DERBY COUNTY FANS FORUM: MARCH 2024

[Foreveram]

11 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

These are the main comments I picked up from Matt Hale and Jake Buxton. 

Academy chances
Buxton - players haven't done enough in training to convince Warne to play them. However, he aknowledges some players need to be given the chance in the team to show they are good enoguh. He used Thompson as an example, as he wasn't a standout in the academy, but showed he was capable once given game time in the first team.
Hale - pointed out it's difficult when Warne's priority is promotion and the risk of dropping an untested player in potentially resulting in less points on the board. Harsh on those youngsters when we're 3-0 up in games and have unused subs.

Breakthrough players
Understandably, neither wanted
Hale - average age of a Premier League debut is 21. I disagree with his view that a debut at a younger age is a good achievement, espeically with us being a L1 club (and hoopefully Championship club soon)
Buxton - highlighted the young players we have in the U21 squad at the moment, with several 17 year old playing. However, Robinson and Fapetu and 19 and Weston are 20 (all should be looking at first team football either with us or on loan).

Development
Hale - Restructures our U18 and U21 setup at the start of the season, to ensure each individual player has their own session, reviewed regularly. Now in the Central League to play agaisnt older players and expereicne the importance of wins over performances and help transition to men's football. Pointed out that we need to teach them the dark arts (tactical fouls, etc)
Buxton - greater variety of games is important and gives them a different experience (passing football in PL2 and more direct in the Central League)
Hale - work with other sports to look at transferable skills (momentum was highlighted). Also work with other businesses. Applies to staff and players.
Hale - review suitability of loan (game time and suitability). May want to ask more money off the loaning club if they aren't playing as much as we like as they could be in our U21s instead. Ensure staff watch every game of players out on loan and offer support to all players (such as life skills for players who will be away from home for the first time)

On style of play
Buxton - Writing a playing phylosophy for the whole club which hasn't been fully implemented yet. He described it as "free flowing football" with a "high press". U21s are already aligned with the first team.
Hale - Added that they need to teach them when to press, when to drop off, knowing that we'll be more adaptable in the first team. Pointed out ball retention is important and correlated with league position, but also added winning the ball back is just as important.

Other comments
Hale - Derby's training ground is twice the size of Southampton's.
Hale - Vision for the academy is to be PL ready in terms of staff, players, facilities
Buxton - All staff sit with players to discuss if they will or won't be retained. If to be released, they're told early on in the season. Players will be offered trials prior to signing for the U21 squad.
Hale - a lot of scouts viewing all age groups to spot players and have a filtering process. Strong competition with other Cat 1 clubs, with Moor Farm "packed" every game to watch our games. Plans in place for reviewing contract offerings to 16/17 year olds to aid retenation. Opportunity and pathway to the first team is our USP as we can't offer the money PL clubs can.

 

Comments from Stephen Pearce and Paul Warne to follow...

Hale used the phrase “ Premier league ready “ several times, so hopefully that’s the aim not too far into the future.

[Ghost of Clough]

Stephen Pearce and Paul Warne comments:

Finances
Pearce - losses are high for a L1 club due to our facilities and infrastructure. We're in a healthy position and debt free (no mention of the £36m loan from the parent company). Relatively small legacy costs. Unlikely to see much change in the operating losses for the current season.
Pearce - always looking to boost income. Stadium developments would be down to Clowes Developments (as it's not owned by the club)
Pearce - doesn't beleive the communications at the start of the season were misleading regardign restrictions. Pointed out the only restrictions were the ones we wrote up and submitted to the EFL for approval. It won't be too disimilar going forward, as we'll still set our own budget and intend to stick to it (but we'll have greater flexibility to exceed our own budfget if needed)
Pearce - Academy is currently costing around £4m a year which is independant from the first team squad budget.
Pearce - almost all clubs are reliant on an owner putting the money in, with most at risk of administration if the owner decides to pull the plug.
Pearce - 5 year business plan is costed and already agreed with Clowes' funding it.

Governance Bill
Pearce - almost all EFL clubs support it's introduction. Indepensdant body capable of stopping in if needed, and power to more fairly distribute money between leagues (if EFL and PL don't sort it out themselves). 

Squad
Pearce - It sounds like an assumption we'll be promoted this season, but do have plans for all scenarios. We'll have a competitive budget to compete.
Warne - Rectuiting for the current formation, but with flexibility to adapt. Less adapting in the Championship as there's a wider variety of playing styles.
Warne - no contract extensions before the end of the season. Focus is finishing the season first.
Warne - "Significant player changes" if we go up. More athletisism and a yougner squad. If we fail to go up, changes will be needed anyway as we will have failed with the current squad. "A bit of time" to get academy players into the first team
Warne - unlikely to sign Adams, but would love to keep him at the club
Warne - More players back at set-pieces correlates with fewer goals conceded due to the box being more crowded.
Warne - a few candidates for player of the season. Nelson is his pick and is a good leader, very professional, and Warne likes touching his abs. Cashin up there and so is Bird. "Forgot about Mendez-Laing"

Club Vision
Pearce - work done to determine how to run the club, with staff being a key part of building the right culture. Group decisions made with key stateholders, so no current need for a Director of Football.

