, but as another contributor has noted, he is speedy, it is his brain sometimes that is'nt. Sodje is strong, but I still think he is playing very stiffly, which does suggest that he is not fully fit, but with Prior one foot on bondi beach and Barrett forced out, Tilson is obliged to keep him going. Hammell does lack speed, Tilson did make a very interesting comment to BBC Essex after the Ipswich game, that after watching Peters against Hull during the week, he thought Hunty was his best option against him at left back. Clarke does make mistakes and he could do with being half a foot taller, but, he is a calm determined individual who does not want to be on the losing side. Clarke, with McCormack has toughened up our spine and with the best defender behind them, Flahavan, I believe they will not give up, even if the results go against them this week.

I found some of the comments about Hunt have been quite interesting. I wont criticise anyone after Saturday's display as the team played well as a unit and thoroughly deserved to win. However, the comments about Hunt having pace, which even Tilly says in the Echo surprises me. I suppose it's all relative to the options he has but I always see Hunt as "one-paced" and unable to change gear. Hardly someone to match a fast winger. I just thought Hammell wasn't playing as he wasn't fully match fit. Anyone else have views on this?

 

[Jam_Man]

Hunt is very quick when he needs to be, certainly our fastest defender.

I think with Hammell being out of the team for a while it wasnt wise to put him straight back in against Peters.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

You don't see Hunt beaten for pace often. That is mainly because his positioning is generally very good. Even the one time the rapid Peters took Hunt on for pace, Hunt's positioning was excellent meaning that whilst Peters might beat him for pace, he wouldn't get goalside of Hunt.

The amount of criticism Hunt gets continues to astound me. Here is a full-back who rarely gets beaten, who reads the game so is able to cover his central defenders and is comfortable in possession. Moreover, he is one of the few defenders we have who isn't very error-prone. I would have thought that this combined with being our top-scoring defender this season would have made him a popular player at Roots Hall, but somehow it isn't enough.

For example, last home game he got slated by the crowd on one occasion for not going to the ball quicker - despite the fact that he was trying to hold up two players singlehandedly. Had he been drawn to the ball like a kid in a playground the Leicester player would have slipped in the other player. Hunt did superbly in delaying the attack until cover had arrived and we were able to clear the situation. The response in the South Upper was to moan at him for this!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Hunt is very quick when he needs to be, certainly our fastest defender.

I think with Hammell being out of the team for a while it wasnt wise to put him straight back in against Peters.

Francis is quicker, although you may not class him as a defender.

 

[Leighite]

You don't see Hunt beaten for pace often. That is mainly because his positioning is generally very good. Even the one time the rapid Peters took Hunt on for pace, Hunt's positioning was excellent meaning that whilst Peters might beat him for pace, he wouldn't get goalside of Hunt.

The amount of criticism Hunt gets continues to astound me. Here is a full-back who rarely gets beaten, who reads the game so is able to cover his central defenders and is comfortable in possession. Moreover, he is one of the few defenders we have who isn't very error-prone. I would have thought that this combined with being our top-scoring defender this season would have made him a popular player at Roots Hall, but somehow it isn't enough.

For example, last home game he got slated by the crowd on one occasion for not going to the ball quicker - despite the fact that he was trying to hold up two players singlehandedly. Had he been drawn to the ball like a kid in a playground the Leicester player would have slipped in the other player. Hunt did superbly in delaying the attack until cover had arrived and we were able to clear the situation. The response in the South Upper was to moan at him for this!

This board is all about opinions Yorkshire and and if you say he isn't error prone then I think you have not been to many away games this season. There are times when he has been completely wrong-footed, out of position and let the forward through on goal. My original comment was only about his pace but I don't consider he is one of our best defenders, goal scoring or not.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

This board is all about opinions Yorkshire and and if you say he isn't error prone then I think you have not been to many away games this season. There are times when he has been completely wrong-footed, out of position and let the forward through on goal. My original comment was only about his pace but I don't consider he is one of our best defenders, goal scoring or not.

I'm not saying he is perfect and there isn't things he could have done better, but would you care to name some examples of him being error-prone? I've done my fair share of away games this season and certainly wouldn't call him error-prone. Players like Clarke and Francis have certainly made a lot of gaffes this season. Even Spinner, for my money still the best defender at the club on the rare occasions when his legs allow him to be, is error prone.

 

[Cricko2]

Dont all players make mistakes! In my opinion Clarke has come on leaps and bounds this past month or so...I also believe Francis is settling down very well now too.:)

 

[Leighite]

I'm not saying he is perfect and there isn't things he could have done better, but would you care to name some examples of him being error-prone? I've done my fair share of away games this season and certainly wouldn't call him error-prone. Players like Clarke and Francis have certainly made a lot of gaffes this season. Even Spinner, for my money still the best defender at the club on the rare occasions when his legs allow him to be, is error prone.

Sunderland - turned inside out and ended up on his ...se. for one.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

True, he got himself truly tangled up against Sunderland, but he was far from the only one to struggle that day and I think that was very much the exception rather than the rule. The only other day I've seen him really struggle is when he was up against Aaron Lennon in the FA Cup.

Up against good players everyone is going to get beaten once in a while. Its when you make unnecessary mistakes such as switching off, giving the ball away when under no pressure, diving in when there is really no need to commit yourself, or misjudging a routine long ball that I'd class someone as error-prone.

 

[Ricky Otto]

Both Yorkshire Blue and Leighite have valid points. Clarke on the teamsheet doesn't always inspire confidence, but he is improving and finding his feet in this team. He seems to be Tilly's 1st choice centre back and If Tilly rates him thats good enough for me.

 

[Leighite]

Both Yorkshire Blue and Leighite have valid points. Clarke on the teamsheet doesn't always inspire confidence, but he is improving and finding his feet in this team. He seems to be Tilly's 1st choice centre back and If Tilly rates him thats good enough for me.

Sorry mate, we were talking about Hunty! you'll have to retrace the thread.

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

Peter Clarke has made the CCC team of the week apparently, according to Leeds United's OS

 

[BrettieAngell]

Dont all players make mistakes! In my opinion Clarke has come on leaps and bounds this past month or so...I also believe Francis is settling down very well now too.:)

I thought Francis had his best game for us on Saturday, Clarke was superb again!

 

[turkishm]

look clarke is a great c back but francis and hunt have come about as far as there going to get in this div and need replacing next season.

 

[Beefy]

Francis has the potential to be a top, top fullback. He's got everything that you could want from a player in that position. Its just his head that seems to need straightening out. If he can learn to concentrate for 90 minutes then we'll have one hell of a player there. He's still only a kid.