[FM22 > Derby County] - Managing the (not so) Mighty Rams

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 27th September 2021

Duncan joins Billericay on loan

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 27th September 2021

Injury set-back for Baldock

This is bad news for both Sam Baldock and us, particularly with Sam being out of contract at the end of the calendar year. Sam has played well for us, leading the line on his own, and scoring four goals in nine games.

Fortunately, Colin Kazim-Richards is due back in training any day now.

[Recyclic3021]

51 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Fortunately, Colin Kazim-Richards is due back in training any day now.

dont count your chickens on that one

Think i had Kazim available for 3 games in total after his return from injury. 

53 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Game date: Monday 27th September 2021

Think Baldock last till mid November for me then picked up another 4 month injury the day after he returned to training. Silly me had offered him a contract to the end of the season. He never played another game !!

[Stuniverse]

9 minutes ago, Recyclic3021 said:

dont count your chickens on that one

Think i had Kazim available for 3 games in total after his return from injury. 

Better get the cotton wool out then, @Recyclic3021, had I?

10 minutes ago, Recyclic3021 said:

Think Baldock last till mid November for me then picked up another 4 month injury the day after he returned to training. Silly me had offered him a contract to the end of the season. He never played another game !!

I was already in two minds about renewing Sam's contact (assuming I'm able to renew contracts, that is) but this injury, sadly, has probably reduced the chances of me offering him a new deal.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Tuesday 28th September 2021

Press Conference: Reading (H)

Phil Jagielka has been passed fit by our medical team, after a tight calf, but we probably won't risk him.

We've also lost Sam Baldock to a torn calf.

After scoring the winner against Sheffield United, Jack Stretton has earnt the right to start up front in Sam Baldock's absence.

On the flip side, I've been disappointed in Louie Sibley's form recently, so it's probably time to give Jason Knight a start.

Edited November 16, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Wednesday 29th September 2021

Derby County v Reading - Championship (10)

Sometimes it just isn't your day but that doesn't make a defeat any easier to take. We had 70% possession against Reading and, even though we created twice as many chances as Reading did, we just didn't get enough attempts on target and we didn't work their goalkeeper enough.

In John Swift, Reading had the best player on the pitch today. Swift bagged a brace, the first was somewhat fortuitous but he was there to pounce in the box when Ryan Allsop made a mistake to gift him a goal; but the second was one of the best free-kicks I've ever seen, swerving the ball away from Ran Allsop, heading towards the top corner and going in off the inside of the post.

We're struggling for strikers with Colin Kazim-Richards and Sam Baldock out injured and Bobby Duncan out on loan.

Jack Stretton started up front but he struggled to get going. I brought Malcolm Ebiowei on for his debut instead of Jack and Malcolm scored at the far post, heading in Tom Lawrence's corner from an awkward angle.

Malcolm had two more great chances but headed both straight at the goalkeeper.

Graeme Shinnie hit the post late on and that was it.

I hate losing. I particularly hate losing at Pride Park in front of our own supporters.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Thursday 30th September 2021

Cashin moves north of the border

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 1st October 2021

Rams duo's contracts expiring

[dabest]

I would say play Lawrence at striker, he did great for me there in the first half of the season! I

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 1st October 2021

Monthly Reports

Results

League Table

Manager Performance

Finances

Dynamics

[Stuniverse]

6 minutes ago, dabest said:

I would say play Lawrence at striker, he did great for me there in the first half of the season! I

Thanks, @dabest. I may just give that a try. What role did you assign Lawrence?

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 1st October 2021

Thompson moves to Wales on loan

[Recyclic3021]

13 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

Thanks, @dabest. I may just give that a try. What role did you assign Lawrence?

I used Lawrence as a Pressing Forward after Baldock got injured. Scored about a dozen goals in that position for me

 

[Stuniverse]

2 hours ago, Recyclic3021 said:

I used Lawrence as a Pressing Forward after Baldock got injured. Scored about a dozen goals in that position for me

Thanks, @Recyclic3021

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 1st October 2021

Press Conference: Swansea City (H)

Colin Kazim-Richards is back in training but we won't be risking him today. We'll see after the international break if he's ready to play.

