Clough press conference, Tue 30 Jan

[Martin Shaw]

now on iFollow

[Martin Shaw]

Clough: Flint has a partial shoulder dislocation, not a full dislocation. Still waiting for him to see a specialist. We should know before the window shuts the length of time he is going to be out.

[Captain Cunno]

Translated into we don't want people to think we are desperate for a CB cos Flints out long term and try and shaft us...

Very clever.

[Martin Shaw]

Clough: "The main target (for striker transfer) has about gone now, we have moved on to a couple of others. We put in a very very good offer, but it looks as though the striker will go elsewhere to a higher league.
"We've got the offers in (on the couple of others) and we're just waiting now.
"An attacking midfielder and two strikers we've got earmarked. The chairman's been absolutely fantastic and given us the green light to go for all three, so we're going to try to get all three if we can. If we get two - brilliant. And then we'll see from that point if anybody goes out.

[Conker]

Bit depressing listening to that

[Beyond The Pale]

Translated into we don't want people to think we are desperate for a CB cos Flints out long term and try and shaft us...

Very clever.

Or -

We want C*nty to think Flint is out, when in reality he's perfectly okay & will be smashing their centre forwards on Saturday.

[Captain Cunno]

I prefer your version BTP

[Martin Shaw]

or "we're waiting for him to see a specialist". Have you tried seeing a specialist at 24 hours notice? We have. You can't.

[yorkshire stag]

that’s a lot of defenders out, the attacking midfielder bid is interesting, with DKD & Maris available unsure why we need to strengthen, would have thought a winger/striker would have been the third option player behind the two forwards

[Marky Mark]

I think this last few weeks has just shown how much just having numbers is important to us, since we all thought we were one or two shy at the beginning of January things have changed a lot: Johnson out for while, Oates out for the season, Flint probably out for a few weeks at least, McDonald out, Bowery suspended, Quinn suspended, Maris one booking short of a suspension. It's kind of got the patching up feeling of last seasons February onwards about it all of a sudden. Whereas I'd have imagined that JJOT and Boateng may have gone out in January, we sort of need them now for squad depth.

[Martin Shaw]

Clough: "James Gale had a small setback on his injury last week, he got some swelling, so he's not going to be any time in the next few weeks. Probably towards the end of Feb with a bit of luck."
"Elliott Hewitt should be able to join in contact training in about two weeks time.

[Chrisuknottm]

I stopped watching there wasn't any good news

[Bradders]

Translated into we don't want people to think we are desperate for a CB cos Flints out long term and try and shaft us...

Very clever.

Or -

We want C*nty to think Flint is out, when in reality he's perfectly okay & will be smashing their centre forwards on Saturday.

I don't see how Notts being unsure about our team selection will make any difference to their plans. Flint in or out, it's the same. If we had a 30 goal per season striker, they may have to take that into account, but chances are that they'll be most concerned to keep Akins well marshalled, be aware of DKD, and the rest is just business as usual.

[MTFCMusings]

If we get a striker in, I can see Akins playing right back.

[Richard Cranium]

If Flints injury is long term then surely Clough will go for his old mate Keogh? Released earlier this month by Wycombe

[Cleveland_Stag]

I think this last few weeks has just shown how much just having numbers is important to us, since we all thought we were one or two shy at the beginning of January things have changed a lot: Johnson out for while, Oates out for the season, Flint probably out for a few weeks at least, McDonald out, Bowery suspended, Quinn suspended, Maris one booking short of a suspension. It's kind of got the patching up feeling of last seasons February onwards about it all of a sudden. Whereas I'd have imagined that JJOT and Boateng may have gone out in January, we sort of need them now for squad depth.

I think Boateng’s looked quite lively these past two games off of the bench, particularly at Wimbledon. I wouldn’t be opposed to him getting a bit more playing time amidst our current struggles. He might liven things up a bit, at least with his ball carrying ability which I think we could use a bit more of.

[victor A block]

Fairly depressing interview with little positive. Unless Clough is using kidology it sounds like the Gregory deal is dead.

One thing I don't get is why we always have to seem to go to deadline day to get or not get someone. Clough seems to have convinced himself thats the way of the world but the 80/100 or so other transfers/loans that have already happened in League 2 seem to suggest that isn't a problem for other clubs.

