Derby County – New Season Barometer

A new season is upon us again and what a summer it’s been for Derby County.

Starting with the shock departure of Gary Rowett and pronouncements of extreme austerity measures to offset imminent financial meltdown, we begin the season with Frank Lampard as our gaffer and The Super Rams all over the transfer market like its 2015 all over again!

What better way to pull together the madness, than the traditional new season Ramspace Derby County Barometer.

Mel Morris – Whilst Mel has made many mistakes during his tenure as Derby owner, one thing he has always done is back his manager. However, with a FFP breach seemingly looming, nobody was expecting big things this summer. I’m not sure what has changed. Has Mel got Lamps mania? Was the austerity line a scam all along? Is he spending the Vyds money before he’s got it? Has Mel looked at QPR & Bournemouth and thought fuck it? Who knows, but DCFC are back batting at top table of the EFL transfer market.

. Any answer on the £12m Joe Bryan bid Mel?

Frank Lampard – Its still almost surreal that Frank is the Rams boss but a corking pre-season suggests this is no vanity appointment. Great guy, great football and developing a really nice habit of persuading everybody that DCFC is the only place to play your football. Let’s hope he can keep it up, now the real action is starting.

All New Transfer Policy – Whilst rumours of a £8m bid for Martyn Waghorn briefly freaked everybody, this years signings are totally different to anything we’ve seen for some time. Loaning (a policy criminally underused by Rowett) two of the best young English players in the country, signing league ones 23 year old top scorer, a proven winger for £2.7m not £6m and an ex England youth player for £350k. Keep it rolling.

Craig Bryson – He’s Scottish and he’s back! Fit and firing after his spell at Cardiff, Bryso is a man reborn and has slotted right into Franks new team. Is clearly going to be a key man this year and Amen to that!

Academy Not Actually Shit Revelation – Frank has wasted no time in throwing in various academy players and they’ve all looked decent. Thomas, Bogle, Bennett and Lowe all look set to contribute this season, whilst Bird and Sibley have also looked quality. Wass isn’t off the hook yet, but maybe there is some gold in them there hills!

Matej Vydra – Spent the entire summer pissing about with Leeds when he clearly didn’t want to go there. Derby do seem to be banking on this fee so I don’t see him integrating into the squad anytime soon. Such a shame after his amazing form last season, let’s hope someone takes the plunge or he could end up in a horrible CM9 style limbo……whilst still trousering £30k a week from the Rams.

Vyds is openly devastated Leeds no longer wish to sign him.

Last Years Contract Renewals – Whilst I appreciate every manager has different views, the new contracts given to Thorne, Pearce, Fozzy and Hanson last season seem more and more inexplicable by the day. Absolute madness.

Umbro – Another contract renewal which didn’t fill me with joy was Umbro. They’ve been decent to be fair, but a change was due and this years lack lustre kit and training gear feels like a token gesture. Hopefully we can upgrade to Nike if we go up.

Viva La Shithouse – Champagne Supernova football is back and its mega. Shithousing is a top laugh but it’s brutal to watch, particularly when it doesn’t work. Counter attacking and working the percentages 0 Fast, dominant, attacking football with all manner of movement 4

Gary Rowett – Looking back on when we first met, your trainers were shit and we cannot forget, Rowett you’re a twat, we don’t want you back, Frankie start the bounce again!