Clough out? A good article on the issue

[sitwell]

''Not if the club wants to benefit ultimately from the very talented and able squad Clough has assembled.''

What team is that please Alan Biggs?
What utter ****e

It is a hugely unbalanced over-bloated squad that is unsustainable and needs a massive overhaul.
That is the reality, as it's one that is nowhere near good enough to go up in the autos or even stay in the championship.
That is what he has been allowed by the board as a''manager' 'to assemble.

Let me address your points Alan.
But Clough’s critics overlook all of this;-

''n This is United’s FOURTH season in the third tier.''
Answer and every season we have got worse.This season has seen some of our worst ever displays with near zero entertainment value.
Every year we've been bigger than just about every other club,in the division so the financial advantage of being able to get afford better players should be a cumulative.one.
Glass half full or half empty.

''n He is unfairly burdened with the build up of frustration from the other three.''
Answer see above.

''n He has been manager for just 18 months, starting with an unthinkable relegation threat.''
Answer As did Steve Cotterill, who started from even further back with Bristol City but recruited and built wisely.
I've seen no evidence at all that Clough has done this.
Only waste unbalance, petty poor man management a scouting system that is so amateur that word doesn't even begin to describe it.
I certainly do not recognise this squad as anything like able.
There's some talent undoubtedly and Clough is not getting it all out consistently.
Nor do his tactics, endless swapping of the side, and team set up suggest he ever will.

''n A phenomenal record in the cups, including two semi-finals, appears to have been conveniently forgotten.''

Only waste unbalance, petty poor man management a scouting system that is so amateur that word doesn't even begin to describe it.
I certainly do not recognise this squad as anything like able.
There's some talent undoubtedly and Clough is not getting it all out consistently.
Nor do his tactics, endless swapping of the side, and team set up suggest he ever will.

''n Well, just look at an overall win ratio of nearly 50%.''

The cup runs mask the scale of failure in the League.

His overall League 1 record is 46%, this season it is 42%
Compare that to Swindon, MK 58%, PNE and Bristol 62%, all miles over 50%,
That is the benchmark and he fails it by a huge margin.
It is nowhere near good enough.
We would need an extra 22 to 24 points extra to get automatic promotion, next season, that is the scale of Clough's underachievement.
I've said before, our points total of 70 wouldn't usually have even got us into the play-offs, in most 'normal' seasons.
This season the gap between a relegation and play-off place is a tiny 18 points.
That is an all time historical low EVER in this leagues, because most of the sides have been beating each other.

One more statistic which for me is totally damning and demonstrates how far he is from building success
I hope the Prince, Jim and Kevin take notice

Out his 78 league games a mere 13 have been won by 2 clear goals!

No Alan you are right I haven't pinned my knee jerk judgement on the next 2 or 3 game, it's a over a lot longer period.

What a load of guff ,'This season has seen some of our worst ever displays with near zero entertainment value.'How long have you been going 3 years ?
'As did Steve Cotterill, who started from even further back with Bristol City but recruited and built wisely.'
I've seen no evidence at all that Clough has done this. Cotterill and Grayson are short term managers ,they don't do anything with the youth and are soon replaced.

'
Only waste unbalance, petty poor man management a scouting system that is so amateur that word doesn't even begin to describe it.
I certainly do not recognise this squad as anything like able.
There's some talent undoubtedly and Clough is not getting it all out consistently.
Nor do his tactics, endless swapping of the side, and team set up suggest he ever will.'
We either have talent or the scouting system is amateur ,you cant have it both ways.

