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Steve McClaren's half-time speech sparks Derby fight-back Sounds like a real Churchillian speech by Steve to the team in the dressing room at half-time. Apparently he changed tactics to three in midfield, and that seems to have made a real difference in helping their comeback. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image New Derby boss Steve McClaren, who officially takes charge on Wednesday, inspired his side to a 4-4 draw against Ipswich Town. Derby were trailing 4-1 at the break when McClaren went in to the dressing room to speak to his new players. "We needed all the help we could get - we were 4-1 down," said caretaker boss Darren Wassall. "All the lads knew they had let themselves down and Steve reinforced that." Derby, who lost their three previous matches, sacked manager Nigel Clough following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. The were 2-0 down after just nine minutes and despite pulling a goal back through Zak Whitbread it was 4-1 at the interval. As well as speaking to his new team, McClaren, who previously managed Middlesbrough, Forest and England, also made changes to personnel and formation. John Eustace and Mason Bennett replaced Conor Sammon and Ben Davies "He told them to go and show some character," added Wassall. "He wanted to put three in midfield. It gave freedom to everybody to play, and as you saw the in the second half the performance was outstanding" A superb second-half fight-back saw Derby County, under the watchful eye of new manager Steve McClaren, earn a draw with Ipswich. McClaren was in the stand as headers from Christophe Berra and Daryl Murphy gave the visitors an early 2-0 lead. Zak Whitbread pulled a goal back but Aaron Cresswell added third and Murphy made it 4-1 before half time. Jamie Ward gave Derby hope after a goal from Craig Bryson, who completed the comeback with two minutes to go. No home comforts for Derby Derby are still seeking their first home win of the season. Mick McCarthy's side pulled the Rams apart with ease during the first half - and McClaren, who officially takes charge on Wednesday, unsurprisingly went into the home dressing room to tell the side what he thought. This came after new first-team coach Paul Simpson spent the last 15 minutes of the first half in the dug-out, alongside caretaker-manager Darren Wassall, an appearance which coincided with an improvement from the home side. Whatever the former England manager said at the break certainly worked, while a double change which saw John Eustace and Mason Bennett replace Conor Sammon and Ben Davies proved pivotal. The Rams, who sacked Nigel Clough following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to neighbours Nottingham Forest, controlled the game and the point was, in the end, deserved. The result leaves Derby 14th in the Championship table with 12 points from their first 10 matches but they are without a win in their last five, while Ipswich slip to 10th and are still without an away victory. Derby caretaker-manager Darren Wassall: "Steve McClaren came into the dressing room at half-time. We needed all the help we could get - we were 4-1 down. "All the lads knew they had let themselves down at half-time, and Steve reinforced that. He told them to go and show some character. He wanted to put three in midfield. It gave freedom to everybody to play, and as you saw the in the second half the performance was outstanding."
Love those photos !! A picture paints a thousand words Would like to have been a fly on the wall, listening to Steve's speech. "Churchillian" indeed !!
More than anything it makes me a bit nervous - after the debacle that was the end of last season, the change in the players' attitudes and the growing unity in the team is astonishing. Admittedly a lot of the wrong'uns have been farmed out, but we are yet to know how much of this change can be attributed to SM. If his relationships with the playing group have been as good as reported, he may have been a significant factor in why we have had such a good start to the season. It remains to be seen how much his departure will affect us.
McLaren is undoubtedly a very good coach, but watching Rangers playing at the weekend shows they are very much now a typical Redknapp pass and move team. I'm not sure his departure will make much difference.
