Ollie Clarke

[PEAR CIDER]

How do we wrap this lad in cotton wool to try and get some consistent game time out of him?

Appreciate he plays with high intensity so is likely to get injured, but for me, he is our most important player.

He drives the team, his commitment, energy, tackling, pops up with goals.

[Chrisuknottm]

How do we wrap this lad in cotton wool to try and get some consistent game time out of him?

Appreciate he plays with high intensity so is likely to get injured, but for me, he is our most important player.

He drives the team, his commitment, energy, tackling, pops up with goals.

Totally agree with this comment....really well put. He's been my first name on the team sheet since he joined us.

[georgefostersbeard]

Agree entirely, him without injury niggles would be the catalyst for a really special season

[Tawnystag]

Agree. So many times he has changed a game when being brought on. Steadies the midfield and provides an outlet for creativity.

[victor A block]

He should be the first midfield name on the team-sheet without question.

[MTFCMusings]

I don’t quite agree that he had a big impact last night. One good effort on goal and one good tracking back moment. He only touched the ball 11 times, so to say he changed the game is a bit much for me.

On a wider point, I agree he’s a good option to have as he offers something different to our other midfielders. I’m not sure the formation fully suits him and for that reason I don’t think he gets into our strongest eleven.

[victor A block]

I don’t quite agree that he had a big impact last night. One good effort on goal and one good tracking back moment. He only touched the ball 11 times, so to say he changed the game is a bit much for me.

On a wider point, I agree he’s a good option to have as he offers something different to our other midfielders. I’m not sure the formation fully suits him and for that reason I don’t think he gets into our strongest eleven.

I think he's the one to drive us forward when others are content passing back or sideways. He's also prepared to actually shoot ( and nearly score) as opposed to Maris, Reed and Lewis ( and DKD strangely) when he gets to the edge of the box.

[MTFCMusings]

I don’t quite agree that he had a big impact last night. One good effort on goal and one good tracking back moment. He only touched the ball 11 times, so to say he changed the game is a bit much for me.

On a wider point, I agree he’s a good option to have as he offers something different to our other midfielders. I’m not sure the formation fully suits him and for that reason I don’t think he gets into our strongest eleven.

I think he's the one to drive us forward when others are content passing back or sideways. He's also prepared to actually shoot ( and nearly score) as opposed to Maris, Reed and Lewis ( and DKD strangely) when he gets to the edge of the box.

I agree he carries the ball more that Maris and Reed, not sure about Lewis, but not always successfully. His dribbling stats are the lowest of any of those players for example. Shots wise, yes he has more than Reed and Lewis, not Maris. He’s definitely more prepared to have pot shots from range than the others, but obviously whilst we as fans love to them fly in, they’re low percentage chances. His biggest strength for me is his ability to get around the pitch, recover the ball and disrupt the opposition.

[PaulG]

Low percentage chances can rebound and deflect for a tap in. I recall NC saying, at the start of his time here, that he encourages players to shoot for that very reason. By the time we scored last night, Tranmere had already had at least half a dozen efforts on target. From memory, we'd had none. Our midfielders are shot-shy, and that's reducing the chances for Oates, Akins and Swan.

[zod]

By the time we scored last night, Tranmere had already had at least half a dozen efforts on target. From memory, we'd had none. Our midfielders are shot-shy, and that's reducing the chances for Oates, Akins and Swan.

I agree, far too often trying to walk it in when there's a decent chance of a shot.

[Cleveland_Stag]

When he’s fit, Clarke starts for me. I’m worried that Clough will be too adamant on Quinn starting now that he’s back. I think Quinn’s a nice option off the bench and maybe to start certain games, however if you’re playing Quinn with the likes of Reed, Lewis, DKD, Maris etc, you’ve got a lot of diminutive, slow players in midfield who are going to struggle against teams with legs.

Clarke’s legs, ball winning ability, and ability to simply strike a ball properly compliments the rest of the midfield better than Quinn’s strengths and weaknesses do.

