I’ll go for Derby County as nobody else will, there's no Championship teams here. and I see more of them than most on here, and get to hear what the locals have to say, as well as having a fair few mates who have Season Tickets for them. I’ve done a (very) long version so if you can’t be arsed skip down to the bottom and there’s a summary!! General philosophy: After the dismal performance in the Premiership, and the scars that were left afterwards, there is a need for a major rebuild. The aim would be to challenge for the play-offs, though in fairness if they were to get promoted it would probably be too soon. The board of directors are realistic and a top-half finish, along with a reduction in the wage bill and getting together a younger team would be seen as progress. The main aim for the season is putting the foundations in place ready for a promotion push over the next 2-3 years. Whilst the Premiership ‘dream’ left a long lasting hangover, the good thing is that the debt that was previously a burden has reduced dramatically, so the club is on a sounder financial footing ready to build for the future. The aim would be to put together a smaller squad, with more players able to play a number of positions which would help with the wage bill, but also keep the squad lean and mean, so a first team squad of approximately 23-25 players is the aim. Any injury crisis would be managed used a combination of the bright prospects who are coming through the academy, as well as the players being brought in by the new Reserve Team Manager, Nigel Clough, who is building a ‘development squad’ which will be playing in the reserve leagues next year and is designed to provide a smoother transition for young players into the first team. So here’s where they stand at the moment: Goalkeeper: Stephen Bywater – Recovered from a disappointing Premiership season, and fought his way back to being first choice. Will be one of the better keepers in the Championship next season and is my number 1 keeper. Roy Carroll’s wages count against him, so he is sold allowing Lewis Price to be back up for Bywater. If a keeper from the ‘development squad’ proves his worth Price could be allowed to go out on loan for first team football (with a recall clause in case of injury to Bywater) Defence: The rock steady Paul Connolly has made the right back position his own, but a shortage of back up for him needs to be addressed. The fact that Tyrone Mears has burnt his bridges with his Marseille escapades, means he’d go to a Premiership club for about £1.5m The centre half position is probably the biggest cause of concern in the present team, and only the injury-prone Leacock having the class I’d be looking for. Claude Davis would be available on a free just to get his wages off the books, and Albrechtsen is also made available for the right price, as whilst he’d provide decent back up his wages are on the high side and he could possibly be a replaced with a younger and more versatile player. McEveley and Nyatanga provide cover at left back and centre half, with Nyatanga the most likely to push for a first team place. Jordan Stewart has pace, and that is it. He’d find a home in the lower Championship or top half of League 1. Whilst he’d be starting the season in Midfield, it’s recognised that good prospect, and general giant, Miles Addison will eventually drop back to centre half, and he’d provide cover in the event of injuries to the existing centre halves. This leaves a requirement for a back-up right-back, at least 1 centre half and a first choice left-back. As detailed above, the defence is the main concern for my rebuilding. Midfield: The season ended with two from Addison, Green and Savage being selected in the middle. Green was arguably Derby’s player of the year last year and should remain an important part of the team. Savage is past it now, especially for someone who relied on mobility and effort as such a big part of his game, and whilst the heart is willing, the legs are going. Add his big wages, and Savage is available for a recently promoted Championship team to give a bit of experience at a small fee. A fully fit Stephen Pearson is one of the best midfielders in the Championship, however his knee problems have really affected him, and he’ll have to be nursed through the season. Seth Johnson Mk II as he’s not going to be able to play week in week out, and especially given the number of games in The Championship, however he’ll be able to play 20-25 games and contribute in these. If he regains fitness he’d be a crucial player, however my medical reports show a real danger of an early end to his career. Time will tell This leaves the squad a bit short in the middle with Addison, Green and occasionally Pearson the only players for that position. As such 2 central midfielders are required, given Addison may well be utilised at the back. One to be a workhorse and do the dirty work required in the division, and another with a bit more creativity. The wide positions are a tale of two sides. On the left is Kris Commons, who is a class above many in the division, though arguably better suited to a role behind the front man. On the right is