Depending on the various relegation issues that still need to settled (and assuming that West Ham go up) I'll be placing a £50 bet on Derby going up next season. No joke. The last time I did that was with the Jim Smith team. Blackburn are in a real mess off the pitch and Bolton need a major rebuild (and they have big debts). Wolves are a very poor team. With some extra defensive cover and a striker Derby will do very well next season. And yes I'm sober!

Rich

That just proves that you're as mental sober as you are pi55ed.

Iwas I honestly think we're very close to being a very good team. GSE want to get rid of Derby. Going up would give us enough cash to clear the remainder of the debts whether we stay up or not. With no debts we are a much more attractive purchase. Then every one is happy with the exception of 666 who reminds me of a Garbage track.

i think i actually have "premphobia" which is a manifestation of my post traumatic stress disorder from last time we were in the (a-hem) "promised land".

until i am cured i will be happy to finish in the top 6 of the championship every year, denied by a dodgy offside decision in the play off finals having out played our opponents..... or maybe its not PTSD but good ol' fashioned cowardice.

having watched the relegation battle unfold in the prem this year, dont it make you really angry that paul jewell threw the towel in on the season the moment he was appointed our manager? if we had appointed someone with fighting spirit we would never have got our pathetic and unbreakable record.
paul jewell- you ruined my life!

Iwas,

I would'nt be so sure lol, Richmond in my opinion is not that far off.

Think about it, Davies fit for a season a little balance in the games we dominated, that touch of luck we deserved, the story could easily be very diffrent.

Dru, an interesting and considered post. I think we are just a few pieces of luck away from a play-off place. Do I think we could make that a reality next season? Possibly. Is this a hard division to get out of? Yes indeed, except if you're exiting via the trapdoor! Now, the key point in your post is this: Will GSE invest sufficiently to give the club a realistic chance of remaining in the Prem should we get there. This remains to be seen. They've had their fingers burned once, and I blame Davies and Jewell for that. But investment will be needed, of that there is no doubt, so, if NC gets us there, as I believe in time he will, it had better bloody come from somewhere, because, like Kern, Premophobia is not easy to cure!!!!

I agree that based on last season we are currently a long way away from being genuine challengers. There were a number of games when I looked at the opposition and thought that the quality of their player was generally much better than ours. I think Clough has got close to the maximum possible out of the squad which he has, and even though many players will continue to improve we lack the necessary finished articles to be a top-six team.

Having said that, I believe that a significant proportion of clubs will go backwards in the next season or two as finances bite and they reduce wage bills, and so we will improve relative to other teams. If this happens, we may find ourselves closer to the top six than at present. It might be that a modest amount of investment could then make a very great difference overall. It is also likely that transfer fees and wages will come down, and a proven goal-getter might be bought cheaper than, say, Sharp was last season.

Next season promises to be very interesting. The three coming down will have much better quality but will need to deal with losing their better players and re-adjusting to the possibility of a much reduced budget if they don't immediately bounce back. The likes of Brum may now do a Pompey if they don't go up this year. There is pressure on Moneybags Leicester-after this year's poor showing they surely must go up next, and Forest lead those desperate to slash their costs while still keeping their heads above water.

How we do depends in my opinion on central defence. If Shackell stays fit and we can plug the Barker gap, I see us improving from last year into a more solidly top-half team, and a class finisher away from play-off contenders.

Kev,

To be fair its taken me a while to come round to your way of thinking with regards Clough and his abilities but I can honestly see it. What he has achieved when you consider the context he has been 'forced' to work under is quite amazing by all accouts.

There were a number a games this season we played the oppo off the park but were sunk by some excellent goals that at times you can not manage out of.

A steady side side for 35-40 games we can easily hit the play off's I would bet my house on it. Next season will be an exciting prospect for me as I do not feel the teams coming down do have the same advantage they may have had in recent years.

Vidals makes some excellent points IMO around the fact that many clubs are going to have to reassess their structures, balance sheets and spending something, due to circumstance, we are already miles ahead of and this could be what really plays into our hands.

Clough has really pushed the youth set up I believe for this very reason and its clear for all to see this is working. I like many fans can be fickle and wanted success in one season, Cloughs plan was far more considered and requires faith, patience and time and I truly believe its starting to pay off.

