FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/football-manager-2014-manager-stories/571618d1399212110-same-mould-shankly-derby-county-revival-derby-county-fc.jpg

Hello and welcome to my Football Manager 2015 save with Derby County!

Following the Rams heartbreak in the playoff final at the hands of QPR, I have decided that they would be the perfect team for me to start a save with this year. They already have a very talented side, and as they're showing in real life at the moment, they are fully capable of gaining promotion to the promised land, the Premier League.

I will be doing monthly updates for this save, showing the fixtures, league table, some of the leading players in terms of goals, assists, match ratings, etc. and my own personal views on each match. I hope you enjoy, and feedback is very welcome!
Johno
17 years ago
1 week ago
2,643
Premium
Good luck with Derby
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Pre Season 2014

My sole focus for this pre-season was to make sure my tactics that I had set up for the squad would be implemented well, and try out some players in roles I foresee them playing in. The poster boy for the series, Will Hughes, unfortunately suffered a dislocated shoulder early on in pre-season, which means he'll miss the first couple of months this season.

I am always an advocate of getting my deals done as early as possible in the transfer window, and I continued that philosophy of mine in this save, with Jesse Lingard coming in on loan following a successful season on loan at Birmingham and Brighton last season, in which he also managed to score against Derby in the first leg of the playoff semi-final last season. I'd like to think he won't renew his contract at Manchester United with it expiring this summer, and I'll certainly be looking to make him here on a permanent basis if that happens. Two other players who joined the club include Mateusz Taudul, who has signed for the U-21s following the expiry of his contract with Everton, and hopefully he can develop into a solid enough back up keeper one day. I also brought in another Everton player in Luke Garbutt. He's got a lot of potential in game, and with an initial loan deal, I plan on signing him like Lingard on a permanent basis if his contract at Everton expires.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-08at55749PM_zps9592ca56.png
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-08at60117PM_zpsb2313c2e.png
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-08at60405PM_zps2c74803c.png

There have only been two outgoings before our first competitive fixture of the season, with Paul Coutts leaving for Milwall in a deal that included a 500k fee up front, with us also getting a possible 20% sell on fee. We also released Zak Whitbread from the club. No clubs were willing to take him on for free due to his high wage demands, so I had to terminate his contract. He wasn't going to feature at all considering he was my fifth choice centre back, so it was the best move for all parties that he left.

In terms of results, pre-season was as I fully expected it to be, the team gelling, and an improvement in results from the beginning to the end. I can accept the defeat to a Ligue One team in Lens, but I was slightly disappointed in the 1-0 defeat to the Swiss side St. Gallen, as I felt we were the more dominant side. The 0-0 draw to Tranmere was particularly disappointing, but from that result we really kicked on, and the team started performing as they should. Chris Martin bagged four in a 6-1 win away at Doncaster, in what certainly was the highlight of pre-season.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-08at61330PM_zps36022bdc.png

I don't expect much more movement in terms of transfer, but there's a slight possibility Mason Bennett could be heading out on loan. Other than that, I feel the squad is in a very good place to fight for promotion this season!
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
Good luck with this one mate.I had a go with derby in my first save on fm15.Got them promoted first time then stopped to start my spartak save.Good team to manage with a good young team.Try to get grealish on loan.Worked wonders for me pal.
Johno
17 years ago
1 week ago
2,643
Premium
Not bad pre season there

Where do you think you will end up this season?
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Good luck with this one mate.I had a go with derby in my first save on fm15.Got them promoted first time then stopped to start my spartak save.Good team to manage with a good young team.Try to get grealish on loan.Worked wonders for me pal.

Thanks! Grealish is certainly a possible signing, but if I were to go after him I'd have to get rid of Jamie Ward. If I can get a good price for Ward I'll definitely go for him.
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Not bad pre season there

Where do you think you will end up this season?

I think that top six is certainly a realistic goal for me with this side. Promotion of course is the ultimate goal, but there's some very strong sides in the division!
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
I brought him in on loan and played grealish rw and Jordan ibe lw with ward as back up with him being able to play both sides.Garbutt is a good signing.As johno said you had good pre season.I think top 6 is a good enough target.
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
I brought him in on loan and played grealish rw and Jordan ibe lw with ward as back up with him being able to play both sides.Garbutt is a good signing.As johno said you had good pre season.I think top 6 is a good enough target.

