Clemence

[Mort]

Clemence = latest scape goat for a poor season.

Not an excuse for his lacklusta season so far, but we've had the likes of Stearman, Henderson, Cort, Campbell, Lazsko, Oakley and Howard all singled out as the source of all our woes... so forgive me if i dont jump on the anti-Clemence bandwagon.

As it is Hendrie and Oakley played well on Saturday, but this was Hendrie playing against WestBrom and this was a game against ten, then nine men... great results and even against ten men and with Hendrie in the team that didnt ensure a win for us and it didnt guarantee the scale of the win we enjoyed, but those are factors worth bearing in mind.

In any half way even match we'd struggle with just Oakley and Hendrie in the middle of the park as we had at WestBrom, so that mean you've got to beef up the midfeild... Euthu slots in fine on the right, but the only players we have for the left are Hendrie and Lazsko and if you put Hendrie there then your looking to put either Clemence or Weso in the middle of the park with Oakley... so i suppose I'm saying it depends on the system you want to play, but nine times out ten Clemence is the obvious choice to fill-in in central midfeild with Oakley.

[Legend_in_blue]

Should he be captain?

Should he even be in the team when he's fit?

I've seen glimpses of quality, but he also frustrates me with his constant lack of drive.

Curious as to peoples thoughts

He should not be in the team. No chance.

Quality? About as rare as hen's teeth. He has about as much drive as a Robin Reliant stuck in 2nd gear.

He wallows in under-performances and is paid thousands for it. Congratulations.

[Samilktray]

You dont lose talent.

Hes obviously got it.

I agree with the scapegoat comment though.

[Lovejoy]

what to do with him?

Transfer list!!!

[Tilley]

Warm the bench. Hendrie & Oakley looking good and if we were going three in midfield i would rather have Weso play.

[Raj]

Disappionted with him so far.

Im sure he is a class players and at times does look the part.

But overall not as good as he should be considering he was Captain of Brum last year.

[clazkel]

I don't think he's as bad as everyone makes out but Oakley and Hendrie have done well so they should continue, the only problem i see with that is that we will have to play someone out of position on the left unless we recall Laczko to the side, which doesn't look likely at the moment.

Clemence hasn't been good but I think he has been made scapegoat a little for our poor season.

Yes, i think he has been made scapegoat alittle. He is a decent player, but hasn't motivated the team as a captain should. Oakley and Hendrie deserve to keep their place in centre of midfield, as it proved on Saturday that it works. However it wasn't long ago that the Oakley/Clemence partnership worked when we thrashed Norwich 4-0. I think Hendrie/Oakley seem a better partnership at the min tho and Oakely should remain captain imo.

[Scow]

Clemence = latest scape goat for a poor season.

In any half way even match we'd struggle with just Oakley and Hendrie in the middle of the park as we had at WestBrom, so that mean you've got to beef up the midfeild... Euthu slots in fine on the right, but the only players we have for the left are Hendrie and Lazsko and if you put Hendrie there then your looking to put either Clemence or Weso in the middle of the park with Oakley... so i suppose I'm saying it depends on the system you want to play, but nine times out ten Clemence is the obvious choice to fill-in in central midfeild with Oakley.

A rare bit of common sense on this thread.

There's no doubt about Clemence's talent, and although he's had a few poor games, so have a lot of other players. Bearing in mind we'll most likely be playing 4-4-2 again on Saturday, Clemence will probably come back in to the centre with Oakley, Hendrie will shift to the left with Etuhu on the right.

As for the so called 'myth' about Hendrie playing well on the left, ask any Stoke fan what impact he had on their team last season.

[C-man]

Should be on the bench for Saturday. He's still a good player and has had more good games than bad this season.

[lildave3]

Also, I thought Bruno was excellent when pushed further upfield on Saturday. It gave Oakley and Hendrie a bit more freedom.

[joely22]

oakley n howard best signings dis season

Would you be saying that if Howard hadn't scored a hat-trick at the weekend?

3goals in 14 games isn't exactly a good record had he not scored the three.

[Uncle Albert]

Would you be saying that if Howard hadn't scored a hat-trick at the weekend?

3goals in 14 games isn't exactly a good record had he not scored the three.

No he wouldnt.

6 from 14 is still not brilliant but he has scored 3 against the best footballing team in the league.

If we can keep Hendrie next season then i could see the end for Clemence at the club. We will have Weso, Oakley, King and Hendrie as 4 central midfielders. We could also get a bit of cash for Clemence with one of the promoted teams going in for him.

[joely22]

No he wouldnt.

6 from 14 is still not brilliant but he has scored 3 against the best footballing team in the league.

If we can keep Hendrie next season then i could see the end for Clemence at the club. We will have Weso, Oakley, King and Hendrie as 4 central midfielders. We could also get a bit of cash for Clemence with one of the promoted teams going in for him.

Is Hendrie as good as what I'm hearing?

Not too sure if Clemence would attract interest from the promoted clubs, I mean Birmingham sold him and if he's not getting in the side for a struggling Championship side then why would they want him?

Saying that, what's the betting we sign him!?

[Guest]

Clemence = latest scape goat for a poor season.

Not an excuse for his lacklusta season so far, but we've had the likes of Stearman, Henderson, Cort, Campbell, Lazsko, Oakley and Howard all singled out as the source of all our woes... so forgive me if i dont jump on the anti-Clemence bandwagon.

As it is Hendrie and Oakley played well on Saturday, but this was Hendrie playing against WestBrom and this was a game against ten, then nine men... great results and even against ten men and with Hendrie in the team that didnt ensure a win for us and it didnt guarantee the scale of the win we enjoyed, but those are factors worth bearing in mind.

