Clough's post match interview.

[Woodwardfan]

"The base is there, we just need to add three or four quality players to make up the slender margin by which we have missed out this season".

Nobody can argue with that. We can all say it should have been achieved this season but that's history now.

I'll be watching and waiting for Clough and his brother to find the three or four quality additions without the loss of any quality from the current squad and I'll be happy. Surely we need to unload quite a few of all these middle of the roaders though. If Holt is signed I will be disappointed I'm afraid as Clough emphasised the word "quality" and by that I think he means much better quality than we have already, sorry Holt doesn't add that and just can't be one of the " three or four" mentioned above can he?

Adams and Reed will be a year older too. Reedy looked as though he had grown a fair bit the last time I saw him play, I'm looking forward to watching him and Adams develop. Fingers crossed for Kennedy I love watching him play.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

"The base is there, we just need to add three or four quality players to make up the slender margin by which we have missed out this season".

Nobody can argue with that. We can all say it should have been achieved this season but that's history now.

I'll be watching and waiting for Clough and his brother to find the three or four quality additions without the loss of any quality from the current squad and I'll be happy. Surely we need to unload quite a few of all these middle of the roaders though. If Holt is signed I will be disappointed I'm afraid as Clough emphasised the word "quality" and by that I think he means much better quality than we have already, sorry Holt doesn't add that and just can't be one of the " three or four" mentioned above can he?

Adams and Reed will be a year older too. Reedy looked as though he had grown a fair bit the last time I saw him play, I'm looking forward to watching him and Adams develop. Fingers crossed for Kennedy I love watching him play.

It wasn't a slender margin though, was it? 20 points off second place?

 

[Blade58]

I would say 3 or 4 is very debateable

We possibly need 3 or 4 defenders! (2 x cb's? 1 x Brayford cover?)

We possibly need a replacement for Doyle. Not sure what's happening with Basham, Wallace & Baxter? Is Baxter's contract up?

Are we sorted up front? Davies isn't our player so that may be another signing? Holt isn't our player. so that may be another?

One final comment about Clough and his ability to count. Did he not say he wanted a squad of around 18 -19 first teamers at the beginning of the season? 20 odd signings later, I'd lost count of the squad size

Clough will be signing more than 3 or 4 is my best guess. It's the quality that worries me, exacerbated by the seeming inability to look beyond what appears to be a very narrow and shallow net

 

[AlBlade]

"The base is there, we just need to add three or four quality players to make up the slender margin by which we have missed out this season".

He could have said exactly the same thing at the end last season (but then he went and bought 25 players); and if he is still here I'm fairly sure he will say exactly the same thing at the end of next season.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I too have misgivings about Clough and his brother in particular, but if the manager talks 3 or 4 real quality additions then we can all judge them as they arrive. In and around those arrivals there will be numerous departures and let's hope one of the main players does not leave.

I don't think Clough has budget problems at this level. He simply has to add real quality to the "base" he claims to have established and there is a "base" if real defenders and a couple of real game changers can be added. We have plenty of support players and we have Done and Murphy who are game changers, even Baxter is on his day. S.Davies is what I would call a support player but would be a good signing, but not Holt surely. If Holt is held up as one of those four then we will know we are in trouble again.

A quality keeper, two strong centre backs, Davies and one more pacey. mobile main striker, a ball winner in midfield and a real creator to run midfield. Oh buggar, that's 6 quality additions, ah well, definitely do not want Holt then.

J. Wallace would be one of them if fit. I suppose we could manage with Howard, now that's back to four.

 

[Blade59]

J. Wallace would be one of them if fit.
Would be a great addition if fit. However we cannot base our plan for next season on that assumption as history would suggest otherwise. If Wallace is fit that has to be seen as a bonus but not part of the main plan. S Davies if signed would also fall into that category.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I too have misgivings about Clough and his brother in particular

Care to elaborate? I'll be honest and say I know absolutely nothing about him.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Care to elaborate? I'll be honest and say I know absolutely nothing about him.

