Kernow

The season starts this weekend, and it's looking very likely that we may not have a choice but to throw some players in at the deep end, ready or not.

Even if we sign the players we want to sign, there is still going to be very little depth and the younger lads are going to have to contribute positively sooner or later if we hope to stay up.

So, even if we do somehow manage to sign 9 or 10 trialists, which young player do you think will emerge as the next regular for Derby?

In past few seasons we've had seasons where one player has come from the academy, played more than first expected and stood out more than other's in their first real season.

Jayden Bogle under Lampard, Jason Knight in Cocu's first season, and then Lee Buchanan last season.

There's quite a lot more possibilities this time round. Jack Stretton, Eiran Cashin, Festy Ebosele, Dylan Williams, Liam Thompson... someone's going to need to step up.

Those odds will change if even 3 or 4 of the trialists sign. Right now it’s hard to argue that the side we’d be able to put out would be anything but relegation certainties.

If we have two (at least) established centre backs then we may be able to compete, but again our fate would largely depend on luck with injuries.

Even if every trialist signed tomorrow, I’d take a 21st place finish right now.

We’re four days away from the start of the season and still every trialist is still with the club as far as we’re aware. If there wasn’t a chance of signing, surely they’d have left a long time ago.

I don’t believe that these players wouldn’t get some kind of offer elsewhere, all were at clubs ‘better’ than us last season bar one, I believe (Allsop).

By better, I mean they came from clubs who finished in a stronger position than us. It would be different is these were players from League 1 or so, where they’re clinging on to the possibility of Championship football. Players like Jagielka, Davies, Aluko & Carroll could surely get moderate offers from teams in this division, so why here?

My complete guess is that the EFL intend to allow us to at least try to be competitive, but the punishment is making us wait in uncertainty for as long as feasibly possible. It’s like a mother confiscating her son’s toys. She fully intends to give them back, but not until after he’s been sent to his room to cry for a while.

It would also explain these “unexplainable” rules that means we can sign Davies because he was here last year, but not Wisdom, but then actually we can’t sign Davies because he didn’t re-sign in June, blah blah blah…

If the EFL stick to their guns and force us to enter the season with a threadbare squad, gaps filled with youth players, then the integrity of the competition goes, and it sets an awful precedent for whoever the next club is that stumbles into their firing line.

We've lacked someone for a while with the best possible penalty technique. Run up and absolutely twit it down the middle.

None of this stuttering run up, no picking a side and just side-footing it to one side of the goal. Get it on target and try to break the net, guaranteed winner.

Chips & curry sauce

Chicken & chorizo

Born in Cornwall. Lived within 15 minutes of Land’s End for most of my life except for university plus moving away again for the last couple of years.

My dad decided to support Derby when he was young. Won over by Brian Clough & Alan Hinton’s white boots. My choice of football team was decided long before I was even born.

Where I’m from my choice would’ve been my “local” team, Plymouth Argyle at just under 2 hours away, or do as my mates and pretty much everybody else in my town did and choose between Liverpool or Manchester United.

Countless trips up and down the country to cover the 600 and the rest miles to watch us lose 4-2 at home to the likes of Crewe Alexandra and win tense six-point relegation battles against Gillingham were the low points (or so I thought until recently). Still wouldn’t change it for the world.

14 minutes ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

I still cannot believe we are not out of this situation.

They hung out some statements to Chris Coles and the Derby Telegraph. To appease the fans.

This has been ongoing so long now and Mel Morris hasn't done anything.

Season starts a week tomorrow and our manager has 2 starting elevens in his head because he doesn't know if he can sign a player or not.

All this going on and Mel and Stephen Pearce don't say a word.

Mel was at the game the other night. But he didn't arrive early like usual. 

Got there when everyone was already inside.

I hate everything about what this club has become.

In fairness, how do you know Mel or anyone else, "isn't doing anything"?

It's clear we have quite a few 'enemies' in this battle, and I can't imagine it's something you can resolve in a couple days with a few emails back and forth.

Any journalists reporting on the matter have highlighted that we are trying to iron out the disagreements and sort something - so that is doing something. And to be honest, I can't really see us signing anybody who isn't already training at the Club, so although it would be nice to get them signed as early as possible and have that guarantee, it doesn't matter too much if it takes another few days because they're here and they're still training.

