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Post by boothylegend on Jan 3, 2009 22:18:31 GMT 1
Nathan Clarke has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last year. Gone are the days of endless, aimless hoofs downfield that never find anyone, here are the days when he dribbles out of defence beating two of their players (perhaps accidentally!) before making an intelligent, simple, short pass.
His partnership with Butler can actually be regarded as solid; we actually have a reasonably solid defence! They had one of the better strike forces in the division in their pocket today. Their positioning was excellent; how many times did one of them clear a free kick or corner from Oldham?
Also, both of them are looking increasingly dangerous from corners; they seem to have a header each every home match, at least! I know we don't exactly have a decent strike force at the moment, but when we do it can only bode well that we have a couple of centre halfs capable of chipping in with at least a couple a season.
Well done Clarke (especially) and Butler. I've criticised them both (deservedly IMO) but they've improved remarkably, and it's only fair that I praise them for that.
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Post by L.A. Terrier on Jan 3, 2009 22:29:53 GMT 1
Clarke & Butler were absolutely immense today. Nathan is finally playing how we all expect him to and Butler had his best game in a Town shirt, the guy headed everything that came near him, they had a pretty decent strike partnership in their pockets.
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far
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Post by far on Jan 3, 2009 22:32:22 GMT 1
me and my mate have renamed butler we now call him sir buthead cause he never seems to lose a 50/50 battle wit his head imo the real test will be against the mac attack of peterbrough im so looking forward to that game
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Post by The Roaring Twenties on Jan 3, 2009 23:00:22 GMT 1
Nathan Clarke has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last year. Gone are the days of endless, aimless hoofs downfield that never find anyone, here are the days when he dribbles out of defence beating two of their players (perhaps accidentally!) before making an intelligent, simple, short pass. His partnership with Butler can actually be regarded as solid; we actually have a reasonably solid defence! They had one of the better strike forces in the division in their pocket today. Their positioning was excellent; how many times did one of them clear a free kick or corner from Oldham? Also, both of them are looking increasingly dangerous from corners; they seem to have a header each every home match, at least! I know we don't exactly have a decent strike force at the moment, but when we do it can only bode well that we have a couple of centre halfs capable of chipping in with at least a couple a season. Well done Clarke (especially) and Butler. I've criticised them both (deservedly IMO) but they've improved remarkably, and it's only fair that I praise them for that. Agree 100%. Clarke in particular has been excellent all season. Although theres a bloke and his son that sit behind me that do nothing but moan about him all match, even today. Each to his own I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 23:02:10 GMT 1
I'll admit to hating Clarke in recent seasons for his long ball antics. One of our best players now
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Yorkie
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Post by Yorkie on Jan 3, 2009 23:04:41 GMT 1
Clarke played very well today and recently. Thought Butler was MOTM. If it wasnt for their wonderstrike, it would have been a comfortable clean sheet for the lads.
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Post by Admin on Jan 3, 2009 23:06:12 GMT 1
He seems to have cut out the daft goal giving mistakes too. Although the pair of them still "appeal" for offside decisions. Maybe monty would have appreciated that today ;D
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Post by Mastercracker on Jan 3, 2009 23:08:35 GMT 1
That flick over Byfield's head was class. Shows he's full of confidence.
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Post by L.A. Terrier on Jan 3, 2009 23:23:07 GMT 1
That flick over Byfield's head was class. Shows he's full of confidence. he followed that up with a Cruyff turn away from him and Hughes in the second half, keept it up Clarkey.
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Post by The Roaring Twenties on Jan 3, 2009 23:24:52 GMT 1
I'll admit to hating Clarke in recent seasons for his long ball antics. One of our best players now Do you think maybe he was told to play those long balls or do you think he was just doing what he wanted like ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 23:34:18 GMT 1
Clarke was class today, and while he's never been as bad as some will have you believe, I wonder how much training with Lucketti has helped this year.
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Post by hueypnewton on Jan 4, 2009 0:21:11 GMT 1
I agrees, Lucketti may well have helped -- or just having competition in our squad for the first time in about ten years! hats off the both Clarke and Butler...tops players
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Post by LordyOfTheManor on Jan 4, 2009 0:37:40 GMT 1
Sir Nathan Clarke indeed. I've always rated him highly and his improved sense of strength and presence at the back in evident to see.
As for Butler, well it was probably one of the best decisions by Stan to sell Mirfin and bring AB on a free.
Great job so far lads!
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Post by Nickhudds.UTT on Jan 4, 2009 0:37:48 GMT 1
;D Butler and Nathan were superb today, Nathan has improved 30% this season..... carry on like he is doing and we will do well to keep him, hed be good in any championship side !
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 0:40:26 GMT 1
One thing he could improve on is his attacking of a ball in the oppositions penalty area. He never goes at it like he could and should score more goals than he does with the number of chances that fall to him in and around the six yard box.
