Clayton today

Agreed with the idea that he was done at this level 2 years ago. The kind of player he is, he has to be at optimum fitness, and his optimum fitness has to be better than everyone else on the field. You can't say that anymore about him, he isn't one of the fittest players be it age, or just not training as hard. He should be plying his trade in League One or below right now.

It was a shame to watch his performances fall off a cliff, and yes maybe mentally that season in the prem effected him. He was used to working hard and being in a winning team, then in the prem he was working hard but chasing shadows. Did he mentally lose faith that if he worked hard, he would get the results on the pitch? He never had the talent to play in the prem, but something happened to him. He was only 28 when relegated, he should still have been able to dominate in the championship but couldn't
 
BoroMart said:
Agreed with the idea that he was done at this level 2 years ago. The kind of player he is, he has to be at optimum fitness, and his optimum fitness has to be better than everyone else on the field. You can't say that anymore about him, he isn't one of the fittest players be it age, or just not training as hard. He should be plying his trade in League One or below right now.

It was a shame to watch his performances fall off a cliff, and yes maybe mentally that season in the prem effected him. He was used to working hard and being in a winning team, then in the prem he was working hard but chasing shadows. Did he mentally lose faith that if he worked hard, he would get the results on the pitch? He never had the talent to play in the prem, but something happened to him. He was only 28 when relegated, he should still have been able to dominate in the championship but couldn't
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I agree with three quarters of that. He was always limited in his ability but his work rate and knack of taking one for the team was 100%, occasionally he’d hit a killer pass too.

However he’s done at championship level now, I was so glad, his taking one for the team lead to a goal today (*edit, yesterday).
 
S7DiscoDown said:
It's a shame for him. He was done arguably 2 years ago for us but his mega contract meant he was not leaving until his contract ended.

He was a very good player for us. The partnership with Grant under AK is as good as we've had.

That said Morsy / Saville and Tav ran rings around him. It's something that happened a few times in his later games for us.

I won't slate him. He's older and in a pretty poor side. He's probably done well to get a 3 year deal on decent money.
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Birmingham giving Clayton a 3 year deal tells you all you need to know about the state they are in.
 
BoroMart said:
Agreed with the idea that he was done at this level 2 years ago. The kind of player he is, he has to be at optimum fitness, and his optimum fitness has to be better than everyone else on the field. You can't say that anymore about him, he isn't one of the fittest players be it age, or just not training as hard. He should be plying his trade in League One or below right now.

It was a shame to watch his performances fall off a cliff, and yes maybe mentally that season in the prem effected him. He was used to working hard and being in a winning team, then in the prem he was working hard but chasing shadows. Did he mentally lose faith that if he worked hard, he would get the results on the pitch? He never had the talent to play in the prem, but something happened to him. He was only 28 when relegated, he should still have been able to dominate in the championship but couldn't
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His partnership with Leadbitter was broken up following promotion. Looking back, having that midfield partnership with another player, where they were almost telepathic must have really helped.

Once in the Premier League, I think the plan was for De Roon to replace Leadbitter and slot in alongside Clayton, but De Roon got injured first game of the season and we rarely got to see Clayton and De Roon starting together as a two. Instead, we went with the three in midfield of course and Clayton was pretty much asked to be the one sitting midfielder. I think if Clayton and De Roon had have had the chance to build a partnership they would have been effective together, just as Clayton and Leadbitter were together for so many years in the Championship.
 
Capybara said:
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My favourites along with westerns and warships.
 
Time catches up with all players most out field players peak around 27.

Clayton is not the same player as he was in 2016, the same for Friend.
 
Like Adam in the promotion year but the premier was a step too far.... never the same after that, looked a bit beefy around the middle but maybe a bad angle....
 
Redwurzel said:
Time catches up with all players most out field players peak around 27.

Clayton is not the same player as he was in 2016, the same for Friend.
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Friend is still capable though as he has better judgement, has dropped to CB so his lack of pace isn't apparent and he has more character than Clayton.

There weren't many teams after Clayton, Friend had suitors and nearly went to Italy
 
Maccarone said:
We got rid of players at the right time, in the past sentimental values maybe took over and players were awarded contracts based upon past performance and not future potential, that had to change and it seems to have done.
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Cough Downing cough

yes you are right
 
Both him and Leadbetter were completely found out in the premier league and never recovered from it, both were done from very early in that season. Watching the two of them and de roon chasing shadows at Stoke with joe allon bossing the game in karankas last match is my overriding memory of the midfield that year. Appointing Agnew shortly after was the cherry on the top of that god awful season (the less said about Brad Guzan the better)
 
gravy173 said:
Both him and Leadbetter were completely found out in the premier league and never recovered from it, both were done from very early in that season. Watching the two of them and de roon chasing shadows at Stoke with joe allon bossing the game in karankas last match is my overusing memory of the midfield that year. Appointing Agnew shortly after was the cherry on the top of that god awful season (the less said about Brad Guzan the better)
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And don't forget the purchase of Guediora! :rolleyes:
 
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