I know there are ample threads popping up all relating to a similar topic of discussion, but wanted to air this one out (for my own peace of mind) and gauge what the majority thought.
I had day of mostly driving between meetings today and found myself replaying last night’s disaster in my head. I was driving for over an hour just exhausting my own thoughts and feelings on the game last night, without noticing that I hadn’t even turned the radio on. I honestly couldn’t think of another time a result/performance had such a detrimental impact on my view of the team, club and the way things were being run. Situations around the club, obviously have, but never one performance which made me think what does David Clowes actually make of it all?
By all accounts, he had a vision for Derby County which essentially accumulated to building a successful side on the back of being commercially savvy, recruiting well and while not banging ‘the Derby way’ drum, was definitely hopeful of an aesthetically pleasing football team to watch. We all understood he didn’t have Candy Crush money to burn, as did he, but I think we all hoped that the club would follow in the footsteps of other clubs who have built and not bought by making smart decisions and ultimately working harder than rival sides who share our aspirations.
Last summer was a little bit of a rush job, but all things considered Rosenior (and probably Rooney initially) had done really well to work around our restrictions and build competitive side for the level we were at. The season got off to a steady yet slow start and with Rosenior only hired in an interim basis, I felt (and I imagine the majority) it was only a matter of time before he was hired on an official basis. Clowes, obviously, had other plans and to his credit wanted to do a thorough process and see what was available to him with the vision he had at the club. Warne was his choice and he pointed to his previous promotions at this level as the reason, few could argue against his points and reasoning, but obviously there were some reservations regarding his playing style, his previous relegations and how he would handle the move away from Rotherham above all else.
Needless to say we saw a fairly quick change in our approach and we were moving the ball a lot faster down the pitch and having less possession. We then went on a little bit of a purple patch (20 unbeaten) but I felt just before we actually finally lost that we had seen performances slip and when we finally lost it was hard for us to get back on track. We had completely transitioned by that point into a more Warne set-up with 3 at the back a lot of the time over the final quarter of the season. Obviously, how we have started this season needs no further explanation otherwise this thread wouldn’t be a thing.
On to the recruitment, namely Mark Thomas, who came in from Oxford following praise for his good work there. We were obviously looking for someone with a little bit of knowledge of our level and below, in my opinion, who had shown a competence in recruiting cheap(er) players who had potential to grow with the team. The summer recruitment, at least at this snapshot in time, looks a bit of a disaster. If you asked me who our best signing was from this summer based on minutes played, it would undoubtedly be Waghorn - a player invited to train with the club on nothing more than the proximity of his home. Not a player we scoped out, not a player we headhunted - a player who could probably peddle a bike into training should he so wish.
We have had Paul Warne explain what he’s teams are all about: the high relentless press, the high energy, speed… the recruitment doesn’t mirror that in the slightest. We’ve signed players who fans would’ve heard of, out-of-contract from Championship clubs (for the most part) and above all else - experienced. The budget has been bemoaned but we have recruited in a far different fashion to every other League One club because no other League One club can afford to go and sign players who are accustom to Championship wages. You have to then think to the likes of Sonny Bradley who has had an horrendous start and been dragged off at half-time twice in four games. Both Warne and Thomas would’ve been banging Clowes’ table for him and saying how this is the guy who can lead this defence back into the Championship. Obviously the due diligence hadn’t been done because now it’s coming to light that he’s not looked remotely similar to the player he was since his injury - which is probably the player we’re watching now.
It brings me back to my point: What on earth must Clowes be thinking? He’s given Warne and his staff the keys to the castle based on what he told him and now four games in the whole thing looks like a dog’s dinner - substantially worse than where we were 12 months ago under Rosenior. A decision, I’m absolutely sure, he would reverse if given the opportunity to replay it again. He now has to consider the direction of the club and importantly how to direct it again in a progressive direction. I don’t believe Clowes is someone who is going to drop a guy with 3 years left on his contract without substantial reason so I question what comes next - does he refresh the recruitment of the club? Does he try and have some influence over the football operation of the club - perhaps even hire a director of football to steer the direction for him as he has seen how even the best laid plans can capitulate when decisions aren’t aligned, i.e. playing recruitment and playing style.
I feel for the bloke because ultimately the weight is heavy on his shoulders and the club is a pressure cooker at the moment.
A decade ago we were smashing them in the Championship playoffs. They are now selling players for £100m while players in their development squad would walk into our best XI.
Football eh.
Ouch, that was a poor performance. Oxford played us off the pitch a few times with very limited players. Our signings look poor so far. Elder runs out of the pitch a lot, Nelson seems to pass it straight to our opponents often and Bradley can't really move can he? I think the first action is to accept that this summers recruiting failed and a new formation to stop the bleeding is our only option. Then comes our urgent need to recruit and I honestly think our main issue is central midfield. We need a fighter and runner to do the dirty work. We are way to weak as a team right now.
A good manager can see and accept when something won't work and implement changes accordingly. I think/hope Warne will do so.
As for the ref he was also limited but that worked in our favor as well a few times. Bradley should probably given them a penalty and Collins (elbow) and Cashin (2 yellow) should probably been sent off so we can't blame the ref to much.
It's not an easy ride supporting the Rams but it won't be this bad forever (I hope).
Things are looking up, I lasted 75 mins tonight…. against Blackpool I was gone before HT… yeah I know the club doesn’t need “fans” like me but I’d rather be sat at home with my Y fronts on, half a pint of Skol watching Porky’s II.
Why should it? We’ve done it in the past with Terry Hennessy, Frank Wignall and more recently Floodgates, and all we’ll do is take his transferring to us as a sign that having tasted the Trees he now hates them!
Simmo was last seen being thrown out of a Borrowash wine bar by Ben Osborn & Tony Currie, after being caught cribbing a list of our potential signings complete with details of their current salaries.
hintonsboots reacted to Ambitious in A penny for David Clowes’ thoughts - and what comes next?
hintonsboots got a reaction from Ram-a-lama fa fa fa in Summer Rumour Mill
hintonsboots got a reaction from Gee SCREAMER !! in v Oxford United (H) Match Thread.thumb.jpg.7e49a15529cebafd47c645310ddef11e.jpg)
hintonsboots got a reaction from Chris_Martin in v Oxford United (H) Match Thread
hintonsboots got a reaction from G-Ram in In defence of Paul Warne.
hintonsboots got a reaction from Steve How Hard? in Summer Rumour Mill
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