Ciaran Clark (now a free agent)

[Tiburon]

The fact he along with many others were still at the club even post takeover having been part of a Championship promotion side a few years prior sums up the whole Ashley era. Average players on long contracts hard to shift. Unlike a good number, however, Clark can leave with his head held high and with good thanks from the club and supporters for his time here which was largely decent enough given what we were as a club and his limited talent. He scored vital goals and played a huge role in us going back up under Rafa and proved to be good value for money. I wish him good luck, but also I’m glad the likes of him will never be accepted here at this now more ambitious and serious club, not even as a squad player. We still have a number to shift on, but that will come.

[gbandit]

The question is, would Joelinton have ended up as the enforcer without Clark’s red? Would it have happened anyway, just taken longer?

[Abacus]

It did seem a complete fluke for him to work there in an emergency.

 

Clark's red > Joelinton now starting for Brazil ffs

 

You honestly couldn't script it. 

[Tiburon]

2 minutes ago, gbandit said:

The question is, would Joelinton have ended up as the enforcer without Clark’s red? Would it have happened anyway, just taken longer?

I’ve read that Howe identified Joelinton more as that type of player during his round of interviews for the job when detailing how he could add value to the existing players. He basically evaluated every player at the club for the new owners and saw Joelinton as integral to how he wanted us to play and how he saw the player himself developing.
 

We now have a coach as methodical and as analytical as Rafa when it comes to players and it’s showing in the huge turnaround in players’ games like Joelinton who is on the verge of becoming a full international for Brazil when under 2 years ago he was a laughing stock among our own fans (something I myself was guilty of) ad deemed a huge flop and simply not cut out for PL football by so-called experts.
 

Thank god Howe saw different and knows better. He’s been transformative for Joelinton. It has to be noted, however, the player himself has shown a great aptitude to develop, change and become the best version of himself he can be and the beauty of that is he is only just starting and will get better and better, as will we. Happy days!

[jackyboy]

Joe used his own coach to study his game and identify where he could improve. Add Eddie's input as well and the difference over 18 months is incredible 

[toon25]

I know it didn't matter in the end, but his lasting legacy in my eyes will be that idiotic decision to get himself sent off in that crucial game against Norwich in the first half.

[Lazarus]

7 minutes ago, toon25 said:

I know it didn't matter in the end, but his lasting legacy in my eyes will be that idiotic decision to get himself sent off in that crucial game against Norwich in the first half.

 

It was a piss poor challenge like. Then we went to Saudi and he started a fight with one of their players, in front of our new owners iirc.

[Guest]

Celtic would make sense. Championship Play-Off level sides too.