What about Dakota Lucas as a young/pacy striker?
Based on more than clapham has shown.
We're talking about the same Cameron Lindsay who played 73 minutes of football for the Phoenix last year? Must have been some 73 minutes. Or maybe it's ability to sit on the bench week in and week out that has impressed you so much? Or maybe the a-league is sooooooo much better than the ASB Premiership that Linday's 73 minutes for the Phoenix showed him to be a better player than Clapham, who racked up 11 goals, which made him 2nd in the golden boot for 2012/2013.
Using goal stats from ASB Premiership to argue a point isn't particularly wise when you consider the level of opposition of some of the teams in the league (George Slefendorfas is a great example, racked up the goals against YHM, absolute donkey against decent ASB-type defenders). Seriously, your common variety tree being planted in the opposition box for Auckland City/Waitak/TW/CU would easily get 7-8 goals a season playing against the lower tier ASB Premiership teams. Plus Clapham gets to take their penalties, which inflates his stats a bit too.
Clapham's biggest problem is that he's a 30 minute player in a 90 minute game, even at the ASB Prem level. He gives you a goodish 20 minutes in the first, and 10 minutes in the second half, and for the remaining 60 you wouldn't even know he was on the pitch if it wasn't for that ginger mane of his. Which I guess is another way of saying is that for every good thing he does, there's three things he does wrong, which was the gist of the criticism aimed at him after the Jordan game.
His other problem, which has also been mentioned, is that he just doesn't do enough to get himself noticed. For someone of his aspirations and at his age, he really should have played 3 seasons in the VPL or NSWPL by now, looking at lower leagues in the US, or a myriad other things to give himself a chance at professional football. But no, he goes to a trial in Malaysia, doesn't work out for him, so he pisses around for 6 weeks on a holiday, and then whines his arse off about not being given a fair go. If you want something, you work your arse off to get there if you can, don't expect it to be given to you on a silver platter with ginger ribbons.
You realise Clapham is a midfielder right? Not a striker. He can't plant himself in the box because he has distributive and defensive duties as well. It's not like he has the same quality of players surrounding him that Auckland and Waitakere have either. I'd say an average of almost a goal a game is pretty impressive. I also didn't realise penalties were free goals. I thought you actually had to score them first.
He is far more than a 30 minute player. I'd also much rather have a player willing to take the occasional risk to maintain possession, beat a player or hit a killer ball than some average midfielder who collects the ball from defenders and either lumps it forward or forces defenders to lump it forward when they get caught under pressure *cough* Vince Lia *cough*. Sure that player might make the occasional mistake, but at least he's trying to do something positive. Who would have thought a player who hasn't played since March and came back from holiday to play wouldn't have his best game against Jordan?
As for your last point, refer to the comment of Auckland Phoenix.
I see that reading with a degree of comprehension has gone by the wayside here.
Come on, let's be real here. The goals point has nothing to do with the position, but with the opposition. There's seriously a number of people on this forum who'd probably get a few goals playing against the likes of YHM and Otago, why aren't you calling for them to be signed? It's a nothing point. Clapham's goals aren't worth any more than Hamish Watson's or George Slefendorfas', and they're both donkeys.
As for the holiday point. So, at a time when State leagues in Australia, Scandinavian leagues and lower US leagues are all kicking off, and are all, right now, reasonable options for a Kiwi footballer attempting to make his way as a professional, Clapham spends six weeks pissing around on a beach somewhere, and then he gets a chance to play in a game that's been on the radar as a possibility for about 3 months, he fluffs it, and now he was just unlucky, and is not getting a fair go? Riiiight. The fact that Durante hadn't played in over two months himself, and was one of the best performed NZ A players on the field was just his good luck, wasn't it?
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- Here is the line up from the last Under-20 World Cup, how many of these guys would be better options than the current crop?
-
1]
Stefan MARINOVIC (GK) -
[2]
Andrew BEVIN -
[3]
Nick BRANCH (C) -
[4]
Ryan CAIN (-66') -
[10]
Anthony HOBBS -
[11]
Dakota LUCAS (-92') -
[12]
Andrew MILNE (-48') -
[13]
Colin MURPHY -
[14]
James MUSA -
[16]
Luke ROWE -
[18]
Adam THOMAS - Substitute(s)
-
[20]
Scott BASALAJ (GK) -
[21]
Coey TURIPA (GK) -
[5]
Sean LOVEMORE (+66') -
[6]
Nikko BOXALL -
[7]
Cameron LINDSAY -
[8]
Ethan GALBRAITH (+92') -
[9]
Tim PAYNE (+48') -
[15]
Marco ROJAS -
[17]
Mikey KRAMER -
[19]
Liam HIGGINS
and here is the squad from 2007
Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), Sam PETERS, Ian HOGG, Cole PEVERLEY, Phil EDGINTON, Craig HENDERSON, Jeremy BROCKIE, Sam JENKINS, Nick ROYDHOUSE, Michael BOXALL, Dan KEAT ©, Rod BROWN (GK), Rhyss KEANE (GK), Jack PELTER, Chris JAMES, Greg DRAPER , Michael CUNNINGHAM, Tim SCHAEFFERS, Tim RICHARDSON, Kieran PURCELL, Aaron CLAPHAM
(This squad played against Nuno Coelho.. haha)
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What about Dakota Lucas as a young/pacy striker?
fails the 'no dicks policy' miserably.
No thanks.
Allegedly
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What about Dakota Lucas as a young/pacy striker?
fails the 'no dicks policy' miserably.
No thanks.
But seriously, what about football-wise..
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I'll begrudgingly admit he did well at that U20 World Cup.
Whys he a dick?
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I'll begrudgingly admit he did well at that U20 World Cup.
