Zander Clark

[HopeDiouf]

2 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Middle of the goal. He even had time to take a touch, and go high if he wanted. The defender was already on the deck before the ball got to him. 

agree to disagree.  defender just got very lucky and devlin is an easy target.

If we're talking about having time, Shanks had time to take a touch and walk it into the net as well.  So maybe he deserves some blame also.

Edited October 2 by HopeDiouf

[GavK1012]

13 hours ago, feedthefox said:

Clark was very unlucky to be dropped and going by the same form lines then I'd say Gordon ought to have been dropped some weeks ago.

 

I think it's too easy to get misty eyed when thinking about Gordon, he really does not move from his line these days and I think part of our panic around set pieces is that Gordon offers no command what so ever.   

As a fanboy of CG, I actually agree, but counter argument is, for such a lump of a lad, ZC does flap too often and doesn't dominate his space anywhere near as much as he should. 

[RustyRightPeg]

1 minute ago, HopeDiouf said:

agree to disagree.  defender just got very lucky and devlin is an easy target.

He isn’t a target though. He isn’t good enough. Giving him a new contract is everything thats wrong with what’s going on just now.
 

Other than running about in my eyes he offers nothing. He has little to no positional discipline and leaves giant gaps in our midfield which exposes us. He isn’t brave on the ball either, he takes easy options instead of trying to make things happen.
 

Sorry, completely off topic on the Clark thread. 

[steve89]

On 22/09/2024 at 09:25, Walter Bishop said:

For me it’s no coincidence the defence has been terrible since Clark was dropped to the bench. Last season we had one of the best defensive records in the league with Clark in goals. It’s clear for any of us to see the defence is for more vulnerable now that Gordon’s back in. 
 

Another crazy decision by Naismith and co. 

Agree with this the guy should have never been dropped. Craig gets picked because he is who he is rather than being the best current option.

[Paris 84]

Composure was all that was required, the guy’s already totally committed himself, he’s in mid-air.  But he’s committed to block the shot NOT to a tackle on Devlin, there’s a difference. He doesn’t shoot, the guy slides past him and he tucks it into an empty net. Watch it again, even if he’d just moved the ball a foot to his right he’d then be able to tap it in. It’s a total lack of composure. 

[Chimp]

12 minutes ago, GavK1012 said:

As a fanboy of CG, I actually agree, but counter argument is, for such a lump of a lad, ZC does flap too often and doesn't dominate his space anywhere near as much as he should. 

 

Correct. Clark's positioning is very poor and gets caught flat footed often. Also his handling leaves a lot to be desired.

 

That's the thing between them, I feel they have similar weaknesses, but Gordon has more strengths than Clark. He's a better shot stopper, got a bigger reach, has safer hands and more experienced. 

Gordon has never been good at cross balls or kicking but has gotten away with it in his career and achieved what he has because of how good he is in other departments, it's nothing new.

[Homme]

5 minutes ago, steve89 said:

Agree with this the guy should have never been dropped. Craig gets picked because he is who he is rather than being the best current option.

 

This is true. Clark is now the best gk at the club. Wasn't always the case but it is now. 

[Absolute Scenes]

29 minutes ago, HopeDiouf said:

From where I was sitting, he hit a controlled shot to the bottom corner.  Defender threw himself in the way to block and got lucky.  Don't think Devlin did much wrong with his finish.

You’re joking. It was one of the worst sitters I’ve seen. He did everything wrong 

[AlimOzturk]

 

people actually thinking Craig Gordon is the problem. 

[Bull's-eye]

3 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

 

people actually thinking Craig Gordon is the problem. 

 

I dont think anyone is suggesting that, but to drop the keeper that got us 3rd last season is just another problem with the way we've started this season. Everyone has preference and thats fair enough, but if you start a season getting beat every week then surely you look at all areas of the team.

Especially an area that was pretty decent last term.

 

There's absolutely no doubt that the team harmony has been upset to some degree so its only natural to finger point at the keeper, no matter who is in-between the sticks.

 

Again it looks like very poor management during the summer, having 2 international goalkeepers is never going to work for one of them and again it seems to me we've given ourselves a problem that was always going to surface.

[AlimOzturk]

8 minutes ago, Bull's-eye said:

 

I dont think anyone is suggesting that, but to drop the keeper that got us 3rd last season is just another problem with the way we've started this season. Everyone has preference and thats fair enough, but if you start a season getting beat every week then surely you look at all areas of the team.

Especially an area that was pretty decent last term.

