29 Jan 2014 20:21:45
So. It's to be Leon Clarke.

Now I have all season praised Kacket/Thelwell/Webber for their sigings. jackett has made his own team out of new signings that have all been top notch in my opinion.

When Leon Clarke's name first turned up, I thought "Dear God No" for how his attitude was the last time around. But after a while I thought that maybe just maybe he had changed. He's the league top scorer after all, and I'd go with KJ's judgement.

Here's the But, and it's a big BUT. Remember the stink that kicked off when Wayne Hennessey refused to play? How the internets were calling for his dismissal, even Kenny Jackett came out in public to point out how unprofessional it was? Well Leon Clarke did exactly the same thing to Coventry last night. The hypocrisy doesn't sit right with me. It's fine for another team's player to do so, just not one of ours? What's to say that next season he doesn't do exactly the same thing? Maybe he hasn't changed after all.

I will back him in Gold and Black (Just like I would O'Hara) but I for one won't sing his name. I fear this is Jackett and Thelwell's first error of judgement

1.) 29 Jan 2014
Totally agree good post won't do much for morale either

2.) 29 Jan 2014
Meant Jackett of course. Sorry for lack of typing ability!

3.) 29 Jan 2014
Makes me wonder if KJ is thinking about the future because Clarke won't cut it in the championship, that's if we get promoted that is.

A very odd signing indeed just hope it doesn't back fire on him but I can see it happening

4.) 29 Jan 2014
In fairness Andy W I can understand perhaps the underlying anxiety surrounding this signing.

But there are some differences with the Hennessey and Clarke situations. Clarke had already put in a transfer request, Henno didn't.
Clarke let it be known that he wanted a move, Henno working on the prospect of interest in him. Clarke is staying in the same division, most likely Henno was promoting himself out and up a division, maybe 2 if CP were calling.
Finally, if his then club, Coventry, were stalling - understandably - then he, Clarke, was in a very awkward situation, transfer in, window shut, going nowhere.
He brought the situation to a head.

Pressley is sounding off about his letting the team down, I would too because what he has achieved is a minor miracle, and it's team based so, of course, he doesn't want anyone disrupting the rhythm. But Clarke asked to go, and at 28, the opportunity he has now may not come again - opportunities are limited, he has grasped his and hopefully it will be rewarding. The £750k (probably undisclosed) will soften Pressley's cough a little - but I do have sympathy.

However I'm going to go with KJ on this one - if Clarke is the man he wanted, then this is the man he's got. This league is shaping up to be the shoot out at the OK Corral - we're going to need firepower to gun down the Bs and the Os. If Clarke has packed his shooting pistols and he's on our side, I'm ok with that. Think we're going to need him before the dust settles. wolfshead.

5.) 30 Jan 2014
30 Jan 2014 09:06:02
If Jackett carries on playing 4231 kind of thing then I don't see how Clarke fits in. Or will we go to a conventional 442 now?