'Whoopy dee Clough had an abysmal record in the cup at Derby. Even going out to non league Crawley.
Sometimes you need a lot of luck in a cup run.
It only highlights the squandering of the money from those runs on so many bang average players..'
So we are lucky when we win ,several times against top league clubs but still lucky ,and now those talented players are bang average.

and so it goes on ,mindless rubbish to undermine the manager and the chance we have to get some stability into the club with someone with a long term vision who has an interest in the whole of the club and will blood youngsters regularly. Much better to sack sack sack ,as we have done in the past and keep on changing the whole personnel of the club ,resulting in change change change and staying in the lower leagues. Your tripe is so dogged down by ridiculous statistics it actually loses the path of how daft it is. The guy has had 18 months ,how long will you give the next mug ,and it will be a mug ,any decent manager who sees us sack a manager with the record of Clough will not touch it with a bargepole.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

"He is unfairly burdened with the build up of frustration from the other three."

I think this is an important point here. A lot of the negativity - whilst I accept Clough has made a few errors of judgment this season - is down to the frustration and anxiety of (a) another Play Off campaign where, let's face it, supporters have every right to be skeptical of our chances given our previous history; and (b) a feeling of being here too long now and the novelty value of being in League 1 has worn off. In the first season down, I actually quite enjoyed it down here because it was new grounds - for me - with more character, we were winning well and we were in good spirits that we would be successful until April (Ched, MK Dons, Stevenage) and May (Huddersfield) wrecked it. The second season was horrible and ended in inevitable failure and the third was dire until Clough took over but did give us some amazing memories in the end. This season feels too much like the second season. But it's not Clough's fault we've been down here four years, he is responsible for this season only. If we fail, he probably does deserve another crack next season but I am not confident he will get it.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Call it "sitting on the fence" if you want, but for once, I think he have a half decent board and co-owner.

I'm happy to go with what they decide, end of season - if they think it wasn't good enough if we fail, and they get rid, then fine. Likewise if they keep him, i'm ok with that also.

Call it apathy - the longer you are a blade, a little bit dies with each passing year, sorry folks.

 

[zablade]

Next season has to be his last chance to get it right, anything less than being a serious competitor for top two from day one then that should be it.

What a load of guff ,'This season has seen some of our worst ever displays with near zero entertainment value.'How long have you been going 3 years ?
'As did Steve Cotterill, who started from even further back with Bristol City but recruited and built wisely.'
I've seen no evidence at all that Clough has done this. Cotterill and Grayson are short term managers ,they don't do anything with the youth and are soon replaced.

'
Only waste unbalance, petty poor man management a scouting system that is so amateur that word doesn't even begin to describe it.
I certainly do not recognise this squad as anything like able.
There's some talent undoubtedly and Clough is not getting it all out consistently.
Nor do his tactics, endless swapping of the side, and team set up suggest he ever will.'
We either have talent or the scouting system is amateur ,you cant have it both ways.

'Whoopy dee Clough had an abysmal record in the cup at Derby. Even going out to non league Crawley.
Sometimes you need a lot of luck in a cup run.
It only highlights the squandering of the money from those runs on so many bang average players..'
So we are lucky when we win ,several times against top league clubs but still lucky ,and now those talented players are bang average.

and so it goes on ,mindless rubbish to undermine the manager and the chance we have to get some stability into the club with someone with a long term vision who has an interest in the whole of the club and will blood youngsters regularly. Much better to sack sack sack ,as we have done in the past and keep on changing the whole personnel of the club ,resulting in change change change and staying in the lower leagues. Your tripe is so dogged down by ridiculous statistics it actually loses the path of how daft it is. The guy has had 18 months ,how long will you give the next mug ,and it will be a mug ,any decent manager who sees us sack a manager with the record of Clough will not touch it with a bargepole.

As no one who is 100% behind Clough has answered the question from earlier can I ask someone who clearly is 100 % behind him. How long would you give him to get us out of League one?

 

[davidpinder]

The simple facts are this.

1, points win prizes we haven't got enough to succeed this season.
2, BC have shown you can turn a relegation threatened season into a successful one the follow year.
3, ticket sales = revenue the more success and good football will = high ticket sales. A 5th season in league 1 will show a drop in season ticket and general ticket sales, therefore revenue will drop.
4, A 5th year in league 1 will mean top players will want to leave

The question is can Clough turn this club into a promotion winning force, to attract those none renewing fans to come back and replace the players that want to leave with top quality promotion winning players? Based on this season I'd say no, based on last season I'd say yes so if we don't go up what will it be next season?

