Nigel Clough..

[Revolution]

So 75% of his plus points are playing Clough signings?

(JCR's loan to Notts Co was nothing to do Clough before that gets mentioned)

That's not what JCR says.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

In all honesty, whats the point fellas?

Every board this club has had, have been idiots. There will be no big clear in January or the Summer, the club will fail to achieve promotion and instead of addressing the real issues blighting the club, Jim and his pals will sack NA.

Unless the Ticket Office do a Bradford with ST prices, the crowds will be as low as the early 2000's, the team will continue to under perform for another mug who wants to hang his name of the manager's office door and those pricks across the city will most likely fluke their way through the Play Offs and on to a share of the £5bn SKY deal.

The club are sleep walking into mediocrity and to be honest I'm sure there's a large percentage of Blades fans who are losing interest in watching it happen.

 

[billyblademan]

So 75% of his plus points are playing Clough signings?

(JCR's loan to Notts Co was nothing to do Clough before that gets mentioned)

What did happen then?

Counting post match interviews and body language as minus points is stretching it somewhat.

You're forgetting about Danny Wilson and his folded arms!

 

[Martin]

It just goes to shows the grass is never greener on the other side?

 

[PeteBlade]

What did happen then?



You're forgetting about Danny Wilson and his folded arms!

Yes I'm going to need this explaining too.

 

[PeteBlade]

It just goes to shows the grass is never greener on the other side?

No, it shows that if you let someone piss all over your grass, don't be surprised if your grass is still covered in that persons piss a short time later.

 

[MBoreman]

Clough screwed over the close season, true, but not signing those specfic players was not for the want of trying. Neither of Brayford or Freeman would sign for us at the time, and Liverpool refused to sell Coady to us.

Of course the problems began because he did not look around for decent substitutes for these players. None of the million midfielders he tried are as good as Coady going forward, for example. Quantity over quality alright.

From what I heard it seemed like Liverpool said 1 million, then rather than wait for the price to drop Clough got annoyed and signed some inferior players, leaving Huddersfield to get him for 350k. I'd have taken him for a million, worth triple that now.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Trouble is, with all the talk about Coady and whether we should have bought him, hindsight's a truly wonderful thing. This topic has been discussed to exhaustion but given that I'm more than happy to add my take. I believe the price Clough was quoted was approximately £1.4 million. Clough obviously felt this was unrealistic so, with time being at a premium, he searched elsewhere for midfield cover, and bought what he thought was a suitable replacement in one, J.Wallace. Now I happen to like Wallace, but it's clear the fella's a physio's dream so it looks like we were sold a pup. As for the other substandard purchases at that time, the less said the better. Clough really should have gone for 5-6 quality players rather than bulking out the squad. I can already hear the comments about needing cover, but what we lacked was quality - still do! - so to my mind that should have been our priority. The team on the pitch simply doesn't meet the quality of the ground we attend, hasn't anyone in the boardroom noticed?

 

[IOM Blade]

Trouble is, with all the talk about Coady and whether we should have bought him, hindsight's a truly wonderful thing. This topic has been discussed to exhaustion but given that I'm more than happy to add my take. I believe the price Clough was quoted was approximately £1.4 million. Clough obviously felt this was unrealistic so, with time being at a premium, he searched elsewhere for midfield cover, and bought what he thought was a suitable replacement in one, J.Wallace. Now I happen to like Wallace, but it's clear the fella's a physio's dream so it looks like we were sold a pup. As for the other substandard purchases at that time, the less said the better. Clough really should have gone for 5-6 quality players rather than bulking out the squad. I can already hear the comments about needing cover, but what we lacked was quality - still do! - so to my mind that should have been our priority. The team on the pitch simply doesn't meet the quality of the ground we attend, hasn't anyone in the boardroom noticed?

We get quoted £1.4M and he moves to Hudds for £350K a few weeks later. Sounds about right. Another example of negotiation genius by our Mal

 

[PeteBlade]

I repeat this every time Coady is brought up.

He didn't want to sign for us permanently due to us being in league one.

 

[Rodley]

We get quoted £1.4M and he moves to Hudds for £350K a few weeks later. Sounds about right. Another example of negotiation genius by our Mal

I very much doubt Coady would have dropped to League 1 with even a sniff of Championship interest.

 

[itsinyerblood]

We get quoted £1.4M and he moves to Hudds for £350K a few weeks later. Sounds about right. Another example of negotiation genius by our Mal

That sounds about right, although, in our defence (which is hard to do I admit) if we'd begun discussions with other targets it may have been a case of the train already leaving the station before we could respond. Just saying, but the steep drop in asking price does signify an absence of interest in Coady from other clubs. Our loss I'm afraid.

 

[IOM Blade]

I repeat this every time Coady is brought up.

He didn't want to sign for us permanently due to us being in league one.