In any half way even match we'd struggle with just Oakley and Hendrie in the middle of the park as we had at WestBrom, so that mean you've got to beef up the midfeild... Euthu slots in fine on the right, but the only players we have for the left are Hendrie and Lazsko and if you put Hendrie there then your looking to put either Clemence or Weso in the middle of the park with Oakley... so i suppose I'm saying it depends on the system you want to play, but nine times out ten Clemence is the obvious choice to fill-in in central midfeild with Oakley.

I reckon Mort's talking sense there

[Daggers]

He was outstanding last season but since joining an unsettled team has failed to find his form. Hardly a shock is it? Like Raj, I was hoping for more consistency from him - and the glimpses he has given (such as the barnstorming performance against Coventry) clearly demonstrates what he has to offer when the rest of the team raise their game.

What has concerned me the most is how silent he has been on the field - in fact, it seems that he only started becoming more vocal just before he went off injured. That should indicate that we need a change of captaincy for next season.

Finally, his time out of the team through injury means we can not rely on him next season and need another quality midfield play to slot in...which could be King if he was allowed a bit more experience?

[Thracian]

Also, I thought Bruno was excellent when pushed further upfield on Saturday. It gave Oakley and Hendrie a bit more freedom.

That sounded to me like the key move on the day.

That and playing with three strikers when two has rarely seemed adequate.

I've no idea why we should by especially keen to revert to 4-4-2 at home.

Four-three-three seems more logical with our current players.

[Ric Flair]

Stephen Clemence is a good footballer, just like Lee Hendrie is a good footballer. Hendrie has come here because it hasn't worked out for him at Sheff United and since he's been here, he's been a revelation. Likewise, Clemence might not be having the best of times here, but if he went elsewhere i'm almost certain he'd have every chance of showing the quality he has. I would be reluctant to let him go unless he is desperate to go, or if Holloway doesn't think he's right for this club.

He's shown moments of brilliance this season, but that's been clouded by some dreadful performances. That can be said for most of our players this season, when Clemence has played and we've played well, he's often one of the star men. Well in my opinion anyway.

The one thing i've been disappointed with him this season is that he's not shown signs of true leadership when we've been in the shit. Perhaps it's the first time during his career and as captain that he's experienced a scenario like we've been in, but either way, he's not led by example and tried to bail us out of the shit other than on a few occasions, such as at Forest, where he was superb in driving us forward.

I'm laying off him though, when he comes back, I hope he's only given another run in the team if he deserves it. I rate him and i'm confident that he'll find his true form for us or another club if that's the way it goes.

[wirralsimon]

Clemence was a very good player as recently as last season.

The fact that he has gone from standing out from the crowd in a promotion-bound club to struggling to justify a place in a relegation threatened Leicester City arguably says as much about Leicester City as it does about Stephen Clemence. The collective lack of confidence and off-field problems have had a corrosive effect on the performances of many players. The 64,000 dollar question is whther Ollies steps to sort out the off-field problems have been enough to turn this around.

Simon

[Thracian]

Stephen Clemence is a good footballer, just like Lee Hendrie is a good footballer. Hendrie has come here because it hasn't worked out for him at Sheff United and since he's been here, he's been a revelation. Likewise, Clemence might not be having the best of times here, but if he went elsewhere i'm almost certain he'd have every chance of showing the quality he has. I would be reluctant to let him go unless he is desperate to go, or if Holloway doesn't think he's right for this club.

He's shown moments of brilliance this season, but that's been clouded by some dreadful performances. That can be said for most of our players this season, when Clemence has played and we've played well, he's often one of the star men. Well in my opinion anyway.

The one thing i've been disappointed with him this season is that he's not shown signs of true leadership when we've been in the shit. Perhaps it's the first time during his career and as captain that he's experienced a scenario like we've been in, but either way, he's not led by example and tried to bail us out of the shit other than on a few occasions, such as at Forest, where he was superb in driving us forward.

I'm laying off him though, when he comes back, I hope he's only given another run in the team if he deserves it. I rate him and i'm confident that he'll find his true form for us or another club if that's the way it goes.

It's so rare I disagree with you about a player it actually bothers me. I keep thinking "what am I missing".

My fear is we'll lose Weso or Kingy through their frustration at not getting any action at all while the increasingly less effective Clemence gets further indulgence.

Cos the only Clemence I'd want is one firing on all cylinders rather than the watered down version we've had for too long now. And even then I'd find it hard to see how he'd oust Oakley and Hendrie on current form.

[Ric Flair]

It's so rare I disagree with you about a player it actually bothers me. I keep thinking "what am I missing".

My fear is we'll lose Weso or Kingy through their frustration at not getting any action at all while the increasingly less effective Clemence gets further indulgence.

Cos the only Clemence I'd want is one firing on all cylinders rather than the watered down version we've had for too long now. And even then I'd find it hard to see how he'd oust Oakley and Hendrie on current form.

I'm looking outside of the box though. I am aware that I might be going on past glories with Clemence due to his exploits with Birmingham, last season and previous seasons. But sometimes you have to do that with players. I accept he's not necessarily been anywhere near good enough this season, especially given the expectations we had for him. But when he has played well this season, he's played very well. As I have said before he's been as bad and as good as most of our players this season, which ultimately means he's not been good enough on a regular basis.

When we play well, he plays very well. But what we need from him, is to stand up and be counted when we're struggling to find our rythm, something Hendrie has proven capable of doing since he's come here. But like I said in my previous post, Hendrie flopped big time at Sheff United this season, but has come here and been superb. That doesn't hold any baring on his ability as such and i'm sure if Clemence went elsewhere right now he'd be in a similar boat.

Clemence needs to step up his game though as this backing for him is only to highlight what he is capable of and not proof of his imminent quality about to shine through. He needs to sort his game out or fook off.