If you had to replace 3?

[swaledale]

Wtf, this ain't sentimentally but what about giving the guys that got you there a chance to prove they can play there.

You seem to be writing them off before they have even kicked a ball

.. What chance have we got of signing 4 or 5 European standard internationals as you put it.. If your talking quality far superior to what we already have then that will cost millions on transfer fees, signing on fees and bigger contracts.

I'd love to see us having a crack at the prem again but don't want to see the clubs financial stability damaged to do so.

One word.. Ravenelli

Well I guess that depends very much upon the strategy of GSE? They have the resources to be able to strengthen the squad, but I wouldn't have thought that they would depart far from the current business plan albeit at a slightly higher level.

If Stoke, Hull Southampton and Swansea, teams with arguably less revenue generating potential than Derby can do it, th

[wristslasher_909]

It would be nice to give the current crop a chance, but we'd be down by Christmas.

There isn't the pace or power in our squad to survive in the Prem. The gap in standard is HUGE.

Look at our season with Jim Smith when we got promotion in the 90s. We added Stimac, Asanovic and Laursen, 3 European International standard players and struggled, but survived. Over the next 2 seasons we added real quality in Baiano and Eranio. That was then, but the gap between the divisions is much higher now.

If we don't invest McClaren will be sacked in December. Fans and boards won't be patient and that's when the downward spiral starts.

If we go up, we have to stay up if we want to make real progress.

[wristslasher_909]

Swale - they don't have to be the BIG European players. But to play in the Prem you have to be an international these days, it's the "World League".

If we signed a load of England u21 players we would also be relegated.

European fringe internationals should be within our budget if we go up.

[Rapid]

It would be nice to give the current crop a chance, but we'd be down by Christmas.

There isn't the pace or power in our squad to survive in the Prem. The gap in standard is HUGE.

Look at our season with Jim Smith when we got promotion in the 90s. We added Stimac, Asanovic and Laursen, 3 European International standard players and struggled, but survived. Over the next 2 seasons we added real quality in Baiano and Eranio. That was then, but the gap between the divisions is much higher now.

If we don't invest McClaren will be sacked in December. Fans and boards won't be patient and that's when the downward spiral starts.

If we go up, we have to stay up if we want to make real progress.

really good post. one of the most important reasons for studying history of course, is to learn from our success but also mistakes.

the problem now days is with European scouting networks being so huge there are very few gems that hav

[wristslasher_909]

Ravenelli was an obvious mistake from the off.

See Transfer rule number 5 from Soccernomics!

1.New managers waste money, ergo, limit their say in transfers.

2.Draw opinion from several people from different backgrounds.

3.Avoid stars of recent international tournaments.

4.Avoid certain nationalities (e.g. Brazilian, Dutch) as they are overpriced.

5.Buy players in their early twenties; older players are overvalued and youngsters aren’t fully developed.

6.Sell a player either before buyers see deterioration in his game or when a club offers more than he’s worth.

7.Replace your best players before selling.

8.Never buy strikers because they are overpriced; develop them instead.

9.Buy players with personal problems , then help them deal with their issues.

10.Help new players relocate.

[roger_ramjet]

I would replace Bloomer with Pol Pot. I'd replace Rattea with Gore Vidal. I'd replace Chris with a cheese sandwich.

Overall we would have a similar, but more potent, moderator group this way.

Did you miss the randomness, Ella?

[chris311080]

Would it have pickle on
White or brown bread

I really don't think you have thought this through properly

[Rapid]

Would it have pickle on
White or brown bread

I really don't think you have thought this through properly

stale bread and any cheese so long as it's yellow

[swaledale]

[quote="wristslasher_909".

If we signed a load of England u21 players we would also be relegated.

European fringe internationals should be within our budget if we go up.[/quote]

I guess it depends upon what you call a fringe international? Not entirely sure how many international players Stoke had in their early years in the prem, or Swansea for that matter and it was when Norwich bought big and brought in 3 international standard players that they actually got relegated.

There is a fine balance between keeping the spirit of the team that goes up and adding the quality which enbales a team to make a fist of it, after all you only need 3 teams worse than you.

One things for sure, I think with our scouting network and GSE's funding, we ought to stand a fighting chance but hey we are getting ahead of ours

[ellafella]

If you had to replace three players from our present squad, who would they be? Not talking about fringe players, but those who play or make the bench.

I have doubts about Frosyth's ability to be consistent so he woudl eb one assuming one could get a better left back.

Best hasn't really had an opportunity to shine, but at the moment one would have to say could be replaced.

IBe for me adds a lot, but if we had a more experienced wide player to cover for Ward then that would be an area to look at.[/quote]

Forsyth is the highest ranking Derby player in the Championship and tops the Derby assists rate.