Matt Clarke

h_m_boro

h_m_boro

Well-known member
Chuffed for the lad👍

Honestly thought we may never see him play for Boro - or even footy - again.

To come back from 14 months out, pitched straight into the Championship and then to be superb in two games against PL opposition (hardly putting a foot wrong).....immense.

Very impressed with his passing and composure on the ball, as well as his decision making defensively (most times!)

The elusive left footed CB that would have propelled us to the Champions League under Wilder. Definitely 😁
 
When he first came on a Chelsea player went round him like a traffic cone and I feared the worst. He soon put those fears to bed and warmed into the game.
 
gravy173 said:
Someone said the other day that passing the ball out is clearly not his style of play, I couldn't disagree more - he looks very comfortable taking the ball out, dropping a shoulder and making a forward pressing him look foolish as he drifts past them.
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He's comfortable on the ball. Not the overlapping centre back that Wilder was after but a proper defender that doesn't panic and can play a bit.
 
Quickly becoming one of my favourite players.

Literally throws himself in front of everything and anything. Also looks a lot more composed on the ball.

We look safer with him on the pitch.

Looks battered and bruised before he even starts which i love.
 
h_m_boro said:
Chuffed for the lad👍

Honestly thought we may never see him play for Boro - or even footy - again.

To come back from 14 months out, pitched straight into the Championship and then to be superb in two games against PL opposition (hardly putting a foot wrong).....immense.

Very impressed with his passing and composure on the ball, as well as his decision making defensively (most times!)

The elusive left footed CB that would have propelled us to the Champions League under Wilder. Definitely 😁
Click to expand...

Completely agree.

It feels like an absolute bonus having him fully fit and in the squad again.

A big plus for the season for me.
 
gravy173 said:
Someone said the other day that passing the ball out is clearly not his style of play, I couldn't disagree more - he looks very comfortable taking the ball out, dropping a shoulder and making a forward pressing him look foolish as he drifts past them.
Click to expand...
Said the other day as well but no idea where that came from - he played LCB in a 3 for West Brom when he got player of the year so had to be comfortable bringing it out.
 
Yeh I got told off on here the other day for daring to mention he could possibly be used as an emergency left back if required this season.
 
people are decieved by his body shape, you can tell he has had back problems from the way he runs etc but my god what a footballer, hes obviously had to adjust a lot because of the injury but dare i say he may even be better for it
 
Clarke and Lenihan are very similar styles of defenders. They are both pretty comfortable with the ball and happy to be progressive with it; Lenihan more so than Clarke. They are also highly aggressive defensively, happy to make the first challenge and really strong aerially. Clarke is very technically sound. Both are captain material and good organisers.
As our recent performances have shown, we have good centre-backs but we have tended to leave them exposed. Our collection of Lenihan, Fry, Clarke, RVDB and McNair is, in my book, in the top 5 in the league.
 
Yep agree, composed enough on the ball to play in fullback for me, he is never going to be overlapping and whipping balls in like Engel and Bangura can, but is a solid option in a certain situation. Probs not too dissimilar to the Geordies with Burn, and thats worked well for them ha!
 
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