CongletonRam

29 minutes ago, sage said:

Who are the lower league journeymen?

Players of a certain age, that have played the majority of their career at League One or lower:

Conor Hourihane, Sonny Bradley, James Collins, Mendez-Liang, Conor Washington, Callum Elder, Joe Ward, Curtis Nelson. Stats suggest that none of those players are any better than League One. Some have played in higher league, but none have done much playing any higher.

We seem to think we have this squad that should be up there challenging. Why?

I think we have. a top 8 squad, and maybe a top 6 squad if the fans are fully behind the team.

39 minutes ago, winktheram said:

3 weeks ago it was 'win the game in hand and we go 2nd'. For me the tipping point will be 'win the game in hand and we go 10th'  if we're not in the playoffs at the turn of the year he has to go. 

I'm not so sure we'd have to pay up all the contract, as despite the length of contracts given, it's  usually a rolling 12month severance for pay. But you're probably right it'll still have financial implications to fire his team. But can we afford not to if we are adrift of the top 2 by then?

Then it's merely a case of expectation. I don't see missing out on promotion as the tipping point. I'd like to see an improvement in performance, a few more chances created and DCFC looking like a team that can challenge in this league that is woefully short on quality.

If however we miss out, then so be it, we'll go again next season.

Give the guy a proper chance at turning our club around. So many fans seem to be of the opinion that our players are capable of more than what we are producing but I don't get this. We are a team riddled with free transfers and lower league journeymen. That is the market in which we are fishing.

Win our game in hand and we're in the play-offs.

You'd have to have a seriously nasty vendetta to sack a man with the club in such a position, particularly as he has had no money to spend and dabble in a market of free transfers.

Less than a quarter of the season to go, performances have improved every so slightly, the team has some serious shortcomings of which I do not blame Warne for the reasons I previously mentioned.

What exactly do you want? What are your expectations long term? I am intrigued as to the state of mind to anyone that would seriously want our manager gone. Who would you replace him with? What would you have the players do differently? 

What was your tipping point for wanting Warne out, as you appear to have made your mind up?

Oh, and my last question to you. How do you suggest going about the financial implications of firing Warne (and his backroom staff as we may as well throw them all in) and is this approach sustainable?

On 07/10/2023 at 21:07, jimtastic56 said:

Looking for some crumbs of comfort tonight , Sheffield Utd are trying to help. 1pt from 8 games , at this rate they will be lucky to get 6pts this season. During our bad season I can’t remember our fan base turning on the manager like this season .

Why are you suggesting that our fan base is against the manager?

What do you base those remarks on?

Surely not this forum, where we have a very small and vocal minority who have decided that his time is up.

2 hours ago, norwichram said:

Why do some posters on here keep stating that we’re in league one and we have league one players …

we don’t!!!

we are in league one - correct. No one has posted otherwise to my knowledge. 

most of our squad has played most of their careers in the championship .. so how the chuff are they league one if by league one we mean league one standard - hence defending the crap aimless zero structured football that we have seen them play for most of this season. 
 

we have a good team of good football players and I’m sick of people saying we haven’t thereby excusing the standard of play. Korey smith is a fine example. If Warne can unlock, motivate, formulate a strategy that can unleash this squads potential (in essence his job) then we will go up automatically. 
 

our bench the other night was awesome… chuffing league one my backside 

not arrogance or blinded by us being a big club for this league simple fact. Cashin is probably the most league one as most of his appearances have been in this league .. and he was as you close as you get to being a premier league player a month ago. 
 

this is why I want us to attack teams with purpose and skill - because quite simply we can. We are so capable of dominating this league. Play good footballers at home and not two sitting dm’s, rotate the squad wisely and the bobble hats will sell out.

mind you we are getting into flat cap and oversized cardigan season soon… 

DTID 

An interesting post and a good read though I do have to take you to task on the part in bold.

Out of our first team squad of 26, a total of 18 have played the majority of their career at League One or lower level than that.

Out of the 8 that have played most of their career at Championship level(or above), none of them have stand out stats in the Championship. Add to that that one or two at the minute are having their best seasons for a long time. Look at Waghorn, after leaving Derby, he scores 3 goals in 51 games at League One level and he's now scored 6 in 9 games for us.

