Clough: Live on Football Heaven Toneet

[SwissBlade]

To me, he sounded very knowledgable, articulate and absolutely no fool. Clearly media trained. I thought he did everything you would expect.

And seems a nice bloke too. I'd much rather that football heaven just did an interview with him though rather than let some of the idiots on to talk shite at him.

 

[ScoobBlade]

I too thought he came across very well, but then so did Danny, now we've dragged up the fact he once played for the wendies it's only a matter of time

 

[Jon Bon]

Didn't hear it. Did he say anything about needing more quality, pace, fitness, strength & desire?!

It wasnt something that was asked directly, from what I heard. But he alluded to the fact that he brought in Lappin and White to get some of these attributes in.

The very mention of Lappin in that context has left me with two very large gaping wounds in my sides. It's the way you tell 'em Swiss.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

The very mention of Lappin in that context has left me with two very large gaping wounds in my sides. It's the way you tell 'em Swiss.

He needs to do more over lappin

 

[brownie4583]

He also said they had a 11 v 11 practice match this week and 6 players had to sit it out because there were 28 outfield players!!
He says he wants to get a good squad of around 18 players and the club has too many midfield players at present.
Brian the Blade also read him a list of players who he 'needs to get rid of' (Brandy,Collins,Porter etc),and told him the performance last saturday was the worst he had ever seen as a blades supporter!

 

[sitwell]

Who gives a flying about his opinions and waffle.
Why does he get any air time ever and why does anyone take the slightest bit of notice of that prick ?
Brian not Nigel.

 

[madeinsheffield]

I thought the programme was supposed to be questions for the new United Manager, not clueless dicks ringing in telling him who he should play and who he should sell. With the greatest respect I'm sure he knows a bit more about the game, yes some of his decisions have been up for debate, but there is usually a reason, for instance pulling a player off because he's been struggling in training all week, we don't see that. This is the reason for us having the opportunity to be asking the questions not tell him he's wrong.

Further to that, Brian is a full weight w*nker full of his own sh*te. Why oh why do they give him air time??

He came across very well in the part of the show I listened to, considered and experienced.

 

[puppet]

Who gives a flying about his opinions and waffle.
Why does he get any air time ever and why does anyone take the slightest bit of notice of that prick ?
Brian not Nigel.

I can cope with BtB when we have won and he calls in saying get rid of the player who has just scored a hat trick or something because he is obviously on a wind up. When it comes to a supposed serious phone in with the new manager, it showed just how classy FH is by having him on first. I know its an entertainment show but the entertainment should've come from serious questions, not him prattling on about who to get rid of. I didn;t hear rhe rest of it, so thanks all for the synopses

 

[sitwell]

Spot on Pup ,they think that because all the other idiots phone in and respond to him that he makes the programme entertaining and popular ,but its exactly the opposite. It is more about 3 or 4 nobheads who phone in every night ,and that cunt Statons views than an inciting programme about Football. It has become so boring and is such a shame for an area like this with 6 teams and an eager audience.
I used to say the same about Seth Bennett and Andy Giddings but those 2 are so much better than the pricks who present now , Robert Jackson must be doing his nut

 

[Revolution]

He also said they had a 11 v 11 practice match this week and 6 players had to sit it out because there were 28 outfield players!!
He says he wants to get a good squad of around 18 players and the club has too many midfield players at present.

This is a legacy of chopping and changing managers, our terrible injury record in recent years (signing people to paper over the cracks) and our penny wise and pound foolish strategy where the fees for one good player (eg Lowton) are partly spent on 2 mediocre replacements (eg McMahon and Westlake).

The club currently has:

- only 2 serviceable centre halves, both out of form but with no one to replace them
- a surplus of full backs, some of whom can't defend and none of whom can get forward
- a surplus of midfielders, many of whom contribute nothing in terms of goals and assists or attacking play
- no wingers with pace or who can cross
- a few players who don't seem to fit into any role well
- a number of strikers with poor scoring records

When you step back from it, the construction of the squad has been awful. It is as if every decision was taken in isolation, without thinking of the collective whole.

 

[Ted Danson]

I thought the programme was supposed to be questions for the new United Manager, not clueless dicks ringing in telling him who he should play and who he should sell. With the greatest respect I'm sure he knows a bit more about the game, yes some of his decisions have been up for debate, but there is usually a reason, for instance pulling a player off because he's been struggling in training all week, we don't see that. This is the reason for us having the opportunity to be asking the questions not tell him he's wrong.