the much maligned (and generally s***) Gary Teale, and whilst Giles Barnes has all the talent, his head has gone and he doesn’t want to be at Derby. He should raise some funds for improving the squad however, and his talent and reputation should seal a move for a player who doesn’t actually have an obvious position. Steven Davies is a young versatile player in the mould of what we’re trying to shape and would compete for both a left wing and striking position. The pending addition of Lee Croft on a free transfer is a good addition for the right wing berth. So out wide a good quality left winger (who can play in other positions) would be preferable, as well as someone who can put pressure on Croft down the right wing. So the overall midfield requirement is a hard-working defensive midfielder, a more creative central midfielder, a versatile left winger, and a right winger. Attack: In the Championship there is a real need to have both a good ‘big man’ up front, and variety of options up front. It is no coincidence that recently successful teams in the Championship have had a number of good striking options, and this is where Derby have been lacking. When you look at the teams recently automatically promoted, such as the likes of Wolves (Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo, Keogh, Vokes), Birmingham (Phillips, Jerome, Bent, McFadden, O’Connor), West Brom (Phillips, Moore, Beattie, Bednar, Gera) and Stoke (Fuller, Sidibe, Cresswell, Parkin, Ameobi, Bothroyd) then it’s clear you need strength in depth and quality up front. Rob Hulse is a good big man, and will break the recent Derby County ‘Player of the Year’ curse/reward and actually stay at the club. The success of Steve Howard in the promotion season of 3 years ago shows how important a good big man can be, and Hulse will find the back of the net as well as be a handful and create. However there’s not much behind him. Chris Porter is a new signing, and not much is known but he’s young, tall, and has a decent reputation in Scotland so we’ll give him a go. Tito Villa isn’t good enough, so will head off back to South America where his reputation remains. Dickinson has some rumours following him that would get me sued, so I’ll settle for saying I’ll sell him, and Varney is a poor man’s Hulse, so can go too. There’s also the possibility of using Commons or Davies as a second striker if required, giving more possibilities and flexibility within the squad. This leaves a requirement to get 2 strikers, at least one of which would have to have bags of pace as that’s something lacking up front. Outs: Roy Carroll (£800k) Claude Davis (£Free) Martin Albrechtsen (£700k) Jordan Stewart (£300k) Tyrone Mears (£1.5m) Robbie Savage (£200k) Giles Barnes (£1.5m) Gary Teale (£300k) Emanuel Villa (£500k) Luke Varney (£600k) Liam Dickinson (£600k) Total Raised: £7m Transfers: The first port of call would be a good centre half who is dominant in the air, and who better than local lad done good Chris Riggott. After a couple of years of injury problems, and with 1 year left on his contract the Derby-fanatic and former player would be bought and installed as Captain at a cost of about £1m. Despite interest from Premiership clubs I believe Riggott would find the lure of his hometown club, being around his friends and family, and the captaincy impossible to turn down in favour of fighting for a game in the Premiership. To partner Riggott I’d like Matt Mills of Doncaster Rovers. He’s made the step up with considerable aplomb and at well over 6 foot would give the presence you need in The Championship. He’d cost about £2m I reckon, but at 23 has his best years ahead of him and if he continues to progress is a Premiership player in the making. For my back up right back, I’m going for an old Derby County Youth team-mate of Chris Riggott’s in Bobby Hassell of Barnsley. Bobby spent the early part of his career mainly at right-back, but has been playing in the middle more and more as his career has moved on. Having grown up in Derby, and presumably supported them, he’d be a local lad coming back to the club with a point to prove. Being able to provide cover at right back and in the middle makes him a useful asset, and the circa £500k price is within budget. Probably the hardest position for me to decide upon was left back. There’s not many good ones about that I’m aware of. As such I’m going to have to leave this to my scouts for the time being or manage with Nyatanga and McEveley. For the wing I’m going for an experienced head on one side to compliment the still young Lee Croft, who is 23. On the other side I’m targeting a young prospect who has had to take a step back in his career, but is ready to kick on and has the talent to make it to the top division. For the right wing I’ve got 2 names on my shortlist. My main target would be Carlos Edwards. He’s an excellent player, plagued by injuries in recent years, but showed at Luton and in his early days at Sunderland how good he is. I know he’d be hard to get, but with the supposed money available may be able to be snaffled away from Sunderland for under £1m. He’s also younger than I thought at 30, so has a good 2/3 