How will Rams look once they return after deadline ...?
ALL TRANSFER WINDOWS WILL HAVE SHUT BY TIME COCU’S MEN RETURN TO ACTION
DERBY County have their first Championship win of the season under their belts and now wait until October 16 for their next game after the international break.
That game against Watford at Pride Park Stadium will be after the domestic transfer deadline, which is at 5pm on the same day.
The international transfer deadline passed at 11pm last night and, at the time of going to press, the Rams had made six signings for the first team so far.
Defenders Mike te Wierik, Matt Clarke and Nathan Byrne have come in, along with goalkeeper David Marshall and wide attackers Kamil Jozwiak and Jordon Ibe.
The Rams have also added Bobby Duncan and Isaac Hutchinson to their under-23 squad.
So how could the Rams line up against the Hornets on October 16? Some players are still recovering from injuries – Martyn Waghorn, Tom Lawrence and Krystian Bielik – but here we have a look at a possible Rams team once deadline day is done and dusted.
GOALKEEPER
David Marshall is the Rams’ number one and the summer signing from Wigan Athletic was outstanding in Saturday’s 1-0 away win against Norwich City
DEFENCE
Phillip Cocu opted to go with three centre-backs and wing-backs against Norwich, rather than a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and it helped in a first clean sheet in the League since July 1.
George Evans, Curtis Davies and Matt Clarke were the three centrebacks, with Nathan Byrne and Lee Buchanan the wing-backs.
The experience of Davies played a big part, as did Evans’ composure on the ball.
It meant new signing Mike te Wierik was on the bench, as was Craig Forsyth, while Andre Wisdom was not in the 18. Wisdom caught the eye as a centre-back during the second half of last season.
MIDFIELD
Cocu went with the energy and snap of Graeme Shinnie and Jason Knight, who both impressed. They won second balls and offered a screen in front of the defence.
Skipper Wayne Rooney and Max Bird have formed the regular midfield pairing, looking to control Derby’s play in possession, and it will be interesting to see if Cocu sticks with the Shinnie/knight combination, given the next game is at home, or whether he drops a ‘controller’ in there in either Rooney or Bird.
Krystian Bielik will provide an option in midfield or at centre-back when fit following his serious knee injury.
Duane Holmes was used on the right side at Norwich in his first start in the League since early July and Kamil Jozwiak on the left, with
Rooney played as the focal point of the attack.
Louie Sibley, who missed out at Norwich through injury, has shown he can add a spark as the number 10.
STRIKERS
Cocu has said he would like to add a striker to his squad and the search continues, with West Bromwich Albion’s Charlie Austin being heavily linked.
Waghorn, who is currently out injured, has filled the role previously and he has been missed.
The unpredictability and threat Tom Lawrence can offer has also been missed.
It is unlikely either will be fit to face Watford in the next game and it remains to be seen if Sibley is fit but Jordon Ibe will have had two weeks more training under his belt to improve his fitness and sharpness.
Jack Marriott is another attacking option and Rooney can play up top, as he did at Norwich, but Derby have been looking for another striker.
If that striker is Austin and if the Rams stick with three at the back, then this is how Derby could line up after the window has closed on October 16: (3-4-3 formation) Marshall; Evans, Davies, Clarke; Byrne, Rooney, Knight, Buchanan; Ibe, Austin, Jozwiak.