[Cleveland_Stag]

Easy to say in hindsight after last night, but perhaps in certain games, our best side is playing Reed, Lewis, Clarke and Maris in midfield with DKD up front - I think this makes our link up play better against sides who sit deep.

[MTFCMusings]

Low percentage chances can rebound and deflect for a tap in. I recall NC saying, at the start of his time here, that he encourages players to shoot for that very reason. By the time we scored last night, Tranmere had already had at least half a dozen efforts on target. From memory, we'd had none. Our midfielders are shot-shy, and that's reducing the chances for Oates, Akins and Swan.

I don’t think we have a problem with shooting in general. We average the most shots per game in L2 (18.8), 2 more than the next best. 2nd highest shots on target per game (6). This could be improved slightly as most teams are running at 2.5 shots per 1 on target. I don’t think Clarke improves that as he hits the target less than most :

Shots on target per 90 :
DKD 2 (45.5%)
Akins 1 (35.6%)
Swan 0.9 (33.3%)
Gale 0.9 (30%)
Maris 0.9 (28.6%)
Boateng 0.9 (23.1%)
Clarke 0.5 (18.2%)
Cargill 0.4 (36.4%)
Lewis 0.4 (27.3%)
Bowery 0.2 (37.5%)
Macdonald 0.2 (33.3%)
Reed 0.2 (23.5%)
Flint 0.2 (11.5%)
Brunt 0.1 (20%)

[SelstonStag88]

Should start every week for me but I can't see clough starting him. Will be to adamant on playing Quinn and I can only see that backfiring

[Amber Ad]

He has to start for me. Our best midfield. Quinn is a great player but Clarke brings a higher intensity and greater drive.

[chris wilson]

He's the only midfielder we have that can get around the pitch. The rest look like they're towing a caravan around the pitch.

[BH_Stag]

Picking midfielders that compliment each other is so important. When you have Reed and Lewis in the side who aren’t blessed with pace or power then you need to balance it up with somebody who does. Clarke is that option for us. I feel pretty strongly that if not both, then at least one of Clarke or Maris needs to be in the midfield at all times.

The balance didn’t look right last night from when the team was named. It never ends well when we start 3 in midfield that are pretty slow

[yorkshire stag]

he’s the only midfielder that can shoot with power, 100% starter for me

[tillydog123]

Agree 100%
True leader and was a big star at The Gas

[bear 73]

!5 games played 7 sub = 8 full games out of 19 and he is a must in midfield , some facts missing here,
He is a good midfield player but has suffered with injuries, so i find it hard to reflect the influence he has had on our 19 games.
With only 1 loss in 19 games

[PEAR CIDER]

because hes not been playing in the last few weeks, and i feel its been totally noticeable.

This isnt a dig at the current midfielders, i just feel when fit, he a better option on the pitch

[victor A block]

!5 games played 7 sub = 8 full games out of 19 and he is a must in midfield , some facts missing here,
He is a good midfield player but has suffered with injuries, so i find it hard to reflect the influence he has had on our 19 games.
With only 1 loss in 19 games

Couple of facts then. He got injured in the Wrexham cup game. Including that one we have lost 4, won 2 and then drawn last night where he only played 10 minutes, since his injury.

[Suttonian]

!5 games played 7 sub = 8 full games out of 19 and he is a must in midfield , some facts missing here,
He is a good midfield player but has suffered with injuries, so i find it hard to reflect the influence he has had on our 19 games.
With only 1 loss in 19 games

Couple of facts then. He got injured in the Wrexham cup game. Including that one we have lost 4, won 2 and then drawn last night where he only played 10 minutes, since his injury.

2 of those losses were in the BSM trophy which he probably wouldn't have been involved in though.

[chris wilson]

I think Clarke deserves his own post.

This guy hasn't had it easy the last few years. Constantly struggled with injuries and then went through a spell of not being fancied by the manager and lost the captaincy.

He gives 100% every time he puts the shirt on and would literally run through a brick wall for our club.

He's fast becoming my favourite player.

[PEAR CIDER]

Class again!