[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

15 hours ago, kopfan1977 said:

 

Ouch.. How far in are you? How are your finances looking?

 

I got this message at the end of my fourth season.

 

Debt-wise, it is reflected as $0, but there are still repayments till 2031. I'm assuming transfer debt is due to me making payments for players in installments. Other than that, financial status is reflected as 'Rich', so I should still be fine. But I'm also beginning to believe that I will have to sell my better players sooner rather than later, just to keep enough buffer for my finances.

 

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

The chairman from the start of the game (no takeover as of yet) has just dropped this on me.

 

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

9 hours ago, flase9 said:

How were you able to even enter into contract talks with Jagielka? No player will even talk about renewing contracts with me as the club 'lacks the financial muscle' 

I'm guessing the restructuring helped? It still took till near the last two weeks of his contract before he even budged and allowed negotiations though. 

 

5 hours ago, causticgrip said:

 

Also, Bielik should just retire at this point:

Having the same issue as well. In the last year of his contract, and out for 7-8 months. Never been able to find any other teams willing to buy him, will be releasing him in the summer.

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

8 hours ago, flase9 said:

Great thread very interesting read 

Quick question what is the latest anyone has had the club takeover? I am just hit January 1st in game  and still no sign of it going through!

So we are still in administration, can't sign any players, unable to renew Baldock or Jagielka contracts, offers starting to be accepted for all my key players, 23rd in the league 6 points off safety & club atmosphere showing as Abysmal (I criticised Ravel & Kazims training levels) and haven't won in 11 games. What a challenge.  

I've yet to receive an official takeover 3+ seasons in at the moment, just a restructuring of debt after thie first transfer window. i'm now starting to get news of one, and with the current chairman reportedly willing to sell. I've managed to get al my facilities up to the max already though, so its not a big thing for me now.

How about the youth academy? Cashin did well for me when Jagielka refused to lower his wage demands and left on a free in Jan, and Bobby Duncan took over when Baldock got injured for me, was the top scorer for my first season. Never got Ravel and Kazim (injured all the way) going, so i sold both of them to generate cash. Depends on the direction you want to take this save towards, if you want to focus on youth development through the academy or not. Either way, the first season will be a long grind. Hang in there!

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

Currently have just completed my third season with the Rams, first season in the Premier League.

First Season (2021/2022)

Points achieved: 58

Position: 13th

Position without 12 points deduction: 7th

Transfers in & out:

 

The first transfer window was disabled, so i did not have to deal with any forced transfers made by the administration. Did not get a takeover, only a message of restructuring of debt (still no takeover as of yet for me though, i'm beginnning to think it's not going to be happening for this save).

Decided to focus on selling off those on high wages/expiring contracts/underpeforming, and focusing on youth from our youth team. Ravel Morrison was on-and-off, didn't seem to perform consistently, so i decided to take whatever money i could get from him. Kazim-Richards was consistently injured and never played a minute before i got him out on loan for the rest of the season and released after that. Interestingly, Shinnie was bought by Toronto, and subsequently released soon after, and i signed him back as cover and for mentoring. Byrne wanted a new contract which i was unwilling to give, so off he went as well for a decent sum.

To cover for them, heavy minutes were given to youngsters such as Dylan Williams, Festy Ebosele, Eiran Cashin, Jack Stretton, Louie Watson and Bobby Duncan. Duncan was my top scorer of the season with 13 goals, as he was preferred to Sam Baldock with 9 goals. Charlie Goode was a rock in my defence and had an average rating of 7.74 over the half of the season.

On the overall, this season felt like a chore, and i was just looking forward to the end of the season to free up the wage budget and do a rebuild.

Second Season (2022/2023)

Points achieved: 100

Position: 1st (promoted as Champions)

So there is a mix of transfers from the first and second seasons in the first screenshot, and again the same issue in this screenshot for the second and third seasons.

Anyway, for the second season, Jozwiak was finally sold after underpeforming every single game (6.55 average rating), and Tom Lawrence was released as well as i was unwilling to pay over the top wages for him to stay.Ryan Allsop became my number one eventually until his head got turned by Norwich near the end of the window. Ended up signing Max O'Leary soon after he signed for Rangers on loan as cover and eventually as my number one after Allsop left.

