Vital Sheffield United have been in touch with Vital Derby County to get the lowdown on new boss Nigel Clough.
Mike Coombs, the editor of Vital Derby , gives us an insight into Clough, who spent four-and-a-half years at Pride Park until he was sacked in September.
What system does he usually like to play?
We were playing a diamond in midfield this season but we almost stumbled across the formation having tried to crowbar our three central midfielders into a few different formations, as they were our best players.
The one thing you can be guaranteed is that he will get you playing football in the right way, we passed the ball for fun at times this season but getting the cutting edge and creating opportunities was a weakness at times.
What can we expect tactically?
Erm?. The one thing that was always thrown at Clough was that he didn`t have a plan B. I always thought he was harshly judged for this but towards the end it seemed we didn`t have the ability to change a game.
At home, teams just sat deep, let us pass around the halfway line and then caught us on the break. If it happens once, it`s one of those games, twice and it`s concerning but a third time and you start to wonder tactically if we`re missing something?.
Will he make substitutions early when needed or are you left screaming at him to make changes with ten minutes remaining?
No, never, substitutes are meant for injuries and the last ten minutes only… Unless you`re a goal up and need to defend the lead, in which case expect all of the central defenders at the club to be on the pitch at one time.
Did he have favourites who you couldn`t understand how they were still in the team?
Not so much players who you couldn`t work out why they were playing but more players you couldn`t work out why they weren`t. Clough had a habit of falling out with players and you would never see them again. Players would come in and fall foul of him in training or some other slight mistake would push him over the edge and the Under-21 team beckoned. Expect the words ‘young and hungry` to become the new catchphrase in his press conferences and anyone who isn`t will be on their way from the club.
Were you disappointed to see him leave Derby at the time of his dismissal?
It was a bit of a shock when it first happened but looking back, I don`t think it was the wrong decision. McClaren breathed new life into the side and his substitutions have positively affected the outcome of a couple of matches already. Whilst they won`t all come off it`s good to see chances being taken and changes made and the signing of Andre Wisdom was something I don`t Clough would have been able to pull-off so his contacts are working already.
Describe Clough in three words
Passing, Youngsters, Brian
Overall, it was a shame things didn`t work out at Derby but I think he had reached the limit of how far he could take the club. I imagine he`ll get a warm reception next time you visit Pride Park and I`m sure the vast majority of Derby fans would wish him well.
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