After the game against Yorkshire finished, Mickey Arthur said that the 'genuine fans' need to get behind Derbyshire. He's right to a point, I class myself as 'genuine fan', in my 57th year of supporting the club and seventeenth year of writing about them.
But I left at lunch today, when the writing was on the wall and I preferred getting back to Scotland, to my wife and dogs, rather than another night in a hotel room. When my journey in each direction to the festival took longer than it did Derbyshire to bat, I think I'm entitled to voice my frustration, as anyone is in this world.
You can support, yet disagree. You can follow, but air your misgivings. I and others will do that and continue to do so. Such is the way with professional sport. I can't speak for others, in and around the club, but I will always be honest - when performances deserve praise, I am happy to give it, but you have to take the rough with the smooth. The level of performance this year has been unacceptable and in any professional sport, the buck stops with the coach.
What I found really odd in the post-match interview was when he talked about the toss and said that if Yorkshire had batted first and scored 450, we would have been out of the game. But they wouldn't have done that. I spoke to a number of people who have played a lot of cricket on that ground and they were all incredulous that you would opt to bat on such a bright green, first morning surface. When the opposition feel the same, there is a major misreading of conditions and not for the first time. You cannot make a decision on what 'might' happen in three days time, only on what is in front of you.
You have to assess, he said, whether the first session of the game will be tougher to navigate than the fourth innings. Fair enough, to a point, but when you win the toss and have such a pitch at your disposal, surely you take advantage?
I am genuinely baffled.
When the club next has a members forum, pertinent questions should be asked of the Head of Cricket. These should include:
'In the 3 years you have been here, what have you done to take the club forward?’ I am struggling to see anything, right now. The early shoots of progress in his first season are now but a distant memory.
'Do you regret taking up the role during the English season with Pakistan.' Because for me, the rot set in when he felt he could do two high profile jobs at the same time. It sent out the wrong signal to players and supporters alike and was disrespectful.
'Which young player have you signed for the county and which young pathway player have you given a chance to?' Big noises were made about Derbyshire becoming 'the county of choice'. I don't see that has happened, do you?
'How have good players ALL lost form and confidence at the same time?' Surely you have to question your methods?
'Is there one player that you feel you and your coaches have improved?'
I could go on...
These are pertinent questions and they are not being asked. They are certainly not being answered.
In case anyone is in any doubt, I am, have been and always will be a supporter of Derbyshire, regardless of the level they played. I follow the second team, the pathway sides and both enjoy and celebrate the successes.
But like any supporter, I am entitled to question what is going on when there appears no strategy, no progress and worryingly, no hope.
This weekend's T20 fixtures are massive. If we lose them both, another competition has passed us by, in a season where Mickey Arthur has HIS team, players he has signed, or re-signed.
If that happens, everyone is entitled to question whether he is the right man for the job.
I look forward to your comments.
