Scott Carson has been at Derby County for four years but the Rams are undergoing a change thanks to Frank Lampard’s replacement.
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu has made a huge call just weeks after taking over at Pride Park. According to the Mirror (18 July, page 58), the former PSV Eindhoven boss has trying to get rid of veteran goalkeeper and long-serving fan favourite Scott Carson.
Comparisons will inevitably be drawn with the summer of 2016, when Pep Guardiola sparked his Manchester City revolution by deciding that Joe Hart, a popular figure both in the dressing room and in the stands, was surplus to requirements.
And, like Hart, Carson’s major drawback is probably his old school style. The former Liverpool and Aston Villa ace is a fine shot-stopper, one of the best in the Championship, but he’s hardly a modern ‘sweeper keeper’ who loves to start attacks from the back.
Cocu, meanwhile, is a forward-thinking coach who’s teams tend to dominate possession. The three-time Eredivisie winning coach wants his teams to play out from defence and that could represent the end of Carson’s Derby career after four years at Pride Park.
The Mirror claims that the 33-year-old is one of the club’s highest earners, which may be another reason why he is not part of Cocu’s plans.
It remains to be seen whether Cocu will look to sign a replacement for stick with fellow Dutchman Kelle Roos, who is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet but no stranger to the odd howler.
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