Eric Steele- From United to Derby

[Ramos]

A really interesting read about Steele over his recent years, some interesting but not reassuring comments about newcastle rumours as well. I've bolded the main bits about Derby/ newcastle links towards the bottom incase any of you are not interested in reading the whole thing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3042412/From-Manchester-United-Derby-County-Eric-Steele-reflects-glittering-career-aims-Premier-League-promotion-stays-coy-Newcastle-links.html 

 

Eric Steele knows better than most how the month of May can be morose as much as merry. He has experienced peaks and troughs of extreme emotion for the past three seasons. A fourth in a row beckons. The Derby County goalkeeping coach was at Wembley 11 months ago when Queens Park Rangers snatched the unlikeliest of victories in the Championship play-off final. But he says that trauma does not reach the depth of feeling from 2012, when Sergio Aguero scored to whip the Premier League title from Manchester United, literally halting the presentation preparations on the Stadium of Light touchline.

He can also recall the moment from 2013 that mobile phones buzzed into overdrive at the Dunham Massey clubhouse during a break in a staff versus players golf day, as speculation about Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement grew. That was followed by a bus parade the former United manager hailed the biggest to engulf Manchester. Steele is, as one of Steve McClaren's trusted lieutenants, planning to bring similar scenes to Derby come the climax of this Championship campaign. His vast knowledge and expertise, delivered away from the glare of television cameras, is the side's secret weapon. Their stuttering recent form means promotion to the Premier League can only realistically come through the play-offs, but that presents an opportunity for Wembley redemption. That was devastation,' Steele recalls of Bobby Zamora's late winner. 'But the worst moment of my career was when Aguero scored. They were starting to bring the platform on – they got about ten yards, then stopped. 'That's when it hit me. S***. As a Geordie that hurt, and I'm at Sunderland of all places. Their fans started cheering. 'We'll never know if Sir Alex had thought about retiring but that was the point where if he had, he changed his mind. "I ain't going out like this." The next year we won it by 11 points. Steele recalls how the dressing rooms at the Stadium of Light from 2012 and Wembley from last year struck the same atmosphere, with a repeated rallying call by Ferguson and McClaren.

'At Sunderland there was nothing said for minutes, a deathly silence,' Steele says. 'Then Sir Alex got up and said: "Use this. Remember how you're feeling. Especially you young players, you have years ahead of you. Next year we win this." He didn't say anything else. 'He used that again at the start of next season – "remember how you felt at Sunderland" – but never mentioned it again. 'It was very similar when we lost the play-off final. Steve said: "Do you enjoy winning? If you do, this is why. How you've felt when you've lost is why you enjoy winning even more. Remember it." Steele has seen it all in a career encompassing spells at Aston Villa and Manchester City, as well as United and Derby. He recruited David de Gea, honed a young Joe Hart, and worked with Edwin van der Sar and Peter Schmeichel in their latter years, squeezing every last drop.

Dave Watson and Mart Poom, national goalkeeping coaches for England and Estonia, have come under his tutelage. He leads coaching courses for the FA and estimates he has worked with at least 40 goalkeepers in squads throughout English Football. 'That gives me satisfaction,' he beams.

This weekend the 60-year-old will speak at an annual goalkeeping convention at St George's Park, where experiences are shared and ideas formed. Having been one of the first full-time goalkeeping coaches when he started at Derby in 1998, he is a forward-thinker on the No 1 role. He explains: 'On matchdays I look after set-pieces against. Why? It affects the goalkeeper. And Steve values the goalkeeper in our style of play, continental if you like. We don't just launch it. We look to play. 'It involves the goalkeeper's relationship with the back four, the midfield, the strikers. You can't do that if I'm stuck in a corner with six balls and some discs at training. I have to give the goalkeeper the tools. Lee Grant has them but had never been asked to play that way. It was a total revolution for him. 'I now tend to say to my coaches who are looking to go into fulltime, be it youth level, senior level, international, that they have to be prepared for whatever manager comes into the club. They will say, 'We are going to play this way, are you capable of arming your goalkeeper with the necessary skills – physical, mental, tactical?'

