From Wembley to Burton:How did it all go wrong. Volume 1

[sage]

Right, just to warn you now that this will probably be the longest opening post you've ever read (or wisely chose to ignore) and is a mixture of fact and opinion. It is an attempt to tell a story that starts in the 60th minute at Wembley as QPR go down to 10 men and ends at the Pirelli Stadium and it's immediate aftermath. It will look at transfers, selections, managers, the chairman and key games. 

Most of the story will be in normal type. Opinion pieces will be in italics. I will write about later key games in bold.

Imagine some slightly haunting music and this page misting over before the vision in front of you becomes clear and you are sat at Wembley on 24th May 2014. Derby have been playing great football under Steve Mcclaren, moving Derby on from the NC era and are on top, Johnny Russell is running through on goal, is hacked down and yes, it's a red card, QPR down to ten men, nothing can stop us now...   

But we were stopped. Missed chances, some bad luck and some individual mistakes. Could Steve Mac we have done anything differently with a game there for the taking? As QPR began to defend their penalty box with massed ranks, I would agree with Dawkins coming on for Russell, but taking Hughes off instead of Hendrick simply didn't make sense with the task in hand and when we were pumping cross after cross into their box, why wasn't Bamford brought on until injury time?

In the close season, Wisdom and Bamford's loan spell ended, but after a saga Thorne's loan was made permanent as was that of Zak Whitbread. We also brought in Cyrus Christie permanently and also Ibe, Shotton, Mascarell and Best on loan.

So what of these signings and loans? Thorne was been a class player, but injuries have meant he has missed 2/3 of our games since, and there are doubts as to whether he will ever realise the potential we all saw in him. Whitbread was only ever a cover player and as such did his job. Christie started off like a runaway train attacking with gusto but like runaway trains he doesn't have a destination or know his station. He now over complicates matters going forward meaning his attacking play doesn't overcome his lack of positional sense and defensive instincts. Shotton never really looked like a Premier League player and became like Whitbread, a cover CB.

The next 3 loans all became more key to our season in different ways. Mascarell helped plug the gap till Thorne was fit, but didn't have Eustace's defensive nous, but we were to miss him after his injury, more of that later. Best was mean to be cover for Martin but was abject. In the early games that he played or came on as sub left fans with little confidence that he could replace Martin in the event of injury, a lack of confidence which was to come back to haunt us later that season. Ibe gave us a lift and real pace, something we have tried to replicate in recent months to little effect. His recall by Liverpool was one of 3 negative turning points in the 2014/15 season.  

Ibe was recalled 2 days before we played Forest at home. We were top of the league with Bournemouth and playing great football but were also missing Eustace who had been sent off at Ipswich in injury time the game before to secure a 1-0 win. Bent had come in on loan but had yet to make an appearance. Forest had only won 2 games in 20 and despite losing Ibe and Eustace who had also picked up an injury, we had signed Albentosa from Eibar, we were a hive of activity,,surely nothing could stop us now...

One nil up at half time, playing pretty well. After Hendrick comes on for Hughes we don't play so well in the second half but Forest only just had their first attempt on target when in the 73rd minute and Mascarell gives away an unnecessary foul 35 yards out and gets booked. Forest score from the free kick and Steve Mac brings on Bent to go 442. Derby press but don't look like scoring and the game goes into injury time looking like a draw.  Grant kicks the ball long towards Bent and it is headed clear, Christie has run recklessly 20 yards past his man and Forest are breaking Mascarell has a 50/50 ball to win on the halfway line, a foul would mean a red card and he does the opposite to Eustace at Ipswich and tries to nick the ball unsuccessfully, Forest have a 3 on 2, Keogh backs off trying to buy time and it's 2-1.   The seeds of doubt are sown.

Derby recover to win their next 2 games and Ince and Lingard come in on loan, we go on to beat an awful Bolton 4-1 with new boy Ince scoring 2. We are equal top with Bournemouth again and that is our next game, away on the south coast.

Derby had an awful start to the game, conceding in the 12th minute, with Hughes and Mascarell failing to track Ritchie, then Martin went off injured in the 15th minute, to be replaced by Bent. Ince equalises after linking with Bent and Bent equalises later after good work by Dawkins. Bournemouth end up hanging on in the game, bringing on full backs to play as wingers, Derby look the better team.

So why was this period a negative turning point? Eustace was out for while and Thorne was some way from returning. Mascarell was showing signs of defensive frailty and Martin, the fulcrum of our attacking play for 18 months was out. Surely we needed a DCM and a target man in on loan or to buy. Instead we loaned in 2 wingers. The senior of which Ince whilst a constant goal threat, wasn't suited to our quick tempo, passing game. Bent scored goals, but couldn't hold the ball up. Derby fans were looking to the physio room for good news on Thorne and Martin. What we didn't know at the time was Grant was also injured with a torn calf muscle that inhibited his coming out for crosses.