 

[sitwell]

Next season has to be his last chance to get it right, anything less than being a serious competitor for top two from day one then that should be it.


As no one who is 100% behind Clough has answered the question from earlier can I ask someone who clearly is 100 % behind him. How long would you give him to get us out of League one?

IF we don't get out this season ,I don't have any doubt at all we will next. Watch what happens to Bristol and Preston ,I suspect they will struugle for a while as the teams Cotterill and Grayson left behind have done. Clough is building a club with infrastructure based on youth ,the other 2 have no interest in this and will be sacked when they appear to be doing ok.

 

[sitwell]

The simple facts are this.

1, points win prizes we haven't got enough to succeed this season.
2, BC have shown you can turn a relegation threatened season into a successful one the follow year.
3, ticket sales = revenue the more success and good football will = high ticket sales. A 5th season in league 1 will show a drop in season ticket and general ticket sales, therefore revenue will drop.
4, A 5th year in league 1 will mean top players will want to leave

The question is can Clough turn this club into a promotion winning force, to attract those none renewing fans to come back and replace the players that want to leave with top quality promotion winning players? Based on this season I'd say no, based on last season I'd say yes so if we don't go up what will it be next season?

Fast selling season tickets and far more interest than when we played Yeovil in the play offs fly in the face of this ,which 'top' players do you think will leave ?

 

[zablade]

IF we don't get out this season ,I don't have any doubt at all we will next. Watch what happens to Bristol and Preston ,I suspect they will struugle for a while as the teams Cotterill and Grayson left behind have done. Clough is building a club with infrastructure based on youth ,the other 2 have no interest in this and will be sacked when they appear to be doing ok.

Fair enough, although it's a bit of a Cameron / Milliband jog around the question while not actually answering it, just say for arguments sake we fail to get promoted this season and then don't do it next season would you think what? One more year? Two?

 

[alcoblade]

IF we don't get out this season ,I don't have any doubt at all we will next. Watch what happens to Bristol and Preston ,I suspect they will struugle for a while as the teams Cotterill and Grayson left behind have done. Clough is building a club with infrastructure based on youth ,the other 2 have no interest in this and will be sacked when they appear to be doing ok.

Only Terry Kennedy has made anything like regular starts this year Sitters. This foundation of youth is not clear to me ( that said I've never really believed in in and don't really care either way on this point)

UTB

 

[ScoobBlade]

I think every fan would agree that stability is the key to success in a football club. However stability with the wrong manager must be the worst case scenario.

Find the right manager, back him and stick with him. I think the Board thought they had the right man and probably still do, though there are forced to be doubts in there now.

Ah but how will you know if he's the right man if he isn't given time

 

[alcoblade]

Ah but how will you know if he's the right man if he isn't given time

Good point. That's why you should employ a manager with a proven track record (all relative), then you have some history to base your patience on.

UTB

 

[metalblade]

Ah but how will you know if he's the right man if he isn't given time

Hmmm let's see is 17 months enough time or maybe 17 years ?

 

[Going up]

I get what Biggs is on about but we have been so poor this season and if anything have gone backwards....i still can't understand how we have managed to qualify for the play offs.....i can only put it down to other teams being even worse.

If by some amazing miracle we go up then fine, he deserves more time but another season in L1 watching the same totally negative crap we have endured this season sends a shiver down my spine.

no brainer for me, no promotion, no job.

Poor against Bristol, the PL teams, Swindon? Inconsistent yes, poor no.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

If we go up this season who could argue with two Cup Semi Finals, a promotion and (finally) a Wenbley victory in 18 months?

If we don't go up this season, then we obviously need to hit the ground running and be in or around the top two by Xmas next season.