I'm not being negative, just giving some interesting stats.

I am firmly behind Warne, not because I like his dour brand of football, but because I am of the opinion that he is still dealing with a squad that is capable of challenging for the play offs though that may not be good enough for supporters. He was clearly unable to bring in some of his targets over the summer, most noticeably a striker.

I think we have a team that is capable of moments. We are not good enough to dominate teams when they are happy to sit back. We lack guile and we look lethargic at times. I must add there that the signings of Fornah and Nyambe are potentialy the best we have brought in.

The whole premise of the initial question is very heavily loaded 'Can anyone actually name a single improvement Warne has done since arriving?'

Let's discuss what changes Warne has tried, succssesfully or unsucsessfully, to implement throughout DCFC since his arrival?

Now that question is a little more balanced and would provoke a very balanced and interesting debate.

We have to look at this sustainably and realistically. What is his wage budget. Has he appointed well in his backroom staff What changes, if any, is he trying to take the club forward with the academy/younger players? How much pressure do we think he is under from Clowes. What is his relationship with Clowes.

Only before all this and so much more has been discussed, considered and debated can decisions be realistically formed.

11 hours ago, sage said:

It's ok to want a different manager (I'm in the he's on borrowed time camp) but also to fully support the team at games.

Those positions aren't mutually exclusive.

I don't doubt it, but the voices of discontent at games are growing and this can only have a detrimental effect on the team.

Our fans expectations are not in keeping with the current set up at the club.

We are nothing more than a fairly average Division One side and we don't have the financial resources to improve on that anytime soon.

I find it more likely that Warne will leave of his own volition when he discovers we don't really have a pot to piss in financially and his job will be as it has been thus far, to compete with the clubs in and around us over bang average players on free transfers.

Out of interest, what are your realistic expectations for DCFC this season and what would represent a disappointing season?

Bigger picture.

Derby County F.C has been a very poorly run club for the last 20 years and fans have to accept that it WILL take time to get back to glory days, (albeit I am of the opinion that our great clubs glory days at best would be a club challenging at the top end of the Championship).

It actually saddens me when I hear fans being hyper critical of Warne, some almost suggesting his time is running out. I cannot accept that is anything other than a small percentage who think this.

Constructive criticism is great and wow, there is SO much to be critical about with the current side and the manner in which we (try to) play.

Warne has to be given time, and I am talking another 2 seasons. We are under new ownership and we need stable management. As a shrewd business decision, Clowes wouldn't (and couldn't financially) sack Warne unless results take a huge downturn. We are playing like a bottom 5 club, but we are somewhat fortuitously managing not to lose. 

I cannot actually believe that I am speaking up for Warne, as the football being offered is simply dreadful. Lethargic, defensive, predictable. So, I forsee a season where we are challenging for a top 6 spot, but for that to happen, the football has to improve.

I will be right behind Warne and I firmly believe that if we as a fanbase were all right behind him, it would make his job easier. We can play a part in changing the fortunes of our club.

Why not? Her gender is by and large irrelevant.

If she's good enough and proves herself yet again to be a winner, then yes, I'm all for it.

28 minutes ago, Srg said:

Something I said?

Chris Martin was solid for Derby. Rhodes has been anything but solid for any club since 2016.

I would prefer that Chris Martin comes back to the club over Jordan Rhodes. They are similar age and their records are not dissimilar over the second half of their careers.

Neither have done much for 7 years. Their careers have stalled somewhat

In that time, their (very average) records are comparable:

Jordan Rhodes 212 (games).  38 (goals).  (5.57 strike rate)

Chris Martin 171   32  (5.34 strike rate)

Conor Washington 218   43. (5.06 strike rate)

James Collins 308   110  (2.8 strike rate)

Collins really sticks out for his superior record. Get the ball to him and he will finish. Even the much maligned CW has a better record than Rhodes over that time period.

Warne has intimated that whoever he buys will be a rough diamond and represent something of a gamble. I don't think the need for a striker is as pressing as many make out. For me, we need creativity.