I’ve been meaning to write this article for a while now. Over the last couple of years we’ve had these 3 ‘name’ Managers...and none (to date) actually set the league alight did they. All, to be fair had a job on their hands didn’t though, as leading Derby to the promised land is a bit of a tall and convoluted order.
So, in order of their appearance here I’ve summarised my thoughts here. Kick it around if you will and add comments as you see fit :
Frank Lampard.
As a supporter you always expect to get the best Player or Manager don’t you and are (usually) disappointed, because anyone that’s any good usually goes to the Prem. So, I was as usual somewhat underwhelmed by Franks appointment as he was inexperienced. That said, he quickly endeared himself to the fans – leading the ‘bounce’ ….and we really took to him. Speaking from memory he signed Holmes, Marriott, Malone & Waghorn….and of course brought in the 3 loanees from the Prem in Wilson, Mount and Tomori. We reached the play offs – which in itself was a great achievement. But of course when those 3 latter players left – we actually (imo) ended up in a worse position than when he started. There are some who ‘dont blame’ Frank for taking the Chelsea job. I wasn’t one of those and I’ll never forgive him because it was obvious he’d end up with the sack there after we’d given him his first break into management. Whilst his pride will be dented no doubt his reputed £6.5m pay off will have softened the blow.
Philip Cocu
I had great hopes for Philip. Again he inherited a pile of poo but he got on with the job, bringing through many of the U23’s and also signing (imo) some good players. I think what let him down was (a) His lack of knowledge of the British game (b) His personality – I can remember many times me and Mrs Hennessey commenting on his interviews that he didn’t seem to have ‘leadership’ or much of a strong personality.
Wayne Rooney
Arrived around 15 months ago to great fanfare as player/coach. It always seemed a bit of a strange appointment to me as clearly he was looking for the step above that. In many ways he was good for the club on the pitch – but the way he was used on many occasions was to be everywhere on the pitch, and everything seemed to go through him – which slowed things down far too much making us very predictable and ponderous. I must admit again I was underwhelmed by his appointment and always had a negative view of him as a person and player. I hold my hands up and admit I was wrong. He’s a pro. I know one swallow doesn’t make a summer but I’ve seen enough to date to make me think we’re going in the right direction. I just hope he doesn’t do a Lampard on us.
Lampard v Cocu v Rooney
posted on 15/2/21
comment by Spart-Derby really are the best says red dog. (U4603)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by Oscar. #TeamFury (U12980)
posted 3 hours, 26 minutes ago
Always felt you should of gone for that really good manager that was available can’t remember his name but use to manage wolves and then Ireland and recently Ipswich, always use to do amazing on no budget
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Should have not should of, we speak English on our board.
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Ooo grammar patrol, guessing you also speak about wearing dresses ya mug
posted on 15/2/21
He's got you there Spart.
posted on 15/2/21
Great post Terry.
Lampard - interesting appointment, certainly one that would rejuvenate the squad in terms of having an ex-England international as manager and a relatively young one who could relate to most players. Spoke well, came across intelligent in interviews.
Who was he most influenced by as managers? Looking as his team selection time after time I'd have to say Claudio Ranieri as he certainly loved to tinker that side and his team selection vs Villa (away game?) was absolutely shocking and we got served.
I think he bought a gem in Marriott ( just turned out Marriott was not quite right mentally in terms of his professionalism) and I really, really liked Holmes (before Huddersfield-gate came out and what he did). Lampard can also be given given credit for getting 10-15% more out of Mason Bennett because that boy started to look good and I thought if he continued his style of 'arm around the player' and built his confidence it'd possibly make Bennett into a reasonably decent player. Alas wasn't to be.
His transfer record overall was very poor in my opinion, paid a ridiculous figure for Waghorn, extortionate loan fee for Wilson if you compare that with Norwich signing Buendia on a perm for a similar figure.
The 'too good an opportunity he couldn't miss' saga was what really made me lose my respect for him. He could have left sooner to give us a better option to recruit. I thought at the time it was too soon for him learn his craft at Derby and then look to go but he's 6.5 million (or whatever the figure) richer for it. He could have been an absolute success at the club and left the fans with a 'what could have been' feeling.
Cocu - Why didn't it work for you Philip, why?
