jt1994

9 years • Edited

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Hello all and welcome to my Derby County story on FM15. Read through as I attempt to take Derby from mid-table mediocrity in the Championship to the dizzying heights of the Premier League and beyond. Your comments, suggestions and thoughts are appreciated so feel free to leave some!

Achievements

Championship Manager of The Month - August 2014

Championship Manager of The Month - October 2014

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jt1994

9 years

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Derby Appoint Rookie Thomas

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Derby County today announced the shock appointment of relatively unknown manager Jack Thomas to the post at Pride Park. He joins on an initial 12 month rolling contract and looks to bring immediate change to the club. He has been given a average sized budget for the division and in his initial comments on joining the club, suggested he wouldn't move in the market unless there was value for money.

Jack Thomas: "I'm ecstatic to have joined the club and can't wait to get started. I thank Steve for the hard work done before me and i'm fully aware that i've inherited a very capable squad. The financing is again there to improve if I wish, but i'll give the boys a chance in pre-season to prove themselves before making any decisions."

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Sky Bet have lengthened their odds on Derby' winning the league title, moving out to 8/1 and 7th favorites in the division. Young midfielder Will Hughes will be pivotal to any success the club achieves this season but with the recent unrest, speculation linking Hughes with a move to both Southampton or Liverpool increases. Surely top of Thomas' priorities will be to convince the young playmaker that a future with him at the club would be a bright one.

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Zap

9 years

Nice updates and great start. Keep it up, I will be following!!

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jt1994

9 years

Zap: Thanks Zap! Alot of the updates are already written so I hope you enjoy the story!

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jt1994

9 years

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Rams Raid Inverness CT For Duo

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Billy McKay - £650,000

Andrew Shinnie - £850,000

Derby County today completed the double signing of Inverness duo Andrew Shinnie and Billy Mckay for a combined fee of 1.5 Million pounds. Billy Mckay signs a three year deal with the Rams, with Shinnie putting pen to paper on a four-year contract. Thomas stated in todays conference that he was pleased with the duo in their first session and that he believes they can really add to the current squad.

JT: Billy and Andrew have look sharp this morning and they'll both contribute heavily towards the team this season. Left back we were short of options with only Craig Forsyth at the club, so Andrew comes in and has the chance to compete for the first team position with Craig. Billy gives us continued depth up front and will work with Chris (Martin) to hopefully form a great partnership.

Andrew Shinnie wasted no time in signalling his intent for the forth-coming season, citing his reasons for moving across the border. "I'm here because I want to play Premier League football and also, to play for my country. I've got great belief that the best things are possible here. Mckay wears the no12 shirt, with Shinnie given the no14.

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jt1994

9 years

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Pre-Season Report

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Thomas' first pre-season in charge of Derby saw a mixed bag of results and games against arguably the biggest club in the world in Barcelona, as well as the likes of Bremen and Nice. Derby have to all intensive purposes, acquitted themselves well in the games. Loyal fans following the games across Europe have been impressed with the resilience shown in the performances.

Key performers over the period were Chris Martin with four goals over the pre-season schedule. Richard Keogh has staked his club to start alongside Shotton in the heart of the Derby defense with some commanding performances, although the injury to Simon Dawkins in the Barcelona game has questioned whether he will be fit to start the season.

In other news, experienced goalkeeper Martin Fulop has joined the Derby side on a fortnights trial in an attempt to win a contract with the club. The experienced stopper was most recently in English football two years ago with West Bromich Albion. This news coupled with the clubs announcement that John Eustace & Kelle Roos had their contracts terminated with Derby, as well as Leon Best being sent back to parent club Blackburn.

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jt1994

9 years

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Derby Make Blistering Start To Life Under Thomas'

August

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Life under new management at Derby County couldn't have got off to a better beginning in the opening twists and turns of the Sky Bet Championship. With the schedule putting Derby against three relegation candidates at the start of the season, Thomas' boys took full effect including a noteable achievement, winning 4-0 away at the Valley to Charlton. Momentum was carried into two vital home games against teams in the play-off chase in Fulham and Ipswich, with Derby showing resoluteness to edge out both games.

New signing Greame Shinnie found his way into the starting line up at left back ahead of Craig Forsyth and was making a good impression in his first few outings. Fellow signing Billy Mckay had to settle for a place on the bench, Thomas' opting to play Chris Martin alone upfront in a 4-2-3-1, the former Norwich poacher grabbing seven of Derbys nine goals in the Championship in August. A third leg Capital One Cup tie at Everton awaited the Rams after second string squads edged out both Walsall and Mansfield.

