ck-

Good point. I'm probably trying a bit too hard to see things from the best angle. 
I wouldn't be surprised if the way that he's run Derby is based on the ways that he achieved success in his other businesses.
I don't suppose he would have bought any other club.
The paradox is that if he should have known better - or did know better - why he didn't do things differently. And assuming that he intended to make the best decisions - could things have gone any differently.
I get the argument: "I wish you'd never been involved." But, I'm not sure that we should be too mean because it didn't work out. There are some chairmen who asset strip, and almost deliberately and intentionally do harm to a club. And I don't think I've read many people suggesting that, if any.
I think of it from my own perspective. There are many things in life I could have done better, and wish I had done differently. But, fit whatever reason, I took the decisions that I took. I don't think that I am a bad person, just because I could have done things better.
I guess that is partially the distinction that the moderators are making, between criticism and insults.

I’d buy Mel a pint anytime. Would I have him run a business on my behalf ? Nah.

I don’t quite follow your logic with this statement:
Many detractors say, "If only Mel had taken different decisions," but this is the same as saying, "If only we had a local fans, with loads of money, who had made some different decisions." But, I'm not sure that there is a local fan with loads of money who would have made different decisions.
 
Aren’t the detractors just saying they wish he’d shown something similar to the sound financial decision making he must adopt in his business dealings given what a successful business man he is? I say “similar” because I know running a football club isn’t the same as running a business but he appears to have allowed the club descend to a perilous position (even before Covid). Being a local fan is a nice bonus but certainly not essential.
I’m grateful to Mel for his passion for the club and desire to get us into the premier league but he would seem to have made mistakes and for this has rightly been criticised (or moaned at as you say) but, you can’t just say “oh well he tried his best and had the best of intentions so it’s all OK”. You’re right, we all make mistakes but we have to be accountable for them.
The big caveat to the above is that none of us really know what’s gone on (hence your use of the word “perceived I guess).

This post is a bit sycophantic, and I'm sorry if I wind up lots of good people who are so upset and angry, but I have to admit that I am happy to be in the fan club!
That doesn't mean that I do but wish that things had gone differently.
Firstly, no one knows where we would be if someone else had been in charge! I know that's not a ringing endorsement, but we do tend to forget that things could have been worse.
Many detractors say, "If only Mel had taken different decisions," but this is the same as saying, "If only we had a local fans, with loads of money, who had made some different decisions." But, I'm not sure that there is a local fan with loads of money who would have made different decisions.
We have a football structure, where people can buy football clubs. That's the issue! If you don't like what a man has done with the best of intentions - then don't moan at him - direct your ire towards getting rid of the ownership structure.
But, is there an alternative. Germany do something that I don't fully understand. When I asked if 30,000 fans could find £2,000 each, to raise £60 million; lots of flaws were found; not least the fact that the club doesn't balance it's books; and would continually need more money. And how would this great ownership democracy work? An individual would be appointed to take charge. And they would do things that the mukti-owners would not like. So it might not be any different. Maybe fans could be on the board, but what if they made unpopular decisions.
In terms of Mel, my message is: thanks for doing your best. It is brilliant that you had the balls to have a go. Don't worry about perceived mistakes. No-one's perfect. Like you, we're all hurting, but Derby'll be alright. By definition, the club cannot always be moving upwards under every tenure, otherwise we would have been European Champions for the past 100 years! And if this was the time for us to be in a downward slope, then you probably prevented things being worse. And I've enjoyed quite a few seasons where we have won more than we have lost, and the positive feeling on a Monday morning. Don't forget the positive chants that used to call out your name.

Got a pretty handy midfielder on loan for six months from Bristol too.
It hasn’t all been a waste of money and effort for Mel either. When he has his feet up in the La-Z-boy over the forthcoming years, he can look at his mantelpiece with the two framed pictures of him together with the scarf draped Butterfield and Johnson and think how lucky he was to spend some fleeting moments with them in the glaze of the flashbulbs. 

They will have a simple game plan: let us score first. Foolproof!

Doesn’t seem to make any difference either way now.

How ironic it would be, we beat Rotherham to get out of division 3 they could be the ones to send us back there. 
Have this team got the bottle for it not to happen 

I've heard that the EFL are working on changing the rules if we stay up (we will!) and there will be automatic points deduction based on arrangement of letters in a clubs name. Any club whose letters are arranged D - E - R - B - Y will get a 24 points deduction! This season too! #youhearditherefirst

51% fan ownership.
Although 100% fan ownership hasn't worked out too well!

I don't think it has anything to do with whether he's given 'his all' or rather 'the clubs all'. Its to do with the fact he was custodian of the club - it's okay saying 'he meant well' or 'you never said anything bad when he spent lots of money'. We the fans had no say in the matter, all we could do is support the club. The clubs administration was all down to Morris, and he's left us in an incredible mess. 

I hope they re-advertise his job because I'm bloody amazing at drinking tea, watching football and being ignored. 

Personally, I don't think for one minute this rule will ever come to fruition. If you have spent millions/billions on a business would you allow some pen pushers telling you, you have to let the fans own a large percentage of the company in the future?. Just reading some of the things being said on here, would you want these people making decisions in your business? ?

Very well put. I've only commented on the "it's not in our own hands" comments. Up until now I've been nervously optimistic. Today I'm just nervous. It's no longer in our hands, but it's not all over. There are still twists to come in what's left of the season. We do however need to pick points up and I can't see at this moment where from.

Don't see why you haven't posted in a while... it only takes a second or two!  ? ?

All these cheese puns!  ?
It Scone far enough, now! 
Anyway... as it's Good Friday... let's spare a thought for what happened to this guy, later in life...
 

Young uns often miss subtlety.
Fromage comes experience.

I becha- Mel wouldn't be too impressed with all these cheese puns.

I Sancerrely hope you're not taking about recent seasons, in which our net spenwood obviously have decreased.

I think the cheese talk is stinking up this thread to much. It's cutting the disscussion off at the knees.
I'm lack toes intolerent.

I’ve had enough I’m off to book a holiday.

Just think that all these puns came from one simple spelling mistake. I'm sure that everyone will be typing more Caerphilly in future.

Stiltons more puns to pick from.

The EFL are milking it, aren't they?

Never a dull moment here at DCFC!  
 
 
*Apart from during an actual match... obvs!  ?