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Clarke exit was always possibility

6:30am Thursday 4th December 2008

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Stuart McCall admits the departure of loan player Tom Clarke back to Huddersfield did not come as a complete surprise.

Clarke was recalled yesterday by his parent club just one game into his second month at Valley Parade.

The City boss said: “There’s always a risk with the second month as it includes a 24-hour recall.

“We knew that and it is something I could see coming. It is disappointing but not a total surprise.

“It would have been nice to keep him for more games but obviously Huddersfield want him back.”

City will miss the contribution of the 20-year-old, who had linked up well with fellow loanee Nicky Law in central midfield after also playing right back and centre back.

McCall added: “Tom coming here worked for both parties. He got some games under his belt and he has done well for us.

“He was excellent in the cup against Leyton Orient. He has played in lots of positions and that is why we brought him here.”

Huddersfield caretaker boss Gerry Murphy said: “Unfortunately, Joe Skarz has picked up an ankle injury in training this week and, with several other players out on loan for good reasons, we have decided to bring Tom back to the club in order to strengthen our squad.”

City still have five midfielders out with injury but Paul McLaren should be available for Saturday’s game at home to Dagenham & Redbridge after recovering from a groin strain.


Your Say YourBradford

ricky, barrowford nr burnley says...
6:49am Thu 4 Dec 08

doubt game will be on looking at weather so it will give more time for injuries to clear up

Freddy, says...
8:07am Thu 4 Dec 08

"Ricky"- I echo your thoughts and doubts,because of the weather. But if the weather clears, as quickly as it came. Then the home match agaist D. and R. will be on. I endorse your thinking on injuries,and I would be happier if this match was postponed. Playing McLaren too early, could be catastrophic for him and the Team, especially in cold slippy conditions.
It is a match we may lose,(Because of Team Deficiencies),or at best draw. Unless the greasy conditions favour 'Lady Luck' to City. Our squad is decimated with injury problems. Perhaps January can not come soon enough, to bring in players.

I expected an 'injury reason' from Huddersfield, and suspect 'Clarkey' to be on the subs bench at least, if they play on Saturday.

NB. Lets hope he wants to return to City.
(City 'Board' to take note, on this requirement, and on other players Stuart McCall would want to keep, or obtain.)

I WANT AUTOMATIC PROMOTION!.
Wycombe, because they have a solid defence, have opened up a 7 Point gap at the top of the league.
We need to achieve a similar 'Rock Solid' defence.

soulman, Baildon says...
9:03am Thu 4 Dec 08

Guess with Clarke and Topp gone we can now look for that 'influential' central midfielder. The engine room and keeping possession rather the being pinned back in our own half by ten men, must now be the priority.

Ricky I'm over in the west Pennines and the snow has now turned to rain and melting fast. Thursday and Friday night forecast in Bradford is for temperatures above freezing. I would be very surprised if the game did not go ahead.

gspot, halifax says...
12:19pm Thu 4 Dec 08

good shout about wycombe above the only reason they are top and have a gap is becuse of a solid back 4 which we need as soon as possible.

i still think we require someone who can pick the ball up in the middle of the park and make things happen at pace. mclaren is capable of keeping the ball and playing nice balls but chesterfield had a guy called Rhodes? who picked the ball up and injected a bit of pace and was capable of opening up a back 4..we have this out wide when everyone is fit but have we got this in the middle?? I dont think so.

Lenny_the_legend, bratfud says...
12:20pm Thu 4 Dec 08

Thanks for the efforts Tom !

Lets move on peoples and get looking seriously into the transfer market and get the targets before anyone else !! I think the game will go ahead on Saturday - the weather forecast does look better !
Lets go for a big win to cheer us all up !!


dannbradfc, Wyke says...
3:31pm Thu 4 Dec 08

I doubt very much that a midfielder is in Stu's short term plans. We have too many at the club already. Now that Topp's gone a 'back-up' striker is needed altho finding one who wil be prepared to play that role wil be difficult and obviously someone who cant demand a place at their current club or out of contract whereby their demands and wants i.e. first team fotball will pro be out of our league (pardo te pun). Pro best bet is to acquire someone young and promising from non-league as they will be affordable and prepared o bide their time for an oportunity. It may be risky but Stu has done similar things before e.g. Brown, Rory, Topp and was after the guy from Halifax who's name escaps me. Some dreamers are asking for Kandol and/or Fowler to come. I point to the above reasons why i doubt very much that the role would be part of their goals.

