Millwall boss Neil Harris makes an interesting comment about Derby County’s squad

Follow us on Google Discover

Millwall host Derby County at The Den this weekend.

Millwall boss Neil Harris says Derby County could field two or three first-team XIs and still be competitive in the Championship as the two teams meet at The Den this weekend, millwallfc.co.uk report.

The Rams head into their clash with Millwall looking to bounce back from their humiliating 4-1 home defeat to Leeds United last weekend – a performance which left boss Frank Lampard seething.

Lampard has a host of players at his disposal for the trip to Millwall, largely due to the club making nine new signings this summer while only managing to move on a handful of senior players.

Speaking to his own club’s official website, Harris cites Derby’s great spending power in recent times as a reason for their huge squad and admits he doesn’t know who his side will be facing this weekend.

“Derby are another club at this level with a huge array of talent. They’ve had great spending power over the last 18 months and have a huge squad – they could have two or three XI’s and still be competitive in The Championship,” The Lions’ boss said.

“We don’t know exactly who we’re going to face personnel wise, but we do know what style of play we’ll face. They’ll be a possession-based team who will dominate the ball and try to frustrate us.”

Why do Derby County have so many players?

Derby County’s huge squad has come as a result of the club’s constant chopping and changing of ideas and managers, with Lampard becoming the club’s sixth new boss in just three years under owner Mel Morris.

With each new manager has come a different idea in terms of playing style, and thus a host of new players have been signed on long-term contracts and undoubtedly high wages.

The gamble to buy their way out of the Championship has failed, and now Lampard has the task of moulding a new squad in his own image, with players such as George Evans, Scott Malone, Martyn Waghorn and Jack Marriott arriving at Pride Park this summer on permanent deals.

Derby have over 30 senior players on their books, but with as many as 12 now within the last 12 months of their contract, the club can expect to offload several next summer and head towards a fresh start.