Ghost of Clough

Tuesday 25th October 2022, home to Exeter, the attendance was 24,640. Our lowest home gate of the season up until that point. It'll be interesting to see how the attendance compares tonight. It'll be a shame if we do drop below 24,000 for only the 2nd time since our relegation, as the players still deserve our support. But the general mood suggests a lot of STHs can't be bothered turning up at the moment. The recent weather and roads into Derby won't help either.

That depends on when we start putting more emphasis on possession.

It may sound backwards, but instinctive passing is coached. The more you repeat it in training, the more instinctive it is when you are in the same situation during the match. We have a coach who doesn't value passing, so very little emphasis will be on that during training sessions, and in turn, there is no instinctive passing during games. Players will take extra touches before making the pass, get dispossessed before being able to spot a pass, make the wrong pass or pass to the opposition, etc..
There's also the receiving the ball side of things. When someone is making those instinctive passes, the rest of the team will also instinctively know where the pass is going before it's even played.
The midfielder knows where to go to pick the ball up off the defence... The forward knows when to come deep to pick up the ball from the midfielder... The winger knows when to make that run behind the full back... The forward knows which area to attack for the cross or pull back, etc...

It may sound backwards, but instinctive passing is coached. The more you repeat it in training, the more instinctive it is when you are in the same situation during the match. We have a coach who doesn't value passing, so very little emphasis will be on that during training sessions, and in turn, there is no instinctive passing during games. Players will take extra touches before making the pass, get dispossessed before being able to spot a pass, make the wrong pass or pass to the opposition, etc..
There's also the receiving the ball side of things. When someone is making those instinctive passes, the rest of the team will also instinctively know where the pass is going before it's even played.
The midfielder knows where to go to pick the ball up off the defence... The forward knows when to come deep to pick up the ball from the midfielder... The winger knows when to make that run behind the full back... The forward knows which area to attack for the cross or pull back, etc...

The last time Derby spent a fee was Jozwiak in 2020, with Portsmouth also making a paid transfer in the same window.. In the same period of time that we haven't been able to spend, Portsmouth have chosen not to. In thr 2 years from Feb 2020 to Feb 2022, we spend £1.8m on agents fees to their £350k

Or the same number of players, but on less wages. More Wilsons and Fornahs... fewer Bradleys and Elders?
Whilst Warne keeps saying we didn't sign anyone for a fee in the summer, Wilson, Fornah and Washington all joined for *undisclosed*. It was inferred that they will cost us if we win promotion and/or sell them on.

When he joined the club this is what Barkhuizen said;
On His Position…
I prefer to play as a forward, mainly off either side. I’m comfortable off the right or left. I have played as a number nine, but I don’t particularly enjoy it when you’re up front on your own and you have two six foot four brutes baring down the back of you! I can play wing back but it’s not my favourite position. I like to get forward, get shots off and be in and around the box to create things and that’s hopefully what I can do.
Taken from this interview;
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/amp/news/2022/07/barkhuizen-derby-is-a-massive-club
I don’t mind your suggestion of him playing as a striker but think it would have to be a temporary measure as part of a 2, which would then have further implications to the other “specialist” strikers on the books. I suppose if Warne were to consider using Barkhuizen as a more mobile forward, he could just as easily give the Washington/Waghorn pairing another go or use Brown from the academy. 
Not sure I know what the answer is but hope Warne can figure it out tonight and beyond so we can start moving back up the league sooner rather than later.

In my working life I publish books, and I'm lucky that some are by the world's finest thinkers. When I first got a job like this, naturally I read a book about how to do it. Written by a woman, and acknowledging the sexism in the advice she was being offered in a similar position to me, by a publishing grandee, he told her:
"Authors are like women - they love to be asked."
It's advice that has stood me in very good stead and I think it does no harm to apply it to managers. I've published books by three Nobel-prize winning physicists and many other prestigious people, who other editors probably didn't dare go and talk to. Graham Potter would probably be the first name on my list, just in case I could sell him on the idea of falling in love with the Derby project. Proving himself as one of the managing greats, by taking us through the divisions into the Premier, and able to challenge at the top. He'll likely say no, but what if he says yes? What if there's some quirk in his upbringing that sees him want to come here - follow in Cloughie's footsteps? It's my job as an editor to try to find what might make someone want to write for me, and it's Clowes' job to do the same with managing Derby. Find something they have in common - show Potter how much Graham would enjoy working together at Derby. Sell him the dream, and hope he buys it.
 

The tweet was misleading, all Warne said was a rehash of what’s been said before. Essentially that there was a budget with some limitations, that budget could have been used for fees but may not have gone as far as paying for the quality we wanted/needed, so it was used towards the free agent signings we made instead. 

