Billy Clarke returning???

An incident in the Barnsley game summed him up. He made a good run down the right and got the run on the defender chasing a ball down the line, Doyle made a great unmarked run into the box and all it needed was a decent first time low cross into the box and Doyle was in. The next 10 seconds were liking watching a toddler trying to control a balloon, finishing with the defender nicking the ball from Millers feet and running off upfield with it.
He’s all effort but lacks the skillset of a league 1 striker.

 

He did it twice, think the 2nd time O'b had made the run but he ran head down into a wider position without crossing the ball. He's raw, he's young but he doesn't seem have progressed since being with us.

 

Clarke is not what we need, he played ok when after a new contract.
He rarely could change a game or a team for the better when backs to the wall, he'd be even less influential now.
I'm rarely for old players returning.
If a 34/35 year old Jones was available I'd have his influence in middle of that park back in a breath, but Clarkly, nah, he's from a different City squad from the past and needs to stay there.

 

Bring him home.

 

It's a 'no' from me. Back to the future rarely works and I can recall endless posts on here slating his contribution before. He is not what we need right now and given limited funds we have to look elsewhere surely.

 

If Billy Clarke is allowed to leave I'd suggest Stuart might be in with a shout as Stuart thought a lot of the lad ?.

 

Can we send Ball back? I thought it was a season long loan, with a recall option?

 

Did you know George Miller has scored TWICE as many goals from open play as Doyle?

Miller can be ineffective at times, but he's better than Doyle.

 

Clarke was probably rightly judged on his goal scoring. However he is very good at linking attack with defence and the team always seemed to play better with him in it.

 

I agree. He hasn't exactly set the world alight at Charlton, is injury prone and now 31. Actually, we have a player that plays a similar role to Clarke already on the books, much younger and actually having a pretty good season, albeit at a lower level. Surely if we are wanting to bring in some cover for Payne/Ball in case of injuries/suspensions, the sensible choice would have been to recall McCarten?

 

whilst billy clarke wouldn't be a signing that would be deemed as a 100% necessity right now - i can understand why the manager may be interested in bringing him back.

it's no secret that we need goals right now and the more striking options the better. david ball has been doing an adequate / ok job in the role he has been asked to carry out but he's not naturally a no 10 or a midfield player - he's a striker. this move would allow billy clarke to be an option to play in the role ball is right now and give hopkin the option of playing ball further forward in his natural position.

not only that but billy clarke wouldn't need much time to settle in to the club - he knows the surroundings; the fans, training ground and valley parade well. his family and home are still around yorkshire so he'd arguably be happier up north than down south.

like i said, not a 100% necessity but understandable why the club may be looking at hime as an option. especially if it was a short term deal until the end of the season and he's going to be released by charlton anyway.

 

Although I agree with the gist of your post can we afford the likes of either Ball or Clarke on the bench right now, isn't a target man more important at this present time to help get the best from Doyle.
We have no options out wide until Scannell gets back, I do believe there are more important areas to be competing for with regards new faces.

 

well that all depends on finance, bringing in billy clarke (or another) hopefully wouldn't stop us going for another forward player too. our bench is weak right now, and weaker since we've released players - having a clarke or ball type player on the bench would only strengthen our options.

 

Which players that we've released do you think would strengthen the bench if they were still here? (Bearing in mind JOB wasn't released, he chose to go).

 

You said it in "finance" which I also agree with, the way the club finds itself in post Edin I think it will be the loan road Hopkin has to go down.
I'd heard City were hoping to sign Ball permanently but he was holding out fro some bonus payment from Rotherham, this would have given us chance to bring Surridge in on loan.

 

2 Words
NO THANKS

 

Slightly strong.

It doesn't seem to be the most desperately required position, as many have said, but there is no question he would strengthen the squad.

 

Have we fallen that much that Billy Clarke would strengthen our squad
Good luck to Billy but I firmly believe both he and the club should seek alternative options

 

Is that even a question?!

We've fallen a massive, massive way, and yes, he'd be a better sub than any of Ellington, Gibson, Wright or whoever else we may have to one day use to pad out the bench.

 

It was rhetorical !!!!
I honestly think we need more than a benchwarmer at the moment
It's time for us to act before we slip back into L2 and I honestly don't think
BC is the answer