Derby County's form is the least of their worries

Derby's worst Championship start is compounded by injury crisis, poor recruitment returns, and the collapse of Turki Al-Sheikh's takeover just before the season.

Derby County sit second bottom of the Championship after their worst-ever start to a season in the division, despite finishing seventh last year and investing heavily in the summer. Manager John Eustace's side have the worst home record in the league and rank 22nd in both chances created and conceded, suggesting systemic problems beyond bad luck.

The club has been ravaged by injuries, particularly in defence, with striker Patrick Agyemang rupturing his Achilles in April. This defensive crisis has pushed Eustace toward a cautious approach that has stifled attacking play and alienated supporters. The statistics paint a bleak picture: Derby rank 22nd for expected goals for and against, 22nd for points after conceding first, and 23rd for points dropped after scoring first.

Beyond injuries, the summer recruitment has underperformed despite significant investment. The real elephant in the room, however, is the collapsed takeover by Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh, which was ratified by the Independent Football Regulator and came within days of completion before Al-Sheikh withdrew, citing insufficient time for transfer business. Owner David Clowes has been generous with funding, but questions are being raised about CEO Stephen Pearce and the club's strategic direction.