We drew the next game at Rotherham 3-3 with Grant and Mascarell both being at fault for goals. Though we won our next 2, the team look disjointed and and only won 2 of the next 12 games, drawing our last away games 4-4 and 3-3 away at Huddersfield and Millwall respectively. In the middle of this run, was a draw that felt like a defeat. Meanwhile, Newcastle were tracking Steve Mac who offered a limited disinterest. 

Derby had Birmingham at home, Bent was out injured and Russell was playing up front with Ince and Ward either side of him, Albentosa was in for Buxton. Derby go 2 nil up through Ward and Ince and the 90 minutes are up with Derby having a free kick in their own box. Christie passes to Ince who is immediately under pressure on the touchline 30 yards from his own goal. Christie and Hendrick both make runs beyond Ince instead of offering him a pass. Ince is robbed of the ball and chases his man into the area. The ref gives a dodgy penalty and it's game on. They get a corner, there's an almighty scramble and it's 2-2. Two points thrown away due to lack of defensive nous and the nerves are shredded.

However due to our early season form we entered the last game against Reading at home needing to draw to secure a play off place.

Hughes and Albentosa contrive to give a goal away in the first minutes and we are playing dreadfully. Somehow we get a penalty in the last minute of the first half. Bent misses, We concede 2 more in the second half and from a seemingly unassailable position we finish 8th.       

So where did it go wrong? Injuries and misguided recruitment or the spectre of Newcastle?.

Losing Thorne in pre season was a blow but Eustace and to some extent Mascarell were keeping us in the top two. but as soon as Eustace was injured, we had to get a DCM in. We didn't. As so as Martin was injured, we had to get a target man in. We didn't.

We ended up with Ince, Bent and Lingard. Ince and Bent scored goals, but you defend from the front and both players are only really interested in the final or penultimate ball in a move. When you could get the ball to them near their box they were good, but you were trying to do that with 9 men.  

If Eustace and Martin hadn't got injured I believe we would have gone up in the top 2. If Mascarell and Buxton hadn't got injured we'd have finished in the play offs. However you expect to pick up injuries over the season and our failure was to provide cover for Martin and a replacement for Eustace.

Now what about the Newcastle rumours? How much of a part did they play in our demise? I think only Steve Mac and maybe the players could answer that. We are just guessing it did, maybe Mel was guessing too.

Volume 2: O My Darling Clement will come when my fingers and eyes recover.  

 

  

 

 

       

 

[Duracell]

I know it's long but a lot of posters should give this a read. 

I still can't get over the players we signed from January 2015 onwards. Every single signing since then, with the possible exception of Butterfield, has taken the squad further and further away from what Dawes coined "Bucks Fizz" football that tore up the league from the day Mac took over right up until Zamora's goal, and then for large parts of the 2014-15 season up until February. It would be fine if were clearly moving to a clear different style of play and formation, but both Schteve and Clement plugged away with a 4-3-3 formation dependent on technically gifted players who could play patiently and keep the ball.

Since January 2015 Butterfield is the only player we've signed close to that description.

I don't see Forest as such a key game, that was a bad day at the office that was likely to happen with Eustace out and against a local rival with nothing to lose. But what happened as a response to the injuries following Bournemouth made no sense whatsoever.

You're in need of a CDM and a centre forward and you sign a fox-in-the-box poacher and two wingers? That's like your car needing fuel and engine oil, and instead replacing the tires.

[De22Ram]

Are you going to take next week off to right volume 2 

[sage]

1 minute ago, Duracell said:

I know it's long but a lot of posters should give this a read. 

I still can't get over the players we signed from January 2015 onwards. Every single signing since then, with the possible exception of Butterfield, has taken the squad further and further away from what Dawes coined "Bucks Fizz" football that tore up the league from the day Mac took over right up until Zamora's goal, and then for large parts of the 2014-15 season up until February. It would be fine if were clearly moving to a clear different style of play and formation, but both Schteve and Clement plugged away with a 4-3-3 formation dependent on technically gifted players who could play patiently and keep the ball.

Since January 2015 Butterfield is the only player we've signed close to that description.

I don't see Forest as such a key game, that was a bad day at the office that was likely to happen with Eustace out and against a local rival with nothing to lose. But what happened as a response to the injuries following Bournemouth made no sense whatsoever.

You're in need of a CDM and a centre forward and you sign a fox-in-the-box poacher and two wingers? That's like your car needing fuel and engine oil, and instead replacing the tires.

The reason I saw it as a key moment was it was our first game post Ibe, with defences being able to push up a little and the difference between Eustace taking a second yellow late at Ipswich to keep a win and Mascarell not risking a second yellow to preserve a draw. That second goal was an early indicator of our inability to balance attack and defence for the rest of the season. All opinion though.  

[cannable]

Y'know, it's never really been mentioned on here before but it really is a shame that Ipswich away was Eustace's last game in professional football.

[Duracell]

It was an indicator, but with coaching and man management, Mascarell would've been good enough to keep us in the top 6. I still think he was a good signing. Automatics were gone the moment we lost Martin, Thorne and Eustace, just as it would have been for anyone losing such pivotal players all at the same time. Mascarell was a step backwards, but not enough to boot us out of the top 6. And that's why you have cover.

