Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Sunday August 30 2009
Time: 8:36PM
UK time is: 07:10:56
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Cool As A Ciaran Clark
Martin O'Neill has praised debutant Ciaran Clark for putting in a classy performance as he covered the injured Curtis Davies today.
Fans have been raving about the ability of Clark for the last few years and his development seems to show no signs of slowing down leading Monny to tag him 'a cool young customer.'
Speaking on the official site Mon was full of praise for the reserve skipper, and whilst he's certainly done his chances no harm today if he's bidding for our 4th place centre half, it could be too much of a push to consider him 3rd choice just yet though. If the rumoured signing of Dunne turns out to be true his experience could be paramount in Clark's future development which isn't all bad.
'Ciaran did really fine. He took it all in his stride. I told him he was playing 15 minutes before I announced the team. He just looked round as if he expected it. Well done him.'
Clark's first team opportunities have so far come in our recent Peace Cup success, and he did look like he had everything a player would need to make an outstanding centre half. It seems Monny feels those tests have stood him in good stead for any part he may play in our campaign this season:
'I think he took a lot of confidence from pre-season and the Peace Cup. He did well over there and that was obviously in his mind.
'He obviously felt because he'd coped with top European players in the game against Porto that he'd be fine. He felt if he could get off to good start, everything would take care of itself.'
I think Ciaran's judgment on how he'd fair today was spot on.
Admittedly Fulham were poor and he wasn't up against the likes of Rooney, Crouch, Torres etc, but as an excercise in finding his feet and growing his confidence, today was worth it's weight in gold.
Big things are expected from this lad, and I'm yet to see a reason that would change that.
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Your Comments
The lad dun gud ! Can't fault him even though Fulham were very poor . Did his job with minimum fuss and looked cooler than Carlos TBH
villan57
The lad dun gud ! Can't fault him even though Fulham were very poor . Did his job with minimum fuss and looked cooler than Carlos TBH
villan57
Clark was great i am over the moon for him,As for the game itself all i will say is results don`t always tell the whole story,Don`t want to be negative after a win so i will leave it at that.
lerneravfc
Clark was great i am over the moon for him,As for the game itself all i will say is results don`t always tell the whole story,Don`t want to be negative after a win so i will leave it at that.
lerneravfc
What? no negativity? as kamara would say" unbelievable"!!!!
Kuffit
What? no negativity? as kamara would say" unbelievable"!!!!
Kuffit
Well done Clarky! He did every thing necessary with no fuss, has potential to be a real defensive rock.
26.05.82
Well done Clarky! He did every thing necessary with no fuss, has potential to be a real defensive rock.
26.05.82
Reminded me of the young Southgate
Gordonsleftboot
Reminded me of the young Southgate
Gordonsleftboot
i can see this lad being a john terry figure at villa for years to come well done son
clarkamus
i can see this lad being a john terry figure at villa for years to come well done son
clarkamus
good call Gordensleftboot, he wasnt great but you cant knock that performance one bit, Sorry Clarkamus but i doubt that very much
Astonian Villan
good call Gordensleftboot, he wasnt great but you cant knock that performance one bit, Sorry Clarkamus but i doubt that very much
Astonian Villan
PS, im shocked at the poll so far, Cuellar was by far the best player on the pitch, Clarks 3 touches (important) meant nothing in comparison to Cuellars uncountable ones, goes to show how many fans commenting watched the game
Astonian Villan
PS, im shocked at the poll so far, Cuellar was by far the best player on the pitch, Clarks 3 touches (important) meant nothing in comparison to Cuellars uncountable ones, goes to show how many fans commenting watched the game
Astonian Villan
he could have even scored with that header and maybe should have hit the target at least. Still promising to see though and a great EPL debut.
holte ender 1969
he could have even scored with that header and maybe should have hit the target at least. Still promising to see though and a great EPL debut.
holte ender 1969
I thought Milner was also excellent, and Shorey also played very well indeed. Wonder how many people would be voting for Gabby if he hadn't broken the net with that shot.....