Did he come to us too soon, damn right he did. Has he made massive mistakes? too right. Has he learnt along the way and becoming the manager we ALL truly hoped he would be.

I'm starting to believe he is.

UTR

Now don't jump on me for this but so far a certain player has been overlooked so far & I know he's not everyone's favorite but Robinson has hit 12 goals in an injury hit season. I'm sure he would of reached closer to 18 had he stayed fit. I not saying that Derby don't need a consistent goal scorer, because they do!
A fit Davies & Robinson plus one other Derby will be able to score enough to push them to promotion contenders.

Great and welll-balanced article Dru.

I heard Clough interviewed on Radio derby saying we'd have to sell before we bought.

The only sales that wouldn't hurt the team would be Croft, Maguire and (very sad to say it) Addison.

However, with Croft entering the twilight of his career, Addison's once bright future clouded by the after-effects of a foot injury, and Maguire taken on loan by a skint club, I can't see the three of them combined raising enough to buy one signing of the calibre of Barker or Shackell.

My biggest worry is the strike force. We have decent individuals, but I don't see a natural partnership among our squad.

Like other posters I feel we are far from ready for a Premiership season, and do fear it could be one step forward and three back if we did go up next season.

Nevertheless I also feel next season is going to be pivotal. I can't see another mid-table finish. Either we move up to the 5th-to-8th area, or we fall back to 16th & lower. If Barks was available all season I'd be confident to back the former, but with things the way they are, its too close to call in my opinion.

Ideal would be a play-off final at Wembley, with us producing the better play but being robbed by the ref or something of that sort... i.e. give the youngsters that experience, without them feeling they have failed.

Dru

I fear our biggest blow to next season has already happened - the loss of Barker. -and as you say, you just can't really 'manage' your way out of those sort of injuries. Yes, we can look at the likes of davies and theo and see that on paper, despite injuries they have done well, but we do need a Championship version of Van persie...but hey, doesn't everybody? I don't think we'll fall back next season, I think we'll move forward, but how far and with what consequences I'm not sure. I certainly agree the calibre of the clubs coming down to join us plays into our hands in a way it hasn't done previously. I'm certainly excited about the next campaign!

Clough out.

The problems I foresee for this league have been briefly touched upon already here, but none of you have my footballing nous and are unable to cobble the various elements together in your own feeble minds. Allow me to, once again, educate you.

The relegated clubs of Wolves, Blackburn and whomever WILL undoubtedly have their better players poached, leaving them in disarray, but the upside is that their elevated income of 'parachute payment' will ensure that they have their pick of the players at the reduced prices and fees that Vidals mentioned in his inimitable rambling narcissistic tome of a post.

In conclusion then, Clough out, defender + midfield general + actual striker in and we'll worry the Play Offs. Clough in and token gesture transfers and we'll lose the momentum the "Monkeys/Typewriters/Shakespeare" theory bestowed upon DCFC this term.



#Vote666ja606DCFCpoty2012-13

6,

Just who would you like to take over as Derby manager, if you got you wish & Derby changed their manager?

History has shown in this division, that the acquisition one or two players can make an enormous difference to results. You only have to look at Reading who probably would have finished some where close to us until they brought in Roberts and Gorkss. We were relegation fodder until Oakley and Howard came along. Those with longer memories will know the difference Stimac made in Jim Smith's team or Mackay and Carlin in Brian Clough's.

Big question now is does Nigel Clough have the ability to find the players who will take us from a 60 points a year team to an 80 points a year team. If he does are GSE willing to back him (or anyone) to find those players.

You can count on one vote 666, that is unless you vote for someone else.

Jorv,

Take my humble apologies I missed the lad by mistake, even with injury the boy has hit some significant goals and who knows where we could have been. But as has been stated I do not see a real true partnership in our squad at this time.

666,

I often wonder where my footballing knowledge would be if you were not here to keep educating us lesser folk

I do tend to agree with your points mind which is making feel somewhat unclean

Apart from the Clough out bit as there's no one I can think of under the current set up who I would want based on who we can ACTUALLY attract and afford.

From what I have seen this term Clough and his team players and coaches have come a long long way.

Dru,

No worries I didn't mean to have a dig I don't see Robinson has the main striker but more as a support striker. Derby do need a striker who can find the net every other game, but that will cost a pretty penny.

Narcissistic?