It's a lose-lose situation

[Carl Sagan]

No I'm not talking about what both teams might somehow contrive to do at the weekend.

I welcome 'Arry and hope his appointment proves a huge success, but it creates a problem for Wassall. If Derby get it together and hit form going into the playoffs, it will because Rednapp was able to turn things around. If we continue our slide and slip out of the playoff places, it will be because Wassall's not got what it takes.

I hope I'm wrong and Wassall can regain the popularity he enjoyed among the fanbase earlier in the season (and boy are our fans fickle), but this is normally the way when you bring one manager/coach in to help another.

[ramsbottom]

That's only if you're looking at it from Waffall's perspective.  If we go up, we go up.  If we don't, we don't.  Either way I just hope neither of them are made permanent manager...  Fingers crossed

[MackworthRamIsGod]

I can't help but wonder if Harry is coming in as eyes and ears. Maybe Mel has asked a mate who is impartial to come in and assess what we have. Spend time on the training ground and the changing rooms and assess who the good and bad eggs are.

Part of the 'review' at the end of the season may involve Harry passing on his findings to the new manager, whoever that may be.

I wouldn't trust Harry with my piggy bank, but I reckon he could provide a decent insight into a group of players within a couple of months.

[ramsbottom]

3 minutes ago, MackworthRamIsGod said:

I can't help but wonder if Harry is coming in as eyes and ears. Maybe Mel has asked a mate who is impartial to come in and assess what we have. Spend time on the training ground and the changing rooms and assess who the good and bad eggs are.

Part of the 'review' at the end of the season may involve Harry passing on his findings to the new manager, whoever that may be.

I wouldn't trust Harry with my piggy bank, but I reckon he could provide a decent insight into a group of players within a couple of months.

A fair point.  Just wish it was our actual future manager who was doing that.

Maybe it's not actually 'Arry at all, maybe it's cyborg sent back in time by Brendan Rodgers to collate information on the squad and kill Chris Martin's Mrs before he can have a (supposed) affair with him???  Come on, over the past few days you wouldn't be surprised would you???

[EnigmaRam]

Only if your glass is half empty

[Ziga Zaga10]

7 minutes ago, Carl Sagan said:

No I'm not talking about what both teams might somehow contrive to do at the weekend.

I welcome 'Arry and hope his appointment proves a huge success, but it creates a problem for Wassall. If Derby get it together and hit form going into the playoffs, it will because Rednapp was able to turn things around. If we continue our slide and slip out of the playoff places, it will be because Wassall's not got what it takes.

I hope I'm wrong and Wassall can regain the popularity he enjoyed among the fanbase earlier in the season (and boy are our fans fickle), but this is normally the way when you bring one manager/coach in to help another.

With the best will in the world, who cares if Darren wins or loses on this appointment. He's employed by Derby and was "honoured" to take on the role of head coach untill the end of the season. Darren ain't losing much sleep worrying how I'm doing in my job thats for sure. We all have one common denominator as far as Derby County is concerned and that is we want them to win every match they play in. If Darren/Arry can make that happen we will all be happy. In the mean time I'm right behind em both..

[Thierry Ennui]

During the interview process for our next manager they should have a collection of all the player's wives' photos, and should just thrust them in front of the manager and ask him if he finds any of them attractive. Ideally the next manager should be too old to do anything about his dirty manager urges, castrated or gay.

[Carnero]

Or look like Harry Redknapp...

[Ramos]

To be honest I see it as a Win, Win, and I take this from the point of view that I don't really have anything against Harry, certainly not the level of hatred some people seem to have against the guy. Ignoring anything but footballing matters I think he's done pretty well over his career. People can keep going on and on about him destroying Portsmouth but the men with the money and the financial team have far more share of the blame than Harry. Clement certainly didn't turn down any of that 25 million we spent this season and karanka wasn't saying ooo no don't spend another 9 million on Jordan Rhodes. Managers apart from Nigel by the sounds of it will spend whatever they are offered. The boards should of said no to him at QPR and Portsmouth. 

Back to why I see it as a win, win, its clear that Wassall has tried his best but we can all see he is not up to the job. For me there is no way that he will keep the job in the summer even if we win every game for the rest of the season because then it would be seen as the Harry effect. The fact that they have brought someone in to help means that's a vote of no confidence for Wassall. We all should just let him go back to the academy in the summer, stop with the personal attacks on him because if he's not good enough he's not good enough, no reason to hate the guy as if he's done something to wrong people. 

If we do really well and it turns out Harry has what it takes to get us doing well, then why not give him a go as the actual manager or if he doesn't want it then at least we will move onto someone else rather than Wassall. I don't think Mel or Sam would put this club in jeopardy if Harry was to take over, I can see them giving him money to spend with whatever fits into FFP. Its clear Mel wants to run a sustainable club and I think like most people, he believes we have a very strong squad which with the right coaching, is not far off getting over the line. I hope Harry can help us out, and hopefully we see an improvement before the end of the season. Most people aren't expecting anything now from whats been a disappointing season, so for me its win, win. It doesn't work, its just another mistake to add to the other ones from this season, if it works out in terms of either promotion or just improved performances at least its done something. 

