I will get my apologies in early, but this past week or so I have had way too many emails for me to personally answer all of them. Thank you to everyone and please do keep mailing me your thoughts, but working, together with family commitments, has limited my time!
My thoughts on a few recurring themes. Rikki Wessels as a possible signing from Nottinghamshire, where his contract is up? Don't see it, personally. For one thing we couldn't get close on the contract side, unless part of the winter plans is a major bank heist....Top player, but don't see it happening.
We need to be realistic on the signing front. My understanding is that there is some money there for signings, but far more realistic is ensuring that key personnel are on deals sufficient to stop the predators circling.
I have a feeling that the announcement of David Houghton will soothe a few furled brows and a good few players will be pleased at the thought of working with him. He will go into the job aware of the financial side and also know that unless something radical is done with under performing senior players that little can be done this winter.
Yes, they could, theoretically, look to come to an agreement with some players, but that will cost money and we would then be left with little to replace them. Houghton already said, on local radio in the week, that we might look at the loan market and Minor Counties to strengthen the squad but that could be hit or miss. Yet no more than any other signing, for that matter. Should it work, there would be a high level of satisfaction.
The top three scorers in the Minor Counties this year make interesting reading. Sam Arthurton, at Norfolk, who played a game for our seconds earlier in the summer has nearly 1200 runs at 62. Previously on the staff at Middlesex, he has a fine record, as does Alex Kervezee, previously at Worcestershire. A boundary short of a thousand, he looked a player of talent before losing his contract there and moving to Shropshire, where he has scored a lot of runs and is still only 28. There's also a 21-year old batsman named Louis Kimber in the top three, who plays at Lincolnshire and has come through their age groups.
Maybe opportunity will knock for one of them? On the bowling front the leading wicket-takers appear to be over-thirty, with the exception of Lincolnshire's Alex Willerton, who has had trials with Worcestershire.
There will be diamonds there, just as there will in the loan market. Both Tom Lace and Martin Andersson seem to have plenty ahead of them at Middlesex, while Surrey's pace bowling riches, soon to be enhanced by Liam Plunkett and Jordan Clark, are embarrassingly good. There's two Currans, Morkel, Dernbach, Meaker and Clarke, even before considering the claims of Conor McKerr, who we had on loan last summer.
How many do they need?
And question two, can we get one of them for next season. Please?
There seems to be a clear out of experienced high quality players at a number of counties, if you believe everything you read. Azeem Rafiq, who did so well here on a brief loan a few years back, has been released by Yorkshire, to go alongside Plunkett, Brooks, Lees and possibly Rashid. Warwickshire are rumoured to be releasing Keith Barker and Boyd Rankin as well as Chris Wright (and also to be close to signing a Division 2 quick bowler - hopefully not one of purs). Northants are rumoured to be on the brink of letting Josh Cobb and Steven Crook go, so there will be plenty of opportunity for speculation about whether they would fit with / could be afforded by us if all of this happens.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with many of these is that they are at risk of being released for one reason - they are getting older and are very expensive, and because of injury or reducing output , becoming an expensive luxury. Other things being equal, who wouldn't see Barker and Rafiq improving things at Derby? But both are pretty much one dimensional players - Barker in 4 day and Rafiq in one day, and Barker is both injury-prone and likely to be very expensive. Whether we like it or not, as I've said repeatedly, this isn't the market we exist in or do well in. And it doesn't actually do our reputation much good, being seen as a county that relies on older citizens getting a last pay check, and Kolpaks and passport-holders, rather than one that produces good young player and widens the pool of players available for England.
If we can't keep the likes of Slater, Critchley, Hosein, Qadri, Davis and Gleadall because we're paying expensive imports in the hope of instant short-term success, we're not just failing to create a sustainable model for the club going forward, we're also reinforcing the perception of Derbyshire's irrelevance to the future of English cricket.
Most suggestions have next years opening partnership as Billy and Luis Reece but I would prefer to use Reece more as an all rounder so to have him as an opener could be tough. A top 4 of Billy, AN Other, Wayne with Reece at 4 looks stronger
ReplyDeleteWith 2 from Wilson, Hughes, Critchley and maybe Dal at 5 and 6
Hosein needs a full season to see if he can make the wicket keepers spot his own. His keeping can only improve if he is playing as a keeper.
Leaving 4 bowling spots. We need another bowler who can bat at 8. If Andersson is available for the season he could be at 8 else we could use Alex Hughes bowling more and play an extra batsman.
Could Ravi Rampaul's contract be changed to a white ball only one ?
Whilst the first team needs a couple of new signings a big concern is the lack of depth should there be any injuries.
Choice of overseas player is going to interesting as my first instinct is for a top order batsman the return of Olivier has many positives.
Many points to address guys. Firstly the Middlesex boys. It appears we are looking to be a finishing school for Middlesex here. Season loan contracts to allow them to cut their teath at our expense . Then back to their contracted county for Middlesex to reap the benefits. Really? Sorry. Not for me I’m afraid. It appears to me that we are top heavy with highly paid aging senior players. This taking up the lions share of the available wage budget. Not only is this removing any chance of a reasonable squad of players. It also appears to remove the possibility of coaches to help any good young players. Who is the bowling coach for our young seam bowlers in the season. Please don’t say pallidino. He’s with the first team day in day out. Hi doubt if he’s even seen Gleadall, And Taylor bowl this season. The problem with the first team this year is that it appears to be a cosy little gentlemen’s club. It doesn’t seem to matter how poorly you perform because there is no one in the 2s who is even close to being given a chance. Even when a slot becomes available we would sooner get a loaner in than give one of our young players a run . Mr Houghton as got a huge job on his hands. First job find money to get a decent size squad of young hopefuls to work on ,and some coaches to help them develop. not just a few lip service candidates. I would secure the services of Dahl and Wood who have both performed well enough in the 2s this year to be given a contract without searching the far horizons far kids who are not quite good enough for other counties. Look a bit closer to home for young talent, it is out there if you are prepared to look. A young lad called Mat Madley as impressed me on several occasions when I’ve seen him playing for Spondon. Bowls decent pace, does enough with the ball and can hold a bat too, these are the sort of players we should be picking up and looking to make into county players . We need a longer term plan than loan deals as these have no long term benefit for the club
ReplyDeleteJim from Chad
Fair points Jim but for point of accuracy loans don't always mean that we have to pay them.
DeleteThat was not the case with McKerr last year and I suspect with the two Middlesex lads. There may be a contribution, but they see it as good for player development in many cases.
And know we have little money either...
Hi PF. Appreciate loans can be a cheaper option. My point is it serves no long term purpose for DCCC. We really have got to start and buck the trend of spending all our money on 11 or 12 players and get s better mix of youth and coaching staff. This may mean a few worse seasons than this in honesty but the current set up is not sustainable. If clubs like Worcester can do it and don’t forget we did it not too long ago it should be possible. Unfortunately with the wage bill being swallowed up by too fewer players it’s always going to be difficult. We must have enough players to create healthy competition. Players must be in a situation were they know if they are not performing their place in the team is in danger. That appears not to be the case under the current set up.
ReplyDeleteJim from Chad