Craig Forsyth, Ravel Morrison and Tom Lawrence have been looking tired since the Reading defeat so I'm bringing in Lee Buchanan, Kamil Jozwiak and Festy Ebosele to give them a rest. It means we'll be going wider with our 4-2-3-1 system.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 2nd October 2021

Derby County v Swansea City

This ended up being  game of two penalties.

Graeme Shinnie mistimed his lunge of a tackle on Olivier Ntcham and Matt Grimes converted an 18th minute penalty.

This was particularly annoying given the unnecessary nature of Graeme's challenge but also because a minute earlier Kamil Jozwiak had hit the post.

We left it late, until the 93rd minute, when Ben Cabango tripped Kamil Jozwiak and Tom Lawrence sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his spot kick.

The late equaliser was nothing short of what we deserved and it's a relief not to go into the international break on a loss.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 2nd October 2021

Rooney set to take charge of Bristol City

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Sunday 3rd October 2021

Nine Rams away on International duty

[Stuniverse]

*** Very Important ***

I've created a poll on the Future of this Save - please, please, please check the link out below and vote...

Do I continue with this save on -12 points or, following the recent announcement that the EFL have docked Derby County a further nine points, start again using a custom database on -21 points?

Note: Please feel free to comment on this thread, but I will only be counting votes registered on the poll.

Many thanks.

Tagged: @abulezz @ben_champ @Bitner @dabest @DefinitelyTaylor @Djecker @JaytheGreat @jmgrima @karanhsingh @Paggioram @Punch @Recyclic3021 @samboing @TheMadMonk

Edited November 18, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Poll Closed

My grateful thanks to everybody who voted.

This Derby County save will continue as is.

[For those of you who wanted to see how I got on with a points deduction of -21, sorry not, I’ll be doing another Derby save when the Winter Update comes out].

Edited November 22, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 15th October 2021

Press Conference: Preston North End (a)

We're almost back to full strength fitness wise with only two players in the medical room, now Dylan Williams is back in training after recovering from pulled ankle ligaments.

If all goes well, Krystian Bielik (ACL) should be back in training with us in a couple of weeks but Sam Baldock (calf) is probably at least six weeks away from a return to training.

After a draw against Swansea and a defeat to Reading in our last two matches, we're keen to get back to winning ways against Preston North End. It's likely Ravel Morrison and Louie Sibley will return because, whilst their average ratings aren't great, we were getting better results when they were in the team.

Tom Lawrence is looking a little bit jaded after returning from international duty with Wales so Tom may be on the bench in case we need him.

Kornell McDonald is only just back with us after a bout of food poisoning so it's unlikely he'll feature at all.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 2nd October 2021

Preston North End v Derby County - Championship (12)

We wanted to get back to winning ways, after two games without a win, and we did so. We're very happy about that.

As managers we make decisions all the time. Some decisions we make pay off and you're hailed as a football genius and some decisions don't and you're suddenly an idiot who doesn't know what he's doing. Today, three players I recalled to the starting 11 were all instrumental. Ravel Morrison and Louie Sibley both scored and Craig Forsyth provided the assist for our opening goal.

We took the lead just inside the half hour, deservedly so in my opinion. Craig Forsyth hit a low cross into the danger area for Ravel Morrison to slot home from the edge of the six yard box.

I thought we were good value for our halftime lead but after the break we were put on the back foot. Chasing a long punt forward, Tom Barkhuizen got away from Curtis Davies, who got back and covered well, but Barkhuizen regrouped, played the ball into the penalty area, and Daniel Johnson equalised. It was a soft goal to concede so early in the second-half.

But, once again, we showed great character and, four minutes later, Richard Stearman and Ravel Morrison combined well, Jason Knight put Louie Sibley clean through with an incisive, defence splitting pass, Louie showed great composure as he closed in on the goalkeeper and tucked his shot away just inside the far the post.

Preston will point to two disallowed goals from free-kicks, but they were clearly offside. If they want to line five players up between our back-line and Ryan Allsop in our goal, and we hold our defensive line as we instruct the players to do, then the flag is going to go up as soon as the free-kick is taken. And it did. Twice.

