Retained list...

[ramAnag]

Interesting, of course one doesn't know the facts behind Smith and Wildsmith, perhaps they wanted bigger contracts than Derby were prepared to offer. Certainly given the fact that there have been rumours for a couple of weeks about wanting another keeper, then either Warne doesn't fancy Wildsmith in the championship OR his wage demands were in excess what Derby were prepared to pay.

Rumours suggest that the keeper Johansson is off to Stoke.

It is interesting, and slightly curious. You’d expect them to want ‘bigger contracts’ I’d imagine, seeing as they would have been playing at a higher level which they’ve played no small part in getting Derby to.
I’d be surprised if their demands/expectations would be excessive given the circumstances of their arrival at Derby and the fact that they’ve been with us for our two years of being relative ‘paupers’.
Guess, as you say, we’ll never know the fine details but, to me, it’s disappointing…as they’re two extra ‘holes’ we have to fill which I’d anticipated being more than adequately and reliably filled already.

Think Johansson from Rotherham to Stoke is more than a rumour…it’s a completed deal.

[swaledale]

It is interesting, and slightly curious. You’d expect them to want ‘bigger contracts’ I’d imagine, seeing as they would have been playing at a higher level which they’ve played no small part in getting Derby to.
I’d be surprised if their demands/expectations would be excessive given the circumstances of their arrival at Derby and the fact that they’ve been with us for our two years of being relative ‘paupers’.
Guess, as you say, we’ll never know the fine details but, to me, it’s disappointing…as they’re two extra ‘holes’ we have to fill which I’d anticipated being more than adequately and reliably filled already.

Think Johansson from Rotherham to Stoke is more than a rumour…it’s a completed deal.

So it seems, I agree ( drum roll) that the Wildsmith situation is odd, I guess there are bigger contracts and sums that will potentially break the clubs budget? The issue being of course that paying one player over the odds leads to similar demands from other players and that isn't sustainable, the clubs been there done that, so whilst its disappointing its also perhaps a welcome sign that the club has limits and will work within those.

I wasn't too surprised, given the noises in the media about wanting another goalkeeper.

I do hope fans don't start getting carried away, Derby might be free of EFL restrictions, but Clowes doesn't seem like someone who will approve an excessive spending spree. The aim next season must surely be consolidation and look to finish as high as possible within the allowed budgets.

[Andy_Faber]

What many forget is that lower league footballers are a) on comfortable but not megabucks wages and b) aren’t exactly going to slot into well paid gigs when they retire so an increase in salary may really matter to them as a nest egg. Such disbelief (esp when players go to what are considered inferior clubs) is fan-driven

[ramAnag]

So it seems, I agree ( drum roll) that the Wildsmith situation is odd, I guess there are bigger contracts and sums that will potentially break the clubs budget? The issue being of course that paying one player over the odds leads to similar demands from other players and that isn't sustainable, the clubs been there done that, so whilst its disappointing its also perhaps a welcome sign that the club has limits and will work within those.

I wasn't too surprised, given the noises in the media about wanting another goalkeeper.

I do hope fans don't start getting carried away, Derby might be free of EFL restrictions, but Clowes doesn't seem like someone who will approve an excessive spending spree. The aim next season must surely be consolidation and look to finish as high as possible within the allowed budgets.

Fair bit of supposition there, Swale…unless you actually know that he’s been led into asking for an ‘over the odds’ deal.
I wouldn’t know, although he’s always appeared to me to be a very level headed and responsible chap who, perhaps more to the point, has won the ‘Golden Gloves’ award this season, has Championship experience, has made almost 100 appearances for us as part of a very strong defensive unit over the last two seasons and who, at 28, probably has another 8-10 years ahead of him.

I completely agree with your final paragraph but I think letting JW go is a major mistake and leaves ‘big boots’ to fill.

[swaledale]

Fair bit of supposition there, Swale…unless you actually know that he’s been led into asking for an ‘over the odds’ deal.
I wouldn’t know, although he’s always appeared to me to be a very level headed and responsible chap who, perhaps more to the point, has won the ‘Golden Gloves’ award this season, has Championship experience, has made almost 100 appearances for us as part of a very strong defensive unit over the last two seasons and who, at 28, probably has another 8-10 years ahead of him.

I completely agree with your final paragraph but I think letting JW go is a major mistake and leaves ‘big boots’ to fill.

Well there are a limited number of options as to why he has gone and given the circumstances the salary demands are the most likely.

I didn't say "over the odds" deal, but he will have an agent who if he is doing his job will have calculated the likely salary that other clubs in will pay, he may even have got firm offers ( don't forget a player on a free transfer can often get a higher wage as the club looking to sign him hasn't got a transfer fee to pay) and there are other richer clubs in the championship who may well be prepared to pay more than Derby are. Who would blame Wildsmith for seeking the best financial deal for himself? I'm sure even a "back up" keeper at Norwich, Southampton, Burnley, Sheff Utd for example would pay more than 1st choice at derby with potential promotion bonusses as well.

In the end no matter how pleasant and well balanced a player is, money talks and if that comes with potentially better career opportunities as well, why wouldn't he take them?


To say its a big mistake seems to suggest that Derby should pay him what he wants? Surely that approach is not sensible? At any rate it implies that his departure is purely down to Derby and Warne, whereas its more than possible that it was Wildsmith's choice to take an opportunity which his good performances last season and the fact that he is out of contract have become available.

[ramAnag]

Well there are a limited number of options as to why he has gone and given the circumstances the salary demands are the most likely.

I didn't say "over the odds" deal, but he will have an agent who if he is doing his job will have calculated the likely salary that other clubs in will pay, he may even have got firm offers ( don't forget a player on a free transfer can often get a higher wage as the club looking to sign him hasn't got a transfer fee to pay) and there are other richer clubs in the championship who may well be prepared to pay more than Derby are. Who would blame Wildsmith for seeking the best financial deal for himself? I'm sure even a "back up" keeper at Norwich, Southampton, Burnley, Sheff Utd for example would pay more than 1st choice at derby with potential promotion bonusses as well.

In the end no matter how pleasant and well balanced a player is, money talks and if that comes with potentially better career opportunities as well, why wouldn't he take them?


To say its a big mistake seems to suggest that Derby should pay him what he wants? Surely that approach is not sensible? At any rate it implies that his departure is purely down to Derby and Warne, whereas its more than possible that it was Wildsmith's choice to take an opportunity which his good performances last season and the fact that he is out of contract have become available.

You did actually refer to paying ‘over the odds’, in post #37, but no matter and I take your other points, although he has always come across to me as a player who values first team opportunities over Carson like salary security.
I didn’t actually intend it to sound over critical of either Derby or the manager although it will be very interesting to see where JW ends up.
Maybe ‘big mistake’ was overstating things because, as you rightly suggest, none of us know the full details…probably just disappointed, because Wildsmith would have been one of the first four or five names from last season’s squad - along with Nelson, Cashin, NML and Adams - I’d have been looking to secure for next season.

[MadAmster]

I do hope fans don't start getting carried away, Derby might be free of EFL restrictions, but Clowes doesn't seem like someone who will approve an excessive spending spree. The aim next season must surely be consolidation and look to finish as high as possible within the allowed budgets.

Ewe n me both Swale. DC is said to be "worth" around £250M. A lot of that is tied up in land, a football stadium, buildings, machinery etc. and not liquid assets. He won't be pumping millions into the club.