The same could be applied to Bent. He wasn't suited to the system but Mac's side could create enough chances for him to get some goals. It was far from ideal and our PPG was going to take a hit with Bent playing CF and Mascarell playing CDM but both were good enough to preserve a play-off position from the position we were in.

Then the back-ups got injured and the way Steve dealt with that was baffling.

[De22Ram]

Its hard as fans to draw a conclusion on what actually happened as we only see half the picture. We dont see the personalties of the players, friendships in the team, players/coaches personal problems, what pressures the board or putting on coaching staff, players etc etc! Theres so much we dont see as fans, we can only base our opinion on what we see on match day and hear say basically! 

Id love to know the whole story!!

I look forward to volume 2 though 

[sage]

14 minutes ago, De22Ram said:

Are you going to take next week off to right volume 2 

Teaching starts again on Tuesday so will squeeze them in beforw then

 It did take some doing. 

[BondJovi]

5 minutes ago, sage said:

The reason I saw it as a key moment was it was our first game post Ibe, with defences being able to push up a little and the difference between Eustace taking a second yellow late at Ipswich to keep a win and Mascarell not risking a second yellow to preserve a draw. That second goal was an early indicator of our inability to balance attack and defence for the rest of the season. All opinion though.  

Big choice for poor Mascarell though! The kind of choice you'd only really gain from experience.

Good first volume though! Can't say I disagree with much, if any of it.

[cannable]

I think not managing to sign Jutkiewicz in the summer really came to bite us on the arse.

Another silly decision from McClaren was to start Thorne twice in four days when he made his comeback. Any surprise that he picked up a muscle injury? 

[Dethorn]

27 minutes ago, sage said:

The reason I saw it as a key moment was it was our first game post Ibe, with defences being able to push up a little and the difference between Eustace taking a second yellow late at Ipswich to keep a win and Mascarell not risking a second yellow to preserve a draw. That second goal was an early indicator of our inability to balance attack and defence for the rest of the season. All opinion though.  

I hadn't twigged this myself, but I think it links to whjy I am not an Ince fan. The two Hull games for me emphaise this, for Ibe read Weiman, in the second game Weiman was pushing on creating space for our talented midfielders to move up and play off of Martin. I have seen Ince with and without the ball rounding behind our CDM. It drives me up the wall.

Ince is without doubt talented, but I think he needs to be coached to give the most of these talents to the team cause.

I think that when opposition defenses push up against us, Hughes, Bryson, Hendrick and probably Butterfield and Johnson have their job made much harder.

[Half Fan Half Biscuit]

Never understood why we rushed to sign Bent and Ince last summer.

[Anon]

6 minutes ago, cannable said:

I think not managing to sign Jutkiewicz in the summer really came to bite us on the arse.

Another silly decision from McClaren was to start Thorne twice in four days when he made his comeback. Any surprise that he picked up a muscle injury? 

It was a bad decision, but we were already desperate for results by that point and both Eustace and Mascarell were done for the season, so I can see why he took the risk. Thorne limping off against Watford was the moment I gave up on the season.

[De22Ram]

2 minutes ago, Hadabelly said:

Never understood why we rushed to sign Bent and Ince last summer.

Can understand ince! Unsure about Bent and most of the others last summer! Having said that i do wonder how ince effects the harmony in the squad, in terms of his attitude! 

[bcnram]

6 minutes ago, De22Ram said:

Can understand ince! Unsure about Bent and most of the others last summer! Having said that i do wonder how ince effects the harmony in the squad, in terms of his attitude! 

What is wrong with his attitude? Whenever I have seen him with the players he seems to be pretty popular.

[Tombo]

6 minutes ago, De22Ram said:

Can understand ince! Unsure about Bent and most of the others last summer! Having said that i do wonder how ince effects the harmony in the squad, in terms of his attitude! 

What makes you think he's got an attitude? And please don't slip in the word "apparently" or another synonym that might lead me to believe you're making it up. 

[cannable]

11 minutes ago, Anon said:

It was a bad decision, but we were already desperate for results by that point and both Eustace and Mascarell were done for the season, so I can see why he took the risk. Thorne limping off against Watford was the moment I gave up on the season.

Mascarell was still fit by this point! We were top as well I believe!

[sage]

13 minutes ago, Hadabelly said:

Never understood why we rushed to sign Bent and Ince last summer.

Volume 2 starts with this.

[Anon]

5 minutes ago, cannable said:

Mascarell was still fit by this point! We were top as well I believe!

We were 5th. The draw left us 6th. Mascarell played his final game of the season in the 2-2 draw with Brum nearly a month before the Watford fixture.

[cannable]

2 minutes ago, Anon said:

We were 5th. The draw left us 6th. Mascarell played his final game of the season in the 2-2 draw with Brum nearly a month before the Watford fixture.

Yeah but Macarell was still fit and we were still top when we decided to play Thorne against Charlton, his second game in four days.

Charlton was match 33, Birmingham was match 36.