Frankie McAvoy can moan all he likes... but we did our job... and we deserved the three points.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 18th October 2021

Press Conference: Luton Town (H)

Injury wise, we came through the Preston game unscathed and we're as we were with Kornell McDonald and Dylan Williams working their way back to match fitness. There's no need to rush them back.

After the performance away at Preston, I see no reason to make any changes and, hopefully, we can build on that win in front of our own supporters at Pride Park Stadium.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Tuesday 19th October 2021

Derby County v Luton Town - Champinship (13)

This was a disappointing result and I really can't put my finger on why we weren't like ourselves at all. Maybe there was a bit of tiredness and, perhaps, I should've made some changes to the starting 11, but the players weren't looking tired in training.

We were slow and lethargic and never got going until we were 2-0 down. By then, we had a mountain to climb and Luton had something to defend. It doesn't matter if we have more possession and more chances if we effectively gift wrap a two goal start for them.

After five minutes Glen Rea gave Luton the lead with a powerful header from a corner.

By the quarter hour mark, we were two down. Luton passed their way through our midfield far too easily and Carlos Mendes Gomes slammed the ball past Ryan Allsop from the edge of the penalty area.

We made a change at the break, bringing Tom Lawrence on for Jason Knight.

Just after an hour, we changed things and went more attacking.

Over the 90 minutes we created more than enough chances to get something out of the game, but we failed to work Simon Sluga in their goal anywhere near enough.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Wednesday 20th October 2021

Bristol City appoint Neil as Manager

Derby County Assistant Manager Wayne Rooney had been linked with the managerial vacancy.

On 17/11/2021 at 18:23, Stuniverse said:

Game date: Saturday 2nd October 2021

Rooney set to take charge of Bristol City

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 22nd October 2021

Press Conference: Coventry City (a)

We have no fitness concerns ahead of the trip to Coventry City. Long term absentees Krystian Bielik and Sam Baldock are still some way off a return to training, although we still hope to have Krystian back on the training ground at some point next month.

I'm going to freshen things up against Coventry City as we looked sluggish at the start of our last game against Luton.

Nathan Byrne had a disappointing game against Luton, and hasn't been training well, so Festy Ebosele will get the chance he deserves.

Craig Forsyth and Graeme Shinnie are both one yellow card away from a suspension so I'll probably rest them both.

Colin Kazim-Richards has been pushing for a start so he'll probably come in for Jack Stretton.

It's important though that we don't underestimate Coventry City. They may be rock bottom of the Championship, having lost seven straight, but they have some good players and will be determined to break their losing streak. It's up to us to make sure we match them for effort and work rate and get the result we want.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 23rd October 2021

Coventry City v Derby County - Championship (14)

We freshened things up with a few changes and we looked a lot livelier today and I was pleased with the performance. Anyone who thought we'd win comfortably, because of Coventry's losing streak, just doesn't understand football. We expected a difficult game and that's exactly what we got.

A superb free-kick by Tom Lawrence, up and over the wall into the bottom corner, gave us a deserved 20th minute lead.

We were disappointed to concede the penalty, but that's football.

We went more attacking after Coventry equalised and within five minutes we'd regained the lead. Tom Lawrence and Lee Buchanan combined well down the left, and Max Bird scored the winner with a precise shot from just inside the penalty area.

We then saw the game out in a professional manner.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 29th October 2021

Press Conference: Blackburn Rovers (H)

Blackburn Rovers are doing well under Tony Mowbray and sit 6th in the Championship, four points above us. But they're not in the best of form having only won two and lost four of their last six Championship games.

Our own form is consistently, inconsistent at the moment so we're expecting a tight, difficult game. If we play how we know we're capable of playing, though then we're confident of getting a positive result.

We've had some mixed news on the injury front this week. Krystian Bielik has started his rehabilitation after his second ACL injury in two seasons. It's great to see him stepping up his recovery but we'll be wrapping him up in cotton wool and won't rush him back.

On the downside, Louie Sibley twisted a knee in training and is officially ruled out of the Blackburn game.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 30th October 2021

Derby County v Blackburn Rovers - Championship (15)

Blackburn are a very good side and they showed that today. Tony Mowbray has them playing very well and, at times, we struggled to live with them today. That said, we showed a grit and determination and kept the game competitive, I felt we always had a chance.