Thomas was also named as Manager Of The Month, in his first month in charge at Derby County with Chris Martin winning the Players award.

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September

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September started with the eagerly anticipated derby against Notts Forest, and the clash against the divisions free-scoring players in Martin and Assombalonga. Derby edged the game quite comfortably after Assombalonga's early volley. The win was then overshadowed by a shock 4-1 loss to Blackburn, 18 year old striker O'Sullivan scoring all four goals for B'Burn. Championship form then returned with seven points from nine including a thumping of early strugglers, Cardiff City.

As of the end of September, Derby County were joint top of the Championship, with 25 of a possible 30 points.

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Starlord

9 years

Well done in the Championship so far, looks like you'll have a great season ahead of you. Losing to Everton in the Capital One Cup isn't that bad, since they are a Premier League side. I think you've been doing really well so far, so don't stop and keep it up!

1

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jt1994

9 years

Starlord: Thanks alot! Yeah its a solid start, the formations working a treat. Little worrying that we struggled in September bar the Cardiff game but I suppose you need some luck to do well!

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Feliks

9 years

You're off to a great start story wise, the presentation is really good so if you stick to this I reckon it could be something special.

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bebero

9 years

You started very well, congratulations! There are many matches but as you started, things will go well. Good luck !

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jt1994

9 years

Feliks: Thanks alot! I only started posting on the forum recently so finding a good layout was tough and learning it all, but knowing people read makes it worthwhile.

Bebero: Yeah i've been fortunate! Championship is a tough division though, fingers crossed we can see it through this season!

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jt1994

9 years

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Mid-Season Report

October

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October we managed to address the in-consistency of the month before and grind out some important wins. The whipping boys of the league Blackpool were disposed of comfortably between two difficult wins either side against Reading and Wigan respectively. A draw at the Den (Millwall) was all that denied maximum points for the month.

Chris Martin was cementing his role of lone striker with five of the eleven goals scored that month, with summer signing Billy Mckay growing more frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities. Craig Bryson topped the Opta stats charts for performances with Lampard-esque influences on games.

November

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On paper it was going to be a tough month with four promotion candidates to play, but November can only be described as disappointing. One win from five games and consistency conceding a couple of goals a game makes it much tougher to win. Every one of the previously stable back five had a bad game this month and it showed in the performance of the team.

December

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Thankfully again the team responded by following up with a strong month in the hectic December schedule. Revenge on Leeds was topped by fantastic wins against a strong Norwich and Brighton. Youngster Jordan Ibe was growing into a shoe-in in the first XI and Chris Martin continued his fine form with another five goals in the month. I was under no illusions that some strengthening would need to take place in January if we were to continue our promotion push.

January

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January, and the return of the FA Cup for our level. Barnet gave us a huge scare taking a two goal lead, but we rallied and found ourselves in the fourth round and a trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City. What followed was a game we should have won. A strong City XI missing only Aguero and Nasri labored and struggled to a draw, with Will Hughes hitting the post in the last minute in front of a stunned City crowd. The replay to be played at the iPro stadium on the 4th of February.

Continued leaking of goals in the championship was a worry, as well as letting a two goal lead slip in the East Midlands derby, Britt Assombalonga missing for a Forest side that really, we should have beat. Heads do of course turn to the replay with Manchester City however and hopefully, a piece of history for the club.

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jt1994

9 years • Edited

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Manchester City vs Derby County

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Anticipation is at fever pitch at the Etihad as Derby face Manchester City in the fourth round replay of the 2014/15 FA Cup. A goalless draw at the Etihad has took both teams to this point after they beat Barnet and Wigan respectively in the last round.

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The behind the scenes team at Manchester City expect a crowd in excess of 47,000 for the eagerly anticipated tie, the championship high flyers taking on the current table-toppers of the premier league. Both fans have considerable optimism, here's the word from the bookies.

Sky Bet's Andrew Coulston:: I cannot look beyond Manchester City in what is likely to be a close encounter. They would have learnt the lessons of the previous tie and I expect them to prevail by a couple of goals. The selection of a young striker partnership surprises me but I feel they have the necessary firepower.

Man City: Caballero, Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Bradley, Fernando, Nasri, Ambrose, Iheanacho.
Derby: Grant, Christie, Shotton, Keogh, Shinnie, Bryson, Hughes, Bentaleb, Ibe, Russell, Martin.