As a fully-fledged member of the goalkeepers' union, Steele has helped others find work. 'I get phone calls from managers, 'I need a coach, I need a goalkeeper'. That doesn't detract me doing the job for my football club. That's my total concern. But the old union comes out. 'About eight years ago, Tony Pulis got David Kemp to ring me, 'I need a coach'. I said, 'I know this guy, he's ready.' It was Andy Quy, who is still at Stoke now. 'A few weeks later I got another call, 'By the way, we need a goalkeeper.' 'Tommy Sorenson's on a free,' I said. 'On a free at 32? Grab him!' 'They all want someone who can keep the ball out the net, catch a cross, distribute, and take control for about £200 per week.'

As a player Steele would have taken home similar wages while enjoying six promotions over the years at Peterborough, Brighton, Derby, and Watford. When he retired, he began keeping a professional journal. 'I keep a diary on my coaching, my day-to-day working. They go back 20 years, great referral, it's amazing what you write down and keep. Don't bring an iPad, bring a pen and paper. I have them in my loft at home.' One entry will detail May 7, 2013, they day he realised Ferguson was leaving Old Trafford. 'We were at the golf day where the staff took on players,' he recalls. 'After foursomes in the afternoon we went upstairs and all the lads put their phones on vibrate, being at a golf club out of respect. It was amazing. Scholesy, Carrick, Giggsy, sat round this table all the phones were bouncing. That's when it broke. 'They were getting calls off different people, 'It's been rumoured David Moyes is the new gaffer.' Poor David Gill was playing golf, he was getting quizzed by everybody. 'What's going on?' 'It wasn't until the next morning when Sir Alex came out and said 'I'm retiring' that we knew for certain. People still thought he may stay on in some capacity as an interim to help with David. 'At seven in the morning he brought me, Mick Phelan, and Rene Meulensteen into his office. It was very emotional. Then he told the other staff during the course of that morning. Then pulled the players. It was a long couple of weeks until his final match at West Brom. 5-5 could only be the great man's farewell. 'It was an unbelievable open bus tour. Sir Alex said it was bigger than the treble. In the streets people were hanging off scaffolding. We get a special book presented every time you win the championship, collated over the season. I have three of them in my study.'

Another accolade of Steele's is the recruitment of De Gea to United as successor to Van der Sar. After initial struggles, the Spaniard has developed into one of the world's best goalkeepers aged just 24. 'It was a long process, took me 18 months,' says Steele. 'We asked all the full-time scouts over the world to put forward their best goalkeeper. There were obviously other candidates; Manuel Neuer in Germany, Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda in France, Sergio Romero the Argentinian No 1. 'But David was a decision that was joint with the manager, the coaching team, and scouting team. I first saw him when I was at Man City and he was playing against England in the Under 17s Championships. Spain won 1-0. 'He looked like a stray waif had come on the field and put a goalkeeper's shirt on. But he did things in that game. I just made a note, 'I like this kid.' Sure enough two years later his attributes fitted what United were looking for.'

After leaving United when David Moyes arrived, Steele worked for the Nike Academy at St George's Park, the Premier League – 'they wanted someone to go round on the new EPPP' – and led coaching courses for the FA. 'Then Steve got in touch,' says Steele. 'He said, 'I have a chance of a really good job in the Championship.' I said, 'I ain't travelling.' I've lived in the Derbyshire area for 31 years. Four days later, Steve said, 'Steeley, it's 12.4 miles to the iPro from your house. I'll see you tomorrow at 4 o'clock.' 'I've enjoyed it. He's one of the best coaches I've worked with. Great vision. Evolutionary. It's based on winning but people have enjoyed the football we've played. The owners have been terrific backing him. We'll finish the highest average gate in the Championship. The fans are unbelievable. The club has always been part of the community.'

