no no and yes, can see him dropping out wide with his pace and both anderson and roberts lack of, this making him a slight threat

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At the end of the day, we couldn't afford him, and all we want to do is get our debt down. Will we miss him?? No we wont! Good luck in him becoming a millionaire, with a nice flash car, just like Giles Barnes?

Another Paul Jewell signing, what did Paul Jewell have against us? Apart from Green and Hulse everyone of his signings was a disaster. When he signed Varney he couldn't even make Charlton's bench never mind the first team. Charlton were bottom of the Championship at the time so how the hell was someone who was third choice at a relegation team be worth £1M?

Note who was the player common to all these teams?

Charlton relegated
Sheff Wed relegated
Blackpool relegated.

Do we miss him? No as we never really had him

Is he better than we have now? Possibly

Luke Varney was one of the worst players I've seen play for us. for me, he's in the same bucket of naffness as Mikel Beck, Manel and Francois Grenet.

I Am Not makes a good point. And no-one can even turn round and say Varney was a good player in a poor side in all those Clubs he was relegated with.

Portsmouth take note.

Serial:

Luke Varney was one of the worst players I've seen play for us. for me, he's in the same bucket of naffness as Mikel Beck, Manel and Francois Grenet.
__________________________________________

Yet if he were a Derby player still on a low wage he'd be in the 1st 11 tomorrow

In my opinion... Luke Varney is just an average crap player, Derby are better off without.

I rate Theo robinson more highly than Varney, Bush

What has the world come to!

One of the things that most annoys me about Varney as a player and his time at Derby, is why on earth did we pay £1.5 million for such mediocrity, only for him to have some crazy clause in his contract that meant after 6 games his parent Club would have to pay his former Club a further 20% of his transfer fee.
It's absolutely ludicrous. How was Jewell allowed to do it and why did Varney himself agree to such insainity.

He's been playing pretty well of late for Portsmouth, wouldn't say he's worth 1.5 mill. I personally wish he'd been given more a chance and if Jewell hadn't have spent so much on such 5hite he maybe would have featured a bit more.

I have never understand the Varney situation. Mostly he looked good at Derby - very quick and he was a good target man. Except for the undisclosed reasons he should have figured much more than he did.
I fear he will play a stormer tomorrow.

Just realised, my favourite away shirt, the black one from 2 years ago (when Varney was with us) has Varney's squad number on from that time - 15.

This was not in homage to Luke Varney but rather in homage to 15 years of marriage - a rather thoughtful wedding anniversary present......

So, if you see me wearing it tomorrow - my cover is blown and you will see the real VFA12YO with 12YO...

Just been listening to Andy Garner on t'ramsplayer they were saying there was never a problem with Varney, him and Clough had a good relationship with him, n he was a popular member of the team, but it was purely financial as to why he didn't get a game.

I think Varney is sort of player who in the wrong team at the wrong time, will look very average and this was his position at Derby and Athletic. However in the right team and position, he can look a very good player, not a world beater, but someone you are happy to have as part of the squad, which is being shown by his Owls, Blackpool and Portsmouth form. This means he can be good, but is too inconsistent and easily knocked to be great.

I remember seeing 4 of Varney's 7 or so games with Derby and being none too happy with any of them, but then I think in hindsight, we all know, he was a victim of his time; being a Jewells signing, instantly put pressure on him; being Jewells last signing and for an uncomprehendingly high price, meant we decided he was a failure before we even looked at him. I remember a similar problem with Stern John. :P

However this leads to the question, would things have turned out differently if the deal had been conducted more appropriately and the financial positions more sound?

Finally, reading his interview, I think Varney personality wise, seems a good person and certainly doesn't deserve some of the scorn Derby fans throw his way.

Similarly, I think Varney is a decent enough player. I thought he looked very sharp on his debut away at Burnley although as a team we were desperately awful that day.

He was a sign of the kiddie-in-a-sweet-shop mentality that was Jewell's transfer policy at the time, which resulted in nonsensical deals for players who he fancied a punt on. Ellington was an even less sensible signing for the money he cost us.

None of this is Varney's fault of course, if we were daft enough to agree to the deal. Some fans said that Clough treated Varney appallingly but this was far from the case-Varney knew the situation and both Clough and Varney have said pleasant things about the other since he left. It was just business, nothing personal. Varney seems a nice enough guy.

Bet there will be a fair few idiots giving him a good old boo tomorrow though...

Don't get me wrong. He seems a nice enough chap, does Varney, but for ramdini to suggest he looked good for us is utter nonsense. He was terrible.

I think sometimes when you criticise a player, you're criticising his style of play, not the person.

Thought Serial summed him up well as did others. An odd signing at the time, from a side in an even worse position than us, the ultimate blame must fall on Paul Jewell's shoulders & Taiwan (Alf) is right that Varney was a victim of circumstances as well. To think, Jewell nearly signed Ellington permanently on £20k a week and you realise his disastrous tenure in the Championship compounded the awful signings Billy made during his brief stay in charge during the PL season.

But LV was poor at Derby, he is a lower table Championship striker at best. I was very surprised at his initial form at Blackpool, but eventually he reverted to type. Having said that, I would not be surprised if he impresses against us as he has a point to prove.

I hope the Derby supporters don't boo him, I don't think he deserves that, plus lets not inspire him into a magnificent performance!
I wish him all the best after today

Agree Jorvik. Not sure how anyone can have an informed opinion of the attributes of a player with 6 apps over 2 seasons. No reason to like him, and none to dislike him either... as far as I'm concerned its almost as if he never was a Ram.

capn, I agree that to criticise a players ability is nothing personal, but sometimes people seem to almost like making it personal and Varney, though not a good part of Derby's history, is as wideboy said, not a disputable part ether and blame as you said, falls on Jewells more than anyone.

PS you make a scarily good point, regarding Ellington, however luckily even Jewells realised he was past his peak, though not before blowing half our striker wage bill on him.

Cheers for the comments gents.
As predicted, Varney was no threat what-so-ever on Saturday and all he did was get booked.
Some posters have said above that Varney comes across as a nice bloke. I agree, but you don't pay 1.5 million for a nice bloke.

"...but you don't pay 1.5 million for a nice bloke"

...even one playing football in recycled day-glow orange moon boots (oh yes, OOE has plenty to say about Varney's footwear when the Aussie editor gets home from work and posts the report up on Ramzone)

Highly coloured boots