It's been a while since I wrote anything for RamZone. That's partly because of lack of free time but it's also been partly because I'm struggling to be enthusiastic about the Rams and find something I want to write about nowadays.
Thursday's home defeat to Leicester has prompted me to write this article though. Not because it was a defeat to local rivals who we'd really rather be beating but because I'm less than impressed by the club's (and Nigel Clough's in particular) reaction to yet another defeat.
Again, Nigel enthuses about the second half performance but it got us nothing – i.e. it wasn't good enough. That happens far too often for my liking. I couldn't see his father being so apparently unconcerned about another defeat and Sir Alex Ferguson for instance, certainly wouldn't be so understanding.
Nigel Clough has been manager of the Rams now for three years and I'm still undecided if he's up to the job or not. Surely that in itself tells its own story?
Whether or not I'm convinced Clough is the man for the job or not, he certainly seems to be the man for the owners. Whether that's because they have faith in his management ability or because he fits their business plan, I'm not sure.
I'm confused. But one thing that's become increasingly clear to me and what has really made me write this article is that the club seems happy, determined even, to just flounder around without making any real effort to better itself.
That's the way I see, it. The club has to strengthen its playing staff by bringing in better players than we have now – and it with proper, permanent contracts, not short term loan deals. We all know that, it’s not rocket science but the club seems incapable of – or unwilling to make any headway.
That's what irritates me!
All I'm looking for is continuous improvement. I really don't mind if we're not very good if I can see we're improving – or that there's real effort to improve. I don't see that at Pride Park at the moment though. It's like they know what needs to be done but they have no intention of trying to do it and I really have no time for anyone who's not prepared to help themselves.
The club doesn't need to break the bank to do this, there are plenty of clubs which are being financially circumspect but are still striving for improvement – even if it's unspectacular improvement.
That's all I'm asking.
I can't see it happening though. If the owners decide to make a scapegoat of Nigel Clough (which is extremely unlikely) they'll only appoint someone else who fits their business plan of quiet stagnation.
The club's owners have plenty of disposable finance available if they choose to divert any of it towards Derby County. For whatever reason, they choose not to. I'm not sure why this is as I can't see the present Rams being attractive to prospective purchasers
For one thing, I don't see too many “acceptable” purchasers. We'd probably be out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Now I've been a Rams fan for over forty years and I'll still be a Rams fan when they screw the last screw into my pine box and although I don't like losing and I especially don't like losing to local rivals, for as long as I don't see any ambition at Pride Park, I won't be wasting too much of my emotion on the club.