Ambitious

We are already likely paying wages a lot higher than a number of Championship clubs - but equally I read that even in League One our revenue was greater than 11 of the 24 Championship clubs last season. I'd certainly expect us to be competitive next season in terms of wages, but really wouldn't know where to expect us to be at in terms of transfer fees. We aren't really going to sell anyone that makes us money, unless Cashin goes, but even that wouldn't change our transfer approach too much. I'm intrigued to see how we approach the summer. It's a big rebuild job, promoted or not, ideal for Warne to really put his stamp on things. I'd love to see us sign players on the upward trajectory of their career - it's something that we simply haven't done well as a club for as long as I can remember. Although, saying that, it's not as though League One has been littered with players with ability that catch the eye. I've been particularly baffled at the quality of the strikers at this level - I didn't have high expectations but holy s***. They're awful. It's no wonder Rhodes, Martin & Gayle (when he played) drop a level and look 10 years younger! There's a few wingers: Poku, Mason-Clarke, Dembele, Kamara, Azeez who potentially could make the step up. A handful of good players elsewhere, but I think largely aside from ourselves at CB with Cashin & Nelson - I'm completely disregarding players in both boxes (CB & ST).

There will be a huge queue for him - a very good player.

Realistically, about 80% of our summer signings will cover only two positions - CM & ST. I suspect with promotion we make roughly 12-14 signings just looking at the squad, you're potentially looking at: 4 or 5 signings not in these positions - GK (maybe 2 depending on Wildsmith), left back, centre back & wide midfielder. You're then looking at least 7 potentially up to 9 players who play CM & ST. If we nail the recruitment in that area then it will make a big difference, not to paraphrase the Roses but until Ebou I was never happy. Bird, gone, Hourihane, retired, Smith & Thompson, out of contract. Ebou, back to Cardiff. Ignoring we had Embleton for this position, albeit not really and Sibley (also out of contract) who hasn't really played here anyway under Warne. There are 5 (7) players who play in this position potentially out the door this summer. Similarly upfront: Gayle, Waghorn & Collins out of contract. TJJ out of contract, no deal lined up. It leaves Washington who has struggled to hold down a place in League One, blighted by injuries. The players leaving in those positions, I would argue need to be improved up - particularly upfront. Gayle speed of thought was nice in League One, but he's struggled in the Championship of late. Collins and Waghorn (for me) are done at being impactful players at that level. The rebuild is huge, but ultimately focused in two key areas that will determine our relative success.

The opportunity to win promotion at Pride Park, in front of a sell out crowd, after what the club has essentially gone through the last four years, is something that could create memories that will last a lifetime. If, and hopefully when it happens, I'll definitely spare a thought for B4 and others who marched through the city to help keep the club alive but sadly won't be here to see this significant step in our rebuilding process.

As someone who hasn't been (and still isn't) completely sold on Warne, I do think he deserves a ton of credit for how he's navigated situations this season. Nyambe, Adams & Gayle in particular. Gayle was short-lived but he changed the dynamic to the point we were playing our best football. I have absolutely no problem with Warne's ability as a man-manager or as a tactician. In fact, I think he's probably one of the most astute tactical managers we have had in our modern era and I get why Clowes wanted to work with him. My worry is the coaching side, he's very good at creating short-cuts and drawing up schemes to catch teams cold. In both boxes, we are the best team in the league, but in the middle of the pitch we're significantly lacking and that's purely due to scheme. I think if (when) we go up to the Championship, it will need to be better and maybe that comes through better players. He said himself it's easier to coach in the Championship than League One and we have to take him at his word. If (when) we go up the standard is going to be avoiding a relegation battle which is difficult as you're either in a promotion hunt or in a relegation battle, unless you're Bristol City. I think that would be my goal for next season - to finish above Bristol City. It will probably mean we're out of a relegation battle. It would take a lot of surgery in the summer to make that jump (of course) but that's the standard. I do get the feeling, from listening to him, that he understands the scale of the jump and I actually have faith in him. The Championship is a rancid division in itself and it may play into his favour should he recruit well.

We really need Peterborough to win mid-week to take this game seriously. We saw Oxford turn them over 5-0 and they’ve conceded 56 goals this season so they’ve got a problem keeping the ball out the net, I wouldn’t fancy them keeping the score down if they rest players against Bolton. Bolton really only need to win by three goals as they have the goal scored tiebreaker (should we lose). It helps the League One play-offs starts the following Friday (3rd placed) so you’d imagine that it will be situational based on their result, our result. If I’m Warne, I’m tempted to play the low block, keep things tight and hit Carlisle on the counter. Starve them of opportunities. Ultimately we only need a point and it makes no odds to Carlisle so we could play it out, slow the game right down. They’ve lost 16 of their last 21 games (2024 record). It’s been a limp finish from them. Give them a way out of getting a draw to end the season, don’t force the issue and give them an opportunity, just play it around and keep them at arms length. If they want to commit players then hit them on the counter, otherwise I would see if they would like a point and an unbeaten finish to the season.

