As Derby County's season reaches it's halfway point. We took a look at the squad and analyzed their performances over the first half of the season.
1 David Marshall
Marshall has enjoyed a very solid start to his Derby career, quickly becoming a fans favorite and a very important cog to the team. With an average of over two saves a game, it’s not surprising he has been one of, if not the player of the season so far. He has settled very well into the team. Crucial saves at important points in games has seen him earn us points with his own hands, his calming influence & all-round quality has still managed to shine through in a back line that has largely struggled. A lot of things in the goalkeeping department we desired in the summer has been met, we hope (and need) for more of the same for the rest of the season to help us climb the table. Recent clean sheets have been a nice bonus for him which he thoroughly deserves for his performances. 9/10
2 Andre Wisdom
After the horrendous events with the stabbing, the fan base really got behind Wisdom and after a relatively quick return to first team football he has been a solid member of the squad mainly deployed as a centre-back so far this season and with Curtis Davis injury ruling him out for the season, we would expect Wisdom to be part of the backline pairing for the foreseeable future. He has gone about his business pretty well, there are still some defensive position issues and his height can lead to some questions at CB but he looks as steady as any others in the squad in recent weeks. Overall a solid start. 7/10
3 Craig Forsyth
Forsyth has found first team game opportunities lacking so far this season, I think many people were surprised when he was offered a new deal at the club before the departure of Max Lowe, but there has been times his quality and experience has been useful. The form of Lee Buchanan and the clubs focus on youth has limited his minutes on the pitch, but he has been reliable when called upon. His experience is invaluable around a young group of players as well. 6/10
4 Graeme Shinnie
Another standout performer so far this season. Does not always get the praise and recognition he deserves but he goes about his business really well. He loves to get stuck in, a bit of bite in the midfield is needed at Championship level. His work rate is exceptional, consistently covering nearly every blade of grass in a game. He does pick up a large number of bookings which is a little concerning. He needs to cut out the silly fouls but not lose his battling qualities. Now Krystian Bielik is back, certainly at home he has found himself further up the pitch which he has a positive impact. Driving the midfield into the attacking third is going to hopefully help with the lack of goals we have scored so far this season and he has proven he can find the net. 8/10
5 Kristian Bielik
It is great to finally see Bielik back into the fold after a very long layoff. It has been a very long road and I think it is fair to say his first appearance was too soon for him. After sitting out a few games he has now been an ever present and arguably a big factor to recent positive results. He is a midfield general and has looked impressive in the past several games. Hopefully, it is a sign of things to come and justifying his transfer fee. It already seems obvious but Derby’s chances of pulling away from the bottom reaches are much larger with him in the team. 8.5/10
6 Mike te Wierik
Te Wierik arrived with much excitement from the Derby fan base. Signed on a free transfer prior to lockdown from Dutch side, FC Groningen, he was quickly given the nickname, “Virgil Van Mike.” Te Wierik started the first few games of the season but it became rapidly clear from the offset that his adjustment to English football would take a while, being caught terrible out of the position several times and culminating in getting sent off against Preston in the Carabao Cup. Derby fans have seen precious little of him then since then and since the sacking of Phillip Cocu, the Dutch centre-half has not been in the extended match day squads. It has been a very difficult season so far and his Derby career could be over before it really began with reports of a move away in January circulating. 3/10
7 Kamil Jozwiak
Jozwiak’s arrival was met with great jubilation from the fan base, a foreign player, a solid winger and only early 20’s a great prospect. I have been very impressed with his attitude and the way he has settled and adapted to the English game. A very pacey direct winger something Derby has been crying out for a very long time. His end product inconsistent, but that hopefully will come in time and you cannot fault his effort. Should have a couple more goals if not for the woodwork and a dodgy offside decision against Nottingham Forest. He finally got the goal is bright play has deserved against Swansea and hopefully that will open the flood gates for him. He has been a bright spark in a struggling forward line and team so far this season. 7/10
8 Max Bird
This was supposed to the breakout season for Max Bird. Unfortunately, it has been one of regression. He played early on the in the season and even captained the side on a few occasions (which is great to see) however he has often found himself drifting out of games and having very little influence. Phillip Cocu took him out of the side for a much-needed rest for a period and he has been involved in fits and starts since Rooney’s installation as interim manager. The fans are desperate to see Bird succeed, and you can tell that there is a decent player in there. Hopefully, Bird can use the second half of the season to continue to grow and develop and become the player that Derby supporters hope he can be. 5/10
9 Martyn Waghorn
