Rinse, No Repeat – Part 1

Following the back to back disasters of the Bristol City and Cardiff games, Steve McClaren appealed to Rams fans not to over react and pointed to the great turnaround in form since his arrival.

Whilst Steve has undoubtedly pulled up trees to even get the Rams in the mix at all, this same group of players are again having the same collapse in form at the same time of year.

At the time of writing, Derby sit 11 points outside the play offs (which looks a lot of ground to make up when you consider the teams above them) so thoughts are inevitably turning to next season.

I think most Derby fans would agree that something now must give with this group of players who on their day are great, but simply do not have the X factor required to get us out this league. Thus in the first of a series of articles this week, we consider who stays and who goes, starting with the goalkeepers and defenders.

Scott Carson – Had a great season and currently a good shout for player of the year. Not implicated at all in the recent glut of goals conceded and arguably our best keeper since Poom – KEEP

Jonny Mitchell – Made great strides this season including his England U-21 debut (although let’s not dwell on that one), will learn loads off Carson and from playing with his contempories in U23 Premier league – KEEP

Kelle Roos – Has all the tools but, for me, his moment has passed at Derby. He’s actually a half decent keeper with great distribution but always one who you think could throw one in at any time. Sell him to the lower leagues with a decent sell on just in case  – RINSE

Chris Baird – Has come in from the cold to have a solid season and up to now has been our first choice right back, even after Christies return from injury. That said, I am not sure why, but many Derby fans still really don’t like him. For me he’s not the answer at right back but due to his versatility and experience I think he’s worth another season – KEEP

Photoshop at its finest as Marcus is ‘pictured’ within 10 feet of his man at Fulham.

Cyrus Christie – When Cyrus is good he’s awesome, when he’s bad he’s woeful. A typical modern football back who is great going forward and bang average, at best, defensively. This type of player does not get you out the league for me. A current international, with great physicality, I am certain there will be a recruitment team somewhere who would take him for a decent fee – RINSE

Marcus Olsson – What I wrote about Cyrus you can quadruple for Olsson. Very nifty going forward, with a good engine, but this guys is simply a shocking defender costing us countless goals, particularly away from home where he is regularly skinned or just gets done on the back post. I am sure someone would take him if we put him out there – RINSE

Max Lowe – Max is an absolute Rolls Royce of a full back who I am sure is heading to a top four Premier League team at some point. If he can just get his body up to the rigours of regular first team football, then the left back slot is his for as long as he is here – KEEP

Fozzy – Great player who has had horrendous luck with injuries. Let’s hope he can stay fit next year and share left back duties with Max – KEEP

Alex Pearce – Has been an absolute breath of fresh air in the defence up until recently where he has to shoulder his share of the blame for the recent calamities. Particularly from set pieces. I think for attitude and positivity though I would keep him – KEEP

Haters gonna’ hate but there is no finer site at Pride Park than a Keogh suicide run through the midfield.

Jason Shackell – Had an awful finish to last season and an even worse start to this one, which may or may not have been related to his relationship with the previous manager. Was rightly dropped and rumours abound he is simply a bad egg. However, two vintage displays in the cup against Leicester and WBA reminded us what he can do and I expect him to be recalled for the Burton game. That said, if we can find anyone to take his wages off us I would definitely cash him in – RINSE

Richard Keogh – I saved the best until last. Keogh more than anyone is the one player who divides Rams fans like no other. No-one can doubt his commitment to the cause, but the spectre of Wembley will forever hang over him and his every error since seems somehow amplified for that reason. Also as Captain he has to take a major responsibility for the fragile nature of the group. That said how do you compare his attitude to most of our other players? Is he a leader that can get us out of this division? No. Is he a fantastic centre half who would die for DCFC? Yes. My view is we badly need a new Captain; however, we don’t need a new hero centre back. I do understand the view that he more than anyone represents this group, but I just think he needs some more leaders to share his burden, so I’m saying – KEEP

Next up shortly, we review our Midfield (insert head in hands Emoji here).