A good run of form near the end of season helped to propel us to the top of the table, and got us over the line around mid-April. Biggest signing was for Ivan Saranic from Dinamo Zagreb for 3.5m. Was an expensive transfer considering we weren't exactly financially secure, but he would have been one that could be resold for 5-10 times that amount if it worked out. Thankfully, he did (9 goals, 7 assists). Dane Scarlett was my top scorer with 18 goals, and Shola Shoretire did well with 11 goals and 6 assists. The rest of the signings were mostly for cover and depth, along with mentoring.

A transfer budget of around 30m was given, and with most decent players asking for much more than what i was willing to pay for, I decided to go along with the board's wishes to sign young players, along with a few familiar names..

Transfers in & out:

 

Third Season (2023/2024)

Points achieved: 57

Position: 8th

Former Rams Jayden Bogle and Liam Delap were brought back on decent fees and were my main signings, along with John Souttar to replace Charlie Goode, who was in the last year of his contract and unwilling to resign (eventually left for Watford for 8m on a tidy profit for us and with our blessings). Another former Ram in Will Hughes was brought back in to further bolster the midfield and mentor our young players. The squad was one the youngest in the Premier League and were mostly the same that completed the previous Championship season before. We faced Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal consecutively and were unable to build any form (losing 1-4, 0-5 and 0-5 respectively). Thankfully, the scheduling for the rest of the months were a lot better and we managed to be competitive in all competitions, losing in the semis against Arsenal in the EFL Cup and Man City in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

 

 

Getting ready to start the fourth season at the moment, continuing with a heavy reliance on our homegrown youngsters. Most of the squad from the start of the save are still there.Youngsters such as Buchanan, Ebosele are still a big part of the rotation, Dylan Williams as cover when Buchanan is out. Stretton is still in the squad, though i'm looking to sell him at the end of the season as the EPL is too big of a step up for him.

 

Currently in the pre-season for the fourth season, looking to further consolidate our position at the moment, and maybe try qualifying for Europe. The board has given about 50m for transfers, but i have not decided whether to splurge it, as the amounts being quoted are crazy and our relatvely low reputation (we're still expected to fight bravely against relagation) is making it hard to get both good players and staff in. Biggest news of the transfer window is Haaland joining Liverpool...on a free transfer.

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

Hi @zm, welcome to the Derby County party! 🥳🐏

That’s good steady progress. First season = survival. Second season = Promotion. Congratulations! Third season back in the Big Time! How are you getting on in the Premier League?

Also, as a Manchester United supporter did you, or were you tempted, to bring Teden Mengi back to Derby?

Hi @Stuniverse, thanks for the welcome!

I'll update later when I can get back on the game and get some screenshots in, but the gulf in quality between the Big Six and the rest of the teams is quite obvious. Been thrashed by at least two of them near the start of the season when the team was still adapting, but it's gotten a bit better.

I did think of bringing Mengi back on loan, but I think Manchester United were asking for his full wages to be paid by us, along with a loan fee. The unstable financial situation and that I was looking for a left BPD meant it was a pass on him for me. 

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

Yes, sometimes coming out of Administration and the lifting of the embargo does happen internally without an external takeover. It sounds like this is what happened for you.

Has anybody experienced this?

I’m sorry I have no experience of this with Derby County. I’ve seen it when I’ve been managing other clubs but, as a Rams supporter, whenever I do a Derby County save it’s a one-club save so I’m not too worried about coaching badges as I start the save with a manager profile appropriate for Derby County. Sorry I can’t be any more help on that one.

Yes, that seems to be the case for me. I recall receiving some news on the restructuring on our financial debt after the first transfer window closed (I had it disabled), and its been silence ever since on the takeover front till the recent rumors. So that's about 2.5 seasons and running for me.

No worries, was just wondering on this as well, as I've usually played one-club saves as well and this was the first time as well. Or it could just be the chairman being a weird one. I tried approaching to get a senior affiliate mainly for the money to help reduce the club debt, but he has refused all attempts and wanting the club to maintain 'financial independence'.    I gave up on that idea eventually.

[[FM22-Derby County] Why manage the Rams? How are you getting on?]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently midway through the 3rd season of my Derby save, first season in the Premier League. @Martial' I believe the takeover is random or decided when the save is created, because I'm still stuck with the original chairman from the start. Have just started to hear news of a potential takeover, but the chairman has gone to the press to squash any chances of it, so I'm not expecting much from it.

Would like to find out if anyone has any experience where the board is denying you (the manager) from taking a coaching course? I started out the save with a National B license without thinking too much of it, and the chairman has refused my attempts to take any coaching courses. Reason given was that it may increase the chances of me being approached and poached by other clubs, with no room for negotiation .