The Championship season is now into double figures, so with those first ten league matches under Paul Clement’s belt, here is my quick review of the Rams’ start to the 15/16 campaign…

Who’s Hot:

Chris Martin is predictably Derby’s top goalscorer so far with 5 goals to his name and typically Martin has been a nuisance for defenders and scoring goals. In many matches he has done this without actually giving the impression he is having a really good game — but take him away and you definitely notice he is out the side.

Richard Keogh and Jason Shackell have formed a good partnership at the back, with Keogh particularly winning praise for his assertive performances since losing the captaincy and no longer being the focal point of the defence.

Cyrus Christie is another who has recently proved that you aren’t truly down and out at this club until you are out the door.

Bradley Johnson appears to be a great acquisition in the midfield, a strong, direct and energetic midfielder who once again is proving his credentials at Championship level.

Who’s Not

Darren Bent is quite predictably not starting matches but he failed to make the match day squad recently after arriving late due to traffic. It’s difficult to see his place at the club — is he happy being a sub? At this point his only place, with Martin fit and in form, is as a late impact sub.

Alex Pearce, the summer signing from Reading, has regularly failed to make the match day squad and he would have been unlikely to have made the move to Derby if he knew he would have to settle for even being a sub. He arrived before Shackell in the summer and when question marks surrounded Keogh’s future.

Ryan Shotton on the other hand has made the substitutes ahead of the former Reading captain, while Simon Dawkins is another player whose future will be questioned if he fails to even make the bench.

Injuries:

Obviously the injury to Will Hughes was a massive blow but the continuing problems in getting Craig Bryson back on the pitch appear to have been more complicated than first thought. There are also intermittent concerns with George Thorne’s fitness given his previous record.

Looking away from the midfield, what about Jake Buxton? It seems to have been a very long recovery after being reports had him close to returning a few times.

Manager:

My overall impression of Paul Clement so far has been positive. I think, similarly to Steve McClaren (at his best), he has the ability to change games by tweaking the side.

Clement is very honest in his interviews and his rotation does keep fans guessing in regards to the team sheet!

There are some bigger tests ahead, November looks a particularly tough month, maybe then we will truly know more about our new manager.

Matches:

The only match the Rams have cruised so far is the last match against Brentford. Apart from that it has often taken a while to get Derby going and has often taken a goal against to get things moving.

The midfield role Thorne plays, remains key to how Derby play. 4-3-3 seems to be the formation of choice for Clement, with the occasional switch in the match to 4-2-3-1 but there is no doubt that 4-3-3 has long suited the vast majority of Rams regulars.

Overall:

On the whole the team’s start has hardly been exhilarating but was it ever going to be with new players, new manager and experimenting required with the squad.

It’s been solid in a few patches here and there (Derby worryingly let teams back into games they seem to be dominating) but the start we have made is something to build on.

Just one point outside the play-offs, unbeaten away, unbeaten in their last five and only beaten once overall! Things aren’t as bad as the occasional booing (there were boos at 0-0 against MK Dons!) would suggest.

May it be onwards and upwards from here!

COYR!

For more of Nathan's articles you can read his blog at www.derbycountyfan.com and follow him via @ramscorner on Twitter.

Photo: Action Images

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