 

There's absolutely no doubt that the team harmony has been upset to some degree so its only natural to finger point at the keeper, no matter who is in-between the sticks.

 

Again it looks like very poor management during the summer, having 2 international goalkeepers is never going to work for one of them and again it seems to me we've given ourselves a problem that was always going to surface.

Clarks attitude clearly got him dropped. There is no other explanation for the sudden change to Gordon. 

Gordon hasn’t been remarkable by any means but he’s done nothing wrong either. 

[ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ]

22 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

Clarks attitude clearly got him dropped. There is no other explanation for the sudden change to Gordon. 

 

You say that but maybe he's lost a family member and he's distracted, maybe he has a new baby that affects his sleep and concentration, maybe he doesn't want to sign an extension, maybe, maybe, maybe, etc.

[jambogirlglasgow]

1 hour ago, Absolute Scenes said:

You’re joking. It was one of the worst sitters I’ve seen. He did everything wrong 

This is how I saw it. Total game changer at that stage of the match too; potentially season changer and he blew it spectacularly. Awful.

[Dazo]

44 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

Clarks attitude clearly got him dropped. There is no other explanation for the sudden change to Gordon. 

Gordon hasn’t been remarkable by any means but he’s done nothing wrong either. 

Do you really have to make something up to justify Gordon playing ? 

[Bull's-eye]

21 minutes ago, Dazo said:

Do you really have to make something up to justify Gordon playing ? 

 

I think you do when we keep getting beat tbh.

 

Maybe not make stuff up, but its JKB so thats expected.

 

Does require a debate though imo.

Edited October 2 by Bull's-eye

[tartofmidlothian]

3 hours ago, RustyRightPeg said:

What on earth does Devlin show in a #10 role? 😂

 

3 hours ago, Chimp said:

 

Devlin in the 10? Surely you're joking. You want the midfielder least technically gifted and attack minded to play in the position that primarily requires both of those things? 

 

If he's the answer for filling the 10 role, especially ahead of Spittal and Dhanda then we're in bigger trouble than I thought.

 

3 hours ago, Lambert Simnel said:

 

I love Devlin, but I don't see him as a #10. Either Spittal or Dhanda is far more likely to find an incisive pass forward. Now, I know we haven't actually tried playing either of them in a #10 position for a full game yet, but that's what I'd hope we would select rather than pushing Cammy away from the midfield battle (where he thrives) and into the chance creator role. 

 

Spittal looks like the most likely #10 for us, Dhanda worked well cutting in from the right at the weekend. Ever since he played like Hartley or Cameron reborn in the Rosenborg game at home I've wanted to see Devlin tried further forward, though, even if pre-season was the best time to give it a try.

[Lambert Simnel]

2 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

Spittal looks like the most likely #10 for us, Dhanda worked well cutting in from the right at the weekend. Ever since he played like Hartley or Cameron reborn in the Rosenborg game at home I've wanted to see Devlin tried further forward, though, even if pre-season was the best time to give it a try.

 

OK, that's fair enough. I think he was a bit lucky with a deflection in the Rosenborg game which made his performance seem better than it really was, but I get where you're coming from. I'd still have him more as a central or defensive midfield and let one of Spittal or Dhanda have the no. 10 position, but it certainly seemed like Naismith shared your interest in seeing what Devlin could do further forward, so it's clearly not entirely crazy talk 😉

[mr fox]

On 22/09/2024 at 09:25, Walter Bishop said:

For me it’s no coincidence the defence has been terrible since Clark was dropped to the bench. Last season we had one of the best defensive records in the league with Clark in goals. It’s clear for any of us to see the defence is for more vulnerable now that Gordon’s back in. 
 

Another crazy decision by Naismith and co. 

Agree doesn’t deserve to be dropped 

[Selkirkhmfc1874]

Think we'll be looking for 2 goalkeepers next season if Craig retires because can't see zander signing new contract

[Pasquale for King]

5 hours ago, Chimp said:

 

Correct. Clark's positioning is very poor and gets caught flat footed often. Also his handling leaves a lot to be desired.

 

That's the thing between them, I feel they have similar weaknesses, but Gordon has more strengths than Clark. He's a better shot stopper, got a bigger reach, has safer hands and more experienced. 

Gordon has never been good at cross balls or kicking but has gotten away with it in his career and achieved what he has because of how good he is in other departments, it's nothing new.

Spot on 

[DS98]

7 hours ago, steve89 said:

Agree with this the guy should have never been dropped. Craig gets picked because he is who he is rather than being the best current option.