Brother of Nigel, only financial earnings in football is at clubs managed by his brother. Newsagent in between. Best attributes for the job of Head Scout are son of Brian, brother of Nigel. I hope I've missed something out because it's embarrassing for all concerned. Would be really happy to be told I've missed something out.

Since with United look at his record to date, but do bear in mind we paid way over the odds for the two fine recruits Brayford and Done, anybody can do that I would say.

 

[metalblade]

Does anyone really think if Clough stays that there will be a change from the shotgun approach to recruitment ?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Does anyone really think if Clough stays that there will be a change from the shotgun approach to recruitment ?

The manager is saying he will do it. Let's see, we've no choice anyway. In any case what's to stop him from falling out with the new signings in the week leading up to the first game of the season and playing full backs at centre half?

 

[Pinchy]

"The base is there, we just need to add three or four quality players to make up the slender margin by which we have missed out this season".

Nobody can argue with that. We can all say it should have been achieved this season but that's history now.

I'll be watching and waiting for Clough and his brother to find the three or four quality additions without the loss of any quality from the current squad and I'll be happy. Surely we need to unload quite a few of all these middle of the roaders though. If Holt is signed I will be disappointed I'm afraid as Clough emphasised the word "quality" and by that I think he means much better quality than we have already, sorry Holt doesn't add that and just can't be one of the " three or four" mentioned above can he?

Adams and Reed will be a year older too. Reedy looked as though he had grown a fair bit the last time I saw him play, I'm looking forward to watching him and Adams develop. Fingers crossed for Kennedy I love watching him play.

Too Bladey, Woody. Reed's latter performances have been appalling. Kennedy, yes fingers crossed of course, but your wishful thinking doesn't make him anything like as good as you imagine him to be.

 

[sheffielder]

Does anyone really think if Clough stays that there will be a change from the shotgun approach to recruitment ?

I seriously doubt he will be allowed to use the same approach. Quality over quantity this time. We know what needs to be done.

 

[metalblade]

I seriously doubt he will be allowed to use the same approach. Quality over quantity this time. We know what needs to be done.

We are talking about a bloke who clearly believes he is bigger than the club.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Too Bladey, Woody. Reed's latter performances have been appalling. Kennedy, yes fingers crossed of course, but your wishful thinking doesn't make him anything like as good as you imagine him to be.

Pinchy, by what standards?

Tell me how you might compare them both to Coutts, McEveley, Freeman, Harris, Holt, Howard, Turner, Alcock, Paynter, Lappin, White, even Scougall, McNulty, sure there are more. Please allow for the age differences, so age for age.

Talk about being Bladey, I'd have Whitehouse in midfield before Coutts and Holt any day. I'd also stick with Diego, of course I would he's got quality some of these blokes on;y dream about, it just needs encouraging to flourish, you know the right type of manager who puts his arm round the lad and tells him he's brilliant but needs to fine tune one or two things, rather than he's a load of crap.

I know exactly what you are alluding to but there's also a case for channelling local talent and loyalty with development and encouragement. We have let some good players go over the years for nothing and replaced them with players who have added zilch.

Tell you what Pinchy, ask Whitehouse to go out and play like Coutts - half pace, stroll around, don't bother getting back to defend and no need to join our attacks, pass the ball slowly sideways or backwards 90% of the time, just keep possession. The lad would stroll it, it's just a shame Coutts doesn't quite carry it off. Whitehouse would ask to meet the manager and tell him he would feel thoroughly wasted and de-motivated.

 

[Pinchy]

Pinchy, by what standards?

Tell me how you might compare them both to Coutts, McEveley, Freeman, Harris, Holt, Howard, Turner, Alcock, Paynter, Lappin, White, even Scougall, McNulty, sure there are more. Please allow for the age differences, so age for age.

Talk about being Bladey, I'd have Whitehouse in midfield before Coutts and Holt any day. I'd also stick with Diego, of course I would he's got quality some of these blokes on;y dream about, it just needs encouraging to flourish, you know the right type of manager who puts his arm round the lad and tells him he's brilliant but needs to fine tune one or two things, rather than he's a load of crap.