Newcastle, Steele's boyhood club, have recognised the work done by McClaren and would like the 53-year-old as head coach come summer. Steele is too long in the tooth to rule anything out. 'In football, everything is a possibility,' he says. 'I am a Geordie born and bred, and a good friend of mine, Peter Beardsley, still works for the club. All I would say is I am contracted and loyal to Derby County Football Club. 'I have to do my best for the next four, hopefully seven games. Then everyone will sit down at the end, assess that, and say, 'Where do we go from here?' 'Until somebody tells me there is another manager coming in I've got to be governed by what I've got. The facts are I have two years on my contract and I'm happy as ever. I would never underestimate by how good a club it is. Why would you want to leave a very good club who showed loyalty to us last year?

'I'm not daft, since Alan Pardew left it's been big news up there. Ultimately it would be a huge decision if I was asked. At the moment I am happy, delighted where I am, looking forward to continuing to do as best I can.'That could be enough to create a May date to remember for all the right reasons. 'The biggest high we could have now is to get to Wembley on May 25 with a fully fit squad,' he says. 'The mood is upbeat. We keep going. In my heart we're 50/50. We are at the stage of lottery games. But I'm confident in the group we've got.' 

 

 

[rammieib]

Cracking piece, then he says he doesn't want to travel again. Then I read it as Newcastle, come calling please.

[ronnieronalde]

I'll get some stick for this no doubt but this article just sums up the bullshit we were served by Rush at the time of Nigel sacking.

Nige was sacked on the 28th straight after the Forest game.

McClaren was appointed on the 30th - just two days later, alongside Steele and Simpson.

Yet above in that article it clearly states that McClaren talked to Steele AT LEAST 4 DAYS before he was appointed, meaning they'd approached McClaren BEFORE the forest game.

What a snake in the grass and as I suspected all along. Sam Rush must have been sitting at the City Ground praying for us to lose. What a disgrace and what a way to end the night.

Defend that.

You total **** Rush.

[Dimmu]

No matter what was the result of that game, Rush made correct decision. Timing could've been better, I give you that. It should've happened way earlier.

[Ramos]

I'll get some stick for this no doubt but this article just sums up the bullshit we were served by Rush at the time of Nigel sacking.

Nige was sacked on the 28th straight after the Forest game.

McClaren was appointed on the 30th - just two days later, alongside Steele and Simpson.

Yet above in that article it clearly states that McClaren talked to Steele AT LEAST 4 DAYS before he was appointed, meaning they'd approached McClaren BEFORE the forest game.

What a snake in the grass and as I suspected all along. Sam Rush must have been sitting at the City Ground praying for us to lose. What a disgrace and what a way to end the night.

Defend that.

You total **** Rush.

​Personally I never believed that as soon as that final whistle went at the city ground that Sam Rush suddenly thought "we need to do something about this." It was clearly being planned and we may have even seen Clough sacked even if we had won that game, who knows. But with McClarens contract up on the tuesday three days after the game, there was no better time to get him in if thats what Rush wanted.  Also the fact that Simpson and Steele were also confirmed within that two day window it almost certainly felt like they must have known about the possibility of a job, and this article confirms it.

I also don't think it makes him a snake in the grass, it makes him a good operator, he didn't just sack Clough with no plan, he clearly knew what he wanted and that was McClaren. Rush didn't have anything to do with Clough's appointment, he didn't really have any loyalty to him. I remember reading JA606 in the summer before the start of last season and someone mentioned murmurings around the club that Rush wasn't a massive fan of Clough, whether that was just made up stuff by the poster I don't know but it appeared to have some weight.

And like Dimmu says, it was the right decision.

 

[Ramos]

duplicated post*

[RamNut]

Good article. 

I think the article is honest and correct. We finish the season, then see whats happened and what develops with Newcastle. 

If they get an offer then they have got a big decision to make.

and if they are offered the job and we haven't gone up then they will probably go.

schteve lives up there, eric is a geordie, simmo has never worked at a big club or he could be offered the job here.

