BallBoy

3 points 1) The defence was just awful. Blackpool are not very good but we were vulnerable throughout the game. Davis saved us several times after defenders had let them just walk through. 2) Too many times we were playing pretty football out on the wings but there were not enough bodies in the middle to receive the ball. 3) We are trying to play "intelligent" football but I wonder if some of our players actually have that capacity. We seem unable to actually think on the pitch. How we miss the likes of Marsden, Case or Ball who always knew what to do. I still say that we will have the occassional good result to raise our spirits this season but I just cannot see us being consistent enough to challenge. We are just not strong enough yet.

First time I've seen that. Brilliant. He's a true fan.

This all sounds great, especially from those who were there. It shows that we can play football, we can dominate and we can even defend. Note of caution. We are still threadbare, we are still penniless and there is a week of the transfer window to go.

The reason I disliked Derby was nothing to do with their fans. It was their nasty little manager whose gameplan was to kick Gareth Bale until he could not play any more and then claim as a tactical masterstroke! Their other tactic was to give away niggling free kicks at 40-45 yards out. They were far and away the dirtiest team I have seen for a long time.

Moral victory number one. But no points and that really is the point. I desperately want to be wrong but I think this is likley to be repeated many times this season. We will almost get a point or even almost win but this team is just not likely to be good enough. I don't know if the ball crossed the line but we were under pressure for much of the game. There was an inevitability about the outcome. I know it's one game and there's a long way to go but I think the pundits are right. I am just being realistic. Please let me be wrong and I will happily eat humble pie when these youngsters show they can beat the old pro's.

I predict a moral victory. The first of many. Lots of effort, lots of positives, getting to know each other....blah blah blah, but no points! Sorry to be a pessimist but there are no real reasons to think otherwise. Having said that, I am a fan and I can hope for anything I like. If we get off to a good start then the adrenaline and optimism could begin to flow and we might just surprise a few people.