Aye and *****ed more than £25 million and a wage bill that wouldn't be out of place in the top 6 of the premiership
It's not as though the teams around them are short of a few bob though. Derby fans aren't happy. They do seem to bottle it towards the end of the season
Great job for someone with a great bunch of players. If you sign left sided Bradley Johnson, don't play him in a holding role. If you've got Tom Ince who likes to operate behind a striker, don't stick him on the right wing. If Nick Blackman's a striker, don't play him wide left. Jacob Butterfield isn't a defensive midfielder. Andi Weimann isn't a winger. Chris Baird's not a midfielder. The bloke lost the plot. Not all coaches make it in management. I'm not surprised he's gone. And he'll be back with Ancelotti soon at Bayern, so not a bad life...
I watched the Derby v Man td game and thought exactly that, why has he bought Jacob Butterfield and played him in a position he hates. Coaches eh.
If I was a Bristol City fan I'd be a bit worried LJ will be getting twitchy, 100% record at Bristol and all that
They're at home and he always plays George Thorne when fit, in the holding role. Makes sense. That's his position, although George is a bit more than that, he's very very good and if he wasn't made of glass he'd be England potential. But he'll then have Jacob alongside him (when he actually picks him) or Bradley Johnson. now, we all know Jacob is an attacking midfielder. He played in a two like Conor does here, for Huddersfield last year and his graft and defensive side is much better than it was four, five years ago. So he can play centre mid. But deep? Holding in midfield? Not allowed to get forward? Bizarre. And Bradley? Scored 15 goals for Norwich on the left of a diamond last year, was their POTY as they won promotion. So why play him deep? Because he's a unit? Chuff knows. They have Hendrick and Bryson too, both quality Champ midfielders. And he'll drop them all willy nilly. No continuity. No way of growing together, getting an understanding. I've no sympathy for Clement. He's had £25,000,000 to spend and got Derby playing worse football with each passing month. Whoever comes in (they reckon Wassall will take it to the seasons end but I can see Moyes or Pearson in myself) has a fantastic collection of footballers. But some big egos to deal with. Their squad is bloated. Money isn't always the answer. On a personal level, we now have to hope that like at Boro when Mowbray went and Karanka arrived, that Jacob isn't deemed surplus again. Because it'll be sad to see him not playing again. I hate football.
I don't believe he will be deemed surplus to requirements. But even if he was, there'll be a host of suitors lining up for him.
Since he left us Summer 2012, he's moved every summer window. Not always his choice. I keep hoping he'll put roots down. Fingers crossed the new bloke likes and plays him. Could be worse, could be doing 6am til 2pm 5 days out of 7 for **** money.
The lad is talented enough to walk into any team in the Championship's starting XI. As for working, I wouldn't know about that. I'm retired. Have I ever mentioned it?
Certainly am, old mate. I'm leaving all the organising to barnsley66, he's excellent at that sort of thing. My infamous green hoodie will be making an appearance at our national stadium.