It’s been nearly 3 years since his sacking & on Friday night he met his old team and some would say he showed us what we were missing.
I remember at the time of Clough’s sacking feeling it was unjustified and the wrong decision.
3 years on was it the right call? I still feel he deserved more time (sacking him in September was ridiculous) with the team he’d built but on reflection it’s clear that Steve McClaren gave the team more of an edge and a bit extra class that took the side to the next level.
I don’t think it can be in doubt that he did a good job at Derby. Remember the mess he inherited. He definitely left the club in a better place. It wasn’t an easy job, the wage expenditure was colossal and the squad was littered with players at the club who were not of the right character.
Look at the current squad and Clough’s work at Derby is still there for all to see. Will Hughes, Chris Martin (amazing free transfer) and Craig Bryson, as well as others.
They’re core players who over the past few years seem to have an excellent team spirit. However, I don’t think he was the best thing since sliced bread. Clough didn’t have the same tactical nous and ability to change games as McClaren for example, that’s one reason cited by Clough’s critics and it is a good example that he was not the man to get Derby up.
But surely that doesn’t mean he did a bad job?
One other point is that McClaren attracted better loan players (Wisdom and co) with his name & coaching reputation. Clough is a "manager” not a "head coach”. The club didn’t have the confidence in him to take the club to the next level or to spend money heavily in an effective way. Since then the money invested has been colossal but definitely not all effective.
Clough’s comments before the match on Friday were interesting (particularly those about Sam Rush). Reading beyond the headlines I think he is clear that he was appreciative of the Derby fans’ support. There is a hint of bitterness, that’s clear. Understandable? Yes.
He also made some good points, especially about much of the current team being his recruits. Overall I think even critics of Clough’s time at Derby can acknowledge he left the club in a better state.
Moving onto the match itself - Friday night was awful!
The players lacked desire, the tempo was slow and it served as a reminder that Derby have a lot of work to do.
Burton Albion were incredibly organised and looked a very good side, credit to them, the night belonged to the Brewers and Nigel Clough, however the night may signal the end for some of the key players of this squad.
Losing to Burton live on TV with such a dreadful effort really did bring it home that the Rams are a shadow of the side that amazing 2014 side, despite all of the money invested since.
You have to wonder what’s wrong when the players haven’t performed to the level we know they are capable of under both Paul Clement and Nigel Pearson.
I keep thinking that the squad has such quality, and it does on paper, but I’m really doubting whether the squad really does have it — could any manager get the talent and mettle out of this bunch of players?
Nigel Pearson is clearly still putting his stamp on the side. It was clear he got the team selection wrong on Friday but he acted quickly with his substitutions. He’s now had a very good look at the side he inherited and big changes look likely (all in the space of the last few days of the transfer window, of course!).
I hope Pearson gets the time to mould this team into his side as it’s naive to think it will click overnight.
For more of Nathan's articles you can read his blog at www.derbycountyfan.com and follow him via @ramscorner on Twitter.