I very much doubt Coady would have dropped to League 1 with even a sniff of Championship interest.

I don't believe that. He loved it here.

 

[PeteBlade]

I don't believe that. He loved it here.

He liked it as much as any other footballer likes playing football anywhere.

He's also ambitious and wants to player at the highest level possible.

He said this directly to a group of our fans.

 

[billyblademan]

He liked it as much as any other footballer likes playing football anywhere.

He's also ambitious and wants to player at the highest level possible.

He said this directly to a group of our fans.

This brings to mind a tale Warnock tells of how the season before we went up to the Prem, Alan Quinn told him he wanted to leave in the summer. Warnock sat him down, told him who he was going to sign, and that this year was the year. First game, we beat Leicester 4-1, and at FT Quinny comes up to NW on the pitch and says 'you're right gaffer, this is going to be our year'.

Of course, this could be a typical Colin story, but I do think that Conor would have been receptive to the above. I know he's got his move to Wolves now, but I doubt last season at Huddersfield was much fun for him.

 

[PeteBlade]

This brings to mind a tale Warnock tells of how the season before we went up to the Prem, Alan Quinn told him he wanted to leave in the summer. Warnock sat him down, told him who he was going to sign, and that this year was the year. First game, we beat Leicester 4-1, and at FT Quinny comes up to NW on the pitch and says 'you're right gaffer, this is going to be our year'.

Of course, this could be a typical Colin story, but I do think that Conor would have been receptive to the above. I know he's got his move to Wolves now, but I doubt last season at Huddersfield was much fun for him.

But if we had done that and he had signed (wishful thinking that it is) he wouldn't have Been very happy with how the season panned out!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I don't believe that. He loved it here.

He may well have done. But if he was intent on getting regular football in the Championship it's perfectly logical for him to have gone there rather than back to L1, regardless of how much he enjoyed his year with us.

 

[billyblademan]

But if we had done that and he had signed (wishful thinking that it is) he wouldn't have Been very happy with how the season panned out!

Coady would have been a big plus for us. Last season, we needed to replace the 3 that left (Harry, Coady and Bray), and sign 2 strikers. We didn't replace Harry, we signed about 4 midfielders all shite or crocked, and Bray came eventually in Jan, but was injured, or playing makeshift CB. The 2 strikers we signed were Higdon and McNulty. Add onto that about 6 more players of crap that were sprinkled on top (hello J-Mac and Alcock), and you see where Clough went wrong.

I don't think you see how good a player Coady was, until you see our midfield without him - and I include the present day. I was surprised as any by Powell's sacking, but I saw Town play a few times last season - one game Coady was played CH, and in a couple, he was DM, but was clearly instructed not to leave Huddersfields half. He was playing in his shell, and was shocked to see how poorly utilised he was.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

53Mboreman said


Would also have meant keeping Harry, so lining up:
Howard (in hindsight - new)
Freeman Maguire New Harris
Flynn Coady Doyle Murphy
Baxter
New

Then a couple of cover signings could be made.


#53MBoreman, 58 minutes ago



For the bench he’d still have had


Long

Kennedy

Dimaio

Khan

Scougall

Reed

De Girolamo

Calvert Lewin


If he’d done as you said then signed K. Wallace and Adams we’d have been pretty much there. Basham would have also been useful to have in the squad and possibly JCR. He could then have added Done and Brayford in January as he did to help get us over the line. Could have done without Butler, McGahey, J. Wallace, Davies, Higdon, McNulty, Turner, Coutts, Holt, Davies, McCarthy, McEveley, Alcock etc.



PS- I think Edwards would make an atrocious manager. He’s as guilty as the majority of fans for thinking the grass is always greener on the other side when it comes to style of football, formation, manager etc. No way could he execute a medium or long term strategy.

 

[billyblademan]

53Mboreman said


Would also have meant keeping Harry, so lining up:
Howard (in hindsight - new)
Freeman Maguire New Harris
Flynn Coady Doyle Murphy
Baxter
New

Then a couple of cover signings could be made.


#53MBoreman, 58 minutes ago



For the bench he’d still have had


Long

Kennedy

Dimaio

Khan

Scougall

Reed

De Girolamo

Calvert Lewin


If he’d done as you said then signed K. Wallace and Adams we’d have been pretty much there. Basham would have also been useful to have in the squad and possibly JCR. He could then have added Done and Brayford in January as he did to help get us over the line. Could have done without Butler, McGahey, J. Wallace, Davies, Higdon, McNulty, Turner, Coutts, Holt, Davies, McCarthy, McEveley, Alcock etc.



PS- I think Edwards would make an atrocious manager. He’s as guilty as the majority of fans for thinking the grass is always greener on the other side when it comes to style of football, formation, manager etc. No way could he execute a medium or long term strategy.