dannbradfc, Wyke says...
4:22pm Thu 4 Dec 08

dannbradfc, Wyke says...
2:49pm Thu 4 Dec 08
W AYNUS just in case you missed the point. First of all as you know i dont beleve in stats as they can paint a false picture. However even in your comments beneath the Topp takes illegal pill headline you are suggesting that Clarke shud be dropped and ARNison??? brought back in. Now this is only my opinion and not a fact but what as Arnison done to justify/warrant such a dramatic reshuffle? Arnison was extremely poor at the beginning of the season and despite been brought in as 1st choice for the position Stu son realised he wasn't up to the job and dropped him FACT. It is also fact that we are conceding quite afew goals but perhaps our style of play i.e. attacking wingers/fullbacks is part of the reason for this. As for not criticising others to my mind it is you who dominate the comments page and nigh on repond to everyones opinion praising those that agree with you and attacking those that dont. And you do change your views fairly often e.g. one minute criticising the management team for the what i agree is a debacle surrounding Topp. The next you were chastising the same player calling him a drugs cheat etc (which im surprised you didnt know this already as you seem to know everything else) Now he is no longer a player perhaps you can call him swear names too ala Eddie Johnson. Sounds very fickle to me. PS wish i could send you a postcard but stuck in sunny Bradford im afraid. Perhaps i could send one of the 'Jesus man' stood on the rubble at Foster square???? By the way that int you is it W aynus??

gspot, halifax says...
4:42pm Thu 4 Dec 08

we already have 4 stikers in Boulding,Thorne, Conlon n R Boulding so if Stu replaces Topp with a 5th striker i'd be very very surprised. Surely if somebody is willing to be a 5th choice striker they wouldn't be worth having. A young keen energetic midfielder would be my choice someone with a bit of skill instead of all physical - other then loans i dont think we have anybody like that - maybe Brandon (obviously not young) but will he ever play for city?

Waynus, BD6 says...
5:01pm Thu 4 Dec 08

dannbradfc wrote:
dannbradfc, Wyke says... 2:49pm Thu 4 Dec 08 W AYNUS just in case you missed the point. First of all as you know i dont beleve in stats as they can paint a false picture. However even in your comments beneath the Topp takes illegal pill headline you are suggesting that Clarke shud be dropped and ARNison??? brought back in. Now this is only my opinion and not a fact but what as Arnison done to justify/warrant such a dramatic reshuffle? Arnison was extremely poor at the beginning of the season and despite been brought in as 1st choice for the position Stu son realised he wasn't up to the job and dropped him FACT. It is also fact that we are conceding quite afew goals but perhaps our style of play i.e. attacking wingers/fullbacks is part of the reason for this. As for not criticising others to my mind it is you who dominate the comments page and nigh on repond to everyones opinion praising those that agree with you and attacking those that dont. And you do change your views fairly often e.g. one minute criticising the management team for the what i agree is a debacle surrounding Topp. The next you were chastising the same player calling him a drugs cheat etc (which im surprised you didnt know this already as you seem to know everything else) Now he is no longer a player perhaps you can call him swear names too ala Eddie Johnson. Sounds very fickle to me. PS wish i could send you a postcard but stuck in sunny Bradford im afraid. Perhaps i could send one of the 'Jesus man' stood on the rubble at Foster square???? By the way that int you is it W aynus??
Not going to get into this with you. You are talking rubbish and if it wasn't for that huge chip on your shoulder (when it comes to me), you might be able to see that for yourself.

For the record, re: your above post, I agree with you that we should be looking at bringing in another striker. not a midfielder.

I also understand where you are going with the non-league versus experience argument. The problem is, even non-league players are commanding big fees these days. Refer to the player that Tyker suggested as an example.

Having said all that, you still couldn't resist having another pop at me in your post. What is your obsession? The 'dreamers asking for Kandol and/or Fowler' is clearly aimed at me. It was meant to be tongue in cheek, as in, it is as much likely Fowler would come to City as he would join Grimsby. As for Kandol, I did add that I thought he was more likely to move back South and to Millwall instead of joining City.

