TBH I tend to agree, but lets not forget he is not long back from injury so there is a chance he is not quite back up to speed for that reason? I really hope that is the case, because before his injury he was playing OK and he has been, and I hope will still be a good servant for our club.
Has he? He's spent most of his time here being injured. 16 appearances this season and 13 last season. He's not someone we've ever been able to rely on, and thank god for that, otherwise we probably wouldn't have been down before now. Another for the "runs around a bit, can't really play football" pile.
He missed that injury time penalty against Everton after we threw away a two goal lead that time. Good times.
Has he ever been back long from injury in his life? He's missed 33 games for us through injury according to transfermrkt. Janmaat has missed 43. Welbeck we know about. Well done Gino & Giraldi. Best scouting network in the world LOLZ!
In line to be captain if Deeney leaves according to the Athletic. A lot to unpack here, would he be 'team captain' if Deeney stays then (assuming Deeney doesn't play much), and does this mean Hughes could be off? Leventhal did mention that we see Hughes as captain material
I initially thought Hughes should be captain, during last season's death march. However TC as the senior pro and England international should be appointed, irrespective of Troy.
Harsh on Tom. Never been the quickest but always gives everything. I reckon he's going to be a big surprise player for us this season. Looked alright in the setup against Spurs. But I would like a more dynamic midfielder bought in. It doesn't look the quickest or strongest but there was promising signs.
I suggested it a couple of weeks ago. Cleverley has a great attitude, is calm, is respectful to the club and the fans, is a senior pro, and if I were to bet he will be the one from the squad who goes on into management.
He did look better against Spurs, and perhaps the slower pace of the Championship will help him out. In fairness, my comment was made after watching him apparently expend maximum effort and get nowhere near the pace of the game. That said, I think he’s been ruined by his own versatility over the years, doing jobs for the team without ever really making one position his own. He’s paying the price now he’s slowed down even more. Can’t knock his professionalism, but I’m not really sure what he brings us on the pitch that we couldn’t find somewhere else, probably on much lower wages.
I'd have agreed with you after last season, but he's played well this pre-season so I'll give him every chance to prove himself this season. I will agree however that whatever Tom Cleverley is these days, he's not a wide midfielder nor a winger!
Good choice for captain, professional, experienced, will always give 100% and is a good Championship player, and most importantly, is with the squad and won't be leaving/pushing for a move.
I agree with you on many points. But as @Cassetti's Beard he's bought into the structure that Ivic wants. Clevs is an intelligent footballer and I'm hoping as you said the Championship will give him the opportunity to show this. I just believe he needs a good run of games in the side to show his worth. Captain material? Most definitely, he's showing himself as a leader and complete professional.
This week's baffling contract extension to ageing, injury prone player is... Tom Cleverley! New three year deal according to some journos on Twitter.
I'm happy with this. He's shown his leadership qualities already, constantly talking and encouraging everyone around him and going about his business on the pitch. Obviously Vlad is impressed and that's good enough for me.
Possibly 4 years!! Adam Leventhal @AdamLeventhal · 9m #WatfordFC contract news Tom Cleverley has agreed a new 3 year contract at Vicarage Road taking him through until June 2023. Understand there is also option for further year.
Fair enough. With Dele-Bashiru injured and Quina and Chalobah not looking as good as I'd hoped, Tom is going to be a key player alongside Capoue and Hughes. I would assume there's a salary reduction in there too as he is one of our highest earners. John Eustace had to take one in order to play, so it isn't unheard of.
I like Cleverley but he's 31 and has started 15 league games in the last two full seasons and has been injured a lot. Seems fit now but has already had to be rested as a precaution this season. Can't imagine he's suddenly going to improve his injury record and locking into another long contract seems bizarre.
Perfect senior player, hasn't rocked the boat, hasn't pushed for a move, showed loyalty to the club, works his nuts off, leads by example, not a bad player in the advanced mid role. I think he is made of future coach / manager stuff.
I'm sure he may have taken a modest decrease per year for the option of an extra year but we've obviously increased our overall liability for his wages. If we don't get promoted in the next couple of seasons, having Cleverley's wages is going to limit our chances to get other players in. And if we do get promoted in that time, he's going to be nothing more than a bit part player in the Premier League at 33.
He has good games at this level (as a water-carrier if little else), and he has bad games, that's just what he is, simple as that. Hope to almighty God that Hughes is ready to play soon, he might not be the most 'flair' player in the world, but he's got far more about him in that regard than Cleverley and Chalobah
Another fantastic performance. Fingers crossed we have an option for an additional year on that new contract.
I'm utterly baffled. We get relegated and are hamstrung by the expensive dross we have thst nobody else would touch and then we go and tie down another worthless, depreciating player beyond any reasonable horizon of usefulness. In 2 years when we desperately need a new player or two, just watch the clappers wheel out the excuse, 'but we have still got Cleverley, Cathcart, Gray and Kabasele. Until we sell them we can't afford anyone else." Our club has learned nothing, NOTHING from the past 2 years.
Have to disagree. Prodl and the like were given 5 year renewals, but Tom has only been given the 3. Clear evidence of having learned from past mistakes.
