5 key Derby County talking points from 2022/23 season to date - fans, issues and underrated impact

The Rams have had a turbulent season this year with a playoff push and a place back in the Championship on the line. Here are five of the biggest talking points from the season so far.

Formation changes

Derby’s form has fluctuated since their 18-game unbeaten run earlier in the season, it wouldn’t seem that there is any reason for this but formation changes might have contributed. Rams manager Paul Warne has a 3-5-2 system that he has used successfully in the past at other clubs. Warne has been playing the 3-5-2 over the past few weeks whilst Derby’s form has stuttered.

During the unbeaten run earlier in the year, Derby were playing a 4-3-3 which on paper naturally fits the squad better. Players such as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tom Barkhuizen are being played as wing-backs whereas they are natural attacking wingers and very high level ones at that. The stats don’t lie, Derby have played 11 games this season with the 3-5-2 and haven’t beaten a team higher than 19th place in that time. Maybe it is time to switch back before it’s too late.

David McGoldrick

Many would be surprised to hear that the Rams’ stand out player this season is a 35-year-old journeyman striker, but David McGoldrick has been on fire. Derby’s number ten has scored 19 goals in 35 appearances in the league this year making him the third top scorer in League One.

McGoldrick has netted three hat tricks this season (the only player to do this in the Championship, League One and League Two) which is made more impressive by the fact that before this season, he’d never scored a hat trick since his first professional appearance in 2004. If the Rams are to find success this year, you bet that McGoldrick will be a huge part of that.

The fans

Rams fans famously provide incredible support - and this season has been no different. Derby have the highest average home attendance this season in League One according to Football Web Pages at 26,948 which is 1,000 more than the next team (Ipswich Town).

Not only has Pride Park been rocking this year but Derby’s average away attendance is fourth in the league at 11,407. Its clear to see, if you watch or listen to any away game this season, they’ve almost sounded like home games. A big shoutout to Rams fans, Derby’s playoff push couldn’t be possible without you.

Transfer embargo

It seems to be that Derby’s tough period is moving further away. Following 282 days in administration, the club was saved by local businessman David Clowes. However, the fallout is still lurking.

As a part of the club’s deal with the EFL, restrictions on signing players were put in place. In their statement at the time, the EFL said: “As part of the conditions of continuing membership in the EFL, the Club, whilst remaining under a registration embargo, will be permitted to sign new players in accordance with the terms of a business plan.”

This has made it very difficult for the Rams to bring players in. For example, in the January transfer window, Derby signed three loanees (Harvey White, Tony Springett and Luke McGee) who have not made a great deal of impact on the starting 11. Whatever happens at the end of the season, the Rams should be proud of putting together a strong campaign whilst facing these restrictions.

Max Bird’s underrated impact

Many Rams fans know just how important Max Bird is to this team and this has been shown in abundance this season. The 22-year-old has made 34 appearances this year, but his impact was hampered after he suffered a groin injury against West Ham in January.

Since that West Ham game, Derby’s form has dropped significantly putting a place in the playoffs at risk with only a handful of games to go. Bird’s performances controlling the midfield and acting as a leader for the Rams have earned him a place as one of the first names on the team sheet. A future club captain and talisman for Derby, he’s vital to the Rams success.