Most liked posts in thread: Donaldson and Clarkes Contribution

Yes, 88th minute, plus five minutes stoppage time so, ok, 7 minutes, not 10.

I don't think many people want him starting games but that doesn't mean he can't do a useful job for us off the bench.

It's clear from this interview that T&S see him as a valuable squad member with a role to play. Also that they want Rowe to buck his ideas up a bit.

 

He was that calming influence, needed at the time. A seasoned pro in what we should realise is a relatively young team?

 

So who do you think was the best?
in those 16 games he scored twice and assisted three times. no one assisted more and was joint top scorer in that time. As a deep playmaker he played well and certainly fit the "best player" category as @Doodle stated.

 

Can't argue with that. Donaldson struggled pre T&S and he doesn't look to have 90 mins in his legs anymore. However, with the pace of Crankshaw and Vernam, he should fare slightly better if we do need to use him from the start tomorrow night. He'll have pace around him. That proposition is very different to having no wide forwards next to you, with Guthrie the closest thing you could call 'support'.

 

Andy Cook definitely does.

The opposition get a kick off every time we pass to him in the box.

 

That's a bit over the top mate.

 

I would be interested to know the correlation between people who said he was a useless player when we re-signed him and who say he has done nothing since he came back is.

 

Our best player under McCall? Really? Now that IS "an absolute nonsense".

He's a forward player who hasn't scored enough and hasn't created very much either. He's not quick and he's not physical so apart from experience and the odd bit of skill I'm really struggling to understand what made him so outstanding as to be nominated as our "best player" by you?

Mind you, if you're giving professional athletes credit for "putting in a shift" then your bar definitely needs raising at least a few notches.

 

He also almost never gave the ball away, held the ball up, brought others into play and looked the only player we had capable of unlocking a defence. He wasn't exactly pulling up any trees but it's all relative to how the others were playing at the time as well.

 

I agree Clarke was one of our better players under McCall also before his injury and the signings under the two amigos

 

We'll have to agree to disagree. For me he was as poor as the rest of them, if not worse.

 

I don't disagree that he works hard, if only that was all you required from someone playing in a front 3.

He's probably got a similar role in the squad to Donaldson whereby he'll be used sparingly and to fill gaps but once the season is over I fully expect us to upgrade.

 

And many of the players on the run we are having now will also have played in those matches

 

Donaldson shouldn't be compared to DMH, thats an insult to what has been a good career. Even though he has offered little since his injury last season, its still more than DMH ever did.

However, I'm very much in the camp that he should only be used as a last resort, and by that I mean only as a late sub. Even with no strikers fit, T&S chose Vernam upfront over him so I think they're of the same opinion.

Contrary to some, I've always thought his hold up play was pants, although he's good at winning free kicks, which is why he's suited to coming on to see games out. That and he can help defend set pieces because we're not the biggest of sides.

He has his values, but in no way should we be contemplating starting him again this season.

 

Imagine, may 8th. Dust settled and we've got in the play offs by a mere point.

Jon, you know who'll you will have to thank for that......

 

I'm the most vocal when it comes to players not performing or not giving their all for a team.
They are well paid and well trained so they totally deserve any flack from supporters.
On these 2 though there's some absolute bollocks been written on here.
Clarkes last full match before injury he was close to being mom.
Tirelessly working back to help out FCD, providing quality touches and good set pieces.
Donaldson isn't a lone striker and isn't a target man like Stuart tried to play him.
On Saturday we were losing the ball in the opposition half on plenty of occasions until Clayton and Stevens to some effect, came on.
They helped us see out a vital victory, as Clayton did against Morecambe.
Quite clearly as every bloody season, some just want to stick knives into players who out of all the squad, have the club, the local area and the supporters close at heart.
Stuart, Hanson, Lawn and Rhodes, and now it's Clarke and Donaldson.
Wind ye necks in FFS.

 

@JonButterfield

The defence presents exhibit A.

 

Yep.

 

It's not what you are I think that matters. T&S decide who starts or who comes on as a substitution, it's who they rate that matters.

 

Guthrie has scored 0 in 8 for Port Vale. That’s 0 in 18 combined with his tenure with us.

Can’t believe we were relying on that bonehead for goals