Ghost of Clough

From that interview, the first topic of discussion feeds into what @brady1993 keeps saying.
When asked are these players being able to play his system, Warne's response: "I don't think we're losing due to tactics or player deficiencies... or a flaw in the system". To me, this is a concern that he didn't categorically deny it, and cannot see the very obvious reason why we have been struggling so far against top half opposition, especially when he has signed 8 players specifically for his system.

From that interview, the first topic of discussion feeds into what @brady1993 keeps saying.
When asked are these players being able to play his system, Warne's response: "I don't think we're losing due to tactics or player deficiencies... or a flaw in the system". To me, this is a concern that he didn't categorically deny it, and cannot see the very obvious reason why we have been struggling so far against top half opposition, especially when he has signed 8 players specifically for his system.

From that interview, the first topic of discussion feeds into what @brady1993 keeps saying.
When asked are these players being able to play his system, Warne's response: "I don't think we're losing due to tactics or player deficiencies... or a flaw in the system". To me, this is a concern that he didn't categorically deny it, and cannot see the very obvious reason why we have been struggling so far against top half opposition, especially when he has signed 8 players specifically for his system.

From that interview, the first topic of discussion feeds into what @brady1993 keeps saying.
When asked are these players being able to play his system, Warne's response: "I don't think we're losing due to tactics or player deficiencies... or a flaw in the system". To me, this is a concern that he didn't categorically deny it, and cannot see the very obvious reason why we have been struggling so far against top half opposition, especially when he has signed 8 players specifically for his system.

From that interview, the first topic of discussion feeds into what @brady1993 keeps saying.
When asked are these players being able to play his system, Warne's response: "I don't think we're losing due to tactics or player deficiencies... or a flaw in the system". To me, this is a concern that he didn't categorically deny it, and cannot see the very obvious reason why we have been struggling so far against top half opposition, especially when he has signed 8 players specifically for his system.

Under Clough, I recall the arguments made against him were the quality of entertainment, and not advancing quick enough. Both appeared to be there in 13/14, which is why so many were surprised at his sacking at the time. I think Rush was later quoted as saying he didn't realise what a good job Clough was actually doing. Clough, under the ownership of GSE, was judged against a bottom 6 Championship budget and exceeded expectations.
The main difference between Clough and Warne is one built foundations and steadily improved on them, whilst also introducing a number of youngsters to the first team.

Clough academy debutants: O'Brien, Mendy, Mills, Connolly, Ball, Atkins, Hendrick, Severn, Hughes, Bennett, Gjokaj, Hoganson
Warne academy debutants: DBrown
Clough permanent signings u27: Porter, Barker, Moxey, Buxton, Pringle, Croft, DMartin, Brayford, Bailey, Doyle, Cywka, Ward, Bryson, Maguire, Fielding, Legzdins, Robinson, Naylor, Sammon, Keogh, Jacobs, Coutts, Freeman, Russell, Forsyth, CMartin
Warne permanent signings u27: Wilson

I started thinking of the pros to counter my many cons of Warne as manager. I struggled to get beyond 'signed some decent players for L1', but it got me thinking... If Rowett had this squad, there's not a doubt in my mind that he'd have us top 2 as his style of play would suit our squad (and Warne's signings) better than Warne's style.
When Warne came in, he claimed he was tactically flexible/adaptable. If that really was the case, he wouldn't play almost all of the players in the squad the same way as we have been seeing over the past 50 games under Warne.

Under Clough, I recall the arguments made against him were the quality of entertainment, and not advancing quick enough. Both appeared to be there in 13/14, which is why so many were surprised at his sacking at the time. I think Rush was later quoted as saying he didn't realise what a good job Clough was actually doing. Clough, under the ownership of GSE, was judged against a bottom 6 Championship budget and exceeded expectations.
The main difference between Clough and Warne is one built foundations and steadily improved on them, whilst also introducing a number of youngsters to the first team.

