Mike taking early lessons on board in first taste of League game
MIKE Fondop will be nurtured towards becoming a consistently effective striker in the Football League, says Burton Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Fondop was the big surprise call among Hasselbaink’s 12 signings, arriving as a free agent in early February from non-League football without having played a game in the Football League.
The 6ft 3in striker from Cameroon exploded on to the scene, giving experienced Charlton Athletic defenders Darren Pratley and Jason Pearce an uncomfrtable evening and heading the Brewers level from Jonny Smith’s cross in the first half.
But he saw less of the ball in the next game, against Rochdale, and was replaced after 56 minutes by Joe Powell.
Worse was to follow for Fondop when he endured a difficult halfhour at home to Bristol Rovers, conceding a series of fouls that he often felt should have gone his way and being warned about his condict by referee Charles
Breakspear.
Hasselbaink had seen enough and sent Powell on in Fondop’s place after only 34 minutes.
In the following game, against Peterborough United, he was an unused substitute – then Hasselbaink sprang a surprise by reinstating him to the starting line-up against AFC Wimbledon.
When Fondop was pulled up for a foul within 30 seconds, memories of the Bristol Rovers game were all too fresh – but then the striker showed that he is taking advice on board from his manager and assistant Dino Maamria, who both played as strikers.
As the game went on, he troubled the Wimbledon defence more. They began to foul him and then he earned an assist by laying off Tom Hamer’s long throw with a deft touch to set up Michael Bostwick for the only goal of the game.
This time, Fondop made it to 90 minutes before being replaced by Kane Hemmings.
He was back on the bench for the game against Crewe Alexandra, replacing Hemmings after 75 minutes with the game in the bag thanks to Hemmings’ hat-trick.
Hasselbaink is pleased with how the learning process is going for a player who is a rookie at this level, even though he is 27.
“It was unfortunate for him that I had to take him off (against Bristol Rovers) but we had to do it for the right reasons,” said Hasselbaink.
“It was always going to be difficult for Mike because he has never played at this level.
“We know that he can be a handful but we have to be patient with him to get his consistency.
“In his first game, against, Charlton, he was absolutely magnificent; against Rochdale it dropped a bit and against Bristol it was maybe a third in a row and too much.
“I maybe had to protect him and take him out. Now he can go again for a couple of matches.
“We always knew that it wasn’t going to be the first and second games, it would be after those when he had problems, so we were always planning to take him out and recharge him, then he goes again.
“It didn’t stop him and that was good.”
THE latest takeover news surrounding Derby County dominated yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
The Rams have a Championship clash away to Stoke City tomorrow but it was the news that the proposed purchase of the club by Bin Zayed International is off, four months after it was announced a deal had been agreed in principle, that was the big talking point.
Here is what manager Wayne Rooney had to say.
Q) It looks like the BZI takeover is off. How much have you been kept in touch about what has been going on?
WR: Yes, very much so. Obviously, it is important for me to know these things but, in terms of questions about the takeover, they are questions you will have to ask (owner and chairman) Mel Morris directly.
I am here to speak about the game, we have a very important game against Stoke on Saturday and I would like to focus on that.
Q) Has the takeover felt like a distraction in the background?
WR: No. It has been there, of course, we know that, the players know that but we have to focus on playing the games and trying to get the best results.
For the players, that’s all they can do. For me, it is a little bit different because I have to know what is going on as well, but for the players it’s important they focus on the football and they have done that excellently.
Q) Will the takeover news change the way you go about your business this summer when it comes to transfers and building the squad?
WR: Anything on the takeover, you can speak to Mel, or Mel will speak on that when he feels the time is right.
In terms of my plans for the summer, it doesn’t change. I am making different sets of plans, I have to be adaptable, I know that, so my plans will carry on with how I want to move forward in the summer.
Q) In January, you were asked if the takeover would affect your future as Derby County manager and you said ‘no, I am here for the long term’. Has that changed?
WR: I agreed to the job because I felt this was a good team and this club is a massive football club and it is a proud moment for me to manthe age this club.
I am here for the long term, I am not here to mess around or because an ownership deal goes through or doesn’t go through. I am here to help this club move forward and, hopefully, progress.
In my time here I hope we can get this club into the Premier League. It is a job I take very seriously, I am grateful to Derby for putting their trust in me. I know it is my first manager job and I am very confident my way of managing will help this club.
I am here to manage the club for the long term, it wasn’t a shortterm fix, it wasn’t dependent on a takeover, I signed a two and a half year deal and that is what I am looking forward to doing.
Q) Have you been assured that the financial future of the club is safe because when the takeover was happening that’s when we thought the cash injection was going to come?
WR: I am aware exactly what the situation is with the club, but these questions I am sure at the right time Mr Morris will keep you fully informed on.