I think Scott needs to rest ready for the run in - not play in goal for Aberdeen ????

I seem to remember there's a.n.other Scott Brown playing up there.

Will the real Scott Brown put on the black & white stripes and push us for promotion?

Sounded as if he was our best player against Welling, no idea why he was dropped against Alfreton, hope he turns up and has a fantastic run of form from now to the play offs. That said he's a much better player than Clay for me, more mobile, much better ball player, wins a lot of tackles and always looks like he motivates people and is a leader. With Lenny seemingly on form and MacKreth causing havoc every game, Diz playing fantastically, the back 4 looking very solid, Parslow even had a good game on Monday, 3 excellent centre halves for this level and competition all over the pitch, things look positive maybe even positive.

Quoted from SamTheMariner

Sounded as if he was our best player against Welling, no idea why he was dropped against Alfreton, hope he turns up and has a fantastic run of form from now to the play offs. That said he's a much better player than Clay for me, more mobile, much better ball player, wins a lot of tackles and always looks like he motivates people and is a leader. With Lenny seemingly on form and MacKreth causing havoc every game, Diz playing fantastically, the back 4 looking very solid, Parslow even had a good game on Monday, 3 excellent centre halves for this level and competition all over the pitch, things look positive maybe even positive.

Thought Clay was MOM on Monday. The only one in the first half who had the courage to put his foot on the ball and calm things down. Great cross for the second goal as well. Agree about competition for places though - can't remember such a well balanced squad.

Personally I rate Clay. He can tackle but also shift the ball a lot better than Brown. Brown is a good player if you need someone to stay busy in the middle of the park...

Both good players.............We need them for next season regardless of what league we are in.

Quoted from aldi_01

Personally I rate Clay. He can tackle but also shift the ball a lot better than Brown. Brown is a good player if you need someone to stay busy in the middle of the park...

Completely agree and I think Clay has the potential to play higher up, he's been a very good signing.

Keep both they bring quality grit and determination to the table important members of the squad simple as that.

Hurst kept Clay on when many fans did not want him.  Hurst has an above eye for a good player (generally).  And for letting players go at the right time.

Brown is a better player, Clay is more limited. But Diz is more consistent and scores goals, unlike the other2.

Afraid I disagree regards Brown and Clay.

Clay is a far superior player in my eyes. Although he's returned to form of late, I've been quite disappointed with Brown after the impressive start he made.  I think Clay's one of our more important players, we look far better when he's at the top of his game.  

I just wish Clay would shoot more often when in good positions.

I pretty much agree with dhm, and although I think they've both been very good generally, I don't feel either are quite good enough for league 2 generally, or at least , to be much more than squad players.

I do think that the criticisms levelled at McLaughlin - ie, the limitations in his defensive game, can be fairly applied to Brown and Clay, neither of whom offer quite enough offensively for my liking. I dont think they chalk up enough assists or more specifically goals (they probably won't  manage half a dozen between them) and this is the reason why I think we will need better balanced central midfielders if we get to the football league.

That said, they both have great mobility, can tackle and pass, want the ball (very important aspect IMO) and are good positionally and defensively.

Yeah I think Clay's engine and positional awareness are very good for this level - it's just that his technique lets him down at times which is why he's reluctant to shoot in good positions. He had one effort from outside the box against Alfreton and sliced it miles wide.

There were quite a few comments from York fans that Brown tended to go missing in bigger games.  Mental toughness I think.  This is something we may found out for ourselves.  

I agree with chrisblor about Clay's technique, although I guess he compensates for that with other strengths, much the same as other players do. Brown, Disley and McLaughlin are all better technically, with the latter two being superior to both offensively IMO.

Brown has certainly divided opinion amongst fans - Southport supporters thought he was superb and comfortably their best player last season, whilst my York City supporting mates thought he was rubbish and scoffed when we signed him.

I watched Clay in all the pre-season games and have to admit I wasn't impressed and according to comments from other clubs he had been at, their fans hadn't been impressed either but I think he has now proved us doubters wrong.

I would add that his from had dipped in recent weeks but so had that of Brown but if I had to make a choice I would probably go with Clay at the moment.

I actually think Clay is technically sound, far more so than Brown who is very hit and miss.  His sliced effort on Monday was pitiful but he won't be the first or last player to do it.

I have to say I am a huge fan of Brown, think he holds possession of the ball so well and we have been missing that for a long time now.  In the games I have seen I have not really seen him go missing although do think he could offer a bit more for us going forward than just keeping play ticking over but on the whole have been very impressed with him and Clay to be fair

Quoted from diehardmariner

I actually think Clay is technically sound, far more so than Brown who is very hit and miss.  His sliced effort on Monday was pitiful but he won't be the first or last player to do it.

