As transfer window slams shut, Nigel Clough says the system fuels panic

“I agree with Nigel Clough. Let the clubs buy players whenever they want to - when its only some months left of the season there may be a stop. Theres no need for a transfer "window".

Derby County didnt buy any players this time, and the good thing about that is it will make the teamspirit stronger, because the player will be getting to know eachother more and improve as a team.

But the bad thing is that we still need a goalscorer. I wish we could have bought a proven goalscorer like Billy Sharp, Charlie Austin, Michael Chopra etc and put that player upfront together with Jamie Ward and Conor Sammon. If we start scoring more goals, it will be easier to win matches. Our defence and midfield is pretty strong already.

The Rams didnt play well against Blackburn last weekend, that was a little down. But on the other hands its only one month since we won 3-1 against a high flying Middlesbrough, who was chasing autmoatic promotion at that time. We also had 17 shots against them (they got 7), and we had 7-3 in corners and 55-45 in posession. I think that kind of performance shows that we are capable of playing well, creating chanses and winning against anyone in this league. We have a good team, and on our day we play very well. This team is build by Nigel Clough, and he deserve credits for his work. he has not been a manager at this level before he took over Derby County, and still he is progressing in creating a very good team.

Tomorrow we will play against a decent Huddersfield, who won 1-0 aginst Crystal Palace in their latest match, and played 1-1 against Leicester the match before. They are improving and doing well at the moment, bur no team will come to Pride Park this season and believe it will be easy against us, and we dont have to fear anybody. Sometimes i feel that we are our worst enemy. We are acting a little bit stressed and nervous because we so badly need that "winning" goal and its hard to get it because we have scored few goals this season, and we need more routine and confidence in the penalty area. All the players at Derby County this season want to win, thats a good thing, and I think that the supportes can sence that too.

I am a myself feeling a little bit unpatient, but I also feel that if we stay behind Nigel Clough and his team, Derby County will only get better and we will get our rewards sooner or later. Because we doesnt keep buying bad players, we keep up the standard, and instead our own players are improving, and suddently there will be enough money to buy that goalscorer we need to take one of the last step to be in the top six and getting into the play off for promotion to Premier League.

When we are going up, all the waiting and patience for that moment will be worth it.”

“What a laugh Boyd asking Mcliesh where do i sign . . . . over here you tw#t the reply !
I can't see why they wouldn't sign me "said Boyd"”

“we have a good base to build on dont think we are far away 3 or 4 signings in summer and i think we will make top 6 a CB LB CF and a winger with pace . nigel as done a 8 out of 10 job we have alot of assets now at club he as totally rebuilt club !”

“Intersting posts today... Some great points made. I think the we've brought in some decent players and not paid a lot for them... There has obviously been one or two disasters, but don't you get that at all football clubs, Veron, Reyes, Torres etc.....

I tend to agree with the post on player development, that's what seems to be lacking at the moment...”

“' "Only 3 championship clubs didnt bring anyone in. Ourselves, Burnley & Middlesboro. Therefore we can assume that 21 clubs strengthened their squad in the window."

Apart from one or two exceptions they were mostly nondescript loans who no one has ever heard of. Very little money left Championship clubs, even Leeds did a swap with Norwich and Forest chickened out.”

“Pete - agree with some of what you say.

Our Chief scout is Simon Clough, I know him, I am more qualified than him!!!
On the flip side, the majority of signings have been pretty good, its how they develop that worries me, Croft contract cancelled, came here with 2 player of the year awards, concerned for Jacobs who I think has done better than Ward when he played up top, he should be playing most weeks.

Barnsley sold a defender yesterday to Everton, £ 3.0 million, never heard of him, in all of Cloughs time, what's the best we have done is money back on Shackell???”

“Only 3 championship clubs didnt bring anyone in. Ourselves, Burnley & Middlesboro. Therefore we can assume that 21 clubs strengthened their squad in the window.”

“If the future is the academy, I am a little concerned that our under 18's have only won 3/15 games -(but it is the last 3 ). The under 21's are doing much better but we probably use it more than most clubs to give our over age squad players a game.”

“I'm not sure that scouting is an issue. I think its more to do with funding, surely its easier to scout in the 10m price bracket than it is to scout in the 250k bracket. most of cloughs buys have been less than a million. that makes it more dfficult cos you are generally buying potential. but, if you do find the right players they will eventally move on at a profit to the club. the club then becomes more stable financially. and (in my opinion) i think we're on the right rack!”

“Pete sorry I have to disagree with the points regarding advertising youth players by filming them playing. We supply a number of Youth FCs and have recently had to reprint two whole kits for the following reasons. One set of kit had the players initials on the right breast and the names were printed in the local paper. The same side had a pub advertised on the front of the shirt and we had to remove it because its a no no to advertise licensed premises. Restuarant,off licence or CTN fine but not a pub. Although we did not supply or print the kits we did remove the initials and pub advertising as a favour to the club. I would find it also very risky to photograph,film and release a players name without the consent of the league the player is registered in and players names can also cause a problem if they are printed in the paper. Child protection is very strict in youth football. We also sponsor a 9v9 League with 2 divisions at 3 age groups. We always check with them on these types of restrictions. If you know better then please let me know as this is merely my interpretation of the results previously experienced regarding junior and Youth players.”