YatesyVillain
I thought Milner was also excellent, and Shorey also played very well indeed. Wonder how many people would be voting for Gabby if he hadn't broken the net with that shot.....
YatesyVillain
He helped keep a clean sheet in his first game; not a bad debut if you ask me.
ExpatVillaShirt
He helped keep a clean sheet in his first game; not a bad debut if you ask me.
ExpatVillaShirt
The lad looked good, lets not forget he scored 2 goals for the reserves midweek beating Chelski res 4 0. Well done.
johnmurphy3112
The lad looked good, lets not forget he scored 2 goals for the reserves midweek beating Chelski res 4 0. Well done.
johnmurphy3112
A great debut for the lad. As the article said, Fulham hardly threatened, but he did everything that was asked of him well.
jonah
A great debut for the lad. As the article said, Fulham hardly threatened, but he did everything that was asked of him well.
jonah
Whaddya mean...'he reminded me of southgate' ?...you mean he had a twisted nose, horses teeth and moaned on and on about how we lack ambition...? Shurely not ?
MASON_PARKER
Whaddya mean...'he reminded me of southgate' ?...you mean he had a twisted nose, horses teeth and moaned on and on about how we lack ambition...? Shurely not ?
MASON_PARKER
I'm not sure where Gabby should appear in the MoTM poll, Yatesy, but his contribution was (and is) more important than 'just' the goal. He holds the ball up, brings other people into play, and his speed is a constant threat up front that the opposition can't ignore. He pins back at least one, possibly two, defenders to pick him up. He does more off the ball than he does on it, and his contribution goes unnoticed in a 4-5-1, but I thought he played well yesterday.
BobTheBuilder
I'm not sure where Gabby should appear in the MoTM poll, Yatesy, but his contribution was (and is) more important than 'just' the goal. He holds the ball up, brings other people into play, and his speed is a constant threat up front that the opposition can't ignore. He pins back at least one, possibly two, defenders to pick him up. He does more off the ball than he does on it, and his contribution goes unnoticed in a 4-5-1, but I thought he played well yesterday.
BobTheBuilder
thing is, as Ian Taylor said on the phone in on the way home, strikers can often look like they do nothing but if they pop up and score, that is it, job done! He did also say he thought we needed another out and out striker to build on what we have though, I agree. Still REALLY hope Gabby can build on his confidence and push on again this season, it is all in his hands, or at his feet! As for Clark, seems a well grounded, sensible lad, made a great debut, could have scored (and said he was disappointed with his header) and spoke very well after the game. Top lad!
The Fear
thing is, as Ian Taylor said on the phone in on the way home, strikers can often look like they do nothing but if they pop up and score, that is it, job done! He did also say he thought we needed another out and out striker to build on what we have though, I agree. Still REALLY hope Gabby can build on his confidence and push on again this season, it is all in his hands, or at his feet! As for Clark, seems a well grounded, sensible lad, made a great debut, could have scored (and said he was disappointed with his header) and spoke very well after the game. Top lad!
The Fear
If Gabby can pull a few more strikes like yesterday's out of nowhere it'd more than make up for last season's hit and miss performance. He's got talent, let's see him apply it some more. Another striker would be great right now - would give him some competition and cover. Make that two more.
ExpatVillaShirt
If Gabby can pull a few more strikes like yesterday's out of nowhere it'd more than make up for last season's hit and miss performance. He's got talent, let's see him apply it some more. Another striker would be great right now - would give him some competition and cover. Make that two more.
ExpatVillaShirt
Gareth Southgate didn't start playing CB until he was 25... only kidding I know what you mean, he looked very calm, should become a 1st teamer by the looks of him.
ant1ant1
Gareth Southgate didn't start playing CB until he was 25... only kidding I know what you mean, he looked very calm, should become a 1st teamer by the looks of him.
ant1ant1
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