It is the unwritten rule at football clubs that players and staff alike keep any heated discussions very much within the dressing room and it is often a wise policy.
Their real thoughts on performances are often kept out of the public domain and what is shared with the media can often be a diluted version.
But there comes a time when the gloves have to come off, a time when the pussy-footing has to stop.
That time came at the JJB on Saturday afternoon after Derby County players were forced to participate in yet another embarrassing performance by the coaching staff, headed by Paul Jewell.
A player spokesman said, “That was just dire. There is no getting away from it. That’s the worst performance I’ve ever seen in the Premier League.”
This thinly veiled attack on Jewell has been coming for some time. At Bradford and Wigan his combined record was 19 wins, 17 draws, and 40 defeats. This unquestionable success has not yet been transferred to Derby County, where, since arriving at the club, he has managed only 11 defeats, 0 wins and a mere 5 draws.
This inexplicable lack of consistency has clearly taken its toll on the players, who, under previous manager Billy Davies, had grown used to winning.
“Before Paul arrived, we were a team which was capable of getting a win. His arrival has disrupted our flow and you can only bite your tongue for so long.”
It is difficult to deny assertions that the 2-0 defeat by Wigan on Saturday was Jewell’s most abject performance of the season.
Our source went on to say, “I will defend my managers all the way if they are giving their best and things are just not happening.”
“But I just can’t defend that performance. It was absolutely disgraceful.”
And there was a further stark warning from the players, “Some managers are not worthy of being here and the sooner we get them out the better.”
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