Yeah I've gone and signed Grealish. Ward has somewhat unluckily injured himself for four months. Ibe on the right and Grealish on the left with Lingard on the bench is certainly a very good selection of wingers at this level!
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
Good choice.Both did great for me.
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Good choice.Both did great for me.

Don't think I've used a faster player in any FM ever! Ibe is one of the best wingers I've ever used simply down to his pace. Leads most attacks when I'm on the counter charging down the wing!
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
He is great in that league.Think I got him in on another loan before I stopped playing that save.Think I brought in grealish on a transfer as villa went down.
Jamie3
11 years ago
2 days ago
1,640
Premium
Good Luck With Derby
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Z3poSohYmwYBKfU2UfgqRf6uLucJsUw8PmsyIYag.png
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/mfTbSuci6RH0e0ynGVIcy5yz7nyV7WeEIU5Lztvr.png

That's how they both did for me.Grealish was immense
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Good luck with this mate!
DP91
13 years ago
1 month ago
226
Good luck with Derby mate, didn't fancy Brighton!? Supporting Brighton myself I can see why of late Jack Grealish is a great signing who will get plenty of interest for a big profit should the club not raise to where he'll want to be but I have no doubts they will. Plenty of good players in wide area's this season now, will make for an interesting season!
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Good luck with Derby mate, didn't fancy Brighton!? Supporting Brighton myself I can see why of late Jack Grealish is a great signing who will get plenty of interest for a big profit should the club not raise to where he'll want to be but I have no doubts they will. Plenty of good players in wide area's this season now, will make for an interesting season!

I have a save on the side that I do with us, but don't play it much as when I do well it just baffles me how poorly Hyppia is doing with the set of players we have! Hoping Grealish can play a key role, although I have 6 important loanees, and only five can make the squad.
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Z3poSohYmwYBKfU2UfgqRf6uLucJsUw8PmsyIYag.png
https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/mfTbSuci6RH0e0ynGVIcy5yz7nyV7WeEIU5Lztvr.png

That's how they both did for me.Grealish was immense

Wow, they both did really well! Certainly hoping to keep both beyond this season but will cost a fair bit!
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
August 2014

Following our successful run to end pre-season, I was certainly looking for us to have a strong start to the season, and we certainly did that.


Results


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-09at90538PM_zps02087632.png


We opened up our campaign home to Rotherham, in a fixture I felt would be tougher than it looked on paper. Despite our superiority in terms of talent among the ranks, I felt as though this newly promoted Rotherham side would happily sit back and defend against us, and make us beat them. Luckily for us, we managed to show our true class, and thanks to two goals from Chris Martin we won 2-1. Becchio pulled one back in the 87th minute for the visitors, but thankfully for us they didn’t have the firepower to complete a later comeback.

Our next fixture was at away from home to Oldham in the Capital One Cup. I slightly rotated the side with us having a fair few fixtures early on in the season. It wasn’t long before Mason Bennett showed the gulf in class between us and the opposition, with the highly rated youngster making it 1-0 after 6 minutes. Johnny Russell put the game beyond any doubt about an hour in after calmly finishing his chance, and we progressed to the next round, in which we play Milwall.

We followed up wins in our first two competitive fixtures with yet another one in this fixture away to Sheffield Wednesday. I highly doubt they’ll be struggling to stay up this season, as they have some decent players all around, including Stevie May up front. This didn’t cause us problems though, as Jordan Ibe opened the scoring in the 35th minute, with a delightful solo goal. Johnny Russell doubled our lead only two minutes later, with a poacher’s finish after some good work yet again from that man Ibe. Paul Corry made for a nervy finish to the match with his goal in the 76th minute, but a late save from Lee Grant made sure we were leaving Sheffield with the three points.