I know exactly what you are alluding to but there's also a case for channelling local talent and loyalty with development and encouragement. We have let some good players go over the years for nothing and replaced them with players who have added zilch.

Sorry mate, I'm afraid we're on different tramlines. I want the team I've supported for over 50 years to be successful and to play entertaining football the way it should be played. Of course the two are different sides of the same coin anywhere else but good ol' S2 where the news has not yet got through.

Reed is a promising novice, nothing more. He ain't Tony Currie; He ain't Willie Carlin. He's not going to be a top player. If you are unable to acknowledge that his recent performances have been very poor (rightly hauled off TWICE at half-time) then you are kidding only yourself.

Kennedy - an OK battling defender but sadly he can't manage more than 45 minutes (perhaps he could share the 90 with Reed) and, at his age, we simply can't accommodate that. Paul McGrath he isn't. Woody, he's not big enough to make a top centre-back. Sad, but true. Even sadder, his knackered knee simply compounds the issue. Joe Shaw, before you say it, would not survive against modern centre-forwards. They are not 5-11 these days!

Sure we'd all like a team full of local lads but then again we all like ice cream and teddy bears. It's a pipe-dream mate. You can't wish a lad into a good player.

Coutts is a far better player than Reed IF he can attain full fitness. You know, Reed doesn't score goals, he rarely provides assists and his biggest asset, the ability to pass a ball accurately, has deserted him in his last couple of games. Coutts was involved in at least three of our goals against Swindon and that at about 80% fitness. You have chosen to knock non-locals above. Why? It doesn't make the locals any better. They're all United players once they pull on the shirt. Currie wasn't born on London Road, you know.

I suspect Nigel has done his very best with Diego. Diego's Daft Dad has done him no favours. Has Diego ever said "Boss, you were a better player than me or my dad - please help me improve..? No, I don't think so either. Still, no worries when you've got Juve and Barca banging your door down, eh? They are....aren't they?.....What?.....Oh well.

 

[robbiez666]

How many will he sign to get these 3 or 4? 20? 30?

Does he really think that he's doen a good job in the transfer market this season? It's almost bordering on satire.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Sorry mate, I'm afraid we're on different tramlines. I want the team I've supported for over 50 years to be successful and to play entertaining football the way it should be played. Of course the two are different sides of the same coin anywhere else but good ol' S2 where the news has not yet got through.

Reed is a promising novice, nothing more. He ain't Tony Currie; He ain't Willie Carlin. He's not going to be a top player. If you are unable to acknowledge that his recent performances have been very poor (rightly hauled off TWICE at half-time) then you are kidding only yourself.

Kennedy - an OK battling defender but sadly he can't manage more than 45 minutes (perhaps he could share the 90 with Reed) and, at his age, we simply can't accommodate that. Paul McGrath he isn't. Woody, he's not big enough to make a top centre-back. Sad, but true. Even sadder, his knackered knee simply compounds the issue. Joe Shaw, before you say it, would not survive against modern centre-forwards. They are not 5-11 these days!

Sure we'd all like a team full of local lads but then again we all like ice cream and teddy bears. It's a pipe-dream mate. You can't wish a lad into a good player.

Coutts is a far better player than Reed IF he can attain full fitness. You know, Reed doesn't score goals, he rarely provides assists and his biggest asset, the ability to pass a ball accurately, has deserted him in his last couple of games. Coutts was involved in at least three of our goals against Swindon and that at about 80% fitness. You have chosen to knock non-locals above. Why? It doesn't make the locals any better. They're all United players once they pull on the shirt. Currie wasn't born on London Road, you know.

I suspect Nigel has done his very best with Diego. Diego's Daft Dad has done him no favours. Has Diego ever said "Boss, you were a better player than me or my dad - please help me improve..? No, I don't think so either. Still, no worries when you've got Juve and Barca banging your door down, eh? They are....aren't they?.....What?.....Oh well.

On whichever tramlines we are on neither of us should be talking about Paul McGrath. I'm simply talking about such as McEveley, McCarthy, McGahey, Alcock, Brayford, even Basham in the centre half berths. Kennedy is every bit as good as them with years of improvement ahead. We are in League 1 and thinking about the Championship not Champions League.

