IF NC THEN WHO??

TEG

That quote was from Savage, not Clough.

KAN YOO REED?

Why don't you appoint a tactically inept clown, with zero manmanagement skills?






















Oh, wait a minute.........

Just had a browse at Oddschecker, our odds have shortened for promotion though we are still one of the outsiders and similarly regarding relegation, though short, we are not one of the favourites tipped to go down/bottom six.

We are in mid-range and I think that just about sums us up, neither good enough to challenge but with more than enough to stay up.

Non League Nigel doesn't, errrm, inspire, errm, very much confidence; some managers carry a "quiet confidence" about them, and deliver the goods. Nigel looks as if the fire in his belly went out a long time ago; even the blackended dead embers have gone errm, cold.

Likewise the Board also inspire little confidence; in the world of politics we hear much about "openness and transparency" perhaps the same light should shine its beam into the world of football; we fans need to see all is well; moreso in view of the recent past owners. I think this board would be hard pressed to make a good choice in finding a replacement.

What we need is inspirational leadership to fire up the need to succeed. I am yet to be convinced the summer signings will be anything other than "more of the same". I'd like to be proved wrong but with this board and this manager I feel another hard slog of a year is inevitable.

To be fair to GSE, it was Adam Pearson who appeared to be the one who appointed Nigel Clough.

I don't think it's right to call him NLN esp as he has managed 100 games in a tough league. I think he does care, but he's struggled - admittedly our 'owners,' bless 'em, haven't always helped him in terms of cost cutting, shoestring budget & lack of investment.

But Nigel has only shown glimpses, question marks over his backroom staff, as well as tactical naivete. The reserves of goodwill have gone and this season is crucial.

I agree with Wassa regarding Warnock. I think if Nigel leaves, and it will be a sad day for us because it means he will have failed, then we need a strong figure able to contend with all the problems facing us as a club (tight budget), the pressure of expectation, than go for another young manager (Paul Tisdale).

even if nigel does fail, I would applaud him for getting on with his job without moaning, putting the club in a better financial position and bringing more young players through

peni you are right about that. I think that when we look back at managers' times at Derby with a bit of distance we are most condemning of those who left us in a desperate state financially as well as on the pitch. It may well be that another poor to mediocre season would result in Clough's exit, and it may well be justified, but in a few years our verdict might be that he was a decent man who did his best in difficult circumstances, and whose main concern was for the club rather than himself.

he was a decent man who did his best in difficult circumstances, and whose main concern was for the club rather than himself.

----

amen to dat bruvva

As usual, Vidals, the voice of wisdomPeni, also I agree with your decent remarks

Clough inherited a difficult situation, it might well be that he gives us the platform from which to build/move on to the next step, but that another manager benefits from his hard work (the young players).

I see some parallels with Roy MacFarland, who managed between the Cox & Smith eras. I thought Roy was shabbily treated; he may not have been the best manager in the world (he failed to bring out the best in Sturridge), but he did a good job in difficult circumstances, selling Cox's flops and getting back the money we paid (Kitson etc) and buying in cheaper effective replacements (Lee Mills as striker, Dean Yates, who would have been a great defender if not for injuries). Smith later used this money to build his own team. RMac managed to take us to the play-offs where we lost unfortunately, but his reward for his efforts, during a season of sales, proved to be the sack. Jim Smith's appointment proved to be a wise one, but Roy MacFarland helped steady the club during an unstable period.

McFarland I'm always spelling it wrong.

Just browsed his record at Derby, according to wikipedia:
93 games
40 wins, 32 losses, 21 draws
43% - not bad, it's better than NC's! Admittedly, Roy McFarland had better players, but he still had to cope with an owner who didn't rate him

McFarland's managerial career tailored off; it may be that if Nigel Clough possesses the potential to improvee. Only time will tell.