 

[sitwell]

Fair enough, although it's a bit of a Cameron / Milliband jog around the question while not actually answering it, just say for arguments sake we fail to get promoted this season and then don't do it next season would you think what? One more year? Two?

Did you just compare me to Miliband ?? Infraction called for surely mods ?
It depends on the circumstances ,you cant just put a time on things ,but I would expect to be in the championship this time next season.

 

[Northern Rivers Blade]

Hmmm let's see is 17 months enough time or maybe 17 years ?

We gave Warnock 6 years. In a few of those seasons we had good cup runs, play-off appearances, showing potential. We stuck with him and he finally got it right.

 

[Large Mendonca]

We gave Warnock 6 years. In a few of those seasons we had good cup runs, play-off appearances, showing potential. We stuck with him and he finally got it right.

Agreed in principle, but unfortunately it's a different comparison altogether being in L1. That's why we're seeing the magnified levels of frustration across our supporter base.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Apologies - no time to read all the responses
posted to this drivel on the other site so cut and paste at this time:-


This Biggs clown has been Clough's cheerleader since day 1!

In all this supposed balance article
does he mention, for example

1. the fact that before the season started he (Biggs that is!) had an article that said 'no excuses - it has to be automatic this time'.

2. that he's had the same time as Johnson took at Yeovil FFS to get his team promoted by the playoffs.

3. that he's had LESS time than Cotterill(?) at Bristol City after taking over when they where bottom last Christmas.

4. that 'mighty' Rotherham pissed through this division

5. Watford had 4 managers this year - how have they done!

6. He has not progressed at all (5th again if we don't lose) over his record last year or Wilson the year before
- in an even worse standard!
STEADY AS SHE GOES IT CERTAINLY IS - THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH !

etc etc ..


If Apple appoint a new CEO and they make a profit of $1 has he succeeded?

FFS he's made a profit you can't sack him!
That is the moronic argument cretins like Football Heaven and United/Ched haters are cheerleading!
Achievement is RELATIVE!
HE HAS TO GO IRRESPECTIVE.
HE IS NOT GETTING ANYTWHERE NEAR THE BEST OUT OF HIS MASSIVE RESOURCES IN ANY ASPECT AT ALL.
That is what he should be measured against.


But yes FFS get behind the TEAM as always with all your heart for the playoffs
- even if its hopeless with shit like Baxter, Doyle and Coutts!
Which is why I have no interest in going after the repeat shambles against Preston after the Spurs tie was thrown away.

This bloke learns NOTHING.
Which is one of the many many reasons why
HE HAS TO GO IRRESPECTIVE!

We haven't changed managers too soon. We've a football moron in Judas repeatedly appointing shite ones.

I'm still hoping for a fluke success and a mutual (ie cheap!) parting ot the ways
But neither will happen :blue:

 

[Dkc]

This season hasn't been great, but there are mitigating circumstances that aren't down to Clough - missing out on targets, certain players under-performing, the Ched fiasco. But, as Biggs stated, it's an improvement on last season and a big improvement on when NC first took over.

There have been plenty of games this season where we were unlucky not to take three points. If three or four of our losses or draws had been turned into wins we'd have been challenging for an auto place.

If we don't go up this season, top two must be the only target next season. I'd keep Clough but review the situation at Christmas. If we are more than six points adrift of second place by the end of the year it may be time to make a change. I do believe that we'll be firmly in the top two by then.

Same even if we go up. I can see us struggling in the Championship with this squad, and we'll need at least 4-5 decent new signings over the summer. If we're in the relegation zone at Christmas, or close to it, we'd need to review the situation.

Saying that, Clough has never suffered a relegation in his managerial career - or even as a player as far as I know

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

What a load of guff ,'This season has seen some of our worst ever displays with near zero entertainment value.'How long have you been going 3 years ?
'As did Steve Cotterill, who started from even further back with Bristol City but recruited and built wisely.'
I've seen no evidence at all that Clough has done this. Cotterill and Grayson are short term managers ,they don't do anything with the youth and are soon replaced.

