Chopper

Chris Powell and Rory Delap my best two. Yep, Eranio was a RWB when signed but played in CM for us I reckon (alongside Carsley). I'm surprised noones mentioned ol' Francois Grenet! At least now, in L1 I'm happy with our RB options, and Fozzy remains solid enough in LB too.

I cant quantify how much optimism the Oxford result has given me. Yes our form will invariably dip, but I have been given the hope that we have the resilience to pick up some extra points even when things dont go our way. 2024, I hope it'll bring celebration as a Derby fan, and I think it will. Seasons like this aren't that common for the average football fan so let's celebrate it and celebrate it whilst it is happening. To you all generally, I hope it will bring us moments of peace when we want it and moments of strength when we need it.

4 Million, is a lot in L1. 4m up front? Crazy money, and unlikely; if any deal is structured with even 50% up front we would be doing well. Cash is a clever boy, he must know that next year for his development he needs Championship football, this year the edge of a hard fought promotion campaign will be fantastic for his development too, as well as playing alongside Nelson in a successful defensive partnership. I hope there is some kind of arrangement where he stays, and if we go up the extra year gets triggered, if not we put in terms and it goes to tribunal when he goes in the summer. If we go up then we will be in a similar position with Cash as this year, but 1 league higher, and still in the right place for him to be to developing further. I'll be sad to lose Cashin, always loved a good centre half, and I'm not afraid to say I remember the moment we didnt lose him and signed him back on as the moment I almost 'lost it' during those very emotional few hours a couple of summers ago.

I feel although a Defensive mid who can break up attacks would be right at the top of our shopping list alongside a no. 9 if we go up, pragmatically speaking are we going to get those in Jan? Do we even need those this season? I'm not convinced. My concern is that we run out of steam again, injuries hit and creativity suffers. I'd look for some attacking threat maybe including a quick loanee. I cant seem to get past Steve Macs (I think, although please correct me) assertion that he liked 4 players for 2 positions either side a no.9. 2 would run themselves ragged for 60 minutes and then be replaced by the other 2 who in turn may start the next match. Get that and we can protect NML, and for me, for L1, that's our final piece.

Seeing this window, now, as a really tricky one for us. We all know January isn't the best time in regards to value for money transfers of decent players. We all also know that a relatively poor January window has been attributed as a reason for Derby dropping off last season, and a repeat of that could be ... suboptimal for Warne. The only way a team can truly strengthen in January is by throwing a bit over the odds moneywise for a player, fit, hungry and in a bit of form; who is more likely to hit the ground running and not need 2 months acclimatisation/getting match fit. The only way we'll get that financial wriggle room is by selling one of our assets, even then I feel our days of paying over the odds are probably gone for now. Does Warne gamble? Lose at least one of our assets (Bird and Cashin), and run the risk that whatever we've made isnt enough to get what we want/need, we get gazumped last minute and go into Feb weaker than how we entered Jan. Only bringing in a few loanees to put bodies through the door. Or I'm starting to feel that one (Cashin) is going, but I'm optimistic that it'll be a Prem club, we get the loan back immediately and some money. Most of that goes on 2 attackers/creatives that make us stronger, top end L2 and a big fish from an underperforming (but safe) L1 side. It makes losing Cashin ok for the greater good, the first time we feel like that about losing a player for (sighs and shrugs) We are all mostly pleased by the names bought in, Pride Park is a fortress and we feel Derby are truly back as we claw our way back to the championship. I really need to stop drinking this optimism is most unlike me.

Stop causing mischief!

Oxford 0 - 1 Derby FGS Cashin Clean sheet and goal for Cash in a MoM performance infront of the Sky cameras?, commentators purring, pimping him to all PL and Champ teams.

I think from NMLs perspective if Hull are in they'd be the most tempting, that said its Hull that would surprise me the most if they are in for him. Whom so ever is managing Birmingham come January may want him to fight against relegation, but I'd probably advise staying at Derby and see what close season brings. He's having a good season at Derby, one that can be marketed by his agent come the summer, should we go up or not. For us if he stays and gets us up, job done, we can sit with his representatives and see if we can work something out.

You know what? Its Christmas, we're in form (resultswise) and I'm going to be optimistic. 9 points. The Oxford match being a performance too as at home they aren't playing with a flat back 9. We emerge from the Christmas fixtures as the team seen as most likely to catch Portsmouth, even though we all then say: "We aren't playing that well and Cashin is about to leave".

Agree Although losing George Burley hit a little, I think, with some Forest reactions Jim Smith may be closer. Frankly I feel Jim has a stronger legacy here than Cooper does there, but let's face it if Forest win 2 in a row then their manager is the best since Clough and the third star is a formality. The feeling from some of my Forest fan acquaintances is that it's a real shame and his legacy is secure, but perhaps it's time for him to go. Although I hate to admit it, that was how I felt with Jim Smith.

The recruitment there was going to cause an issue, that many players for that much money when you can only register 25 in your Premier League squad was always going to cause trouble. It's the managers job to sort it even if they didnt do the buying. I think the Espirito Santo isnt likely to to set the world on fire ... or even a family run bakery for that matter, but the current bottom three do not inspire me either, and I dont think those 3 will strengthen too much in January (wont mortgage future for a long shot at staying up). Still a nice implosion and if we get the chance to play them twice in the league next year will suit me fine. Oh man I know what their next banner thing will be: Brian, Nigel and Nuno. The father, son and the holy ghost!