About Reed, I saw Curry on his debut and the vast majority of all his games. I've watched Walker, Jagielka, Naughton, Badger, Lowton, Birchenall. Mick Jones, and endless others play as lads. Reed is just as good age for age, position for position, believe me. Of course it's early days but fingers crossed.

Coutts a far better player than Reed? I'm not sure that's correct even now and Coutts is supposedly a seasoned pro. No need to allow for age but of course a young lad is likely to have a couple of bad games recently, he's just been off with England, his manager bollocks him at every opportunity, it's all hard to reconcile I'm sure.

Whitehouse will have a good career. So will Diego. They were here before Clough arrived so they are not preferred.

I make no serious case for local lads Pinchy, My case is for adding game changers to what we've already got, Think about that. It's the replacement of what we've got that has been so unnecessary and so unsuccessful. Add game-changers by all means.but not legions of interchangeable journeymen.

That's why I'm looking forward to the focus on signings of quality players who add something. That did not happen before the JTW when we signed two quality additions at great expense but unfortunately three others who added nothing.

 

[Going up]

I would say 3 or 4 is very debateable

We possibly need 3 or 4 defenders! (2 x cb's? 1 x Brayford cover?)

We possibly need a replacement for Doyle. Not sure what's happening with Basham, Wallace & Baxter? Is Baxter's contract up?

Are we sorted up front? Davies isn't our player so that may be another signing? Holt isn't our player. so that may be another?

One final comment about Clough and his ability to count. Did he not say he wanted a squad of around 18 -19 first teamers at the beginning of the season? 20 odd signings later, I'd lost count of the squad size

Clough will be signing more than 3 or 4 is my best guess. It's the quality that worries me, exacerbated by the seeming inability to look beyond what appears to be a very narrow and shallow net

The Derby fans and board said the same, McLaren looked far and wide for names the locals couldn't pronounce. How did that work out? Don't care where they come from as long as they are good enough.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Kennedy - an OK battling defender but sadly he can't manage more than 45 minutes (perhaps he could share the 90 with Reed) and, at his age, we simply can't accommodate that. Paul McGrath he isn't. Woody, he's not big enough to make a top centre-back. Sad, but true. Even sadder, his knackered knee simply compounds the issue. Joe Shaw, before you say it, would not survive against modern centre-forwards. They are not 5-11 these days!

Cannavaro. If you're good enough, you're tall enough.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Sorry mate, I'm afraid we're on different tramlines. I want the team I've supported for over 50 years to be successful and to play entertaining football the way it should be played. Of course the two are different sides of the same coin anywhere else but good ol' S2 where the news has not yet got through.

Reed is a promising novice, nothing more. He ain't Tony Currie; He ain't Willie Carlin. He's not going to be a top player. If you are unable to acknowledge that his recent performances have been very poor (rightly hauled off TWICE at half-time) then you are kidding only yourself.

Kennedy - an OK battling defender but sadly he can't manage more than 45 minutes (perhaps he could share the 90 with Reed) and, at his age, we simply can't accommodate that. Paul McGrath he isn't. Woody, he's not big enough to make a top centre-back. Sad, but true. Even sadder, his knackered knee simply compounds the issue. Joe Shaw, before you say it, would not survive against modern centre-forwards. They are not 5-11 these days!

Sure we'd all like a team full of local lads but then again we all like ice cream and teddy bears. It's a pipe-dream mate. You can't wish a lad into a good player.

Coutts is a far better player than Reed IF he can attain full fitness. You know, Reed doesn't score goals, he rarely provides assists and his biggest asset, the ability to pass a ball accurately, has deserted him in his last couple of games. Coutts was involved in at least three of our goals against Swindon and that at about 80% fitness. You have chosen to knock non-locals above. Why? It doesn't make the locals any better. They're all United players once they pull on the shirt. Currie wasn't born on London Road, you know.