[Comrade 86]

I wonder if any of Wassall's critics have considered that he may have been instructed as much as invited to take on the manager's role?  If the chairman of your company pulled you into his office and said, 'look fella, we're getting shot of the MD, I know it's not a role you're ready for but I'd like you to step into the breach until the new guy we have lined up becomes available. I'd consider it a personal favour and it'd stand you in good stead when you yourself are ready to move up the ladder'. How many of us would say, 'fook that pal, it's a poison bloomin chalice of a job and I'm quite happy with my nice, safe middle-management role'?

Rotheram aside, where the substitutions had even the most staunch of us scratching our heads, DW has performed ok given the absolute melting pot of a job he's stepped up to take. If folk are to continually run him down then they need to assign a fair chunk of the blame to the players too.  Harry's here now to lend a helping hand and to add the touch of experience that so many on here have cried out for.  Let's stop the backbiting for now at least and see what the new set up yields between now and April. Despite the money spent, we never had any God-given right to automatic promotion and the constant wall of surly self-entitlement must be crushing for a man who has given the club 7 years of good and honest service.  Feel free to tear me apart if you like but I don't think the man's been fairly treated whatever we think of his abilities.

[t'oldu]

Memories of when he was at West.Ham.? and shipped in a whole load of foreign players off videos.

 They came to play us and when one was told he was on the bench he ran ( literally ) back to the station to catch the first

London train out so he could go shopping ........

[Van der MoodHoover]

Harry is still highly regarded at Bournemouth. And my pompey mates don't mind him, attributing most of their financial woes to gaydamak.

Southampton don't rate him tho....

[plymouthram]

In 30 odd years of management, Harry won promotion with Bournemouth (in Div 3) and then relegation a couple of seasons later. At Westham he spent loads on foreign players and one season finished 5th qualifying for Europe. At Spurs he got them into Europe once. At Portsmouth (with the Bald Eagle as assistant) he got promotion and won the F.A cup. He relegated Southhampton. Won a play off final with QPR. Every club he was at, he brought in a shed load of coaches. At most clubs he spent heavily, and normally on ageing 2nd rate stars. He as been investigated a few times for dodgy dealings and monies.

Guess what some people rate him. I don't know why they have bought in this wide boy who over 30 odd years won very little. It is possible we could get promotion this season, but please don't all jump on the band wagon and state good old Arry. I don't know how much they will be paying Arry for his 8 weeks work, but I personally think we could have got someone else in his role and would do a better job at half the price.

[Half fan]

8 hours ago, 86 points said:

I wonder if any of Wassall's critics have considered that he may have been instructed as much as invited to take on the manager's role?  If the chairman of your company pulled you into his office and said, 'look fella, we're getting shot of the MD, I know it's not a role you're ready for but I'd like you to step into the breach until the new guy we have lined up becomes available. I'd consider it a personal favour and it'd stand you in good stead when you yourself are ready to move up the ladder'.

"And as soon as possible, sunshine, I will get my Sandbanks neighbour Arry to come and give you a hand for the rest of this season. You might have to soldier on alone for a few weeks because he's getting Jordan to sort his knee out first - couldn't really hear what he was on about as it was a lively party. Can't guarantee she'd come too."

Uncle Mel takes Waffle's stifled mirth as a yes, and the rest is history.

By the way, Eddie, I forecast we'd have a part-timer - just picked the wrong name out of the hat.

[rynny]

1 hour ago, plymouthram said:

In 30 odd years of management, Harry won promotion with Bournemouth (in Div 3) and then relegation a couple of seasons later. At Westham he spent loads on foreign players and one season finished 5th qualifying for Europe. At Spurs he got them into Europe once. At Portsmouth (with the Bald Eagle as assistant) he got promotion and won the F.A cup. He relegated Southhampton. Won a play off final with QPR. Every club he was at, he brought in a shed load of coaches. At most clubs he spent heavily, and normally on ageing 2nd rate stars. He as been investigated a few times for dodgy dealings and monies.

Guess what some people rate him. I don't know why they have bought in this wide boy who over 30 odd years won very little. It is possible we could get promotion this season, but please don't all jump on the band wagon and state good old Arry. I don't know how much they will be paying Arry for his 8 weeks work, but I personally think we could have got someone else in his role and would do a better job at half the price.

You don't know how much we are paying him, you don't know what effect he will have on the club going forward and what our results may be but you think someone else could do it better and for half the price? What if we win every game between now and the end of the season and 'Arry is on £5k a week?

[WilkoRam]

5 hours ago, rynny said:

You don't know how much we are paying him, you don't know what effect he will have on the club going forward and what our results may be but you think someone else could do it better and for half the price? What if we win every game between now and the end of the season and 'Arry is on £5k a week?

Then he believes that someone else would win all those games by more goals for £2.5k a week!

I'm struggling with the outrage here. We've appointed an older head to the management team to help Wassall. Seems odd to me that people have cried out for this type of role for years (Clough could do with an older head to help guide him, etc), we do it and then there's confusion about why we've done it. 