If we go up then i think they would stay.

[RamNut]

Regarding nigel......

it is clear that they had spoken to schteve to sound him out about out about the possibility of taking over......and that point schteve states that he "had a chance" of a job; not that he had definately been offered the job.

the trigger was still the row on the coach after the forest match.

the reference to 4 days seems to suggest that things happened quicker than they had expected.

[G STAR RAM]

I'll get some stick for this no doubt but this article just sums up the bullshit we were served by Rush at the time of Nigel sacking.

Nige was sacked on the 28th straight after the Forest game.

McClaren was appointed on the 30th - just two days later, alongside Steele and Simpson.

Yet above in that article it clearly states that McClaren talked to Steele AT LEAST 4 DAYS before he was appointed, meaning they'd approached McClaren BEFORE the forest game.

What a snake in the grass and as I suspected all along. Sam Rush must have been sitting at the City Ground praying for us to lose. What a disgrace and what a way to end the night.

Defend that.

You total **** Rush.

​Would you rather we sacked our manager without looking at what was available first?

Rush is by no means a snake in the grass. I would imagine that knew he was on borrowed time if things did start not well that season (Rush had said as much to fans) so I imagine Clough knew that too.

Not sure if you know Clough personally or not but, if so, maybe you could give some insight?

 

[Mostyn6]

I'll get some stick for this no doubt but this article just sums up the bullshit we were served by Rush at the time of Nigel sacking.

Nige was sacked on the 28th straight after the Forest game.

McClaren was appointed on the 30th - just two days later, alongside Steele and Simpson.

Yet above in that article it clearly states that McClaren talked to Steele AT LEAST 4 DAYS before he was appointed, meaning they'd approached McClaren BEFORE the forest game.

What a snake in the grass and as I suspected all along. Sam Rush must have been sitting at the City Ground praying for us to lose. What a disgrace and what a way to end the night.

Defend that.

You total **** Rush.

​hahaha, I will refrain from calling you names, but you should learn to read.

 

The FIRST game (v Ipswich) was 4 days later, the bit "12.4 miles to the iPro", which was probably Pride Park then, is the clue!

You do remember that they weren't supposed to take over until the morning after the Ipswich game!

[Ashz09]

Reading that it seems weird. He's saying he wants to stay but if Newcastle came calling he would love to go there. Least he's honest.

 

Got a feeling if we don't go up Rush/Mclaren/Simo/Steele will all be gone. If we do go up could be the same story but may be easier finding a quality manager bit like Southampton (Obviously not as good as we haven't had a season in the prem yet).

[RIMBAUD]

I don't think rush will go.

[Alph]

Never shut doors in football. It's a fickle game. Hero to zero and all that. When you're a winner you can get any job. When losing you couldn't get a job cutting the grass. 

So when on top it's important to keep all doors open. Use it as a bargaining tool. It can NEVER hurt to keep options open. 

Like Darren Bent and McClaren. They could confess their undying loyalty to DCFC. They could slam shut the doors on Villa and Newcastle. 

Why would they? To get people's affection for 5 minutes?

Why wouldn't they? Firstly you don't know how long you're a winner for. If it's looking like you're onto a loser then jump ship. If you stay on a sinking ship then in this game it's rare somebody throws you a lifeline. You work for money and success. That's what it's all about. There is no honour or loyalty. And that's because if you are onto a loser and you are loyal... you're a fool if you think it will be returned. Yes, the shocking fact of football that no one mentions? Clubs and fans arent loyal either. They won't stick by you if you're a loser. 

Secondly, you might not be onto a loser. The future might be bright and things are running smoothly. So close the door right? Wrong. Why weaken your position? To get fans to love you? They'll love you if you keep the success coming. So the ship is sailing fine. You don't need an exit strategy. You don't know what's around the corner but you're confident it's more success. Now you can stretch the budget. You can get that pay rise. You should also hog the limelight. Let the world talk about you and how well you're doing. It's a fickle game and its easy to become background noise. 

