So the season came to an end in a somewhat manner of that of a wet fish as is often the case when safety is achieved and promotion or the play off's are out of reach.
So how do we feel we have gone on this term? Personally as an at times harsh critic of Clough and a none supporter of GSE I feel we have had quite a strong season and am finding it hard to believe I'm in agreement with Mos with regards Clough being somewhat unlucky with results.
A little more rub of the green so to speak we could have easily found ourselves within easy reach of the play off's. Games like Cardiff and Borough could easily have had very different outcomes on the balance of play. Although apart from adding a little spice to our end of season I feel we would have struggled and promotion under the current ownership could have been even more of a nightmare than last time!!!!
We have played some excellent football this season, real strong pass and move stuff which has been a joy to watch. We have been hit by injuries again which has clearly had an impact on the stability of the team. For the first time in many a year we have 6 or 7 real quality prospects from the youth setup which surely is a credit to the current management team.
Youth team development seems the real sensible option for a club in our position as it would appear it is Cloughs only real root to market while the club is being run in the manner that it is. Frustrating as it maybe on the basis we are still bleeding money worse than the hull of the Titanic it seems the situation is unlikely to change anytime soon. Unless GSE find a magical system of plugging the hole in the balance sheet.
Does this make progress next season a real possibility? I personally think not. We need a number of key signings but facts are they won't come cheap. In my opinion we still need that powerhouse/creative midfielder and the 18 plus goals a season proven striker and possibly some additional cover at the back.
However the sounds coming out of the club do not leave me positive any of these players will arrive, sad fact but unfortunately true it would appear.
The fact remains this is a hard league to escape from, although some have fluked it over the years, fundamentally it takes a level of investment I truly believe we just do not have.
Can the youth prospects give us enough of an edge to push us forward, or will GSE cash in at the first oppo. Will having the likes of Bryson, Bailey and Hendrick playing consistently together prove to develop enough to push us that bit further. Can davies without injury hit 20 goals?
I actually think with an injury clear season, a little luck and some graft of the level we saw this season we could easily hit the play off's but in reality how prepared is this club for a real premiership assult.
For me we are miles off, no matter how close our hearts tell us we may well be.
So Where Are We ?????
posted on 8/5/12
Great and welll-balanced article Dru.
I heard Clough interviewed on Radio derby saying we'd have to sell before we bought.
The only sales that wouldn't hurt the team would be Croft, Maguire and (very sad to say it) Addison.
However, with Croft entering the twilight of his career, Addison's once bright future clouded by the after-effects of a foot injury, and Maguire taken on loan by a skint club, I can't see the three of them combined raising enough to buy one signing of the calibre of Barker or Shackell.
My biggest worry is the strike force. We have decent individuals, but I don't see a natural partnership among our squad.
Like other posters I feel we are far from ready for a Premiership season, and do fear it could be one step forward and three back if we did go up next season.
Nevertheless I also feel next season is going to be pivotal. I can't see another mid-table finish. Either we move up to the 5th-to-8th area, or we fall back to 16th & lower. If Barks was available all season I'd be confident to back the former, but with things the way they are, its too close to call in my opinion.
Ideal would be a play-off final at Wembley, with us producing the better play but being robbed by the ref or something of that sort... i.e. give the youngsters that experience, without them feeling they have failed.
posted on 8/5/12
Dru
I fear our biggest blow to next season has already happened - the loss of Barker. -and as you say, you just can't really 'manage' your way out of those sort of injuries. Yes, we can look at the likes of davies and theo and see that on paper, despite injuries they have done well, but we do need a Championship version of Van persie...but hey, doesn't everybody? I don't think we'll fall back next season, I think we'll move forward, but how far and with what consequences I'm not sure. I certainly agree the calibre of the clubs coming down to join us plays into our hands in a way it hasn't done previously. I'm certainly excited about the next campaign!
posted on 8/5/12
Clough out.
The problems I foresee for this league have been briefly touched upon already here, but none of you have my footballing nous and are unable to cobble the various elements together in your own feeble minds. Allow me to, once again, educate you.
The relegated clubs of Wolves, Blackburn and whomever WILL undoubtedly have their better players poached, leaving them in disarray, but the upside is that their elevated income of 'parachute payment' will ensure that they have their pick of the players at the reduced prices and fees that Vidals mentioned in his inimitable rambling narcissistic tome of a post.
In conclusion then, Clough out, defender + midfield general + actual striker in and we'll worry the Play Offs. Clough in and token gesture transfers and we'll lose the momentum the "Monkeys/Typewriters/Shakespeare" theory bestowed upon DCFC this term.
#Vote666ja606DCFCpoty2012-13
posted on 8/5/12
6,
Just who would you like to take over as Derby manager, if you got you wish & Derby changed their manager?
posted on 8/5/12
History has shown in this division, that the acquisition one or two players can make an enormous difference to results. You only have to look at Reading who probably would have finished some where close to us until they brought in Roberts and Gorkss. We were relegation fodder until Oakley and Howard came along. Those with longer memories will know the difference Stimac made in Jim Smith's team or Mackay and Carlin in Brian Clough's.
Big question now is does Nigel Clough have the ability to find the players who will take us from a 60 points a year team to an 80 points a year team. If he does are GSE willing to back him (or anyone) to find those players.
You can count on one vote 666, that is unless you vote for someone else.
posted on 8/5/12
Jorv,
Take my humble apologies I missed the lad by mistake, even with injury the boy has hit some significant goals and who knows where we could have been. But as has been stated I do not see a real true partnership in our squad at this time.
666,
I often wonder where my footballing knowledge would be if you were not here to keep educating us lesser folk
I do tend to agree with your points mind which is making feel somewhat unclean
posted on 8/5/12
Apart from the Clough out bit as there's no one I can think of under the current set up who I would want based on who we can ACTUALLY attract and afford.
From what I have seen this term Clough and his team players and coaches have come a long long way.
posted on 8/5/12
Dru,
No worries I didn't mean to have a dig I don't see Robinson has the main striker but more as a support striker. Derby do need a striker who can find the net every other game, but that will cost a pretty penny.
posted on 8/5/12
Narcissistic?
posted on 10/5/12