I was at Chesterfield where we managed to lose a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 with a certain Tendayi Darikwa impressing for the Spireites.
I was well excited when we signed him

Willy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:25 pm

I was at Chesterfield where we managed to lose a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 with a certain Tendayi Darikwa impressing for the Spireites.
I was well excited when we signed him

I bet that excitement soon faded

5 year ago today was a much better experience

“Derek” ended up being pretty decent for us I thought , half a mill maybe ? Had a decent career at Forest and Wigan , I’m sure he still plays can’t be more than 32?

A key moment to follow though was Matt Lowton coming into the side to replace Darikwa.

Derek did well for us when called upon.

Unfairly critiqued I feel on here - never had an absolute mare.

Our real change in fortune is when Mee came inside and Ward started at LB

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 2:08 pm

Derek did well for us when called upon.

Unfairly critiqued I feel on here - never had an absolute mare.

Our real change in fortune is when Mee came inside and Ward started at LB

I agree with this, but didn’t they happen at roughly the same time? I would argue that Lowton more than strengthened us both defensively and offensively once fully bedded into the side.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 2:17 pm

I agree with this, but didn’t they happen at roughly the same time? I would argue that Lowton more than strengthened us both defensively and offensively once fully bedded into the side.

More or less the same, a few games apart - worth noting that Lowton started in that 3-0 loss away at Hull (as did Mee at left back), Ward was slotted in the next game at left back where we beat Bristol City 4-0 and the rest as they say is history!

No doubt that Lowton was an upgrade on Darikwa, I just don’t think he was as poor as some make out

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 26, 2023 1:55 pm

“Derek” ended up being pretty decent for us I thought , half a mill maybe ? Had a decent career at Forest and Wigan , I’m sure he still plays can’t be more than 32?

Finally dropping him and bringing in Lowton was a key move. He wasn't good enough. He was a panic signing after Lowts got injured at Fleetwood.

Released by Wigan and has moved to Apollon Limassol.

He was a half decent champ player for a season or two.

We were always a step too far for him.

The fact that Burnley fans called him DEREK due to the fact that they couldn’t pronounce DARIKWA was peak Burnley fans. Goodness knows how they get on these days…