Jack Clarke’s move to Ipswich Town does not appear to be working out quite as planned, and the former Sunderland ace’s latest display did nothing to change that.
When he was at Sunderland, it was clear that Jack Clarke was destined for great things and he was by far the most productive and exciting player the Black Cats had.
Fans were gutted to see the winger leave the club in the summer, with the Premier League beckoning and a move to Ipswich leaving Sunderland without their key man.
While Sunderland’s current form could be cause for concern, that’s nothing compared to how Clarke’s season is going so far.
Jack Clarke made a mistake joining Ipswich Town in the summer
Ipswich have struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, and after falling to defeat at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, the Tractor Boys now occupy the relegation zone.
Clarke has not managed to pin down a starting spot for his new club yet, either, but was given a rare start for the midweek fixture.
However, his performance has attracted criticism from Ipswich fans, who took to Twitter/X to slam the 24-year-old. One supporter claimed, “Jack Clarke should never play another game for Ipswich,” while another said, “Jack Clarke made more errors tonight than I can remember anyone ever making.”
An Ipswich fan watching the game wrote: “Jack Clarke was dire and deserved to be subbed.” Another added, “I don’t know what to do with Jack Clarke.”
It wasn’t all bad, though, with some Ipswich supporters seemingly impressed with what they saw. One said: “I really don’t get our fan base sometimes, Jack Clarke didn’t really do much wrong.” Meanwhile, another posted, “Jack Clarke first half was electric and was our brightest spark, marked out of it in the second half.”
Sunderland supporters got in on the conversation, too. One suggested Clarke “moved to the wrong club at the wrong time,” while another said: “Jack Clarke come back in January.”
Josh Bunting went for a pragmatic approach to the situation, writing: “Let’s not forget Jack Clarke started slow at Sunderland. He was extremely frustrating in the promotion-winning season at times. Ipswich fans shouldn’t write him off, this has been evident before. Of course now at a different level but a goal or an assist will boost him massively.”
January move could be on the cards for Jack Clarke, Sunderland return an option
It is interesting that some Sunderland fans clearly would welcome Jack Clarke back with open arms, and the idea of the winger heading out on loan in January, at least, is not completely unfounded.
Regis Le Bris has made it clear that his priority is ensuring his young players are given a chance, but surely, if given the option, having a player like Clarke in the squad would be a huge boost to Sunderland’s promotion hopes.
| Statistics | Jack Clarke (Sunderland 2023/24) | Jack Clarke (Ipswich 2024/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 42 | 13 |
| Goals and assists | 19 | 1 |
| Shots on target % | 37.6 | 22.2 |
| Crosses per 90 | 3.26 | 1.61 |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 5.41 | 3.03 |
| Successful take-on % | 53.6 | 65.0 |
While Clarke has struggled in the top flight, he was absolutely outstanding in the Championship, and there’s no reason to suggest he couldn’t do it again.
Sunderland definitely need more creative spark, and if Ipswich are willing to let him go, re-signing Jack Clarke would probably be a no-brainer for the Black Cats.