I suspect Nigel has done his very best with Diego. Diego's Daft Dad has done him no favours. Has Diego ever said "Boss, you were a better player than me or my dad - please help me improve..? No, I don't think so either. Still, no worries when you've got Juve and Barca banging your door down, eh? They are....aren't they?.....What?.....Oh well.

Just one stat to add Pinchy from the club website:

Coutts played 22 Goals zero Assists 3. And you are right IF he ever gets fit. anyway that's all about next season now really.

My suspicion is however that John Ebrill would have been allowed to carry on playing if he was allowed Coutts' level of immobility and fitness. Never ever have I seen a regular player have trouble simply walking during breaks in play. At best he shuffles with a limp through games. Couldn't Ebrill have done that?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Brother of Nigel, only financial earnings in football is at clubs managed by his brother. Newsagent in between. Best attributes for the job of Head Scout are son of Brian, brother of Nigel. I hope I've missed something out because it's embarrassing for all concerned. Would be really happy to be told I've missed something out.

Since with United look at his record to date, but do bear in mind we paid way over the odds for the two fine recruits Brayford and Done, anybody can do that I would say.

People's obsession with "Nigel's Brother" is the embarrassing part.
He's called Simon by the way.
When slagging people off its only polite to use their proper name.

What was the name of our last Head Scout? And the one before that?
Which other clubs did they work for? Does anyone know? Did anyone care?
Or is just another stick to beat Clough with?

All managers employ Head Scouts whose judgement they implicitly trust.
Ideally, they will share the same ideas on football, so they're not looking for players who won't suit the manager's preferred style.
After spending their lives watching football together, Nigel Clough obviously knows what he's getting when Simon recommends a player.

Obviously there will be a fair few other people involved after that.
Several others will also scout the player and Nigel will always have the final say.
The Cloughs have had a few notable successes as well as failures but they don't get any credit for that.
Paid over the odds for Brayford at £2M?
I wonder which genius head scout plucked him from non-league in the first place? Clough's brother perhaps?

 

[MobileBlade]

Pinchy, by what standards?

Tell me how you might compare them both to Coutts, McEveley, Freeman, Harris, Holt, Howard, Turner, Alcock, Paynter, Lappin, White, even Scougall, McNulty, sure there are more. Please allow for the age differences, so age for age.

Talk about being Bladey, I'd have Whitehouse in midfield before Coutts and Holt any day. I'd also stick with Diego, of course I would he's got quality some of these blokes on;y dream about, it just needs encouraging to flourish, you know the right type of manager who puts his arm round the lad and tells him he's brilliant but needs to fine tune one or two things, rather than he's a load of crap.

I know exactly what you are alluding to but there's also a case for channelling local talent and loyalty with development and encouragement. We have let some good players go over the years for nothing and replaced them with players who have added zilch.

Tell you what Pinchy, ask Whitehouse to go out and play like Coutts - half pace, stroll around, don't bother getting back to defend and no need to join our attacks, pass the ball slowly sideways or backwards 90% of the time, just keep possession. The lad would stroll it, it's just a shame Coutts doesn't quite carry it off. Whitehouse would ask to meet the manager and tell him he would feel thoroughly wasted and de-motivated.

Actually on subject of Diego I heard something of interest yesterday. Question was asked where is he going and response was that his father and uncle want him to move to Juve but his agent (and I'm sure they said agent but getting old and a little deaf ☺) said that he wanted him to stop at United.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Actually on subject of Diego I heard something of interest yesterday. Question was asked where is he going and response was that his father and uncle want him to move to Juve but his agent (and I'm sure they said agent but getting old and a little deaf ☺) said that he wanted him to stop at United.

I sincerely hope he stays with us. Perhaps more fans should say that in the right place at the right time. I'll sign a petition.

 

[Woodwardfan]

People's obsession with "Nigel's Brother" is the embarrassing part.
He's called Simon by the way.
When slagging people off its only polite to use their proper name.

What was the name of our last Head Scout? And the one before that?
Which other clubs did they work for? Does anyone know? Did anyone care?
Or is just another stick to beat Clough with?