Lighten up and get off my case!

dannbradfc, Wyke says...
5:45pm Thu 4 Dec 08

gspot from Halifax. I eiterate the point that getting someone in is not going to be easy hence the gamble on potential. We have far too many midfielders already when they are fit and this is supported that despite the entire first choice missing we are still managing to field a competitive midfield. Should this hape to our forwards and that is clearly not the case. Thorne's back is dodgy. Rory has not figured with even other young un's apparently in front of him (o the evidence thus far he appears to have just been a carrot to get his brother). There are still doubts if we are all honest over Baz and fingers crossed that another barren spell isnt round the corner. Then the busy Christmas period looms, dodgy pitches etc we will be lucky if we can get through without any injuries and just one injury in the forward department will leave us light.

And to W aynus my evermore paranoid friend. I dint realise the Fowler suggestio was you actually hence my non-obsession. Also while we are at it im glad i talk rubbish (yet another childish remark i must say. R U sure your nearly 40?, if talking sense equates to been hypocritical. Why dont you take your own advice and send your comments to the board if your not prepared to have a fair TWO-sided discussion.



dannbradfc, Wyke says...
8:21pm Thu 4 Dec 08

soulman wrote:
Guess with Clarke and Topp gone we can now look for that 'influential' central midfielder. The engine room and keeping possession rather the being pinned back in our own half by ten men, must now be the priority. Ricky I'm over in the west Pennines and the snow has now turned to rain and melting fast. Thursday and Friday night forecast in Bradford is for temperatures above freezing. I would be very surprised if the game did not go ahead.
I agree with what you are saying we do get bossed around in midfield and that was when we had our first 'choicers out there. I would like to see McClaren totally dominate games as much as you do. However the fact remains that when all/if fully fit there will be then to many midfielders vying for two positions and another one on the wage bill is not an option i think the club will pursue. Whether the midfielderss that are contracted to the club are good enough is another matter. We will all see come January but i have a feeling that a forward will be the option. but might be wrong and at least i will admit it.

Waynus, BD6 says...
9:19pm Thu 4 Dec 08

dannbradfc wrote:
soulman wrote:
Guess with Clarke and Topp gone we can now look for that 'influential' central midfielder. The engine room and keeping possession rather the being pinned back in our own half by ten men, must now be the priority. Ricky I'm over in the west Pennines and the snow has now turned to rain and melting fast. Thursday and Friday night forecast in Bradford is for temperatures above freezing. I would be very surprised if the game did not go ahead.
I agree with what you are saying we do get bossed around in midfield and that was when we had our first 'choicers out there. I would like to see McClaren totally dominate games as much as you do. However the fact remains that when all/if fully fit there will be then to many midfielders vying for two positions and another one on the wage bill is not an option i think the club will pursue. Whether the midfielderss that are contracted to the club are good enough is another matter. We will all see come January but i have a feeling that a forward will be the option. but might be wrong and at least i will admit it.
"but might be wrong and at least i will admit it".

You just can't stop yourself can you. Keep denying it all you want, but you ARE obsessed!

Let's get back to posting on the topics and putting forward sensible arguments against other posts, should we not disagree.

This website isn't meant for us two to try score points off each other. Olive branch?

dannbradfc, Wyke says...
11:56pm Thu 4 Dec 08

W aynus first of all i accepted your apology on another posting. Secondly you are the one OBsessed as this debate is one i have been having with soulman who would prefer a midfielder to an attacker. Its obvious now that you are paranoid and are scrutinising anything i say to others and finding meaning for yourself. Carry on like tis and you will make yourself poorly mate. I suggest you have a week off and then you may find that every posting is not about you. The line and i quote "but might be wrong and at least i will admit it" is just a truism i said in a conversation with SOULMAN. How you find that to be about you is frankly disturbing and any outsider reading this would be able to see that you may have the problem.

I will hold my hands up and admit when im wrong and in this case my hands are placed firmly down by my sides. Please could other contributors please point out that he is the one obsessed so we can all of us get on with a decent healthy debate minus ego's.

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Tom Clarke has gone back to the Galpharm Stadium Stuart McCall admits he could see the early departure of Tom Clark coming

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