Nathan Clarke

Heard we are signing Nathan Clarke from Coventry. Played under Slade for Orient too. Experienced Defender but not sure he's pacy but we will see .

sounds promising if we are . dont have to be like a rabbit if you can read the game . seem to remember futcher wasnt quick but one hell of a defender

Taken from the Coventry Telegraph 12 March 2017

12 Mar 2017 - Coventry City defender Nathan Clarke has expressed his personal disappointment at Russell Slade's exit, but remains committed to the club under new boss Mark Robins. ... "I'm obviously gutted, I got on with Russell very well, but that's football and things change quickly.

Thirty three years old though, with Davies and Collins it  would seem a tad slow defence

Taken from the Leighton Orient Forum,        because I`ve got nothing better to do



Club News
OVERVIEW: Orient Under Slade
5 April 2013

Jonny Davies
11 views
We take a look at the plight of the O's under Russell Slade as he celebrates his third year in charge

Russell Slade was appointed O’s manager on April 5 2010 after the O’s had been defeated 2-1 at Southampton to leave them above the relegation zone on goal difference with 41 points and six games to go.

The appointment proved to be inspired as the O’s went on to pick up seven points from their next three games including a memorable 2-1 home win over top of the table Norwich thanks to a brace from Sean Thornton.

The O’s effectively secured their League One status with one game to spare after defeating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 meaning they sat three points clear of the drop zone with a far superior goal difference.

The following 2010-11 season was one that will live long in the memory as the club secured their highest league finish for 18 years as they finished seventh and missed out on the play-offs by a point. Equally Slade’s side enjoyed a rollercoaster FA Cup journey that saw them take Arsenal to a fifth round replay after Jonathan Tehoue’s late equaliser saw Brisbane Road erupt, whilst Norwich and Swansea City were also put to the sword during the run, two sides who won promotion to the Premier League that season.

The season also included a remarkable 17 game unbeaten run between January 3 and March 19 2011 but the O's lost their way at the business end of the season as they narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

The 2011-12 season was a less memorable one as a number of key players from the previous season departed for pastures new, and the O’s got off to a poor start and failed to pick up three points in the league until October 1.

The win against Preston that day in 2011 sparked a nine game unbeaten run to help revive the O’s and around the turn of the year, there was hope that the side could mount a challenge for at least a top half finish.

Injuries took their toll as the side struggled to get any momentum, typified by the stat that the club used seven different goalkeepers throughout the season including defender Scott Cuthbert who donned the gloves for part of a game against Scunthorpe in February after Lee Butcher left the pitch injured.

The O’s form plummeted at a crucial time as they failed to win during April, however thanks to other results, the O’s secured their League One status after the 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool in the penultimate game of the season.

The current season – Slade’s third full season with the club – certainly has more parallels with the 2010-11 one than previously. The O’s again started the campaign in sluggish fashion as they lost their first four league games but a 1-0 win away at Swindon in September got the season going as Orient enjoyed a strong autumn that culminated in an eight game winning streak in November and December.

Like two years before, the New Year brought cup runs and unbeaten spells though it remains to be seen whether they O’s can go one further than the class of 2010-11 and sneak a spot in the play-off places.

O's Under Slade

Played: 169
Won: 67
Drawn: 41
Lost: 61

Most obvious signing we was going to make this. I think this is the reason why Pearson was kept waiting. From what I've gathered a very similar player to Shaun albeit a higher quality player. Spent most of his career in league one and been rated everywhere. Very happy with this. Hoping we can sign Adam chicksen at left back then 1 quick, younger centre half too

Don't recall Tony Adams/Martin Keown/Steve Bould being blessed with pace. If you're good enough, you're good enough.

Sounds like he'd be a quality addition.

Would be a good addition. However, as already mentioned, a 33 year old defender, plus two 36 year olds, doesn't exactly scream mobility at the back. No doubt the defence will be solid but will it stand up against the quicker teams?

You don't really need to be rapid as a defender if you know your angles and when to stay and when to go. The better quality defenders are obviously better at this and you rarely saw Collins get the runaround last season. Of course pace helps, but usually to correct mistakes. Defenders that rely on their pace will come unstuck far more than defenders that know their angles and how to limit attackers space.

Young men and ladies
Don't ever dismiss experience over youth.

Nathan Clarke will be good for GTFC

I am just off to finish my half-marathon before bed. Ilkleymariner, aged less than 80, but over 33.

Would be a great signing if true! Bags of experience at a higher level.

You could also say we have a 27 year old centre back and a 25 year old right back. I'm guessing we'd be in for a younger mobile LB & CB to complete the defence. Sounds like a good mixture to me.

Quoted from sam gy

Don't recall Tony Adams/Martin Keown/Steve Bould being blessed with pace. If you're good enough, you're good enough.

Sounds like he'd be a quality addition.

Bobby Moore was no sprinter either, but no one ever seemed to do him for pace.......remember the first yard is in the mind.

Quoted from Superdan147

Most obvious signing we was going to make this. I think this is the reason why Pearson was kept waiting. From what I've gathered a very similar player to Shaun albeit a higher quality player. Spent most of his career in league one and been rated everywhere. Very happy with this. Hoping we can sign Adam chicksen at left back then 1 quick, younger centre half too

Is there any knowledge in Chicksen or purely wishful thinking?

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Young men and ladies
Don't ever dismiss experience over youth.

Nathan Clarke will be good for GTFC

I am just off to finish my half-marathon before bed. Ilkleymariner, aged less than 80, but over 33.

