How Lampard’s signings led to problems after play-off defeat
FRANK Lampard signed a dozen players for Derby County during his one season at Pride Park.
Lampard brought in loan stars Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Harry Wilson, who propelled Derby to the play-off final, along with permanent signings Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn.
Derby never recovered from the 2019 defeat to Aston Villa at Wembley in the Championship’s showpiece final and have been in a downward spiral ever since.
With Tomori and Mount returning to Chelsea and Wilson heading back to Liverpool, Derby could not fill the void left by the trio.
The Rams did not make any money on Lampard’s signings with Marriott, Waghorn, Scott Malone and Florian Jozefzoon all leaving for free last summer.
Here, we rate and slate Lampard’s signings during his time at Derby.
MARTYN WAGHORN
“Waggy” was signed from Ipswich Town in August 2019 for around £5million after a year at Portman Road and left Pride Park for Coventry City in the summer upon the expiry of his contact.
The former Rangers man netted 13 goals, including a hat-trick, under Lampard but managed only 17 goals in the following two seasons.
Often played out of position, Waghorn was the Rams’ top goalscorer in 2019-20 with 12 goals.
Last season he was the hero on the final day, scoring twice in a 3-3 draw with Sheffield Wednesday to keep Derby in the Championship but he only netted five times all season when Wayne Rooney’s side needed more from him.
Hit or miss? MISS.
JACK MARRIOTT
Marriott became a fan favourite for his two-goal heroics in the playoff semi-final against Leeds United in 2019.
However, overall he struggled for form during his injury-hit time with the club.
The former Peterborough United man didn’t fit the profile of striker that either Phillip Cocu or Rooney wanted to use in their system.
He played only 86 times across three seasons at Pride Park and scored 17 times.
Hit or miss? MISS.
FLORIAN JOZEFZOON
Jozefzoon’s career at Pride Park was just bizarre.
He dazzled in a 17-minute cameo in the 2019 play-off final defeat to Aston Villa at Wembley, with fans hopeful for the following season under compatriot Cocu.
Jozefzoon was signed from Brentford the year before and contributed a grand total of three goals and two assists during his time at Derby.
He spent most of the second half of the 2019-20 campaign on the sidelines and the following season on loan with Rotherham United. Hit or miss? MISS.
HARRY WILSON
Wilson was a star for the Rams during Lampard’s reign, his goals and assists firing them into the playoff final.
The Liverpool loanee managed 15 strikes and six assists and netted some fantastic efforts along the way.
Free kicks against Manchester United, Sheffield United and Stoke City stand out while his late show in a 2-0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers put Derby on course for the top six.
He earned a move to the Premier League but was relegated with AFC Bournemouth and is now eyeing a return to the top flight Championship high-flyers Fulham.
Hit or miss? HIT.
DUANE HOLMES
Holmes was signed from Scunthorpe United, making the jump from League One back to the Championship.
Despite impressing under Lampard and Cocu, he struggled last season and left for Huddersfield Town.
He registered six goals and six assists during his time in the Midlands.
“I want players who give everything for the cause and who fight for the team,” said Rooney.
Hit or miss? MISS.
ASHLEY COLE
Derby never recovered from the play-off defeat to Aston Villa nad have been in a downward spiral ever since.
Cole was brought in to provide cover at left-back in January last year with Malone, another summer signing, the club’s only fit player in that position.
Marcus Olsson and Craig Forsyth were recovering from serious knee injuries at the time.
Cole contributed two assists in a defeat of Bolton Wanderers and a draw with Birmingham City in the run-in to the play-offs.
Had to fill in for Malone in the play-off final but struggled against Villa and is now a youth team coach at Chelsea.
Hit or miss? HIT.
FIKAYO TOMORI
Tomori was Derby’s 2018-19 player of the year and is still highly regarded by fans.
The England international strug
gled in a 4-1 defeat to Leeds United on debut but quickly improved.
He made 56 appearances during his time at Derby, netting once – in the crazy 4-3 win at Norwich City.
Tomori went straight into Chelsea’s first team upon his return to Stamford Bridge but moved to AC Milan with his performances at the San Siro earning him a call-up to England’s senior team.
Hit or miss? HIT.
ANDY KING
King arrived on the final day of an underwhelming January 2019 window, signing on loan from Leicester City.
He managed only four appearances in the Championship before suffering an ankle injury in a defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Since his Derby exit, he has had spells with Rangers and Huddersfield Town and is now with Bristol City.
King never really got chance to have an impact at Derby.
Hit or miss? MISS.
Evans arrived from Manchester City, Lampard knowing him from the Etihad Stadium club during his time there in 2014.
The former Reading man suffered a knee problem on debut in August 2018 after a promising start against Ipswich.
He has found life tough since, but made an encouraging comeback against Bournemouth at centreback last season where he looked most comfortable
He joined Millwall in January.
Hit or miss? MISS.
SCOTT MALONE
A surprise signing, Malone arrived from Huddersfield Town in 2018 and offered competition at left-back.
The 28-year-old from Rowley Regis fell out of favour under Cocu, though, registering only 19 minutes of football for the Rams in 2020.
With Lee Buchanan and Forsyth jostling for the left-back position, Malone was allowed out on loan and joined Millwall.
He joined Gary Rowett’s side on a permanent deal in the summer.
Hit or miss? MISS.
MASON MOUNT
Another who was regularly serenaded by the Rams faithful, Mount earned hero status at Pride Park.
The England international netted 11 goals and assisted six during his time at Derby and his absence was noted when he picked up a hamstring injury at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
He followed Lampard back to Chelsea and has become a hero there, too. He set up Kai Havertz for the winner in the Champions League final in May.
Hit or miss? HIT.
EFE AMBROSE
We’ll never quite know what Ambrose could have brought to the Rams, on the pitch at least.
The former Celtic man arrived on a free transfer from Hibernian as cover for the club’s centre-backs.
It was clearly beneficial for Ambrose, though, who has spoken of enjoying his time under Lampard.
An utterly pointless signing, though, given he couldn’t even get on the bench at Pride Park.