Zag zig

Highlights from the U18s 5-1 over Liverpool now up on the OS:
https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/05/u18-report-derby-county-5-1-liverpool-may-2024
 

https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2024/05/u18-highlights-derby-county-5-1-liverpool-may-2024

Chesterfield fans reckon he's going to join them on loan for next season. I'm not so sure as I recall Warne talking about a team 'at the top of the national league' who weren't convincing at all when they tried to take him on loan last year. 
Then again it has been very amusing reading who they think their club are signing this summer with Sam Morsy (just gone up with Ipswich), Liam Cooper (Leeds captain) and Nathan Byrne the 'most' likely according to them.

That the rest of Europe has equally poor taste and will get taken in a feeble attempt to LGBTG shock a result.
It was absolute dog turd and deserves ridicule. Both song and performance.

My thoughts exactly. He may well be able to make the step up to the championship but let’s not forget, he’s still only made about 20 appearances at senior level - the vast majority of those games being at non league level. Would we be wetting ourselves over any other young player with such a limited senior career if they weren’t already a Derby player?
If Warne, and the rest of the coaching staff that have seen him play and train think he’s ready then bring him in. But, if they’re not yet sure then a loan to a league 1 team (until the end of the year rather than a season long loan?) might be a more prudent way forward. As you say though, dependent on who else we are able to sign in the summer. 

I too think he should be in our Championship squad next season. However, I can understand a loan to L1 with a recall option, depending on who we can sign for the first team. At least it would give the club's staff some confidence in whether he could step up to the Championship for the 2nd half of the season.

What an experience for an 18 year old kid playing men's football and becoming their Wembley hero.
Well done Daj!!

Seems like he's had a good loan. Congratulations - and winning penalty in s shoot out is great experience

Post from a northeast reporter keen for Sunderland to sign and play Dajaune next season. Shows his assist, goal and penalty. 
When other teams have hugely promising youth players in a position they need (and the hardest position of all to fill), don't they actually play those youths? Our only other contracted striker is Washington. If you're a defender, you'd far rather defend against CW than an explosive young striker with pace, power and oodles of skill.
I hope Dajaune is given the opportunity to set the Championship alight with us next season. 

He needs another loan at a higher level too. 

Some of them already are. Wheeldon, Hawkins, Allen, McAndrew - probably more.
No Brown either, he's warming up at Wembley! 

The U18s have made terrific progress this year. I expect a few of them might be strengthening the U21s next season?

If we rebuild our first team the way we have with our academy we’ll be just fine! Brilliant job by all 

I only start talking about brown if bid £25m minimum. Actually if red scum got 45m for Johnson then brown worth at least 60m.
 
 
 
 
What do you guys think?
 
 
 
 
#bemoreB4

And finally Derby’s Daj Brown scores the winning penalty in the shoot out . 

Daj now taps one in to equalise in extra time for Heed 

Well that was a nil points performance by the UK.

I agree. I think Max just felt it was time for a new challenge in a new place. The fact he agreed to a deal that would have been less financially favourable to him than if he'd simply run his contract down so that the club could agree a deal that worked for us is a tribute to his character.

I was there on his debut and whilst he was physically bullied around you could see the ability and quiet determination.
It's the saddest i've been to see a player go since Bobby D.  

Wrote this on his whiteboard when he was injured, some mentality 👏 

Not knowing Max personally, I can only speculate like the rest of us. 
Whilst leaving could possibly be down to style of football, I don't really see that, think it's unfair on Paul Warne to lay this at his feet.
I could imagine an alternative scenario where Max didn't want to go to the end of the season undecided with a wait and see how Derby do approach.
Could easily have done his ACL, Derby not gone up and had to accept a vastly reduced League 1 contract. 
A 3 year offer came in from the Championship, mid table Bristol City so barring a disaster, guaranteed Championship football, decent money, a great city, fresh start with a mate there to make the move easier to settle. Future sorted.
If Derby go up, great way to leave.
If we didn't, great call for his own career.
One club players are a rarity these days, Jack Grealish, Villa fan, been at the club for 6 years leaves to join Man City. They are not like us, this is their job, careers, so whilst they maybe one of our own, it's not a for life type relationship that we have.
I question if Cashin would have been here still had there been an offer from the Championship for him, having seen Matt Clarke at the club, join Brighton and subsequently farmed out on loan twice to then end up in the smog having never played for Brighton, it would feel like a will I or won't I, where will I go type move. 
Had Bristol City said look, same as Max Bird, sign, go back on loan for the season and you're in our plans for next season, would he be saying his goodbyes as well? Maybe.

Bye Max, all the best lad, you did us proud at the end and throughout your Derby career.
Sad to see you in Robins shirt but all good things come to an end, but so good your career with us ends with a defining moment, on your 200th appearance and final game.
Fitting end, once a Ram 🐏 

It’s just another sadly irritating moment when one of our own, moves on because we as a club didn’t reach an higher level.  
 
That team PL2 team was very special and even the years following had promise, but slowly our academy talent has drained away; at least we saw Max grow and develop, similar to Will. Still painful to see him move on.

Always bugged me that some people couldn’t see what he brought to the side because the goals and assists numbers weren’t the same as others. 
It was clear watching football matches that he was our most impressive midfielder and had been for some time. He just needed someone next to him to complement him and although they both played important roles at points this season I don’t think Hourihane or Smith were that complement.