They're called Snickers now, you old codger.  

Quoted from ginnywings

They're called Snickers now, you old codger.  

Oi - don't bring me into it!  

Quoted from ginnywings

You don't really need to be rapid as a defender if you know your angles and when to stay and when to go. The better quality defenders are obviously better at this and you rarely saw Collins get the runaround last season. Of course pace helps, but usually to correct mistakes. Defenders that rely on their pace will come unstuck far more than defenders that know their angles and how to limit attackers space.

I agree with you to a point Ginny re angles but there's no harm in RS finding us a CH that knows his angles and has pace too. You can coach angles and decisions into players but you can't coach pace. The games moved on a bit where the slowest players on the pitch aren't necessarily centre halves nowadays.  I think we got found out far too many times by quick average forwards last year and also not being sharp enough defensively over the first five yards. How many free kicks did we give away because we were just too slow to the ball?

Pace does matter all around the pitch. If we get Clarke I still think there'll be a younger quicker CH to come in to develop and play when needed against certain opposition.. Well at least I hope there will be!

Quoted from Bigdog

I agree with you to a point Ginny re angles but there's no harm in RS finding us a CH that knows his angles and has pace too. You can coach angles and decisions into players but you can't coach pace. The games moved on a bit where the slowest players on the pitch aren't necessarily centre halves nowadays.  I think we got found out far too many times by quick average forwards last year and also not being sharp enough defensively over the first five yards. How many free kicks did we give away because we were just too slow to the ball?

Pace does matter all around the pitch. If we get Clarke I still think there'll be a younger quicker CH to come in to develop and play when needed against certain opposition.. Well at least I hope there will be!

Yeah, good points. I think players that have played at a higher level and drop down the leagues don't need as much pace as players with less skill, because they are just that much better positionally and less prone to error.

Nothing  wrong with a couple of quicker players for certain circumstances though i will admit. All about the blend isn't it.

Besides, Clarke may well be quick. 33 isn't ancient as some would believe.

I anticipate us playing a lot deeper with intelligent defenders who can play a long aimed ball as opposed to a hoof. This should allow us to hit teams on the break with the pace further upfield.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I anticipate us playing a lot deeper with intelligent defenders who can play a long aimed ball as opposed to a hoof. This should allow us to hit teams on the break with the pace further upfield.

Think this is how Slade likes to play, certainly in League 2 anyway, if his last stint is anything to go by, which is why slightly slower defenders with more footballing nous doesn't concern me too much.

I would also note that of the top strikers we saw last season (Marquis, Collins, Hylton, Wyke, Godden) none of those were especially quick. Omar was quite quick and as was that Watkins at Exeter but I can't remember thinking DC or SP were done for pace by anybody and neither of those are at all quick.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Oi - don't bring me into it!  

Quoted from ginnywings

Think this is how Slade likes to play, certainly in League 2 anyway, if his last stint is anything to go by, which is why slightly slower defenders with more footballing nous doesn't concern me too much.

None of our defenders in 05/06 were what you would call pacey and they did pretty well (barring the abomination at Lincoln).

Quoted from mariner91

None of our defenders in 05/06 were what you would call pacey and they did pretty well (barring the abomination at Lincoln).

That was my thinking too. Jones was rangy and could get his long legs in the way but he wasn't rapid. I'd rather have clever defenders who have been around the block than young fast, inexperienced ones. To be honest i'd rather have clever and quick, but this is League 2.

I'm sorry but we do need a pacy centre back to play alongside Collins. Otherwise we will have to drop too deep, particularly if Ben Davies is at right back. Slade values pace, power and athleticism so I would be surprised and disappointed if we signed another ageing player after his last contract. As well as the here and now, we need to build for the mid and long term.

Who was the blonde West Ham Center Back, no pace, couldn't head a ball. He never made without pace, or did he?

Quoted from 140067

Who was the blonde West Ham Center Back, no pace, couldn't head a ball. He never made without pace, or did he?

Can't bring his name to mind but didn't he play alongside some big bloke they used to call the giraffe? He couldn't run either but they made a pretty good pairing.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Can't bring his name to mind but didn't he play alongside some big bloke they used to call the giraffe? He couldn't run either but they made a pretty good pairing.

Yep  much like Jones & Whittle were not the most athletic centre backs in 2005/6.

Well, I'd say they were quite athletic but neither was quick. That said, Collins isn't quick either and he's a good defender still.

At this level, are the defenders going to be good enough to not need recovery pace when they've been caught out of position, or is it better for them to be more skilful and just accept the odd goal will go in because they can't get there in time?

People were gutted when Shaun left but he didn't have any pace!

You can get away with a lack of pace at the back at this level if your defenders are intellegent high quality defenders, theyve played at higher levels, anyone with serious pace at this level usually isn't blessed with any kind of major skill, and if a team is relying on pace upfront, youve got quality defenders that are happy to stay deep

Wonder if RS is considering Collins+Clarke+still_to_be_signed_pacy_defender as a 3-man back-line?

Quoted from 75

I'm sorry but we do need a pacy centre back to play alongside Collins. Otherwise we will have to drop too deep, particularly if Ben Davies is at right back. Slade values pace, power and athleticism so I would be surprised and disappointed if we signed another ageing player after his last contract. As well as the here and now, we need to build for the mid and long term.

Which is how you play the counter attack system..sit deep, sit tight...then break out

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

[tweet]873501779639631873[/tweet]

Russ is on holiday. Let's see what happens when he comes back