I'd forgotten about McCarthy. It's a shame he didn't work out, because he was a communicator at the back. Pity that he was just as shite as everyone else.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I'd forgotten about McCarthy. It's a shame he didn't work out, because he was a communicator at the back. Pity that he was just as shite as everyone else.

My main problem with McCarthy is that he didn't train with the team. How was he ever going to develop an understanding with the rest of the defence? If he's been an exceptional striker who could be a matchwinner then that might be more acceptable but it's not OK for your defensive "lynchpin"

 

[billyblademan]

My main problem with McCarthy is that he didn't train with the team. How was he ever going to develop an understanding with the rest of the defence? If he's been an exceptional striker who could be a matchwinner then that might be more acceptable but it's not OK for your defensive "lynchpin"

I'd happily have John Terry spend all week at London Zoo, and catch a train up Saturday lunchtime to play at BL. It's not ideal, but that's the gamble we made. I remember against Barnsley, their winner was Sam Winnall (their only decent player on the day) have a completely free header from a corner. How the fuck is that allowed to happen? Even if it was McCarthy's man, and they hadn't done set piece drills together, you just grab him by the waist, and stop the buggar jumping.

 

[Bladesman]

Why is the solution to go back to the last guy we had?

 

[MobileBlade]

At the end of last season there was a poll on here that showed about 65% of Blades wanted to give Clough another year. This season the directors (Jim) have appealed to us to show patience and yet that was one attribute they couldn't display last June.

Last year at this time we and this 'collection of shite' were looking towards a League Cup Quarter Final against Premiership opposition. Tonight this same 'collection of shite' couldn't even get past Fleetwood.

But at least we lost to Hartlepool in the same competition last season. In round 1. This year we beat them on penalties. In round. There we go. Improvement.

 

[AlienBlade]

Before he built a squad that was bloated with dross, he claimed that we only needed a few quality additions. If he's had mixed messages, he wasn't suggesting so at the start of last season. It was the action that was fucked up, not the message.

UTB

TBF to Clough, look at the number of players that were left at the start of that season (after all the players on loan had left and those out of contract had gone... we were actually left with ZERO full backs on the books... so was it that unreasonable for clough to need to bring in 4 full backs.... 2 to start and 2 as back ups...

 

[grafikhaus]

It just goes to shows the grass is never greener on the other side?

Maybe, but Forest are on the point of installing Clough as manager and no doubt Moyes will walk into a good job after his latest sacking. Don't these boards ever learn?

 

[RMBlade]

Maybe, but Forest are on the point of installing Clough as manager and no doubt Moyes will walk into a good job after his latest sacking. Don't these boards ever learn?

Moyes was a good fit for Everton signed a lot of good players with little money (in the grand scheme of things). At Man U I think the players thought they were above him. He didn't have silly money to spend there (like LVG) but his signings were decent in fellaini and Mata. His biggest mistake was sacking the whole of Fergies backroom staff.

Clough may do okay at Forest... based purely on his name not his ability.

 

[alcoblade]

TBF to Clough, look at the number of players that were left at the start of that season (after all the players on loan had left and those out of contract had gone... we were actually left with ZERO full backs on the books... so was it that unreasonable for clough to need to bring in 4 full backs.... 2 to start and 2 as back ups...

Come the end of his tenure we had a massive, expensive squad, with very little quality. Whatever the details that brought us to that position, he was responsible for the overall outcome.

UTB

 

[Barney]

Come the end of his tenure we had a massive, expensive squad, with very little quality. Whatever the details that brought us to that position, he was responsible for the overall outcome.

UTB

And who's responsible for making it even worse with 4 unbelievably poor signings?

I'll give you a clue, his full name begins with Nigel, and ends in Adkins.

 

[grafikhaus]

Moyes was a good fit for Everton signed a lot of good players with little money (in the grand scheme of things). At Man U I think the players thought they were above him. He didn't have silly money to spend there (like LVG) but his signings were decent in fellaini and Mata. His biggest mistake was sacking the whole of Fergies backroom staff.

Clough may do okay at Forest... based purely on his name not his ability.

Not the way I saw it. Moyes was happy to tread water for 11 years at Everton, on 30k+ crowds while Liverpool were allowed to dominate. I couldn't believe the standing ovation he got for his last game in charge at Everton. He'd taken them as far as he was capable of doing and turned Everton into a 'making up the numbers' club in the PL. Found out at Old Trafford and now Spain.

Clough? Good article here and, like most of his managerial career, it's all based on the reflected glory of his father.

'Nigel is 49 now. He was sacked by Sheffield United last summer even though he had guided them to the League One play-offs and led them to an FA Cup semi-final and a Capital One Cup semi-final in successive seasons. Sooner rather than later, a club will get lucky and hire him.' Utter bollocks. He's been a manager for 17 years now and won two promotions.

It's not as if Derby fans didn't warn us of Clough's negativity. Now he looks set to inflict his own brand of tedium at the City Ground.