George Thorne

Simon's comment about the play-final Derby won has got me thinking a bit. Back then Albion were in the midst of a transition. Most of the squad were hard-working players who could grind out wins but when Mowbray took over he changed us into a passing side and had to use these same players to do that. Now winning the play off final would have been fantastic but I think losing it helped us because it gave Mowbray the summer to get the sort of players that he wanted and the following season we did achieve promotion.

That brings me on to a question for you Derby fans. Obviously you will be happy to get promotion but given how McLaren is using a lot of Clough's players still,(correct if I'm wrong) do you guys think it would be better for you to have another season in the Championship to get an even better squad together and then get promoted next season?

This season Leicester have shown what having another season can do along with Cardiff last season and Albion 7 years ago. Given what happened the last time Derby were in the premiership which was too much too soon, could another season in the Championship help?

my drunk fingers hit send before writing.

WBA Josh I think we're all thinking the same what's the best long term interest for the club.

I think financially speaking it might be better to go up this year, keep a hold of the team, invest sensibly and use the next year as a steep learning curve for our young players and baromter for where we're at.

Our current team is better than that 11 point team from some time back (who were they again?) so nothing to lose, if we go down we've had practice, haven't bust the bank and have an experienced side for the Championship and know where we need to strengthen.

WBA Josh.

Thanks for the e-mail address. I'll try it.

But concerning your comments above re Clough's players. Whilst S McL has definitely improved things at Derby - especially his more positive attitude - as his idea of defending a small lead is to bring on more strikers whereas Clough would bring on more defenders. But Clough's talent for finding great players hiding in lower leagues has been of great benefit to Steve as I'm sure he would agree.

Clough has made some really great signings and only one or two failures. He signed the following players who are basically responsible for us being where we are. Grant the goalie, Forsyth LB, Buxton and Keogh CB's, Eustace HMF, Bryson and Hughes MF, Martin and Wardand Russell, Strikers, Hendrick MF and many more who are injured or no longer play for us but who are great (thinking of Shackell - skipper of Burnley sold for mysterious reasons) The best centre back in the Championship - Brayford and Bailley and Barker and Coutts who are still injured.

His first task on taking over was to get rid of Billy Davies's and Paul Jewell's rubbish and then with no money - to find and sign the above players.

Steve has done wonders and our squad is even stronger with such as Thorne, Wisdom and Bamford added as well as our super style of play.

Sincerely hope Derby can make it into Prem this year - the more Midlands clubs the better. Just hope you don't end up replacing us!
Bloody tough here though.

Thanks for the insight guys. I know a lot of the Derby squad but didn't really know when each player was signed so it makes for interesting reading that 10 of the first 11 are players that Clough signed. You probably owe a lot to him for signing those players I imagine.

Why did Clough leave? Was it a mutual decision because he had taken you as far as he could?

WBA-Josh, spot on about Mowbray's rebuilding in the summer of 2007. He decided which players he wanted to keep, sold some for ridiculous sums (Diomansy Kamara to Fulham for £6m, Jason Koumas to Wigan for £5.5m, Nathan Elllington to Watford for £3.5m) and let go those players who didn't want to stay (Curtis Davies £10m to Villa and Paul McShane £2.5m to Sunderland). We never really looked back, and as you say, the football we played was really good, and five players TM brought in are still in the Albion first team - Olsson, Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison and Dorrans.

Clough was sacked following a 0-1 defeat at Forest, which made the removal of Billy Davies following our dismantling of them 5-0 in the return fixture all the sweeter. As all on here will tell you, I was always pro-Clough, and believe in the 5 years he was here, he saved our club. But football is a harsh mistress, and in the cold light of day, Steve Mc has taken us that extra yard that perhaps Clough couldn't. But to McClaren's credit, he always refers to the great squad he inherited and the work done by Nigel.

The way I see it, if we don't go up this season then we never will as the £40 million a year parachute payments will make the premier league a closed shop of 23 teams. The championship teams can no-longer do the sugar daddy thing (Leicester, QPR, Forest) due to FFP being in force further handicapping current championship side.
God I truly hate the uneven playing field which has us only being able to loan Bramford, Wisdom and Thorne instead of buying them. These aren't expensive player but are miles out of reach.
It's so utterly depressing.

Rameses: agreed.