After injury ruled Waghorn out of preseason and the first few games, fans were desperate to see his return, hopes where pinned on him grabbing the goals Derby had lacked at the start of the season. Two excellent free kicks on his return raised fans expectations even more. Unfortunately, that early goal scoring form has not been repeated, in and out of the team so far, he has struggled for consistency. As other members of the team have struggled out on the right, fingers crossed he gets a run in the side and starts to hit the heights that saw him joint top scorer last season, as the team need him. 6/10
10 Tom Lawrence
Frustrating. Lawrence is one of Derby’s most influential attacking (if not the most) player. On his day he is unplayable, driving at defenses with skill and pace. He has a great finishing ability as well. However, his day is becoming few and far between. The start to season was delayed with a shoulder injury and he return was supposed to ease the lack of goal scoring. However, this season, Derby supporters have not seen the best of him. He drifts out of games far too often (and for such long periods), his body language looks poor and it appears clear that he is very frustrated. Hopefully, he can turn is form around for the remainder of the season, if he does, then Derby have a fantastic player on their hands who can hopefully shoot them up the Championship table. If not, then it is probably Lawrence’s last hoorah in a Derby shirt. 5/10
11 Jordon Ibe
Ibe has spent the most part of the season so far working back to fitness after a very long time without football, a couple of setbacks have meant he has not been seen as much as we would hope for. A couple of impressive reports in U23 games with a couple of goals as well have given fans hope a first team start is not too far away. A couple of first team sub appearances albeit late in the game also add to that hope he can get back to full fitness. Fingers crossed he can have a big impact on the 2nd half of the season as he could be a key player going forward if he can replicate the same form as his loan spell a few years ago. N/A
12 Nathan Byrne
Brought in from Wigan to replace the departed Jayden Bogle, his signing was a bit underwhelming at first. However, he has been a consistent performer for The Rams. He might not have the height, but he has plenty of hustle and pace to make up for it. His attacking instincts fit well with how Derby like to play and he is always a good outlet option. Defensively can get caught out at times but overall a very solid start to his Derby career. 7.5/10
13 Colin Kazim-Richards
When the news broke CKR was a Derby target it left many fans feeling underwhelmed, a desperate need of a focal point up front after Chris Martin leaving in the summer and Jack Marriott being loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday, fans had hoped for someone more exciting than the much travelled Turkish international. After the collapse of the deal to sign Serdar Dursun from German side Darmstadt, it was Cocu turned to the journeyman striker. Having not played since March due to COVID, he did not feature much in the early part of the season due to fitness. However, since then, I think it is fair to say he has proved all Derby fans wrong with his effort, desire, and attitude. He has been a regular starter since Wayne Rooney has taken temporary charge. He is a very valuable asset for Derby in the system they play and probably deserves to have more goals than he has currently, but his all-round play has been a big plus and a big part in recent upturn of form. 8/10
16 Matt Clarke
After a return to the club on loan this season, we were watching interestingly if he could build on a player of the year winning season last term. A few shaky moments early on was a little concerning and disappointing. In recent weeks we are starting to see the Clarke of last season which is a big boost. With Davies injured, Clarke needs to show those commanding performances even more now, the inclusion of Bielik has helped him also, he can concentrate on the defensive side of his game which his strong. Now he has Championship experience under his belt you hope he can take that next step up. 6/10
17 Louie Sibley
A name from the academy that has conjured the interest for a couple of years, Sibley took to Championship football very well, bursting on the scene last season with that rocket against Blackburn and the hat trick at The Den, many people believed we had a star on our hands. Unfortunately, the youngster has struggled for games this season due to both form and injury. But he is still only 19 and has a long footballing career ahead of him. Hopefully, he can settle back down and produce what we know he is capable of in the coming months. 5/10
18 Morgan Whittaker
Whittaker, another academy prospect given opportunities last season has failed to build on that momentum (and goal scoring finish) from last season. He has largely been a bit part player this season and has little to no effect on the matches that he played in. He was acrimoniously subbed on and off in the same match, which illustrates the point. His season started well enough though, scoring the winning penalty against Barrow in the League Cup. He needs a loan move to gain more first team experience. 4/10
21 Kelle Roos
Having been replaced as Derby’s No1 this summer, Roos has found first team action limited so far this season. Only due to injury for Marshall have we seen him in the league once which he did perform ok, and the 2 cup games. Down to Marshalls solid form he will be the backup option for Derby this season which as we saw last season is not a bad player to have if called upon, can he regain his No1 shirt? It does not look likely. Will he perhaps force a move in January to seek first team football who knows?
