Fit and Proper Owners

Pearson didn't like Martin at Derby but now plays him every game.

Billy Davis didn't like Lee Camp at Derby and brought in Bywater but then made Lee Camp captain at Notts.

Nigel Clough got rid of Bywater when he seemed to go on strike during a game and Severn came on for his only match for us, then he plays Bywater at Burton.

I keep thinking of Jimmy Greaves.

As a total aside to this article I was laying awake at 2.30am this morning and thinking about the Rams and next season.

I'm going to throw the cat amongst the pigeons here because when you think about it, and I'm NOT saying Rooney is a bad manager in the slightest. I think he's done brilliantly in galvanising the whole club. BUT, it's what, 95% on what was here already.

When you look at the succesful Managers at DCFC over the last couple of generations there's 3 that stand out : Clough/Taylor, Cox and Jim Smith. What did thay have in common ??? Well the ability to spot and bring in key players leading to success.

It seems that certain clubs are courting Rooney ATM....but really what has he done here. Yes, as stated he's galvanised the club BUT the key to us getting back to the Championship and beyond will be down to who he brings in.

So analysing who he's brought in Allsop - very good, Jags - very good, Baldock not good enough, Stearman good (although suspect in last game)....and the players he brought in - in the Jan 2021 transfer window (loans) weren't IMO brilliant....so lets forget this talk about "we'll be back after 1 season in L1"....lets see.

My own opinion is that we have a good Manager in Rooney....but when you think about it he does have a lot to prove....UTR...Cheers. Terry

....I forgot to include Ravel...who whilst good on his day (probably) isnt going to get us out of L1.

Interesting article BTW Jorvik....

comment by Terry Hennessey (U22420)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
As a total aside to this article I was laying awake at 2.30am this morning and thinking about the Rams and next season.

I'm going to throw the cat amongst the pigeons here because when you think about it, and I'm NOT saying Rooney is a bad manager in the slightest. I think he's done brilliantly in galvanising the whole club. BUT, it's what, 95% on what was here already.

When you look at the succesful Managers at DCFC over the last couple of generations there's 3 that stand out : Clough/Taylor, Cox and Jim Smith. What did thay have in common ??? Well the ability to spot and bring in key players leading to success.

It seems that certain clubs are courting Rooney ATM....but really what has he done here. Yes, as stated he's galvanised the club BUT the key to us getting back to the Championship and beyond will be down to who he brings in.

So analysing who he's brought in Allsop - very good, Jags - very good, Baldock not good enough, Stearman good (although suspect in last game)....and the players he brought in - in the Jan 2021 transfer window (loans) weren't IMO brilliant....so lets forget this talk about "we'll be back after 1 season in L1"....lets see.

My own opinion is that we have a good Manager in Rooney....but when you think about it he does have a lot to prove....UTR...Cheers. Terry
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You have hit the nail on the head Terry. It's the players a manager can bring in or improve that makes them a good manager, nothing to do with formations. We are in the position we are in because of the failure of our acquisition policy. Since Nigel Clough left, bargains have been as rare as rocking horse poo (it wouldn't let me say manoor with the correct spelling, how pathetic is that) and expensive failures have been the order of the day. The idea of a director of football has proved to be a failure because if their acquisitions are poor it's the manager (coach) who gets the sack.

I think there's a bit more to it than just acquisitions. Good players can be brought in but it takes a certain kind of manager to bring the best out of them. WR himself said his main quality is man management and it's clear that all the players have responded brilliantly (except, going back a bit, Holmes and more recently, Festy.

But it will certainly be interesting to see what sort of players Rooney can bring in.

comment by Chicagoram (U22653)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
I think there's a bit more to it than just acquisitions. Good players can be brought in but it takes a certain kind of manager to bring the best out of them. WR himself said his main quality is man management and it's clear that all the players have responded brilliantly (except, going back a bit, Holmes and more recently, Festy.

But it will certainly be interesting to see what sort of players Rooney can bring in.
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Yes, good point Chicago. I think Brian Clough was excellent at getting the best out of players...as WR has done with Ravel. I also think Spart was right about Nigel Clough bringing in good players for relative peanuts..like Chris Martin, Johnny Russell, Craig Bryson etc... especially when you think of the zillions we've wasted on lesser players...

That was certainly BC's strength Terry. NC brought in some good players but I do not think he was a good manager. It took McClaren to get the best out of those players named.

But don't mention the millions wasted since! Gives me apoplexy!

There are 3 things that make a successful manager/team ...

Having the right quality of players

Playing a style of football that suits those players and beats the opposition

Team spirit

Getting the right quality should be a combo of improving existing players and bringing in players. Rooney has had his hands tied with the latter, but clearly had some successes. In terms of improving, he's definitely done that.

Playing the right style... ignore Spart, tactics/style are important. We've rarely played poor football this season and try to move the ball through the team. It doesn't suit all our players, and has cost us goals but with a few suitable additions, should work in L1. But Rooney may have to work on this.

On top of the above, you need to know how to treat players and, for me, this is where Rooney has got it spot on. Team spirit is brilliant.

comment by Peeder (U1684)
posted 10 hours, 34 minutes ago
There are 3 things that make a successful manager/team ...

Having the right quality of players

Playing a style of football that suits those players and beats the opposition

Team spirit

Getting the right quality should be a combo of improving existing players and bringing in players. Rooney has had his hands tied with the latter, but clearly had some successes. In terms of improving, he's definitely done that.

Playing the right style... ignore Spart, tactics/style are important. We've rarely played poor football this season and try to move the ball through the team. It doesn't suit all our players, and has cost us goals but with a few suitable additions, should work in L1. But Rooney may have to work on this.

On top of the above, you need to know how to treat players and, for me, this is where Rooney has got it spot on. Team spirit is brilliant.
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More drivel from Peeder.

Team Spirit. You will find that in most successful teams many of the players hate each other. You can see the rivalry between Salah and Mane every week but though they might dislike each other they know it's in their interest to play for the team. We have good team spirit but don't seem to win many games.

It is the players who work out how to win games, not the manager. The manager picks the players he/she believes will help but once on the pitch the manger is powerless. Leicester became Premier League champions despite the manager.

I am impressed with Rooney as a manager as he knows players and football. Not many people have spent such a large portion of their lives living, eating and breathing football so he should know a bit. We just didn't have sufficient quality players to overcome the 21 points deduction in the end but we had a good try. The three defeats in a row when Lawrence was out sealed our fate. Until then we had a chance.

Rooney has not had any freedom to operate as he'd like in the transfer market as he's always been under embargo. So it's a bit hard to judge that side of his ability as he has been severely hindered.

Let's hope he gets a free hand soon (and even this summer will be under a business plan so still not really free)