There was a good time to be had at Ewood Park until the party poopers in the shape of stewards and Blackburn's strike force spoiled it all.

One more game to go with the Reading fixture now meaningless, and we are officially the worst Premiership team ever until next year when we'll see the likes of West Bromwich, Stoke and possibly Hull or Bristol City competing for that dubious award. As the Independent on Sunday correspondent, Steve Tongue, put it: “Next season's Premier League could have three Derby Countys instead of one.” The fat cats at the top will all be mentally ticking off those fixtures as fait accomplis and picking their reserve teams for match practice.

For us, more urgent business beckons. It is to weed out those who mentally buckled under the strain of this season, and those who proved themselves incapable of withstanding the physical business – whether this be pace or the challenges. (I'm still annoyed by the lack of bookings – it indicates for me a lack of desire to compete physically) A few of those who proved themselves capable of holding their own physically will be retained for the Championship as we will need some robust types to enable us to withstand the likes of Crystal Palace under Warnock.

We will also need those who are capable of playing some football under pressure. I have no doubt that most of Jewell's signings will stay even though there are calls to banish Savage – a technically inept footballer according to Benni McCarthy. Jewell has obviously picked them for their mental durability which Savage has in abundance, as does Stubbs. Both Ster and Villa look like good hard players who will flourish in the Championship. The new Aussie recruit is, according to those who have seen him, out of a similar stable – a hard and tenacious worker.

If the pattern continues, we can expect a few more tough physical types; those who chuckle at the thought of a roughhouse in the offing and say ‘bring them on' but who also are capable of playing at a higher level than some of those who started the season with us.

But if PJ is any good as a manager, I would also expect him to retain those of the current squad who are capable of re-building their confidence and acquiring more skills. We do have a few younger players who could learn and develop under the tutelage of those that PJ has brought in. It is at this point we will start to learn how damaged some people have been by this season. We can assume that PJ has started to make some decisions on who is so badly damaged that they are beyond saving. Others, of course, will be deemed to be surplus to requirements because they do not fit in with the plan for the development of the team.

Money permitting, I hope that PJ doesn't confine himself to just bolstering the first team for next year, but also adds to the squad for the following two years, and as a by-product developing a decent reserve team with young fringe players able to contribute as and when necessary. It was good therefore to see Addison given a chance along with Beardsley as a sub. If they are part of a reasonably successful squad, winning more than they lose, they then can add to the mix. And more pertinently, be ready to make the step up when the oldsters need replacing.

Good management is about today and tomorrow. Everything needs to be balanced against tomorrow – and not just focused on today. My belief is that BD looked too far ahead and bought several players for tomorrow as it were, and when tomorrow came a bit faster than anyone expected, there wasn't enough solidity in the team to enable those players to develop. He also didn't have enough mental toughness in the team – those older players he brought in generally didn't have this quality.

Moore did, and so despite his glaring failings, was recognised by the fans in their awarding him the POTY award. Now all we need is a few Moores with pace and skill and we'll do OK.

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Paul Redfern

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