Ghost of Clough

We definitely started off a a solid back 4, which slowly morphed more and more into a back 5 as the game went on. Kind of like this:
Wildsmith
Rooney   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
           Smith   Hourihane   LThompson
Mendez-Laing                                         
                           Waghorn   Washington         

Lol, well you know 'lies, damn lies and statistics'! 😄

We definitely started off a a solid back 4, which slowly morphed more and more into a back 5 as the game went on. Kind of like this:
Wildsmith
Rooney   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
           Smith   Hourihane   LThompson
Mendez-Laing                                         
                           Waghorn   Washington         

I hope Warne decides 4231/433 is the way forward, and recruits accordingly.
I hope we do all our business before deadline day. We're rumoured to be close to signing a CM.
I hope we sign full back cover who is better than Yiadom.
I hope we don't sell Cashin.
I hope we sign a winger.

Open play key passes per 90 for Derby:
1. Wilson - 2.4
2. Bird - 2.0
3. Mendez-Laing - 1.6
4. Thompson - 1.6
5. Washington - 1.6
6. Ward - 1.4
7. Hourihane - 1.3
8. Waghorn - 0.9
9. Forsyth - 0.8
10. Collins - 0.7
11. Nelson - 0.5
12. Others - 0.0

I hope Warne decides 4231/433 is the way forward, and recruits accordingly.
I hope we do all our business before deadline day. We're rumoured to be close to signing a CM.
I hope we sign full back cover who is better than Yiadom.
I hope we don't sell Cashin.
I hope we sign a winger.

Open play key passes per 90 for Derby:
1. Wilson - 2.4
2. Bird - 2.0
3. Mendez-Laing - 1.6
4. Thompson - 1.6
5. Washington - 1.6
6. Ward - 1.4
7. Hourihane - 1.3
8. Waghorn - 0.9
9. Forsyth - 0.8
10. Collins - 0.7
11. Nelson - 0.5
12. Others - 0.0

I hope Warne decides 4231/433 is the way forward, and recruits accordingly.
I hope we do all our business before deadline day. We're rumoured to be close to signing a CM.
I hope we sign full back cover who is better than Yiadom.
I hope we don't sell Cashin.
I hope we sign a winger.

Open play key passes per 90 for Derby:
1. Wilson - 2.4
2. Bird - 2.0
3. Mendez-Laing - 1.6
4. Thompson - 1.6
5. Washington - 1.6
6. Ward - 1.4
7. Hourihane - 1.3
8. Waghorn - 0.9
9. Forsyth - 0.8
10. Collins - 0.7
11. Nelson - 0.5
12. Others - 0.0

Except Clowes, the coaching team, and the players have all stated the aim is to challenge for promotion. That is never 'mid-table'. Everything from the club says top 6 is the minimum expectation. The restrictions don't make us a midtable side. Mid-table is a club wage bill of £5m. Even the most pessimistic outlook would estimate our wage budget at a £10m, comfortably inside the top 6 this season.

I hope Warne decides 4231/433 is the way forward, and recruits accordingly.
I hope we do all our business before deadline day. We're rumoured to be close to signing a CM.
I hope we sign full back cover who is better than Yiadom.
I hope we don't sell Cashin.
I hope we sign a winger.

Open play key passes per 90 for Derby:
1. Wilson - 2.4
2. Bird - 2.0
3. Mendez-Laing - 1.6
4. Thompson - 1.6
5. Washington - 1.6
6. Ward - 1.4
7. Hourihane - 1.3
8. Waghorn - 0.9
9. Forsyth - 0.8
10. Collins - 0.7
11. Nelson - 0.5
12. Others - 0.0

It's a bit difficult to know who would do better though when they don't get chance. I thought Sibs corners and deadballs were pretty good.

And Stephen Warnock, and even Haydon Roberts under Rosenior

This kind of feeds into what I was told this week. Clowes' is fully commiting to the academy, in terms of a (relatively) very high budget. The first team is a (relatively) low budget  with the aim of getting to the Championship as soon as possible.

The loan move Thompson demanded because Warne didn't trust him, instead opting to give game time to White?

Based on the team I've suggested for the Peterborough match:
Wildsmith
Rooney   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
Smith   Hourihane
Mendez-Laing   LThompson   Washington
Waghorn
 
Subs: Vickers, Bradley, Elder, Forsah (?), Sibley, Barkhuizen, Collins
 
Looking at that team, I would only be looking for: a RB (short term if just RB/RWB, or season long if they also cover LB/LWB), and a left winger to move Barkhuizen to his favoured right (ideally someone who can also play centrally and/or on the right)
RB - Fankaty Dabo could be an option but would probably only join if viewed as a starter for the rest of the season.
Steven Sessegnon is probably the beet option, since he could sign with a view to establishing himself as first choice LB
LW - Tarique Fosu would be a very good option. Not quite good enough for the Championship but has a decent record in L1. Also covers both AM and RW. Likely to demand high wages and looking for a Championship club.
Josh Martin is only 21 but had a good minutes per goal contribution record on loan at Barnsley last season. Based on being on low wages, I would take a punt on him being a useful squad player.

