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This is my first story on here, but I decided I'd take on the challenge of returning Derby County to the Premier League!
I'm using the most recent summer transfer update of LFC Marshall (the temptation to have Johnny Russell was just too much).
I will be looking to continue the Derby policy of signing young, lower league talents alongside their successful youth team players for long term stability and, hopefully, success! I aim to instigate a quality scouting network to scour the lower leagues for talented individuals and develop a quality side over the long term. As for the playing style, I like aggressive, energetic sides with flair and creativity in abundance, so I will be looking to re-energise the Rams with this type of player.
My transfer budget is £1.2m and I have a wage budget of £161,000 - giving me £20,000 left to manoeuvre with, prior to player sales.
The team report is below:
Goalkeepers:
Adam LegzdinsThis is my first story on here, but I decided I'd take on the challenge of returning Derby County to the Premier League!
I'm using the most recent summer transfer update of LFC Marshall (the temptation to have Johnny Russell was just too much).
I will be looking to continue the Derby policy of signing young, lower league talents alongside their successful youth team players for long term stability and, hopefully, success! I aim to instigate a quality scouting network to scour the lower leagues for talented individuals and develop a quality side over the long term. As for the playing style, I like aggressive, energetic sides with flair and creativity in abundance, so I will be looking to re-energise the Rams with this type of player.
My transfer budget is £1.2m and I have a wage budget of £161,000 - giving me £20,000 left to manoeuvre with, prior to player sales.
The team report is below:
Goalkeepers:
View attachment 364865Adam's been at Derby for a few seasons now, but doesn't really look like anything other than a decent back up keeper. Good reflexes and handling and undermined by terrible mental attributes. Relatively high wage for a back up keeper (£3.5k p/w) and decent transfer value (£900k) mean he will most likely be sold.
Lee Grant
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The club's best goalkeeper. Decent attributes across the board, barring his one on ones (9). A few poor physicals but the most important, Agility/Jumping, are both 14. Wages of £9k p/w and a transfer value of £2m, as well as his increasing age (29) mean he could end up as a potential candidate for a sale, but only if I can find better. Will probably remain as the club's number one.
The Rest:
Saul Deeney is terrible and will be sold immediately. Ross Atkins is currently out on loan with Alfreton but probably won't amount to anything. Norwegian youngster Mats Morch could potentially become a decent backup keeper, but it's doubtful.
The Defence
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Equally capable at RB and CB, Keogh is a vital member of the Derby County squad. Great attributes across the board and his brilliant Influence (18) makes him captain material. Probably more at home in the centre of defence as opposed to full back due to minor deficiencies in his Anticipation (10), Marking (10) and Pace (11). Otherwise an excellent defender and will play a key role in Derby's potential success.
Mark O'Brien - CB
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Talented young centre half. Still only 19 with lots of scope for improvement. Most important defensive attributes are already excellent for Championship level. Would like to see improvements in Aggression, Anticipation, Concentration, First Touch and Passing and Positioning. But is already a great player and can expect to see a fair bit of first team action this season.
Kieron Freeman - RB/LB
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Freeman is potentially a decent player in both full back positions long term. Has a long way to go, but will cover both full back positions. Still very young, with excellent physical attributes.
John Brayford - RB/RWB/CB
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Star player. Brilliant full back, with excellent mental and physical attributes, and the main defensive technical attributes. Can also do a decent job at centre half, but I'm reluctant to play him there because he's only 5'8". Will be my first choice RB.
James O'Connor - RB/CB/LB/DM
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O'Connor is nothing more than a defensive utility player. Not good enough to start, but I doubt I'll be able to sell him in the first season, as he's only just joined. Decent defensive attributes, apart from his positioning. Poor height (5'11") and Jumping (10) mean I won't be using him at centre half. Will try and sell but not expecting much.
Tom Naylor - CB/RB/CM
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The youngster looks a decent player, but there's a lot of room for improvement. With the competition at CB, is unlikely to get a game. Will probably send him out on loan for the season and re-evaluate his position with the club at the end of the season.
Shaun Barker - CB
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Excellent centre half. Great attributes, lots of experience but very injury prone. High wage (15k p/w) and high transfer value (£2.1m) coupled with increasing age and injury record make him a potential candidate for sale, but only if I can find a quality replacement. Will probably stay for at least the season.
Valentin Gjokaj - CB
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The Swiss youngster looks quality. Will probably be 3rd/4th choice this season but will enjoy match practice in the cup games and I will ease him into the first team slowly. Excellent physical attributes coupled with good defensive attributes (minus his positioning, which is only 10) already make him a decent player. At just 18, I have very high hopes that he and O'Brien can become my long term central defensive partnership.
Craig Forsyth - LB/LWB/LM/LW
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Looks much more suited to a role on the left side of midfield rather than full back. Still only 23 so has room for improvement. Good physical attributes, but defensively looks poor (Marking 9/Tackling 7). Will probably start as back up down the entire left flank - meaning a LB is now a priority position.
Jake Buxton - CB
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Half decent CB, but is unlikely to play for me. Hopeful of earning some decent cash from him though - transfer value is £575k. Could potentially keep for a season if I can't find a buyer.
The Rest:
Youngster Luke Adams could become half decent, so he will most likely leave on loan. Josh Lelan has the potential to be better than both Gjokaj and O'Brien. Just 17, I will most likely leave him in the reserves for this season, with view to a loan depending on how he does. May even be tempted to use him in some cup games. Young LB Michael Hoganson is also just 17 and looks like he also has potential Premier Division class. Needs a loan this season, maybe I'll begin to ease him into the side next year.