 

7 hours ago, Homme said:

 

This is true. Clark is now the best gk at the club. Wasn't always the case but it is now. 

 

6 hours ago, Bull's-eye said:

 

I dont think anyone is suggesting that, but to drop the keeper that got us 3rd last season is just another problem with the way we've started this season. Everyone has preference and thats fair enough, but if you start a season getting beat every week then surely you look at all areas of the team.

Especially an area that was pretty decent last term.

 

There's absolutely no doubt that the team harmony has been upset to some degree so its only natural to finger point at the keeper, no matter who is in-between the sticks.

 

Again it looks like very poor management during the summer, having 2 international goalkeepers is never going to work for one of them and again it seems to me we've given ourselves a problem that was always going to surface.

Very very short memories. In the first half of last season Zander had more cockups than Craig’s had in 4 years back at the club. Off the top of my head.

 

 

PAOK A - free kick

 

Dundee A - stupid short free kick then lobbed

 

St Mirren A - calls for a low cross then doesn’t come, leaving a tap in

 

Rangers Semi final - gave away stupid penalty then beat by a same side freekick.

 

Rangers H - Came out a mile but decided to cover the advertising boards rather than the goals leaving Sima a tap in from 20 yards.

 

Aberdeen A - Equaliser. Came, stayed, came, went back.  Shocker. 
 

We lost every game. Did he deserve to get dropped then? It was only after the 0-2 at Celtic he picked up along with the rest of the team. 

 

 

 

[Chimp]

12 hours ago, DS98 said:

 

 

Very very short memories. In the first half of last season Zander had more cockups than Craig’s had in 4 years back at the club. Off the top of my head.

 

 

PAOK A - free kick

 

Dundee A - stupid short free kick then lobbed

 

St Mirren A - calls for a low cross then doesn’t come, leaving a tap in

 

Rangers Semi final - gave away stupid penalty then beat by a same side freekick.

 

Rangers H - Came out a mile but decided to cover the advertising boards rather than the goals leaving Sima a tap in from 20 yards.

 

Aberdeen A - Equaliser. Came, stayed, came, went back.  Shocker. 
 

We lost every game. Did he deserve to get dropped then? It was only after the 0-2 at Celtic he picked up along with the rest of the team. 

 

 

 

 

Yep. Zander has made plenty mistakes in his time here. Even when they aren't blatant errors, there's many occasions where he could have done a lot better if he'd set himself up properly.

 

It's funny how we're now at the stage where any of Zander's mistakes are ignored or brushed aside, but any slight error Gordon makes is highlighted and makes for a case that he's past it because he's in his 40s.

 

I think the clamour for Clark to be reinstated is because he was in a team that went on a good run last season and played in a winning side, not because he was anything spectacular. And now that Gordon is back and playing but in a losing team, it's easy to blame the goalkeeper and point the finger at him.

[OTT]

20 hours ago, Paris 84 said:

Composure was all that was required, the guy’s already totally committed himself, he’s in mid-air.  But he’s committed to block the shot NOT to a tackle on Devlin, there’s a difference. He doesn’t shoot, the guy slides past him and he tucks it into an empty net. Watch it again, even if he’d just moved the ball a foot to his right he’d then be able to tap it in. It’s a total lack of composure. 

 

Yeah, it was a really bad miss and very fortunate defending. I think any other player puts the ball across goal, into basically where the defender was not where he will be. 

 

[DS98]

58 minutes ago, Chimp said:

 

Yep. Zander has made plenty mistakes in his time here. Even when they aren't blatant errors, there's many occasions where he could have done a lot better if he'd set himself up properly.

 

It's funny how we're now at the stage where any of Zander's mistakes are ignored or brushed aside, but any slight error Gordon makes is highlighted and makes for a case that he's past it because he's in his 40s.

 

I think the clamour for Clark to be reinstated is because he was in a team that went on a good run last season and played in a winning side, not because he was anything spectacular. And now that Gordon is back and playing but in a losing team, it's easy to blame the goalkeeper and point the finger at him.

Exactly. Zander is a steady pair of hands. He done extremely well in the 2nd half of last season. But if he had continued to play in goals this season it wouldn’t have made one iota of a difference. It’s been a shitshow of a season so far but if you go back through all the post match comments on here theres a common theme. 9 times out of 10 Gordon is one of the only ones with pass marks. He’s actually given us half a chance in most games we’ve lost by keeping the score down. It’s not his fault we couldn’t buy a goal. 
 