N/A
22 George Evans
Mr. Utility. Evans has been deployed mainly as a centre-half in the back three experiments of earlier this season and was solid. He has been out of the team since The Rams have reverted to a back four. He is an important player to keep around due to his diversity of positions, does not ever seem to let the team down when coming in but, is lacking something to really push for a first team place more regularly. If he is happy to be a squad player then a useful member. With Curtis Davies long term injury, Evans might see more time on the pitch at centre-half. 5/10
25 Duane Holmes
Holmes has again been unable to show his full potential so far this season, inconsistency the key word when discussing his Derby career to date. He is somewhat unfortunate that his preferred position just does not seem his place in the team, mainly down to the form of others. He has not grabbed his opportunity on the right side either, this is going to be a big second half of the season to see if he has a future with the Rams. We have seen glimpses of what he can do and if the consistency could be found he would be an ever present, Derby need players to stand up and be counted, question marks do hang over Holmes if he has that in his locker. 5/10
26 Lee Buchanan
What a season so far Buchanan is having, after seeing him involved a few times last season it was a hot topic of debate if he had the quality to be a main player in the first team, it is clear with his performances so far this season that he has that quality. He has been fantastic. He is excellent in the air and his defensive work has improved tremendously. He still gets caught every now and then but as an attacking full back this is going to happen. He has also had his performances recognized with a call up to the England U21’s in which he got an assist. Really looking forward to seeing if he can keep up these levels, very quickly becoming a top member of the squad. 8/10
32 Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney. Where to start? Do we look at him as the player or the manager? This will focus on Rooney the player. It is a bit difficult as a football fan to wrap around the fact that we may never see Wayne Rooney playing again, especially if it ends with that poor outing against Middlesbrough. Rooney has not been the same since lockdown. This preseason he was hampered by a back injury and came backing to the team looking unfit and struggling to pass to a Derby shirt at times. His individual quality came through with a clutch free kick in the dying embers of the game against Norwich however, leading to the only Rams win of the season until late November, but then he missed a couple of games self-isolating from COVID. He has not been at his best and his now out of the team, which is probably for the best. But not seeing the pre-lockdown Rooney in a Derby shirt anymore, disappointing. Off the field after the sacking of Cocu he has steadied the ship and got Derby back playing to something like we expected. Unbeaten since he officially took over things have been much better on the pitch. Will he get the job full time? Is that what Derby need? Possibly not but he is certainly not doing his chances any harm at all. Player 5/10 Manager 7/10
33 Curtis Davies
This season Davies has almost rolled back the years, it looked at a point last season his time at Derby could well be over. This season he has been an absolute rock when brought in after a shaky defensive start. He has barely put a foot wrong so far which has helped the back line tremendously. His experience is key and whilst he cannot do it all alone his inclusion in the side has been easily a huge plus making up a solid part of the spine of the Derby side. Unfortunately, now it looks his season is finished due to injury and with his contract up at the end of the season, we may have seen the last of Davies in a Derby shirt. 8/10
38 Jason Knight
The shining light of the season. Jason Knight continues to grow leaps and bounds. Probably the least herald of the three youngsters last season (behind Bird and Sibley), but Knight is now not only one of the first names on the team sheet, he is also one of Derby’s most crucial players. International honors have followed him this season with him recently making is Ireland debut in the November internationals. His work rate is phenomenal and is very much a Craig Bryson-esc player. He scored the winning goal against Millwall. His influence is growing week by week. 9/10
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