Derby County’s Chief Executive reckons the club have spent wisely on players – but the evidence does not back him up.
Derby County may have one of the biggest budgets in the Championship but, quite clearly, money does not guarantee success. At least not when you spent £2.5 million on a striker who has mustered a grand total of one goal, a penalty, in 28 games, according to the BBC.
Yes, we’re looking at you Nick Blackman.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that the fact that Matej Vydra, Ikechi Anya, Bradley Johnson, Abdoul Camara, Jacob Butterfield and Andi Weimann have also largely underperformed since arriving at Pride Park since the summer of 2015.
And, just for context, Derby spent around £30 million combined to secure their services. And how many could the club realistically hope to sell for a profit?
Therefore, chief executive Sam Rush’s claims that the club have spent their money wisely will not go down too well with supporters sick of watching Camara (below) dart down blind alleys and Butterfield fire wastefully off target.
“We have created a situation where the club has been in the play-offs in two of the last three years,” he said in quotes reported by the Derby Telegraph. “It has been competitive and very much in the top half of the league for five or six years now.
“So I think the money that has been spent has been spent wisely on assets that are rising.”
Yes, The Rams have finished in the top six in two of the last three seasons but, the fact is, Derby have spent Premier League funds on mid-level Championship players.
And, as it stands, the best Gary Rowett’s side can hope for in 2016/17 is a top half finish with the majority of their recent signings flattering to deceive. Therefore, Rush doesn’t really have a leg to stand on.
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