Whatever happened to PervyBlade?

 

[madeinsheffield]

Or as if it wasn't a Football Manager doing the recruitment......

 

[puppet]

This is a legacy of chopping and changing managers, our terrible injury record in recent years (signing people to paper over the cracks) and our penny wise and pound foolish strategy where the fees for one good player (eg Lowton) are partly spent on 2 mediocre replacements (eg McMahon and Westlake).

The club currently has:

- only 2 serviceable centre halves, both out of form but with no one to replace them
- a surplus of full backs, some of whom can't defend and none of whom can get forward
- a surplus of midfielders, many of whom contribute nothing in terms of goals and assists or attacking play
- no wingers with pace or who can cross
- a few players who don't seem to fit into any role well
- a number of strikers with poor scoring records

When you step back from it, the construction of the squad has been awful. It is as if every decision was taken in isolation, without thinking of the collective whole.

Spot on. We started by borrowing centre backs when we sold Jagielka, RBs of the standard of Bardsley (who most hated but still gets a game in the PL) down to Nosworthy to replace the Kyle's etc. Selling Lowton early in his career was a terrible move, one we surely couldve countered, despite all the can't stand in their way mantras, McCabe said in 2001 the academy was to develop players to sell not nurture.
As well as Lowton from defence, Wilson's first season wasn't all a one-man team situation, with Quinn and Williamson contributing goals from Midfield, as well as supplying a creative outlet for McDonald. What have we seen from their replacements?? Lightweight powder puff displays from the likes of Flynn and Brandy with barely a hint of a goal between them. Year on year we have gotten rid of all the quality and we are reaping what we have sown. Someone the other day stated that debates about players no longer centre on one or two scapegoats and X is better than Y, its now who is the least crap player on the pitch. Royally screwed from the boardroom with short termism and money grabbing greed, sell while we can and damn the quality of the replacements.

 

[Balham]

28 outfielders! I didn't believe that at first but it's right:

Centre halves (4): Collins, Maguire, Kennedy, McGinty
Right backs (3): McMahon, Westlake, Hodder
Left backs (4): Hill, Lappin, White, Williams

Centre midfield (3): Doyle, McGinn, Coady
Left midfield (2): McFadzean, Johns
Right midfield (2): Brandy, Flynn
Attacking midfield (3):Cuvelier, Baxter, De Girolamo

Centre forwards (7): Porter, Miller, King, Taylor, Ironside, Bunn, Smith

Just goes to show that we've been incredibly shortsighted with our transfer dealings. Good luck Nigel, you'll need it.

 

[Jon Bon]

I can cope with BtB when we have won and he calls in saying get rid of the player who has just scored a hat trick or something because he is obviously on a wind up. When it comes to a supposed serious phone in with the new manager, it showed just how classy FH is by having him on first. I know its an entertainment show but the entertainment should've come from serious questions, not him prattling on about who to get rid of. I didn;t hear rhe rest of it, so thanks all for the synopses

To be honest, I thought Brian's call was much better than most of the other sycophants oozing "Oh Nigel, I loved your dad, I've always followed your career since Burton, oooh Nigel, son of Brian, I love you Nigel..." Fuck me, it was wretch worthy in the most. Brian's call was like a fucking breath of fresh Spring air compared to most of the other drivel.

 

[Kenilworth]

Centre halves (4): Collins, Maguire, Kennedy, McGinty
Right backs (3): McMahon, Westlake, Hodder
Left backs (4): Hill, Lappin, White, Williams

Centre midfield (3): Doyle, McGinn, Coady
Left midfield (2): McFadzean, Johns
Right midfield (2): Brandy, Flynn
Attacking midfield (3):Cuvelier, Baxter, De Girolamo

Centre forwards (7): Porter, Miller, King, Taylor, Ironside, Bunn, Smith.

Murphy not with us any more? Stupid question (only in body - and that's too lightweight)
Who's Hodder?
Is Smith a first team squad player?

From Clough's comments on the show last night about reducing the squad size and getting some players a loan move I see the following happening.

