Derby County Blog
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What with the furore over a potential Saudi takeover at #dcfc, I was curious to know who in the world owns the other Championship clubs. So I did a very quick scan to find out (feel free to correct me if any of these need updating). If my sums are right, 11 of the 24 clubs are in American control.
Interesting ITK rumour emanating from the #dcfc forum today. Derby are allegedly in for the German attacking midfielder Filip Bilbija on a free transfer from SC Paderborn. 'Fil Bil', as I'm calling him, is 26 and has just had a great season, scoring 17 goals for Paderborn as they secured promotion.
As things stand, the #dcfc team looks something like this. JWZ; Johnston, Langas, Clarke, Murkin; Travis, Fraulo; Ward, Clark, Brewster; Morris Subs from: Vickers, O'Donnell, Sanderson, Nyambe, Forsyth, Thompson, Goudmijn, Eames, Blackett-Taylor, Salvesen, Brown, Allen
It's always really nice (but an increasingly rare privilege these days) to see my work in print. Thanks loads to NorRam magazine for the commission 🇳🇴🐏
Saudi investment or ownership would be freighted with all kinds of moral compromise. We've seen this with Newcastle United. I am not an expert on the Middle East, but even a cursory glance at Turki's Wiki page reveals a disconcerting section entitled "human rights abuses".
Sincere thanks to Eve for this very kind review of Coming Home, which is available in paperback (£10) or in e-book format (for just £2.99) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CNYQ4PVS
As a reminder, here is the league table from 11 April 2025. #dcfc were 21st, outside the bottom three only on goal difference.
Nearly every Championship team picks up most of their points at home - the average is 56.5%. #dcfc buck that trend, with only 40% of their points earned at Pride Park. Norwich, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday have earned lower percentages of their pts at home, but also have much lower pts totals.
Currently very much enjoying The Power and the Glory, @jonawils.bsky.social's history of the World Cup - it's definitely worthy of your Christmas book tokens. I didn't expect to come across any #dcfc references, but here we are, in the 1990 chapter. And it's not even Peter Shilton and Mark Wright!
In my preview, I said I hoped to see a competent performance from #dcfc tonight, and that's exactly what we got. Avoid doing anything daft, wait for Wednesday to make mistakes, pick them off. Agyemang was great, but could have done Brereton Diaz a favour by setting him up for a much-needed goal.
Christmas is coming Mark Crossley's getting fat Time to buy a festive book For Uncle Mick or Pat www.amazon.co.uk/s?i=stripboo... #dcfcfans
Everything crossed that Carlton Morris' injury isn't as bad as feared, but it might turn out that this unpunished, off-the-ball foul from a Watford defender has a massive impact on how #dcfc's season goes from here 🙏
Last season, Zets got pelters for his infuriatingly random kicking, but even that has improved this season. He's settled into his work really well.
I was really pleased to see Jacob Widell Zetterstrom get a nomination for Championship player of the month. Certainly when measured by the advanced goalkeeping metric "PSxG - GA"*, he's up there with the best keepers in the division this season. (*Definition included in image!)
Amazing work from #dcfc! The Rams seized on Sheffield United's vulnerabilities with ruthless intent to make it three wins on the spin. Carlton Morris continues to prove a canny signing by Eustace, and is now the Championship’s joint second-top goalscorer (the top scorer who doesn't play for Cov ⚽)
We shall see! When I polled the WhatsApp group, most of the guys agreed with you. I went with Nyambe, on the logic that Sheff U have a dangerous attacking left wing back in Harrison Burrows, also because I'm not sure where Ward's fitness is at, after he's been out for so long.
Kane Wilson - the Buffalo joined Mendez-Laing and Warne at MK at the end of the window. Like NML, that is below his level, but Warne is being backed to secure promotion.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing - Joined the Paul Warne revolution as a marquee signing for the ambitious League Two side, MK Dons.
Conor Washington - The Football Manager obsessive is playing for Matlock Town as he tries to launch a new chapter in coaching - and is also still playing plenty of Football Manager, by the look of things...
Kemar Roofe - Eustace was more than willing to give him a chance, but he could never prove his fitness. Still without a club and presumably, that's him done at 32.
Erik Pieters - listed by Wiki as a 'free agent', but is surely finished at the age of 37 after a few short-term spells as a cover defender for Championship clubs. Played one minute for #dcfc, against Stoke on the final day of last season.
Jeff Hendrick - one of our finest academy product has announced his retirement, having been unable to find another club after his swansong spell at #dcfc with no appearances.
Tom Barkhuizen - the scruffiest footballer in history signed for AFC Barrow in League Two.