whiteroseram

I think you fail to see the significance of style of play. Jordan Rhodes is a goal scorer IF the style of play fits with his skill set.
in recent years we saw Chris Martin fall out of favour (and goals)  because he wasn’t getting the kind of chance that he could profit from. Vydra endured a torrid early start to his Derby career under Pearson but came good under a different style. Funny how Collins is scoring from open play now isn’t it ? 
 
I don’t know what sort of striker Rhodes is but if Warne thinks he will suit our new set up then I’d back Warne all day. He knows what he wants and slowly is picking the tools to do that job. … is that Rhodes ? Only Warne knows for sure 

Jeremy Beadle?

Pure rumour. Started by me. 

Id try and tie him down to another couple of years then loan him out, where he’ll get played in his strongest position. Currently holding back his development being used in multiple positions imo. 

@Big Travbeing escorted out of Moor Farm after finally being discovered by the staff.

Kenny Miller did cross my mind and then I remembered the goal against Newcastle, possibly the only highlight of that season. But I agree.

Crazy list. Middleton and Moreland were both nice guys who would never replace in the fans' affections  the great players of adjacent seasons. Just weren't in the same class.
McGovern - classy footballer who played at the very top of the game for us. Did the hard work and was always under-appreciated.
A small element of Derby fans have always liked to heap derision on a scapegoat of their choice. Cyrus Christie, Kelle Roos, Morgan Whitaker, spring to mind from the recent past.
It says a lot more about those so called fans than it does about the players. 

Strange title for the thread. There are a lot on your list IMO that just weren’t very good rather than despised. For example Middleton, Moreland, Masson and Teale (unless their misdemeanours have been erased from my memory). 

Sorry, but I have to disagree. We've sold Bielik after making zero appearances last season, so although he is a quality player the squad hasn't gone backwards from last season.
We've sold Knight, who is obviously a very good player played all of the minutes he could have done. However he played those minutes either at right back where we have brought in two specialised wing backs, or at centre mid where Smith is now available in his preferred position.
I don't think that the squad has gone backwards for those two sales.
We released several aging centre backs, and replaced them with younger better suited players for the preferred style of play.
McGoldrick decided to move on. He will obviously be difficult to replace, however he limited a little our style of play due to us being forced to play to his. We have signed an experienced forward who plays to Warne's preferred style.
Last season we finished 7th on goal difference. We were hardly treading water. It is to be seen if we have recruited as well as it would appear, but I don't think for one second that we have gone backwards.

Is it me or does Collins look leaner and sharper from last season, I know it's only pre season but he doesn't look the same player from last season to me.

Ahem...

On all the signing-on fees for all the free agents we have signed, agents fees and wages to attract them over other clubs.
We need 3 players, like Warne stated. So there is still money in the pot, it's just how Warne chooses to use it now that's up for debate. 
If I was Warne, I'd be more tempted to go for a few loan fees after seeing what's available on frees. 

I think Warne is managing expectations down, including those of players' agents who think we're a big club to rinse. Have faith.

Brexit probably played a part in this as the work permit rules changed. Became a lot harder for players to move to the UK unless they played in one of the top European leagues and/or had a certain % of international appearances…. Or something like that. 
Someone shared recently that that had been relaxed so perhaps we can explore those ideas moving forward 🧐 

How’s the young man getting on? Will update you on Knight when I’m not out, best of luck for the season!

If I’m Warne at this point from his comments, I’m getting a back up striker on a free and two loans for AM and LWB. We will compete and stay in the mix with what we have, then hope someone better becomes available to splash the budget In Jan. We’re still not financially In a position to be competing with championship teams and I think although we haven’t signed that standout striker we’ve done very good business both this summer and last to be able to compete.

It’s a squad game over a long season. Having options like Barkhuizen and Sibley in the squad provides Warne with options. 3-5-2 isn’t working? go 4-3-3 and use them two. 3-5-2 isn’t working? Use the 3-4-2-1 from the end of last season and play Sibley and A.N.Other as the two 10s.
Need an attacking midfielder driving forward in the 3-5-2? Sibley plays that role with 2 of Smith/Hourihane/Bird as the 2 other midfielders. 
Barkhuizen could be surplus or reduced to a squad/rotation option, Sibley I think has a big role to play. 

I think he made a key point  that there’s virtually no money changing hands, even in the league above.
What that has caused is a lot more teams in the running for every player because the absence of a fee makes that player more affordable. The knock on to that is that those players we would like which would improve us all now suddenly have a stack of Championship teams also after them.
Means whilst we are still attractive as a supposed big fish in a smaller pond, who may even be able to get close on wages with some deals, we still can’t offer a better level of football. 

Interesting shout. 

So we happy with this squad then obviously signing depending.

"It has been evident that I want to play, ideally, with wing-backs. With Callum Elder being injured, Kane Wilson being down, and while Thommo has been excellent for me at left wing-back, he can't play 46 games there for me obviously.
"I think we could do with a bit more balance of bringing in another left-footed wing-back. If I can get a different one to Callum and a speedboat that's what I'll get.
"We need something up top and may be something more in the middle. Whether my budget will allow three excellent players, I am not so sure.
"It might just be two so it's what I need the most. I need a striker, but every club wants one. I still have players on my list that I am not sure who are going to improve us.
"I spoke to two Championship clubs this week and they're on their list. I am like he is on your list?! I went he's on my list and I am not sure he's good enough for us.
"It gets to the point where you don't want to be that guy, but you think something is better than nothing.
"There are two who I really like that I am trying to do. We can't sign the best strikers in League One currently because they are under contract and it will take big fees to get them out.
"So you're looking at players who have played at the Championship and while their age is not ideal but they will improve us. But the problem is and I would say 75 per cent of Champ clubs haven't got money for transfer fees so you're in the same shop as them.
"Hence why it's really difficult. There are three apples in the shop, but 30 clubs are chasing those three apples. That's where we are. Idealy I would get a nine, a 10 and another wing-back."
https://twitter.com/dcfc_live/status/1682833094267502592
 

Warne's Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap in the post match interview seemed out of character.
Could he have been replaced by an MLB doppleganger? Could he have been brought back as part-cyborg - i.e. RoboWarne™?

Firstly, congratulations Fozzy. A very good servant who deserved his testimonial today.
On to the football, I thought we were pretty good in the first half. I really like the look of Ward. Another assist for him, and very good in all around play, looks a really good signing so far. Sonny Bradley was a domineering presence in the box. He came out and claimed every cross that Stoke put in our box, I was very impressed. 
I thought Curtis Nelson was pretty rusty at Chesterfield the other night, he looked a lot more comfortable on the ball today and won his battles. 
Kane Wilson looked to have a good surge of pace down the left when he came on and was generally quite bright and positive with the ball. 
Collins is having a good preseason, another really good header today and generally worked hard and put in a good shift. Special mention for Max Bird for a great assist for Mendez-Laing's goal as well as being the architect behind Collin's goal too. 
Finally, I thought Korey Smith was great today. Really put in a shift in the middle, great assist. I'll be glad to see him play in his natural position this year. 

Haters gonna hate?

It's my favourite thing about being a derby fan. We can spank a team a division above us, with an 82 year old Nugent on the pitch, and our fans will still moan.