Clough: Finishing on a high may help us recruit
DERBY County manager Nigel Clough believes finishing the Championship campaign on a high could help in the chase for transfer targets this summer.
The Rams are eyeing a top-half finish for the first time in five seasons and have three games remaining to add to their 60 points.
They travel to face play-off hopefuls Cardiff City tonight (7.45pm) and then take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday before the season ends with a home game against Peterborough United.
Clough says there is plenty still to play for and how the Rams end the season could have a bearing as he plans for next season.
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"It's important because if we finish only five or six points short of the top six we can say to our targets 'you could make that difference next season'," added Clough.
"Despite the injuries we have had, despite losing skipper Shaun Barker and despite the strikers having been out at different times, we are not far off.
"We want some more points, some more good perfomances and we are looking for things to take into next season.
"We are also looking for a two or three player improvement in the summer to make that difference."
Clough and his coaching staff have been out watching possible targets.
"Our job is to always try to get better," said Clough.
"We need somebody to regularly get us goals, that seems to be the difference in the division, somebody to make that difference in tight games.
"Defensively, we have been good this season.
"We miss Barks, without doubt, but it is encouraging when Jake Buxton and Tom Naylor come in and do as well as they have.
"When you look at the last four matches we have played, the two goals conceded have been incredible strikes. Teams are generally having to work a lot harder to score against us.
"Our goalkeeper (Frank Fielding) is in fine form and he is a good age.
"We are looking for a younger left-back to bring through but at the moment Gareth Roberts will be our first choice left-back at the start of next season."
Roberts, who signed a new one-year deal last week, has been one of Derby's most consistent performers this season.
Comments
by wilko10
Wednesday, April 18 2012, 10:55AM
“deano, Look to bring in better than Tyson, thats aiming higher.”
by Derbydeano
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 5:46PM
“Stu agree it is small tweaks now, we did bring in alot last close season and most have worked and played their fair share of games. So not sure what Wilko is going on about saying must aim higher, Clough is given a budget like any manager in any industry and then he works to it,
something I think Nigel as done very well with the limited budget he has.
60year we could spend money even with losing 7 million the owners back in the states are very rich, however going on their track record this is unlikely, next 12 months will be very interesting. Apart from some bizarre substitutions and some public ****ging of players I don't think Nigel as done much wrong this season.”
by Derby_Stu
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 4:58PM
“Hooper would've been the one to sign. All that talk about chasing a quality striker turned out to be hot air.
I cannot see us signing a midfielder as NC appears very happy with Bryson & Hendricks in there. Unless he goes back to the dreaded 4-5-1!!!
He will probably need to shift about 4 out to get 2 decent players in. Maybe that is where we are now, small tweaks rather than wholesale changes.”
by 60yearramsfan
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 3:57PM
“I believe that, with a £7.7M defecit incurred during the last fiscal year, any incomings will be have to be funded out of exits and once you are not in Nigel's good books you might as well put yourself in the shop window as you don't have a future at PP. This has been proved previously on occasions and the likes of Miles Addison will testify to that situation as others have done previously after leaving. Not being 'anti Nigel' personally though, as I don't see anyone out there who could do as good a job if not better in the best interests of the club, I cannot see Rams recruiting players of sufficient quality to continue the improvement which has been achieved this season. Two are required at senior level - an experienced midfielder to organise the attacking elemnts of the side and a 20 goal a season striker. A number of the latter have moved recently for what would appear to be something lower than anticipated for such players so maybe we could compete now as we have failed to do in the past (Connor Sammon/ Billy Sharp/ Adam Le Fondre!).”
by oldrammyisgod
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 2:58PM
“lol, spot on derby_stu, was thinking the same myself the second i posted the comment”
by Derby_Stu
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 2:22PM
“by oldrammyisgod, spot on mate but I think if we get a striker coming in then one or two have to go. The obvious choices would be Tyson (hasn't done it when played + higher earner) and Maguire (out of favour).
However, more than likely it could be Davies or Robinson who might attract offers around the £1 mill mark?
With NC saying in the past he wants a slightly smaller squad I cannot see us holding 6-7 strikers on our books next season.”
by oldrammyisgod
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 1:44PM
“It's all down to money as usual but i agree with the comments. Seeing as we don't have a lot of cash to splash i'd be happy with the following:
A young understudy in at left back ala Naylor style to cover for Roberts
Sell Addison and Croft, use a bit of wage saving on keeping Green here if it's required and the rest of the cash in the pot for a striker. If we can't sell them release on a free/as cheaply as possible
Give Maguire a second (or even a first) chance as he's doing it for Pompey. If he's not of interest to us for whatever reason (attitude, effort, position, all been mentioned by fans) then sell him.
Get a decent striker at last.....as good as Robinson and Davies have done this season and the promise of Ball, we need a higher quality striker to put away our chances and maybe create one out of nothing too. Tyson certainly isn't the answer and i wish him all the best in getting that elusive first goal but we need a proper 20 goal a season striker and that's where i'd spend my money. Our goals scored this season restricts us from achieving anything.
Good luck with that one Glick/Clough, i'll be there either way - COYR”
by ibelieveido
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:19AM
“N.C does not hold the purse strings i'm afraid.”
by msg2003
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:11AM
“If the board are coughing up and additional £7 million a year into the running of the club, I just cannot see any big transfers over the summer. If anything it will be players leaving.....”
by Derby_Stu
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:02AM
“I think the board releasing funds will help more in signing players!!”