New boy Conor Sammon paid price for honesty in his effort to find net on Derby County debut

“Everyone knows the real reason Davis and Shackle left - dont they?”

“Watch the east midlands NUMBER 1 team tomorrow, sky 1, 19.45.

RED ARMY, MARCHING ON, ON, ON!”

“I think a top 10 position will be acceptable but after last years period of sitting towards the summit we should at least be challenging for a play-off spot. Progress is ESSENTIAL. I agree it is frustrating to see so called 'lesser teams' leapfrog us but we don't want to be the team that beats our own premier league lowest points record (sorry to bring that up)!

Although supporters as a breed can be hard to please (so many opinions) I think it always boils down to one set of things:

Do we feel the team are playing as good as they can (given their familiarity and fitness levels)?
Is the manager getting his tactics right on the field?
Is the manager managing his team correctly off the field?
Are we moving forward as a team?

If the answer to any of the above is NO then we are right to moan. The only question left is how many games in should we start to raise our concerns.

If the answers are YES then we should put ALL of our energies into supporting the RAMs.

I will support them regardless of the above answers but I will reserve my right to moan if they aren't doing what the are paid so handsomely to do.”

“I like a reasoned response, JohnZFish and I understand your concerns. I believe that there was a lot more to the Davies and Shackell situation than we were told, however, I believe Clough and his team are good at finding players for us and believe that Sammon and Keogh will do the job. As for Green, he was a steady player for us but I think with the emergence of Hendrick and now Hughes, in addition to the early promise shown by Coutts should be enough to replace him.

I think this season will be tough, however, I expect us to progress further still. Whether it be on points, places or both, I don't know. What I do believe, however, is that Clough has who he wants; we're generally playing well (albeit making silly mistakes both tactically and individually on the pitch - although I'd rather make these mistakes now than at the other end of the season) and we've a group of decent players that will gel and fight for each other. If we consider just how much players like Robinson, Hendrick, Brayford - even Roberts, to a certain extent - have improved under the current team, I think there is reason to be optimistic with the current group.

Personally, I think a top 10 finish, pushing for a top 6 with the view to real progress and a push for promotion next year is acceptable. I still believe we're building long-term and, providing we are gradually showing progress, I'm happy. And I still think we have showed steady progress under Clough. It took 10 years for him to take a non-league club in debt two divisions up and establish them as a league club, but he did it. I'd prefer to wait another 6 years and be an established Premier League club than be the yoyo club worrying about administration and extinction but spending the odd season in and out of the Prem.”

“I am happy to build gradually with a young squad within the budget we can afford. After 3 seasons when we have only been clear of relegation a couple of games before the end of the season last seasons 12th was ok. However if we are making progress we need to better this. I think the loss of our best defender (Shackell) & striker (Davies) & a key midfield player (Green) makes this very unlikely and seems to be an odd way to build. I would like to know what league position Rams fans find acceptable. I find it galling to see so many teams with much lower crowds doing much better than us. Do people really expect us to improve on 12th? If we don't we are therefore regressing rather than making progress.”

“Have you considered that we have played well for the majority of each of the 3 games? Remember, we are only 3 games into the season and we've a squad of both new and young players. Give it some time. And before the backlash, I mean give this squad some time, it is finally the squad Clough wants and thinks is capable.”

“If we miss chances and defend poorly giving up goals to limited opposition pressure, it doesnt matter whether we play well and dominate the game, because results are decided on goals. Nigel seems to have a different excuse every match, we always seem to play well despite noot winning.”

“Sammon looks the part.

Will be a very good addition to the team once he is
match fit of course.”