Curtis: We can expect criticism if we’re not winning now
CURTIS Davies says Derby County fans will be happy to have their club back but expects them to be honest with the players in the coming season if they underperform.
Although Davies’s own future has still to be sorted following David Clowes’ takeover, ahead of it going through on Friday, the centre-back was still talking as if he expected to be part of things.
And one of the issues he addressed was the reality check that Derby’s younger players may now experience when they are expected to win, having gone through last season with supporters knowing – and tolerating – that the odds were stacked against them.
Davies says that while the supporters will be thankful the nightmare is over they will hope the Rams will have a good chance of promotion from League One.
“The fans will simply be delighted to still have their football club,” Davies told Integral Sports Management in an interview.
“That’s the God’s honest truth. A lot of fans at the start, when the club went into administration, would hear there are 10 and 20 parties interested then it’s all of a sudden getting longer and longer.
“It’s being whittled down and then one takeover breaks down and all that kind of stuff.
“I just think the fans will be happy to have their club back.
“The other side of it is that the fans will see a side that can potentially have a really enjoyable promotion season.
“It’s not the level you want it to be at but if you can get promotion, it’s massive.
“But with that, as much as there will be positivity, I think there almost needs to be that bit of honesty.
“When I first signed for Derby we were chasing play-offs in the Championship and if we were to lose a game at home or be drawing with a lesser team we could be jeered off.
“I think that needs to come back in and I know that sounds silly.
“The crazy thing is that a lot of these young lads that have been in the team haven’t experienced any negativity.
“They’re going to think it’s brilliant, you just play football and nobody says anything.
“But actually, no, when you’re chasing the top and it’s fine margins between first, second and third and a play-off place.
“The club itself is massive. And I think the fact the gaffer (Wayne Rooney) is no longer here takes the target off our back a little bit more.
“Maybe a lot of managers would have wanted to get one over on Wayne.
“But for us, it’s about we want the positivity but we need honesty to make sure we are doing our jobs right.
“There’s nothing wrong with losing a game 1-0 if you’ve worked your socks off and maybe the keeper has had a worldy and made 10 saves but if you’re not at it week in, week out, especially at League One level and you expect the fans to clap you off, then you need to have a reality check.
“That’s what we need to remember.”