Most liked posts in thread: Billy Clarke confirmed

Englishman??!! He was born in Cork.

 

I liked Clark first time around. The one positive he wants to play for City. He will give 100% just hope he can find good form early to lift us to safety

 

Absolutely agree with this - for me the team never looked as good when Clarke left as he links up play so well. Payne is great but his decision making can be poor at times (will come with experience), Clarke brings a bit of experience back to the team

 

I Must've missed that, I remember him being quite wasteful with chances and possession. I'll take your word for it

 

The problem Clarke had in his time here before was that he played in the same team as Hanson and he isn't and out and out striker, as Eric says above. His ideal position is as a number 10. He is a very influential player with an eye for a pass. He was our top scorer a few years ago with about 14 if memory serves me correctly, but his influence is generally more creating goals than scoring.

Imagine if you were an opposing defender and have had to deal with Payne for an hour, then Clarke gets chucked in off the bench? he could be a great impact player in the short term.

Longer term, if he can prove he is over his injury, he's the ideal replacement for Payne who, let's be honest, we cannot afford to keep beyond May. Succession planning from Hopkin with this loan, me thinks.

 

Trust that Hopkin believes this is the type of player we need, but I really don't see it.

 

Unmoved by this.

 

Mixed feelings about Billy coming back.He's had injury problems,he's not the quickest but he has a good football Brain and he can pick a pass.
Just hope he keeps fit,scores a few and maybe provide chances for Doyle.

We're signing older players and injury prone players,maybe we should rename the club "Holby City" ?

 

Hope you're all looking forward to the frustration of watching Payne, Clarke and Ball run around 40 metres from goal with little tippy tappy passes, tripping over each other and going nowhere.

Anyway, Clarke will be happy, coming closer to home and having us pay his mortgage to sit on the bench.

Can't see anything in this signing at all unless Payne or Ball get injured. Hope I'm proved wrong though.

 

I see your point but we were happy to watch Law, Cullen and Meredith playing pretty triangles and going absolutely nowhere. I think this current 3 carry far more attacking threat

 

Exactly this. I think as fans, when the going is tough, you'd like to think that there are sufficient voices in the changing room and characters within the squad to make a difference.

There are going to be challenging moments in this 15 game run-in and with Clarke I think we have added another one of those voices and characters which will hopefully help us through.

 

he's not a forward though. he's an attacking midfielder. that's not TOO bad.

 

You could have Clarke and Payne in the same team, both playing off a central striker. With Ball also able to play in all 3 of those positions we definitely have options.

The big drawback in that system though is that we're don't seem to have a player who can play the loan striker well enough at present.

 

But that's entirely due to our results in the first three months of the season, when we were a total shambles, regardless of whether or not we had a target man on the pitch.
Our form since November, without a target man, is upper mid table/playoff form.

 

I agree. We’re in a relegation place not pushing for the playoffs. He can add something different and the bench looks stronger. Would still like a target man option in addition.

 

looking forward to seeing him play for us again

 

It was a decent save to be fair.

 

Jesus wept. Let it go.