This kind of feeds into what I was told this week. Clowes' is fully commiting to the academy, in terms of a (relatively) very high budget. The first team is a (relatively) low budget  with the aim of getting to the Championship as soon as possible.

This kind of feeds into what I was told this week. Clowes' is fully commiting to the academy, in terms of a (relatively) very high budget. The first team is a (relatively) low budget  with the aim of getting to the Championship as soon as possible.

This kind of feeds into what I was told this week. Clowes' is fully commiting to the academy, in terms of a (relatively) very high budget. The first team is a (relatively) low budget  with the aim of getting to the Championship as soon as possible.

This kind of feeds into what I was told this week. Clowes' is fully commiting to the academy, in terms of a (relatively) very high budget. The first team is a (relatively) low budget  with the aim of getting to the Championship as soon as possible.

I think the problem is that Warne wants to get back to playing 3 CBs as soon as possible - Rooney would be one of the 5 main CB options. 
With Ward and Wilson missing at least 14 first team games (12 in the league), I can see the need for an extra body at RWB. With Forsyth being a CB option, someone who can cover LWB would be ideal. I think this will be a season long signing.
My issue is, I think we're better suited to playing 4 at the back. This is due to squad balance and depth more than anything else. For example, Barkhuizen and Mendez-Laing are contracted for 1 more year and neither fit into a  3 at the back system. Unless playing with wingers, that's wasted money being spent on wages. By default, that means playing 4231 or 433. This is also before you consider the tactics used, which highlights the defensive vulnerability of our CBs and lack of control in possession, especially with a 2 man midfield.
If it wasn't for the injuries to Bird, Ward and Wilson, I would argue we have enough depth for a 433 and would be an AM short of 4231. Argubaly another winger/forward in both systems for ideal depth. With our long term injuries, I would be adding a RB and a winger to that list. 
In all 3 at the back systems, we would need more players, simply because we would be over loaded in forward options who aren't actually suited to the role (Waghorn, Collins, Washington, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and Sibley, whislt still wanting another forward). We can't play 3421 as we don't have anyone other that Sibley who is suited to the supporting role. Yiu could play a nukber of player there (Mendez-Laing, Washington, Waghorn) but they arent suitable options.
433 - RB (covers CB/LB), LW
4231 - RB (covers CB/LB), AM, LW
3421 - RWB (covers LWB), AM, AM, AM
3412 - RWB (covers LWB), AM, CF
352 - RWB (covers LWB), CM, CM, CF

I think the problem is that Warne wants to get back to playing 3 CBs as soon as possible - Rooney would be one of the 5 main CB options. 
With Ward and Wilson missing at least 14 first team games (12 in the league), I can see the need for an extra body at RWB. With Forsyth being a CB option, someone who can cover LWB would be ideal. I think this will be a season long signing.
My issue is, I think we're better suited to playing 4 at the back. This is due to squad balance and depth more than anything else. For example, Barkhuizen and Mendez-Laing are contracted for 1 more year and neither fit into a  3 at the back system. Unless playing with wingers, that's wasted money being spent on wages. By default, that means playing 4231 or 433. This is also before you consider the tactics used, which highlights the defensive vulnerability of our CBs and lack of control in possession, especially with a 2 man midfield.
If it wasn't for the injuries to Bird, Ward and Wilson, I would argue we have enough depth for a 433 and would be an AM short of 4231. Argubaly another winger/forward in both systems for ideal depth. With our long term injuries, I would be adding a RB and a winger to that list. 
In all 3 at the back systems, we would need more players, simply because we would be over loaded in forward options who aren't actually suited to the role (Waghorn, Collins, Washington, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and Sibley, whislt still wanting another forward). We can't play 3421 as we don't have anyone other that Sibley who is suited to the supporting role. Yiu could play a nukber of player there (Mendez-Laing, Washington, Waghorn) but they arent suitable options.
433 - RB (covers CB/LB), LW
4231 - RB (covers CB/LB), AM, LW
3421 - RWB (covers LWB), AM, AM, AM
3412 - RWB (covers LWB), AM, CF
352 - RWB (covers LWB), CM, CM, CF

Warne is a ‘good character’ guy but without actually knowing the players - Waghorn for example he thought was big time until he met him… how many decent players we missed out on because Warne had reservations about being good guys? 

In the U18 title winning season they played a back 3. They were tactically flexible, using a number of different formations: 352, 3141, 3421, as well as 4 at the back on a few occasions.
Cashin was always in the middle of those back 3s with any of Buchanan, JBrown and Minkley either side of him.
That squad also included Bird who played as the deepest of the CMs whenever played (either as a single DM, or as a CM 2),
Thompson as the deepest CM when Bird was in the U21 or first team squads, or played further forward on the left when Bird was playing.
Sibley playing mostly as an AM in (3141, 3421), the furthest forward CM in 352, and sometimes at CF in a 352. He also played in a CM 2, with Knight further forward in a 4231 once.