Oops. I was meant to say Waghorn has started every game Bird HASNT played, whilst Collins started when Bird played.

Oops. I was meant to say Waghorn has started every game Bird HASNT played, whilst Collins started when Bird played.

This is a very small sample size. 5 of us who go home and away regularly. Never boo, get behind the team, quite good vocal support. Well past our first flush of youth! 😉
We were 4 - 1 in favour of his appointment (me being the 1 against) and stayed that way right through last season. 
Pre-season we thought we'd be flying, but the rest of us have become very disillusioned already and I'd say we are less "Warne out" than "it would be a relief if it did happen". 
What Warne talks about isn't what we are seeing. His negative mindset, lack of in-game management and ability to react to the opposition frustrates us. I'd say if we were forced into a vote we'd all vote out. 
I think @BondJovi's last paragraph for me sums up exactly how we are feeling. There's no growth.
If it is true that Clowes cannot afford to sack him, then I think he needs to sit down and have a serious talk with him about changing his approach to the game. An owner straying into onfield management is dangerous territory as we know to our cost, but what is the alternative at this stage?

Ah yes, the statistical metric xG is subjective yet your 'eyes' and opinion on football are not. That makes perfect sense.

Buckingham was Assistant Manager of Stoke U21s. He was also a youth player at Reading and Oxford.

That’s what happens when you mingle with the home supporters. 😀

Wildsmith
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin
Wilson   Bird   Smith   Sibley   Forsyth
Waghorn   Collins
 
Subs: Bradley, Ward, Fornah, Hourihane, Barkhjuizen, Mendez-Laing, Washington

This is where a DoF would have this knowledge and look into that recruitment of a manager.
Here are my picks for someone that perhaps isn't the "easy" appointment.
Aaron Danks - as @Ghost of Clough mentioned,
Steve Round - don't think this needs explaining.
Des Buckingham - doing really well for Mumbai City (within the City Group) who was a former Oxford coach with Wilder, attractive style.
Stephen Bradley - Shamrock Rovers manager, linked with League 1 clubs consistently. 
Justin Cochrane - Head of academy coaching for Brentford, highly rated having had former roles with England and Man Utd.
 
 

Only 1 manager has been sacked since Mac was sacked 6.5 years ago. I don't think you'll find many who disagreed with Cocu being shown the door.
The problem isn't having a different manager every season. It's hiring managers with no clear idea of how they will work woth the existing squad. It was this which lead to a bloated wage bill, as several signings were needed each year to allow us to change style, without being able to sell unwanted players.
Whilst the wage bill is now being responsibly managed, we cannot make all of the changes required to the playing squad to allow Warne to get the squad he needs to make his system work. The appointment of Warne was a very poor one because he isn't as adaptable as he thinks/claims.
A decision should have been made on what style of play is to be expected from the first team. We have heard it from the academy that they're being couched to play a certain way. You should be able to take any freeze frame of the game and tell "that's Derby" depending on of we're defending, attacking, in transition, etc... We should recruit based off that desired style of play. By doing so, you reduce the risk of an appointment going wrong.

Rationally thinking, Clowes will onoy make that final decision once he is absolutely certain there is no chance of promotion under Warne. After all, it is his money on the line, so he won't want to potentislly throw millions away unless necessary.
I would also find it hard to believe that Clowes would be happy with us sitting midtable all season, then only make a change in the summer. There has to be a tipping point. 
Taking the emotion out of the decision, I would suggest that tipping point would be needing to average 2 points per game just to squeeze back into the top 6 on the final day. It would take a prolonged period of relegation form to reach the crisis point (such as 12 points from our next 12 games).
Realistically, watching us perform as bad as that for such a long time is unlikely without fan discontent growing to unknown levels. The managerial position should be reviewed periodically at set points. For example, we have 4 games until the next international break, and we need to be closer to the top 6 than we currently are. Then there's the half way point at New Year, the next international window (March), leading up to our final 8 or so game run in, with another review after the season has ended. Each time we either need to be in the top 6, or closer to them than at the previous checkpoint.