Take Klopp for example. Do you think he's got the same negotiating power as he had a year ago? The honourable thing to do would be to announce his resignation at the close season. Same with Mark Warburton? Why bring distraction to the club?

Because you need some good old fashioned gossip and rumours. That's where you get to play the field a bit. Get your negotiating power. Let the rumours get silly. Let each newspaper "reveal" the facts. Hell, leak that you have something in the pipeline when you haven't.  Then when you get to the negotiating table somewhere... you're the dogs logs. Whatever club you stick or sign with will adore you for choosing them. 

[ronnieronalde]

​hahaha, I will refrain from calling you names, but you should learn to read.

 

The FIRST game (v Ipswich) was 4 days later, the bit "12.4 miles to the iPro", which was probably Pride Park then, is the clue!

You do remember that they weren't supposed to take over until the morning after the Ipswich game!

​I can read fine thanks Mostyn.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24331558

The link is McClaren, Steele and Simpson with Sam Rush on the 30th September, two days after the sacking of Nigel.

The same as I've got a very good memory and I/we was/were told by Sam Rush that NO approach had been made to another manager while Nigel was still in charge.

I don't care about the timing, I care about the lying. He lied. He lied about backing the manager, he lied about why he fired the manager and he lied about how and when he lined up his replacement. He (that's Sam Rush) went into the Forest game hoping we'd lose so he could fire the manager, if we'd won that game we would have been in 8th in the table after a VERY tricky first 9 games and it would have been impossible to justify getting rid of Nigel then.

If you lot choose not to care about that then that's fine. I care, It pissed me off no end at the time and it still pisses me off now. I think Rush is a conman, you all think he's god.

I'm fairly sure which one of us is right.

[ronnieronalde]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2439416/Steve-McClaren-named-Derby-boss.html

 

Steve McClaren has been appointed as manager of Derby County – and is set to be joined former Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Former England manager McClaren was at Pride Park this afternoon putting the finishes touches to his move to Derby, where he has previously held the position of assistant manager.

McClaren was understood to be be chief executive Sam Rush’s first choice to take over from Nigel Clough, who was surprisingly sacked in the wake of the club’s defeat in the east Midlands’ derby against Nottingham Forest.

 

Welcome to Derby: McClaren (second left) alongside Paul Simpson, Eric Steele and Sam Rush

The 52-year-old has been working at QPR as a first-team coach under Harry Redknapp since July, and Derby approached the London club to speak to McClaren on Sunday evening.

Clough’s backroom team - Gary Crosby, Andy Garner, Martin Taylor, Johnny Metgod along with his brother, Simon - have all been placed on gardening leave, with McClaren being allowed to bring in his own men.  

McClaren has previously been on the Rams’ coaching staff, when working alongside Jim Smith in the 1990’s, before being poached by Manchester United to be Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two, where he was an integral part of United’s 1999 Treble success.

McClaren, who guided Middlesborough to a UEFA Cup Final and won a Dutch league title with FC Twente, is in talks with Eric Steele who is to be appointed as Derby’s new goalkeeping coach. Steele was part of the backroom staff under Smith and along McClaren in the nineties, before going on to train goalkeepers at Manchester City and Manchester United.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2439416/Steve-McClaren-named-Derby-boss.html#ixzz3XYO4jArO 
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Guest]

"Clough’s backroom team - Gary Crosby, Andy Garner, Martin Taylor."

*shudders* 

[Mostyn6]

​I can read fine thanks Mostyn.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24331558

The link is McClaren, Steele and Simpson with Sam Rush on the 30th September, two days after the sacking of Nigel.

The same as I've got a very good memory and I/we was/were told by Sam Rush that NO approach had been made to another manager while Nigel was still in charge.

I don't care about the timing, I care about the lying. He lied. He lied about backing the manager, he lied about why he fired the manager and he lied about how and when he lined up his replacement. He (that's Sam Rush) went into the Forest game hoping we'd lose so he could fire the manager, if we'd won that game we would have been in 8th in the table after a VERY tricky first 9 games and it would have been impossible to justify getting rid of Nigel then.