Whys he a dick?
Smacks a ref and gets suspended. Basically begs Rex to pay for his appeal so he can go to u20s. In the leaving game at NH against the Phoenix, he tries to go toe to toe with Manny (right in front of Ricki which is effectively a trial) and then scampers to TW and Waitakere basically refused to release him because they forked out the cash for his appeal.
Head case would be putting politely.
Grumpy old bastard alert
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He did however look quite good as a player in that game at north harbour
Auckland will rise once more
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Not to mention nearly losing the nix a sponsor by abusing privileges that weren't even his and abusing staff of that sponsor when they caught him doing it.
Allegedly
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Basically a bitch ass punk.
Jason Crowe also fails the 'no dicks policy'
Allegedly
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COYN I get the impression he wasn't very popular with some of the nix squad when he was around and training with them either.
Allegedly
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Clapham had a tv presenting job in Christchurch didn't he? I tend to agree with my Auckland namesake that its a bit unfair to expect him to be playing here and there to get an A League gig. he has a job and possibly can't afford to be swanning around in Aussie. i'm neither one way or the other on him but think any decision depends on his playing ability not whether or not he has tried hard enough to convince people that dont matter that he really wants to play for the nix.
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Clapham had a tv presenting job in Christchurch didn't he? I tend to agree with my Auckland namesake that its a bit unfair to expect him to be playing here and there to get an A League gig. he has a job and possibly can't afford to be swanning around in Aussie. i'm neither one way or the other on him but think any decision depends on his playing ability not whether or not he has tried hard enough to convince people that dont matter that he really wants to play for the nix.
On another note, Victory trying to get Flores to terminate his contract, so they can sign Karagounis.
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Yeah he does TV down there. But having said that, decent players in the VPL can make a pretty comfortable living.
He might just be content with being a big fish in a red and back pond given he never transfer to an auckland team to play O-league etc.
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I've heard from a former team-mate of his that Aaron Clapham makes close to $30,000 from playing for Canterbury United. Probably just a rumour, but sounds like it's enough to make a living.
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Which is why he only plays 14 games a year.
I like the X Factor analogy there Ryan. Sums it up nicely.
And yes, it is fair that he has the get his ass to WEL. He's trying to have a bob each way. Fair enough if that's what he wants to do, but then going 'it's not fair' is just a load of bollocks.
Grumpy old bastard alert
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Yeah he does TV down there. But having said that, decent players in the VPL can make a pretty comfortable living.
He might just be content with being a big fish in a red and back pond given he never transfer to an auckland team to play O-league etc.
Grumpy old bastard alert
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i laugh when someone says you cant compare clapham to strikers etc because he's a midfielder, to only then compare his ball-playing ability with that of Vince Lia. Two very different types of midfielders. When it comes to defending I know who I'd have. When it comes to attacking I'd have neither.
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I've heard from a former team-mate of his that Aaron Clapham makes close to $30,000 from playing for Canterbury United. Probably just a rumour, but sounds like it's enough to make a living.
Must be doing a lot of "coaching".
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Yeah he does TV down there. But having said that, decent players in the VPL can make a pretty comfortable living.
He might just be content with being a big fish in a red and back pond given he never transfer to an auckland team to play O-league etc.
Clapham is no better than Mulligan - just a bit younger. And Mulligan left City because Ramon wouldn't promise him a 1st eleven spot.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
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http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/17551276/valencia-end-15-year-link-with-captain-albelda/
New holding midfield option? getting on in the years but the quality is there (yes wild speculation, but its a long and boring off season)
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Can we have a ban on all Aaron Clapham related talk for a few weeks? It just goes around in circles; does my head in. I swear he's been mentioned more than the actual Phoenix players in the last 2 or 3 years. It's ridiculous.
a.haak
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Can we have a ban on all Aaron Clapham related talk for a few weeks? It just goes around in circles; does my head in. I swear he's been mentioned more than the actual Phoenix players in the last 2 or 3 years. It's ridiculous.
This
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Anyone interested in Tarek Elrich at RB?
We could do a lot worse, and have done so in the past. Did not seem to fit a WSW despite being vice captain last year. Still only 26 and has close to 150 A league games under his belt. quite often looked like one of the best players at the Jest. Certainly an option in my view
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Yeah i think Tarek would work well for us - he looked good when he came on for WSW. Looks to make things happen and pushes forward - the type of fullback Ernie says he wants.
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Yeah i think Tarek would work well for us - he looked good when he came on for WSW. Looks to make things happen and pushes forward - the type of fullback Ernie says he wants.
Also provides oppotunity for a " Took us 7 years, but we got the right Elrich" channt
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Yeah i think Tarek would work well for us - he looked good when he came on for WSW. Looks to make things happen and pushes forward - the type of fullback Ernie says he wants.
Also provides oppotunity for a " Took us 7 years, but we got the right Elrich" channt
"Thank gosh your brother ate all the pies"
"We've got the best Elrich in the family"
"You're too good your brother must be enviable"
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Yes to Elrich, but it would be a change of tack for us as a team playing an RB as an RB...but with a new coach comes new crazy ideas i know
Thompson would be a good pick up, I rate him over lia
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
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Can we have a ban on all Aaron Clapham related talk for a few weeks? It just goes around in circles; does my head in. I swear he's been mentioned more than the actual Phoenix players in the last 2 or 3 years. It's ridiculous.
This
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
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I've heard from a former team-mate of his that Aaron Clapham makes close to $30,000 from playing for Canterbury United. Probably just a rumour, but sounds like it's enough to make a living.
If he was working a 40 hour week, that would be 14 bucks an hour. Don't know if he has kids but I think that would be pretty tough even for a single man
Auckland will rise once more
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