He’ll get a deal with a Premier League side, maybe a promoted side: Leicester, Ipswich, etc. I suspect most of our work will come through free agency, again, as there is a lot of players out of contract but will be a very competitive market. Players like Tyrese Campbell, Liam Cullen, Sinclair Armstrong & Chris Willock will be available but everyone will be in for them. We are going to need to be creative in our recruitment.

One thing I know for sure: we aren't winning this game. We won't make it that easy and will go into the last game needing a win for promotion. Cambridge late penalty to draw or win the game - it's inevitable.

We've been paying Championship wages to players who were willing to jump down into League One. For reference, our wage bill in 22/23 was £6m higher than Rotherham - 170% We have increased the wage bill this season even further so could already be inline or greater than the likes of Preston (£18.8m). I would assume there is going to be even greater investment going into next season, but paying the wages hasn't been the problem. It's been the recruitment and how we have had to recruit. I'm excited (albeit nervous too) to see how the club approach it should we win promotion. I think there will be a whole host of changes and I think the club know that which is why they've put the brakes on new contracts for next season. I actually believe they understand the gravity of the task and the standard we will need to be at in order to be competitive.

The concern I have is the level of player we would need to attract to the club would have to be substantial. We know players like Curtis Nelson, Ebou Adams, Mendez-Laing, who have been incredible for us at this level have all suffered in the Championship. Not to the point where they can't play, albeit Ebou is far from proven at that level, but where their impact is diminished. I would say we're very similar to the Sheffield Wednesday side who won promotion last season. Players like Josh Windass, Michael Smith, Barry Bannan, George Byers, Michael Ihiekwe & Will Vaulks all were key players in that side but none of them have managed the step-up with much class. Michael Smith had 50 goal contributions in his last two seasons in League One. He has four this season. Josh Windass and Barry Bannan had 39 goal contributions last season in League One - both have contributed to 7 in the Championship. If promoted, we would see some of our most assured, consistent performers at this level go back to looking human and become a cause of frustration. Ultimately, I have to have faith that the club know the size of the challenge ahead. It's an incredibly difficult market. Still, I feel that we would be in a good position knowing that we are looking at a relatively new blank canvas ahead of next season. I think Portsmouth, who recruited well for League One, but expanded the squad over the past 12 months will find the jump more demanding.

I was going to vote Nelson, but considering his impact and how important goals are in football then I opted for NML. When he was in full flow he was brilliant, although I think the downturn in his output recently will cost him. Cashin will win young player with likely 90% plus of the vote. Nelson, Cashin or NML are worthy winners.

I do agree, but the wage bill last season was still significant. The wage bill last season at Derby (total) was larger than Sunderland during their promotion season which I assume also included promotion bonuses - and they had a category one academy.

I think it's a good move, commercially. The EFL have long been unable to market their own product adequately and this amount of coverage can only be good for the league. The more coverage the EFL can get on their product the more it will grow, because it's a very good product in it's own right which is why I really dislike the hat in hand approach to the Premier League. Realistically, the amount of coverage around the top 6 is driving more and more young people in their direction so the only way to combat it is to sell the soul to the proverbial devil and get content under the noses of people.

Agents are often in conversation in clubs to convince their player to go to said club. It's not always a benefit to the player, although I think they will generally advise their player well (at least the good ones).

My concern is that this season we are likely to post one of the highest, if not the highest ever wage bill recorded by a League One team. I think Ipswich 22-23 at £19.7m is currently the highest and that includes promotion bonuses. We could easily go over that with last season's wage bill at £17.2m. I suspect it will likely exceed £20m. This has to be it for Warne - make or break. If he doesn't win promotion then we go into another rebuild next season, ok without restrictions, but the club is already losing roughly £10m at this level from just standing still. I just don't see the appetite there for another Warne season - especially given the increases in season tickets which make us one of, if not THE, most expensive in the league. We miss out on promotion, which frankly will be through nothing but losing our own bottle and you're charging near on £600 for a season ticket on the West or East stand next season. It's almost a given that you're going to have to replace managers in order to create a sense of excitement and a fresh start. The very last thing the club need now is fans to stop turning up to games.

Poor performance, but not totally unexpected. I would say that's roughly our average level of performance over the season - we simply are not a good football team to watch. Let's see how the weekend plays out before hitting the panic button, If we can get to a four point cushion over Bolton then we should get over the line. It's been jarring watching us since Gayle got injured, it honestly really has.

Exactly how I saw it, albeit I didn't watch until late. Disjointed beyond belief. I hope we make adjustments at half-time.

They’re going to build a 60,000 seater stadium apparently and spend the most of any championship side in history in the summer - which won’t change even if they’re relegated. The bloke sounds like an out-of-touch lunatic with a new toy, obviously these types always have a happy ending so I look forward to the conclusion. It’s like when Darlington moved into their 25,000 seater stadium and left 20,000 empty seats. Birmingham have never really been well supported despite the size of the city. 20-25 seems like their level so that’s potentially 35-40,000 empty seats and a huge billion pound project for nothing more than vanity.

