I must admit, although it doesn’t shock me, it does surprise me just how positively people appraise the job being done by Nigel Clough and his mates here at Derby County.
Recent poor results at home and a cup defeat appear to have opened up the tiresome old arguments where people thrash out whether he’s done, and his still doing a good job, or whether he’s not got what it takes to improve Derby County further.
It’s no secret which side of the fence I am on, I’m of the belief that the current coaching set-up is inadequate. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want Clough out, but I definitely believe there needs to be a shake-up of the coaching staff. I think a specialist defensive coach, and an experienced assistant manager, one who is experienced in dealing with the natural confidence and ego that comes with the better players (we WILL need at some point if we are to progress) are vital to any progress. As it happens, Clough has no intention of putting Derby County FC before the financial well-being of his mates, so on that basis, by default, I am Clough Out.
So, back to the appraisals that are almost apologetically given in Clough’s defence as people desperately clutch at straws in trying to justify his continuation in the job. I’d be very harsh and unreasonable if I was to suggest that Clough has not done some good things during his time in charge. Personally, he’s bought a bit of moral fibre to the club. He’s clearly a man of honesty and loyalty and whilst qualities in everyday life, perhaps in the cut-throat, “people don’t matter" environment of professional football, these are not ingredients in the recipe for success. Nevertheless, I used to feel almost ‘ripped off’ during the Paul Jewell era, as players didn’t even go through the motions, and in many cases, were not fit to wear the shirt. I think it’s true to say that if Derby lose a game under Clough, it’s most likely to be as a result of lack of quality, lack of concentration and lack of leadership, and not like under Jewell where it was lack of interest and commitment!
Many of those that defend Clough’s management point to the development of Hendrick, Hughes and Bennett, but I personally believe that quality players will come through the ranks regardless. I also believe that in the cases of Hendrick and Hughes, their introduction to the team was more out of accident than by design. Had players not been injured and the squad not been neglected in certain areas, neither player would have made their debut in the way they did. Both were also at the club before Clough arrived, so I am uncertain what Clough deserves credit for here.
Clough has overseen many subtle improvements, without being solely responsible for them, and these collectively have resulted in the club being much healthier than it was when he arrived. If I was to use a crude analogy, the club was a malnourished and abandoned greyhound with all kinds of illness and disease, now, after some attention, the dog is no longer ill, but is just about ready to start training to be a racing dog, and now needs a trainer and not a nurse. Clough is a nurse.
What has astounded me more than anything in recent weeks is the level of excuses being offered and the bizarre implications that they cause. Comments like “we’d have won but the opposition stopped us playing!", “we play really well apart from defence, attack and crossing", “we were the best side until the last half hour"!! ALL ridiculous statements, with the implication that the opposition should step aside and let us win!Defending/Attacking/Crossing can be rubbish but the team can still be judged positively, and games aren’t 90 minutes long all of a sudden.
There’s a thing in sport known as the “winning formula". I wouldn’t argue that Clough and Derby haven’t got half the formula sussed, but we need the full formula before we can win ugly, hold on to leads, beat Leicester/Reading etc, have a cup run, a long unbeaten run etc. I struggle to give credit for half a formula. I don’t agree that money needs throwing at it, in either wages or transfers. George Burley managed to create the formula to hit the top six, without spending a single penny on transfers! Clough has spent money, and has spent what he’s had in a way he’s seen fit. When I asked at the fans forum how much had been spent on loan fees, I was told almost £5m, and this was before Forsyth, Martin and Smith were loaned. There are several questionable purchases such as Dave Martin, Chris Maguire and the cash spent on Connor Sammon, but it wouldn’t be fair if I neglected to mention considerably successful signings Brayford, Fielding, Buxton, Bryson, Ward, Coutts, Bailey and now Martin. So perhaps credit on the whole is due there, but a lot is neutralised by waste of resources.
cont...
the appraisal of Nigel debate...
posted on 25/9/13
Exactly Mostyn. Its more than just saying Clough should go. What are GSE's intentions? Is Clough under restrictions? Are they both happy? If GSE get rid of Clough as a few want..then im sure all our questions will be answered. But they wont. And im annoyed at Clough for not making more noises and letting our squad,especially defence,be so vunerable.
posted on 25/9/13
Very true again Mostyn. I've been saying exactly the same..