I don’t mind Zander and would be fine with him coming back in, just to try something different. But let’s not pretend he’s something special. Right now we’re so weak defensively. If our goalie is going to be busy and required to make 3-4 saves a game then I know who I’d rather have. 

[Chimp]

1 hour ago, DS98 said:

Exactly. Zander is a steady pair of hands. He done extremely well in the 2nd half of last season. But if he had continued to play in goals this season it wouldn’t have made one iota of a difference. It’s been a shitshow of a season so far but if you go back through all the post match comments on here theres a common theme. 9 times out of 10 Gordon is one of the only ones with pass marks. He’s actually given us half a chance in most games we’ve lost by keeping the score down. It’s not his fault we couldn’t buy a goal. 
 

I don’t mind Zander and would be fine with him coming back in, just to try something different. But let’s not pretend he’s something special. Right now we’re so weak defensively. If our goalie is going to be busy and required to make 3-4 saves a game then I know who I’d rather have. 

 

Totally agree.

[Pasquale for King]

21 hours ago, DS98 said:

 

 

Very very short memories. In the first half of last season Zander had more cockups than Craig’s had in 4 years back at the club. Off the top of my head.

 

 

PAOK A - free kick

 

Dundee A - stupid short free kick then lobbed

 

St Mirren A - calls for a low cross then doesn’t come, leaving a tap in

 

Rangers Semi final - gave away stupid penalty then beat by a same side freekick.

 

Rangers H - Came out a mile but decided to cover the advertising boards rather than the goals leaving Sima a tap in from 20 yards.

 

Aberdeen A - Equaliser. Came, stayed, came, went back.  Shocker. 
 

We lost every game. Did he deserve to get dropped then? It was only after the 0-2 at Celtic he picked up along with the rest of the team. 

 

 

 

Spot on, he made a few howlers in the 2nd half of the season also. Never seen a gk so slow to move when a shot from outside the box is hit.

[JamboAl]

8 minutes ago, Pasquale for King said:

Spot on, he made a few howlers in the 2nd half of the season also. Never seen a gk so slow to move when a shot from outside the box is hit.

Eyesight problem?

[Pasquale for King]

On 03/10/2024 at 17:41, JamboAl said:

Eyesight problem?

Quite possibly, might be why he can’t judge a cross either, he has no power in his legs and poor footwork to boot.

[Gordon_1874]

Kept more clean sheets than Craig Gordon this season.

[airthjambo]

6 minutes ago, Gordon_1874 said:

Kept more clean sheets than Craig Gordon this season.

1 from 2 games, clean sheets not all down to goalkeepers, Clark will never be as good as Gordon, we wouldn't even be having this debate if they were of similar age, credit to Zander last season but our bad start this season is not down to either of them

[Wee man]

4 hours ago, airthjambo said:

1 from 2 games, clean sheets not all down to goalkeepers, Clark will never be as good as Gordon, we wouldn't even be having this debate if they were of similar age, credit to Zander last season but our bad start this season is not down to either of them

Gordons done !   Clark should be No1

 

End off 

[McCrae]

4 hours ago, Wee man said:

Gordons done !   Clark should be No1

 

End off 

This is nonsense.

[McCrae]

8 hours ago, Gordon_1874 said:

Kept more clean sheets than Craig Gordon this season.

Gordon is not to blame for any of our losses this season.

[Ex member of the SaS]

Clark was brought to the club as cover for Craig if injured, he was and Clark stepped in. Now Craig if fit he gets his place back and Clark sits and waits until A) Craig messes up big time or B )  Craig gets too old.

[Gordon_1874]

Just don't see why Zander was dropped after he recovered from injury, we had a great defence last season. Clark played a huge role in that. Craig Gordon was a better keeper no doubt, now though? Debatable.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

1 minute ago, Gordon_1874 said:

Just don't see why Zander was dropped after he recovered from injury, we had a great defence last season. Clark played a huge role in that. Craig Gordon was a better keeper no doubt, now though? Debatable.

Best to draw a line under where Liam fox started. Anything before that is irrelevant. What happened after Zander injury or whatever, that’s all completely irrelevant now. 

 

Fox has watched training for 2 weeks, and he’s picked the goalkeeper he prefers. Gordon. 
 

The next manager will do the same thing. He’ll come in, look at the keepers and pick the one he prefers. He won’t be looking at last season or summer or whatever. He’ll be looking at both keepers, here and now, the qualities each one brings. Both are fit so it’s a shootout. For Fox, it’s Gordon. For the new man maybe it’ll be Clark.