I don't like making excuses, and this isn't an excuse although it will probably sound like it, but we lost two players to injury and that disrupted our plans and the two enforced substitutions impacted our ability to tactically change things.

Lee Buchanan went off with a bruised knee and Jason Knight felt something in his thigh so we took him off as a precaution. In our situation, with our threadbare squad, we really can't take any risks with injury and fitness.

We held out until the 66th minute when they finally edged ahead with a powerful Lewis Travis header from a corner.

We reacted to going a goal down by playing more attacking, pushing Tom Lawrence further forward and using the wings more with Festy Ebosele and Ravel Morrison out wide.

It worked too, after about 80 minutes, when Tom Lawrence headed in a Festy Ebosele cross at the far post.

Unfortunately, we couldn't hold out as Daniel Butterworth scored an incredible goal from about 25 yards out and you just can't legislate for that.

Edited November 24, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 1st November 2021

Monthly Reports

Manager Performance

Finances

Dynamics

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Press Conference: Barnsley (a)

We want to put the record straight today after a disappointing performance last time out against Blackburn. Barnsley may be 19th in the Championship, but they beat Bristol City 4-2 last time out so we won't be taking them lightly. At Oakwell, they'll be looking to get a positive result in front of their own fans so we need to be ready for them and do our jobs professionally.

We're forced into one change with Graeme Shinnie suspended.

Edited November 24, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Stuniverse upsets Schopp

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Wednesday 3rd November 2021

Barnsley v Derby County - Championship (16)

This was a disappointing result for us, make no mistake about it.

It doesn't matter how much possession we have, or how many chances we create, if we fail to defend set-pieces properly and gift the opposition easy goals.

Twice, Clarke Oduor sent in a well taken free-kick and none of our players reacted in the penalty area, allowing first Cauley Woodrow a free header and, then, Toby Sibbick a free shot. We have to be better than that. We can't go on gifting goals to the opposition.

We made changes after their second goal, bringing on Jack Stretton, Kamil Jozwiak and Festy Ebosele and pushing Tom Lawrence further forward.

The changes gave us more impetus. Richard Stearman put Tom Lawrence clean through to beat their goalkeeper but, disappointingly, an offside flag ruled it out. Jack Stretton also hit the post with about five minutes to go.

To be fair though, we were below par today and Barnsley deserved their victory.

Edited November 24, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 5th November 2021

Club status

In case anybody is wondering, we are still...

The Derby County board takeover feels like it has been going on for ages and there's not been any update in quite some time.

Edited November 26, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 5th November 2021

Press Conference: Millwall (a)

Our form hasn't been great of late, one win and three losses in our last four games, so we need to go to Millwall, believe in ourselves, and do our best to get a positive result.

We have some good and bad news on the availability front.

Graeme Shinnie has served his suspension and is available again, but we have a number of players showing signs of tiredness - Nathan Byrne, Curtis Davies, Lee Sibley, Ravel Morrison and Tom Lawrence.

With such a threadbare squad, I've tended to select the same core-11 so far this season, as long as they've been available for selection, and not worried too much about their fitness levels. I'm not sure that's a sustainable strategy so, for the Millwall game, I'm going to name on the bench any player who's short of match fitness or looking tired.

It does leave me with a rather odd-looking asymmetrical formation.

What could possibly go wrong?

This is either going to be a moment of football genius or go horribly wrong!

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 6th November 2021

Millwall v Derby County - Championship ()

I'm disappointed we lost today, particularly with the manner of the defeat, but I really can't fault my players today.

We had more possession than Millwall, we created more chances than they did, we worked Bartosz Bialkowski more than they worked Ryan Allsop, but we just couldn't find away to score a goal. The nearest we came, was when Bialkowski brilliantly turned Lee Buchanan's header against the post.

A draw, I felt, would've been a fair result because Millwall never troubled us from open play.

Unfortunately for us, Jed Wallace scored with a sublime shot from a direct free-kick. It was one of those well struck free-kicks that no goalkeeper in the world is going to save.

We did go more attacking in the second half but we just couldn't find a way past Bialkowski in their goal. 

