Kmcalpin

A good summing up. As for yesterday's game, once again we looked disorganised with long standing weaknesses evident. A lack of leadership both on and off the field. Central defence was poor but suffered from lack of protection from wing backs and midfield. Midfield was painfully slow and didn't really compete. No links between midfield and KVV and him and wide men. We resorted to long hopeful, aimless punts for which Lacovitti and colleagues were very grateful. In a way, good to see Max Johnston start but was perhaps the wrong choice yesterday. Promising going forwards but was caught out of position several times when defending. Maybe better to have started with McGinn at RB? Central defence? Deary me - Blaney must be bad but why put him on the bench then? McGinn isn't a midfielder. Spittal was anonymous yesterday and just doesn't have the pace or engine to support his strikers. Seems to have a nailed on starting place irrespective. Better options, although different kinds of player - Cornelius and Tierney. Midfield is often about the mix of players and how they gel and yesterday again it just wasn't right and changes ought to have been made at HT, if not before. Up front, I thought Crankshaw looked promising but maybe ran out of gas later. McKinstry was my MOTM with some good runs and a splendid finish. Unlucky with his shot that hit the post. Both wide men found it hard to link up with KVV who was ineffective. Didn't quite get why Goss was subbed, unless injured, and Maguire had little positive impact. I just hope that our young lads, like McKinstry and Johnston are getting decent coaching, although I have my doubts. For those who think that Hammy will be in trouble if we lose next weekend, I'd say he's already in deep trouble and is on borrowed time. With every passing week he reminds me more of Maurice Malpas.

Hammell does have options. Assuming he sticks with the same set up and he doesn't have to, he could change personnel. Maybe in a minority of one here but I didn't think Johnston played well today. McGinn could have played RB. Blaney could have replaced Lamie. There's 2 options for starters. Cornelius could have started in MF as could Tierney. Spittal could have been dropped. A few options there.

Rossco have signed a Hibs midfielder on loan.

Yes, forgot all about that. Could well be a factor in football as it is in other industries. It certainly won't help our recruiters.

We should obviously look at strengthening all positions but I wouldn't have thought this to be a priority position unless we are going to offload players and bring in 4/5 others, which I doubt. What do I know though?

Just a tabloid rumour at the moment. If there's any truth in it, what position does this Japanese lad play?

A key aspect of Derby County's relevant role. "To effectively lead the First Team and Academy recruitment departments to identify and recommend players who fit with the philosophy, identity and style of play and build and deliver productive relationships with other clubs and key stakeholders within the industry."

Some merit in what you write Joe. Despite our very poor run, we have lost points in many games which were very tight. We have also won points in tight games. This aspect hasn't changed in almost 6 months of Hammell's tenure. The bottom line is that we're consistently losing points in games with fine margins. We're maybe not far off being an "adequate" team but that hasn't changed in months. We lack hardness, experience (on and off the field) and a will to win. These are crucial qualities in a dogfight. Just too many hard luck stories for my liking. Yes, there is work being done on the training pitch; otherwise what is everyone doing? But is is the right work? Is it getting through? I'm no expert, but I ask that because the weaknesses we have and mistakes we make are the same as they were almost 6 months ago. We've made no progress. Management decisions in games have also cost us. You expect a greenhorn manager to make errors but they have to learn from them and Stevie shows no signs of doing that. Hard work alone never got anyone anywhere. You have to have some skill or talent to develop in tandem. As in all walks of life, being good at a personal performance job doesn't mean that you'd make a good manager. As someone else has said on here (Smiddy?) you're either a manager or you aren't.

No Slattery is suspended.

Good post. Its almost impossible to apportion individual signings to the Head of Recruitment or management.

I think Blaney and Lamie are both left sided Grizzly?

Changes are required. Assuming that we don't add any new faces before Saturday, I'd swap Blaney for Lamie and O'Donnell for Penney (assuming will he be away by then?) in defence. Drop Spittal for Tierney in midfield and drop Shields for McKinstry. Cornelius to play just behind KVV.

Sondre Solheim?

Pretty much a must win home game and we lost. I said before the Livingston game that 5 points would be the minimum acceptable return from the next 3 games and we'll achieve 4 at best. I'm not even confident for next week. Missed chances, hitting woodwork etc don't count.....points do. Even in the early stages, the midfield and defence looked shambolic. Partly down to players but really at the door of management. I'm not Penney's biggest fan but for the whole of the first half he was left totally exposed and nothing was done about it. No-one was covering in front of him. Again up front, Van Veen looked isolated. Not quite sure about Blair Spittal's contribution at all and I'd have hooked him at half time. Lamie looked what he is a decent back up but not first pick, as David Martindale will no doubt tell you. Still today's loss was not down to individuals and I'd be wrong to blame Penney, Lamie or Spittal for that. I've been critical of Kelly of late but he was blameless today. Stuart McKinstry ought to have started and came on 45 minutes too late. Hammell just isn't playing his charges to their strengths. Poor referee today with Porteous getting off with murder. Presumably its still a foul for booting the ball away after a foul has been awarded? Ah, I forgot Chris Long wasn't playing today. Still we have far bigger issues than poor refereeing to deal with tonight.

Our whole left side is totally exposed. Midfield needs reorganised - Spittal anonymous. Subs now please.

I have absolutely no idea. None whatsover. I'm not party to the club's transfer negotiations or targets.

Spiderpig gives a good summing up. In most cases, I'd guess, Nick Daws will scout players according to the manager's shopping list i.e. position and type of player. Occasionally though, the manager may want to pursue targets he's identified, or knows, himself. Thats quite reasonable. It won't be a rigid, inflexible approach. It doesn't need to be one or the other.

Its important for us to get some new faces in as quickly as possible but, no doubt our ability to get players to sign on the dotted line is dependent on our postion in the food chain and it might be later before we can secure anything. In asnwer to GrahamH, we did have alternatives last summer, albeit very limited. We could have passed on Rolando Aarons and Louis Moult to sign, on loan, one more reliable incomer. But, we're all wise in hindsight. Regarding our recruitment, the manager will direct the Head of Recruitment and have the final say on signings. However, it looks as though managers may decide to bring in their own men who they know. For example, Graham Alexander with Josh Morris and Stevie Hammell with Rolando Aarons, Louis Moult and Stuart McKinstry. They don't look like Nick Daws signings.

Here's one for you to ruminate over. Rumour: Tyler Smith from Hull City - a striker. Simply a rumour and may be nothing in it.

Yes, it was absolutely ludicrous and should not have been awarded. Looking back, I feel better about some of our early season awards now.

This is a game we must look to win, by whatever legal means. A draw is the minimum acceptable outcome IF we beat Ross County. We can't rely on others doing us a favour at all........if they do it should be an unexpected bonus. One things for sure more of the same on Sunday won't do.

Not sure about that Denny. There are quite a few like me who thought that Alexander's time had come and gone and change was required (albeit issues around timing though), but also that Stevie Hammell was the wrong appointment and is struggling badly. I don't blame him - he was dropped in at the deep end and not surprisingly is floundering. I fully support our Board but on this occasion I think they got it wrong. It happens.

Sorry can't agree there at all. Both are young lads with the former having played just 2 ninety minute league games this season and the latter having played a grand total of 4. They both need a consistent run in the team. They're still learning. Neither has done badly. If you're looking to identify underperformers in the squad then look elsewhere.

At the time he was doing fine and the decision to extend his contract was the right thing to do. In the end he resigned and wasn't fired, although I suspect we came to some financial agreement.

Agree 100%. Lets make sure the defence is watertight first.