Peter Clarke

Marton Monorail said:
Absolutely
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In my humble opinion, and maybe when in his prime, he was as close as we'll ever get to having what might be called the 'complete' defender on our books. Many moons ago, in an article featured in the early days of the AVFTT fanzine, and just before he left us for Southend Utd (can you believe that, given the way things have panned out?), I submitted a piece in which I referred to him as a colossus. And such was his standing at the time, that's precisely what he was...
 
tarantula said:
In my humble opinion, and maybe when in his prime, he was as close as we'll ever get to having what might be called the 'complete' defender on our books. Many moons ago, in an article featured in the early days of the AVFTT fanzine, and just before he left us for Southend Utd (can you believe that, given the way things have panned out?), I submitted a piece in which I referred to him as a colossus. And such was his standing at the time, that's precisely what he was...
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Nowhere near a complete defender, not in the same league as Barker or Cathcart or Crainey or Evatt.

His showboating last gasp tackles were usually because he was miles out of position.
 
Scored a cracker at Brentford.
Pool captain, left us on the eve of the season stating to play championship football.
Southend promptly relegated Pool promoted and 3years later were in the Prem.
Undoubtedly he would have been there with us if he had stayed, up there with Scott Taylor in the "why did I ever leave the Pool?"stakes
 
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Player of the season, most seasons at every club.
Should have kept him longer, but the scum offered him a reduction of 50% & he moved on to a lower club for a better contract.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Nowhere near a complete defender, not in the same league as Barker or Cathcart or Crainey or Evatt.

His showboating last gasp tackles were usually because he was miles out of position.
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But would it not be fair to that, unlike the four players you've named there, Clarke, during his time at Blackpool, was never afforded the priviledge of being a part of an established, dependable back four? More often than not, because of the nature of the club at that time (and I'm sure you know what I mean there), he would find himself playing alongside various journeymen pros or loan players And, as I recall, his "showboating last gasp tackles" (as you so eloquently put it) had nothing to do with his being "miles out of position", it was, more often than not, a case of him having to cover for colleagues who were lacking the qualities that were a recognised part of every aspect of his game.
Still, you keep holding to your revisionist view of possibly the most highly-regarded defender to have graced the turf at Bloomfield Rd in recent times; and, in future, I'll look to discuss the merits of the centre-back maestro with a more enlightened, receptive audience. That shouldn't be too hard.
 
tarantula said:
But would it not be fair to that, unlike the four players you've named there, Clarke, during his time at Blackpool, was never afforded the priviledge of being a part of an established, dependable back four? More often than not, because of the nature of the club at that time (and I'm sure you know what I mean there), he would find himself playing alongside various journeymen pros or loan players And, as I recall, his "showboating last gasp tackles" (as you so eloquently put it) had nothing to do with his being "miles out of position", it was, more often than not, a case of him having to cover for colleagues who were lacking the qualities that were a recognised part of every aspect of his game.
Still, you keep holding to your revisionist view of possibly the most highly-regarded defender to have graced the turf at Bloomfield Rd in recent times; and, in future, I'll look to discuss the merits of the centre-back maestro with a more enlightened, receptive audience. That shouldn't be too hard.
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Can't agree with that. He got relegated the following season from the Championship when he went to Southend and never established himself in either of the top 2 divisions. Evatt and Barker, who replaced him, both proved themselves at the higher level.

A counter argument could be, the fact he was in an average team with us allowed him to look better than he actually was.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
Can't agree with that. He got relegated the following season from the Championship when he went to Southend and never established himself in either of the top 2 divisions. Evatt and Barker, who replaced him, both proved themselves at the higher level.

A counter argument could be, the fact he was in an average team with us allowed him to look better than he actually was.
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I'm not taking an overview of his entire career (during which, at every stage, he has been unfailingly impressive), I'm focussing on the absolutely pivotal part he had to play throughout the time he was with us, and particularly when, if I'm being charitable (and by your own admission), we were a fairly run-of-the-mill side. A fact which, in your eyes, somehow diminishes the professional standing he had within the game. (Oh to be a professional pundit, eh?)
 
Peter Clarke was brilliant for us, a great player. I saw him play a couple of years ago (he must be pushing 40) and he was still ace.
 
If his positioning was an issue, I doubt he’d have played til he was 41. I used to love the chip up and header back to the keeper to avoid a back pass
 
I still remember the buzz I got when he signed permanently for us, great professional and listening to when he did media work an intelligent fella.
 
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