Wayne’s way: out of favour players told just what they need to be in contention
RAMS INTERIM BOSS EXPLAINS DECISIONS TO THOSE INVOLVED
DERBY County interim manager Wayne Rooney has sent a clear message to the players over team selection.
The Rams are unbeaten in the three matches Rooney has been in sole charge of the team.
Five points have been collected from draws against Wycombe Wanderers and Coventry City and a victory away to Millwall.
Rooney has made changes in each of the three games – seven against Wycombe, five against Coventry and four more at Millwall on Saturday.
“I have told the players there are places up for grabs, to show me that you deserve to play, that you deserve to keep your place and, if you get left out, show me a reaction, which has happened with Krystian Bielik and Colin KazimRichards, who were left out and have come in and done really well,” said Rooney.
“It is important the players know if they train well, put the work in and perform, they will get their spot in the team.
“If you are not playing well, not performing in games, I have no problem in not playing a player, whichever player that is.”
Rooney is preparing the team for tonight’s Championship game away to Brentford (7.45pm) as Derby look to stretch their unbeaten run to four in their battle to climb out of the bottom three.
Explaining his approach to team selection, Rooney said: “I haven’t given myself time to dwell on it. I have told the players the day before each game, so we can prepare properly for the game. It is the best way to go with your instincts and what you think.” He was asked, is the toughest part of a manager’s job leaving players out of the 11 and even the match-day squad? “Every player I have left out over the last three games, I have told them the reasons why,” said Rooney.
“I have spoken to them, told them they are not playing and exactly why they are not playing.
“If they improve on a certain aspect of the game, they have a better chance of starting, then you leave that there for the players to decide themselves if they want to improve to get in the team.” Derby are second bottom going into the Brentford game, with 11 points, two ahead of Sheffield Wednesday, the same number as Wycombe and two behind Nottingham Forest, who are just above the bottom three.
Among those who have found themselves out of favour is summer signing Mike te Wierik, who has found himself out of the squad for the past month.
The 28-year-old Dutch central defender was signed by former Rams boss Phillip Cocu on a free transfer from FC Groningen.
He started four of the first five matches but lost his place in the team following the 4-0 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers on September 26.
His only appearances since
If they improve on a certain aspect of their game, they have a better chance of starting. Wayne Rooney
have been a start in the draw away to Bournemouth and 12 minutes as a substitute against Cardiff City.
Te Wierik has not featured in the last seven matches and not been on the bench for the last six.
“Mike is fit, he has been training. His training has been really good and I have obviously had to pick the players I want in the squad,” said Rooney.
It begs the question, what does the future hold for te Wierik at Derby? Can he force his way back into the first-team picture?
He finds himself behind Curtis Davies, Matt Clarke and Andre Wisdom in the battle for places at centre-back, currently, while Krystian Bielik and Craig Forsyth can also play the position if the Rams go to three at the back.
Davies, Clarke and Wisdom have plenty of experience of the Championship between them, while te Wierik is new to English football and to the Championship.
He has had a tough start to his Derby career, having played in the home defeats by Reading and
Blackburn, and he was sent off in the Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Preston North End.
“It is natural that he needed some time because he didn’t play for a long time because the league in Holland stopped early,” said Cocu earlier this season.
“Then you come to a different competition. The Championship is a completely different league to Holland, so you have to find a way to adapt yourself, show your qualities to your new team in the style of playing in the Championship.”