[BFC SITE] Darrell Clarke | Pre-Stockport County

Fixtures

• Stockport County Vs. Barnsley - Sat, Feb 08 2025, 12:30

Head Coach Darrell Clarke sat down with the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of travelling to Edgeley Park this Saturday lunchtime in Sky Bet League One.

Assessment of transfer window

"Am I ever happy? Is a head coach ever happy with the business we've done? Listen, I'm looking forward to the last seventeen games of the season. With Clément, I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Dexter obviously comes in from Wolves. We signed Neil in the window. So my pure focus now is pushing on in these last games. There's still an awful lot of points to play for. I know what my squad is, although we'll still be looking in the free market potentially as well. But as things stand, I'm just working out with my staff now to put on a performance against Stockport. Now, shall we say, the circus [transfer window] is closed.

"The recruitment team has worked really hard throughout the window to identify players. We've seen how competitive this transfer window has been. We’ve seen a lot of clubs making massive investments. It's not a great time to do business, and we feel like we've found a little gem there [in Clément Rodrigues]. I'm looking forward to seeing him play on Saturday. We'll see how it goes.

"From my past experiences in transfer windows, sometimes players will come into clubs and get written off before they've even kicked a ball. I always say, let's assess players when they leave the club—see what they've achieved and how they've played for the football club—and then people can form an opinion. But personally, he's fitted in well with the boys. We've got a couple of lads who speak French as well, which obviously helps. He looked bright in training the other day, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action.

"Listen, what I do know is that our fans are fair. I know there's a lot of frustration out there, but our fans are fair, and as long as whoever represents our football club does so in the right way, the fans will get behind them. There's pressure on all players, and there's pressure on me. I'd rather be the one that takes the pressure. I came into the building and said that we'd get into the top six this season, and that's still the aim. We're still in with the opportunity to do that. The pressure is always on, and it’s always there for the players. As long as they're giving everything for the shirt, our fans will be happy.

"I understand the frustrations. We get the ball into the final third more than most teams in the league. It’s up to me and my staff to get more from our forward players and to be more clinical. Clément comes in with a strong reputation, and I’m backing my recruitment team. I’m looking forward to seeing him in action, and hopefully, he can make a difference.

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I get that, I understand that. If you look at League One this season, the difference is that there are far more teams with stronger financial backing than ever before. You can see that clubs coming up have been strong in the markets, and the clubs that have come down have been too. It’s just made for a really competitive league. If you rewind to the summer, what I said—and what every head coach and manager said—was that this is the hardest League One has been in years. You all agreed with that, and managers and head coaches all over the country agreed. So, you either sit here and feel sorry for yourself, thinking, ‘Oh, I wish we had him, I wish I had him,’—of course I do—or you get on with it. And I'm the sort of guy that gets on with it and tries to finish the season really well, with loads of points still to play for, starting Saturday."

On potential addition

"Well, I've got a Zoom call later this afternoon to see how that goes. I'm speaking to a player, so it is a market we're still in. You never know what happens, so we'll see."

On Deadline Day outgoings

"[Kyran] Lofthouse wanted to be guaranteed more minutes in the second half of the season, and we’re not able to guarantee anybody that—it’s all down to performance. He was frustrated in the first half of the season. I particularly wanted him to stay and fight for his place, but he didn’t want to do that. He wanted to take the loan opportunity, and I only want players who want to be part of what we’re trying to build in the second half of the season. So that was a pretty easy one for me because I didn’t want any negativity around the squad. So he goes to Burton to try and get some games, and we’ll see how he does. But for me, it was not a hard decision. As soon as a player mentions that he wants more minutes, I understand it. I understood it from his point of view. He sees two left wing-backs in the squad, and Neil, who can play wide on the left-hand side, as well as Corey O’Keeffe, who is second in the league for assists. He didn’t see much game time for himself, so he took that opportunity. We managed to bring in Dexter [Lembikisa] to add competition for places as well.

"Ben had the opportunity to go to a League Two club, and then Portsmouth came in for him as backup. As far as I know, he’s gone there as a backup keeper. Their number two is injured at the minute, but Ben wanted to take the opportunity to try and break into their team. He might have chosen a team where he’d have played more, but for me, Ben is a great lad and a great professional. However, I have to assess which players can get us into the top six. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right. I think Joe [Gauci] brings a different dynamic to our game. I think we saw that in his first game—he brings different strengths to what Ben had. We move on, and I wish Ben all the best. Joe has my full backing, with Jackson Smith coming in and fighting for his place as number two.

