Goal-shy Rams to make striker summer priority - with poll
TOP priority for goal-shy Derby County this summer will be to sign a striker, according to chief executive Tom Glick.
The Rams have failed to score in five of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last three in the Championship.
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Derby County players walk dejectedly away after one of Southampton's goals in the 4-0 defeat at St Mary's (above). Saints players celebrate a goal (right). Rams keeper Frank Fielding stretches to grab the ball (below).
Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Southampton stretched their run to five League games without a win. During that time, they have dropped from seventh to 15th.
Derby are one of the lowest scorers in the Championship with 33 goals in 31 matches.
"I think everyone knows we're short on goals and that is something we will make a priority in the summer – and that is something we are working on right now," said Glick.
"We're strong in certain places and we're weak in certain places, so we'll have a look at all areas.
"But we certainly know we need to score more goals and we'll look to address that."
Clough also says a striker is top of his wanted list.
"You look at Southampton's two strikers (Rickie Lambert and Billy Sharp). They are worth about £3.5m between them – that's not far off what we've spent in three and a half years," said Clough.
"When you look at what we've got up there, Nathan Tyson was a free transfer, Callum Ball is a 19-year-old and Theo Robinson was a next-to-nothing nominal fee.
"We need to try to find a striker in our price range who can get us the odd goal.
"We are working on that and searching all the time to try to get that striker in at the right price."
Lambert cost Southampton a fee of £1m rising to £1.5m and Sharp was a recent £1.8m capture from Doncaster Rovers.
Sharp was once a transfer target for Derby but Glick admits such a deal as that which took the player to Southampton is beyond their reach.
"We made different choices last summer. We brought in Nathan Tyson and Chris Maguire and we didn't bring in Billy Sharp," said Glick.
"I think right now, to go and get someone like Billy Sharp, who is on extremely high wages, does not fit into our wage bill at the moment and our ability to put a whole squad together that is going to have the right attributes.
"Investing that amount on a striker does not fit into our wage bill but we can make different choices in the summer."
44 Comments
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by WIKLOW
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 7:04PM
“I thought the club had invested in a £7m striker called Plaza or have I missed something?”
by ibelieveido
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 1:01PM
“You need to check your fact's re no players sold for a fee !!!
Any others players that have gone NEEDED to go .
Have a look at ALL THE PLAYERS that have left since N.C took
over the reigns i cannot think off the top of my head of one single
player that is hacking it on a regular basis at a decent club ,can you ?
Yet ....they are no longer dragging this club down by being paid stupid
over the top wages...FACT.
While on the subject,somebody posted earlier that players wages are the
reason for the serious lack of money in football ,how true ,it needs addressing...and now.”
by Craigwigan
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:48PM
“TYSON 15K AWEEK 35 MINS OF FOOTBAL HOURLY RATE HIGHER THAN A MERCHANT BANKER BENDIBUS 4 TYSON LOAN HIM OUT TO BURTON”
by TADLEYRAMS
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:38PM
“Hilton Boy
Good points - Reading ( my local club - yes it does hurt!) must have a great link with some Irish clubs, Doyle and Long bought for nothing sold for millions - They have just bought a couple of others tipped for big things. We dont have any worthwhile assets apart from Brayford and maybe Fielding, its all about bringing in players, selling some on keep improving the squad to balance the books, we just dont sell any one they all just leave/contract terminated.”
by TADLEYRAMS
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:27PM
“Paulderby.
Yes at home to Reading and at the Saints on Saturday. Its not the lack of funds, its the severe lack of effective management, players in correct positions. Not forwards on the wing, 2 19 yearolds in the heart of midfield, a midfielder at right back. The standard of football, Reading game, not one worthwhile effort all game, not the first this season or last season - We are Derby County and we are better than this.
Win lose or draw, try and entertain. (Not Jake Buxton for last 10 minutes even if we are chasing the game)”
by Hiltonboy
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:11PM
“Tadley Ram:
Hull have spent a good amount incl McClean from P'Boro (£3M ish). Burnley have ex Prem money and could afford a £2-3M winger from Sunderland. Granted Palace havent spent much but they have one of the best youth academies in the UK which has been nurtured for years.
Reading are a good example of how to build steadily.In recent years they have sold Doyle, Hunt and more recently laddo to WBA (cant bring to mind his name). I would est £15m made from those 3 sales. Money which has subsequently been re-invested. Admit Barnsley are doing better though!!!!!!!!!!”
by PeteDerby1
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:04PM
“Real rams fan - but the £50million is a fallacy. I'm not going through it all again - just read what Gadsby had to say at the time.
http://tinyurl.com/3o6rnvh
He was closer to the deal than any fan, but even he couldn't get an answer as to where the new money was supposedly coming from.
I like Tom Glick and GSE in every respect aside from their lack of promised investment income.
Unfortunately, that is THE most important thing in terms of progressing the team.
Reasonable investment to show progress = keeps most fans on board. No investment = stagnation = dwindling attendances and corporate income = reduced budget = lower quality players etc.
And you answer my point entirely about dropping attendances being about lack of entertainment as opposed to lack of personal cash. If the team is playing well, people will find the money from somewhere. When it's poor entertainment, THEN they question whether it's worth spending their tight budget on.
Root cause? Lack of investment in quality players = diminishing returns for the owners.
I repeat the point - we're going nowhere under GSE, which in reality means we're going backwards.”
by Paulderby
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 11:01AM
“TADLEYRAMS
have you not seen the lads play recently ?
the main problem is a lack of funds for players -note I don't say investment as that implies you put in a pound and get something back -no football club in the UK can achieve that -however in the USA sports clubs make massive profits -not surprised the yanks are a little confused wether here at liverpool ,Villa etc as they would expect to be getting a profit by now
please don't use the prem gets £90M as all the clubs who come down are in a bigger mess afterwards -including Burnley,Hull etc
the realty is that Football makes no money due to players being paid too much -simple and until that is addressed the owners will not be able to leave as they cant sell the club
THEY ARE NOT DERBY FANS THEY ARE INVESTORS so there will be no massive input of money”
by QAKID
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 10:57AM
“good post tadletram , I,ve been saying that for years.
average non league manager elevated by his name to a once big club.
It is a fallacy that great men (as B.C. was) very rarely have great or even good offsprings they always disappoint. the bar is set too high for them to hope to measure up.
Yes the name may sell a few season tickets and evoke a bit of nostalgia in the easy led but the long term prospects are doomed to failure.”
by TADLEYRAMS
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 10:39AM
“"Byrealramfan
I believe Derby fans are seeing the main problem with Derby County is Nigel Clough, teams like Reading, Hull, Burnley, Palace and Barnsley have spent very very little and are above the RAMS and play much better football, this has been going on for 3 years. What has happened at Portsmouth is down to over spending, big wages and not the backing they though they had. I believe the problem with Derby County is the manager, lack of tactics, lack of man management, basics like playing players in correct positions. Other teams players are worth something, ours just arent apart from 1 or 2 maybe. Our players always seem to be injured. NC has stated he is the happiest he has been with the squad - No proper cover at full back, no proper cover in Central Defence, no proper cover in midfield, actually no proper ball winning midfielders, no striker that can hold the ball up bring the midfielders into play and move the whole team 20 yards up the pitch. No forward is putting his name on the team sheet by playing well they are being picked because they are fit enough to play. And to cap it all not giving Mile Addison a chance is just nonsense, good in the air strong in the tackle, ok may be not that mobile, but hey Robbie Savage played every week and was not good at anything apart from annoying the opposition and his own players.
NC OUT”