All managers employ Head Scouts whose judgement they implicitly trust.
Ideally, they will share the same ideas on football, so they're not looking for players who won't suit the manager's preferred style.
After spending their lives watching football together, Nigel Clough obviously knows what he's getting when Simon recommends a player.

Obviously there will be a fair few other people involved after that.
Several others will also scout the player and Nigel will always have the final say.
The Cloughs have had a few notable successes as well as failures but they don't get any credit for that.
Paid over the odds for Brayford at £2M?
I wonder which genius head scout plucked him from non-league in the first place? Clough's brother perhaps?

I have quoted Simon Clough's name so many times I have no regrets not doing so this time. Sometimes Nigel might dread hearing his father's name quoted in anything to do with him and I respect that as well.

Anyway, the last appointed Head Scout was Billy Dearden as far as I recall and I posted numerous times on here to ask what he was doing with his time. I happen to think fans deserve to know how big and effective the scouting section of the club is. I think it ought to celebrate its triumphs and explain what effort and expense is spent out of all club expenditure, which areas it covers and what its strategy is. Indeed I believe it's up amongst the top 3 most important areas of the club.

I also posted numerous times before that in a period of over two years when we had NO HEAD SCOUT but nobody ever listened.

Sothall, please do not treat me like a clueless chancer just posting things for effect. I am a Unitedite who just wishes to question, learn and gain confidence and hope.

I am also a professional plus a believer in some of the modern laws on equal opportunities. The appointment of your brother who has no achievements or qualifications in the industry other than he sat on his father's lap in Notts Forest dugout, was brought up in the great Brian c
Clough's household and is the brother of Brian's son, who became a professional footballer even though he wasn't as good as Simon himself, - is no qualification to be Head Scout at Bramall Lane. When his brother can't find him a job he is a newsagent, he doesn't work in football for anybody else.

As a supporter I question whether we might find a better Head Scout in the whole of football. After 18 months I look at our signings and I have to say YES.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I sincerely hope he stays with us. Perhaps more fans should say that in the right place at the right time. I'll sign a petition.

Two clubs are after him , after talking to his uncle and Henry Winter .

His Mum wants him to go to Southampton

His Dad wants him to go to Juve.

May have already signed a pre-mutual agreement with Juve.

Some say he may not be good enough for both those teams , but when you have got the money you can afford to gamble.

Perhaps the player we now require , and he was on the books.

It wasn't agent , it was auntie.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

I sincerely hope he stays with us. Perhaps more fans should say that in the right place at the right time. I'll sign a petition.

No need. He's been offered a contract. He chose to reject it, aided and abetted by Daft Daddy Diego and his greedy agent.

My word, those four lower-league goals have made quite an impression, haven't they?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Two clubs are after him , after talking to his uncle and Henry Winter .

His Mum wants him to go to Southampton

His Dad wants him to go to Juve.

May have already signed a pre-mutual agreement with Juve.

Some say he may not be good enough for both those teams , but when you have got the money you can afford to gamble.

Perhaps the player we now require , and he was on the books.

It wasn't agent , it was auntie.

UTB

Good enough for Southampton and Juventus but not good enough for us to think about developing even though he scored for us at Preston only to be dropped and was a hero at york.

Clough is complex, I'll leave it at that.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Good enough for Southampton and Juventus but not good enough for us to think about developing even though he scored for us at Preston only to be dropped and was a hero at york.

Clough is complex, I'll leave it at that.

What i heard is the club supported him through a very serious careerer threatening injury ,

 

[Woodwardfan]

No need. He's been offered a contract. He chose to reject it, aided and abetted by Daft Daddy Diego and his greedy agent.

My word, those four lower-league goals have made quite an impression, haven't they?

OK but any more comments on our tramline debate Pinchy. I'd respect your views.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Actually on subject of Diego I heard something of interest yesterday. Question was asked where is he going and response was that his father and uncle want him to move to Juve but his agent (and I'm sure they said agent but getting old and a little deaf ☺) said that he wanted him to stop at United.

Last four games at Northampton Town:

unused sub, subbed after 45, 70, 70 minutes. No goals.

Is this the form that's attracting Juventus?