If you lot choose not to care about that then that's fine. I care, It pissed me off no end at the time and it still pisses me off now. I think Rush is a conman, you all think he's god.

I'm fairly sure which one of us is right.

​whether you are right or wrong is not the issue here, I was reacting to you using quotes from Steele to back you up when in fact you were misrepresenting the facts within.

McClaren was appointed on the Sunday or Monday, but Wassall remained in charge of first team affairs until the morning after the Ipswich game.

It stands to reason, based upon the comment, that SM contacted ES on the DAY of the Ipswich game, being 4 days after taking the job.

It stands to reason that this was ES' first visit to PP since taking the job.

Where is the lie here? There was a four day gap, it doesn't mean you've been lied to.

[ronnieronalde]

Oh my Mostyn, but how you're trying to twist here.

 

Ngel was sacked on the 28th They were ALL appointed on the 30th which is only a TWO DAY gap.

Eric clearly says Steve told me he had a chance of a really good championship job (meaning he hadn't been appointed yet) then says 4 days later Steve told me it was 12.4 miles to the ipro and that he'd see me tomorrow. 

Meaning he contacted him at least 4 days before he was appointed and probably 5 due to the see you tomorrow comment. That means Steve knew about the potential job either on the 24th or the 25th.

Now that also means unless the "official approach" to Steve McClaren happening on the Sunday (29th)i s also a lie, then we've illegally approached Steve before speaking to QPR?

It stinks to high heavens and also shows the character that Steve has in talking to Derby while Nige was still in charge, very classy.

I won't win any friends in this conversation but don't make out it's me misinterpretting comments or that I can't read.

[Animal is a Ram]

You mean you're going to ignore all Rush et al's hard positive work, simply because he was prudent enough to have wheels in motion before he sacked Clough?

Would you rather have been in a situation where we had no-one or Clough in place for weeks or months and form continued to drop? Surely you'd have criticised him for not having a plan if he had sacked Clough without a replacement in the wings? No win situation it is then.

There's little space in business for sentimentality, and as much as people like to pretend it isn't, football is business. Sam Rush is a businessman. He's ruthless, yes, but I'd much rather have that than the rather spineless spin doctor that was Tom Glick. Having McClaren/Simpson/Steele in as early as possible meant he could turn it round sooner. And turn it round he did. How many people said 'what if we had them in since the start'? Maybe, we could have been closer to Leicester and Burnely - but we'll never know.

How many times have managers been 'backed' by the board, only to lose their jobs a couple of weeks later? It's not uncommon, you going to call them all liars too?

And since then, Rush et al have used their contacts and knowledge to help bring in some top talent, secure some massive sponsorship deals, and generally improve all the other revenue streams to Derby.

I get that Clough was popular at Derby. There are many reasons why he was good for Derby. But it was time to move on, and the last two seasons have shown it.

[Guest]

Ronnie.......you make some valid points...but do you realise in business there are many ways to skin a cat. Do you think Rush actually rang McClaren directly? That would have been naive and dumb. An agent contracted to work for by Derby would have spoken to mcclarens agent....this breaks no rules. I am convinced as a successful business man Ashley will likely have done the same to us....hence Rush can say no approach has been to dcfc from Newcastle. All is fair in lov e and war.

both derby and now Newcastle have an "option" to hire mcclaren......

for the record I thought Nigel was harshly treated, in that he was not given enough time with his new way of playing etc. Those last three defeats were very unlucky and as we know Rush was signing players Nigel never approved of ( signed straight after nigels dismissal) we will never know how Nigel would have performs...(play offs would have been achieved I feel) however not getting on with your boss (Rush) is always fatal in the Long run..

 

this is an interesting article from Steele, but it shows nothing unexpected occurrd, unless you are believing life is fair etc etc. Note:Rush would not have spoken to mcclaren personally.....so I suggest you take care saying he did ....just advice.