There is a very stark and real difference between being able to forge a career in the Championship and being an impactful player in the Championship. A LOT of fairly unremarkable players have made careers in the Championship, so I actually don't have too many worries about a lot of our players' ability to hold their own at the next level. In terms of impactful players at the Championship, well that's a very different story. I would be confident in Mendez-Laing and Cashin. If Nelson was an import from overseas, who had never played in the Championship, then I would also say him. I do worry that he's been unremarkable in the Championship, largely, so would consider it unlikely he's going to carry the same impact at the next level. Adams, too, has found it tough by all accounts. He's in a similar boat to Nelson in the sense he's been very good for us at this level but has struggled to make the step up. I guess you could also put Nyambe in this category too, albeit he has previously done very well at Championship level with Blackburn. Blackett-Taylor is starting to show his ability and looks to have good speed, range and technical ability that should serve him well at the next level. He does seem to lack the power of a NML but he has potential to be impactful at the next level if he progresses. Wilson, Sibley are probably more along the lines of being able to play in the Championship, perhaps struggle to be as impactful. I do worry about Waghorn, Collins, Smith, Bradley and I'd probably add Elder to the list as players who I think would actually struggle to step up. All of them look to be on the down-swing of their career, in-terms of mobility, Collins has done well for us this season but I think a better class of defender really limits his impact. Waghorn started the season well, but looks laboured since his return from injury. Elder and Bradley just haven't looked right since we signed them, honestly, both have had moments but big question marks over them two - as well as Smith. If we do get promoted, the recruitment is going to have to be very strong. Central midfield and strikers, in particular, will need to be improved upon enormously.

Good player who we should've signed in the summer, along with Lewis Wing. Leahy in particular seemed like a no-brainer considering he can cover LB, CB, CM and just about everywhere else on the pitch and always seems to do a good job. He's their top goalscorer this season and spent the majority in defence. Even as the club (hopefully) progresses and there is a requirement for better personnel, I'm really not sure that a player who can be utilised in a number of positions and do a credible job should ever be sniffed at - especially in the current economic climate.

Hourihane started the season well, but had a dramatic drop-off - probably inline with when he decided this was going to be his last season. He's still an influential, well-liked figure and he's been a good player for us but perhaps not the dynamic, all-action midfielder that we anticipated when he signed. The best replacement for him is the guy who just picked out our top corner from 30 yards on Tuesday night and someone who I really wanted us to go for in the summer and then again in January. We will need a complete revamp of our central midfield options ahead of next season anyway. It's been our biggest disappointment this season, apart from Ebou Adams, who will be back to Cardiff. Bird has been ok, had a purple patch around Jan/Feb, but the whole lot need improving upon.

I can’t imagine they tell many people to bog off at Bubbles, no?

The best thing about Wycombe is that it’s not far from London, otherwise (equally) there is generally nothing else to do - and they still don’t get decent crowds. You could make this argument about 98% of the towns and cities in the country.

I have to assume this is more Radio Derby related than Derby County related. A big name in for the final game(s) as a guess, but who knows. I'm just very aware that when it comes to big news from the club, it's not left to Radio Derby to announce - contract extensions or otherwise.

Wildsmith has been a solid performer for us, absolutely. I don't think he really gets too much criticism from supporters either. He's had some blunders this year, but every goalkeeper at this level will do that. It's why they're in League One. Wildsmith spent 9 seasons in the Sheff Wed team without ever pinning down the starting job and he's made more appearances in two years with us than he ever did with Sheff Wed - and that's with him losing his place in the team to Vickers along the way. Ultimately, though, as I said: I can see Warne looking at the goalkeeping position as an area he would want to improve on in the summer. I genuinely think Vickers was brought in to challenge Wildsmith rather than back him up, and I half suspect they anticipated on him winning the job. If not for terrible off-field events and injury then perhaps he may have even done so. Even so, whether we've offered him a contract or not, I don't believe Warne see's him as a lock for his position for the foreseeable future. I would think any contract would run roughly in-line, albeit with a small increase, on his current deal and I think he believes there is better out there - Christian Walton who is out of contract at the end of the year from Ipswich as one I'd keep my eye on. Rotherham, under Paul Warne, always had an eye for a goalkeeper. When he took over as manager the two keepers on Rotherham's books were two that we know well - Lee Camp & Lewis Price. As well as Richard O'Donnell. He then signed Marek Rodak on loan, who we know is a good keeper, in his first full season at Rotherham. He then went on to sign Daniel Iverson, again a very good goalkeeper, before landing on Josh Vickers & Viktor Johansson - with the latter being renowned as one of the best in his position in the League. I think he's even earned a full Sweden international cap recently too. I just wonder if he's been around those players, more so his goalkeeping coach who he very much trusts, and thinks we can do better?