After the mess left behind by the Pearson debacle, Derby could do worse than to turn to their former fans’ favourite to save them from the mire.
There is something in that ‘new manager bounce’ theory. That Derby County produced their finest performance of an abysmal season away at Cardiff City just hours after Nigel Pearson was suspended by the club for ‘behavioural’ problems hardly falls into the category of coincidence.
Yes, Pearson’s appointment was supposed to remedy successive seasons of play-off heartbreak, but worrying signs quickly undermined the initial positivity. First, there was the strange decision to force an ill-fitting 4-4-2 on players suited to, and used to, a quick, wing-centric 4-3-3.
Then, there was the loaning of Chris Martin (below) to Fulham. Though a divisive figure among the Derby faithful, the Scottish international netted 52 Championship goals in the last three seasons for the Rams and remained a reliable source of goals, if not work ethic.
The thing with experiments is that they can blow up in your face. It will take Pearson a long time to recover from these wounds to his reputation.
If there’s one thing Derby could do with right now, it’s a stabilising influence. Taking charge in the time being in a caretaker capacity, Chris Powell could be the calm, amiable character the club needs after the divisive bravado of Pearson.
The 47-year-old remains a firm favourite amongst the Rams flock after his two-year stint at the club in the late 1990s, winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year award in ’97, and will no doubt win over any remaining doubters with his preference for fluid, attacking football. The ‘Derby way’, after all, appears to be a requirement rather than a preference for the club’s management.
Furthermore, Powell’s influence at a free-falling Charlton Athletic could offer hope that Derby’s season can be salvaged from the scrapheap. Seizing the reigns from Phil Parkinson with the Addicks languishing towards the ominous end of the League One table, Powell inspired Charlton to promotion a year-and-a-half later; 101 points, 82 goals and the third tier title.
Though Karl Robinson or David Wagner may be more tempting appointments, Derby need a safe pair of hands right now, someone who knows the club and understands the demands. There are fewer better, then, than the former left-back from Lambeth.
Oh, and that’s without mentioning the fact that Nick Blackman (below) finally opened his Derby County account 80 minutes into Powell’s reign after 21 games of near misses and growing frustration. The man is a miracle worker.
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