The Rams managed to throw a couple of points away again, this time at Fratton Park but that result is likely to be discussed less than Nigel Clough's scathing post match comments about Tomasz Cywka.

In my opinion, Clough was totally out of order in his post match interview with BBC Radio Derby, which can be heard here. Make your own mind up but personally, I believe he overstepped the mark... and by some considerable distance.

I've always believed a manager (football or otherwise) should defend his people in public and keep any criticism behind closed doors. Nigel Clough either doesn't agree or is unable to control his emotions as he's repeatedly criticized his players in public, post match.

However, in his post Portsmouth match interview he crossed the line between criticism and insult in my opinion.

On more than one occasion, he referred to Cywka as "not very bright". That might well be the case but apart from it being more than a little insulting, I suggest to you it was indeed "not very bright" to make the comment publicly. His comments will hardly have endeared him to Cywka, who he admits he may well have to use through necessity rather than choice.

Clough can hardly be surprised if he now finds Cywka now giving less than 100%, can he?

The other players could also be forgiven for looking around and wondering which of them is next in line for this kind of treatment.

I wrote earlier in the week that it was time Rams fans showed GSE and the owners that they needed to put their hands in their pockets and produce some real investment and I still stand by those comments. However, I concede that it may not be solely down to lack of investment.

Potential signings can also be forgiven for not busting a gut to sign for us when they have other options when they know it's quite possible they could be the unfortuante subject of another such outburst if they did sign.

Kris Commons said on several occasions that he wanted to stay at PPS but he eventually left. He's been the subject of Clough's ire previously and has no doubt seen his teammates suffer the same fate on the training pitches at least. Who's to say that wasn't a deciding, or at least contributory factor in him leaving?

"Non-League Nigel" has often been criticized for his lack of top level managerial experience but you can learn man-management at any level and I suggest that Nigel has in fact failed to learn this skill. His father was certainly a master but it doesn't seem to have rubbed off.

Clough Senior was very outspkoken but he possessed the invaluable skill of being able to temper his comments with irony and when required, some humour. Nigel unfortunately seems bereft of these qualities. Clough Senior also possessed the invaluable quality of more often than not, being ultimately proved right.

I would hope that Nigel's comments against Cywka might get him an invitation to spend 30 minutes in Tom Glick's office on Monday morning and I'd also hope that public apology will result.

Not that an apology will do any real good, Nigel needs to remember that you can never "unsay" something. The damage has been done.

Apologies are always uncomfortable and public apologies even more so. It takes a strong character to publicly admit they were wrong but I'm afraid Nigel Clough has gone down in my estimation and it'll take just that to redeem him somewhat.

Photo: Action Images

prideparkpete added 21:59 - Feb 5 Sadly it is not the first time Nigel has singled out players by name for his radio bashing. So although this was not a new angle of attack from him, i too was surprised by the severity of his comments which can only have a negative response. It must have been an awful coach journey back from the south for Tomasz after such direct criticism. I would feel that Tomasz would have liked to hold his hands up and say. sorry boss, my fault, and just get his head down and learn from it. Nigel Cloughs points are quite valid in a footballing sense but they are definitely not for the media. It would be nice to know what his great dad would have said had he heard his lad respond in such a public way or, how he might have dealt with the same issues. Well its done now, i hope Nigel hasn’t lost the dressing room, weve got enough problems without that and i do want him to succeed at the job, but this has tarnished my opinion somewhat. What a blummin season!

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Steve_T added 22:10 - Feb 5 I agree entirely. The difference for Cywka on the journey home is probably that rather than feeling self-conscious towards his teammates about his error, he probably had more than one put an arm round him and be thankful that it wasn't they who made the error. At the end of the day, we stopped the losing streak and Clough said himself that he would've taken that before 3pm. I do fear he's lost the dressing room (if he hadn't already) and that's not good news. I've always wanted Clough to succeed but more and more I'm now thinking the end of the season would be a good time to cut him loose.

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dirk_doone added 04:52 - Feb 6 Although I agree that managers shouldn't criticise their players publicly, I'm not sure that the comparison with his father supports your argument, as Brian Clough often used to do it and never apologised for anything he said.
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beresford added 12:34 - Feb 6 While I agree that any comments, especially negative ones, should be kept in the dressing room I wonder if this is where Nigel's emotions, inexperience and frustration take over having to give a press conference immediately after seeing his team loose points in the last minute AGAIN. Remember he was criticised for not facing the press after the Crawley game, he gave his reason as anything he said would not have helped the situation. This comment, along with others made immediately after a bad performance seem to back that decision. As far as the comments 'not very bright' are concerned these were made in a purely footballing context and although most probably would have been better not said, it is upto the player how he reacts, hopefully he will react in the right manner if allowed to do so. Nigel has also been critised for comments about Kris Commons. Commons played very well for Derby this season until his contract talks started, once the offer was on the table his performances dropped off and he was away as soon as he could be, exactly as he did at Forest as some red fans warned.

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ramdanj added 12:42 - Feb 6 I was quite upset after hearing this yesterday and was very damning of his comments but on listening agin today he clearly does state "footballer" after saying not very bright. Still not really the way to go about things but I suppose when you are under this much pressure and so many are now willing you to fail things slip out. After calming down I think perhaps he will know it was a mistake and hopefully the marketing gurus at Derby have enough sense to roll them out tomorrow to discuss the matter and show they are all ok. Saldy they way the marketing works at the club it is more likely they will announce next Saturday is $1 hot dog day for all who wear a silly hat.... or something equally as tragic :)

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