Support
Pearce - believes the remaining 3 home games will be similar to the Bolton game.
Warne - enjoyed the flags and want to see more of them. The atmosphere made it feel like a "real match", than when clubs only bring a few hundred fans with them
Warne - Players have more of a boost at away games. They feel the nervousness at home games, and thinks the fans should cheer every small detail (every kick, every header, etc...)
Warne - save the boos and abuse to full time if you feel it neccessary. Doing it during the game won't imrpove player performances. Warne wil give them the hairdryer treatment in the dressing room at half time if we're playing badly.

Other
Pearce - around 50 applicants for the Supporters' Board for a minimum of 3 roles. Plan to have the Board in place in July. What we're implementing is the 'gold standard' for supporter boards

[ariotofmyown]

4 hours ago, JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta said:

He almost certainly has, but the one key metric a manager is measured on us results. A manager can hit every other target put infront of them, but if results are in the toilet it doesn't matter.

Anyway, we're not there with Warne, he's currently on target for promotion which is the stated aim this season.

Yes, but the results target is subjective.

If we go up and Clowes spends 100 million, only winning the league might suffice.

If we go up and we have to sell everyone and play just kids, then survival might be key, even if others think the results are toilet

We all have our own ideas of what the results need to be. Why some people think Nigel Clough did a great job on a shoestring, or a bad job because progress was too slow.

Or that Rooney did amazing in dire circumstances, or a terrible job as he had good enough players to keep us up.

Most of the complaints about Warne is to do with expectations, both in terms of how many points we should walk the league by, as well as us playing an incredible brand of attacking football that we have all been used to for decades!

[Srg]

Managed to watch this today. Enjoyed it. Hale particularly impressive, definitely seems to know his stuff. Pearce navigated the more difficult questions well. Some veiled questions about style of play and how that trickles to the academy, from what I could tell. I liked the question near the end that said to Warne how he's very natural and not scripted and how different that was.

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

3 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Stephen Pearce and Paul Warne comments:

Finances
Pearce - losses are high for a L1 club due to our facilities and infrastructure. We're in a healthy position and debt free (no mention of the £36m loan from the parent company). Relatively small legacy costs. Unlikely to see much change in the operating losses for the current season.
Pearce - always looking to boost income. Stadium developments would be down to Clowes Developments (as it's not owned by the club)
Pearce - doesn't beleive the communications at the start of the season were misleading regardign restrictions. Pointed out the only restrictions were the ones we wrote up and submitted to the EFL for approval. It won't be too disimilar going forward, as we'll still set our own budget and intend to stick to it (but we'll have greater flexibility to exceed our own budfget if needed)
Pearce - Academy is currently costing around £4m a year which is independant from the first team squad budget.
Pearce - almost all clubs are reliant on an owner putting the money in, with most at risk of administration if the owner decides to pull the plug.
Pearce - 5 year business plan is costed and already agreed with Clowes' funding it.

Governance Bill
Pearce - almost all EFL clubs support it's introduction. Indepensdant body capable of stopping in if needed, and power to more fairly distribute money between leagues (if EFL and PL don't sort it out themselves). 

Squad
Pearce - It sounds like an assumption we'll be promoted this season, but do have plans for all scenarios. We'll have a competitive budget to compete.
Warne - Rectuiting for the current formation, but with flexibility to adapt. Less adapting in the Championship as there's a wider variety of playing styles.
Warne - no contract extensions before the end of the season. Focus is finishing the season first.
Warne - "Significant player changes" if we go up. More athletisism and a yougner squad. If we fail to go up, changes will be needed anyway as we will have failed with the current squad. "A bit of time" to get academy players into the first team
Warne - unlikely to sign Adams, but would love to keep him at the club
Warne - More players back at set-pieces correlates with fewer goals conceded due to the box being more crowded.
Warne - a few candidates for player of the season. Nelson is his pick and is a good leader, very professional, and Warne likes touching his abs. Cashin up there and so is Bird. "Forgot about Mendez-Laing"

Club Vision
Pearce - work done to determine how to run the club, with staff being a key part of building the right culture. Group decisions made with key stateholders, so no current need for a Director of Football.

Support
Pearce - believes the remaining 3 home games will be similar to the Bolton game.
Warne - enjoyed the flags and want to see more of them. The atmosphere made it feel like a "real match", than when clubs only bring a few hundred fans with them
Warne - Players have more of a boost at away games. They feel the nervousness at home games, and thinks the fans should cheer every small detail (every kick, every header, etc...)
Warne - save the boos and abuse to full time if you feel it neccessary. Doing it during the game won't imrpove player performances. Warne wil give them the hairdryer treatment in the dressing room at half time if we're playing badly.