Well we all know the answer to this really, he was just so dour, so boring really. Very different personality to our previous manager so it was no doubt a shock to the squad and a shock to Cocu how demanding this league really is. Got us very close to the play offs (pre covid) but realistically we all knew it just wasn't going to happen. Our worst squad in many years if you compare it to the years when we had Hendrick, Thorne, Hughes, Bryson, Russell, Ince, Bent etc.....
Had Cocu those players at his disposal, would he have got us promoted? I think he just might have.
Fabulous fella in terms of how he conducted himself and the well documented controversies he had to deal with.
The one thing I've not mentioned earlier is that he was undermined from the start when Rooney was announced as a player / coach - most fans sensed Rooney's being signed to take over and that's exactly how it panned out.
I honestly hope it works out for Cocu and he's a managerial success in Europe. Our first experience of a foreign manager I believe and based on the new Brexit laws it'll possibly be a long time before another comes along.
Wayne Rooney - seriously, what do we know about football? Most of us I believe were skeptical about his appointment, some incredibly disappointed at the time it didn't work out for Cocu. The initial start was a complete mess when the manager name was:
WayneRooneyLiamRosienorShayGivenJustinWalker (try getting that on your shirt)
With Rooney taking over sole charge I was concerned, looking at the line up he'd only gone and made 6 or 7 changes, we're going to get tonked. But we didn't and he did the right thing by putting seasoned pros in the side and giving majority of the youngsters a breather.
He's definitely showing a wise head on young shoulders, tactical more acute than Lampard, a much better understanding of this division than Cocu. He's signed a blend of players suited to this division and those he believes can make an impression and I think the young lads from Man Utd and Everton will do an impressive job when called upon.
It was recently said that Rooney has been getting guidance from Fergie on management with Alex Ferguson gifting Rooney with the TV series - The World at War.
Fergie - "Before you enter a war and first go into the army, you think, 'Oh! It's great to join,' but when you get there it's entirely different, it changes you,"
Rooney is oddly regarded as a 'street fighter' on the pitch and I do see similarities between him and Diego Simeone in terms of manager, he's probably exactly what we need (without seeing it at the time) right now. His evolution from player to manager has been impressive, long may his positive impact continue on this club.
Sadly I didn't get the opportunity to see him play in our shirt but I do look forward to returning to Pride Park and seeing us win with Wayne Rooney as our manger for years to come.
posted on 15/2/21
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
He's got you there Spart.
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Can't match that riposte. Oscar is. almost up to Donald Trump standard with his rapier like wit.
posted on 15/2/21
comment by Oscar. #TeamFury (U12980)
posted 4 hours, 2 minutes ago
comment by Spart-Derby really are the best says red dog. (U4603)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by Oscar. #TeamFury (U12980)
posted 3 hours, 26 minutes ago
Always felt you should of gone for that really good manager that was available can’t remember his name but use to manage wolves and then Ireland and recently Ipswich, always use to do amazing on no budget
-------------------------------------------
Should have not should of, we speak English on our board.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ooo grammar patrol, guessing you also speak about wearing dresses ya mug
That would be amusing to see in Thorne...
posted on 15/2/21
'That would be amusing to see in Thorne...'
Spart's the Grayson Perry of the Derby board
posted on 15/2/21
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
posted on 16/2/21
I saw a quote from Owen Bradley saying that of the managers he has had dealings with, Rooney is by far the best from a professional point of view. He also says he is more engaged with the Academy than any previous manager including Cocu, which surprised me. I don't think many fans of any persuasion thought that Rooney had a chance of emulating the relative successes of Gerrard and Lampard. He has a very long way to go but it's hard to deny that from the limited evidence so far he has gone about his job in a very impressive way.
posted on 16/2/21
Seems obvious now, but as far as footballing matters go, Rooney knows his onions.
posted on 17/2/21
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 1 day, 8 hours ago
I saw a quote from Owen Bradley saying that of the managers he has had dealings with, Rooney is by far the best from a professional point of view. He also says he is more engaged with the Academy than any previous manager including Cocu, which surprised me. I don't think many fans of any persuasion thought that Rooney had a chance of emulating the relative successes of Gerrard and Lampard. He has a very long way to go but it's hard to deny that from the limited evidence so far he has gone about his job in a very impressive way.
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Wow ! I'd not hear that. You'd have thought that Cocu would have been that one that interacted with the Academy more really. Interesting comment.