'
Only waste unbalance, petty poor man management a scouting system that is so amateur that word doesn't even begin to describe it.
I certainly do not recognise this squad as anything like able.
There's some talent undoubtedly and Clough is not getting it all out consistently.
Nor do his tactics, endless swapping of the side, and team set up suggest he ever will.'
We either have talent or the scouting system is amateur ,you cant have it both ways.

'Whoopy dee Clough had an abysmal record in the cup at Derby. Even going out to non league Crawley.
Sometimes you need a lot of luck in a cup run.
It only highlights the squandering of the money from those runs on so many bang average players..'
So we are lucky when we win ,several times against top league clubs but still lucky ,and now those talented players are bang average.

and so it goes on ,mindless rubbish to undermine the manager and the chance we have to get some stability into the club with someone with a long term vision who has an interest in the whole of the club and will blood youngsters regularly. Much better to sack sack sack ,as we have done in the past and keep on changing the whole personnel of the club ,resulting in change change change and staying in the lower leagues. Your tripe is so dogged down by ridiculous statistics it actually loses the path of how daft it is. The guy has had 18 months ,how long will you give the next mug ,and it will be a mug ,any decent manager who sees us sack a manager with the record of Clough will not touch it with a bargepole.

Sitters , the football and sometimes so called commitment this season as been more than shite , and thats being generous and polite. However are we not in the play offs and not in a relegation battle needing a win from the last game of the season ( as happened on many of occasion ).

Pay offs is a achievement in its self . However , we have been let down on so many occasions in the past , we do not see or accept this as a step forward or progress . The past is the past , cant do nowt about it , and its not Cloughs fault , of our inbred doubt and frustrations.

IMO we stick with Clough what ever happens next season.

UTB

 

[Bladesway]

Fair enough, although it's a bit of a Cameron / Milliband jog around the question while not actually answering it, just say for arguments sake we fail to get promoted this season and then don't do it next season would you think what? One more year? Two?

I think its a fair question and if we aren't there or there abouts (within 3-6 points) of automatic by November then you have to seriously look at replacement.

 

[metalblade]

This season hasn't been great, but there are mitigating circumstances that aren't down to Clough - missing out on targets, certain players under-performing, the Ched fiasco. But, as Biggs stated, it's an improvement on last season and a big improvement on when NC first took over.

There have been plenty of games this season where we were unlucky not to take three points. If three or four of our losses or draws had been turned into wins we'd have been challenging for an auto place.

If we don't go up this season, top two must be the only target next season. I'd keep Clough but review the situation at Christmas. If we are more than six points adrift of second place by the end of the year it may be time to make a change. I do believe that we'll be firmly in the top two by then.

Same even if we go up. I can see us struggling in the Championship with this squad, and we'll need at least 4-5 decent new signings over the summer. If we're in the relegation zone at Christmas, or close to it, we'd need to review the situation.

Saying that, Clough has never suffered a relegation in his managerial career - or even as a player as far as I know

This season hasn't been great, but there are mitigating circumstances that aren't down to Clough - missing out on targets, certain players under-performing, the Ched fiasco. But, as Biggs stated, it's an improvement on last season and a big improvement on when NC first took over.
Like what, Clough was given full control and an adequate budget to work with why is it not down to Clough if we miss targets ? certain players under performing well Clough has close to 40 players to pick from so I think we can put that one down to him. Ah then we have Ched anyone think this would have been such a huge distraction if we had brought in a decent striker over the summer, again down to Clough that we didn't.

There have been plenty of games this season where we were unlucky not to take three points. If three or four of our losses or draws had been turned into wins we'd have been challenging for an auto place.
I fail to see where turning 3-4 draws or losses would have made up the current 19 pts difference to 2nd placed Preston, the simple fact is we are way off the pace.