[Chrisuknottm]

Fairly depressing interview with little positive. Unless Clough is using kidology it sounds like the Gregory deal is dead.

One thing I don't get is why we always have to seem to go to deadline day to get or not get someone. Clough seems to have convinced himself thats the way of the world but the 80/100 or so other transfers/loans that have already happened in League 2 seem to suggest that isn't a problem for other clubs.

I mentioned this two weeks ago and got slammed down saying there was plenty of time yet. Surely clubs dont literally start their dealings on the 1st January but are sounding out in the preceding weeks so they can get their business done when they are allowed to, not take it to the wire.

[lifestags]

I think its quite positive,

doesn't rule out Flint for Sat, sort of said its down to how much discomfort he will be in,

Says he has the green light for a Attacking mid and 2 Strikers, He would be happy with 2 out the 3.

I do get the impression he is saying ''dont get your hopes us for Saturday'' and if we lose we can bounce back etc.

[1970Stag]

A very honest interview and despite all our troubles, good to see Clough with a smile on his face, onwards and upwards!

[yorkstag]

Fairly depressing interview with little positive. Unless Clough is using kidology it sounds like the Gregory deal is dead.

One thing I don't get is why we always have to seem to go to deadline day to get or not get someone. Clough seems to have convinced himself thats the way of the world but the 80/100 or so other transfers/loans that have already happened in League 2 seem to suggest that isn't a problem for other clubs.

I mentioned this two weeks ago and got slammed down saying there was plenty of time yet. Surely clubs dont literally start their dealings on the 1st January but are sounding out in the preceding weeks so they can get their business done when they are allowed to, not take it to the wire.

Before Saturday things weren’t as urgent as Flint wasn’t injured. Clearly we also thought Gregory would be incoming.
I think we as also need to bear in mind work will have been ongoing. We will have been talking to clubs, agents and players over the last couple of week I suspect.

[Martin Shaw]

[Martin Shaw]

Ollie Clarke interview on iFollow

[georgefostersbeard]

Fairly depressing interview with little positive. Unless Clough is using kidology it sounds like the Gregory deal is dead.

One thing I don't get is why we always have to seem to go to deadline day to get or not get someone. Clough seems to have convinced himself thats the way of the world but the 80/100 or so other transfers/loans that have already happened in League 2 seem to suggest that isn't a problem for other clubs.

I mentioned this two weeks ago and got slammed down saying there was plenty of time yet. Surely clubs dont literally start their dealings on the 1st January but are sounding out in the preceding weeks so they can get their business done when they are allowed to, not take it to the wire.

Before Saturday things weren’t as urgent as Flint wasn’t injured. Clearly we also thought Gregory would be incoming.
I think we as also need to bear in mind work will have been ongoing. We will have been talking to clubs, agents and players over the last couple of week I suspect.

One of the great strengths of this management team is just how quiet they manage to keep their transfer activity. One of the great frustrations for us as fans is just how quiet they manage to keep their transfer activity so we have to fill the void with guesses

[Dave Wayne]

Fairly depressing interview with little positive. Unless Clough is using kidology it sounds like the Gregory deal is dead.

One thing I don't get is why we always have to seem to go to deadline day to get or not get someone. Clough seems to have convinced himself thats the way of the world but the 80/100 or so other transfers/loans that have already happened in League 2 seem to suggest that isn't a problem for other clubs.

I mentioned this two weeks ago and got slammed down saying there was plenty of time yet. Surely clubs dont literally start their dealings on the 1st January but are sounding out in the preceding weeks so they can get their business done when they are allowed to, not take it to the wire.

It's been explained numerous times.
Gregory was our first choice. We made an offer early in the window, but Wednesday felt they could get a higher percentage of his wages paid so they held out. Yes we could have moved on to our other targets at that point, but then it could get to now, Wednesday come back and say they accept as no better offers, but we have to refuse as we have brought in our 2nd or 3rd choice instead. Sometimes you have to go to the wire to get the man you want. If we hadn't done that last January we wouldn't have DKD.
Clough has had some fantastic transfer windows recently. Why not just trust him and his team to get the job done ?