Darrell Clarke's Interviews

Cheers, some fair points there that I hadn't really considered. Sounds like the Wrexham game provided some cause for frustration, it's one of the few I haven't seen so can't comment.

I feel like his use of substitutions have improved from the first few games, the problem is that we just don't have a lot of quality in the squad, so changes generally weaken the side. So he's left with a choice of leaving tired players on the pitch or replacing someone with an inferior, but fresher player.

I'm very much in the "we need to back this one camp" but was also there with Duff and Collins.

 

He's done that all season putting the blame on the players. For me you can only do it so many times then you have to have a good luck at yourself. Seems to have a high opinion of himself and enjoy his own voice. Talks the talk...

 

He’s not a leader,he’ll be gone by new year,not a patch on big Val or Duff

 

Yes he was, Wednesday fans loved him taking the piss out of the club owners and fans .
Which at the time pi#@ed me off .
But comedy Golden for every f:"%er else.

 

All football managers/coaches talk a good game. It’s part of their job. What percentage of them win each week on average? Bet it’s not even 30%

Look at the 7 championship games tonight. 14 managers involved, only 4 winners.

 

I went to Elland road last night and we are absolutely light years away from the championship I’m sorry to say.
We need time to build something

 

We’re light years away from any club receiving parachute money

 

But unfortunately that's the system we are in the 25ish club who that system suits will see to it it's the way it remains. . It's one of the things in my opinion that's pushed us from been a average but safe Championship club to what we are now and without significant and sustained investment is what we will have to get used to sadly.

 

I think the last point is key here. We need significant, sustained investment now and its partly because of CONway that that is the case. But in any case I agree with you. We also need the board to be more focused on recruitment. Investment and good recruitment will pay off long term.

 

I agree the Conman era has set us back. The current board I feel have the best interest of the club at heart but not sure they have deep enough pockets.

 

Keith Hill once upset our fans when he questioned our expectations, but in respect of some, he was spot on.

Some thought we were above bringing in lower league managers, and the same still applies - even though we are lower league.

 

We are a L1 outfit at the minute, but one that is pushing towards the top end of the table. Things have changed so much in terms of football finance. Rotherham are having a much worse season than us, despite a load of summer signings / departures.

Am I happy with the season so far? I'd say it is a mixed bag. We need to try & move on some fringe players & hopefully get in one decent striker. Can't see what DC could have done about missed chances & one or two poor loan signings in the summer. Jury out on DKD, but Humphrys looks a good free transfer signing.Shame Jalo & Watters have been injured so much, otherwise I think we would have been on a few more points at this stage. Cosgrove is just inept.

 

Not surprising, One of leeds players cost more than our whole team.

 

I think that for a club expected to be in the mix, our home form is bizarre, and if it spills over to the away matches, where weve only beaten 1 team who’d you’d class as being any good, it could all go very bad.

I was thinking about the difference in attitudes around the various clubs at the top and those normally involved. Wycombe fans are doubtlessly in dreamland, as are Wrexham and Birmingham, although the latter will be looking to do slightly better, and probably expect to splurge more money in Jan. Stockport will be happy to be up there as well.

Bolton and Huddersfield probably happier than us, but know that promotions not a given for either of them.

Haven’t been on the Posh forum, but given their current position I’d wager a guess that they think they’re hugely underperforming.

 

Tbf, we have been for a long time, with the exception of the odd season, we were hanging on with our finger nails.

 

A bit of a mixed bag for a lot of the "bigger" clubs. Wycombe have been the surprise package, but most of the others are either doing slightly better / worse than us, other than the money teams in Brum & Wrexham. Need to be patient for now. The monkey on our back is undoubtedly our home form. Historically Oakwell was a stronghold, but it has been nothing of the sort in recent campaigns.

 

He was absolutely right was Keef. He got us to the top half of the Championship on a shoe string budget compared to his rivals - and there was no way we could sustain it.

I remember Drinkwater been called back from his loan to be bought for tens of millions. We should have tempered out expectations.

 

He talked the club down at every opportunity, it was bizarre really, apart from Rochdale he only lasted 1 yr at his other clubs .

 

A poor workman blames his tools. His players are his tools. He is just not good enough

 

But it’s ok for the fans to talk the club down at every opportunity?

What did he say that you didn’t like? Have you got any particular quotes? Or things that he said that weren’t true?