We have lost to our local rivals, sacked our manager, hired a new one (or did we get a head coach?) and have not won a league game at home all season. Yes, the away form is good, but playing Yeovil, Brighton and Millwall when we did was a massive contributing factor to that.
With regards to Clough, I can see why he has been sacked but I think the timing of it could have been given more consideration. I keep asking myself a number of things, but I personally think he has been given enough time.
Could Clough have sacked on other occasions over the past 5 years? Yes. Scunthorpe at home springs to mind and the various relegation battles when we have been on runs of 'no win in 10.
Was he doing a reasonably job with a tight budget? Yes, but lots of teams have no money and have done just as well or better(Palace, Burnley and Charlton).
Has he made good signings? Some are good, some are ok and some are nowhere near the wages or transfer fees we have spent. Sammon, Tyson and dare I say Russell!?
Part of me does feel sorry for Clough. He has had virtually no money and a very small wage budget and he has tried to do the best he can. He has given young players a chance which has worked. Part of me also thinks however, that he has had enough time to get us challenging regularly in and around the top 8 - 10.
Notice that I do not mention top 6. I think we are nowhere near that. I just want to stop
I am not sure if McClaren is the answer. He is a brilliant coach and did well at Boro and as an assistant for England. However, I think he over complicates things. I think we need someone who will make us harder to beat. I think we already play nice football and this is down to Clough, but there is something missing. A bit of steel (perhaps Eric will bring it?).
People slag off Pulis, but like wee Billy’s teams, they do not win football matches in style, but all of his teams get to the play-offs.
Whatever happens going forward, I hope the new team treat all players equally because Clough has not.
Do not criticise and single players out in public. Clough has.
Make substitutions earlier when it is obvious things are not working. How Jacobs was not given 15 minute on Saturday, I will never know.
Bring in a better centre back. Why we are still waiting for O'Brien and Barker is beyond me!
Do not try and turn an average left midfielder into a Left Back. Forsyth has not impressed me, but has not been publicly criticised like Freeman and other players.
Do not totally ignore the 'foreign' and African market of players. Clough only buys British which I find restricts us.
Have a Plan B when things are not working.
Get the team to defend from set pieces better.
Anyway my shopping list aside, fans will be divided as to whether to blame Clough or the Board for our very slow progress over the years. Some fans I speak to think that mid table is as far as Clough could have ever taken us.
Personally, I would have given him until after the Leeds game to see how the 2 home fixtures went this week and then decide. There is an international break soon and this would have given time for the dust to settle, depending on the results and get the new man in if needed.
But that is now done and dusted. McClaren it is.
But not for this game — Academy manager Darren Wassall takes the helm for one match until the new crew settle into their quarters.
Derby do not have any new injury worries for the game against Ipswich but Whitbread from Leicester is in on emergency loan and will make his debut at the centre of defence, replacing Keogh who is suspended for one game.
Wassall will have to make a decision on using one or both of Ward and Eustace but I expect both to start.
Derby needs to eradicate the constant conceding of soft goals and make better, quicker decisions in the final 3rd of the field. We have been saying this for most of last season and this. Maybe that is why the board felt the need to look elsewhere.
As for Ipswich the main concern for Derby will be keeping an eye on the in-form McGoldrick as he is playing well and scoring goals — a deadly combination with the Rams consistently self destructing at home.
I think the players will need our support at the game as we really do need to try and get this first home win.
May tonight be the night!
Recent League Form:
Derby : L,W,D,L,L
Ipswich : L,W,L,L,D
New Loan signing Zak Whitbread interviewed :
Rams Manager For A Day — Darren Wassall Interviewed:
Classic Rams vs. Ipswich Clash
:
Derby 2 v 2 Ipswich
23rd November 1974 - The Baseball Ground