Duff has got the boot at Huddersfield

I’m not convinced. We did it with Danny Wilson and he was way off at his second attempt. Time moves on and things change.

 

It might sound naive, but I think Duff (and probably Wilson as well) genuinely meant it when they said it.
However in footy, managers and players are in the spotlight aren't they, more than ever these days.
And they have got to be careful what they say, when it comes to making promises.

 

That squad he had, should really have gone up automatically, but the top two that season really pushed on. It was a Championship Squad.

Today’s squad is miles off that, different gravy altogether.

Could he do anything with the current squad? I don’t think so - he’s done nothing since leaving us, and has failed to turn those other clubs around, despite having the budgets to do so.

Despite Hudds beating us twice this season, during both matches, they weren’t brilliant. We were just dire.

Liked the guy at the time, great memories, but don’t want him back.

If we did change manager, Paul Warne would be the guy for me - but not sure he’d come or if we’ve the money for him.

 

Never said I wouldn't turn the offers as they get . But I did turn down opportunities for more money to keep job satisfaction. ( also could have gone overseas for megabucks in comparison, along with my mrs. Who would have earned a damn sight more) I can't see any reason for him to have added the long haul comment. Only for it, to turn out to be a downright lie. Barnsley only needed to add a clause (and we may have well done. I don't remember) like chansiri has.

 

You've answered my point mate with the last sentence. Was it necessary. Many managers don't make such rash comments. It was obvious Danny would want to return to his beloved wendy. But he went overboard when he said he'd never reneged on any contract when he joined us.
Would, Duff if he got offered the job say the same again. I'm pretty sure the owners wouldn't be overly impressed.

 

Well I was sort of agreeing with you Hook, after all.
Didn't Mel Machin also make an ill advised bold statement when he joined us ?.
Something about hoping for promotion to the top division, within three seasons!.
And he was never allowed to forget saying it, in the end.

 

One thing I learned mate is to be as careful as possible with what you say. But sometimes it needs saying.
I've been suspended by the company and Cut off by my peers in the union. I didn't and don't regret one iota. As my comments came to fruition in the end. I think Jud would back me up on that.
Tbf I don't remember what Machin may have said,

 

They definitely were special. You have to be a special side to get over 100 points at this level.

We dropped on them at the absolute perfect time, we were the best we had been all season. We had a run of games where we beat Plymouth, Wednesday, Derby & Pompey at home.

We got a points total that sometimes gets you up automatically & we rested players for the last couple of games after automatic promotion had gone.

I don’t really see the relevance of the Exeter or Lincoln results. Lincoln were on a good run when we met them & Exeter bet us home & away & were the second best side I saw at Oakwell that season behind Ipswich. Maybe they just had our number. It happens.

 

I don’t really get the ‘he had Thomas, Mads & Kitching’ shouts.

Mads, fair enough. He had proven himself as a quality championship centre back but no one saw Kitching developing like he did. If I’m wrong find me the posts of people saying how good he was going to be. His reputation wasn’t much better than Moon’s after the relegation season.

Thomas wasn’t exactly loved at Bristol Rovers either. It’s not like we were signing a player who had looked like one of the best players in the league. You also have to take into account that he joined in January.

You have to give Duff credit for how quickly he improved Kitching & Thomas.

 

Bobby Thomas, not Luke Thomas.

 

I don’t get you? I’m talking about Bobby

 

I was there. He was in the social club handing out our football trophies at the end of the season.

He gave a speech in which he promised to get BFC to the first division. We all cheered!!!

Not long after that, the premier league was formed, and he was proved right, because the names changed. He must have been laughing his **** off

 

Yeah in season '92, it became Division One, and it turned out to be his last season here.
And Mel Machin giving a speech, made Alan Clarke and Simon Davey and Mark Robins and Neil Collins, all sound really exciting!.

 

TLDR; I liked Duff and think he did better than some are remembering.


I said it from day one, regards Kitch. But I appreciate I was closer to it and had seen all the data, knew what he was like in terms of his personality and drive etc. He was a left sided centre half with pace, good in the air, tough as f***. Still a bit rough around the edges but way too good for this level.

We had McCarthy until injury and then Tom Edwards until injury. People forget that.

Hindsight paints different pictures. But Connell was a huge random risk at the time. Cadden was brand new. Same goes for Phillips. Kane had been away at Oxford. Cole had barely had a sniff the year before and Norwood was hardly nailed on to be a success.

The restructuring of the board breathed life into a club on its knees a few months earlier. The arrival of Duff was just as important and he was as close to Big Val as I’ve seen in terms of galvanising a group and making everything seem simple. The players loved playing here.

It wasn’t perfect. I remember the away end at Morecambe booing him and the players when they went over to clap them at full time. There were some strange home defeats too. And of course, if they went behind there seemed a real struggle to turn a game.

He was clever. Getting the Marines in, taking the squad down the mine. You could see the experiences bringing the group together. It can be seen as quite corny stuff, but it definitely worked. And he was a marketing dream in terms of content. When we asked him to do the Kes sketch with Dai Bradley, he was well up for it. He loved the film and felt honoured to meet the actor etc.

That performance at Wembley is right up there with the best produced by any Reds side, all considered. It was gutting, how it ended. But I’ve rarely been as proud. And not just of the team. But of the amazing fans too, who for 123 minutes dominated the massive club from down the road.

I’d have a lot more faith in the club moving forward if he was head coach again. I gave it 36 games, but I just don’t feel confident that Clarke’s the man anymore. You can only judge what you see.

 

The defence wasn’t worth that before he worked with them though were they?

Bobby Thomas had a semi decent half season in league one with Bristol Rovers prior to coming to us.

Liam Kitching had played a season and a half in the championship for us prior to Duff - though made only one appearance in the half season - and was pretty poor in the championship relegation season.

Mads was established. Collins was a decent keeper.

They weren’t a £10million defence before the end of that season though. And it’s questionable they were signed for that much anyway.

We finished below Plymouth, Ipswich and the mob down the road. All got more than 95 points.

All of them had squads of total value more than ours, including the ‘£10million’ defence too.

Duff didn’t achieve promotion - but he did accrue 86 points which was not an underachievement by any means. And even that total included coasting to the playoffs after it became clear we weren’t getting top two.

So no, I don’t think he’s a messiah, whether in unnecessary capital letters or not.

I do, however, think he’s a very good football manager at this level, something I don’t believe Darrell Clarke is.

 

For me it was not recalling Collins when Isted had shown signs of regression

 

Great post.

I do remember you were about the only that was adamant there was a good player in Kitching.

Someone was telling me yesterday that pretty much all the personalities & big characters have left the club & there’s not much spirit amongst the squad like there was particularly two seasons ago.

It certainly feels like that.

 

I actually thought he was right to stick with Isted that season, even though Collins was available again.
But sadly he's going to be remembered for the type of goal he conceded, when it mattered the most... at Wembley.

 

Nors, Luke Thomas, Isted, Herbie, Kitch. All very funny lads in different ways. It wasn’t quiet I know that much.

 

Fair dos. I think that one was at least debatable. Starting Tedic instead of Norwood at Wembley though, absolute brain fart.