Massive disclaimer, couldnt make the game yesterday but listened to it. According to RD she got most of the calls right but wasn't strong enough with the 'dark arts' that are synonymous with Wycombe (see a lot of that though). Any ref that lets Talyor ignore them, any ref that lets players act out like they have I would argue will wilt when Erling Haarland is at point blank range screaming in her face like some kind of maniac. Id imagine it takes time to get resilient to that. It may be too soon for her the Premier League, I hope they aren't promoting just for expediency and ruin a potentially top level future referee. In regards to getting sent off before a substitution I seem to remember Gianluca Vialli trying to get himself subbed after a foul, to avoid going down to 10 men, the ref ran after him and Chelsea went down to 10.

Although looking at figures usually bring me out in a rash, nice work Dimmu. I have a feeling in my gut (which may or may not be because Mrs. Chopper does all my meat, medium rare, including chicken) that our points per game for the second half of the season will be better than the first half, and also that the points needed for automatics will be lower. Some bookies apparently, somehow, have 8 teams as odds on for top 6 (no me neither), but it is indicative of the lack of standout teams and it's those teams that mean crazy figures for teams in the autos. I might, just might be starting to feel the butterflies of optimism.

We're going to sign the second best right back in Mongloia aren't we? Seriously though, it'll be interesting to see what Warnes ... foreign policy is like, along side our recruitment team. Let's face it apart from the odd outlier we've not really recruited effectively from abroad since Jim Smith. Even then we remember the Igors, Biainios, Eranios and less so the Bragstads, Ploppys, and Grenets; we are less certain if they can adapt to English leagues so although cheaper the present more of a risk and I dont know unless we get taken over by some Robert Lindsey, Tracey Shaw, Keiran Lee, and Naill Horan led consortium if we'd be able afford taking such risks.

Looking at that table really bought it into focus that we were, due to GD effectively 5 points adrift after 13 games, and we would go on to get only those 5 points. In a week or two we were probably effectively relegated based on our final total. Even with the severe lack of quality at Sheff Utd right now, I can't see them doing as badly as we did. Even if Wilder returned and signed Sharpe as Captain it wouldn't be close to the barely championship level squad we had.

Providing the deal is right I'd like us to extend the loan. He is the type of striker that offers something different to the others, it's just a shame we've not seen much because of injuries. TJJ must be at the point now where he sees his Arsenal future is less than certain and this season is a good chance to get in the shop window and get his choice of a few clubs come the summer; a decent half season scoring 10 or so goals will achieve that, a contribution of 10 or so goals could make all the difference for us as well.

I feel a bit more optimistic this year than last, I suppose by this time last year I felt that the autos were gone already, 2 from 3 and we weren't consistent enough to get a 95-96 type run to hunt them down. This year I think we aren't out of the autos as yet, in fact 6 points is achievable especially as those above us dont look as strong as Plymouth, Ipswich and Wendies. Last year it felt more transitional, once the blind (yet glorious) optimism of early season had ebbed away, it was always going to be one step forward, one step back as a new team found its way. This year, although there are questions over recruitment, tactics and the value of some players ... (sorry just had a moment there, this stuff is so what we should be discussing after the last few years!) ... a team is there, it just needs to go in the direction we need it to. I get the feeling that a 'click' is more likely this year than last, perhaps that one signing out of the blue in Jan and that will be it?

I've often mused on this, if a manager had 3 challenges per match to challenge any decision, only losing one if the challenge wasn't upheld, that may work. The tight calls for offside etc. the manager may not appeal, but a 'clear and obvious error' then they'd be all over it. Yes I can see any last minute event getting a review regardless.

Rarely Affirming My Sobriety

With Washington out for a bit, think Warne will be looking at a forward now. I'd like for us to look for some creativity too (perhaps a 'fearless' youngster on loan), to help out NML. If Cashin goes then we'll want to look at a CB, if Bird goes I hope we don't try to replace him as although our CMs haven't exactly controlled/dominated games I think there should still be enough to be able to prioritise other areas in a January window. I have this feeling though that we'll get 2 box to box CMs on loan, a Right back and a Keeper.

Pickford Walker Stones Guehi Chilwell Ward-Prowse Rice Bellingham Saka Kane Foden Will plead ignorance in respect to any better LBs, I like Trip' but need a left footer out there especially because I've not picked a wide left player. I've gone with Foden, who I think is going to suffer from the Scholes issue; in that I want him in and so will find a place to fit him in the side, but solving the left side issue reduces their effectiveness.

2-0 FGS Bird

I'd love for us to do an Asanovic, sign up a player before a tournament, but Agents know that a good tournament whilst unattached can be a profitable affair for both Agent and player.

Hope both sign, hope both stay but I think this summer they'll both go. Bird I dont think will sign and the tribunal fee we think we will get if it runs down in the summer will be more than the bids we will get in January. Cash I dont think will sign either, although the extension will be triggered and we'll give Brighton the old 'come hither'. If the club feels they could be the difference between 7th and going up, then the gamble of holding off until the summer may also be in everyone's best interests, unless a decent fee comes in to reinvest (and if the players are already lined up for quick transactions without gazumping). Also, the clubs that are able to offer the kinds of fees and terms (we are hoping for) in order to take them are, I believe, the teams that would be signing them for the future and I'm not convinced much 'one for the future' shopping takes place in Jan.