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Post by shawsie on Jan 4, 2009 11:42:00 GMT 1
Is there any coincidence that clarke has got better as boothy has exited the team and we now have a couple of new midfield players more comfortable in possession than their predecessors(roberts/goodwin)? For the last couple of years he has had nobody showing for the ball short in either central or wide areas, and as a result the hopeful hoof to booth became the only option. He has been the stand out player for me this season and long may it continue - his partnership with butler is developing better every week.
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iangreaves
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Post by iangreaves on Jan 4, 2009 11:47:12 GMT 1
Nathan has been a lot better this season. Butler was the key in defence for me yesterday. Man of the match was between him, Goodwin and Cadamarteri.
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Post by Nickhudds.UTT on Jan 4, 2009 11:48:13 GMT 1
Cads has made me eat my words recently, like a new player recently !
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iangreaves
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Post by iangreaves on Jan 4, 2009 11:49:58 GMT 1
It will be interesting to see what the new management team decide about a new contract for Cadamarteri. I think it's up in the summer.
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Post by hughphamism on Jan 4, 2009 11:53:21 GMT 1
Also, both of them are looking increasingly dangerous from corners; they seem to have a header each every home match, at least! Funnily enough that's what I've been complaining about recently! They've both had a few free headers & wildly missed. They don't score anything like enough goals in these situations like most other centre backs.
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Post by Nickhudds.UTT on Jan 4, 2009 11:54:50 GMT 1
In first half Butler had a free header he should have burried, 6ft over the bar.... looked nailed on !
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 11:56:49 GMT 1
Butler scored 10 goals in one season for Scunny so is more than capable but for some reason cant hit a barn door with his headers at the moment
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Post by mikececere on Jan 4, 2009 12:19:21 GMT 1
Take the rose tinted glasses off, Nathan has improved but still doesn't get tight enough and is still prone to clearing the ball straight to an oppenent on the edge of the box.
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Post by shawsie on Jan 4, 2009 12:49:03 GMT 1
Take the rose tinted glasses off, Nathan has improved but still doesn't get tight enough and is still prone to clearing the ball straight to an oppenent on the edge of the box. All defenders do that cec - including the likes of ferdinand and terry!! Clarke has been in decent form for most of the season and in recent weeks i havent seen anyone any better in this league, although i thought hazell was very impressive yday for oldham.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 12:55:23 GMT 1
Superb performance from Clarke yesterday handled Hughes remarkably well as he did at Boundary Park earlier this season.
I have always though Clarke is one of the players in our squad who could genuinely go and play at a higher level if he cut out the mistakes and he has done that this season. It is good to see an acamedy product kick on again. His reading of the game is as good as anyone in this divisison and his partnership with Butler is flourishing.
Well done Nathan as well as Cads did yesterday Clarke was my man of the match.
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E4b
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Post by E4b on Jan 4, 2009 14:59:02 GMT 1
Clarke was fantastic, Butler was decent. One thing that annoys me about Butler is the way he panicks and kicks into touch when under little pressure, did it a few times yesterday.
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Post by timrankhan on Jan 4, 2009 15:17:24 GMT 1
Is there any coincidence that clarke has got better as boothy has exited the team and we now have a couple of new midfield players more comfortable in possession than their predecessors(roberts/goodwin)? For the last couple of years he has had nobody showing for the ball short in either central or wide areas, and as a result the hopeful hoof to booth became the only option. He has been the stand out player for me this season and long may it continue - his partnership with butler is developing better every week. Spot on about Booth being the outlet ball for too long. Clarke has looked our best player for over a year now, and his partnership with Butler looks solid. My only criticism of him would be that he is not solid enough and could do with 'bulking up' a bit, and being more aggressive.
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Post by specialun on Jan 4, 2009 15:23:03 GMT 1
Under ternent it was all 'clarke still hoofing it etc' on here and it was still the case to some on here without boothy.
The change in style of play is more to do with the management than the individuals playing imo. There are times when we could have done with a longer ball to say boothy's head - its not about long ball its bout taking the right option.
I wouldn't really say goodwin was the most comfortable in possession, but he does come short and doesn't hide from it. Disagree that we've not had that previously - berrett and holdworth both come short to get on the ball and dictate the play. Worthy, craney, flynn, collins would prefer to run onto the ball.
Also helps having genuine wide options - i.e. last season we had three outlets - boothy's head, holdsworth's feet or kamara to run onto.
Now we have short to midfield, out to roberts, out to cadamarteri, through midfield, or into the channels. Far more options makes the tempt to 'hoof' less.
But he's never 'hoofed' it as much as some on here make out in any case!
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Post by Tez on Jan 4, 2009 15:42:30 GMT 1
Now we have short to midfield, out to roberts, out to cadamarteri, through midfield, or into the channels..... ...to the striker we'll hopefully be getting.
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Post by sowerbyterrier2 on Jan 4, 2009 17:14:12 GMT 1
i said it over and over and over again. Clarke played long balls because thats what managers TOLD him to do. You could see the team tactics for years revolved around getting the ball to Clarke to hit it long to Booth. Clarkes recent performances aren't due to some miraculous change in his ability to pass a ball. Its coz he is playing in a team that does not rely on him to hit it long.
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