More clarity and communication would of course be nice, but the amount anyone on here knows about the ins and outs of running a football club like Derby is next to nothing. Mel already has the Supporter Charter's Meeting arranged, let's wait and see what he does and doesn't give us then. 

Clare Balding is a British treasure.

Could sign soon but if we’re planning on getting 4 or 5 all signed up before the Huddersfield game, I reckon we might announce them all in one day.

It was previously reported with the previous 'takeovers' that you (Morris) would remain involved with the Club in some capacity. Would that still be your hope/intention with the current party involved in takeover talks, and if so, what role would that likely be?

We might not win this league, but if the EFL continue to mess us around then their loss is La Liga's gain.

Betis finished 6th last season. Phil Jagielka and Craig Forsyth in the Europa League in 2022/23? Oh go on then.

Just now, DJFern94 said:

He has had his ups and downs but stick with Bird and he will come good.

Birds generally do have ups and downs, it's called flying!

Depends what you'd define as a "good" team really... good enough for what?

Good enough to stay up, maybe. But it's still going to be a largely brand-new team of players at the later stages of their careers, thrown together. They'd have trained together for a little while, however the jury is definitely out as to whether the management team could get enough from it to survive.

Realistically, whether we sign zero players or an entirely new team, given the turmoil this club has been in lately, I'd take finishing 21st right now. Hopefully the team is 'good' enough to be capable of that.

36 minutes ago, Sean said:

Would love to see an away kit in these colours one day

Keep a look out for the kit release ahead of the 2033/2034 season.

18 hours ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

Takeover gets completed and they relocate us to Cornwall.

Yes please!

42 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

? "A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Duncan was spotted at Velje on Monday night watching their 1-0 defeat to Sonderjyskefrom the stands."

He would’ve been treated to this absolute beauty of a free-kick then. I bet he can’t wait!

17 minutes ago, Anon said:

Another thing I love about this story is Wayne's insistence that he was somehow tricked. Did they tell him they had a 12 pack of sausage rolls in their hotel room?

How Wayne really ended up in the hotel room

11 minutes ago, Sean said:

 

I wouldn't want to be publicly reported as insane either.

1 minute ago, Derbados said:

Because nobody else will employ him, especially nobody anywhere near championship level.

The chances of somebody employing him would be even less if he leaves after 10 games when we're rooted to the bottom of the table.

2 minutes ago, 1967RAMS said:

He must believe a takeover is in the offing. I suspect he will leave when the transfer window closes if no money becomes available. Either by way of a takeover or Morris stumping up more cash. Can’t see the first happening and Morris is unlikely to have the decency to help us out of the mess he is solely responsible for. Just hope he doesn’t come to the stadium when matches are on. I expect the atmosphere will be toxic and he gets the reception he deserves 

He keeps saying things need to change quickly though. The only real reports regarding a takeover or any sign of the end of the embargo is that it's not near yet.

When we were waiting on the mystery Arab money, Rooney was telling us it was close to being done, because that's what he was told. Is he being told that this is close too? Are those in charge being honest with him, or just stringing him along and hoping things work themselves out?

Our season starts in a fortnight, even if things do change and we're allowed to bring players in, we've still got a hell of a job to have a "successful" season. I can't quite see how he benefits by involving himself in this fiasco.

Why is Rooney still here? Seriously. What does he gain from being manager of this club as his first job?

He doesn't need the money, he's here to better himself as a manager and progress that chapter of his career. That simply won't be happening with the current squad we have. No manager would be able to do a job with a squad so bare.

If things don't change soon, and let's be honest it doesn't look overly promising that it will, then I don't see many reasons for himself wanting to stay here.

It also really wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility for him to have a Forest-supporting mate who gave him a drink in that mug for a laugh and took a photo.

In before lo… wait never mind.

???

14 minutes ago, Cam the Ram said:

It's crazy that he says of all the teams with problems that he's made videos on, Derby's was his longest video out of the lot of them. And the video on us didn't even mention the Rush legal battle, Ince family scouting mess, the drink driving crash, the 32 Red involvement, the unpaid wages and Henry Gabay's rumoured takeover/involvement before he was arrested. ?

He's obviously making an entire series out of us.

I assume some of those problems will be included in the upcoming "What on Mars is going on at Derby?" or maybe even the Venus, Jupiter or Saturn versions.