Rams Review contributor Andy Buckley-Taylor gives his thoughts after The Rams 2-1 loss to Barnsley at Oakwell.
After a run of five games without defeat The Rams came crashing back down to earth with two defeats in five days!
The performances in both games was disappointing to say the very least. Against Blackburn we didn’t even start to play until the 70th minute and it was a very poor showing at Barnsley. With the two 2-1 defeats and we are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table four points behind Hull City who are immediately above us and seven points from safety. We also have the likelihood of another nine points being deducted before the end of the season.
Fans can moan about team selections and substitutions all they want, but with the restrictions placed on the club by the EFL, Rooney’s hands are tied. He needs to rotate, rest players when needed and try to get some sort of formula so we are competitive. But that is easier said then done! One reason for the lack of goals is simply because we only have two senior strikes (both of whom have missed time this year due to injury).
League One is where we are likely to be playing our football next season and that won’t be easy either. We need to remember that there may be multiple points penalties waiting to greet us in the third tier.
Any new owner will need to have a long term plan. It will be very challenging to return to the Championship at the first attempt. Even if the club is sold there will still be sanctions and the embargo won’t be lifted for some time.
Speaking of new owners, its been revealed that there are multiple parties with credibility in the running to buy our club. American businessman Chris Kirschner is a name that has stepped forward in the last week or so. Do we know his wealth? No! But the administrators appear to be confident that he has the financial means to run Derby County.
Andy Appleby is fronting another bid. Appleby is no stranger to Derby having been our Chairman when GSE owned us. Who are the money men behind him? Well there's been no reliable information as of yet! Billionaire David Tepper appears to have been ruled out. People were obviously putting two and two together as he owns Carolina Panthers NFL team where former Chief Executive Tom Glick is now employed.
We as fans will have to be patient. The administrators are hoping to conclude a sale by January but we know, at Derby County, anything can happen.
Whilst our team has gone off the boil, our fans have been brilliant in their support. Pride Park and the away followings have been very noisy. Derby fans certainly aren’t bottom of the league!