If we don't go up this season, top two must be the only target next season. I'd keep Clough but review the situation at Christmas. If we are more than six points adrift of second place by the end of the year it may be time to make a change. I do believe that we'll be firmly in the top two by then.
So you and others would give him until next Xmas regardless ? So if we are still in League one next season but not up in the top two you would replace Clough at Xmas and bring in a new man with no time to prepare and get players that are needed in the JTW or in other words throw yet another season down the pan.

Same even if we go up. I can see us struggling in the Championship with this squad, and we'll need at least 4-5 decent new signings over the summer. If we're in the relegation zone at Christmas, or close to it, we'd need to review the situation.

I think that figure must be closer to 10 and I have no confidence in Cloughs transfer dealings after seeing this seasons recuitment of crocks, journeymen and bang average dross.

Saying that, Clough has never suffered a relegation in his managerial career - or even as a player as far as I know
Saying that Clough has never enjoyed a league promotion, actually this will be his highest finish in any league season even if it is in a piss poor league one where a record low of 69pts gets you a play off slot.

 

[davidpinder]

Fast selling season tickets and far more interest than when we played Yeovil in the play offs fly in the face of this ,which 'top' players do you think will leave ?

Murphy for one I don't like his body language at the moment, plus a few young players aren't happy and are looking for moves away.

 

[davidpinder]

I think its a fair question and if we aren't there or there abouts (within 3-6 points) of automatic by November then you have to seriously look at replacement.

I think being 26 points off the top side tells the story of the season, also we may end up 21 points behind automatic I fail to see where the improvement will come from. I also can not believe we may only improve on last season by 3 points.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think its a fair question and if we aren't there or there abouts (within 3-6 points) of automatic by November then you have to seriously look at replacement.

The Board have the dilemma.

Now that they have doubts about Clough they might think we are better investing the next lump of money in another manager if they can find one in whom they can have more confidence. However by doing that they would incur massive settlement costs of the various contracts of the manager and all his staff, maybe even including the MD. They would have a mini army of ex-Derby players who would presumably be disaffected, including the Clough talisman Brayford, for whom we would never recover the money we shelled out.

For those reasons it is not even a remote possibility now and not even in November. Perhaps they are the wrong reasons but that's how it is when a Board places so much faith in one man and builds everything round him. Let's hope it all works out in the end. The Board have invested substantially to create stability through Clough and his dynasty.

My own worries are not whether Clough can get us promoted, rather the two or three years he would spend in the Championship before everybody realised his limitations. I picture us in 2018 with a disillusioned owner who has invested multi-millions with all to show a rag bag squad playing haphazard and boring football and a hostile crowd. All the weaknesses we've seen in League 1 would be magnified at the higher level.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Timing is everything. Bigg's article is a supreme example of unhelpful, shit-stirring journalism in my opinion. Why? Firstly, by his own admission he isn't a supporter of the club "if I was a supporter I’d be feeling fraught right now". He works for a "newspaper" and his objective is to sell copy.

He goes on to say "It’s a question dominating many a Blades fan’s agenda." But is it? I think whether the blades will win promotion and break the play-off hoodoo is a lot higher up the agenda. The vast majority of Blades, I strongly suspect, after the Wilson debacle would not change the manager at this stage of the season.Seeing where we are at the end of the season will inform the Clough in, Clough out debate, dare I say, "massively" Mr. Biggs. Certainly JP's public comments have indicated that is the Board's position, which is in contrast to Bigg's assertion that "There is no evidence, outwardly at least, that the Bramall Lane hierarchy is thinking to the contrary" of continuing with NC.