years left at this level or higher. Failing that I’d go for Glen Little, who is out of favour at Portsmouth. Past his best, but still got talent and ability by the bagful. Capable of ripping apart any defence on his day, at 33 can still do a job in The Championship. Having only signed a 1-year deal when joining Portsmouth last year, is available on a free transfer. For the left I’m going for another player who is out of contract, however as he is only 21 then compensation would have to be paid to his current club. Dany N’Guessan was wanted by some notable clubs in Europe when he left Auxerre’s revered academy in 2005. He joined Rangers, and never made it onto the pitch. As such he took a big step back in his career to join Lincoln, where his form over the past two seasons has attracted the interest of a number of League 1 and Championship clubs. I’d persuade him to join me, and pay the compensation of circa £400k for the privilege. As well as being excellent on the left wing, he can also play on the right and up front – again meeting my criteria of being a young, hungry player with a point to prove, who is on the up in his career, whilst being able to compete in a number of positions. Central midfield is a key position in all teams, but even more so in The Championship where the hustle and bustle is relentless, but true quality will rise above it with the right attitude. With me playing with 2 wingers (Edwards or Croft and N’Guessan or Commons) then it’s even more important that I have steel and ability in the middle of the park. My defensively minded midfielder is a name you’ll all know. It’s our own Jay Spearing. A season-long loan would be agreed, and let the lad get a run of games at a good level and prove his worth. It’s also worth remembering he can do a job at full-back, and given I only have 2 right-backs in the squad but a number of centre halves that’s important. My other midfield purchase is again a shortlist of 2 players. My first choice is Nicky Bailey, who starred in a dismal Charlton team. An energetic, box to box midfielder, who can create and score a good few too. Given Charlton’s relegation an offer of circa £1m should be enough to seal the deal. Another consideration would be Andrew Surman of Southampton. Their money problems mean any offer of around £1.5m would have to be considered, and whilst I suspect he’d cost more than Bailey he is younger at 22 compared to Bailey’s 25, but I’d go with Bailey who I think would give the team a bit more steel and strength in the middle. So that just leaves the strikers, of which I need two. My main target, and I’d really push the boat out for this one, is Dave Kitson. Out of favour at Stoke, and spent the latter part of the season back on loan at Reading, Stoke would surely be prepared to cut their losses and accept a bid of around £3m. That’s a lot of money for a Championship club to pay, but with the money I’ve brought, and the wages I’ve got off the books I’m allowed one flagship signing, and Kitson would be it. Good in the air, an excellent finisher, a superb left foot, and totally proven at this level. It’d be hard to seal the deal, but I’d give it everything I could. My other forward target would be someone who actually spent time on loan at Derby a couple of seasons ago. Dexter Blackstock has divided opinion wherever he’s been, and is hit and miss, but he’d bring qualities to the squad that aren’t currently there. He’s at the right age at 23, and I’d predict he’d cost about £1.5m. If money were an issue (I’d be on a net spend of £1.7m prior to any Blackstock deal), then Blackstock would be the signing I’d sacrifice in my plan. Summary: Outs: Roy Carroll (£800k) Claude Davis (£Free) Martin Albrechtsen (£700k) Jordan Stewart (£300k) Tyrone Mears (£1.5m) Robbie Savage (£200k) Giles Barnes (£1.5m) Gary Teale (£300k) Emanuel Villa (£500k) Luke Varney (£600k) Liam Dickinson (£600k) Total Raised: £7m Ins: Bobby Hassell (£500k) Chris Riggott (£1m) Matt Mills (£2m) Carlos Edwards (£800k) Nicky Bailey (£1m) Dany N’Guessan (£400k) Jay Spearing (Loan) Dave Kitson (£3m) Dexter Blackstock (£1.5m) Total Spent: £10.2m Net Spend = £3.2m So going back to my original plan which was a young, versatile, talented squad ready to turn things around and try to push for the play-offs here’s what we’re left with. In true internet style I’ve done the positions in Champ Manager format. GK Stephen Bywater (28) GK Lewis Price (24) D R Paul Connolly (25) D RC Bobby Hassell (29) D C Dean Leacock (25) D C Chris Riggott (28) D C Matt Mills (22) D LC Lewin Nyatanga (20) D LC Jay McEveley (24) D/DM C Miles Addison (20) M C Paul Green (26) M C Nicky Bailey (25) DM C Jay Spearing (20) D/M LC Stephen Pearson (26) AM/F RLC Dany N’Guessan (21) AM RL Lee Croft (23) AM R Carlos Edwards (30) AM/F LC Stephen Davies (21) AM/F RLC Kris Commons (25) SC Rob Hulse (29) SC Chris Porter (25) SC Dave Kitson (29) SC Dexter Blackstock (23) Average Age = 24.7 Squad Size = 23 First XI: ------------------ Bywater ------------------ Connolly -– Riggott - Mills --– McEveley ---- Edwards – Spearing – Bailey – Commons -------------- Hulse – Kitson ---------------- Job Done!! Do I get the job?
