Lampard can pull in the men Derby need
In Frank Lampard Derby have acquired a name who will attract players and fans alike, with a contact list which will be the envy of many. Lampard himself knows Derby are geared up in every way to climb back into the Premier League, with average gates higher than a few Premier League clubs.
I feel this is a fantastic appointment and a wonderful opportunity for both sides.
At the start of February, Derby were sitting in second, but over the next two months they picked up just nine points from a possible 27 and ultimately just scraped into the final play-off spot, finishing 15 points off Cardiff City who claimed the second spot.
After failing at the semi-final stage in the last two seasons, Derby are a team very close to making it all the way, although they haven’t made it to the play off final since 2013/14.
To bridge that gap, Lampard has added to the experience already in his ranks with the best available loans and talent from the lower leagues, who will allow him to play in a variety of formations when necessary.
Mason Mount, 19, is a player I have watched closely in his time at Vitesse in Holland, where he was outstanding last season across the front positions in a side that played 3-5-2 and 4-3-3, where he showed maturity and tactical flexibility to operate in different positions.
He was highly coveted to take on loan again from parent club Chelsea and there would have been a queue of clubs lining up to take him on loan again, therefore Lampard’s links to Chelsea have seen him pull off a major coup.
He scored seven goals in his last seven games in the Eredivisie as well as assisting six, and he will be hoping to bring that late season form into this season.
You wouldn’t bet against it, as he scored the winner against Premier League Wolves in the Rams’ final pre season game.
Envious
Mount though, isn’t the only top young star Lampard has managed to attract to the club.
Harry Wilson, 21, is another hot property who was fantastic on loan at Hull City last season.
He delivered seven goals in 14 games after joining in January, which was a fantastic return for a player in his first loan spell away from Liverpool.
As Wilson was banging them in last season there would have been other Championship clubs looking on enviously, as with his goals and assists, he could have helped another team to promotion, rather than safety, as he did with Hull.
To complement the youthful attacking midfield of the likes of Mount, Wilson, George Evans and the terrific Tom Lawrence, Lampard has managed to see off other suitors and capture the League One top scorer Jack Marriott.
In Marriott and Matej Vydra, County now have the top scorer of both League One and the Championship, and with the ability to sign more players before first the permanent window closes on August 9, and then the loan window on August 31, with the option to make further signings in January, no wonder those expectations are great.
Refreshing
Lampard, as assistant manager, is Jody Morris, who has cut his teeth with the youth sides at Chelsea and my former Ireland teammate, Shay Given, who is goalkeeper coach.
It is refreshing to see young coaches backing themselves, as Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall did all those years ago at Bournemouth and look where it took them.
It started well for Derby at Reading on Friday night thanks to Lawrence’s late goal. Reading had carried last season’s poor form into pre-season,and this home defeat will disappoint Paul Clement.
Derby though, already had two Premier League scalps under their belts in pre-season matches and went into the game full of confidence.
All eyes would have been on Lampard and he didn’t disappoint.