When the season is over and we know how it all went from game 1 to the play-offs is the least disruptive and injurious time to review SUFC, where we are and what needs to change. In effect that is what JP has been saying. And it will be the season performance that gets looked at and forms the final assessment not , as Biggs asserts " on two or, hopefully, three matches". He proclaims "Healthier to get it out of the way right now". Healthier for whom? And why would SUFC rush a decision on the basis of an, as yet, incomplete season. The only people to benefit from following Mr. Bigg's advice would be his employers. I learnt a new word recently and I hope I use in the proper context "frenemy". Biggs comes over as one of those supercilious pratts who smile to your face and stab you in the back. We don't need him and his opinions don't matter.

I, like most, have views on Clough and change. But this is not the time for that sort of divisive decision or debate. The Blades and promotion are THE only issue for the next few weeks. And that filthy rag that poured petrol on the bonfire that was Chedgate can go bollocks.

Blades forever

 

[Torrix1889]

Poor against Bristol, the PL teams, Swindon? Inconsistent yes, poor no.

Forget the Cup games, they count for shit with regards to promotion. We were poor against Swindon and with better finishing they would have been out of sight at BDTBL...Bristol City and Barnsley away apart performances have been very poor all season.....consistently. Problem is GU, you and a lot of Blades have become accustomed to the dross served up under Clough and have accepted the negative mediocrity that has come with his tenure....I don't blame you, Clough himself thinks he is doing a good job. The reality is we are no better off now than we were when we sacked Wilson going into the play-offs, and the result this time round I'm afraid will be the same, we wont even get to Wembley to fuck it up again!

 

[Dkc]

There have been plenty of games this season where we were unlucky not to take three points. If three or four of our losses or draws had been turned into wins we'd have been challenging for an auto place.

I fail to see where turning 3-4 draws or losses would have made up the current 19 pts difference to 2nd placed Preston, the simple fact is we are way off the pace.

We would have been challenging up to the end of March, at least. By "challenging" I mean having a chance of 2nd.

If we don't go up this season, top two must be the only target next season. I'd keep Clough but review the situation at Christmas. If we are more than six points adrift of second place by the end of the year it may be time to make a change. I do believe that we'll be firmly in the top two by then.

So you and others would give him until next Xmas regardless ? So if we are still in League one next season but not up in the top two you would replace Clough at Xmas and bring in a new man with no time to prepare and get players that are needed in the JTW or in other words throw yet another season down the pan.

Like I said I doubt it would come to that. If we are mid-table or worse at Christmas, the fan pressure will probably make our manager's job untenable regardless of whether it's Clough or a new manager

Same even if we go up. I can see us struggling in the Championship with this squad, and we'll need at least 4-5 decent new signings over the summer. If we're in the relegation zone at Christmas, or close to it, we'd need to review the situation.

I think that figure must be closer to 10 and I have no confidence in Cloughs transfer dealings after seeing this seasons recuitment of crocks, journeymen and bang average dross.

Done, Davies, Brayford, all good signings as was SOG who we unfortunately couldn't keep - jury's still out on 3 or 4 others too.

Saying that, Clough has never suffered a relegation in his managerial career - or even as a player as far as I know

Saying that Clough has never enjoyed a league promotion, actually this will be his highest finish in any league season even if it is in a piss poor league one where a record low of 69pts gets you a play off slot.

He moved from Burton to Derby when they were in first place and 13 points clear and promoted to the 4th division in all but name. That's a league promotion in my book. He also had 1st, 5th and 6th place finishes with Burton in previous seasons.

If you want to use stats selectively, and say this counts for nothing, fair enough

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Murphy for one I don't like his body language at the moment, plus a few young players aren't happy and are looking for moves away.

Murphy signed a contract in January or February didn't he?

 

[Darthblade]

Next season has to be his last chance to get it right, anything less than being a serious competitor for top two from day one then that should be it.


As no one who is 100% behind Clough has answered the question from earlier can I ask someone who clearly is 100 % behind him. How long would you give him to get us out of League one?

IMHO he should be told this summer "if you don't get us out of this horrible agricultural division in the 2015/16 season you are toast mate !! "

He should also be told, "get a decent scout in and entertain the fans whilst achieving automatic promotion" .

UTB & FTP