Clough academy debutants: O'Brien, Mendy, Mills, Connolly, Ball, Atkins, Hendrick, Severn, Hughes, Bennett, Gjokaj, Hoganson
Warne academy debutants: DBrown
Clough permanent signings u27: Porter, Barker, Moxey, Buxton, Pringle, Croft, DMartin, Brayford, Bailey, Doyle, Cywka, Ward, Bryson, Maguire, Fielding, Legzdins, Robinson, Naylor, Sammon, Keogh, Jacobs, Coutts, Freeman, Russell, Forsyth, CMartin
Warne permanent signings u27: Wilson

I've been quite vocal about a number of players not getting the game time they require for their development, and others not playing in their best positions - Thompson, Rooney, DRobinson, Bird, Sibley, Ward, Mendez-Laing all fall under at least one of the two possible issues. You could argue Bradley, Cashin, Nelson, Smith and Hourihane have all been tasked with roles which they aren't suited to, and were Washington and Waghorn signed with a view to playing as wide forwards, 9s or 10s?
One of the new signings who has played in all 4 league games moved in to a house up the road from members of my family if it makes any difference.
I'm not sure how you can expect to get any consistency from players when they don't get more than 10 minutes in consecutive games at any point during the season. The closest he got to it was 76 minutes on matchday 19, followed by 26 minutes on matchday 25, and 16 minutes on matchday 20.
The final nail in the coffin for Thompson was when Bird got injured. We were playing a 4231 with Bird-Hourihane-Knight in the middle, only to drop that system to play 442 with Collins coming in for Bird, then Collins was dropped after a few games of it not working to bring in White.
Smith and Knight continuously chosen over Rooney at RB last season too.

Living in a dodgy area can have an impact on your performances.

A small squad by choice. Warne thought Collins and McGoldrick would be enough to see us through the season. He also chose not to spread the minutes around between more of the players in the squad (Rooney and Thompson), including the two players he did choose to sign in January (White and Springett). Nor did he use any U21s, despite several having Championship experience for the club. His team selection also resulted in our 3rd choice CF being recalled, and sold a promising (albeit injury prone) forwardwho could have helped lighten the load for our aging forwards.

So as soon as you've spent too much you've cheated and aren't allowed to sell assets to bring your net expenditure within the limits?
I wonder how many of the other 72 league clubs have also 'cheated' based on this new information emerging?

Under Clough, I recall the arguments made against him were the quality of entertainment, and not advancing quick enough. Both appeared to be there in 13/14, which is why so many were surprised at his sacking at the time. I think Rush was later quoted as saying he didn't realise what a good job Clough was actually doing. Clough, under the ownership of GSE, was judged against a bottom 6 Championship budget and exceeded expectations.
The main difference between Clough and Warne is one built foundations and steadily improved on them, whilst also introducing a number of youngsters to the first team.

Clough academy debutants: O'Brien, Mendy, Mills, Connolly, Ball, Atkins, Hendrick, Severn, Hughes, Bennett, Gjokaj, Hoganson
Warne academy debutants: DBrown
Clough permanent signings u27: Porter, Barker, Moxey, Buxton, Pringle, Croft, DMartin, Brayford, Bailey, Doyle, Cywka, Ward, Bryson, Maguire, Fielding, Legzdins, Robinson, Naylor, Sammon, Keogh, Jacobs, Coutts, Freeman, Russell, Forsyth, CMartin
Warne permanent signings u27: Wilson

A small squad by choice. Warne thought Collins and McGoldrick would be enough to see us through the season. He also chose not to spread the minutes around between more of the players in the squad (Rooney and Thompson), including the two players he did choose to sign in January (White and Springett). Nor did he use any U21s, despite several having Championship experience for the club. His team selection also resulted in our 3rd choice CF being recalled, and sold a promising (albeit injury prone) forwardwho could have helped lighten the load for our aging forwards.

Under Clough, I recall the arguments made against him were the quality of entertainment, and not advancing quick enough. Both appeared to be there in 13/14, which is why so many were surprised at his sacking at the time. I think Rush was later quoted as saying he didn't realise what a good job Clough was actually doing. Clough, under the ownership of GSE, was judged against a bottom 6 Championship budget and exceeded expectations.
The main difference between Clough and Warne is one built foundations and steadily improved on them, whilst also introducing a number of youngsters to the first team.

