I’ll need to see more of Clarke in midfield to make my mind up. He looks handy when running at people which makes me think he would be good at RWB, but looks a liability when caught on the ball in positions we really don’t want to lose it.
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But if that’s the issue I’d still give him a go over Jellis, based on last night, who did that but in a shorter time period.
He also actually presses. Jellis has got a bit of the Josh Gordon press about him, trying really hard to get there a second after the ball is gone. I thought Clarke closed down much better.
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I’m not arguing for Jellis, I’ve said for months he just needs to get back to basics rather than thinking he is peak Merson playing simple passes with the outside of his boot and making a hash of it.
The reality is we still need at least one quality addition in the middle of the park and Clarke hasn’t changed my opinion on that, he looks raw and has potential, but I’m unsure whether he is a midfielder or a RWB at present as to his qualities.
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Agreed, but I’d rather try something that may or may not work, over one that hasn’t for some time now. Regardless of Clarke, I thought Jellis looked every inch the player he has for the last 8 months last night. Poor in possession, somehow both urgent and off it when trying to win the ball back and moody.
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Jellis is clearly half the player he was in the pre January run last season. We can all point at reasons as to why and his future as a pro footballer in the balance is something of a “biggy”. This said Sadler is doing the team (and Jellis) more harm than good persisting with a player that needs to be taken out of the fray for a while. The midfield is woefully short of what is needed while we await Hollman and Clarke to “potentially” get up to the speed of EFL (assuming they both can). Jellis imo currently does not offer enough to warrant a start and with hopefully at least one more, maybe two additions to midfield may not even be needed on the bench until his personal life is sorted (one way or another)
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I agree with that summary on JJ. Think he’s lost a bit of himself over the last 12 months and if he has, it’s completely understandable as his immediate career might be in the hands of a couple of FA suits.
An example last night was the drop ball on the edge of the box. I reckon Jellis of autumn 2024 had the audacity to attempt a half volley thunder bastard. Instead he did this strange loopy ball in the general direction of Jamma but with no real belief.
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He was ok, but Clarke was achieving a lot more. He should get the starting nod on Sat
Clarke was limping after last night’s game. I think he’ll struggle for Saturday.
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That is a shame, was it a knock?
Yes, he hobbled off when replaced and was limping after the game.
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Not confirmed yet, but saw a post online that said Jamie has avoided any sort of ban.
Great news if true!
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Give him a weeks holiday to relax and comeback fighting. He needs to get his mojo back.
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He’s an injury doubt for Saturday apparently
Perhaps understandably, he’s played like his heads been somewhere else for a while now. I’d give him a week off to get some quality R&R and give one or two other players a shot in the middle of the park.
I like the young man, but I think he needs to take one step back to move forward two or three steps - he’s still young and he’s a lucky boy to have escaped a harsher penalty.
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Sadler said he had been carrying a strain for some weeks.
Yes,it really takes it out of you the first 6 games of the season…
I think you’re missing the point Sid
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I bet he’s relieved!
More mental than physical strain.
Jellis may well have an injury as well but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sadler is trying to protect him, too…
No I’m not. I don’t think he should be playing at the moment anyway, his form has been very average to put it politely, but to blame that on anything other than bad form is ridiculous.