People also seem annoyed that he's short term and this goes against the "grow with the club" line. Consider that maybe he's come to help guide Wassall and Wassall may be the person who grows with the club. As much as people may not like that idea, if they do the business and Wassall learns and develops then what's the problem?

It'll be assessed and I'm sure if it doesn't work, if things don't change, then a new guy comes in at the end of the season. If it does then maybe Wassall keeps the job. As long as we do well, I don't care. 

Also it's great to see people's take on Harry's history. His achievements are shown in a negative light by @plymouthram yet people bang on about Pearson being the man, who's done what? His Southampton record is poor, his Hull record isn't great either and he had the current Prem table toppers battling against relegation. 

Give Harry and Wassall a chance (although football advisor is a poor title)

[HKRam]

57 minutes ago, WilkoRam said:

Then he believes that someone else would win all those games by more goals for £2.5k a week!

I'm struggling with the outrage here. We've appointed an older head to the management team to help Wassall. Seems odd to me that people have cried out for this type of role for years (Clough could do with an older head to help guide him, etc), we do it and then there's confusion about why we've done it. 

People also seem annoyed that he's short term and this goes against the "grow with the club" line. Consider that maybe he's come to help guide Wassall and Wassall may be the person who grows with the club. As much as people may not like that idea, if they do the business and Wassall learns and develops then what's the problem?

It'll be assessed and I'm sure if it doesn't work, if things don't change, then a new guy comes in at the end of the season. If it does then maybe Wassall keeps the job. As long as we do well, I don't care. 

Also it's great to see people's take on Harry's history. His achievements are shown in a negative light by @plymouthram yet people bang on about Pearson being the man, who's done what? His Southampton record is poor, his Hull record isn't great either and he had the current Prem table toppers battling against relegation. 

Give Harry and Wassall a chance (although football advisor is a poor title)

Exactly.

if I were Wassall I would ask for club's permission to follow Rednapp's games during the international break, too. The hope is that I would not only "grow with the club" as you said, but outgrow it so I'd become a national team manager myself. Maybe England' job is too soon, but for sure Ireland has to consider me fast learner, right?

The only downside is that I have to travel from Derby to London and then to Jordan, and further to Sydney and back to London and then Derby or possibly directly to Cardiff -- all within two weeks. My legs are not gone yet but I am already 47 years old, you know. 

 

[HKRam]

That being said Paul Clement has shadowd Ancelotti for five (5) whole years and still got the sack. Let's hope it's just him because Wassall surely has more potential to "grow with the club"(if not outgrow it).

[scarboroughwa]

9 hours ago, plymouthram said:

In 30 odd years of management, Harry won promotion with Bournemouth (in Div 3) and then relegation a couple of seasons later. At Westham he spent loads on foreign players and one season finished 5th qualifying for Europe. At Spurs he got them into Europe once. At Portsmouth (with the Bald Eagle as assistant) he got promotion and won the F.A cup. He relegated Southhampton. Won a play off final with QPR. Every club he was at, he brought in a shed load of coaches. At most clubs he spent heavily, and normally on ageing 2nd rate stars. He as been investigated a few times for dodgy dealings and monies.

Guess what some people rate him. I don't know why they have bought in this wide boy who over 30 odd years won very little. It is possible we could get promotion this season, but please don't all jump on the band wagon and state good old Arry. I don't know how much they will be paying Arry for his 8 weeks work, but I personally think we could have got someone else in his role and would do a better job at half the price.

Who else are we going to get at this crucial part of the season?

Rodgers? You're dreaming

Moyes? You're dreaming

McLaren? That's still makes me laugh

Warburton? Oh, please

Stick with Wassell? 

Wait, you're thinking Pep Guardiola? Coooooooollll. 

[WilkoRam]

Do you call in to radio Derby? You strike me as one of those who will say "we're a laughing stock" or "he's a clown" 

I don't like Harry's other commitments, you should commit to Derby, but he has that other job and Mel, Sam and Wassall all seem OK with it. Seeing as they're the ones who know his contract then I'll probably trust their judgement on this. Shocking I know, fan trusts owner, CEO and manager of the club rather than facetious poster on forum  it's unbelievable. 

Clement should have been allowed to grow with the club. It was his first managerial role and it doesn't matter how long he was No2, it's a different job and you either commit or you don't. I've said a number of times that at Christmas we were sitting pretty top of the league, near the top of the scoring charts and with one of the best defensive records. People say it was dull football but for a club that has been fragile in recent years we had signs of being a solid unit. Build from the back they say. But then this isn't about Clement, he's gone and it's about the here and now. Wassall is here until the end of the season, would I have liked a manager with a bit of pedigree or at least one who had been a manager elsewhere? Yes of course, but it hasn't happened. So with Wassall in place it's about giving him the best tools to do the job, just as Mel did when he signed the players that Clement wanted. In this instance he's got an experienced manager to help him. It either works or it doesn't but it's help for the guy so why the annoyance? Why the facetious remarks about outgrowing the club and international management?