He also twatted a sweet volley that if anyone had followed up would have put us in front.

I would agree that technically he is pretty good, what impresses me most is his decision making, he strikes me as a clever footballer, he often finds a forward pass when others would go sideways and he makes clever runs into space.

I also like Brown, but I think at 22 and with limited experience Clay will end up being the better player.

I like both players - they have their limitations but they also bring a mixture of graft and skill that has long been missing in Town's midfield.

Between Disley, Brown and Clay our central midfield very rarely goes missing. What's important is that they are all different kinds of players, yet they all complement each other's style. I think the balance is right.

Of course, we could go after another central midfielder who in our eyes is more technically gifted and played at a higher level, last time we did that we got Peter Sweeney.

Or Dean Sinclair who was never fit.

I'm with Headingley re Clay is only 22 and gaining experience all the time.

Potentially he could be very good in a couple more years. He has certainly benefited from having a run in the team and also perhaps from missing a few games through injury and then couldnt get back in. That rest is proving invaluable imo

Quick look at his stats prior to signing for Town.

27 starts over 4 years at Chesterfield
1 start at Barrow
4 starts at Alfreton
8 starts at York
4 starts at Halifax
9 at Worksop

Not an awful lot of games in there, even more so when you consider he left Chesterfield two years ago and spent most of 13-14 as a non-league journeyman.  Considering his lack of experience I really do like the maturity he shows on the ball.

You can also see why he perhaps hit a bit of a wall earlier in the season in terms of fitness.  

Good points.

Brown and Clay are both excellent and much better than the likes of Niven et al who have played alongside Disley in previous seasons.

I wonder if Brown slightly suffers as he is a bit similar to Disley, whereas Clay complements Disley a bit better.

One thing is certain though The Fishy got it completely wrong about Clay. I remember when we announced his contract it was derided as a dreadful signing.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

There were quite a few comments from York fans that Brown tended to go missing in bigger games.  Mental toughness I think.  This is something we may found out for ourselves.  

And yet he played in their biggest game of the season in the play-off final at Wembley....which they won......looks like he knows how to handle the big occasion.I prefer to talk to the bristol city fans about him...and they tell me how he scored several vital goals on their way up to the championship.....yeah he certainly sounds like someone who cant handle the big occasion...hes probably one of the few in our squad who genuinely CAN HANDLE IT.......nothing like encouragement though eh?try it sometime soft ollies.

Calamarikid, well I hope that you are right.  The comments from York fans were more critical than I posted.  And they did release him.  

clay has surprised many people and has done very well in his first real consistent run of games. He gets a bout the pitch well, makes good tackles and generally tries to pick a pass that will get us moving forward. Brown is a terrier types and what I like about him he always tries to get the ball down on the floor to control and play it. He does get caught in tight areas sometimes but his close control is very good. Agree with other posters both should have scored more goals. Overall, I think Clay has a good future if he continues to work hard and is coached well.

Personally, I don't think we've seen the best of Brown in the way that Southport obviously did last season. He looks to me to be a player who isn't perhaps the most 'naturally fit' of players. At the start of the season, he came in after a full season at Southport and a good pre-season and looked good initially. Unfortunately he then dropped out due to injury and has only been in and out since then. To tell the truth he didn't look properly fit to me in most of his appearances in 2015 (note, I've not seen Town play much over the past month). Could be a good player if he's fully fit and sharp, but a lot depends on if he can avoid injury.

Clay has done pretty well much of the time since he's been in the team but he certainly looks to be lacking a bit of stamina and often seems dead on his feet long before the end of games. Hopefully a full season playing regularly will set him in good stead in this respect as I can see him being a useful player next season. Just a pity he's lacking in pace. The fact that Disley is still our quickest central midfielder (IMHO) is pretty damning on the others given his age. I though it might be Dizza's last season with us but his goals and general high standard of play surely should mean we keep him for another year?

If brown was that good for brizzle titty when they went up why isn't he still there,or at least at that level

Quoted from Calamarikid

And yet he played in their biggest game of the season in the play-off final at Wembley....which they won......looks like he knows how to handle the big occasion.I prefer to talk to the bristol city fans about him...and they tell me how he scored several vital goals on their way up to the championship.....yeah he certainly sounds like someone who cant handle the big occasion...hes probably one of the few in our squad who genuinely CAN HANDLE IT.......nothing like encouragement though eh?try it sometime soft ollies.

Not sure how you can say that of any player unless you were there.

Town have been involved in many big games and won them, that's not to say every player had a great game and handled the situation well.

Quoted from The_Laughing_Mariner

If brown was that good for brizzle titty when they went up why isn't he still there,or at least at that level

They let him go to Cheltenham for free halfway through the season!