Ciaran Clark was a shock choice to replace Paul Dummett against Manchester United two weeks ago. He had not featured in the Premier League for Newcastle since January.
Speaking in the lead up to the Chelsea match, Steve Bruce explained why he had given Ciaran Clark the nod against Manchester United over Paul Dummett and Federico Fernandez.
This is what the head coach said:
“I just thought, Ciaran, he trains every day and works hard at it.
“And if I was going to leave Dummy out, and make that decision, then I thought Ciaran was best equipped because he’s naturally left-sided and gives the team a better balance. That was important, that’s why he got the nod.”
Steve Bruce’s decision to bring the 30-year-old in from the cold has been an inspired one. Clark has put in two excellent performances, and in yesterday’s match at Stamford Bridge, he was arguably the best defender on the pitch.
With all the competition for places in central defense, especially when Florian Lejeune is deemed ready for selection, Clark’s performances have made Bruce’s selection dilemma even tougher.
Clark almost was away this summer. However, Bruce kept the experienced defender behind as cover. It turned out to be a wise decision by the head coach.
This is what Ciaran said after his return to the fold against Manchester United:
“Over the last couple of seasons I’ve found myself in and out of the team. I’ve wanted to just play more regularly.
“I had a chat with the manager towards the end of the window. He said he wanted to keep as many people here as possible to assess what he had.
“It’s about waiting for my chance, and I’ve tried to stay positive until I got that chance. Luckily enough, I got the chance, and we got the clean sheet and the win.”
“It has been hard because we have a lot of center-halves fit now. We’ve not had that situation over the last couple of years. We have to keep training well – and wait for that chance.
“It was great to get out there and keep a clean sheet. To top it with the win was brilliant.
“Its all about staying in there. Sometimes it’s not just about how well you’re training, it’s about how well you do on the pitch in games.
“Hopefully, I’ve given the manager a tough decision.”
Clark has put in two excellent performances and now has to be under consideration for a third straight start against Wolves on Sunday.
Ciaran Clark– put in two straight inspiring displays
Ciaran Clark’s performances have come as no surprise to former teammate Darren Bent. Speaking to Football Insider, the former Premier League striker had this to say about Clark’s recent displays:
“I played with Ciaran at Villa for a few years. The same Ciaran you’re seeing there is the same one we used to see in matches and training where you’d hit shots and he’d block absolutely everything.
“He’s actually a defender who likes to defend which is a funny thing to say as some defenders are good footballers yet they don’t want to put their body on the line, but he will.
“To be fair, what is good is that he has been at Newcastle a while now and he understands what it takes to play for that football club, if you’re a striker they expect you to score as they’ve had a long list of prolific strikers and if you’re defender, you’re expected to defend.
“They’re passionate fans up there and they won’t expect anything less than 100% and Ciaran knows that he will fight tooth and nail for that football club and as I said he’ll take shots to the face, put his body in the way, he’ll just do anything to stop the ball going in the net.”
Ciaran put on some display yesterday as he put his body on the line time and again. The defense was under constant threat all game and the lads almost did enough to come away with a result.
Clark is also a threat on set pieces with this aerial ability. He has 8 goals in his Newcastle career and scored 3 last season in limited opportunities.
We are thrilled that Ciaran has gotten a second chance at Newcastle. He’s never let the club down and epitomizes what it takes to be a team player.
60 comments so far
jane
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:42 PM
Comment #1“The defense was under constant threat all game and the lads almost did enough to come away with a result.”
good effort.
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:45 PM
Comment #2JIB
How many of your alts defend Jabba ?
Youve been posting here since the blog started defending the guy
He knew right back in 2007 what he was going to do and how he would need someone like yourself
Hiya Jeff
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:46 PM
Comment #3Jane
It was another game without a shot on target
jane
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:48 PM
Comment #4toon22 our attack needs to improve, i would start Gayle.
Jib
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:49 PM
Comment #5When I see toon22 post he puts me in mind of the
old Beano and a Bash Street Gang member
Percival Plugsley known as Plug
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:51 PM
Comment #6JIB and his alts
Required by Jabba to prevent protests and keep those fans buying season tickets
So he can asset strip the club for another 13 years
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:53 PM
Comment #7JIB and his alts
Required by Jabba to prevent protests and keep those fans buying season tickets
So he can asset strip the club for another 13 years
Just went and had a look
Jeff from Benwell has a gravatar now … Hmmmmm
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:53 PM
Comment #8Is Brewcie still going on about only being a point behind Man U?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:55 PM
Comment #9toon22,
He’s always had one, a magpie that was the same one mallorca mag used on a different site and got rid of when posting when banned for a week. The weasel.
Unused Substitute
Oct 20, 2019 at 3:56 PM
Comment #10The habit of being unduly confident of the team’s defensive prowess and hoping for a point and being clueless after conceding has come back. I doubt whether SB has the wherewithal for finding a fix of this chronic disease particularly with so little say on policy matters.
Ron Knee
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:00 PM
Comment #11What’s happened to Jayphoto, regular Monday poster?
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:05 PM
Comment #12Looking at Jeffs old posts he defends Jabba
Funny that isnt it
Unused Substitute
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:06 PM
Comment #13Notions that AC or Gayle would suddenly realize that were in trouble and begin scoring or that signing a prolific scoring machine from another league would keep us from being relegated seem to me at this point nothing more than delusion.
