16th – Derby County Season so far in Numbers

When I was planning this campaign of articles, I always had in my mind that I wanted to have “Derby County Stats” behind one of the windows, fully aware that some people absolutely love this stuff and some people don’t.

I do enjoy a good stats feast every now and again myself but would not know where to start in terms of producing an article. Thus who better to step up to the plate but my good friend and fellow DCFC Blogcaster Ollie Wright from The Derby County Blog. Take it away Ollie! 

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.

Madness, Madness, They call it Madness

Not more than a month ago, the Rams were 45 minutes from a date at Wembley and another golden shot at the Premier League.

Fast forward 4 weeks and the Championship looks like a 6 season Football manager save, with crazy stuff happening all over the place and DCFC, as you would expect, being right in the eye of this bonkers storm.

Gary Rowett Summer To Do List

Following Monday nights defeat to Fulham the focus has swiftly moved to what’s next for The Rams and specifically this summers transfer activity.

Whilst no-one can doubt that Fulham deserved to win the tie over the two legs, it’s also a fair observation that Gary Rowett actually won the tactical battle, but simply didn’t have the quality of player or legs in the final third to execute his plan.

Thus, once again, The Rams enter a summer trying to work out how we turn a decent season into an ultimately successful one. Against a backdrop of stated austerity from Mel, Rowett’s “to do” list is lengthy. Here’s what on it.

Step Up The Morphine

The EFL scheduled season proper has come to a close and Derby have achieved their minimum stated objective of the play offs whilst significantly reducing their net transfer spend.

With a previously all conquering, but now somewhat out of sorts Fulham side due to visit Pride Park on Friday, it’s definitely all to play for in the final sprint.

Derby County Barometer April 2018

As ever with Derby County the last few months have been a full-on, emotional rollercoaster, with a slump to test even the most rose-tinted Rams fans, the Forest/Cardiff banter period and then the recent upturn in fortunes.

What better way to pull it all together than with an all new Ramspace barometer on my birthday! Here we go….

The Downer Hour

For the first time this season, I really wasn’t looking forward to yesterdays game. Even with no other commitments and a clear run for some pre-match beers, I was fearing the worst but hoping the Rams would prove me wrong.

Unfortunately, the game went absolutely as you would have expected it to, with Fulham racing into an early lead and Derby huffing and puffing but not even blowing down the picket fence, never mind getting anywhere near the house.

Here’s ten points on yesterday and the current state of the Rams nation.

When Does the Cricket Start?

The Rams stormed into 2018 on a tidal wave of feel good vibes. Carson was biblical, the defence was impregnable, Vydra was on fire and we had the best manager in the league.

But what about Derby’s new year curse? “Not with this team” they said, “Rowett won’t let that happen” they said, “Too much know how” they said.

Fast forward 6 weeks, as Derby stumble into Spring wondering where the next win is coming from, its tough for even the most ardent of Rams fans to not be thinking, “here we go again”.

Birmingham Preview & Gary Rowett

Happy New Year to all Rams fans. Lets hope its a prosperous one for DCFC.

Earlier this season I was asked to write a preview piece for the Birmingham game for Blues website/blog http://www.wearebirmingham.co.uk For some reason they’ve asked me to do it again. here’s the piece with a small addition regarding Rowett’s contract.

Derby County – New Season Barometer

Over the last few years, each new Derby season has been heralded as a new dawn only for Rams fans to be served with the same old, from exactly the same group of players, against the backdrop of a procession of managers, relieved of their duties.

With the sale of our two star players in Tom Ince and Will Hughes, some canny signings and early signs that we may have a keeper in Rowett, this season genuinely does feel like a fresh start for The Rams.

Thus, what better way to see in the new season and new era with a well overdue return for the classic Ramspace Barometer. Enjoy.