The Midfield
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Young Central midfielder has some ability, and some excellent mental attributes, but may end up leaving due to overcrowding/better targets. Would have no problem with using him if I don't sell though. His transfer value (750k) may be the deciding factor here.
Paul Coutts - CM/RM
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Equally at home in the centre or on the right hand side, Coutts will become an integral part of the squad here. Just 23 and on very low wages (4k p/w!). Looks like a good ball player, with some good mental and physical attributes. Still has scope to improve. Also looks like a potential set piece taker - Corners/Free kicks both 15.
Michael Jacobs - LM/RM/LW/ST
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Jacobs is another young talent at Derby. Most comfortable down the left hand side, he has good flair and creativity, coupled with pace and good technical attributes. His mental attributes definitely need some work, but I have high hopes for Jacobs - at just 20, he has a lot of scope for improvement.
Jeff Hendrick - CM
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The young Irish midfielder is another home grown young talent at Derby. Just 20, he already has brilliant physical attributes and very good mental ones. His technicals need a lot of work, but the talent is definitely there and I expect big things from him at this level.
Ben Davies - LM/CM/RM/LW/AM/RW
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One of the elder statesmen in the squad at 31, Davies is incredibly versatile and technically proficient. Has excellent set pieces and would give me more creativity in the midfield. With age against him and competition for the places he operates, I'm unsure about keeping him. Possibly for a season, purely for his versatility, and because his transfer value is already quite low - just £120k.
Craig Bryson - CM/AM
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Bryson is an excellent central midfielder at this level. Fantastic physical attributes are highlighted by his Stamina (17) and Natural Fitness (19). His high levels of Determination (17) and Work Rate (19) also appeal to me. He's also half decent technically, and still fairly young (25). Will have a key part to play this season, for sure.
Will Hughes - CM/AM
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Here he is, the golden boy himself. Hughes looks phenomenal already for a 17 year old. Brilliant Technique, Dribbling and Passing (all 15) coupled with high creativity and flair (14) make him an ideal candidate for the AM position. At just 17 he is only going to get better and better, and I'm looking forward to utilising him this year. My potential success with Derby will depend on retaining the services of this guy, definitely.
Jamie Ward - LW/RW/ST
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Could potentially be in the forwards section, but I plan on utilising him out wide. He's quick, aggressive and a hard worker who possesses excellent technical attributes. I'm hoping for a lot of goals and assists from this man, although his low composure (10) does worry me slightly. Still think he could potentially break double figures this season.
There aren't really any up and coming young midfielders outside the first team squad at the moment.
The Forwards
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Equally as good through the middle as he is out wide, Johnny is an aggressive, pacy attacker who can score and create in equal measure. I haven't decided where I plan to utilise him this season, but he may end up being in all 3 positions over the course of the season. I'm hoping for at least double figures from the forward this year.
Chris Martin - AM/ST
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Chris Martin - AM/ST
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Chris is technically very good, and couples this with decent composure and movement off the ball (both 13). Physically he's neither quick nor great in the air, so I'm not sure how to get the best out of him at the moment. I'll see how he does throughout the season before making a proper judgement, but I do feel I have better alternatives in the squad.
Theo Robinson - ST
Theo Robinson - ST
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Pace to burn, but technically dire. I've had players of this ilk in previous football manager games, and suffice it to say I've never had much success with them - at least not above non league level. Has a decent finish on him (13) but has low composure (10). Out of contract at the end of the season and high transfer value (950k) coupled with other alternatives means I'll probably end up selling.
Conor Sammon - ST
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Conor Sammon - ST
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My coaches aren't too keen on Sammon, but I do see some potential there. He's great physically, and with his height (6'3") I think he could make a decent target man. Great work rate and determination, good pace and strength and a half decent finish. Low composure (10) could be a problem. I'm willing to give him the season to prove himself.
Nathan Tyson - LW/ST
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Same as Robinson - quick as lightening, technically awful. Will be sold, no doubt about it.
Callum Ball - ST
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Callum Ball - ST
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Another Derby academy product, I see potential in Ball. Good finish, good in the air, physically imposing. Still only 19, so I'll probably send him out on loan and re-evaluate his position next season.
Mason Bennett - AM/RW/ST
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Mason Bennett - AM/RW/ST
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Again, another Derby academy product, but Bennett is just 15. Physically he's already very good, and has a decent finish on him. I may give him a cup game or two this year, depending on the opposition, but otherwise he'll be remaining in the youth and reserve teams. Fantastic potential though, and it won't be long until he's playing a regular role for me.
There aren't really any other strikers to mention - although I will be sending American youngster Conor Doyle out on loan, I don't expect him to amount to much.
Upon analysing the squad, I can see the immediate need for a quality LB, followed by a proper winger, central midfielder and a striker. Less important would be a new back up keeper and AM. I'll finish up on my summer transfers and pre season friendlies and update then!
Any feedback/advice on how to improve it etc is encouraged and appreciated! Cheers.
There aren't really any other strikers to mention - although I will be sending American youngster Conor Doyle out on loan, I don't expect him to amount to much.
The Verdict
Upon analysing the squad, I can see the immediate need for a quality LB, followed by a proper winger, central midfielder and a striker. Less important would be a new back up keeper and AM. I'll finish up on my summer transfers and pre season friendlies and update then!
Any feedback/advice on how to improve it etc is encouraged and appreciated! Cheers.