Other
Pearce - around 50 applicants for the Supporters' Board for a minimum of 3 roles. Plan to have the Board in place in July. What we're implementing is the 'gold standard' for supporter boards

Losing 10 million a ear in this league seems a lot of money.  That's not sustainable for a guy who's already spent 50 million plus on a basket case.  Expect changes if we don't go up soon.

[Tamworthram]

3 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Stephen Pearce and Paul Warne comments:

Finances
Pearce - losses are high for a L1 club due to our facilities and infrastructure. We're in a healthy position and debt free (no mention of the £36m loan from the parent company). Relatively small legacy costs. Unlikely to see much change in the operating losses for the current season.
Pearce - always looking to boost income. Stadium developments would be down to Clowes Developments (as it's not owned by the club)
Pearce - doesn't beleive the communications at the start of the season were misleading regardign restrictions. Pointed out the only restrictions were the ones we wrote up and submitted to the EFL for approval. It won't be too disimilar going forward, as we'll still set our own budget and intend to stick to it (but we'll have greater flexibility to exceed our own budfget if needed)
Pearce - Academy is currently costing around £4m a year which is independant from the first team squad budget.
Pearce - almost all clubs are reliant on an owner putting the money in, with most at risk of administration if the owner decides to pull the plug.
Pearce - 5 year business plan is costed and already agreed with Clowes' funding it.

Governance Bill
Pearce - almost all EFL clubs support it's introduction. Indepensdant body capable of stopping in if needed, and power to more fairly distribute money between leagues (if EFL and PL don't sort it out themselves). 

Squad
Pearce - It sounds like an assumption we'll be promoted this season, but do have plans for all scenarios. We'll have a competitive budget to compete.
Warne - Rectuiting for the current formation, but with flexibility to adapt. Less adapting in the Championship as there's a wider variety of playing styles.
Warne - no contract extensions before the end of the season. Focus is finishing the season first.
Warne - "Significant player changes" if we go up. More athletisism and a yougner squad. If we fail to go up, changes will be needed anyway as we will have failed with the current squad. "A bit of time" to get academy players into the first team
Warne - unlikely to sign Adams, but would love to keep him at the club
Warne - More players back at set-pieces correlates with fewer goals conceded due to the box being more crowded.
Warne - a few candidates for player of the season. Nelson is his pick and is a good leader, very professional, and Warne likes touching his abs. Cashin up there and so is Bird. "Forgot about Mendez-Laing"

Club Vision
Pearce - work done to determine how to run the club, with staff being a key part of building the right culture. Group decisions made with key stateholders, so no current need for a Director of Football.

Support
Pearce - believes the remaining 3 home games will be similar to the Bolton game.
Warne - enjoyed the flags and want to see more of them. The atmosphere made it feel like a "real match", than when clubs only bring a few hundred fans with them
Warne - Players have more of a boost at away games. They feel the nervousness at home games, and thinks the fans should cheer every small detail (every kick, every header, etc...)
Warne - save the boos and abuse to full time if you feel it neccessary. Doing it during the game won't imrpove player performances. Warne wil give them the hairdryer treatment in the dressing room at half time if we're playing badly.

Other
Pearce - around 50 applicants for the Supporters' Board for a minimum of 3 roles. Plan to have the Board in place in July. What we're implementing is the 'gold standard' for supporter boards

Good summary of the key points. Although I’ve only watched the video once, I would add the following from my recollection:

Government bill: Widespread support across the Championship except for the clubs with parachute payments (surprise, surprise).

Booing: As you say, he asked us to reserve any booing (if we feel it is necessary) until the game has finished. He also said the fans had every right to boo. I think he included himself as a target for such a reaction.

Connection with away support: I think he said this was partly due to being a more compact group (or words to that effect) at away games. He also said the away support is more boisterous - possibly due to a bit more alcohol being consumed 😀.

Adams: He said he was a Cardiff player and therefore more a case of unlikely than likely.

Squad: I must have missed the vibes as I didn’t pick up on the feeling that promotion this season is the assumption.

Cheering every kick and every header: I seem to recall that he was referring to when things get a bit nervous or we’re under a bit of pressure things get a bit quiet. The players get a boost when we cheer even the simplest things under these circumstances.

 

[Tamworthram]

10 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

Losing 10 million an ear in this league seems a lot of money.  That's not sustainable for a guy who's already spent 50 million plus on a basket case.  Expect changes if we don't go up soon.

I don’t think we’re a basket case anymore. Also, I agree you would have thought there would be changes if we don’t go up but I’m pretty sure SP said such losses had been allowed for within our five year plan.

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

7 minutes ago, Tamworthram said:

I don’t think we’re a basket case anymore. Also, I agree you would have thought there would be changes if we don’t go up but I’m pretty sure SP said such losses had been allowed for within our five year plan.

Agree. Way I typed it. Was a basket case.