Chris Maguire

Igor - no need for that. I was simply giving my view of what may or may not be the case.

Sorry Bob I didn't read your earlier post

CapnBob

I wasn't inferring anything other than the fact that there must be an explanation why Clough didn't play him and chose to play Mason Bennett and Steve and Theo rather than him.

We know he's a poor trainer - he's said that himself so it maybe to do with that. Clough watches training every morning and all the reservie games so i trust his judgement.

And Varney started excellently for Blackpool in the prem and went quickly downhill.

I personally have nothing against Mcguire but there's something Clough doesn't like in the guy

Well, from the little I've seen, Maguire looks a good enough player at Championship level - which is where we're at. I'm sure Dave Jones has sounded out Michael Appleby about the player, hence the bids.

Not sure about the Varney analogy, completely different league. We all thought it was a bizarre deal, a dream move for a very average player. It started off brightly and then tailed off.

MrStimac. Basically it just boils down to 'transparency'. None of us really know the inside details: is it booze, an attitude, disruptive influence on younger players? I'm sure these can be managed.

As for being a bad trainer, that's interesting, but some managers might say 'as long as you do the job on match day, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.'

Time will tell CapnBob - Clough's not got one sale wrong yet for me - ie no one else has moved on and done much else for other times.

If he stays let's hope the season starts with a fresh chance for everyone but i'd rather see another striker come in and playing alongside Theo - an experienced man like Ricardo Fuller or Jonathan Parkin to give us a different option in certain games

Mr Stimac
'Clough's not got one sale wrong.'

Yes, that's the fascinating thing and I don't dispute that. Hulse, one example, it was the fact that we never replaced him that hurt us (Glick's responsibility), not Hulse himself.

I'd have liked Maguire to have been given a clean slate, but feel that a parting of the ways is inevitable. I think Jon Parkin about 18months ago would have been ideal, but his career has gone backwards. Parkin was involved in a Twitter outburst and Mackay sent him out on loan so it seems odd to replace one disruptive player with another.


I agree about different options. If Steve Davies goes, Ball will be the only striker capable of challenging for aerial balls; we need someone to hold the ball up and bring others into play and lead the line/physical presence as well as a natural finisher.

It'll be an interesting summer that's for sure!

CapnBob said...
"As for being a bad trainer, that's interesting, but some managers might say 'as long as you do the job on match day, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

Yes, some do... and the outstanding example of Paul McGrath comes to mind from Derby's own history.

However, look at where we are today... a team of no outstanding talent, who get results by teamwork and work-rate.

I can help but think if there's someone who doesn't take training seriously (and the training ground is where teamwork is built, and the fitness to support the work-rate is earned), but that person nevertheless gets regularly picked for the starting 11, then sooner or later the efforts of some of the other squad will start to drop-off too.

If that happens at Derby we're in deep trouble, because those are the only attributes that get us points.

It's a fair comment, Wideboy. I still think though that Maguire did enough at Portsmouth to merit another chance.

I read somewhere that he's seen more as a second striker and I guess what we really need is a proper front man (Bennett could be a second striker). Probably a case of a player who hasn't bought into what the manager wants/demands as well as being sold to bring in funds.