Derby County fans give us their thoughts on Chris Martin, Craig Forsyth and Conor Sammon

GOOD news that Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth are going to be at Pride Park longer as they seem to have potential and the opportunity to look at them longer is extremely beneficial, unless you have already made your mind up they are no good, as in the case of one Conor Sammon.

However, I believe that the aforementioned are similar to a lot of those we have already on the playing staff – capable of getting us promoted but not able to keep us in the higher division thereafter.

This is the problem facing all promoted sides as it is necessary to recognise that the “gulf” between Championship quality and Premiership is wider than the Atlantic.

It is easier to get to the top of the championship than stay in the higher division as many have already found – the Rams among them

It is underlined by the new “parachute” payment proposals that Championship clubs have rejected.

When, like the Rams, you do not have the money to purchase players of such a quality where do you go? Academy is one answer but that takes a long time to bear fruit – if it ever does!

Or do you do a Leicester City and throw a lot of money at it in the hope of getting up somehow?

If you don’t get up you are in one hell of a financial black hole as the money is already committed.

Personally, I believe that with the recruitment of a committed and physically adept defensive midfielder we could put in a strong challenge for the top six next term provided we retain the youngsters and develop them further. However the above stated “promotion problem” is then facing whoever is the manager.

60yearramsfan

I FEEL that the harsh words about Sammon are a little unwarranted.

Granted, there are aspects of his game that can be improved but to say we would have to take a loss or suggest we pay to get rid is ludicrous.

He has done well, defenders don’t like playing against him and he has become a full international since we signed him, playing for Trappatoni, no less.

As for Martin, it seems like a good deal at the moment.

I’d also like to see Ward and Martin together but believe that Martin/Sammon could prove an interesting combination. Let’s see.

MadridRam

NORWICH have loaned Martin out to let him prove himself, which is exactly what he is doing.

If he does brilliantly, by the end of the season, he will be retained by Norwich for sale and will fetch around £3m.

We can’t afford that and would lose out to to a Championship club like Florest, if they dont get up.

Don’t count chickens. I am just happy he is here and has worked well.

QUIT_MOANING

I HAVE a lot of time for Sammon and I’ve been fully able to appreciate the job he does for the team but last Saturday was the worst I’d seen him play.

To me, it seems that Chris Martin’s arrival has changed Sammon’s role in the side.

Martin’s superior touch and hold-up play mean that he is now the “outlet” ball and Sammon is now playing off Martin, which just doesn’t suit him.

He put in plenty of effort of Saturday but in my opinion the effort he put in was largely “effort for effort’s sake”, i.e. charging down loose balls/lost causes (much like what Robbie Savage used to do).

Yes, he put in a shift but for large parts of Saturday’s match, Sammon seemed simply out of the game.

If Martin signs permanently is there a place for Sammon in the squad? Possibly.

But I think we’d still need to sign a partner for Martin.

If we sold Sammon there’s a strong argument to suggest that we’d get a good deal of our money back. People in football understand the job he does and the simple fact is that he’s now a full international – and in the grand scheme of things (especially the striker market) £1.2m isn’t a lot of money.

MISTAWOOD

IS it unfair to say that this could be the beginning of the end of Sammon’s DCFC career?

I’d really like him to succeed because his attitude and work-rate is spot on but even Martin’s brief spell has highlighted how much Sammon lacks (and will probably never have) in every other aspect of what a forward should be able to do.

Can we afford to cut our losses, given that I wouldn’t expect more than half of what we shelled out last year for him?

RiverSowRam