There's a point when they will be sick of throwing good money after bad with little to no hope of ever getting a return (at this rate).. Whom does the buck stop with?
posted on 26/9/13
Ramsfanbaz, dcfcchris, Mostyn... The usual suspects.
posted on 26/9/13
It makes me laugh that the forlock tugging, GSE apologist yes men want Clough out and ignore the fact that it was them that appointed Nigel and Jewell. Now these apologists place no blame at all at their door. How bizarre.
Bush suggests that Nigels replacement will not get a chance as the happy clappers will turn on him. I disagree, I think the happy clappers are a more tolerant bunch and it's the likes of 666, Mostyn, Bush, Robrea etc that will turn if absolutely everything at the club is not perfect according to their own managerial handbook.
posted on 26/9/13
Iwas nothing will ever be perfect at DCFC under GSE. There is a good reason that we shop in in the bargain bins... We have no money!
It's all smoke and mirrors. If anybody seriously believes that Clough is happy with the defence then they are more dillusional than I thought possible. Yes until Hendricks and Coutts got injured it looked like we were overloaded but a couple of injuries has seriously tested that.
As Backo said earlier in the thread becareful what you wish for because if Clough does go I dread to think of the calibre of manager who would come knowing the financial constraints they would be working under.
I'm as frustrated as anyone else by what's happening at the club I love but it is not as straightforward as just getting rid of Clough. Derby need some proper investment to be able to bring in a couple of quality defenders, alas the money isn't available despite the crap that Sam Rush spouted.
posted on 26/9/13
Sorry meant to say Overloaded in midfield *
posted on 26/9/13
It's hardly the injury crisis people are making it out to be, CStander!
Yes, Hendrick and Coutts are going to be missed and we'd all prefer they be available for selection, but there's still Eustace, Hughes, Peabo, Ward, Bavies and Jacobs to go at. If those injuries had occured in the backline, we would be properly screwed!
posted on 26/9/13
comment by Iwaslevel - GSE OUT (U4836) posted 57 minutes ago
It makes me laugh that the forlock tugging, GSE apologist yes men want Clough out and ignore the fact that it was them that appointed Nigel and Jewell. Now these apologists place no blame at all at their door. How bizarre.
Bush suggests that Nigels replacement will not get a chance as the happy clappers will turn on him. I disagree, I think the happy clappers are a more tolerant bunch and it's the likes of 666, Mostyn, Bush, Robrea etc that will turn if absolutely everything at the club is not perfect according to their own managerial handbook.
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Nice try Iwas.
I'm no GSE apologist. Whilst I'm glad they haven't saddled the club with further crippling debt (to banks etc) like those before them, they've stood idly by milking the misplaced loyalties of the romantic delusionaries and took advantage of those of you who are desperately clinging to the notion that Nigel is somehow as able to manager as his father was.
As for Jewell, I would suggest 98% of Derby fans would've appointed someone with his record at that time. Their mistake was allowing him to make 23 signings in 2.5 transfer windows!
As for tolerance, I think I've been very tolerant towards Clough, in spite of his glaring failure, I still tolerate him. I still attend matches and I still cheer the team and bizarrely, if a fan of another club slags him off, I defend him to some extent.
Every manager would have ample time to show his hand, Clough has shown his and it's not a winning hand, he needs to fold.
posted on 26/9/13
The difference is there all to see on the touchline, take the game against Reading for example. They was 0-2 up and during a break in play Nigel Atkins had is whole team round him near the dugout giving them guidance and instructions. Our Nigel sat down with his arms folded. Even after that Atkins was on the touchline barking instructions and organizing his team so that our play resulted the usual passing around going nowhere and not creating any real clear cut chances.
I think Clough's strongest area is his weakest. The midfield just doesn't seem organised and effective especially at home. How Jacobs isnt getting a game is beyond me, its about time we played with players who can but a good delivery in the box, Martin was poor but in fairness his was fed scraps as was Russell.
The back 5 will continue to make mistakes because they don't have any pressure on them what so ever. You only had to watch Deeney in the warm up to how weak we are in cover.
Im hearing good things about the likes of Lelan and Sharpe howcome theyve not had a sniff? Looking at the players who have come through I actually think they were only really given their chance because we had no other options.
posted on 26/9/13
Its a shame this summer just gone couldn't be fast forwarded to next summer, because when we end up nowhere again, I reckon clough will go and I would have loved nigel adkins here.