Sports Direct FC
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Comment #14Ritchie gets a lot of stick on here, but I think he has been sorely missed.
ilovetoon8788
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:13 PM
Comment #15To score goals or rate a striker, we need to create chances. Can’t believe the critisicm being aimed at joelinton when he has next to almost zero service.
Mpabbe would struggle to score or even shoot on goal in this side.
Our build up play, or possession play is non existant.
Until this changes, even putting Messi or Ronaldo up top is not going to make a difference.
ilovetoon8788
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Comment #16If entire game plan in every game is to defend with 10 men in our half and hit on the break, then we don’t deserve to be in the Premier league.
We are extremely lucky to be sitting with 8 points.
Mindshaft
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Comment #17Linton seems to have zero confidence in his ability to take a man on, there were also more than one occasion he pulled out of 50/50 challenges – Joselu actually put more effort in.
Think somebody’s already mentioned this before but if we’re relying on Carroll then we may as well give up now, he makes Shola look speedy at the minute and he’s lost the aggression to bulky defenders – I think the injuries and age have taken a lot out of him , unlikely to score more than 5-8 goals this season if we’re lucky enough for someone to actually out some decent crosses in – when he came on yesterday we reverted to just booting it upfield and the Chelsea defence easily outran or outjumped him
Sports Direct FC
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:19 PM
Comment #18Think we a change in formation…something, anything that might help. Wouldn’t mind seeing a 4-2-3-1 once hayden is back.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:30 PM
Comment #19The delusional are those who go on like relegation has already happened.
We’ll make 20pts by the time we play Man U on Boxing day, marking the halfway stage. We’ll probably be sitting 12-16th. We’ll get through this season with PL status intact.
jane
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:34 PM
Comment #20Hail it’s because they want relegation. some have even said it.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:36 PM
Comment #21HWA,
With another relegation battle to follow after that and on and on.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:38 PM
Comment #22Jane
I know. They’re willing it. It’s pathetic.
Ron Knee
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:39 PM
Comment #23Goalz win matchez. Where are ours coming from?
Mad Frog Boom 22
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:45 PM
Comment #24We need to try new things:
Jib
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:45 PM
Comment #25Ron
pointz win matches
there are 29 games left
29 goalless draws would give us 37 points
Last season Brighton survived with 36
😛
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:51 PM
Comment #26Ron,
Goals from CB’s and the odd one from midfielders who only score two or three a season is not going to be enough. You need a couple of regular goal scorers. We didn’t score many as it was so to remove your three top scorers in one fell swoop was just plain daft.
Ron Knee
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:51 PM
Comment #27Jib
Something to look forward to, then!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:52 PM
Comment #28That would certainly woo the crowds back Jiblets.
Mirandinha
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:53 PM
Comment #29Ciaran Clark is a good pro and a decent centreback. Nothing flash, nothing special – exactly what you want from a squad player. As long as he’s playing well I’m happy enough to have him in the team. He’ll know that Dummet is breathing down his neck though.
Ron Knee
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:54 PM
Comment #30There’s madness in his method, Jail.
Mad Frog Boom 22
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:54 PM
Comment #31———————————————-Schar————-Clark—————————————
———-richie——————————-Mickey————————-Maxim—————————-
———————————-Sean——————————Hayden——————————-
——————-Dummet————————–Lejune————————-Lacells———–
——————————————————–Dub————————————————-
JohnReese
Oct 20, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Comment #32Watching this Manure v Liverpool game really makes you miss Gini Wijnaldun. The exact player we need at present to link our attack and actually progress the ball with a bit of quality and importantly, with composure.
Jib
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:16 PM
Comment #33The German is going to blow a gasket soon
VAR – luvit
Sports Direct FC
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:21 PM
Comment #34HWA
I think that its more in not believing Bruce can bring us out of the bottom three. With Rafa you had that trust he would.
Jane
Other than posters saying they would accept relegation if it meant MA would leave I haven’t seen anyone outright wishing relegation upon us.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Comment #35Sports Direct FC,
But that doesn’t suit their narrative.
Sports Direct FC
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #36Yedlin/Wilems…………….Schar……Lasecelles……….Dummett
M. Longstaff/Hayden……….S. Lonstaff
ASM……………………………Almiron………………………Ritchie
……………………………Anyone who can score………………….
You could put Ritchie in dummets place, mover almiron out wide and slot Matty or Sean in the middle 3.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:26 PM
Comment #37SportsDirectFC
It’s simply an overreaction. I could understand if we’re in Watford’s position, but we’re as close to 7th as we are to them. The next 9 are much more favourable than the previous 9 with almost a full squad to select from and we’re now settled on our formation.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:27 PM
Comment #38There is no causal link between relegation and Ashley leaving as history has shown.
Sports Direct FC
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #39HWA
Possible an overreaction but our play doesn’t inspire much confidence. Yes, we only lost 1-0 but its the way we played. Defensively we played good, with the ball…..lets be kind and say horrific. I posted earlier that the next 4 games are winnable. If we don’t get 8 or 9 points from them Bruce should sack himself.
toon22
Oct 20, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #40HWA
The current team couldn’t be more different from the one we had last year
Nobody has any faith in the traitor to turn things around
Our best chance this season is 3 other teams being worse and pure luck