We now go into an international break on the back of three straight defeats and that's far from ideal.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Sunday 7th November 2021

Eight Rams away on international duty

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Wednesday 10th November 2021

Wolfsberger set to sign Jagielka

Edited November 26, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 15th November 2021

Derby County under new ownership

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Monday 15th November 2021

Stuniverse has new boss at Derby County

Edited November 26, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Bitner]

Finally a takeover. Game starts now!

Cheers,
Bitner 

[Stuniverse]

18 minutes ago, Bitner said:

Finally a takeover. Game starts now!

Cheers,
Bitner 

Yes, indeed @Bitner. I was beginning to think it would never happen.

No sign of any money to spend but transfer revenue retained has been increased from 0% to 20%.

The big thing for me though is that decisions on transfer bids received rests with me, the manager, and we can sign players again.

[jmgrima]

5 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

Yes, indeed @Bitner. I was beginning to think it would never happen.

No sign of any money to spend but transfer revenue retained has been increased from 0% to 20%.

The big thing for me though is that decisions on transfer bids received rests with me, the manager, and we can sign players again.

Work with your wage budget and get in loans and free signings.

And try to offload fringe players and highly paid players. 

[Stuniverse]

5 minutes ago, jmgrima said:

Work with your wage budget and get in loans and free signings.

And try to offload fringe players and highly paid players. 

Thanks for the advice, @jmgrima. Much appreciated.

So far, I’ve offered contract extensions to three or four players. A few more wanted too much money and broke off negotiations. A couple more won’t even enter into contract talks. Jagielka is off. There’s two or three, possibly four I’m looking to put on the transfer list.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 19th November 2021

Contract expiry dates

We have two players out-of-contract at the end of December. Phil Jagielka has already agreed to join Wolfsberger AC in Austria.

Sam Baldock has spent more time injured since joining us in the summer than he has playing for us. Sam has scored 4 goals in 9(1) appearances at an average of 6.85. Whilst I'm not completely ruling it out, at the moment I'm leaning towards letting the 32 year-old Sam Baldock go at the end of his contract.

A further 16 first team players were out-of-contract at the end of the season.

Of these, I've offered new contracts to Dylan Williams, Graeme Shinnie, Nathan Byrne.

I did enter into contract negotiations with Ryan Allsop but, at this stage, he wanted more money than I was prepared to pay and his agent broke off negotiations.

Tom Lawrence's agent informed me that Tom wasn't prepared to enter into contract negotiations due to the interest in him currently. We haven't received any bids, but Burnley, Celtic and Watford are meant to be interested.

I've triggered contract extension clauses for Jordan Brown, Lee Buchanan and Louie Watson, so we now have 13 first team players out-of-contract at the end of the season and ten first team players who are under contract beyond the end of this season.

Craig Forsyth will get an automatic one-year contract extension if he makes 20 league appearances this season. Currently he's on 14(1) with an average rating of 7.13 so I'm inclined to let that one work its way through to an automatic extension as Craig's performing well for us and is my vice-captain.

Edited November 27, 2021 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 19th November 2021

Derby County transfer list four players

We currently have eight players earning over £10K per week.

Of these, I've placed four on the transfer list ahead of the January transfer window:

• David Marshall
• Kamil Jozwiak
• Kelle Roos
• Tom Lawrence

We've offered all four out to clubs and we'll wait and see if we get any tangible interest.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Friday 19th November 2021

Free Agent offers

We've offered a contract to three free agents.

Andre Wisdom (former Rams player who was released in the summer):

Reece Hutchinson (former Burton Albion player):

Jahmal Hector-Ingram (former Rams U23 player, released in the summer):

[Bitner]

Time to work on transfers! 

Cheers,
Bitner

[Stuniverse]

7 hours ago, Bitner said:

Time to work on transfers! 

Cheers,
Bitner

Thanks, @Bitner. That’s the plan, although there’s no real change in the club finances so it’s going to be a case of wheeling and dealing I think.

[jmgrima]

16 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Thanks, @Bitner. That’s the plan, although there’s no real change in the club finances so it’s going to be a case of wheeling and dealing I think.

Look for U23 players from Liverpool, City, United, etc… try to get them without paying any wage budgets.

Look also for Bundesliga and Serie A talents on loan. They should have a lot of players ready to be shipped out on loan.