Clough academy debutants: O'Brien, Mendy, Mills, Connolly, Ball, Atkins, Hendrick, Severn, Hughes, Bennett, Gjokaj, Hoganson
Warne academy debutants: DBrown
Clough permanent signings u27: Porter, Barker, Moxey, Buxton, Pringle, Croft, DMartin, Brayford, Bailey, Doyle, Cywka, Ward, Bryson, Maguire, Fielding, Legzdins, Robinson, Naylor, Sammon, Keogh, Jacobs, Coutts, Freeman, Russell, Forsyth, CMartin
Warne permanent signings u27: Wilson

While Sibs and Barks work towards fitness, and without any incomings, my setup (alas not Warne's) would be:
Wildsmith
Rooney    Nelson/Bradley     Cashin     Forsyth
Smith
Thompson    Hourihane
Mendez-Laing    Waghorn     Washington
Subs: Vickers Bardell Bradley/Nelson Elder Sibley Collins Barkhuizen 
Then, we all know Mendez-Laing is spent after 55 minutes so I'd be looking at swapping him early for either Sibs or Barks, depending on whether we wanted to change things up or keep the same formation. Either way, the other two forward-thinking subs should be on by 70 minutes, with Waghorn and Washington likely off (unless scoring for fun). It's their job to run themselves and the defenders into the ground by 70 minutes to allow fresh legs on to attack tired defenders.
I feel I've not seen enough of Bradley and Nelson to see who should have the starting berth.
We should fear no one in this division and be looking to win every game. We are the biggest thing in town. I don't accept this "take a point now" mentality. Time to start rising up the table and making the rest take notice. We are Derby!

I'm not divulging details, but I will point back to my post from last week
 
Thompson played 1611 minutes for us in the 21/22 season (equivalent to 17.9 games). He was a regular starter in our good run in the middle of that season. In our spell from 06/01/21 through to 08/02/22, he started 11 out of 14 games (full 90 in 6) yielding 6 wins and 4 draws

I'm not divulging details, but I will point back to my post from last week
 
Thompson played 1611 minutes for us in the 21/22 season (equivalent to 17.9 games). He was a regular starter in our good run in the middle of that season. In our spell from 06/01/21 through to 08/02/22, he started 11 out of 14 games (full 90 in 6) yielding 6 wins and 4 draws

A small squad by choice. Warne thought Collins and McGoldrick would be enough to see us through the season. He also chose not to spread the minutes around between more of the players in the squad (Rooney and Thompson), including the two players he did choose to sign in January (White and Springett). Nor did he use any U21s, despite several having Championship experience for the club. His team selection also resulted in our 3rd choice CF being recalled, and sold a promising (albeit injury prone) forwardwho could have helped lighten the load for our aging forwards.

A small squad by choice. Warne thought Collins and McGoldrick would be enough to see us through the season. He also chose not to spread the minutes around between more of the players in the squad (Rooney and Thompson), including the two players he did choose to sign in January (White and Springett). Nor did he use any U21s, despite several having Championship experience for the club. His team selection also resulted in our 3rd choice CF being recalled, and sold a promising (albeit injury prone) forwardwho could have helped lighten the load for our aging forwards.

You see I think exactly the opposite.
They have a well thought out plan, involving not just a new manager but a reworking of the Academy. When it becomes apparent that their choice has not worked out then they don't throw away the whole plan, they re-choose a manager who can put the plan into effect.

I think we’ve seen plenty of evidence since Warne arrived here that if in doubt, he goes with experience (read: old). Was just grateful he finally picked Rooney and Thompson last week.

A small squad by choice. Warne thought Collins and McGoldrick would be enough to see us through the season. He also chose not to spread the minutes around between more of the players in the squad (Rooney and Thompson), including the two players he did choose to sign in January (White and Springett). Nor did he use any U21s, despite several having Championship experience for the club. His team selection also resulted in our 3rd choice CF being recalled, and sold a promising (albeit injury prone) forwardwho could have helped lighten the load for our aging forwards.

Yes yes yes, but apart from those things what has warne done wrong........😉

Surely he is Smith's replacement