Bunn back to Citeh in a couple of week's time
Coady back to Liverpool after Christmas
Williams on loan to someone else or his contract paid up
McFadz on loan to a Div 4 or non league team
White back to Leeds at end of his spell (they don't want to sell anyway)
One of Baxter or Cuvelier out on loan to freshen them up - I think he would like to shift at least one of these.
Lappin to sign permanently

He could do with getting rid of McMahon, Westlake, McGinty, King and Flynn in January whilst getting that lad from Cardiff he mentioned in on loan - the right back he had at Derby.

I suspect he will persevere with McMahon as he hasn't much seniority or experience in the squad as it stands.
The dearth of quality is there for all to see

 

[LSF]

The call regarding Marcus Williams was an odd one, rather direct and prompted a moments uncomfortable silence. From what I've heard NC could hardly have given an honest answer to that one!

 

[SwissBlade]

The call regarding Marcus Williams was an odd one, rather direct and prompted a moments uncomfortable silence. From what I've heard NC could hardly have given an honest answer to that one!

Yeah it was a bit out of left field but thought Clough answered it well - he's nowhere near the first team.

On the subject of Williams, I've no idea how he's stayed so long. I've never seen him play well

 

[LSF]

Yeah it was a bit out of left field but thought Clough answered it well - he's nowhere near the first team.

On the subject of Williams, I've no idea how he's stayed so long. I've never seen him play well

Not likely to be ever again Swiss if what I've heard is correct (but wouldn't want to repeat on public forum).
I got the feeling that the guy who posed the question knew something too?

 

[SwissBlade]

Not likely to be ever again Swiss if what I've heard is correct (but wouldn't want to repeat on public forum).
I got the feeling that the guy who posed the question knew something too?

Yeah I think you're right, I thought it was a strange question to ask. No great loss there and players like him need moving on so we can free some wages up an allow Clough to bring in his own players

 

[brownie4583]

I'm sure Mr Clough knows he will have to move on the majority of this squad in time,and he can probably count on 1 hand the players he would keep out of this lot to be honest.
But obviously this will be a long process,contracts,interest from other clubs in the players(which won't be exactly frantic!),players available to buy or loan etc etc so i think he will definately sort it out but will probably take a couple of years,it's a big job!!

 

[sheffielder]

One thing is for sure. Half of the 28 will be gone by the end of the season. This will allow him to do what he wants to do and bring in a couple of quality players and fill the squad with the u-21's which next year will probably include, Di Girlamo (no I am not getting into the conversation), Khan and Reed

The issue for us this season is that the Prince's money came too late. If he came in at the same time as Weir, then you could have been looking at 4 quality players instead of about 10/11 including loans we have brought in. Unfortunately, it's another season wasted in this division but hopefully for the greater good this time.

 

[brownie4583]

I think getting safe is all we can hope for this season,lots of changes in January and in the summer,possible promotion challenge next season,but could be the season after realistically.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

June 2014 cannot come quick enough, I just hope we do just enough to stay in L1 (depressing 'ambition' I know) and sack off loads of the shite. I hope none of the players who's contracts expire in July are being given assurances of a new deal. That said, with a relegation battle looking likely, how committed will players for the run-in when they stand to be unemployed at the end of the season? Another headache for NC to contend with...

 

[brownie4583]

Another problem is who is going to sign for us?
Will players drop down from higher leagues,players in same league might not move unless money is better,and will any league 2 players be good enough to improve us?
It's a lot easier when in the championship as players will drop from the prem to get a game and good players in league 1 will usually step up to play at a higher level.
I think 2 or 3 good loan players maybe the answer short term until the summer.

 

[sothall blade]

These callers will have been heavily screened. They'll all be blowing smoke up his arse.

ooh are you seriously suggesting that radio pig will only have there favourites on ?????? brian the blade, ken the boring blade,paul the arrogant miller,brian the we are better than anyone miller ????? yep i think you,re right matey

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

ooh are you seriously suggesting that radio pig will only have there favourites on ?????? brian the blade, ken the boring blade,paul the arrogant miller,brian the we are better than anyone miller ????? yep i think you,re right matey

No idea what any of that means.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

One thing is for sure. Half of the 28 will be gone by the end of the season.

Do you promise?

 

[brownie4583]

Half of the 28 will be gone by the end of the season?
Is that all?

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Sell a player, replace him with shit.
Rinse and repeat for x amount of years.
End result...