Our next fixture was yet another away one, and this time it was against Charlton. I was wary before the match started of their threats, including Igor Vetokele, who I rate highly. Despite the fact that this was our third away match in 7 days, the players showed no signs of tiredness. A trip on a clean through on goal Chris Martin led to us being given a penalty in the 29th minute, which John Eustace. A slightly more controversial penalty was given in added time in the first half, after the referee believed Ibe was fouled in the area, despite it being revealed by cameras it was a dive. John Eustace stepped up again, and sent the keeper the wrong way to double our lead. Chris Martin put the game beyond any doubt after putting us 3-0 up in the 81st minute. A fourth successive win put us top of the league.

Following the win against London club Charlton, Fulham made the journey up to the iPro Stadium. Similar to us, they were enjoying a good start to the season. New signing Jack Grealish made his debut for us, whilst Fulham fielded a side containing Patrick Roberts, Hugo Rodellega, and Ross McCormack. It was us who made the breakthrough, with Jordan Ibe scoring yet again in the 56th minute. Adam Taggart equalised only a few minutes later, with the young Australian scoring into an open net. This match wasn’t done yet, as in the 91st minute Chris Martin was tripped in the area. John Eustace yet again stepped up to take it, and emphatically smashed the ball home.

Following the Fulham result, we travelled away yet again. This time it was down to Milwall on a Tuesday night for a Capital One Cup clash. I expected us to win this quite comfortably, but against the run of play it was the hosts who opened the scoring through Lee Martin. John Marquis doubled their lead in stoppage time in the first half from a former player Paul Coutts’ cross. We pulled a goal back through Simon Dawkins in the 82nd minute, and a 25 yard wonder goal from Craig Bryson set us up for extra time, or so we thought… Straight from kick off, Milwall played the ball backwards, and hoofed it forwards to Marquis. This was headed up in the air, but only as far as Jordan Clarke, who had a simple header to play back to Grant. He left this header short, with Lee Gregory running on, and in the 93rd minute they scored their winner.

We next played Ipswich at home, and this was a fixture I felt we should win quite comfortably. We broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, with Johnny Russell getting what was already his third goal of the season. We were on top for the rest of the match, and held on comfortably for a 1-0 victory, meaning we were top with fifteen points from five fixtures to start the season.


League Table


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-09at90438PM_zps5c45d9d8.png


Stats


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-09at90524PM_zps6321dcc7.png


I can only say that I am absolutely delighted with this start to the season. I set myself with the goal of finishing in the top six and ideally promotion, and we're certainly on course to do so. I have been very impressed with all players, but Jordan Ibe has to win my player of the month award. He's been in fine form with two goals in his first six appearances, and also picked up two assists. His pace is vital for our attacks, and he beats players with ease. I also managed to pick up the Manager of the Month award for our performances this month, and I'd love to pick up more along the course of the season.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-09at90458PM_zps4deda8f7.png


There's only been one transfer made since the last update, and that was bringing in Jack Grealish in on loan. He will replace another loanee in Lingard at the left wing role, and he'll be key for us this season. The only issue with this signing is that we now have to drop one of our six loanees for each match, as only 5 are allowed in the matchday squad.


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-09at90756PM_zps6e8506e5.png


Thank you to all who have read the latest monthly update! Please give feedback on how I can improve
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Started the season in superb fashion mate
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
No need for the feedback mate your doing good enough.But what a start.Keep this up and you will be in the prem next season for sure.
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
No need for the feedback mate your doing good enough.But what a start.Keep this up and you will be in the prem next season for sure.

Thank you! Certainly feel the squad is strong enough even with the normal couple of injuries to maintain this start!

Started the season in superb fashion mate

Cheers!
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
September 2014


Continuing on from our fantastic start to the season, I was hoping we’d be able to continue this into the month of September. In this month we face our most fierce rivals in Nottingham Forest, and some other decent sides, including Cardiff and Bournemouth amongst others.


Results


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-10at83207PM_zps264e0dde.png


To start off the month we went away to Forest. This was going to be an incredibly difficult task, as they have spent big in the summer, and have a very good side. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, with Jamal Lascelles opening the scoring. Britt Assombalonga doubled their lead, slotting home a penalty in the 57th minute. I thought the comeback was on after Johnny Russell reduced the lead to just one goal in the 62nd minute, but Chris Cohen put Forest comfortably in front scoring just four minutes after our equaliser. This result annoyed myself, and devastated the fans, as we both equally wanted to beat our rivals.