Rationally thinking, Clowes will onoy make that final decision once he is absolutely certain there is no chance of promotion under Warne. After all, it is his money on the line, so he won't want to potentislly throw millions away unless necessary.
I would also find it hard to believe that Clowes would be happy with us sitting midtable all season, then only make a change in the summer. There has to be a tipping point. 
Taking the emotion out of the decision, I would suggest that tipping point would be needing to average 2 points per game just to squeeze back into the top 6 on the final day. It would take a prolonged period of relegation form to reach the crisis point (such as 12 points from our next 12 games).
Realistically, watching us perform as bad as that for such a long time is unlikely without fan discontent growing to unknown levels. The managerial position should be reviewed periodically at set points. For example, we have 4 games until the next international break, and we need to be closer to the top 6 than we currently are. Then there's the half way point at New Year, the next international window (March), leading up to our final 8 or so game run in, with another review after the season has ended. Each time we either need to be in the top 6, or closer to them than at the previous checkpoint.

Rationally thinking, Clowes will onoy make that final decision once he is absolutely certain there is no chance of promotion under Warne. After all, it is his money on the line, so he won't want to potentislly throw millions away unless necessary.
I would also find it hard to believe that Clowes would be happy with us sitting midtable all season, then only make a change in the summer. There has to be a tipping point. 
Taking the emotion out of the decision, I would suggest that tipping point would be needing to average 2 points per game just to squeeze back into the top 6 on the final day. It would take a prolonged period of relegation form to reach the crisis point (such as 12 points from our next 12 games).
Realistically, watching us perform as bad as that for such a long time is unlikely without fan discontent growing to unknown levels. The managerial position should be reviewed periodically at set points. For example, we have 4 games until the next international break, and we need to be closer to the top 6 than we currently are. Then there's the half way point at New Year, the next international window (March), leading up to our final 8 or so game run in, with another review after the season has ended. Each time we either need to be in the top 6, or closer to them than at the previous checkpoint.

Exactly this. 
 
One of the most trusted posters on the forum, very knowledgeable and clearly knows a lot about the club and football in general. 
 
I’ve thought for a long time PW hasn’t got a clue. When @Ghost of Clough starts talking the same, I start to get really worried. 
 
It’s time for some to get their head out of the sand. 

Rationally thinking, Clowes will onoy make that final decision once he is absolutely certain there is no chance of promotion under Warne. After all, it is his money on the line, so he won't want to potentislly throw millions away unless necessary.
I would also find it hard to believe that Clowes would be happy with us sitting midtable all season, then only make a change in the summer. There has to be a tipping point. 
Taking the emotion out of the decision, I would suggest that tipping point would be needing to average 2 points per game just to squeeze back into the top 6 on the final day. It would take a prolonged period of relegation form to reach the crisis point (such as 12 points from our next 12 games).
Realistically, watching us perform as bad as that for such a long time is unlikely without fan discontent growing to unknown levels. The managerial position should be reviewed periodically at set points. For example, we have 4 games until the next international break, and we need to be closer to the top 6 than we currently are. Then there's the half way point at New Year, the next international window (March), leading up to our final 8 or so game run in, with another review after the season has ended. Each time we either need to be in the top 6, or closer to them than at the previous checkpoint.

Only 1 manager has been sacked since Mac was sacked 6.5 years ago. I don't think you'll find many who disagreed with Cocu being shown the door.
The problem isn't having a different manager every season. It's hiring managers with no clear idea of how they will work woth the existing squad. It was this which lead to a bloated wage bill, as several signings were needed each year to allow us to change style, without being able to sell unwanted players.
Whilst the wage bill is now being responsibly managed, we cannot make all of the changes required to the playing squad to allow Warne to get the squad he needs to make his system work. The appointment of Warne was a very poor one because he isn't as adaptable as he thinks/claims.
A decision should have been made on what style of play is to be expected from the first team. We have heard it from the academy that they're being couched to play a certain way. You should be able to take any freeze frame of the game and tell "that's Derby" depending on of we're defending, attacking, in transition, etc... We should recruit based off that desired style of play. By doing so, you reduce the risk of an appointment going wrong.

Only 1 manager has been sacked since Mac was sacked 6.5 years ago. I don't think you'll find many who disagreed with Cocu being shown the door.
The problem isn't having a different manager every season. It's hiring managers with no clear idea of how they will work woth the existing squad. It was this which lead to a bloated wage bill, as several signings were needed each year to allow us to change style, without being able to sell unwanted players.
Whilst the wage bill is now being responsibly managed, we cannot make all of the changes required to the playing squad to allow Warne to get the squad he needs to make his system work. The appointment of Warne was a very poor one because he isn't as adaptable as he thinks/claims.
A decision should have been made on what style of play is to be expected from the first team. We have heard it from the academy that they're being couched to play a certain way. You should be able to take any freeze frame of the game and tell "that's Derby" depending on of we're defending, attacking, in transition, etc... We should recruit based off that desired style of play. By doing so, you reduce the risk of an appointment going wrong.