"Sam [Cosgrove] will say he hasn’t played enough games, and I’ll say he hasn’t shown me enough in those games. He’s a great lad, I’ve no problems with him, but for whatever reason, it hasn’t really worked out. If you look at his time at the football club, it hasn’t really taken off. Sometimes it’s the right time for a player to move on and face another challenge. That’s just the nature of football. Again, I wish him all the best.

"Josh [Benson] has been at the club a long time. He’s been through a lot with injuries and challenges. He plays a few games and then gets injured, but he will be part of the group. A move didn’t materialise this window, so I’ll be working hard with Josh and pushing him to get into my team."

On injuries

"[Neil Farrugia] He’s had a light training week. He’s stepping it up a little bit at the back end of this week, so hopefully, he’s not too far away."

On Stockport County

"Yes, obviously, Stockport are having a cracking season. They’ve had momentum for a few years now. They scored an injury-time equaliser against us at home earlier in the season. We’re expecting a tough game, but so will they. The preparation this week has been very good. The boys are in good spirits in camp. We’re on a bit of a run at the minute. We know there’s a lot of frustration around the club, but it’s up to me to control that environment and keep the positivity and siege mentality in the dressing room. That’s what we tend to do. We’ll try and keep the negativity away and try to win games, because there’s no better feeling in football than winning games and building momentum.

"We're really looking forward to the game. It’s a lunchtime kick-off. We’re looking to win every game from now until the end of the season, just as we have in all our matches. Draws aren’t really great for us. I want to be winning games and keeping us in contention. I think we’re four points off fifth place. There are about eight or nine teams that can potentially get into that top six, and we’re one of them. As much support as we can get would be much appreciated, and we’ll try to get a positive result for our supporters."

Continue reading...

 

That picture should be posted into that "what's the longest one you've curled out" thread.

Impressive, DC


Edit: Done

 

Can't fault any of that. Lofthouse wants to play and I can't blame him. I have more respect for someone willing to move on for more game time than bench warm.

He's spot on about Cosgrove. His time with us has been shocking. As Clarke says himself in the article "From my past experiences in transfer windows, sometimes players will come into clubs and get written off before they've even kicked a ball. I always say, let's assess players when they leave the club—see what they've achieved and how they've played for the football club—and then people can form an opinion". My assessment is he was a waste of money.

I really hope Benson can finally stay fit. If he can and he impresses we'd have to look at giving him a new contract.....

 

I agree. Good interview.
Fighting talk.

 

Very fair.

After a good loan last year it’s imperative for Lofthouse that he continues his development. A year on the bench is the worst case scenario for everyone. Disjointed minutes here and there in the wrong position is the worst scenario for everyone.

 

I quite like Clarke...hes honest...I like his ruthlessness. I wish he would stop starting every sentence LISTEN lol...my only only concern is can Clarke stop us leaking goals..
If so we will be in the top 6

 

Zoom call this afternoon. Interesting.

 

Problem is, he just can’t keep fit. Potentially a good player at this level but with our shrinking budget I’d be loath to risk offering him another deal.

 

Jimmy Floyd still on hold.

 

I agree; it's a huge risk, but knowing our luck, he'll go on to perform brilliantly for another club, and never need the skills of the Physio again.

 

Feel like his tone is changing - came in all guns blazing and quite brash but he's got a more professional tone about him now but still gets the message across.

Good interview on paper.

 

I'm a bit lost with the above. Two left wing backs, plus Neil Farrugia, plus Dexter Lembikisa. Who is being counted as the two? Georgie Gent and who is the other?

Apart from that, which isn't important, I'm just interested, I thought that was as pragmatic as it's possible to be. I liked that Clarke kept saying he was looking forward to seeing Clément play. Which I thought was telling.

Many years ago we took the responsibility of signings out of the manager's hands, renamed the role head coach and gave the task of bringing players in to a recruitment team which is now headed by a data analyst. It's that data analyst I'd like to hear from.