Following the disappointing result at Forest, we went away to Blackburn, and I wanted the players to redeem themselves. They certainly didn’t do that, with us going 1-0 down through Leon Best, our man whose loan we terminated, in the 18th minute. Their lead doubled only a few minutes later, with Jordan Rhodes scoring. He did so again in the 64th minute, to make it a gloomy 3-0 defeat. Slightly more concerning than the result itself was that Jordan Ibe had to come off injured, meaning he’d miss around 4 to 5 matches.

I was highly annoyed from our last two results, and I made it clear to the players they’d have to be at their very best to beat Cardiff. Despite them being 20th in the league, I was still cautious of the very talented squad that they possessed. We did make the breakthrough though, with Chris Martin scoring in the 58th minute. Twenty minutes later it was Jack Grealish who doubled our lead, with the on loan Villa man slotting the ball past David Marshall. A very good comeback from the boys to two disappointing results.

Our next fixture was away to Bolton, and despite the fact that they’re looking like a solid mid-table side, I felt we should certainly be leaving the renamed Macron Stadium with the three points. It was yet again Jack Grealish who put us 1-0 up in the 11th minute, and he’s certainly showing me why some people were crying out for me to sign him. Only four minutes later it was 2-0, with Craig Bryson hitting a screamer from 25 yards out into the top corner. We shut up shop from that point on, and picked up the three points.

We ended the month at home to Bournemouth in a fixture I felt confident going into. Despite the fact they have some very good players like Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie, I felt our in form and superior side would face no troubles. My hopes were confirmed only nineteen minutes into the match. We were 3-0 up through goals from Jeff Hendrick, Jack Grealish, and Jake Buxton. We were cruising for what looked like it may be a comfortable victory, or so we thought. Junior Stanislas pulled one goal back for the Cherries in the 25th minute, and scored in the 39th, setting us up for a tense second half. My worst fears were made a reality when in the 50th minute, Callum Wilson slid the ball into the corner of the net. I thought at this stage we’d blown our chances in this match, but that man Craig Bryson came up massive yet again for us, and scored in the 66th minute. It was a nervy finish to the match, but we did manage to hold on and get our third successive win.


League Table


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-10at83230PM_zps1f13d543.png


Despite the fact that we’ve dropped to second in the table, I am still very pleased with our overall performance this month. The defeat to Forest and Blackburn obviously upset the fans a bit, but the squad couldn’t of reacted in a better way, winning our remaining fixtures in the month. I am hoping we can continue this into October and November, which I’ll be combining together in one installment, due to the lack of fixtures.


Stats


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-10at83248PM_zpse9ce8d72.png


http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/ajman9011/ScreenShot2014-12-10at83132PM_zps7c050df0.png


The standout player this month was our on loan man Jack Grealish. He bagged himself three goals in five fixtures for this month, and for a winger that;s an incredible performance. Craig Bryson is another player who came up massive for us in times of need, and that's the fight of players we need if we're to go up.


Thanks for reading!
SBR
9 years ago
3 years ago
719
Poor start to the month but you picked it back up.Still in 2nd place so its not like the start of the month did your chances that bad.
DP91
13 years ago
1 month ago
226
Good start to the season just a shame that Norwich have been flying also. A 7 point gap already over those outside the playoff spots so looking good right now for the Premier League dream.
Jamie3
11 years ago
2 days ago
1,640
Premium
Goals start to season least your 2nd and Norwich are catchable
FM Sensation
10 years ago
1 year ago
36
Goals start to season least your 2nd and Norwich are catchable

Very happy with this start! Norwich have a good side but I feel there's no reason we can go toe to toe with them.
Good start to the season just a shame that Norwich have been flying also. A 7 point gap already over those outside the playoff spots so looking good right now for the Premier League dream.

Happy to already be pulling away from teams at the lower ends of the playoffs and between 10th-7th. If we can keep this up then I certainly feel we can go up!
Poor start to the month but you picked it back up.Still in 2nd place so its not like the start of the month did your chances that bad.

Yeah, I was really disappointed with the Forest and Blackburn results, but we couldn't of responded in a better way.
Johno
17 years ago
1 week ago
2,643
Premium
Still right up there despite with 2 defeats

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