Five months ago, Stags
boss Adam Murray made a very bold statement to the press. When
discussing midfielder Chris Clements, his exact words were 'He is the
best midfielder in the league, without a shadow of a doubt. I haven't
seen anything that touches him.' These comments were made shortly
after Mansfield had more or less secured their league status for
another season, after a campaign where there had been little for fans
to get excited about.
If you had asked fans
their opinions on Clements in April 2015 when Murray's comments were
uttered, you would find them split down the middle. To his
supporters, he is the best footballer at the club. He has the best
technical ability and eye for a pass, his effectiveness stunted by
the favoured tactics of Paul Cox. With Cox the manager for much of
his Mansfield career, the ball more often than not sailed from back
to front as quickly as possible, leading to Field Mill becoming a
graveyard for creative midfielders.
His critics on the
other hand, would argue that Clements has spent much of his Mansfield
career on the peripheries of the action, afraid to get his kit dirty
and perhaps a luxury that the side could not afford. Whilst most of
the naysayers would agree he undoubtedly had ability, they felt
serious question marks should be raised over his application.
I have always been a
supporter of Clements, and there were signs towards the end of last
season that he was prepared to put his foot in and take
responsibility as the sides key creative force. The problem for
Clements, and Adam Murray for that matter, was that he was surrounded
by a squad left over from the Cox era, mostly bereft of confidence.
The team had little pace to run onto through passes and no like
minded footballers for Clements to link up with.
With his contract up at
the end of last season, Clements certainly took his time over signing
a new deal. Murray had warned fans that the playmaker had admirers
higher up the footballing food chain and it would be a battle to
secure his signature. Nevertheless, Murray was able to sell his
vision for the club to Clements, his willingness to fashion a
footballing side surely key to his decision.
After seven games of
the current campaign, Clements has emerged a completely different
animal. The former Crewe trainee has perhaps been the Stags stand out
player thus far, certainly in an attacking sense, having already
bettered the one goal he scored last campaign with a fabulous free
kick against AFC Wimbledon and the crucial opener against local
rivals Notts County. Even the fiercest of detractors would struggle
to argue that Clements has been anything less than superb in the
opening weeks of the season. The confidence is oozing from 'Clemmo',
with clever touches and turns in abundance.
Not only has Clements
weighed in going forward, his hunger to regain possession for his
team is fantastic. You can really see the influence of Adam Murray in
the midfielders game, with an added tenaciousness lifting his
performances to the next level. The Stags have missed a player who
can both tackle and pass in midfield since Murray took the plunge
into football management. The only down side of his newly discovered
'nasty' streak is an accumulation of yellow cards, which may soon
lead to a suspension.
The next question to
answer for Clements is whether he can maintain his early season form.
If Saturday's performance against Crawley is anything to go by, the
answer is an emphatic yes. Despite failing to get on the scoresheet
with an audacious rabona, Clements had a hand in two goals, playing a
forty yard pass for Craig Westcarr to tee up Matt Green for his first
home goal since his return to the club. He then timed a tackle to
perfection, dispossessing an opposition player in the centre circle,
which started the move for Mansfield's fourth goal.
Clements is sure to be
revelling in proving the doubters wrong, as I am sure are most of the
doubters if it leads to The Stags having a successful season. If he
able to sustain his strong performances, Clements may even live up to
the billing placed upon him by his manager in April. Even the
strongest of his advocates may have struggled to imagine that!
Comments
Post a Comment